乘“阿拉米达”号轮船行驶在大海上，
1891年11月17日
救赎乃是上帝的秉性之一。上帝的使命是要重建，而不是毁灭。在奠定大地的根基之前，上帝的儿子就已决定受死。罪的存在是无法解释的;所以一个人惟有从髑髅地十字架所反射的光辉中，才能认识上帝，并悲痛地厌恶自己这个罪人。当他在极大的需要中，从内心呼吁赦罪的救主时，上帝就表现出和蔼可亲，充满同情、宽恕和仁爱以及恒久的忍耐。我们教会的信徒，若是作耶稣基督忠心的仆人，就是与上帝同工的。当一个人被仇敌打伤，又犯了错误的时候，我们作为主的忠实仆人和上帝的同工，就必须担负起身边的传道工作，进行医治，而不是毁灭和破坏。我们在基督里有盼望，因为我们是罪人。我们有权利要求得到一位救主。因而当我们机构里的人与犯错的人搅在一起时，不要有人进行谴责、声讨和诋毁，好像自己没有过错似的。{SpTA06 3.1}
基督徒的工作是纠正、恢复和医治。这个医治的过程能救许多人，并遮掩许多的罪。上帝就是爱;上帝的本质就是爱。祂尽量医治我们的创伤，不在我们的仇敌面前暴露我们的过错和弱点，从而不给撒但以获胜的机会。不可把世俗引进教会，使之与教会结合，成为一体。若是这样，教会就会败坏，像《启示录》所说，成了“各样污秽可憎之雀鸟的巢穴”(启18:2)。{SpTA06 4.1}
我们的机构因与世界联合而变得软弱不稳;因为这些属世的人被引进来担任要职，奉为导师，在教育，指导和管理的岗位上受人尊敬;而支配他们的，肯定是黑暗的权势和黑暗的灵;于是侍奉上帝和不侍奉上帝的人之间的界限模糊了。在耶稣基督所讲田地的比喻中，所撒的本是纯净的麦种，但受托管理的人却失望地看着田地问道：“你不是撒好种在田里吗?从哪里来的稗子呢”(太13:27)?主人回答说：“这是仇敌做的”(太13:28)。{SpTA06 4.2}
加州圣赫勒那的会议
我所看到的乡村健康休养所，就是这种状况。我有一个警告的信息。我诚恳地讲话，知道当我提出与世界联合及爱世界的危险时，主让祂的圣灵降在我身上。世俗之徒时刻警觉着要批评和指控侍奉上帝的人。这表现在自称为基督徒者的牢骚抱怨上。他们从未被耶稣基督的恩典所改变。他们是信徒的死敌。他们藐视第四诫的安息日。如果他们能使努力顺从上帝诫命的人看起来是有过失的，就是使撒但射出了他的箭。这是怎么回事呢?撒但显示了他控告的力量;但如果自称信徒的人愿意忠于基督的话语，作行道的人而不只是听道的人，撒但残酷的攻击就不会造成什么伤害。受到攻击的人是受制于耶稣基督的。他们互爱互敬，彼此忠诚。在教会团契里与基督合而为一。跟爱挑剔的人联合，作控告弟兄的人，相信他们摆在你们面前的指控，就是在支持仇敌的工作，将自己放在仇敌手中，使他的工作取得成功。{SpTA06 4.3}
我要告诉听众，荣耀和生命的主耶稣被钉在十字架上，满足了犹太人的恶意，是因为祂所提出的原则不符合犹太人自己的观念和野心勃勃的目标。祂谴责一切诡诈，一切篡夺最高权力的阴谋，和一切不圣洁的行为。在钉死基督的事上，彼拉多和希律狼狈为奸。他们讨好犹太人，满足了他们的敌意，尽管彼拉多曾称耶稣是无罪的。我还要提到为了金钱而出卖了主的犹大，和主在审判厅中受辱时否认了祂的彼得。数小时前，他还信誓旦旦地向他的夫子保证说，他就是与祂一同下监一同受死也愿意。虽然耶稣宣布在鸡叫以先，他会三次否认祂，他仍十分自信，不把基督的话当回事。他对自己的认识是多么浅薄!环境不久就考验了他对夫子的忠诚!他在本该恳切祷告与耶稣一同警醒时却否认了祂。在审判厅中，有人说他是耶稣的门徒时，他否认了。当他第三次被人指认时，他竟赌咒起誓地否认。基督说：“但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，并要……作我的见证”(徒1:8)。耶稣忧伤悲痛地看彼得。但这不是失望的表情;那一眼使否认了主的彼得伤心透了。{SpTA06 5.1}
然而彼得悔改了。基督被钉和复活之后，彼得在官长面前大胆地为耶稣作见证，谴责官长们说：“你们弃绝了那圣洁公义者，反求着释放一个凶手给你们;你们杀了那生命的主”(徒3:14，15)。悔改后的彼得与悔改前自信自夸的彼得相比，判若两人。我要告诉他们世人的声音。基督的敌人对祂的使者说：“你们不可奉这名教训人，”“叫这人的血归到我们身上”(徒5:28)。这个威胁有效果了吗?它使基督的见证人胆怯了吗?没有。他们宣讲了上帝赐给他们的信息，被关进监牢，上帝却差遣祂的天使解救了他们。主的使者夜间开了监牢的门，把他们带了出来，说：“你们去站在殿里，把这生命的道都讲给百姓”(徒5:20)。天上使者的声音与当局的声音是截然相反的。他们该顺从哪一个呢?“彼得和众使徒回答说：‘顺从上帝，不顺从人，是应当的。你们挂在木头上杀害的耶稣，我们祖宗的上帝已经叫祂复活。上帝且用右手将祂高举，叫祂作君王，作救主，将悔改的心和赦罪的恩赐给以色列人。我们为这事作见证;上帝赐给顺从之人的圣灵也为这事作见证。’公会的人听见就极其恼怒，想要杀他们”(徒5:29-33)。这时，教法师迦玛列为使徒们作了辩护。他的话说服了大家。这是主叫我对众人讲话的一小部分。{SpTA06 6.1}
我知道所赐给我的话是人们所需要的。他们若听从了就会得益。有一篇讲道是关于如何对待教会事务中犯错之人的。他们不可让自己的心受主的敌人指控祂儿女的话所影响。如果出现了抱怨、牢骚和指控，他们就必须在基督的学校中学习如何对待抱怨的人。你要单独与他谈这件事。如果他不听，就带两三个别人去。如果他还是不听，就把这事告诉教会。在这项工作中，世人是跟信徒不相干的。他们看不见上帝的子民相互关系和彼此交往的动机和原则。我们必须作耶稣基督军队中忠诚的士兵。跟从祂的人必须与他们的领袖步调一致。他们不可把自己的行动及其动机告诉耶稣基督的敌人，以那些人为知己。这样做乃是背叛了神圣的托付，使仇敌有机可乘。上帝的子民要在自己的团体内商议。不要让基督的敌人知道他们的秘密，而上帝的儿女对他们应该知道的事却一无所知。主的秘密只能让敬畏祂的人知道。{SpTA06 7.1}
世界是宗教的主要敌人。撒但的势力不断地藉着世人作工。那些自称为基督徒，却与世人亲密交往的人，在精神、目标和行动原则上与世人完全一致，以致无法辨别谁是侍奉上帝的，谁是侍奉世界的。仇敌不断地把世人推到前面，使之看起来比信耶稣，追求遵行祂道的人更加优越。世俗之徒的称赞和奉承被当作美食。喜爱这类食物之人，他们的判断力与他们在这方面一样软弱。他们的属灵生活取决于他们的食粮。他们的基督徒经验大都有赖于阿谀奉承和人的称赞。他们的经验中没有对上帝的敬畏和爱。那些对上帝的灵曾有所感受的人如此彻底地落到世界的怀抱，这是多么可怜和可悲啊!他们被世界的声音所左右所影响，依赖世界的宠爱求力量和成功!这样的人表现得与基督多么疏远啊!他们充满了自信，自夸、虚荣，在属灵上目光短浅。他们多么缺少真正的辨识力啊!他们无法区分上帝之子、天国的后嗣和那恶者之子、悖逆之子、上帝的仇敌!在我们的世界上只有两等人。一等人顺从耶稣基督，寻求主、要遵行祂旨意，为他们自己的得救和与他们接触、信奉基督圣名之人的得救而工作。另一等是悖逆之子。世界上只有这两等人。请听主的话语：“小子们哪，你们是属上帝的，并且胜了他们;因为那在你们里面的，比那在世界上的更大。他们是属世界的，所以论世界的事，世人也听从他们”(约壹4:4,5)。许多人正在受到欺骗。敬爱上帝之心控制不了他们。世界是他们的主人。他们正在追逐虚幻诱人的海市蜃楼。为世界舍了性命的主说：“叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生”(约3:16)。从来没有像祂那样说话的。《约翰福音》第15全章包含了一个极其重要的教训。务要阅读和顺从它。请再听上帝的声音：“你们不能又事奉上帝，又事奉玛门”(太6:24)。{SpTA06 8.1}
信徒和非信徒混杂
