1906年7月3日写于加利福尼亚州疗养院
应当做成积极进取的工作
致传道人和医师们：
我心头有一个沉重的负担。我祈求主感动祂百姓的心认识到他们所生活之时代的严肃性，和为他们的脚修直道路的必要性。一些久已知道真理的人被一直行在错误道路上的领袖们搞糊涂了。{PC 81.1}
基督宣布：“我就是道路、真理、生命;若不藉着我，没有人能到父那里去”(约14:6)。那些与基督有活泼联络的人必藉着他们的行为表明出来。“信心若没有行为就是死的”(雅2:17)。{PC 81.2}
我们已经到了我们经验中的重要篇章。我们要做出前进的动作。必须做直截了当的工作。没有行为的信心是死的，是无益的。信心生发仁爱，并且洁净心灵;信心必须藉着行为来显明和证实。有一种虚假的信心，它不切中要害，因为内心坚决地反对真理。有些人可能会用这种想法安慰自己：因为他们作出了信仰表白，上帝就会将他们算为祂的子民。我们也许有一定程度的信心，了解真理的理论，但自我若不死，若不过基督顺从的生活，我们的信仰表白就毫无价值。{PC 81.3}
没有什么能取代顺从“耶和华如此说。”知识若不导致人实践舍己和自我牺牲，天天跟从基督的脚踪行，反而导致自高自大和自足自负，就是反对实际的敬虔的。上帝要求顺从。{PC 81.4}
自足自负无论是在家中还是在机构中，都对上帝的工作意味着大损害。它毁灭那些怀有它之人的属灵生命。真正的信心使人远离自私的计划和取悦自我的生活。顺从，以便蒙上帝悦纳，必须是基督曾奉献给父的全心顺服。{PC 81.5}
在回答“谁将进入天国”这个问题时，基督说：“凡称呼我‘主啊，主啊’的人不能都进天国;惟独遵行我天父旨意的人才能进去”(太7:21)。{PC 81.6}
我们必须做什么才能承受永生?答案是：遵守诫命。对于“谁是蒙福的”这个问题，基督回答说：“听上帝之道而遵守的人有福”(路11:28)。“那些遵守祂诫命的有福了!可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城。”“城外有那些犬类、行邪术的、”“杀人的、拜偶像的，并一切喜好说谎言、编造虚谎的”(启22:14,15 KJV)。{PC 81.7}
那些导致人不信上帝的道，缺乏那种生发仁爱并洁净心灵的信心的理论，乃是仇敌的理论。它们可能很讨人喜欢，很有吸引力，但它们却发展成奇怪的教义，动摇对上帝子民过去经验的信心，并拿走基础的支柱。这些理论已经进入我们中间，且已成为一种诱人的力量，使一些人失去了信心，看不出他们正生活在世界历史的什么地方。它们是错误的理论，使人离开真理，陷入狡猾的谬论中。{PC 81.8}
当医生们勤奋地研究圣经，我们的传道人在生活上顺从上帝的道，以这道作为他们的教科书时，真理就会以大能力传开，生灵就会归主。{PC 82.1}
基督是我们的教师和地上有史以来最伟大的医疗布道士，曾以大牺牲来到我们的世界，向人类显明关于上帝的正确看法。祂舍命在凡事上作我们的榜样。我蒙指示，那些在日常生活中不听从圣经的指示的人，并不认识上帝或祂所差来的基督。那些没有实践圣经的人会发明诡辩以占据人心，吸引人的注意，并教导拥有人的灵与魂与身子的那一位没有说过应当教导的东西。{PC 82.2}
就在基督升天之前，祂给了门徒一个精彩的介绍，正如《马太福音》第二十八章所记载的。这一章含有我们的传道人、我们的医师、我们的青少年和我们所有的教会肢体都需要极其认真地学习的指示。那些照着所应当的学习这个指示的人，不会胆敢提倡没有圣经根据的理论。我的弟兄姐妹们，要研究圣经，圣经含有知识的阿拉法和俄梅戛。在旧约和新约中有些东西人们还一点都不明白。{PC 82.3}
“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)。{PC 82.4}
传递这一信息就是我们在世界上的工作。我们那些生活在大中心的人，若是手中拿着圣经，内心向圣灵的印象敞开，就会带着他们所领受的信息到世界的大路和小路上去。有积极进取的工作要做成。福音传道工作、向别人讲解圣经、警告男男女女正在临到世界的事，应当多而又多地占用上帝仆人们的时间。{PC 82.5}
关于他所写出的信息，启示者约翰宣布：“我向一切听见这书上预言的作见证，若有人在这预言上加添什么，”——以致减少它们的意思的力量——“上帝必将写在这书上的灾祸加在他身上”(启22:18)。许多人会使《启示录》的话成为一种唯心论的谜，剥夺它们的庄严意义。上帝宣布，祂的刑罚必以加重的恐惧临到任何一个设法改变这本书——耶稣基督的启示——中的严肃话语的人。“念这书上预言的和那些听见又遵守其中所记载的，都是有福的，因为日期近了”(启1:3)。“这书上的预言，若有人删去什么，上帝必从这书上所写的生命树和圣城删去他的分。证明这事的说：‘是了，我必快来!’阿们!主耶稣啊，我愿祢来”(启22:19,20)!{PC 82.6}
“岂不晓得你们献上自己作奴仆，顺从谁，就作谁的奴仆吗”(罗6:16)?要研究这些话。要研究《马太福音》25:14-46的教训。把这个教训与你们的人生记录进行比较。但愿每一个人都抛弃自夸。任何一个人怀有自足自负都是一件非常危险的事。它诱导人们使基督的话语无效。{PC 83.1}
但愿我们都本着出自真信心的谦卑，跟随基督的脚踪而行。但愿我们放弃一切自恃自负之心，天天时时把自己交托与救主，不断地领受并分授祂的恩惠。我请求凡自称相信基督的人都存谦卑的心行在上帝面前。骄傲和自高自大是对祂的冒犯。基督说：“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我”(太16:24)。惟有顺从这句话的人，祂才承认是相信祂的。“凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄，作上帝的儿女。这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从上帝生的”(约1:12-13)。 {PC 83.2}
“道成了肉身，住在我们中间”(约1:14)。这是奇妙的屈尊啊!天上的大君，天军的元帅，竟然从祂崇高的地位上走下来，脱下祂的皇袍和王冠，以人性遮掩祂的神性，好使祂成为各阶层人的神圣大教师，在世人面前度完全无私无罪的生活，为他们树立一个榜样，显明他们靠着祂的恩典可以成为何等的人。{PC 83.3}
“道成了肉身，住在我们中间，充充满满地有恩典有真理。我们也见过祂的荣光，正是父独生子的荣光”(约1:14)。要为这句奇妙的话而赞美上帝!这里所提供的前景非常伟大，我们几乎无法领会，也叫我们因自己的软弱和不信而惭愧。赞美上帝，因我能凭着信心看见我们的救主。让我们把握这伟大的恩赐吧。我们今生唯一的希望，就是伸出信心的手，抓住那伸出来施行拯救的手。我们应当天天都看“上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”(约1:29)!我们若肯转而不看自己、仰望耶稣，以祂为我们的向导，世人就必在我们的教会中看到一种现在所看不到的能力。{PC 83.4}
怀爱伦(签名)
(来自保尔森医生的选集)
1904年5月22日星期一在密歇根州贝林斯普林斯
Sanitarium, California,July 3, 1906
Aggressive Work to be Done
To Ministers and Physicians:
There is a heavy burden resting on my soul. I pray the Lord to impress the hearts of His people with the solemnity of the time in which they are living, and with the necessity of making straight paths for their feet. Some who have long known the truth, are confused by leaders who have been walking in false paths.?{PC 81.1}
“I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Christ declares. “No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” Those who have a living connection with Christ will reveal it by their works. “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”?{PC 81.2}
