1893年1月9日写于墨尔本，圣基尔达路，乔治阶地
致密歇根州巴特尔克里克C.爱尔德里奇船长
亲爱的弟兄：
主的话以清晰的思路临到我，论到在《评论与通讯》出版社工作之人的原则和行为。工人一方需要自省。每一个参与圣工的人都应该以基督化的方式做自己的工作。不可有不择手段的行为，“诡诈的天平为耶和华所憎恶”(箴11:1)。诡诈的天平乃是一切不公平交易，一切欺骗的象征，要在公平公正的外表下隐瞒自私和不公。上帝一点也不会赞成这种行为。祂憎恶一切虚假的作风。祂痛恨一切自私与贪婪。祂不会容忍无情的交易，而会以同样的手段回敬。上帝能使诚实得财的工人兴旺成功。但祂的咒诅却落在靠自私的行为所得的一切上。当一个人沉湎于自私或欺诈的交易时，就表明自己不敬畏主，不尊敬祂的名。凡与上帝联络的人不仅要避免一切不公，而且会向凡与其打交道的人显出仁慈与善良。主必支持不偏待人，却不会赞同那些不恩待穷人、寡妇和孤儿之人的做法。……{PC 147.4}
上帝看顾在不同生活范围之中的人，并在他们所处的不同环境下，考验他们的品格。纯洁、文雅、高尚的真理始终是衡量人的试石。如果真理支配着良心，是心中常存的原则，它就会成为积极的动力，生发仁爱并洁净心灵。但真理的知识如果没有美化心灵，没有按照上帝的形像降服、软化和再造人，它对于接受者就没有什么益处了。它就会像鸣的锣和响的钹一样。当在耶稣里的真理藉着圣灵栽培在心中时，它就总是由内向外作工，在我们对凡与我们联络之人的言语、精神和行为上表现出来。{PC 148.1}
真理的浪潮从无穷智慧的上帝涌向祂脆弱的人间代表是不受人的意志管制的。上帝规定条件，明确提出我们可以领受祂恩赐的每一个条件。一方有无穷的能力、智慧、怜悯和良善，另一方则是软弱、无知、无奈而且有罪的。就连人的各样才智，就是上帝愿意接受来与神合作的，也只是委托给我们的。上帝伟大的屈尊俯就容许有限的人在拯救世人的工作中与祂合作，祂制定的条件是人间的代表要接受来自上帝的忠告，勤勉地顺从上帝口中所出的一切话。我们在宗教生活上的成功将会根据我们完全彻底地满足这些条件而定。……{PC 148.2}
上帝的计划是，凡与祂同工的人都应在祂的爱和祂救赎的能力上有丰富的经验。我们决不应该说;“我没有任何经验，”因为曾赐给保罗经验的那位上帝，也会向每一个愿意恳切寻求祂的人显示祂自己。上帝论到亚伯拉罕说什么呢?“我认识他，”鉴察人心的上帝说：“为要叫他吩咐他的众子和他的眷属遵守我的道，秉公行义”(创18:19)。亚伯拉罕愿意培养家庭的宗教，对主的敬畏会导致生活的正直。那位祝福义人居所的上帝说：“我认识他，为要叫他吩咐。”没有任何背弃神圣委托的行为，没有任何在错与对之间的徘徊不定。那圣者已赐下规则引导所有的人——就是品格的标准，任何人都不能偏离这标准而无罪。应当本着良心殷勤地研究上帝的旨意，且应使之成为人生一切事务中最重要的事。那每一个人都要遵守的律法，乃是源自无限之爱的心。{PC 148.3}
那位说自己认识亚伯拉罕的神圣守望者，也认识哥尼流，差遣祂的使者传信息给接受和利用上帝所赐一切亮光的人。天使说：“你的祷告和你的周济达到上帝面前已蒙纪念了，现在你当打发人往约帕去，请那称呼彼得的西门来。”然后又详细指示他说：“他往在海边一个硝皮匠西门的家里，房子在海边上，他必告诉你所当作的事。”主的使者就这样让哥尼流与他人接触，以便领受更大的亮光。要仔细研究本章经文，了解整个事件的单纯性，想想上帝知道我们每一个人的名字，住在什么地方，我们所怀的精神，以及我们生活的一举一动。服役的天使正在各教会巡视，看看我们各人是否忠心尽职。……{PC 149.1}
1893年1月9日写于墨尔本，圣基尔达路乔治阶地
今天下午我与福斯特弟兄长谈了一次，他是普拉兰教会的肢体，正处在困惑和考验中。他的职业是裁缝，是个一流的工匠。在接受真理之前，他的职位每周可挣30美元。当他开始守安息日时，曾得蒙允许保留职位，只是要扣掉安息日那天的工资。他是个很有口才的人，很有能力教导真理。他辞了职，进入园地作工人，但却被独自派到一个艰难的园地，由于灰心和困惑，他几乎要在撒但欺人的权势下跌倒了。一年前他在区会曾与我交谈过一次。那时他得了释放，聚会对他很有益。此后他搬到了墨尔本，重操旧业并且带领在普拉兰的聚会。然而在目前的商业萧条中，他的处境很窘迫;他的健康状况不好，家里人口又很多，所以他变得很灰心了，而在这种心态下，撒但就用试探和黑暗逼迫他。数周以来他一直处在严重的试炼中，今天他来告诉我他的麻烦。{PC 149.2}
他说他对证言知道得很少，不了解它们与圣工的关系。有时他感到困惑就向主求亮光，于是做了一个很惊人的梦。他看见怀姐妹在一艘船里驾着巨浪而行，那些巨浪水花四溅，象亮光一样照向各方。船进了他与许多人同在的房间。他起身要躲开它，那时有一只手伸向他，给了他一张纸。纸在着着火。(有声音说：)“快点读。”他扑灭了火，打开那张纸。那是一篇证言，并有一把钥匙在证言上。他心中立刻有了强有力的解释：解开证言的钥匙就是证言本身。他醒了，上帝的赐福临到了他。于是他祷告说：“主啊，指示我去读应该读的证言，好对我的情况有帮助。”他拿起第31辑证言，翻到了“被拒绝的证言”(见《证言》卷五第5章，“忽视证言”)那篇文章，极感兴趣地通读了，深感证言是来自上帝的。{PC 149.3}
此后他在《评论与通讯》中看到了A. T.琼斯弟兄写的关于兽像的文章，然后又看到史密斯长老提出相反观点的那篇文章。他被搞糊涂了，很烦恼。他已从阅读琼斯和瓦格纳弟兄的文章得到许多亮光和安慰;但此时却有一位老工人，写了许多典范性著作的一位，我们曾相信是受教于上帝的一位，似乎竟与琼斯弟兄相抵触。这一切意味着什么呢?难道琼斯弟兄错了吗?难道史密斯弟兄错了吗?哪个是对的呢?他困惑了。当上帝圣工中的重要工人在同一份报刊上采取相反的立场时，我们能依赖谁呢?我们能相信谁有正确的立场呢?{PC 150.1}
福斯特弟兄非常困惑，以致他用信件传话说他不能带领聚会了。自从祷告周开始以来，试探强有力地压迫着他，以致他没有得到一点益处。我们的领导人中间的这些分歧占据了他全部的思想，他对这事非常苦恼。我告诉他，我料到别人读了这些文章也会有同样的经历。这些分歧本不应该公开，因为会绊倒一些信心软弱的人，结果可能会使他们丧失灵命。我心中深感遗憾和悲伤，因为我知道主不喜悦这种情况。{PC 150.2}
但是我说：“福斯特弟兄，你有圣经。以虔诚的心查考它吧;你的救赎主已应许圣灵要带你进入一切真理。你有一位全智的教师，祂从不犯错。我在上帝面前嘱咐你要停止忧虑，接受临到你的宝贵光线。以耶稣里的真理为宴席，趁着有光行在光中，更多的亮光就会从众光之源照到你身上。不要让你的心思去深思细想你认为你看出来的分歧。要是我们处于领导地位的弟兄们很不明智，竟然让他们相冲突的观点出现在向世界发行的报刊上;要是他们在帐幕礼拜堂或其它地方聚集来敬拜上帝的大庭广众面前提出这些分歧，他们就是在做主耶稣告诉他们不要做的事，直接违背藉着证言赐给他们的亮光。”{PC 150.3}
现在，弟兄们，导致这种工作的热心并不是来自上帝的;基督绝不促使任何人去反对基督。祂不会带领我们去抵消祂自己的指示，或行事与祂在离开门徒之前为他们而献上的祷告的精神相反。祂知道他们会遭受考验，面对来自世人的反对，祂说：“我与他们同在的时候，因祢所赐给我的名保守了他们，我也护卫了他们;其中除了那灭亡之子，没有一个灭亡的，好叫经上的话得应验。现在我往祢那里去，我还在世上说这话，是叫他们心里充满我的喜乐。我已将祢的道赐给他们。世界又恨他们;因为他们不属世界，正如我不属世界一样。我不求祢叫他们离开世界，只求祢保守他们脱离那恶者”(约17:12-15)。{PC 151.1}
我们的工作显然是积极进取的。我们的战斗要针对错误与罪恶，而不是彼此相斗。上帝要求我们要彼此加力，要医治而不要毁灭。我们要不断地领受亮光;而不要唾弃上帝所派传亮光给祂子民的信息或信使。{PC 151.2}
要是在发表琼斯长老关于兽像的文章之前，史密斯长老曾与他商量，明说他自己的观点与琼斯弟兄的观点不同，要是那篇文章发表在《评论与通讯》上，他自己就必须提出相反的立场，这事就会显得比现在好多了。然而在这件事上采取的做法与在明尼阿波利斯的一样。那些反对琼斯和瓦格纳弟兄的人显出无意待他们如弟兄，手中拿着圣经虔诚思考，并以基督化的精神考虑分歧点。这是惟一会令上帝赞许的做法，祂责备了那些不愿在明尼阿波利斯这么做的人。可是这种盲目的斗争仍在继续。具有同样信仰的人，在同一座城市里，竟然掉转武器彼此开火。这令天上的世界震惊。我深感忧伤，要是这些事令我忧伤，就会多么令耶稣忧伤啊，祂在十字架上无限的痛苦，要救赎人们脱离撒但的权势，使他们在基督里合一。“你们都是弟兄”(太23:8)。是什么竟能导致弟兄们将相反的观点呈现在世人面前，而不先本着爱心聚在一起，对照比较这些观点，好看看能否达成一致呢?弟兄们愿意告诉我是什么精神在鼓动他们这么做吗?{PC 151.3}
我们知道琼斯弟兄一直在给出适合这时候的信息——为上帝饥饿的羊群按时分粮。那些不让偏见挡住心门反对天赐信息的人，不得不感受到真理的精神和力量。琼斯弟兄已经从一个教会到另一个教会，从一个州到另一个州传达了信息，亮光、自由和上帝之灵的沛降也伴随着这道，因为应验预言的最惊人的事件表明，大危机迅速临近了。琼斯弟兄设法将自称上帝子民的人从死亡般的昏睡中唤醒，好看到向世人传警告的重要性。但他提出的一些想法不是所有的人都同意，盖奇弟兄立刻起来了，他准备战斗，并在帐幕礼拜堂在会众面前采取立场反对琼斯弟兄。这符合上帝的旨意吗?难道主的灵离开琼斯弟兄到盖奇弟兄那里去鼓动他做这种事吗?关于兽像的形成，就算琼斯弟兄的言论不成熟，难道这事需要这种表现吗?我的回答是，不;除非上帝从未藉着我讲话。{PC 151.4}
必须严格遵行圣经的准则。关于流行的意见分歧的事应该得到冷静的考虑，多多祈祷，存心向往团结，彼此怀有完全的爱心。仔细检查每一个要点，就像你们能看到整个天庭都在看着你们一样。若有明确的证据证明一位弟兄错了，就要设法根据上帝的道说服他。假如你们的努力没有取得成功，即使在那时世人也与这事无关，因为那只会羞辱真理的上帝和祂所差来的耶稣基督。{PC 152.1}
我收到了不同地点的来信，告诉我这些事悲惨的、令人灰心的结果。来自我们仇敌的反对已经够多了，我们还要面对猛烈强劲的冲突;我们不要让撒但因我们自己队伍内部的激战而狂喜。我们的救主所祈求的合一应该带进我们的实际生活中。平安，基督的平安，由真理而生并由公义维持，是我们各人都必须培养的。上帝如此爱了世人，甚至藉着赐下祂的独生子来表明祂的爱，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生。耶稣说过：“我赐给你们一条新命令，乃是叫你们彼此相爱;我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了”(约13:34, 35)。“你们要彼此相爱，象我爱你们一样;这就是我的命令”(约15:12)。让你们的热心显明出来吧，不是显明在揭露你们的分歧上，而是显明在培养爱的宝贵植物上，正如耶稣告诉我们要去做的。{PC 152.2}
“主为我们舍命，我们从此就知道何为爱;我们也当为弟兄舍命。……小子们哪，我们相爱，不要只在言语和舌头上，总要在行为和诚实上。从此就知道我们是属真理的，并且我们的心在上帝面前可以安稳。……上帝的命令就是叫我们信祂儿子耶稣基督的名，且照祂所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。”“没有爱心的，就不认识上帝，因为上帝就是爱。上帝差祂独生子到世间来，使我们藉着祂得生，上帝爱我们的心在此就显明了。不是我们爱上帝，乃是上帝爱我们，差祂的儿子为我们的罪作了挽回祭，这就是爱了。{PC 152.3}
亲爱的弟兄啊，上帝既是这样爱我们，我们也当彼此相爱。从来没有人见过上帝，我们若彼此相爱，上帝就住在我们里面，爱祂的心在我们里面得以完全了。上帝将祂的灵赐给我们，从此就知道我们是住在祂里面，祂也住在我们里面。……人若说‘我爱上帝’，却恨他的弟兄，就是说谎话的;不爱他所看见的弟兄，就不能爱没有看见的上帝(有古卷作：怎能爱没有看见的上帝呢)。爱上帝的，也当爱弟兄，这是我们从上帝所受的命令”(约壹3:16, 18, 19, 23; 4:8-13, 20, 21)。{PC 152.4}
我只引用了很少的几段经文，但圣经中充满这种教训。既然我们若不爱弟兄就不可能爱上帝，那么我们若不对彼此怀有基督化的爱心，在天庭情况就肯定于我们不利。这道是非常清楚明确的。我看到弟兄们中间多么少怀有和表现爱心，我的痛苦就无可估量。藉着向他人显明我们彼此多么缺少爱心、敬意和尊重，撒但要用他的论据反对我们并削弱我们的感化力要到几时呢?现在岂不是我们作行道的人，而不只是听道的时候吗?我们难道不该严密地省察己心，看看自己是否有上帝的爱呢?耶稣来成了罪身的形状，藉着纯洁圣善的生活在肉体中定了罪案。祂来到我们的世界要表现上帝的品格，而我们的工作是表现基督的品格。我们的心中若是丧失了祂的爱，我们的工作就是要寻求耶和华，好使我们的心被祂的圣灵更新。{PC 153.1}
“弟兄们，我藉我们主耶稣基督的名，劝你们都说一样的话。你们中间也不可分党，只要一心一意，彼此相合。因为革来氏家里的人曾对我提起弟兄们来，说你们中间有纷争。我的意思就是你们各人说：‘我是属保罗的’;‘我是属亚波罗的’;‘我是属矶法的’;‘我是属基督的’。基督是分开的吗?保罗为你们钉了十字架吗?你们是奉保罗的名受了洗吗”(林前1:10-13)?{PC 153.2}