我们机构中的上帝子民不可与上帝和人类的仇敌休战。教会对世界的责任不是迎合他们的观念，接受他们的看法和建议，而是要听从基督藉着祂的仆人保罗所说的话：“你们和不信的原不相配，不要同负一轭。义和不义有什么相交呢?光明和黑暗有什么相通呢?基督和彼列(彼列就是撒但的别名)有什么相和呢?信主的和不信主的有什么相干呢”(林后6:14,15)?从特殊的意义上说，这是指与不信的人结婚。但它的含义要广泛得多，包括上帝所设立的我们的机构，疗养院，大学和出版社。上帝启示我有关这件事的正确亮光。所提出的问题是：“上帝的殿和偶像有什么相同呢?因为我们是永生上帝的殿，就如上帝曾说：我要在他们中间居住，在他们中间来往;我要作他们的上帝;他们要作我的子民。又说：你们务要从他们中间出来，与他们分别;不要沾不洁净的物”(林后6:16,17)。这是指什么呢?指悖逆之子们的建议和恶行。你们在任何情况下都不要受不信者精神或影响的污秽。不要擅自与他们联合或捆在一起。不要擅自把与上帝圣工有关的事情告诉那些与上帝无关的人。他们并不同情那些爱上帝真理的人。“我就收纳你们。我要作你们的父;你们要作我的儿女。这是全能的主说的”(林后6:17,18)。{SpTA06 10.1}
我要发出警告的声音：在我们的机构中，相信的人和世俗分子不要混杂在一起。我们要发出危险的信号。在我们的机构中，若有人被安置在受托的岗位，他们就是教育者。别人是要向这些人求教的。对于不警惕的人，这就成了网罗;他们对公义和真理的观念模糊了。他们听到不尊敬真理的人讥诮真理，以贬抑的口吻讲说真理。真理本应坚定严肃地持守。星期五本应为主的安息日作准备，撒但却与悖逆之子配合，把工作的时间延长到神圣的时刻，并指示手下的人在安息日做工。这样，他们就很高兴，撒但取得了胜利。当身居最高职位的人无法辨别侍奉上帝与不侍奉上帝的人时，就证明自己的眼目没有专注于上帝的荣耀，所以他们的全身都充满了黑暗。当这些位高权重的人与世俗之徒有一样的精神，把这些不信之人所说抱怨的话当作事实时，他们不知道自己所怀的是什么精神。他们鼓励这种精神，抱怨上帝的子民，就证明他们正在为仇敌工作，贬低和羞辱主所爱的人，加强了恶人之手的力量。当他们觉得可以随便允许控告上帝儿女的人策划反对祂的选民时，他们并没有与基督一同计划。{SpTA06 11.1}
如果主的一个儿女做错了事，而负责的人对属灵的事有辨识能力，他们就会明白自己的地位不允许他们辜负神圣的委托。他们不会把上帝的圣工出卖在仇敌的手里。他们不会对他们原该信任的人保持沉默，默不作声地悄悄作工，把他们的计划向不同情上帝选民的人透露。如果我们卫生机构的工人遭到非信徒或信徒的埋怨或控告，就当把我们主耶稣基督的下列特别指示作为整个工作过程的座右铭：“你们不要论断人，免得你们被论断。因为你们怎样论断人，也必怎样被论断;你们用什么量器量给人，也必用什么量器量给你们”(太7:1,2)。要走到被认为犯了错的人那里，与他们谈话，不要表里不一，假冒为善，天天用表面的友谊应付他们，同时却密谋反对他们，与撒但的爪牙完全勾结在一起，从机构中排挤不信的人想要排挤的人。如果同道弟兄姐妹犯了错，也不说帮助与挽救的话。如果他们没有犯错误，就当维护义人，斥责该斥责的人，就是策划恶行的人，因为撒但在幕后。主耶稣曾斥责法利赛人，把他们比作粉刷的坟墓，虽不显眼，却充满了败坏。主恨恶一切欺骗、虚饰和诡诈。这是撒但的工作;上帝的作为是公开坦诚的。没有人会根据主的仇敌所作的见证来反对上帝的儿女，并采用撒但的方法，把自己隐藏起来，却暗示，怂恿，策划，与主的敌人完全勾结。{SpTA06 12.1}
天上的世界怎么能尊重这种不光明正大的懦弱行为，反对爱上帝并守祂诫命的人呢?教会的信徒可能会犯错，也常常犯错，但要仁慈温柔地对待他们，就像基督待我们一样。上帝斥责一切以欺骗的方式为上帝工作的人。他们自称是基督的朋友，却以暧昧的手段在暗中活动，反对那些爱上帝的人。“弟兄们，若有人偶然被过犯所胜，你们属灵的人就当用温柔的心把他挽回过来;又当自己小心，恐怕也被引诱”(加6:1)。{SpTA06 13.1}
弟兄们，这就是我们的工作;我们愿意从事吗?这项工作做得太少了，所以那真实见证者的话临到了教会：“然而有一件事我要责备你，就是你把起初的爱心离弃了。所以，应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初所行的事。你若不悔改，我就临到你那里，把你的灯台从原处挪去”(启2:4,5)。“他又指给我看：大祭司约书亚站在耶和华的使者面前;撒但也站在约书亚的右边，与他作对。耶和华向撒但说：‘撒但哪，耶和华责备你!就是拣选耶路撒冷的耶和华责备你!这不是从火中抽出来的一根柴吗?’约书亚穿着污秽的衣服站在使者面前”(亚3:1-3)。这就是撒但的伎俩。他用骗术和诡计欺骗了这些人。现在这些人在上帝面前悔改了。他们的名下写着“赦免”。撒但控告他们有罪，并且声称因为他们所犯的罪行，他有权任意处置他们。但是耶稣以最温柔最怜悯的深情看着这些相信祂，倚靠祂义的人。“使者吩咐站在面前的说：‘你们要脱去他污秽的衣服’;又对约书亚说：‘我使你脱离罪孽，要给你穿上华美的衣服。我说：要将洁净的冠冕戴在他头上。’他们就把洁净的冠冕戴在他头上，给他穿上华美的衣服，耶和华的使者在旁边站立”(亚3:4,5)。身负重任的上帝子民岂可说出撒但的话来反对上帝的儿女呢?让我们像基督那样行事，钢铁般忠于上帝和祂的圣工，敏于洞悉撒但的诡计。他是藉着悖逆之子诡秘欺诈地行事。{SpTA06 13.2}
“耶和华说：你们用话顶撞我，你们还说：‘我们用什么话顶撞了你呢?’你们说：‘事奉上帝是徒然的，遵守上帝所吩咐的，在万军之耶和华面前苦苦斋戒，有什么益处呢?如今我们称狂傲的人为有福，并且行恶的人得建立;他们虽然试探上帝，却得脱离灾难’”(玛3:13-15)。说这些话的人并未献身。他们与上帝分离，被仇敌弄瞎了心眼，看不清上帝的道路和作为。下面描写相反的一等人：“那时，敬畏耶和华的彼此谈论”(玛3:16)。他们所说的，并不是弟兄的坏话，或抱怨上帝，而是出于至诚，没有欺骗、没有阴谋、也没有诡诈。“耶和华侧耳而听，且有纪念册在祂面前，记录那敬畏耶和华、思念祂名的人。万军之耶和华说：‘在我所定的日子，他们必属我，特特归我。我必怜恤他们，如同人怜恤服事自己的儿子。那时你们必归回，将善人和恶人，事奉上帝的和不事奉上帝的，分别出来’”(玛3:16-18)。{SpTA06 14.1}
力量在于与基督合一
愿主祝福祂的百姓，使他们有属灵的眼光，看明上帝的儿女和世人决不能合伙。凡想与世俗为友的，就是与上帝为敌。虽然每一个人都该与基督同工，向黑暗之子指出除去世人罪孽的上帝羔羊，来改变他们，但他们不能对世俗之徒同情到用自己的影响力去实行其建议，削弱或亏待上帝所拣选的人。上帝不这样作工。在完全的团结中才有力量。人数并不重要，重要的是完全信靠基督，与祂合而为一。这样，一个人就能追赶一千人，二个人就能使一万人逃跑。我们决不可与世界的朋友结成不圣洁的同盟;因为上帝已对所有这样的同盟宣布了咒诅。上帝的子民要坚定地维护真理和公义。我们看到了信徒和非信徒联合的可怕结果：不信的人得到了本来只属于敬爱上帝之人的信任。{SpTA06 15.1}
黑暗的权势已将其模式和名号放在了本不该受撒但诡计污染的圣工上。我们扬声警告带着属世福惠和诱饵的社交诱惑。要保持清白。不要接触不洁之物。不要把属世的指示和建议传给上帝的子民，控制他们。不是从上头，而是从下面领受智慧的人有祸了!表面虔诚的人，为了赞助和名声，把上帝的利益出卖到了不信者的手里。不要用接触或认可任何不洁净的作法来挣钱。要把基督的恩典带到内心。工人虽少，而如果上帝能在我们的机构中与他们同工，他们就必获胜。不要让欺骗的势力运行，因为它是不洁之物。不要让手被玷污。手洁心清才是上帝所认可的。“因为那至高至上、住在永远、名为圣者的如此说：我住在至高至圣的所在，也与心灵痛悔谦卑的人同居;要使谦卑人的灵苏醒，也使痛悔人的心苏醒”(赛57:15)。{SpTA06 16.1}
怀爱伦夫人
【The Need of Spiritual Discernment】
(On the Steamer “Alameda,” on the Broad Ocean,November 17, 1891.)
