1894年2月6日写于乔治阶地
致J.E.怀特夫妇
亲爱的孩子们：
在晚雨沛降的时候，人的发明和人为的制度，将会不时地被清扫。人的权威将被破除。圣灵要通过活生生的人，令人信服地说话。没有人会注意所说的话是否优雅，语法有无错误。生命的活水将通过上帝自己的管道流淌。然而我们现在就当谨慎，不要高抬人和人的言行，任何一个人都不要认为有什么了不起的经历要叙述;因为在这块结果子的园地里，会有人信任不配的人类。一些青年男女可能会受到抬举。他们会自以为是天之骄子，蒙召要成就一番伟业。许多人会按着某种特别的等次而归信，但他们身上并没有神圣的记号。会有不道德和奢侈的现象出现。许多人的信心就会触礁。我们惟一的保障就是紧紧依靠耶稣，决不要看不见祂。祂说：“离了我，你们就不能做什么”(约15:5)。我们必须培养一种持久的无助感，总是意识到自己的无能，完全依赖耶稣。这会使我们言行沉稳。演讲的兴奋是色厉内荏的表现。福音本是上帝救人的大能。传讲圣经的真理，需要真诚和活力。……{PC 143.3}
许多人有被流沙吞没的危险。如果我们不与不是从天上来的能力和冒昧之举混在一起，恳切寻求上帝的灵就总是安全的。我们所说的每一句话，都当谨慎，免得有些易于激动的可怜人，有了热心却不是按着真知识。他们就会行事好像自己有权使唤圣灵，而不是被圣灵所使唤，照着上帝的样式塑造他们。还人跑到基督前面去的危险。我们应当尊荣圣灵，照着圣灵的引导而行。“不可倚靠自己的聪明”(箴3:5)。这是向人传讲真理之人的一个危险。跟从基督的脚踪，才是安全的。祂的工作必坚定不移。凡上帝所说的，都是真理。{PC 144.1}
然而向堕落的世人传讲恩典最后信息的人，决不可信口开河。他们不可让撒但钻了空子，进入人心。我们的工作不是做实验，去标新立异，引发兴奋。撒但正在侍机而动，要利用这等事引进骗局。圣灵的感动则会使人心态平衡。不要人为地制造兴奋，结果适得其反。撒但会利用每一夸大之词，伤害讲话的人自己，以及那些受这种精神感染而影响他人的人。要培养冷静和庄重。我们如果注重于庄严的真理，就必表现出极大的真诚。我们只能这么做，因为我们负有最神圣的信息要传给将亡的人，因为意识到救主的降临是如此的紧迫。{PC 144.2}
我们如果不断地注目耶稣，接受祂的灵，就会有清晰的眼光，看到周围的危险，谨慎所说的每一句话，免得撒但钻空子，引进他的骗局。我们不需要把人心弄得亢奋不安，也不要鼓励人去期待什么奇怪的惊人的事，而要教导他们步步地跟从耶稣。当传讲耶稣基督，因我们永生的希望全系于祂。{PC 144.3}
仇敌正准备用他施行奇迹的能力来欺骗全世界。他要扮成光明的天使，甚至以耶稣基督的样子出现。每一个教导当代真理的人务要传道。紧扣圣道的人，不会在预言、异象和异梦的问题上说出不慎之言，给撒但打开门户。自从1844年我们盼望基督复临以来，各地或多或少都有这种假神迹出现。我们已在加迈尔的事例中，在E.R.琼斯的声明中，以及在斯坦顿运动中见到这些假神迹的表现。以后这些事情会越来越多。我们务必像忠心的哨兵那样保持警惕。关于异象的问题，我已经收到不少的信，来自许多自认为有了异象且有责任传播之的人。愿主帮助祂的仆人当心。{PC 144.4}
上帝有祂传光的真通道。但世上总有许多赝品。撒但肯定会进入任何一个向他敞开的门户，将他自己的观点与真理的信息掺在一起，误导众生，把人的思想吸引到人与人的话语上，阻止人坚持“耶和华如此说”。在上帝与祂子民的交往中，一切都是安静的。对那些信靠祂的人，一切都是安详自若，没有虚饰的。这样的信徒有对圣经抱有质朴、忠诚、恳切的态度，既听道又行道，坚定，真诚，明智地等候上帝。信徒必将自己无助的心灵寄予耶稣基督。基督必被尊崇。我们的立场乃是要作工并祈祷，守望并等候。我们不应希望得到承认，也不应希望我们的工作得到最充分的赏识。天堂才是最好和最安全的地方，可以从我们的救赎主口中听到我们工作的结果。……
(签名)
母亲
怀爱伦{PC 145.1}
George’s Terrace,February 6, 1894
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. White
Dear Children,
Under the showers of the latter rain the inventions of man, the human machinery, will at times be swept away, the boundary of man’s authority will be as broken reeds, and the Holy Spirit will speak through the living, human agent with convincing power. No one then will watch to see if the sentences are well rounded off, if the grammar is faultless. The living water will flow in God’s own channels. But let us be careful now not to exalt the men, their sayings and doings; and let not anyone consider it a grand point to have a startling experience to relate; for here is a fruitful field where credence will be given to unworthy persons. Young men and women will be lifted up, and will regard themselves as wonderfully favored, called to do?some great thing. There will be conversions many, after a peculiar order but they will not bear the divine signature. Immorality will come in and extravagance and many will make ship-wreck of faith. Our only safety is in keeping fast hold of Jesus. Never are we to lose sight of Him. He says, “Without Me you can do nothing.” We must cultivate an abiding sense of our own inefficiency and helplessness and rely wholly on Jesus. This should keep us individually calm and steadfast in words and deportment. Excitement in the speaker is not power but weakness. Earnestness and energy are essential in presenting Bible truth, the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation....?{PC 143.3}
There are quicksands upon which many are in danger of being swamped. It is always safe to seek for the earnest of the Spirit of God, if we do not mingle with it a force and presumption that is not heaven born. There is need of caution in all our utterances lest some poor souls of ardent temperament shall work themselves up into a zeal not according to knowledge. They will act as though it was their prerogative to use the Holy Spirit instead of letting the Holy Spirit use them, and mold and fashion them after the Pattern of the divine. There is danger of running ahead of Christ. We should honor the Holy Spirit by following where it shall lead. “Lean not to thine own understanding.” This one danger of those who teach the truth to others. To follow where Christ leads is a safe path for our feet. His work will stand. Whatsoever God saith is truth.?{PC 144.1}