教会中分裂与不和的原因乃是与基督分离。团结的秘诀乃是与基督联合。基督是大中心。我们彼此接近程度按我们接近中心的程度而定。我们若与基督联合，就必定与同道弟兄联合。做基督徒的意义远比人所认识的更多。基督徒就是像基督一样。教友身份并不使我们成为基督徒。来自基督的亮光已经穿透内心了吗?公正、纯洁与真理住在心灵的圣殿里了吗?我们是可以知道的;因为果子会显出来。“圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。凡属基督耶稣的人，是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了。我们若是靠圣灵得生，就当靠圣灵行事。不要贪图虚名，彼此惹气，互相嫉妒。弟兄们，若有人偶然被过犯所胜，你们属灵的人就当用温柔的心把他挽回过来;又当自己小心，恐怕也被引诱。你们各人的重担要互相担当，如此，就完全了基督的律法。人若无有，自己还以为有，就是自欺了”(加5:22-26; 6:1-3)。这不是弟兄对弟兄怀有偏见的时候。不要把任何在我们中间带有一点分歧迹象的东西放在敌人手中，即使是意见的分歧也不可。{PC 153.3}
在明尼阿波利斯的会议原是极好的机会，在场的人都可在上帝面前谦卑己心并欢迎耶稣作大教师，但出席那次会议的一些人所采取的立场却证明了他们的灭亡。他们自那时以后就一直看不清楚，他们将来也不会看清楚，因为他们坚持怀有在那里盛行的精神，就是一种邪恶的、批评指责的精神。可是自从那次会议以来，主一直在赐下丰富的亮光和证据，叫人人都能明白何为真理。那些当时受了欺骗的人后来原可以来就光。要不是因为他们自己反叛之心的骄傲，他们原会因耶稣里的真理而欢喜快乐。在审判的时候他们会被问道：“你们起来反对我以亮光、恩典和能力派给我民的信息和信使，谁向你们手中讨这些呢?你们为何心中自高反对上帝呢?你们为何用自己乖僻的精神挡住道路呢?后来当证据堆积如山时，你们为何不在上帝面前谦卑己心，悔改自己拒绝祂所赐给你们的怜悯信息的罪呢?”主并没有授意这些弟兄去抗拒真理。祂原希望他们受圣灵的洗，成为以清晰明亮的光线向世人传达亮光的活管道。{PC 154.1}
“主所爱的弟兄们哪，我们本该常为你们感谢上帝;因为祂从起初拣选了你们，叫你们因信真道，又被圣灵感动，成为圣洁，能以得救”(帖后2:13)。按照上帝的指定，这节经文说明了人类得救的两大媒介——上帝的感化和一种强有力的、活泼的、有功效的信心，一种接受真理的信心。上帝不要求任何人丢弃自己的理性，屈服于盲目轻信的控制。但我们要本着学习者的精神查考圣经。要以基督的柔和谦卑细查每一个不同点。寻找真理如同寻找隐藏的珍宝。忽视这些关系切身利益的问题是不行的。人的断言象稻草一样没有价值。许多人会错失去往天国的道路，因为他们竟然冒险把信仰寄托在人身上。他们拒绝怜悯的信息只是因为他们所信任的某个人对这信息漠不关心。然而灵魂太宝贵了，不可将其信仰寄托在人身上。除了基督没有人能赎人的灵魂。我们有上帝的道，惟有这道才是我们可以坚定倚靠的。但愿弟兄们一起寻求上帝。但愿他们跌在磐石上并且跌碎。“我们是与上帝同工的”(林前3:9)。我们必须明白这种合作加给我们的义务，否则我们绝不能通过审判。“与上帝同工”意味着与我们堕落的同胞同作工人，但与神力合作。得救的工夫就是要完成人与神的这种联合。{PC 154.2}
我们正处在危险的时期。不能再说危险的日子还在将来。每一个分别为圣从事主圣工之人的心智能力，都要付诸使用，不是用来挡住上帝传给祂子民之信息的道路，而是用来团结一致地作工，预备一班人在上帝的大日站立得住。来自天国的灵感并不使人多疑，伺机贪婪地抓住把柄要证明那些在经文的某个解释上与我们观点不同的人信仰不纯正。这种行径有产生他们正力图避免之结果的危险，而且罪孽会在很大程度上落在那些正伺机行恶之人头上。要是他们摆脱了偏见，行事为人存谦卑的心，他们原会欣然接受亮光，无论来源如何。他们既认出上帝的灵和基督的恩典，就会确实成为通光的管道，他们长期的经验也会使他们成为可靠的顾问，有健全判断力的人。{PC 154.3}
上帝希望祂的子民彼此相爱，互相帮助，从而加强每一项善工。当我们接近伟大的圆满成功的时候，我们应该彼此商量，年长的、有经验的工人应该与上帝兴起来要推进祂圣工的人一起商议。然而要是象史密斯长老、范霍恩长老和巴特勒长老这样的人站得远远的，不与上帝看为在这些危险的时代推进圣工所必要的力量相融合，他们就会被撇在后面。上帝必本公义完成祂的工作。这些弟兄有一切的机会去站在正推进胜利的队伍中，但他们若是拒绝，工作就会没有他们而前进。上帝必差派祂愿意差派的人;祂的信息不会徒然返回，而会成就它的差事。他们若是拒绝祂的信息，上帝原计划应该象摩西对约书亚一样对待年轻工人的人，就会没能去做主原计划要他们做的工作。他们就会成为障碍而不是福气。工作必定前进，但这些原可领受最丰盛福气的弟兄，却会遭受永恒的损失，因为他们尽管可能悔改并最终得救，但决不能重新得到他们因自己的错误行径所失去的。他们原可成为上帝的工具，以大能推进圣工，但他们的感化力却被用来抵消主的信息，使工作看起来有问题。有一丝一毫这种行为都必须悔改。{PC 155.1}
我们自己队伍中的反对已经强加给主的信使们劳心费力的工作;因为他们不得不应付不必存在的困难和障碍。当不得不在我们自己的人中间做这种工作的好使他们乐意以便上帝在祂大能的日子作工的时候，上帝荣耀的亮光就一直没有以清晰集中的光线照向世界。成千上万如今在谬论黑暗中的人原可加入到我们中间。需要用来抵消我们中间那些反对信息的弟兄们的影响的一切光阴、思想和工作，已经大大减少了向世人传扬上帝的审判要快快来到的工作。上帝的灵在祂子民中间一直在以大能存在，却不能赐给他们，因为他们没有敞开心门接受它。{PC 155.2}
我们要担心的，并非世人的反对，而是在我们中间行事阻碍了信息的那些成员。传播真理的效率有赖于那些自称相信真理之人和谐一致的行动。爱与信任构成一种道德力量，会使我们的各教会团结起来，确保行动的和谐;然而冷淡和不信任却带来分裂，使我们丧失力量。{PC 155.3}
主的计划是，藉着圣灵传给祂子民的警告和指示的信息应该传到各处。但在明尼阿波利斯反抗亮光和真理所产生的影响却要使上帝藉着《证言》赐给祂子民的亮光无效。《大斗争》卷四没有得到应有的流通，因为有些居于负责岗位的人被明尼阿波利斯盛行的那种精神感染了，那种精神蒙蔽了上帝子民的辨识力。{PC 156.1}
当我们不得不将精力在很大程度上用于抵消仇敌藉着我们自己队伍中的那些人所做的工作时，反对真理的工作却一直在稳步进展着。一些人的迟钝和一些人的反对使我们的人力财力在很大程度上限制在那些知道真理却不实行其原则的人中间。要是基督的每一个士兵都尽了自己的本分，要是锡安城墙上的每一个守望者都将号角吹出确定的声音，世人原能在此以前就听到警告的信息。但这工作已落后多年了。这样阻碍工作将要向上帝交怎样的账呢?{PC 156.2}
在天使还在执掌四风不让它们刮，好给每一个有亮光的人机会光照世界时，我们中间一直有些势力在作工，喊叫说平安稳妥。许多人并不明白我们没有时间、力量或感化力可以藉着拖拉缓慢的行动浪费掉。当人们睡觉时，撒但却一直在稳定地前进要比我们抢先一步，利用所得到的便利让事态符合他的心意。{PC 156.3}
主已向我们显明，老底嘉教会的信息适用于此时的教会，可是将它实际应用在自己身上的人多么少啊。上帝已为我们行事;我们对上天无可抱怨，因为最丰富的福气一直在提供给我们，但我们的人却不愿意接受。那些已经那么顽梗反叛以致不肯虚己接受上帝本着怜悯赐给他们心灵的亮光的人，变得如此缺乏圣灵，以致主不能使用他们。这些人若不悔改，就决不会进入幸福的居所。有些一直在传道的人，其工作沾染了污秽和放荡。他们所做的害多益少。他们若不转离恶行，就必与恶人一同灭亡。有些人则以一种很漠不关心的方式传达真理;他们对圣工没有真正的负担;他们后退而不是前进。这些人早该走回头路，因为他们已经丧失了起初的爱心。主对他们的命令是：“所以，应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并要悔改，行起初所行的事。你若不悔改，我就临到你那里，把你的灯台从原处挪去”(启2:5)。{PC 156.4}
一项大工摆在我们前面。有几个人负着责任的重担。他们感觉到上帝已在要传给世人的真理信息中交给美国的各教会一个严肃的托付。从各国都听到马其顿的呼声：“请过来帮助我们。”上帝本着祂的天意已在我们面前开放了园地，要是人力与神力合作，许多人就可享有纯洁得救的信心。数年以来一直在发出呼吁，但自称主子民的人却一直忽视所分配给他们的工作，这工作几乎还没有开展。上帝已传来一道又一道信息，要唤醒我们的各教会，叫他们有所作为，而且现在就做。然而对于上帝的这个呼召：“我可以差遣谁呢?”响应的声音却很少：“我在这里，请差遣我”(赛6:8)。因着这种疏忽，许多人会丧失主切愿赐给他们的机会。{PC 157.1}
耶稣对他说：“有一人摆设大筵席，请了许多客。到了坐席的时候，打发仆人去对所请的人说：‘请来吧!样样都齐备了。’众人一口同音的推辞。头一个说：‘我买了一块地，必须去看看。请你准我辞了。’又有一个说：‘我买了五对牛，要去试一试。请你准我辞了。’又有一个说：‘我才娶了妻，所以不能去。’那仆人回来，把这事都告诉了主人。家主就动怒，对仆人说：‘快出去，到城里大街小巷，领那贫穷的、残废的、瞎眼的、瘸腿的来。’仆人说：‘主啊，你所吩咐的已经办了，还有空座。’主人对仆人说，‘你出去到路上和篱笆那里，勉强人进来，坐满我的屋子。我告诉你们，先前所请的人，没有一个得尝我的筵席’”(路14:16-24)。{PC 157.2}
当上帝的信息传给他们时，许多人会这样推托。但无论在哪里有了机会，工作都要加紧开展。需要人力财力来推进工作。我们仍有机会为救灵而分享救主的舍己牺牲。工作的需要现在比以往任何时候都要求更大的开支。主呼召祂的子民尽一切努力缩减自己的开支。我再次恳求你们不要把钱花在自己和朋友的照片上，而应将其转入另一个渠道。要把一直花在满足自我上的钱流入主的库中，支持那些正在做工拯救将亡生灵的人。要让那些有房屋地产的人留意这信息：“你们要变卖所有的周济人”(路12:33)。“万军之耶和华说：你们要将当纳的十分之一全然送入仓库，使我家有粮，以此试试我，是否为你们敞开天上的窗户，倾福与你们，甚至无处可容”(玛3:10)。{PC 157.3}
主就要来了。我们必须趁着白日作工;因为黑夜将到，就没有人能作工了。唉，许许多多的人已经丧失了舍己牺牲的精神。他们一直在把自己的金钱埋在现世的财产里。有些人已蒙上帝赐福，祂正在试验他们，要看看他们会对祂的福利作出什么响应。他们已经扣留了自己的十分之一和供物，直到他们欠万军之耶和华上帝的债已经变得那么大，以致一想到要把主自己的——只是十分之一交还给祂，就变得面色苍白。弟兄们，要赶紧，你们现在有机会对上帝诚实;不要耽延。为你们灵魂的缘故，不要再抢夺上帝的十分之一和供物。{PC 157.4}
上帝要求我们使用各样才干和能力。何时教会除掉了闲懒和怠惰的耻辱，主的灵就会惠然彰显;神能就会与人力结合，教会就会见到耶和华万军之上帝天意的介入，真理的亮光就会得到扩散，使人认识上帝和祂所差来的耶稣基督。象使徒时代一样，许多人会转而归主。地就因那位从天而来之天使的荣耀发光。{PC 158.1}
要使世人认识到罪就是违背上帝的律法，就必须有圣灵藉着人作工。教会现在需要摆脱死一般的沉睡;因为主正等着要赐福祂的子民，他们要认出福气的来临，并将它以清楚强烈的光芒散布出去。“我必用清水洒在你们身上，你们就洁净了。……我必将我的灵放在你们里面，使你们顺从我的律例，谨守遵行我的典章”(结36:25-27)。要使教会的旷野变成肥田，肥田如同森林，就得有上帝的圣灵沛降在祂子民身上。天上的力量久已等候人力，就是教会的肢体们与他们合作完成大工。他们正等着你呢。园地是如此广大，计划如此全面，每一颗成圣的心都要应征服务，作神能的媒介。{PC 158.2}
同时也将有一股势力从下面激动一切。恶天使的工作将表现在欺骗、诱惑、灾难、祸患和异常的犯罪上。当上帝藉着圣天使，以人为媒介进行工作时，撒但也煽动他的爪牙进行活动，胁迫所有受他控制的势力。将会有许多的主和许多的神出现。会发出“看哪，基督在这里”，“看哪，基督在那里”的呼声。撒但将到处施展他的阴谋，为要转移人们对当前责任的注意力。假基督的出现，将激起那些甘愿受骗之人虚幻的盼望。在这危急的关头，警醒的信徒将挺身而出，表现出更大的殷勤，对付罪恶的泛滥。要向人们揭露撒但权势种种表现的真面目。在自然界将有神迹和奇事。地上和天上的权势会显出可怕的、毁灭性的活动。但信心的眼睛会在这一切的表现中看出盛大而可怕之将来的预兆，以及必定会临到上帝子民的大胜利。{PC 158.3}
凡相信现代真理的人要抛弃一切分歧、嫉妒、恶言和恶念。要团结一致，团结一致。“你们既因顺从真理，洁净了自己的心，以致爱弟兄没有虚假，就当从心里彼此切实相爱”(彼前1:22)。{PC 158.4}
要作工，作工，始终考虑来生。要记住，每一种能力都必须成圣。你凭着自己是无力做任何善事的。基督宣布：“离了我，你们就不能做什么”(约15:5)。若是变得与上帝的性情有分，你就凡事都能做。藉着基督你才能对上帝对人都有能力。一项大工要做成。要从无伪的口中发出祷告：“愿上帝怜悯我们，赐福与我们，用脸光照我们，好叫世界得知祢的道路，万国得知祢的救恩”(诗67:1,2)。我们的上帝正等着要施恩。“认识祢独一的真神，并且认识祢所差来的耶稣基督，这就是永生”(约17:3)。教会要传给世人认识耶稣基督的亮光吗?这亮光要照到各国、各族、各方、各民吗?{PC 159.1}
“犹太人和希利尼人并没有分别，因为众人同有一位主;祂也厚待一切求告祂的人。因为‘凡求告主名的，就必得救。’然而，人未曾信祂，怎能求祂呢?未曾听见祂，怎能信祂呢?没有传道的，怎能听见呢?若没有奉差遣，怎能传道呢?如经上所记：‘报福音、传喜信的人，他们的脚踪何等佳美’”(罗10:12-15)!“因为主曾这样吩咐我们说：我已经立你作外邦人的光，叫你施行救恩，直到地极”(徒13:47)。{PC 159.2}