Redemption is a part of the divine nature. It is the prerogative of God to have to reconstruct, not to destroy. The Son of God was given to die before the foundation of the world. The existence of sin is unexplainable; therefore, not a soul knows what God is until he sees himself in the light reflected from the cross of Calvary, and detests himself as a sinner, in the bitterness of his soul. When his soul cries out in great need for a sin-pardoning Saviour, then God is revealed as gracious, full of comparison and forgiveness and love, longsuffering and patience. Individually, as church-members, we are, if faithful, servants of Jesus Christ, laborers together with God. When one is bruised by the enemy, and wounded, and commits error, as faithful and true to the Master, as workers together with God, we must take up the missionary work next to us, we must work to heal, not to ruin and to destroy. The hope we have in Christ is because we are sinners. We have a right to claim a Saviour. Then when there are those in any of our institutions associated together, who err, let not men act the part of denouncing, condemning, and destroying, as though they were faultless.{SpTA06 3.1}[1]
It is the work of the Christian to mend, to restore, to heal. This healing process saves many a soul, and hides a multitude of sins. God is love. God is, in himself, in his essence, love. He makes the very best of what appears an injury, and gives Satan no occasion for triumph by making the worst appear, and exposing our weakness to our enemies. The world must not be introduced into the church, and married to the church, forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt, and, as stated in Revelation, “a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”{SpTA06 4.1}[2]
Through association with the world, our institutions will become unsubstantial, unreliable; because these worldly elements, introduced and placed in positions of trust, are looked up to, as teachers to be respected, in their educating, directing, and official position, and they are sure to be worked upon by the spirit and power of darkness; so that the demarkation becomes not distinguished between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. The parable is given by Jesus Christ in regard to the field in which it was supposed had been sown pure wheat, but the entrusted ones look upon the field with disappointment, and inquire, “Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?” The Master of the vineyard answered, “An enemy hath done this.”{SpTA06 4.2}[3]
【Meetings at St. Helena, Cal】
Thus hath it been presented to me in regard to the Rural Health Retreat. I had a message of warning. I spoke with earnestness, and I know?the Lord put his Holy Spirit upon me while I presented the danger of association with, and love of, the world. The worldling is ever on the watch to criticize and accuse those who serve God. This will reveal itself in the querulous complaining of professed Christians, who have never been transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ. They are deadly enemies to those who believe. They despise the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and if they can make it appear that those who are striving to obey the commandments of God are faulty, Satan has cast his arrow, and now what?