We have reached an important chapter in our experience. We have advance movements to make. Straightforward work must be done. Faith without works is dead, unproductive of good. Faith works by love, and purifies the soul; faith must be revealed and substantiated by works. There is a spurious faith, which does not work to the point, because the heart is decidedly opposed to the truth. Some may take comfort in the thought that God will number them with His people because they make a profession. We may have a measure of faith, a knowledge of the theory of truth, but unless self dies, unless we live Christ’s life of obedience, our profession is worthless.?{PC 81.3}
Nothing can take the place of obedience to a “Thus saith the Lord.” Knowledge that does not lead to a practice of self-denial and self-sacrifice, to a daily walk in the foot-steps of Christ, but rather to self-exaltation and self-sufficiency, is opposed to practical godliness. God calls for obedience.?{PC 81.4}
Self-sufficiency, exercised in a family or institution, means great injury to the work of God. It is destructive to the spiritual life of those who cherish it. True faith leads away from selfish plans and from the self-pleasing life. Obedience, in order to be acceptable to God, must be the whole-souled obedience that Christ ever offered to the Father.?{PC 81.5}
In response to the question, Who shall enter the kingdom of heaven? Christ says, “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.” (Matthew 7:21)?{PC 81.6}
What must we do to inherit eternal life? The answer is, Keep the commandments. To the question, Who are the blessed? Christ answers, “Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.” “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.” “Without are dogs, and sorcerers,” “and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”?{PC 81.7}
The theories that lead to unbelief in the Word of God, and to a lack of the faith that works by love and purifies the soul, are?theories of the enemy. They may be very pleasing, and very attractive, but they develop into strange doctrines, which unsettle faith in the past experience of God’s people, and take away the foundation pillars. These theories have come in amongst us, and have been a seductive power, robbing some of the faith that enables human beings to see where they are living in the history of the world. They are false theories, leading away from the truth into subtle errors.?{PC 81.8}
When physicians are diligent students of the Scriptures, when our ministers live in accordance with the Word of God, making this Word their text-book, then the truth will be proclaimed with power, and souls will be converted.?{PC 82.1}
Christ, our divine Teacher, and the greatest Medical Missionary that ever trod this earth, came to our world at great sacrifice to show human beings that correct light in which to regard God. He has given His life as our example in all things. I have been instructed that those who in the daily life heed not the instructions of the Bible, do not know God or Christ whom He has sent. Those who have not lived the Scriptures will invent sophistries to occupy the mind and absorb the attention, and teach things that the One who owns man - body, soul, and spirit - has not said should be taught.?{PC 82.2}
Just before His ascension, Christ gave His disciples a wonderful presentation, as recorded in the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew. This chapter contains instruction that our ministers, our physicians, our youth, and all our church members need to study most earnestly. Those who study this instruction as they should will not dare advocate theories that have no foundation in the Word of God. My brethren and sisters, make the Scriptures, which contain the alpha and the omega of knowledge, your study. All through the Old Testament and the New there are things that are not half understood.?{PC 82.3}