“祂看见许多的人，就怜悯他们;因为他们困苦流离，如同羊没有牧人一般。于是对门徒说：‘要收的庄稼多，做工的人少。所以，你们当求庄稼的主打发工人出去收祂的庄稼 ’”(太9:36-38)。在上帝的道中明确规定了我们的工作。基督徒要与基督徒联合，教会要与教会联合，人力要与神力合作，每一个媒介都要从属于圣灵，大家都要联合起来向世人传扬上帝恩典的好消息。
怀爱伦(签名)
(来自保尔森医生的选集){PC 159.3}
January 9, 1893
George’s Terrace, St. Kilda Road Melbourne,
Captain C. Eldridge Battle Creek, Michigan
Dear Brother,
The word of the Lord has come to me in clear lines in reference to the principles and practices of those connected with the?Review Office. There has been need of self-examination on the part of the workers. Every man who has to do with sacred things should perform his work in a Christ like manner. There must be no sharp practice. “A false balance is abomination to the Lord.” A false balance is a symbol of all unfair dealings, all devices to conceal selfishness and injustice under an appearance of fairness and equity. God will not in the slightest degree favor such practices. He hates every false way. He abhors all the selfishness and covetousness. Unmerciful dealing He will not tolerate, but will repay in kind. God can give prosperity to the working man whose means are acquired honestly. But His curse rests upon all that is gained by selfish practices. When one indulges in selfishness or sharp dealing he knows that he does not fear the Lord or reverence His name. Those who are connected with God will not only shun all injustice, but will manifest His mercy and goodness toward all with whom they have to do. The Lord will sanction no respect of persons; but He will not, approve the course of those who make no difference in favor of the poor, the widow, and the orphan....?{PC 147.4}
The Lord is looking upon men in the different spheres in which they move, and the character is tested under the different circumstances in which they are placed. The truth, pure, refined, elevating, is a continual test, to measure the man. If truth controls the conscience and is an abiding principle in the heart, it becomes an active, working agent; it works by love, and purifies the soul. But if the knowledge of the truth produces no beauty in the soul, if it does not, subdue, soften, and recreate the man after God’s own image, it is of no benefit to the receiver; it is as sounding brass or tinkling cymbal. The truth as it is in Jesus, planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit, always works from within outward; it will be revealed in our words and spirit and actions toward every one with whom we are connected.?{PC 148.1}
The wave of truth flowing from the infinitely wise God to His frail human agents, is not subject to the will of man. God prescribes the terms, and specifies every condition upon which we may receive His gifts. With the one party there is infinite power, wisdom, mercy, and goodness; with the other party is weakness, and ignorance, and helplessness, and sin. Even the faculties and resources of men, which God will accept in cooperation with the divine, are ours only in trust. In the great condescension of God to admit finite beings as co-laborers in the saving of the world, He makes it a condition that the human agent shall receive counsel from God, diligently obeying every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And our success in the religious life will be according to the integrity and thoroughness with which these conditions are fulfilled....?{PC 148.2}
God designs that all who are laborers together with Him should have a rich experience in His love and His power to save. Never should we say, “I have no experience;” for that God who gave Paul an experience will reveal Himself to every one who will earnestly seek Him. What said God of Abraham? “I know him,” saith the heart-searching God, “that He will command His children and His household after Him; and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment.” Abraham would cultivate home religion, and the fear of the Lord would lead to integrity?of life. He who blesses the habitation of the righteous says, “I know Him, that He will command.” There is no betraying of sacred trusts, no hesitating between right and wrong. The Holy One has given rules for the guidance of all, the standard of character from which none can swerve and be guiltless. God’s will is to be diligently and conscientiously studied, and it must be made paramount in all the affairs of life. The laws which every human agent is to obey flows from the heart of infinite love.?{PC 148.3}
That same holy Watcher who says, “I know Abraham,” knew Cornelius also, and sent His angel with a message to the man who had received and improved all the light God had given him. The angel said, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.” Then the specific directions are given, “He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside; he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.” Thus the angel of the Lord works to bring Cornelius in connection with the human agent through whom he might receive greater light. Study the whole chapter carefully, and see the simplicity of the whole transaction. Then consider that the Lord knows every one of us by name, and just where we live, and the spirit we possess, and every act of our life. The ministering angels are passing through the churches, noting our faithfulness in our individual line of duty.... -?{PC 149.1}
George’s Terrace, St. Kilda Road Melbourne, January 9, 1893