—He has shown his accusing power; but his cruel thrusts will do little harm if the professed believers will stand true to the words of Christ, and be doers of his word, and not hearers only. Those to whom these complaints are made, are under bonds to Jesus Christ to love and respect and be faithful to one another who are united to Christ in church fellowship. To unite with the fault-finding element, to be accusers of the brethren, to take up the reproach they lay at your door, is seconding the work of the enemy by playing yourself into his hands, to make his work a success.{SpTA06 4.3}[4]
I presented the matter before the hearers, that Jesus the Lord of life and glory, was crucified to please the malice of the Jews, because the principles he presented did not coincide with their own ideas and ambitious aims. He condemned all guile, all underhanded work of policy for supremacy, and every unholy practise. Pilate and Herod became friends in crucifying Jesus Christ. They pleased the Jews in making effective their enmity against one whom Pilate proclaimed innocent. I presented to them Judas, who betrayed his Lord?for money value; Peter who denied him in his humiliation in the judgment-hall. A few hours before, he had with great firmness assured his Master he would go with him to prison and to death, and notwithstanding Jesus’ declaration that he would, ere the cock crow, deny him thrice, he was so self-confident that he took not the words of Christ as verity and truth. How little he knew himself! How soon circumstances tested his allegiance to his Master! He denied Jesus in the very hour he should have watched with him in fervent prayer. When in the judgment-hall he was accused of being one of this man’s disciples, he denied; and the third time he was accused, he emphasized his denial with cursing and swearing. Said Christ, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” The look of grief and sadness which Jesus gave Peter, was not a hopeless look; it broke the heart of Peter, who denied his Lord.{SpTA06 5.1}[5]
But Peter was converted, and then after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, when before the rulers, he boldly declared for Jesus, and charged the rulers with these words: “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life.” There Peter shows himself entirely a different man after his conversion, than the self-confident, boasting Peter prior to his conversion. I presented before them the voice of the world, the enemies of Christ, saying to Christ’s messengers, “Ye should not teach in this name,” and “bring this man’s blood upon us.” Did these threatenings succeed? did it make cowards of the witnesses of Christ?—No; they proclaimed the message given them of God; and they were shut up in prison, and God sent his angels to release them. The angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors and brought them forth and said, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” This voice from the heavenly angels was directly opposite to that voice from the authorities, and which should they obey? “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay him.” Then Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, pleaded in behalf of the apostles, and his words prevailed. Well, this is a little part of the words the Lord gave me to speak to the people.{SpTA06 6.1}[6]
