怀爱伦夫人于1912年4月16日在小礼拜堂对学生和助理工人的讲话
《马太福音》第6章。“你们要小心，不可将善事行在人的面前，故意叫他们看见，若是这样，就不能得你们天父的赏赐了。”现在有一点，我们想要指出以下几点：我们若是期待上天赐予我们的东西，就必须遵守条件。“所以，你施舍的时候，不可在你前面吹号，像那假冒为善的人在会堂里和街道上所行的，故意要得人的荣耀。我实在告诉你们，他们已经得了他们的赏赐。你施舍的时候，不要叫左手知道右手所做的，要叫你施舍的事行在暗中。你父在暗中察看，必在明处报答你。”现在我们想要理解每一句话，因为它同样属于这群人，就像基督在地上说这些话的时候一样。{PC 176.1}
“你们祷告的时候，不可像那假冒为善的人，爱站在会堂里和十字路口上祷告，故意叫人看见。我实在告诉你们，他们已经得了他们的赏赐。你祷告的时候，要进你的内屋，关上门，祷告你在暗中的父;你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。你们祷告，不可像外邦人，用许多重复话，他们以为话多了必蒙垂听。你们不可效法他们;因为你们没有祈求以先，你们所需用的，你们的父早已知道了。”现在，主多么详细地标出了这个问题：{PC 176.2}
“所以，你们祷告要这样说：‘我们在天上的父：愿人都尊祢的名为圣。愿祢的国降临;愿祢的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。”现在有一点对我们非常有利，不能忘记。你们看，我们想要在我们面前提出的这一切的东西，我们心中毫无疑问地想要它们。“不叫我们遇见试探;救我们脱离凶恶。因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是祢的，直到永远。阿们!”这里有一个教训，我们想要理解这个教训;我们想要研究一下，我们想要看看有多少力量和能力给我们，使我们能明白如何做人。“愿祢的国降临;愿祢的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。不叫我们遇见试探;救我们脱离凶恶。因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是祢的，直到永远。阿们!”这是为我们日用的饮食祷告，我们想要明白，我们应当认出上帝给我们的恩赐。然后再一次：“你们祷告要这样说：‘我们在天上的父：愿人都尊祢的名为圣。愿祢的国降临。’”我们准备好了吗?我们想让它来吗?我们做了上帝指定我们应该做的一切以便完全彻底地理解这句话吗?“免我们的债，如同我们免了人的债。不叫我们遇见试探;救我们脱离凶恶。因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是祢的，直到永远。阿们!”{PC 176.3}
这是我们与上帝的一个积极的协议，我们想要完全地聪明地理解这个协议，好落实它。“不叫我们遇见试探;救我们脱离凶恶。因为国度、权柄、荣耀，全是祢的，直到永远。阿们!你们饶恕人的过犯”——现在要侧耳倾听——“你们饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必饶恕你们的过犯;你们不饶恕人的过犯，你们的天父也必不饶恕你们的过犯。”{PC 177.1}
“你们禁食的时候”——现在，这是给我们的特别指示：“你们禁食的时候，不可像那假冒为善的人，脸上带着愁容;因为他们把脸弄得难看，故意叫人看出他们是禁食。我实在告诉你们，他们已经得了他们的赏赐。”他们只会得到这些，不会再得到什么了。他们所需要的是他们所献祷告的精神，要理解它并将那个祷告落实在他们日常的生活中。“你禁食的时候，要梳头洗脸，不叫人看出你禁食来，只叫你暗中的父看见;你父在暗中察看，必然报答你。”你们说，怀姐妹读这一切是为了什么呢?因为我们有功课要学，是我们还没有学会的。“不要为自己积攒财宝在地上;地上有虫子咬，能锈坏，也有贼挖窟窿来偷。只要积攒财宝在天上;天上没有虫子咬，不能锈坏，也没有贼挖窟窿来偷。因为你的财宝在哪里，你的心也在那里。”这些教训是我们每一个人都应该明白并且聪明地践行的。{PC 177.2}