This afternoon I had a long conversation with Brother Foster a member of the Prahran Church, who is in perplexity and trial. He is a tailor by trade, and is a first class workman. Before accepting the truth he had a position that commanded $30.00 a week. When he began to keep the Sabbath, he was permitted to retain his position, losing only the day’s wages for the Sabbath. He is a man of good address, and has good ability to teach the truth. He left his position, and went into the field as a laborer, but was sent alone into a hard field, and became discouraged and confused, and almost fell under the delusive power of Satan. At the conference one year ago he had a conversation with me. He became free, the meeting did him good. He has since moved to Melbourne, and works at his trade and leads the meetings in Prahran. But in the present depression of business, he is in close circumstances; and being in poor health, with a large family, he has become much discouraged, and in this state of mind Satan has pressed temptation and darkness upon him. For weeks he has been in sore trial, and today he came to tell me his troubles.?{PC 149.2}
He says he knew so little of the testimonies, he did not understand the relation they sustained to the cause. Some time since, while he was in perplexity, asking the Lord for light, he had a very striking dream. He saw Sister White in a boat riding on the billows, which were sending the spray like light?in every direction. It came into the room where he was with many others; he moved to get beyond its reach, when a hand stretched out to him gave him a paper. The paper was on fire, and a voice said, “Read quickly.” He put out the fire, and opened the paper. There was a testimony, and a key lying upon the testimony. The interpretation came to his mind with great force, “The key to the testimonies is the testimonies themselves.” He woke with the blessing of God upon him. Then he prayed, “Lord direct me to the testimony I should read to help my case.” He took up testimony 31 and opened at the article, “The testimonies rejected.” He read it through with intense interest and was deeply impressed that the testimonies were from God.?{PC 149.3}
After this he saw in the Review the article of Brother A. T. Jones in regard to the image of the beast, and then the one from Elder Smith presenting the opposite view. He was perplexed and troubled. He had received much light and comfort in reading articles from Brethren Jones and Waggoner; but here was one of the old laborers, one who had written many of our standard books, and whom we had believed to be taught of God, who seemed to be in conflict with Brother Jones. What could all this mean? Was Brother Jones in the wrong? Was Brother Smith in error? Which was right? He became confused. When the important laborers in the cause of God take opposite positions in the same paper, whom can we depend upon? Who can we believe has the true position??{PC 150.1}
Brother Foster was in such perplexity, that he sent word by letter that he could not lead in the meetings. Since the beginning of the week of prayer, temptations have pressed so strongly upon him that he has received no benefit. These differences among our leading men have absorbed all his thoughts and he is much distressed over the matter. I told him I expected that others who should read these articles would have the same experience. These differences should not have been made public, for some who are weak in the faith would be caused to stumble, and as the result might lose their souls. I felt keen regret and deep sorrow of heart, for I knew that the Lord was displeased.?{PC 150.2}
But I said, “Brother Foster, you have the Bible. Search its pages with a prayerful heart; your Redeemer has promised that the Holy Spirit shall lead you into all truth. You have an Instructor that is full of wisdom, one who never errs. I charge you before God to cease worrying, receive the precious rays of light that come to you, feast upon the truth as it in Jesus, walk in the light while you have the light, and more light will shine upon you from the Source of all light. Do not suffer your mind to dwell upon the differences you think you discern. If our leading Brethren are so unwise as to allow their conflicting views to appear in the paper published to go to the world; if they present these differences before the large gatherings that assemble to worship God in the tabernacle or else where, they are doing the very things the Lord Jesus told them not to do, and going directly contrary to the light given them through the testimonies.”?{PC 150.3}
Now, brethren, the zeal that leads to this kind of work is not inspired of God; Christ never prompts any man to work against Christ. He will not lead us to counteract His own instruction, or to act contrary to the spirit of the prayer He offered for His disciples just before He left them. He knew they would be exposed to trials from the opposition of the world, and He said, “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the Scripture might be fulfilled. And now I come to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves and I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil.”?{PC 151.1}
Our work is clearly aggressive. Our warfare is to be directed against error and sin, not against one another. God requires us to be a strength to one another, to heal, not to destroy. We are to be constantly receiving light; and we are not to spurn the message or the messengers by whom God shall send light to His people.?{PC 151.2}