The words given me were of that character that I knew the people needed, and which would benefit them if they would hear. One discourse was upon how to treat those united with us in church capacity, if they erred. They were not to permit their minds to be affected to action by the words of the Lord’s enemies against his children. If complaints or murmurings or charges are made, they must study in Christ’s school as to the course to be pursued toward the ones of whom complaints are made. Tell the matter between him and thee?alone, and if he will not hear, then take two or three?others; if he will not hear these, tell it to the church. The world has no part with the believers in this work. They cannot discern the motives and principles by which God’s people are bound in their relations and dealings with one another. We must be true, loyal soldiers in the army of Jesus Christ. All his followers are to keep step with their Leader. They should never introduce their secrets to, or make confidants of, the enemies of Jesus Christ in regard to their movements or what they purpose to do in their line of action; for it is a betrayal of sacred trusts, and is giving the enemy every advantage. Let the counsel of the people of God be within their own company. The enemies of Christ should not be made familiar with their secrets, while the children of God are kept in ignorance of the very things they ought to know. The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him.{SpTA06 7.1}[7]
The world is the chief enemy of religion. The satanic forces are constantly at work through the world, and those who are professed Christians, yet associated with the world in close fellowship, are so much one in spirit, aims, and principles of working, that they cannot discern between him who serveth God and him who serveth the world. The enemy works constantly to push the world to the front, to be looked upon as superior to those who believe in Jesus, and who seek to be doers of his word. Words of praise and flattery from worldlings are received as sweet morsels, but the judgment of those who love this sort of food is in accordance with the weakness which they show in this direction. Their spiritual life is composed of just the kind of material they feed upon. TheirChristian experience is largely dependent on flattery and human appreciation. The fear and love of God are not interwoven in their experience. How pitiable and sad to see men who have known something of the Spirit of God, fall so completely into the arms of the world, as to be swayed and influenced by its voice, and depend upon its favors for strength and success! How manifestly such are alienated from Christ, how full of self-confidence, how full of vaunting, of vanity, and how short-sighted in regard to spiritually! How little true discernment have they to distinguish between him who is a child of God, an heir of the kingdom, and him who is a child of the wicked one, who is a child of disobedience, and an enemy of God! There are only two classes in our world: Those who are obedient to Jesus Christ, who seek the Master, to do his will, and work for the attainment of the salvation of their own souls, and the soul of every one who is associated with them, who names the name of Christ; and the children of disobedience. There are but two classes in our