1907年7月2日
致巴特尔克里克教会
我奉劝那些有圣经之光却没能遵照圣言行事的人，你们若不照光行事，就是危害你们永远的福利。{PC 71.1}
主知道祂百姓的一切需要和考验。祂藉着苦难，设法将他们引向天国。在那里，他们将不会知道失望、考验或悲伤。{PC 71.2}
在上帝的道中，我们受鼓励去研究世界救赎者的品格。祂是每一个人培养自己品格的模范。上帝的儿子在凡事上受了试探与我们一样，但祂抵制了每一个试探。祂通过祷告获得了能力，在与撒但权势的斗争中获得了胜利。在树林和群山中，救主曾花整夜的时间为自己和门徒祷告，也为祂的门徒将为之效力的那些人祷告。跟从基督的人应当在他们的主得力量之处得力量。{PC 71.3}
世界使人看不到自己。通过遮住未来生活的前景，通过不断吸引人的感官，世界使人看不到自己的危险。通过这样使他只想着今生的利益，世界使他成为时代的产物。然而人若注目永恒的世界，便看到基督的十字架和上帝的儿子受死为要拯救将亡的世界。{PC 71.4}
基督离开天庭，放下王冠和王袍，来过穷人的生活。祂使自己遭受了人类共有的一切试探，以便人能仰望天国之君，并在他身上看到征服罪恶的完美展示。在一切试炼、试探和试验中，基督并没有犯罪，祂口中也没有诡诈。祂以人性披覆了祂的神性，但在祂的教导和事工中，祂的神性是显而易见的。{PC 71.5}
有一次，基督被感动发出谴责：“耶稣在诸城中行了许多异能，那些城的人终不悔改，就在那时候责备他们，说：哥拉汛哪，你有祸了!伯赛大啊，你有祸了!因为在你们中间所行的异能，若行在推罗、西顿，他们早已披麻蒙灰悔改了。但我告诉你们，当审判的日子，推罗、西顿所受的，比你们还容易受呢!迦百农啊，你已经升到天上，将来必坠落阴间;因为在你那里所行的异能，若行在所多玛，它还可以存到今日。但我告诉你们，当审判的日子，所多玛所受的，比你还容易受呢”(太11:21-24)。{PC 71.6}
这是一个精彩的陈述。那些为他们做得最多却又不屈服于真理证据的城市，正在拒绝圣灵的能力。他们是在拒绝那照在他们的道德黑暗中的大光。{PC 71.7}
我蒙指示，有一个地方，将与那些已经在那里做了许多伟大的工作、那里的人却已转离亮光和证据的地方归为一类，那个地方就是巴特尔克里克。在主赐予了大光和特殊机会的一班百姓中间，巴特尔克里克已成为叛乱的中心。为了取悦自我和随从不圣洁意志的特权，人们已经丢弃了亮光。原能依照上帝的样式塑造成形的心理和品格，已被侍奉自我损毁和阻碍了。上帝所赐使人借以得到祂的帮助和恩惠的机会被忽视了。{PC 71.8}
凡偏离光明和证据的地方，都受到同样的谴责。那些虽已接受大光，看见上帝能力的表现，并且承认这光和这能力是来自上帝的，却转离了亮光，拒绝接受证据的人有祸了!对那些人就像对哥拉汛和伯赛大的人一样，有话说：“在你们中间所行的异能，若行在推罗、西顿，他们早已披麻蒙灰悔改了”(太11:21)。{PC 72.1}
要是这些城的人接受了信息，自行悔改，并将真理之光传给其它的城市，成千上万的人原会归正。现在基督必接受谦卑的人，并向他们显明适合这些末后日子的伟大而宝贵的真理;祂必使用这些人来完成祂在地上的工作。{PC 72.2}
每一个人都有一种影响环绕着，要么支持要么反对真理和公义。基督说：“不与我相合的，就是敌我的;不同我收聚的，就是分散的”(太12:30)。影响力是一种重要的才干。将它用在基督一边，它就成为一种使人得永生的能力。{PC 72.3}
言语的能力是一种宝贵的才干。就像影响力的才干一样，它要么将光明要么将黑暗传递给我们周围的人。它若成圣归于上帝，就成为传授基督恩典的手段。{PC 72.4}
上帝计划我们的真理知识要成为活的香气叫人活。讲话能力的最高运用就是传授神圣的真理。无论听众在哪里，无论听众是谁，基督的见证人都要讲说简明质朴的真理。他要把恩典给听众。他的话要符合基督的教训。真正悔改归正的人会让自己的嘴唇被洁净的圣火沾过。对于所遇见的每一个人，他都会找机会讲说救恩的好消息。他信，所以说出自己心中的观点。他担任上帝的使者，向人们述说生命和得救之道。没有人会误解他的立场，没有人会怀疑他站在哪一边。他是基督的见证人，分别为圣，将救赎主的品格宣示给别人。{PC 72.5}
我的弟兄姐妹们，要高举复活的救主。你们在上帝面前祷告恳求的时候，要高举祂。{PC 72.6}
怀爱伦(签名)
(来自保尔森医生的选集)
To the Battle Creek Church
I am urged to say to those who have had the light of the word, but who fail to walk according to the word, your failure to act upon the light is imperiling your eternal welfare.?{PC 71.1}
The Lord knows all about the needs and trials of His people. Through affliction He seeks to point them to heaven. There they will know no disappointment or trial or grief.?{PC 71.2}
In the word of God we are encouraged to study the character of the world’s Redeemer. He is the pattern of every man in his work of character-building. The Son of God was tempted in all points like as we are, but He resisted every temptation. Through prayer He obtained the power to become victor in the struggle with the powers of Satan. In the groves and mountains the Saviour spent whole nights in prayer for Himself and His disciples, and for those for whom His disciples would labor. Christ’s followers are to find strength where their Master found it.?{PC 71.3}
The world hides a man from himself. It conceals from him his dangers by shutting out the prospect of a future life, and by constantly appealing to his human senses. By thus keeping in his mind only the interests of this life, it seeks to make him a creature of time. But fixing his eyes upon the eternal world, man sees the cross of Christ and the death of the Son of God to save a perishing world.?{PC 71.4}
Christ left the courts of Heaven, laid aside His kingly crown and royal robe, and came to live the life of the poor. He subjected Himself to all the temptations common to humanity, that man might look upon the Prince of Heaven, and see in Him a perfect exhibition of the conquest of sin. In all trials and temptations and trials Christ sinned not, neither was guile found in His mouth. He clothed His divinity with humanity, but in His teaching and ministry His divinity was clearly manifest.?{PC 71.5}