If before publishing Elder Jones’ article concerning the image of the beast, Elder Smith had conferred with him, plainly stating that his own view differed from that of Brother Jones, and that if the article appeared in the Review, he himself must present the opposite position, then the matter would appear in a different light from what it now does. But the course pursued in this case was the same as that taken at Minneapolis. Those who opposed Brethren Jones and Waggoner manifested no disposition to meet them like brethren, and with the Bible in hand consider prayerfully and in a Christ-like spirit the points of difference. This is the only course that would meet the approval of God, and His rebuke was upon those who would not do this at Minneapolis. Yet this blind warfare is continued; men of the same faith, in the same city, turn their weapons against each other. It is an astonishment to the heavenly universe. I feel deeply grieved, and if these things are a grief to me, how do they appear to Jesus, who suffered untold agony upon the cross to redeem men from the power of Satan and make them one in Christ? “All ye are brethren.” What can lead brethren to present before the world opposite opinions, without first coming together in love, and comparing views to see if they cannot come into harmony? Will my brethren tell me what spirit is moving them to action??{PC 151.3}
We know that Brother Jones has been giving the message for this time, meat in due season to the starving flock of God. Those who do not allow prejudice to bar the heart against the heaven sent message, cannot but feel the spirit and force of the truth. Brother Jones has borne the message from church to church, and from state to state; and light and freedom and the out-pouring of the Spirit of God has attended the work. As events of a most startling nature in the fulfillment of prophecy has shown that the great crisis in rapidly approaching, Brother Jones seeks to arouse the professed people of God from their death-like slumber, to see the importance of giving the warning?to the world. But he advances some ideas with which all do not agree, and instantly Brother Gage is aroused; he harnesses for the battle, and before the congregation in the tabernacle he takes his position in opposition to Brother Jones. Was this in the order of God? Did the Spirit of the Lord go before Brother Jones and inspire Brother Gage to do this work? Suppose that Brother Jones’ statement concerning the formation of the image was premature; did the case demand such demonstrations? I answer No, no; not if God has ever spoken by me.?{PC 151.4}
The Bible rules must be strictly followed. The matter concerning which difference of opinion prevails should be calmly considered, with much prayer, with hearts yearning for unity, and with perfect love for one another’s souls. Examine every point as if you could see the whole heavenly universe looking upon you. If there is positive evidence that one of the brethren is in error, try to convince him from the work of God. If success should not crown your efforts, even then the world has no business with the matter; for it would only dishonor the God of truth, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.?{PC 152.1}
I have received letters from different points telling the sad, discouraging results of these things. We have opposition enough from our foes, and we shall have conflicts fierce and strong; let us not now cause Satan to glory because of the pitched battles within our own ranks. The unity for which our Saviour prayed should be brought into our practical life. Peace, the peace of Christ, inspired by truth, and sustained by righteousness, we must each cultivate. God so loved the world, that He manifested His love by giving His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus said, A new commandment I give unto you that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one for another, as I have loved you.” Let your zeal be manifest, not in exposing your variances but in cultivating the precious plant of love, just as Jesus has told us to do.?{PC 152.2}
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren... My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him... And this is His commandment, That we should believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.?{PC 152.3}
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath?given us of His Spirit.” “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from Him, that he who loveth God loveth his brother also.”?{PC 152.4}
I have quoted only a few passages, but the Bible abounds in just such lessons. If it is not possible to love God unless we love our brother, the case will certainly go against us in the courts of heaven if we do not cherish Christ like love for one another. The word is very explicit. I am pained beyond measure when I see how little love is cherished and manifested among brethren. How long shall Satan use his arguments against us and weaken our influence by revealing to others how little love and deference and respect are shown for one another? Is it not time we were doers of the word, and not hearers only? Shall we not closely examine our own hearts, and see whether we are in possession of the love of God? Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh, by a pure and holy life to condemn sin in the flesh. He came to our world to represent the character of God, and it is our work to represent the character of Christ. If we have lost His love out of our hearts, our work is to seek the Lord, that our hearts may be renewed by His Holy Spirit.?{PC 153.1}
“I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same things and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” For it has been declared unto you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, That every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I am of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul??{PC 153.2}
