最伟大的工作摆在我们前面。自私之心——过高地估计我们的计划、意见和工作，在行动中与我们的弟兄保持独立——乃是威胁我们用途的危险，不克服就会造成我们的毁灭。天使一再对我说，要“一起商议”。{SpTA05 3.1}
撒但可以影响一个人的思想，使这个人对事物产生偏见。他也能成功地使两个人对事物抱相似的看法。但是若有几个人参与，对付他的诡计就比较稳妥了。每一个计划都要从各方面来观察。每一进展也要更仔细地予以研究。这样，我们所进行的工作就不会带来混乱和困惑，使我们所从事的工作蒙受失败。团结就是力量;分裂就是软弱和失败。上帝正在领出一班子民，预备他们变化升天。我们从事这项工作的人有没有作上帝的哨兵呢?我们有没有同心协力呢?我们乐意成为众人的仆人吗?我们有没有效法那伟大的榜样呢? {SpTA05 3.2}
正确的工作方法
不要随随便便地在黑人中传播真理，也不要劝信徒和教导真理的人自以为是。在南方各州需要像三位英雄那样拒绝敬拜尼布甲尼撒的金像时，就要作出支持或反对上帝诫命的决定。我们没有必要完全堵住自己的道路，使许多尚未进入的地区工作更加困难。我们的策略是，不要强调我们信仰中不易令人接受的方面，因为那是与人们的风俗习惯针锋相对的。要先给人一个合适的机会，知道我们是信奉基督，相信基督的神性和祂的自有永有。要仔细思考世界救赎主的见证：“我耶稣差遣我的使者为众教会将这些事向你们证明”(启22:16)。要非常谨慎所写的文字。愿主帮助我们在基督的学校里学习祂的柔和谦卑。{SpTA05 3.3}
连天上的主宰都谨慎自己的每一句话，免得激起撒但和堕落天使的精神，我们在凡事上更当如何小心啊! {SpTA05 4.1}
正确的原则
我要对我远近各处的弟兄们说话。我不能保持沉默。他们没有按正确的原则办事。担任负责工作的人不要以为他们的重要职位使他们的判断永不出错。人的一切工作都受主的监管。人只有承认至高上帝的智慧才是安全的。那些信靠上帝和祂的智慧，不信赖自己智慧的人，正行走在安全的道路上。他们不会觉得自己有权笼住踹谷之牛的口。企图控制与上帝合作的人，那是很严重的罪行。主耶稣对那些人说过：“凡劳苦担重担的人可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭，学我的样式;这样，你们心里就必得享安息。因为我的轭是容易的，我的担子是轻省的”(太11:28-30)。“我们是与上帝同工的;你们是上帝所耕种的田地，所建造的房屋”(林前3:9)。{SpTA05 4.2}
我们扩展圣工的责任
只要有机会，就要安排力量着手开辟新场地，建立富有活力的新机构。要帮助人学习如何恳切、简短、切题地祷告。要使他们学会讲论世界的救赎主，将髑髅地的救主举得高而又高。要把树木移植出密集种植的苗圃。把这么多的机构集中在一个地方并不荣耀上帝。我们需要聪明的园艺工，把苗木移植到不同的地区，为它们提供生长的环境。到远方去乃是一个明确的责任。要集结具有真正传道热诚的工人，前往远近各处散布亮光和知识。要让他们把健康改良的活泼原则带到那些在很大程度上不知道该怎么做的社区里。要有男男女女将这些原则教导各等没有巴特尔克里克大疗养院便利的人。藉着疗养院的影响，成千上万的人确实开始注意天上的真理，可是有一项要做的工作被忽略了。当我们看到在芝加哥和其他几处地方正在做的工作时，就受到了鼓励。但集中在巴特尔克里克的巨大责任，多年前就该分散了。{SpTA05 5.1}
人们受到鼓励集中在巴特尔克里克，将他们的十分之一和影响力用于建造一个现代的耶路撒冷，这并不符合上帝的旨意。其他地方因此被剥夺了应有的设施。你们要扩大、发展，但不要集中在一个地方。要出去到尚未开工，或几乎未开工的地方建立感化的中心。要打破你们集中的状态，把救人的光束分散开来，让亮光照射到地上黑暗的角落里。有一项工作，就像鹰搅动她的巢穴那样，必须完成。“摩押自幼年以来常享安逸，如酒在渣滓上澄清，没有从这器皿倒在那器皿里，也未曾被掳去。因此，他的原味尚存，香气未变”(耶48:17)。许多正在进入巴特尔克里克的基督徒，情况正是如此。许多人时冷时热，像一颗流星掠过天空，不久就消逝了。牵挂上帝圣工的工人，要为南方的园地做一些事。上帝的管家不要满足于蜻蜓点水般的工作。要让工作中心的人为那块园地认真制定计划。你们已经谈论过这件事;但作为上帝钱财的管家，你们在做什么呢?{SpTA05 6.1}
上帝岂不是已经给了我们一项工作去做吗?上帝岂不是吩咐我们到反对的势力中间使人们从错谬归向真理吗?为什么经常聚集在巴特尔克里克大聚会的男男女女不实行他们所听到的真理呢?如果他们分发了所领受的亮光，我们会看到多大的品格改变啊!对于所分发的每一份恩典，上帝都会加以恩典。已经为他们做成的工作，并没有受到应有的重视，否则他们就会前往地上的黑暗地区，广泛散布上帝照在他们身上的亮光。他们会把因信而得基督之义的信息传给世界，而他们自己的亮光也会变得越来越清晰，因为上帝会与他们同工。许多抱着谬误的人已经下到坟墓里去了，只是因为那些自称相信真理的人没有把所领受的宝贵知识传给他们。如果照在巴特尔克里克的过多亮光散布出去了，我们本来会看见许多人兴起来成为上帝的同工。{SpTA05 6.2}
【The Character of our Work】
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.{SpTA05 3.1}[1]
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. God is leading out a people, and 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?{SpTA05 3.2}[2]
【Proper Methods in Labor】
The truth cannot be introduced in any haphazard way among the colored people, neither can advice be given to the believers and to those who teach the truth,to be presumptuous. When the period comes in the Southern States to do as did the three worthies who refused to bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s image, that time will present decisions for or against the commandments of God. There is no need of closing up our own way wholly. It will be made more difficult to work the many fields that have not yet been touched. Our policy is, Do not make prominent the objectionable features of our faith, which strike most decidedly against the practises and customs of the people, until the Lord shall give the people a fair chance to know that we are believers in Christ, that we do believe in the divinity of Christ, and in his preexistence. Let the testimony of the world’s Redeemer be dwelt upon. “I, Jesus, have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.” There is need of strictly guarding the word that the pen traces upon paper. The Lord help us to learn in the school of Christ his meekness and lowliness.{SpTA05 3.3}[3]
If the Majesty of heaven guarded?his?every word lest?he should stir up the spirit of Satan and the fallen angels, how much more careful should?we?be in all things!{SpTA05 4.1}[4]
【Correct Principles】
