1906年7月6日
1906年7月5日写于加利福尼亚州疗养院
致巴特尔克里克教会的长老们,并致传道人和医师们:
我有来自主的指示要传达。巴特尔克里克的情况应该得到清楚的概括和了解。那些造成这种状况的人可悲地受骗了,正在误导别人。然而主必得到荣耀。伟大的属灵转变将要发生。凡愿意蒙上帝引导的人,都应该谦卑地行在祂面前。他们决不应该偏离上帝已为祂的百姓规划的本分的道路。他们不应相信谎言,尽管谎言已被大量出版。{PC 73.1}
在帐幕礼拜堂中应该听到一个声音,叫人在清晰的警告中听见上帝的话。上帝有作祂工具的人,他们不会保持缄默。他们要拥护耶和华的言语、旨意和道路。他们要本着真理全部的荣美和能力宣扬真理。任何奇怪的道理都不应予以介绍。那由主藉着许多神奇凭证所提出来的基本真理,不可有任何的伤害破坏。应当有声音发出,清楚地证明真理,反驳那从真理仇敌而来的种种怀疑和谬误的论调。改革一定会发生,神圣真理原则的实践必表现出在恩典中长进,因为各种神圣的能力媒介,都能有效地启导并圣化人的理解力。{PC 73.2}
那在耶稣里的真理,正像祂被密云掩蔽时所宣布的,在我们现今这个时代仍然是事实和真理,而且也必像从前革新人的心思一样,革新那接受之人的心思。基督说过:“若不听从摩西和先知的话,就是有一个从死里复活的,他们也是不听劝”(路16:31)。{PC 73.3}
我们这班人必须在圣灵的支配指导之下,预备主的道路,好传扬那纯洁的福音。这活水的溪流在它流经的路上要加深拓宽。在远近的各个地区,必有人从耕作中,和那占据人心意的更普通商务行业中被召选出来,因与富有经验的人——也就是明白真理的人联络而受教。藉着上帝极其神奇的作为,所有困难的大山都要被挪移,扔到海里去。我们努力工作吧,就像那些体验过在耶稣里的真理的美德的人一样。{PC 73.4}
在这一时期,将会发生一系列事件,这些事件将揭示上帝是局势的主宰。真理必以明确无误的语言得到宣扬。传扬真理的人必定努力藉着有良好规律的生活和敬虔的言谈行为,来证明真理。而且他们这样做,就必在拥护真理方面大有能力,同时也必明确地应用真理像上帝曾经应用的一样。{PC 73.5}
当那些知道和教导真理的人转向人的理解,用他们自己的寓言来欺骗头脑时,那些曾经从事福音传道工作,但又被吸引到餐馆、食品店和其他商业行业管理的人,现在是时候取得一致,勤勉地研读他们的圣经了,手拿着上帝的道,与天上的天使合作,分发圣经的真理,属灵的食物。这项工作现在大声呼唤神圣任命的工人。于是,全能者就会对困难的群山说:你要被移到海里去。{PC 74.1}
有呼召要发出:“我儿,你今天到葡萄园里去作工吧。”这个呼召一得到顺从,那对地上居民有十分重大意义的信息,就必为人所听见而且明白了。人们就必知道什么是真理。圣工就必向前,不断地向前进展。在报应和福惠方面,也必有属乎天意的显著大事出现并且得到承认。真理终必获得胜利。{PC 74.2}
我们要说对所有的学生说,奉主的名,不要让自己留在属灵氛围被怀疑和谎言毒害的地方。虽有真理的证据,却数日、数周、数月、数年处在一种微妙影响中,对上帝的真理进行扭曲的表述,披上虚假的色彩,这样的人不适合作我们青少年的老师。在关于上帝话语和作为的谎言被说成是真理的地方,不是正在为不朽来生作准备的学生应该在的地方。我们是在追求天国,凡将上帝的真实变为虚谎的人都不能进到那里去。{PC 74.3}
真理有一种属灵的影响力。它进入人心,直接而且未败坏,来自主,祂就是真理。内心接受真理满载着最伟大的结果。真理要被接受到内心,并在品格上发展和表达出来。{PC 74.4}
没有谎言是出于真理的。撒但在每一个可能的场合都在场要介绍他欺人谬论的酵。片刻也不要听取欲从真理的基础上松动一颗销钉、挪移一根柱梁的解释。{PC 74.5}
听从人的解释,接受虚言,会破坏你的信心,混乱你的悟性,使你对耶稣基督的信心归于无效。要殷勤研究《启示录》第三章。里面指出了放弃你从众光之源那里所听到和学到的东西的危险。“要回想你是怎样领受、怎样听见的、又要遵守,并要悔改”(启3:3)。为什么悔改呢?因为有错误藉着人心影响人心的很狡猾的理论形式进来,藉着那些已经背离真道之人的力量,诡计多端的仇敌会使你们不知不觉地被那种会吸引你们远离真道的精神所充满。{PC 74.6}
有许多人处在危险的属灵状况中,许多人是“将要死的。”启示者奉命写给撒狄教会:“你要写信给撒狄教会的使者,说:‘那有上帝的七灵和七星的,说:我知道你的行为,按名你是活的,其实是死的。你要警醒,坚固那剩下将要死的;因我见你的行为,在我上帝面前,没有一样是完全的。所以要回想你是怎样领受、怎样听见的、又要遵守,并要悔改”(启3:1-3)。{PC 74.7}
有责难落在那些听过真理,接受了真理,后来又行事如同在属灵上死了的人身上。“所以要回想。”在我们的工作中,我们不应被卷入任何貌似可信的理论,那些理论会导致我们否认过去对我们所听到和倡导的真理的信心。“若不警醒,我必临到你那里,如同贼一样。我几时临到,你也决不能知道”(启3:3)。{PC 75.1}
“然而在撒狄,你还有几名是未曾污秽自己衣服的,他们要穿白衣与我同行,因为他们是配得过的”(启3:4)。{PC 75.2}
“并且我要与他们立平安的约,作为永约。我也要将他们安置在本地,使他们的人数增多,又在他们中间设立我的圣所,直到永远。我的居所必在他们中间;我要作他们的上帝,他们要作我的子民”(结37:26-27)。{PC 75.3}
最后这段的经文使我们想到以色列和犹大的得胜。工作将藉着被神能充满的人来完成。所有的荣耀都归因于上帝的大能,然而正是藉着人与神的团结与合作,才可能有这样的结果。人性与神性融合,把握住神圣的效能,工作才得以完成。{PC 75.4}
我们心中充满了痛苦,是语言无法形容的,因为我们看到本应该作为使人认识真理的手段,在最纯洁的渠道进行的一个又一个工作特征,被野心和商业主义败坏了。这样,健康工作的一些特征已经证明是一个网罗,要捕获原可用于用生命的粮喂养生灵的有影响力的人才。在成千上万的人因没有真理的知识而灭亡的时候,在大众没有生命的粮可吃的时候,在上帝正呼召我们迅速做成为基督的降临预备一班百姓的工作的时候,难道我们的卫生餐馆要证明是一个网罗,仅仅为了商业利益而经营,没有进一步扩大他们的影响力吗?曾希望藉着为世俗的人预备食物来做成许多善工,从而使许多人认识真理。要是始终考虑上帝的荣耀,这原本是能做到的。但这些企业却主要在商业的基础上运营,为了获得现世的利益,以致它们往往成了一个网罗,可以说是控制了有才干的男男女女,这些才男才女藉着学习和殷勤努力,能在得人归于基督方面做出可蒙悦纳的服务。万物的结局近了。我们必须学习实现上帝的旨意。但愿没有一个人耽延。{PC 75.5}
有些人曾是公义的教师,却转离了真理,在错误的迷雾中徘徊。撒但在非常执着地追求掌权。基督号召许多正在为从事祂的服务而受训的人获得一种与他们一直在接受的性质完全不同的教育。主耶稣号召我们完成祂在升天之前赐下的使命,去与曾护送祂到上帝之城的众天军相会。{PC 75.6}
我们面前有患难之战,但我们的任务是:“所以,你们要去,使万民作我的门徒,奉父、子、圣灵的名给他们施洗。凡我所吩咐你们的,都教训他们遵守,我就常与你们同在,直到世界的末了”(太28:19,20)。谁能忽略这事,继续经营不会将灵魂带给基督的任何商业活动呢?这种情况会改变吗?你会把最后的警告传给世界吗?{PC 76.1}
怀爱伦(签名)
(来自保尔森医生的选集)
B.230 ’06 Sanitarium, California,
To the Elders of the Battle Creek Church, and to Ministers and Physicians,