The cause of divisions or discord in the church is separation from Christ. The secret of unity is union with Christ. Christ is the great center. We shall approach one another just in proportion as we approach the center. United with Christ, we shall surely be united with our brethren in the faith. To be a Christian means a great deal more than is supposed. A Christian is Christ-like. Membership in the church does not make us Christians. Has the light from Christ penetrated the heart? Are justice and purity and truth abiding in the soul temple? We may know; for the fruits will appear. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the Spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. This is not a time for brother to cherish prejudice against brother. Put not into our enemies’ hands anything that?bears the least suggestions of differences among us, even in opinion.?{PC 153.3}
The conference at Minneapolis was the golden opportunity for all present to humble the heart before God, and to welcome Jesus as the great Instructor; but the stand taken by some at that meeting proved their ruin. They have never seen clearly since, and they never will; for they persistently cherish the spirit that prevailed there, a wicked criticizing, denunciatory spirit. Yet since that meeting, abundant light and evidence has been graciously given, that all might understand the truth. Those who were then deceived might since have come to the light. They might rejoice in the truth as it is in Jesus, were it not for the pride of their own rebellious hearts. They will be asked in the Judgment, “Who required this at your hand, to rise up against the message and the messengers I sent to My people with light, with grace and power? Why have you lifted up your souls against God? Why did you block the way with your own perverse spirit? And afterward when evidence was piled upon evidence, why did you not humble your hearts before God, and repent of your rejection of the message of mercy He has sent you? The Lord has not inspired these brethren to resist the truth. He designed that they should be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and be living channels of light to communicate the light to our world, in clear, bright rays.?{PC 154.1}
“The Lord hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Here, according to the appointment of God, are the two agencies in man’s salvation, - the divine influences, and a strong, living, working faith, a faith that receives the truth. God requires no man to cast aside his reason, and yield to the control of blind credulity. But we are to search the Scriptures in the spirit of learners. In the meekness of Christ canvas every point of difference. Search for the truth as for hidden treasures. It will not do to ignore these questions of vital interest. Human assertions are as valueless as straw. Many will miss the path to heaven because they rest their faith upon men. They resist the message of mercy because some one in whom they have confidence is indifferent to it. But the soul is of too great value to rest its faith on man. No one but Christ can ransom the soul. We have the word of God, and this alone can we trust unwaveringly. Let brethren seek God together. Let them fall upon the Rock and be broken. “Ye are laborers together with God.” We must understand the obligations imposed upon us by this co-operation, or we shall never stand approved in the Judgment. Laborers together with God means fellow-laborers with those of our own fallen race, but cooperating with divine agencies. It is the work of salvation to accomplish this union of the human with the divine.?{PC 154.2}
The time of peril is now upon us. It can no longer be spoken of as in the future. And the power of every mind, sanctified to the Master’s work, it to be employed, not to hedge up the way before the messages God sends to His people, but to labor unitedly in preparing a people to stand in the great day of God. It is not the inspiration from heaven that leads one to be suspicious, watching for a chance and greedily seizing upon?it to prove that those brethren who differ from us in some interpretation of Scripture are not sound in the faith. There is danger that this course of action will produce the very result assumed; and to a great degree the guilt will rest upon those who are watching for evil. Had our brethren been free from prejudice, and walking in humility, they would have been ready to receive light from whatever source; recognizing the Spirit of God and the grace of Christ, they would be indeed channels of light, and their long experience would make them safe counsellors, men of sound judgment.?{PC 154.3}
God would have His people love one another and help one another, thus strengthening every good work. We should counsel with one another, the old, experienced laborers with those whom God shall raise up to advance His work as we approach the great consummation. But if such men as Elder Smith, Elder Van Horn, and Elder Butler shall stand aloof, not blending with the elements God sees essential to carry forward the work in these perilous times, they will be left behind. God will complete His work in righteousness. These brethren have had every opportunity to stand in the ranks that are pressing on to victory; but if they refuse, the work will advance without them. God will send by whom He will; His message will not return unto Him void, but will accomplish that whereunto it is sent. And if they refuse the message, the men whom God designed should hold the same relation to the younger workers as did Moses to Joshua, will fail of doing the work the Lord designed they should do. They will be a hindrance in the place of a blessing. The work will go forward; but these brethren, who might have received the richest blessings, will meet with eternal loss; for though they should repent and be saved at last, they can never regain that which they have lost through their wrong course of action. They might have been God’s instruments to carry the work forward with power; but their influence was exerted to counteract the Lord’s message, to make the work appear questionable. Every jot and tittle of this will have to be repented of.?{PC 155.1}