But ministers who bear the last message of mercy to fallen men must utter no random words; they must not open doors where by Satan shall find access to human minds. It is not our work to experiment, to study out something new and startling that will create excitement. Satan is watching his chance to take advantage of anything of this order that he may bring in his deceiving elements. The Holy Spirit moving upon the human agents, will keep the mind well balanced. There will not be a wrought up excitement, to be followed by re-action. Satan will make use of every extravagant expression to the injury, not only of the speaker but of those who shall catch the same spirit and infuse others to their harm. Calmness and solemnity should be cultivated; the solemn truths we dwell upon will lead us to manifest deep earnestness. How can we do otherwise when weighed with the most sacred message to bear to perishing souls, weighted by the sense of the nearness of our Saviour’s coming.?{PC 144.2}
If we are constantly looking unto Jesus and receiving His Spirit, we shall have clear eye sight. Then we shall discern the perils on every side, and shall guard every word we utter, lest Satan find opportunity to weave in his deceptions. We do not want to have the minds of the people wrought up into excitement. We shall not encourage an expectation to see strange and wonderful things. But teach them to follow Jesus, step by step. Preach Jesus Christ, in whom our hope of eternal life is centered.?{PC 144.3}
The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole world by his miracle-working power. He will assume to personate the angels?of light, to personate Jesus Christ. Every one who teaches the truth for this time is to preach the word. Those who cling to the word, will not throw open the doors for Satan by making unguarded statements in reference to prophesying or to dreams and visions. To a greater or lesser degree false manifestations have been coming in, here and there, since 1844, after the time when we looked for the second coming of Christ. We have had them in the Garmire case, in the statements of E. R. Jones, in the Stanton movement. We shall have them more and more, and like faithful sentinels we must be on guard. Letters are coming to me from many persons concerning visions which they have had and feel it their duty to relate. May the Lord help His servants to be cautious.?{PC 144.4}
When the Lord has a genuine channel of light, there are always plenty of counterfeit. Satan will surely enter any door thrown open to him. He will give messages of truth mingled with the truth ideas of his own, prepared to mislead souls, to draw the mind to human beings and their sayings, and prevent it from holding firmly to a Thus saith the Lord. In God’s dealing with His people, all is quiet; with those who trust in Him all is calm and unpretending. There will be simple, true, earnest believers in the Bible, and there will be doers of the word as well as hearers. There will be sound, earnest, sensible, waiting upon God. The believer will hang his helpless soul on Jesus Christ. Christ will be exalted. Working and praying, watching and waiting, is our position. We should not desire to be recognized and to have our work appreciated in the fullest measure. Heaven is the best and safest place in which to hear from the lips of our Redeemer the result of our work....?{PC 145.1}
(Signed)
Mother
Ellen G. White -
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