“眼睛就是身上的灯。你的眼睛若了亮，全身就光明;”这是何等的应许啊!多么宽广!再宽广不过了!“你的眼睛若昏花，全身就黑暗。你里头的光若黑暗了，那黑暗是何等大呢!{PC 177.3}
“一个人不能事奉两个主;不是恶这个，爱那个，就是重这个，轻那个。你们不能又事奉上帝，又事奉玛门(玛门是财利的意思)。所以我告诉你们，不要为生命忧虑”——那就是，焦虑的想法，不信的想法——“吃什么，喝什么;为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗?身体不胜于衣裳吗?”你能回答这个问题吗?我们想要、上帝也想要我们认出我们所领受为要帮助和加强我们的每一个恩赐，都来自上帝。我们应当心存感激，我们应当将感激之情带进我们个人心里。我们若是将那种感激之情带进我们个人心里，让我告诉你们吧，围绕我们心灵的氛围就会与现在的不同。试着过亲近主的生活——照着圣经所给出的接受上帝的真理。{PC 177.4}
“一个人不能事奉两个主;不是恶这个，爱那个，就是重这个，轻那个。你们不能又事奉上帝，又事奉玛门(玛门是财利的意思)。所以我告诉你们，不要为生命忧虑”——那就是，焦虑的想法——“吃什么，喝什么;为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗?身体不胜于衣裳吗?”这就是我们想要了解的。我们想要聪明地理解主的道，我们不想做什么补充或编造关于它的故事，但我们想要知道我们是在为天国永恒的基业作计划。我想让你们明白。“所以我告诉你们，不要”——什么?不要忧虑——“为生命忧虑吃什么，喝什么;为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗?身体不胜于衣裳吗?你们看那天上的飞鸟，也不种，也不收，也不积蓄在仓里，你们的天父尚且养活它。你们不比飞鸟贵重得多吗?你们哪一个能用思虑使身量多加一肘呢?何必为衣裳忧虑呢?你想野地里的百合花怎么长起来;它也不劳苦，也不纺线。然而我告诉你们，就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的，还不如这花一朵呢!你们这小信的人哪!野地里的草今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，上帝还给它这样的妆饰，何况你们呢!所以，不要忧虑说：吃什么?喝什么?穿什么?这都是外邦人所求的，你们需用的这一切东西，你们的天父是知道的。你们要先求祂的国和祂的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。所以，不要为明天忧虑，因为明天自有明天的忧虑;一天的难处一天当就够了。”{PC 177.5}
现在，我想要将一些已经呈现在我面前的事带到你们面前，许多人正在这些事上犯错误;那就是，他们的意念更多在吃、喝和打扮自己上，而不是在存心谦卑和常常祈祷地侍奉上帝上。根据主所赐给我的亮光，在这节经文的意思还没有向他们展开的每一个家庭中，都应发生明确的改变。我们想要知道我应该做什么才能得救?个别地。而当你开始以这种方式认识这道时，你就会发现上帝在看着你，祂会给你悟性明白祂的道，使你不至于贪求世上的这个、那个和另一个东西。主就是为此赐下这个教训的。我们应当处在能接受教训的地步，能忠心地学习我们的教训并且披戴基督;在我们的一切行动作为中披戴基督品格的要素。这就是我非常渴望你们能明白的;在与基督联合方面，你们有一番工夫要下，你若是下工夫与基督联合，圣灵就会向世人表明你是一个正在竭力追求认识耶和华并受上帝教导的人。“所以我告诉你们，不要为生命忧虑吃什么，喝什么;为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗?身体不胜于衣裳吗?”难道你要使自己身体疲惫，使自己忧虑，使自己焦躁，破坏自己的宗教经验，因为你自己在尽力而为的时候不倚赖主耶稣基督去为你行事吗?“不要为身体忧虑穿什么。生命不胜于饮食吗?身体不胜于衣裳吗?你们看那天上的飞鸟，也不种，也不收，也不积蓄在仓里，你们的天父尚且养活它。你们不比飞鸟贵重得多吗?你们哪一个能用思虑使身量多加一肘呢?何必为衣裳忧虑呢?