The opposition in our own ranks has imposed upon the Lord’s messengers a laborious and soul trying task; for they have had to meet difficulties and obstacles which need not have existed. While this labor had to be performed among our own people, to make them willing that God should work in the day of his power, the light of the glory of God has not been shining in clear, concentrated rays to our world. Thousand who are now in darkness of error, might have been added to our numbers. All the time and thought and labor required to counteract the influence of our brethren who oppose the message has been just as much taken from the work of warning the world of the swift coming judgments of God. The Spirit of God has been present in power among His people, but it could not be bestowed upon them, because they did not open their hearts to receive it.?{PC 155.2}
It is not the opposition of the world that we have to fear; but it is the elements that work among ourselves that have hindered the message. The efficiency of the movements for extending the truth depends upon the harmonious action of those who profess to believe it. Love and confidence?constitute a moral force that would have united our churches, and insure harmony of action, but coldness and distrust have brought disunion that has shorn us of our strengths.?{PC 155.3}
The Lord designed that the messages of warning and instruction given through the Spirit to His people should go everywhere. But the influence that grew out of the resistance of light and truth at Minneapolis tended to make of no effect the light God had given to His people through the Testimonies. Great Controversy Vol. IV, has not had the circulation it should have had, because some of those who occupy responsible positions were leavened with the spirit that prevailed at Minneapolis, a spirit that clouded the discernment of the people of God.?{PC 156.1}
The work of opponents to the truth has been steadily advancing, while we have been compelled to devote our energies in a great degree to counteracting the work of the enemy through those who were in our own ranks. The dullness of some and the opposition of others have confined our strength and means largely among those who knew the truth but did not practice its principles. If every soldier of Christ had done his duty, if every watchman on the walls of Zion had given the trumpet a certain sound, the world might ere this have heard the message of warning. What account will be rendered to God for thus retarding the work??{PC 156.2}
While the angels were holding the four winds that they should not blow, giving opportunity for every one who had light to let it shine to the world, there have been influences at work among us to cry peace and safety. Many did not understand that we had not time or strength or influence to be lost through dilatory action. While men slept, Satan has been stealing a march upon us, working up the advantages given him to have things after his own order.?{PC 156.3}
The Lord has revealed to us that the Laodicean message applies to the church at this time, and yet how few make a practical application of it to themselves. God has wrought for us; we have no complaint to make of Heaven, for the richest blessings have been proffered us, but our people have been very reluctant to accept them. Those who have been so stubborn and rebellious that they would not humble themselves to receive the light God sent in mercy to their souls, became so destitute of the Holy Spirit that the Lord could not use them. Unless they are converted, these men will never enter the mansions of the blest. Some have been preaching the word whose labors are tainted with impurity and licentiousness. They have done far more harm than good. Unless they shall turn from their evil ways, they will perish with the wicked. Others have carried the truth in a very indifferent manner; they have had no real burden for the work; they have gone backward rather than forward. It is high time for these to retrace their steps; for they have lost their first love. The Lord’s injunction to them is, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; Or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove they candlestick out of thy place, except thou repent.”?{PC 156.4}
A great work is before us. There are a few who carry the heavy burden of responsibility. They feel that God has committed to our American churches a solemn trust in the messages of truth to be given to the world. From all nations the Macedonian cry is heard, “Come over and help us.” God in His providence has opened fields before us, and if the human agents co-operate with the divine agencies, many souls may be made partakers of a pure and saving faith. For years the appeal has been made, but the Lord’s professed people have been sleeping over their allotted work, and it remains almost untouched. God has sent message after message to arouse our churches to do something, and to do it now. But to the call of God, “Whom shall I send?” There has been few voices to respond, “Here am I, send me.” Through this neglect, many souls will lose the opportunity the Lord desires to give them.?{PC 157.1}
“A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them, I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and showed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”?{PC 157.2}