I must speak to my brethren, nigh and afar off. I cannot hold my peace. They are not working on correct principles. Those who stand in responsible positions must not feel that their position of importance makes them men of infallible judgment. All the works of men are under the Lord’s jurisdiction. It will be altogether safe for men to consider that there is knowledge with the Most High. Those who trust in God and his wisdom, and not in their own, are walking in safe paths. They will never feel that they are authorized to muzzle even the ox that treads out the grain; and how offensive?it is for men to control the human agent who is in partnership with God, and to whom the Lord Jesus 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.” “We are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”{SpTA05 4.2}[5]
【Our Duty to Extend the Work】
Let forces be set at work to clear new ground, to establish new, living interests wherever an opening can be found. Let men learn how to pray earnestly, short, and right to the point. Let them learn to speak of the world’s Redeemer, to lift up the Man of Calvary higher and still higher. Transplant trees out of your thickly planted nursery. God is not glorified in centering such immense advantages in one place. We need wise nurserymen who will transplant trees to different localities, and give them advantages whereby they may grow. It is a positive duty to go into regions beyond. Rally workers who possess true missionary zeal, and let them go forth to diffuse light and knowledge far and near. Let them take the living principles of health reform into communities that to a large degree are ignorant of what they should do. Let men and women teach these principles to classes that cannot have the advantages of the large Sanitarium at Battle Creek. It is a fact that the truth of heaven has come to the notice of thousands through the influence of the Sanitarium, yet there is a work to be done that has been neglected. We are encouraged as we see the work that is being done in Chicago, and in a few other places. But years ago the large responsibility that is centered in Battle Creek should have been distributed.{SpTA05 5.1}[6]
The people are encouraged to center in Battle Creek, and they pay their tithe and give their influence to the building up of a modern Jerusalem that is not after God’s order. In this work other places are cut off from facilities which they should have. Enlarge ye, spread yes; but not in one place. Go out and establish centers of influence in places where nothing, or next to nothing, has been done. Break up your consolidated mass; diffuse the saving beams of light, and shed light into the darkened corners of the earth. A work needs to be done something like that which is described as an eagle stirring up her nest. “Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.” This is true of many Christians who are coming into Battle Creek. Many have a spasmodic zeal, but it is like a meteor that flashes across the heavens, and goes out. Let God’s own workmen, who have his cause at heart, do something for the Southern field. Let not God’s stewards be content with just touching it with their fingers’ ends. Let those at the heart of the work plan for the field in earnest. You have talked about it; but what are you doing as the stewards of God’s means?{SpTA05 6.1}[7]
Has God given us a work to do? Has God bidden us to go amid opposing influences and convert men from error to truth? Why have not the men and women who have so frequently gathered to the large assemblies in Battle Creek put into practise the truth which they have heard? If they had imparted the light which they had received, what a transformation of character we would have seen! For every grace imparted, God would have given grace. The work that has been done for them has not been prized as it should have been, or they would have gone forth into the darkened places of the earth, and shed abroad the light which God has shed upon them. They would have given to the world the message of the righteousness of Christ through faith, and their own light would have become clearer and clearer, for God would have worked with them. Many have gone into the grave in error, simply because those who professed the truth have failed to communicate the precious knowledge they have received. If the light that has shone in superabundance in Battle Creek had been diffused, we would have seen many raised up to become laborers together with God.{SpTA05 6.2}[8]
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