I have instruction to give from the Lord. The condition of things in Battle Creek is to be clearly outlined and understood. Those who have brought about this condition are sadly deceived, and are misleading others. But the Lord will be glorified. Great spiritual transformations are to take place. All those who would be led of God, should walk very humbly before Him. In no case are they to be diverted from the path of duty that God has marked out for His people. They are not to believe falsehoods, though they be published in abundance.?{PC 73.1}
A voice is to be heard in the Tabernacle giving God’s word for this time in clear notes of warning. God has human instrumentalities that will not hold their peace. They are to advocate the word and will and way of Jehovah. In a clear, decided manner they are to proclaim the truth in all its beauty and power. No strange doctrines are to be introduced. There is to be no undermining of the fundamental truths that the Lord has submitted by many miraculous evidences. A voice is to be heard in clear affirmation of the truth, in contradiction to the skepticism and fallacies that have been coming in from the enemy of truth. Reformations will take place, and the working out of the principles of divine truth will reveal growth in grace; for the divine agencies are efficient to enlighten and sanctify the human understanding.?{PC 73.2}
The truth as it is in Jesus, as it was proclaimed by Him when He was enshrouded by the pillowy cloud, is verity and truth in this our day, and will just as surely renovate the mind of the receiver as it has renovated minds in the past. Christ has declared, “If they hear not Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:31)?{PC 73.3}
As a people, we must prepare the way of the Lord, under the overruling guidance of the Holy Spirit, for the spread of the gospel in its purity. The stream of living water is to deepen and widen in its course. In all fields, nigh and afar off, men will be called from the plow, and from the more common commercial business vocations that largely occupy the mind, and will become educated in connection with men who have had experience - men who understand the truth. Through most wonderful workings of God, mountains of difficulty will be removed and cast into the sea. Let us labor as those who have experienced the virtue of truth as it is in Jesus.?{PC 73.4}
There is to be, at this period, a series of events which will reveal that God is master of the situation. The truth will be proclaimed in clear, unmistakable language. Those who preach the truth will strive to demonstrate the truth by a well-ordered life and godly conversation. And as they do this, they will become powerful in advocating the truth, and in giving it the sure application that God has given it.?{PC 73.5}
When the men, who have known and taught the truth, turn aside to human understanding, and mete out to deceived minds their own dish of fables, it is high time for those who have once been laborers in evangelistic work, but who have been drawn away into the management of restaurants, food stores, and other commercial lines of work, to come into line, study their Bibles diligently, and with the word of God in hand, dispense the Bible truth, the spiritual food, in cooperation with the heavenly angels. This work now calls loudly for workmen of divine appointment. Omnipotence will then say to the mountains of difficulty, Be thou removed and cast into the sea.?{PC 74.1}