When the message of God is brought to them, many will thus excuse themselves. But the work must be pressed wherever there is an opening. Men and money are needed to carry the work forward. Still there is opportunity for us to share the Saviour’s self denial and sacrifice for the salvation of souls. The necessities of the work now demand a far greater outlay than ever before. The Lord calls upon His people to make every effort to curtail their expenses. Again I plead that instead of spending money for pictures of yourselves and your friends, you should turn it into another channel. Let the money that has been devoted to the gratification of self flow into the Lord’s treasury to sustain those who are working to save perishing souls. Let those who have houses and lands give heed to the message, “Sell that ye have, and give alms.” “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”?{PC 157.3}
The Lord is soon to come. We must work while the day lasts; for the night is coming, in which no man can work. Many, many have lost the spirit of self-denial and sacrifice. They have been burying their money in temporal possessions. There are?men whom God has blessed, whom He is testing to see what response they will make to His benefits. They have with-held their tithes and offerings until their debt to the Lord God of hosts has become so great that they grow pale as the thought of rendering to the Lord His own, a just tithe. Make haste, brethren, you have now opportunity to be honest with God; delay not. For your souls’ sake no longer rob God in tithes and offerings.?{PC 157.4}
The Lord calls for every talent of means and ability to be put to use. When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested. Divine power will combine with human effort, the church will see the providential interpositions of the Lord God of hosts, the light of truth will be diffused, the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ whom He hath sent. As in the apostles’ time many souls will turn unto the Lord. The earth will be lightened with the glory of the angel from heaven.?{PC 158.1}
If the world are to be convinced of sin as transgressors of God’s law, the agency must be the Holy Spirit working through human instrumentalities. The church needs now to shake off her death-like slumber; for the Lord is waiting to bless His people who will recognize His blessing when it comes, and diffuse it in clear, strong rays of light. “Then will I sprinkle clear water upon you, and ye shall be clean....And I will put My Spirit upon you, and cause you to walk in My statutes.” If the wilderness of the church is to become as a fruitful field, and the fruitful field to be as a forest, it is through the Holy Spirit of God poured out upon His people. The heavenly agencies have long been waiting for the human agents, the members of the church, to cooperate with them in the great work to be done. They are waiting for you. So vast is the field, so comprehensive the design, that every sanctified heart will be pressed into service as an agent of divine power.?{PC 158.2}
At the same time there will be a power stirring every thing from beneath. The working of evil angels will be manifest in deceptions, delusions, in calamities, and casualties, and crimes of no ordinary character. While God employs the angels of mercy to work through His human agents, Satan sets his agencies in operation, laying under tribute all the powers that submit to his control. There will be lords many and gods many. The cry will be heard, “Lo, here is Christ, and Lo, He is there.” The deep plotting of Satan will reveal its working everywhere for the purpose of distracting attention from present duty. The appearance of a false Christ will awaken delusive hopes in the minds of those who allow themselves to be deceived. The church members that are awake will rise to the emergency, manifesting greater diligence as iniquity abounds. The very manifestations of Satanic power are to be presented in their true light before the people. There will be signs and wonders in the world of nature. The powers of earth and heaven will manifest a terrifying, destructive activity. But the eye of faith will discern in all these manifestations harbingers of the grand and awful future, and the triumphs that will surely come to God’s people.?{PC 158.3}
Let all who believe the truth for this time put away their?differences; put away envy and evil speaking and evil thinking. Press together, press together. “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.”?{PC 158.4}
Work, O work, keeping eternity in view. Bear in mind that every power must be sanctified. In yourselves you are powerless to do anything good. Christ declares, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” Becoming partakers of the divine nature you can do all things. Through Christ you can have power with God and with men. A great work is to be done. Let the prayer go forth from unfeigned lips, “God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause His face to shine upon us; that Thy way may be known upon the earth, Thy saving health among all nations.” Our God is waiting to be gracious. “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Will the church give to the world the light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ? Shall the light shine forth to all nations, kindreds, tongues and peoples??{PC 159.1}
“There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have no heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldst be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.”?{PC 159.2}
“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plentious, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” Our work is plainly laid down in the word of God. Christian is to be united to Christian, church to church, the human instrumentalities cooperating with the divine, every agency to be subordinate to the Holy Spirit, and all to be combined in giving to the world the good tidings of the grace of God.?{PC 159.3}
(Signed)Ellen G. White
(From Dr. Paulson’s Collection)
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