world. Then listen to the words of One who knows: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”1 John 4:4, 5. Souls are being deluded. The fear and love of God have not a controlling power. The world is their master, and they chase after its delusive, flattering mirage. Listen to One who gave his life for the world, “that whosoever?believeth?in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” He spake as never man spake. The whole of John 15?contains a most important lesson. Read it; obey it. Again, hear the voice of God, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”{SpTA06 8.1}[8]
【Mingling of Believers With Unbelievers】
Let not God’s people in any of our institutions sign a truce with the enemy of God and man. The duty of the church to the world is not to come down to their ideas, and accept their opinions, their suggestions, but to heed the words of Christ through his servant Paul, “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?” This means in, a special sense, marriage with unbelievers, but it covers more ground than this: it means in our instrumentalities ordained of God, in our institutions for health, in our colleges, in our publishing houses. The matter is placed before us in the correct light. The question is asked, “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.” What does this mean?—The suggestions, the evil workings in the children of disobedience. You are not in any case to become contaminated with the spirit or influence of unbelievers. Be afraid of uniting or binding up in bundles with them. Be afraid of communicating the works connected with the Lord’s cause, to those who have no part with God, or sympathy with those who love the truth of God. “And I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”{SpTA06 10.1}[9]
I raise my voice of warning against the mingling in our institutions, of the worldly element with those who believe; we have the danger signal to sound. If in our institutions persons are placed in positions of trust, they are educators. Others are taught to look to these persons for instruction, and in this is a snare to the unwary; their ideas become confused in regard to righteousness and truth. They hear those persons who have no respect for the truth, sneer and speak disparagingly of the truth, which should be held firmly and sacredly as truth. When the day’s work on Friday should be planned with reference to the Sabbath of the Lord, there is Satan working with those children of disobedience to prolong the service into the sacred hours, and give their orders that those under their direction shall do work on the Sabbath, and then they exult and Satan triumphs. And when men in the highest responsible positions make no difference between those who serve God and those who serve him not, they evidence that their eyes are not single to the glory of God; therefore their whole body is full of darkness. When these men in authority have so mingled with the spirit of worldlings that the words of complaint from the lips of these unbelievers are gathered as verity and truth, they know not what spirit they are of. When they encourage this spirit, and complaints against the people of God, they evidence that they are working on the enemy’s side, to belittle and humiliate?those whom the Lord loves, and that they strengthen the hands of the wicked, who are doing an evil work. When they feel free to suffer the accusers of God’s children to plan for them against his chosen ones, they do not have Christ to plan with them.{SpTA06 11.1}[10]