The call is to go forth, “Son, go labor today in My vineyard.” As this call is obeyed, the message that means so much to the dwellers on the earth, will be heard and understood. Man will know what is truth. Onward, and still onward, will the work advance. And marked events of Providence will be seen and recognized, in judgments and in blessings. The truth will bear away the victory.?{PC 74.2}
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.?{PC 74.3}
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.?{PC 74.4}
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.?{PC 74.5}
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.” 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.?{PC 74.6}
There are many who are in a perilous position spiritually, many who are “ready to die.” The Revelator was bidden to write to the church in Sardis: “These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, 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.” (Revelation 3:1-3)?{PC 74.7}
There is a censure resting upon those who have heard the truth, received the truth, and who afterward have acted like men spiritually dead. “Remember therefore.” In our work we are not to be drawn into any plausible theories that would lead to a denial of our past faith in the truth we have heard and advocated. “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 3:3)?{PC 75.1}
“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.” (Revelation 3:4)?{PC 75.2}
“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 forevermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Ezekiel 37:26-27)?{PC 75.3}
This last scripture carries our minds forward to the triumph of Israel and Judah. The accomplishment of the work will be through human instrumentalities charged with divine power. All the glory is ascribed to the great power of God, but it is through unity and cooperation of the human with the divine, that the result is made possible. Humanity, blended with divinity, grasps the divine efficiency, and the work is complete.?{PC 75.4}
We have been filled with pain of heart, which language can not describe, as we have seen feature after feature of the work that should have been conducted in the purest channels as a means of bringing souls to a knowledge of the truth, corrupted by ambition and commercialism. Thus 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 farther? 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.?{PC 75.5}
There are those who once were teachers of righteousness, but who have turned from the truth and are wandering in the mists of error. Satan with much persistency is striving for the mastery.?Christ calls upon many who are in training for His service, to obtain an education of a character altogether different from that which they have been receiving. The Lord Jesus calls upon us to fulfil His commission given just before His ascension to meet the heavenly armies that escorted Him to the city of God.?{PC 75.6}
We have the battle of tribulation before us, but our commission is, “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.” Who will pass this by, and continue in any commercial business that will not bring souls to Christ? Shall this condition change? Will you give the last note of warning to the world??{PC 76.1}
(Signed)Ellen G. White
(From Doctor Paulson’s Collection)