你想野地里的百合花怎么长起来;它也不劳苦，也不纺线。”你有极好的机会要学习——“然而我告诉你们，就是所罗门极荣华的时候，他所穿戴的，还不如这花一朵呢!”这是多么精彩的演讲啊! “所以，等等。”现在我们想要理解这个。正如所呈现给我的那样，对于那些你无法控制的事情，你会有太多的思考、担忧和烦恼，如果你要对它们思考一周的话。你无法改变它，但是主愿意帮助你倚赖祂，指望祂，祂的圣灵就会临到你身上，你就会有——不是一种你因为没有你想要的一切而争吵的倾向——而是会有一种因你所拥有的而由衷地感谢上帝的倾向。这就是我们所需要的。你们若没有那灵，你们若不落实它，就决不会进入天国。{PC 178.1}
我今天早上想要讲话，我想要你们看到并明白，我们的主是一位公平正义的上帝。我们不想一直担心、烦恼、抱怨，我们根本不想鼓励它。我们只想站在一个我们能看到上帝的良善的位置上。于是我们就会有一种令人愉快的性情，你的陪伴就会令人愉快，上帝的天使就会看到你是在效法他们所呈现在你面前的榜样。我们每一个人都希望自己有一种和蔼可亲的性情，你若没有一种圣洁的、和蔼可亲的性情，就会完全丧失天国。所以，忧愁、焦虑，而不是一直担心，惟恐你会没有什么好吃的、好穿的，——现在这就是最愚蠢的事了，因为你想在上帝面前站在正确的位置。有一项强大威猛的工作要为我们每一个人做成。我们应当了解这一点，我们担不起失去所带来的教训。我们必须知道上帝上帝想要藉着我们实现什么。我们自己心思意念的想象造成了大量祸根，使我们想要偏行己路。但上帝希望我们与祂建立正确的关系。我们若是情愿学习，那么就会看到上帝的救恩。{PC 179.1}
“你们这小信的人哪!野地里的草今天还在，明天就丢在炉里，上帝还给它这样的妆饰，何况你们呢!所以，不要忧虑说：吃什么?喝什么?穿什么?这都是外邦人所求的，你们需用的这一切东西，你们的天父是知道的。你们要先求祂的国和祂的义”——这就是我们有缺乏的地方。我们并不研究和默想那种叫我们去尽可能帮助每一个人的性情，反而想要每一件事都以一种容易的方式临到我们。现在，要是每一个人都以正确的方式寻求圣灵，要是他们愿意像小孩子一样来到祂面前，要是他们愿意祈求祂的恩典、祂的能力和祂的救恩以便得到提升，上帝的圣灵就会临到他们身上吗?——不，不是这样的。而是他们可以拥有这一切的有利条件，好提供给他们周围的人，成为他们的福气。我们所要的是研究圣经，找出办法，可以把握上帝的应许并将之认领为我们的。我们这么做会很高兴的。魔鬼既得不到机会进来引诱你，也得不到机会破坏你的平安。我们必须使自己与上帝保持正确的关系。{PC 179.2}
我们希望上帝的福气停留在每一位学者、每一位教师身上，这些教师应该天天向上帝归正。上帝的天使会帮助他们，丑陋的性情进来像电光一闪——它不在那里。那里没有它的地方。我们不给它留地步。我们不是在研究如何超越我们的兄弟，或者我们身边的人，或者我们的姐妹。我们切不可那么做。但我们要每天预备迎见基督。祂来到这个尘世为我们舍命，以便我们获得在荣耀的国里永生的宝贵的胜利。祂想要把你们每一个人都圈在祂宝贵的关怀里，使你们不至于向世人显出一种性情，不会倾向于提高，反而贬低耶稣基督的宗教。你们担不起这样。已经为我们的人而呈现在我面前的伟大工作是——我们在这里有很大的优势，没有人比我更努力地为他们工作，使我在我们今世的工作中，每一步都能尊荣基督。我们不要有急躁的脾气;那是魔鬼的作为，我们也不要对这个人、那个人和另一个人有邪恶的言论和不愉快的想法。确实不该有。我们不要试着超越这个，超越那个，而要让我们自己的果子，在言语、适当的话语、正确的话语、会祝福某人的话语——让这些话被说出来。然而上帝使人归正的能力需要在我们所有的学校中，我们想要为基督行事。我们想要侍奉祂。我们想要荣耀祂。我们想要尊荣祂，祂进入我们的世界舍了自己，舍己牺牲使我们得救成为了可能。那就是我们想要赏识的，我们想要将它实现在我们的生活中。我们不想在这里作一班粗心大意的人。我们希望我们每一个人都直关通向天国的道路上。我们在宝书中读道：“你若竭力追求认识耶和华，就必知道祂出现确如晨光”(见 何6:3)。你知道那是什么意思。我们根本不需要给你任何解释。我们想要上帝拯救的恩典。我们不想尝试——正如所呈现给我的，在每一个地方，总有这一切争先的事，你们唯恐得不到头等的尊荣，生怕得不到这件那件和另一件事的荣耀。{PC 180.1}