If one of the children of the Lord errs, then if the men in authority are discerning spiritual things, they will understand that their position allows no betrayal of sacred trusts, on their part, and they will not betray the cause of God into the enemy’s hands. They will not be reticent to the very ones in whom they should have confidence, and work in silence and secrecy, and open their plans to those who have no sympathy with the chosen people of God. If any workers in our institutions for health are murmured against, and accused by unbelievers or believers, let the following special directions given by our Master, Jesus Christ, be placed in mottoes all through the establishment: “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.” Go to those supposed to be in error, talk with them, not working with duplicity and hypocrisy, meeting them day by day with apparent friendship, and at the same time plotting against them in perfect unity with the satanic agencies at work to uproot, to tear down, to remove from the institution the ones the unbelieving element wants removed, while not a word is spoken with the brethren or sisters in the faith to redeem them, to heal them, if they are in error; and if they are not in the wrong, to vindicate the right, and put the rebuke where it belongs,—upon the plotters of an evil work,because Satan is behind the scene. The Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, likening them to sepulchers that do not appear, hidden from sight, but full of corruption. The Lord hates all deception, secrecy, and guile. This is Satan’s work; the work of God is open and frank. No one will work against a child of God, on the strength of the testimony of the Lord’s enemy, and work after Satan’s manner,—concealing himself, yet suggesting, instigating, planning in perfect unity with the Lord’s enemies.{SpTA06 12.1}[11]
How can the universe of heaven regard such underhanded, cowardly work against those who love God and keep his commandments? Members of the church may commit errors, and often make mistakes, but they are to be dealt with kindly, tenderly, as Christ has dealt with us. But the rebuke of God is upon all those who do the work of God deceitfully, professedly friends of Christ, yet working in an undercurrent style, in darkness, against those who love 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.”{SpTA06 13.1}[12]
Here is our work, brethren; will we take it up? So little of this is done, that the words of the True Witness come home to the church, “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 remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” “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? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.” This was the appearance of Satan. He had deceived these souls by his delusions and devices. Now these souls had repented before God, and pardon was written against their names. Satan was accusing them of sins, and asserting his right to do as he pleased with them because of their transgression which he had caused them to commit. But Jesus looked upon these souls believing in him, trusting in his righteousness, with the tenderest and loving compassion. “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.” Shall the people of God who are placed in positions of trust, voice the words of Satan against the children of God? Let us act as Christians, true as steel to God and his holy work; quick to discern the devices of Satan in his hidden, deceptive workings through the children of disobedience.{SpTA06 13.2}[13]
“Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work?wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.” These are the words of the unconsecrated who are separating from God, blinded by the enemy. They cannot discern the ways and works of God. Now is represented the opposite class, “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another.” These words were not speaking evil of brethren, or making complaints of God, but were words spoken from sincere hearts, words in which were no deceit, no underhanded working, no guile. “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.”{SpTA06 14.1}[14]
【Strength in Union with Christ】
May the Lord bless his people with spiritual eyesight, to see that the children of God and the world can never be in copartnership. Whosoever will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God. While every individual should work with Christ to transform the children of darkness, by showing them the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world, they cannot have overflowing sympathy with worldlings in such a degree that they lend them their influence to carry out their suggestions to weaken and do injustice to God’s chosen ones. God does not work in this way. In perfect and complete unity there is strength. Not?in numbers, but in the perfect trust and unity with Christ, one can chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight. Let us not form unholy bonds of union, with the friends of the world; for God has pronounced his curse upon all such unions. Let the people of God take their stand firmly for truth and for righteousness. Already we see the terrible consequences of uniting believers with unbelievers. The result is, the unbelievers are given the confidence that belongs to those only who love and revere God.{SpTA06 15.1}[15]
Already has the power of darkness placed its mold and superscription upon the work that should stand forth, untainted, unpolluted, from Satan’s cunning devices. We lift our voice of warning upon the social attractions by worldly bids and worldly baits. Keep clear. Touch not the unclean thing. Let not the world’s direction and propositions be given to God’s people to control them. Woe be unto him whose wisdom is not from above but from beneath! Men of superficial piety, by their desire to receive patronage, to obtain fame, betray the most sacred interests into the hands of unbelievers. Let not money be obtained by touching or sanctioning any unclean practises. Let the grace of Christ be brought into the heart, and if the workers be few, and God can work with them in our institutions, they will prevail. There must be no deceiving power at work, for it is an unclean thing. There must be no hands that are defiled. Clean hands and a pure heart God will recognize. “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.”---Mrs. E. G. White?---{SpTA06 16.1}[16]
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