“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.” (Matthew 28:19, 20)?{PC 82.4}
The giving of this message is our work in the world. Those of our people who are living in large centers, would gain a precious experience, if, with their Bibles in their hands, and their hearts open to the impressions of the Holy Spirit, they would go forth to the highways and byways of the world with the message they have received. There is aggressive work to be done. Evangelistic work, opening the Scriptures to others, warning men and women of what is coming upon the world, is to occupy more and still more of the time of God’s servants.?{PC 82.5}
Regarding the messages he had written out, John the Revelator declared: “I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things,” - to lessen the force of their meaning - “God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book.” Many will make the words of the Revelation a spiritualistic mystery, robbing them?of their solemn import. God declares that His judgments shall fall with increased dreadfulness upon any one who shall try to change the solemn words written in this book - the Revelation of Jesus Christ. “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.” “If any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:19, 20)?{PC 82.6}
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.” Study these words. Study the instruction found in?Matthew 25:14-46. Compare this instruction with your life-record. Let every man put away his boasting. Self-sufficiency is a fearfully dangerous thing for any one to entertain. It leads men to make of no effect the words of Christ.?{PC 83.1}
Let us walk in the footsteps of Christ, in all the humility of true faith. Let us put away all self-trust, committing ourselves, day by day and hour by hour, to the Saviour, constantly receiving and imparting His grace. I beg those who profess to believe in Christ to walk humbly before God. Pride and self-exaltation are an offense to Him. “If any man will come after Me,” Christ declares, “let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Those only who obey this word will He recognize as His believing ones. “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 1:12-14)?{PC 83.2}
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” Oh, wonderful condescension! The Prince of heaven, the Commander of the heavenly hosts, stepped down from His high position, laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might become the divine Teacher of all classes of men, and live before human beings a life free from all selfishness and sin, setting them an example of what, through His grace, they may become.?{PC 83.3}
“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.” Praise God for this wonderful statement! The possibilities that it presents seem almost too great for us to grasp, and put to shame our weakness and our unbelief. Let us praise God that we can see our Saviour by faith. Let us grasp the great gift. Our only hope in this life is to reach forth the hand of faith, and grasp the hand outstretched to save. Daily we are to “behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” If we would look away from self to Jesus, making him our guide, the world would see in our churches a power that it does not now see.?{PC 83.4}
(Signed)Ellen G. White
(From Doctor Paulson’s Collection)
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