有一项伟大的工作要做。我们若曾看见天国，主就有一项特别的工作要为我们每一个人做。这里有年轻人。你们应当受那种能得人归于基督的教育。不只是你们自己要得救，而且要得人，给你们周围的人做出榜样，证明真理的力量在个人的头脑中能起什么作用。我们想要基督在我们里面成为荣耀的盼望。当我们下定决心要正确的时候，你就读一读这个，并在生活中持守它，你就会成为最满足的人，不争取最好的地位了。没有这样的事了。你想要的只是上帝希望你想要的地方，在那里，主能够喜悦地看着你，你若“竭力追求认识耶和华，就必知道祂出现确如晨光。”现在，我不必向你描述晨光。你都知道。你们在这里就能看见晨光，我们曾有好几天没有很愉快的日子，但是我们并没有听到有人到处抱怨太阳不亮。确实没有。你们只要去设法帮助一些不能走出家门的人，看看能不能鼓励他们，这对他们来说将是一种福气，然而对你们来说是更大的福气。{PC 180.2}
我们所需要的是，我们这班人要在言语和外貌上显出圣灵的圣洁，从而因羔羊的血和我们所见证的道得胜。现在，这一点将使我们与上帝建立正确的关系。而当我们开始认为别人正在超过我们时，就求主将祂的圣灵放在我们的意念上、我们的心思上和我们的品格上。我们想要的是纯洁而没有玷污的宗教，而当我们得到它时，让我告诉你们吧，在这里就会看到这样的精神——我记得我们多么努力地工作，唯恐得不到这个地方。有很多人挡着我们的路，他们不想让我们拥有它。他们说他们不能背负债务。他们不想让我们拥有它。但我们向上帝献上祷告，直接来到那些人的地方，说，我们要做的第一件事并不是将这事呈在上帝面前，要是祂想让我们拥有这个地方，我们就以正义的方式得到它，我毫无疑问我们将拥有它。恐惧是从一个拥有房子的高个子男人身上开始的，然后掉落，掉落。{PC 181.1}
好了，这些话在上帝眼中看为宝贵，祂希望我们每一个人都在圣灵的能力中教育自己，当我们进入天庭的时候，圣灵的能力要在那里运行。我们必须在这里就传播那灵，否则我们决不会进入那里。我们想要的是公义、真理和荣耀，就是上帝必赐给那些殷勤寻求以正确的方式侍奉上帝以便获得基督的义之人的。这样我们就会发现我们的家将是令人愉快的。父母无权在家中责骂儿女，使他们烦躁。这是一种罪恶。我们是在做装备——为了什么?为了天上的居所。我们可以教导我们的孩子，我们可以不说话，可以没有坏脾气，可以在家里不吵架，因为这会把上帝的天使赶走。我们想要上帝的天使装备我们，使我们能承受那从创世以来就为我们预备的国。{PC 181.2}
要试着去实践基督呈现给我们的生活，那是一种正直的生活。这就是我在这里想对我的弟兄们说的话。根本不要争吵。在我们的世界上有足够的空间，我们每个人都有机会奉拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名完善基督徒的品格;让我们聪明地把握这工作吧，然后，当这里的圣工有什么变化要发生时，要是有上帝的圣灵的美好和圣洁，就不会有争权夺势这种事。而当我说到我们在这里曾多么努力地工作，从一个地方到另一个地方，以便获得健康机构时，我觉得我有责任在他们面前说，他们拥有永恒生命的唯一权利就是正直地说话和行事。所有这一切的争权夺势都属于魔鬼。{PC 181.3}
我们想在上帝的国度里有一席之地，我们担不起说一句不义的话。基督为我们舍命。我们为祂舍了什么呢?{PC 182.1}
我看到这个地方的时候，就当着那个人的面前跪下祈求上帝，要是我们应当拥有这块地，就愿祂把它赐给我们。及至我们祷告结束站起来的时候，他就带我们到房子周围和每一个地方，并向我们解释一些事，向我们表示出最大的礼貌。他说，我宁愿让你们得到它而不是让别的什么人。我们不能留着它。他说，我们感到完全自由，你们应该得到这个地方。我们给他出了一个我们认为他会接受的价钱，他确实接受了，所以这块地就归我们了。{PC 182.2}
好了，我们当着他的面献上了三次祈祷，或许不止三次，祈求主对我们的人施加影响，一种圣化的影响，因为撒但好像吼叫的狮子遍地游行，寻找可吞吃的人;而我们担不起被吞吃。我们正设法尽全力得到这块地，所采取的方式与想要把它卖给我们的那个人完全和谐。从始至终都和谐。{PC 182.3}