On one occasion Christ was moved to condemn: “Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not: 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. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in you, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and in the day of judgment than for thee.” (Matthew 11:21-24)?{PC 71.6}
Here is a wonderful statement. The cities that have had the most done for them, and yet do not yield to the evidences of truth, are rejecting the power of the Holy Spirit. They are refusing the great light shining amid their moral darkness.?{PC 71.7}
I am instructed that one place which will be classed with those?where many mighty works have been done, and where the people have turned from light and evidence, is Battle Creek. Battle Creek has been the seat of rebellion among a people to whom the Lord has given great light and special opportunities. But the light has been discarded for the privilege of pleasing self, and of following the unsanctified will. Minds and characters that might have been moulded and fashioned after the divine similitude, have been marred and stunted by self-serving. The opportunities that God has given whereby men might secure His help and favor have been neglected.?{PC 71.8}
And every place that has turned from light and evidence falls under the same condemnation. Woe unto those who having received great light, having seen manifestations of the powers of God, and having acknowledged this light and this power as from God, have turned from the light and refused to accept the evidence! To those as to the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, the words are spoken, “If the mighty works which were done in thee, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.”?{PC 72.1}
If the people of these cities had accepted the message, exercised themselves unto repentance, and carried the light of truth to other cities, thousands of souls would have been converted as a result. Now Christ will take humble men, and reveal to them the great and precious truths for these last days; these He will use in carrying to completion His work in the earth.?{PC 72.2}
Surrounding every soul there is an influence either for or against truth and righteousness. “He that is not for Me,” Christ said, ” is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me, scattereth abroad.” Influence is an important talent. Used on the side of Christ, it becomes a power unto life eternal.?{PC 72.3}
The faculty of speech is a precious talent. Like the talent of influence, it conveys either light or darkness to those about us. Sanctified to God, it becomes the means of imparting the grace of Christ.?{PC 72.4}
God designs that our knowledge of the truth shall be to men a savor of life unto life. The highest employment of the powers of speech is that of imparting divine truth. Wherever the audience may be, whoever may compose that audience, Christ’s witness is to speak the plain, unvarnished truth. He is to minister grace to his hearers. His words will be in harmony with the teaching of Christ. The soul who is truly converted will have his lips touched with the sacred fire of cleansing. To every individual he meets he will find an opportunity of speaking the good news of salvation. He believes; therefore he utters the sentiments of his heart. He stands as the oracle of God, speaking to men the words of life and salvation. No one will mistake his position; no one will doubt on which side he stands. He stands as Christ’s witness, consecrated, set apart, to declare to others the character of the Redeemer.?{PC 72.5}
My brethren and sisters, Lift Him up, the risen Saviour. Lift Him up, as you plead before God in prayer.?{PC 72.6}
(Signed)Ellen G. White
(From Doctor Paulson’s Collection)
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