好了，我想要告诉你们，我不想让这个地方扩大一步，除非有一种不同的气氛在这里的所有场所流通，不是一个人努力得到一个地方，另一个人努力得到一个地方，而是我们应该合理考虑每一件事。每一个人每一天都应该努力做到这一点。我们想要天上的光来决定我们的问题。{PC 182.4}
当我们各他察看各地，他说他很高兴让我们拥有它，他认为我们应该拥有它的时候，这让我很高兴。好了，现在我们拥有它了，还有了附加的东西，我们非常感谢上帝。但我想要告诉你们，已经呈现在我面前的是，这里有些人的性情若不发生明确的改变，他们就决不能进入天国。那是自我，自我，自我。你们担不起那个。我们任何一个人都担不起侍奉自己。我们想要聪明地工作，做能给上帝带来荣耀的事。这就是我们想要的。而这种精神必须来到这里并留在这里。它没有一直在这里，在所有地方;而当有斗争的时候，仇敌就进来，向人的头脑暗示一些东西。你们不想那样。你们不想要他的陪伴和建议。一点也不。你们想要行事如同聪明的基督徒，而我们试着以那种方式获得这个地方。我不知道自从我们来买下这个地方以来，有没有人说过不同意的话。然而每当我们遇见人，我们都会告诉他们我们得到这个地方有多感恩，我们非常需要这个地方，没有它就不知道该怎么进展。他说：“我和你们一样高兴你们得到了它。我也同样高兴你们是得到了这个地方的人。”好了，现在，我非常愿意他这么说，而不愿他说然后他要抱怨，因为我们拥有了这块地。{PC 182.5}
我想要说，在你们的家中有许多事要为你们的孩子做。不要有坏脾气;他们是上帝的孩子，是上帝的产业，你们无权以一种会引起不愉快的性情且会破坏他们的脾气的方式对他们讲话。你应该仁慈亲切地和你的孩子讲话。尽管我经历了种种磨难和这些事，我还是觉得抚养一些孩子是我的责任。他们说，哎呀，你养育了那么多孩子!我希望他们就在我家里。我看到母亲们不知道怎么管教他们，她们很高兴让我带他们去。所以我带着他们，现在我带了三四个孩子，按照我告诉过你们的方式训练，永远不要说一句气话。我会告诉他们，我们每天都会载你们一程，我们会尝试在我们所有的话语中表明没有什么值得打一棍子的。这就是我们所要尝试的。现在好了，我们实现了我们想要的。{PC 183.1}
现在有一份附加的财产临到了我们。当然我们还没有买下它，但我们很高兴增加这份财产。为什么呢?因为我们将会需要它——它的每一寸土地。我知道这事怎么呈现给我的。我想要说，主希望我们表现基督徒的品格。这就是祂想要我们去做的。而这里的人并没有都表现基督徒的品格。然而基督怎么做的呢?当他们告诉我：“你为什么做你一切的工作还带着这个、那个、又一个孩子呢?”我说：“我如果不带着他们，他们就会丧失灵魂。”必须仁慈地教育他们并且照着主的教训和警戒养育他们。我想要说，主希望我们每一个人都处在不去谋求最高地位或最大尊荣的位置。祂希望我们发展那种你们若是允许祂就能在里面作工的性情。我们想要真理，我们希望站在那个立场，使我们会觉得我们没有白白承担这一切的责任。我们应该实现这一点。我已竭尽全力去做这件那件和又一件会成为福气的事，我们必须在处在我们能与上天合作的地方。愿主赐给我们恩典和祂的圣灵。{PC 183.2}
关于这个问题，我还有更多的话要说。我今天要走了，但我告诉他们我必须在这里告诉他们一些事情;上帝使人归正的能力必须藉着在这个地方定居的那些会众表现出来，这样我们才能将尊贵和荣耀归于上帝。而这种追求最高地位的性情，为了这个、那个和另一个而奋斗的性情——让我们终止它吧。这并不能取悦耶稣。我没有用杖打他们，而是把他们带到我的房间里。我告诉他们，孩子们，你们有一种品格要形成，你们若不克服你们品格上的邪恶，主就不能接受你们。但是主爱你们，祂想要拥有你们。现在，你们比我年幼。我们每天都带你们出去，我们要到森林和树林里去，我们会一起交谈，一起祈祷。我们就是这么做的。{PC 183.3}
上帝希望我们归正。我为我们的孩子们感到多么心痛啊!我们想让他们得救，但我们必须以上帝指定的方式救他们。我希望你们明白，我们有一个天国要争取，有一个天国要争取。当我想到，那么多的孩子既没有准备好，也没有时刻准备进入天堂，我就想给每个地方一些我们已经拥有的东西。我们想要天堂，我们希望这些孩子中的每一个人都能进入天堂，享受那种生命。那是什么?在荣耀之国中的永生。一个孩子得救了;一个孩子从仇敌的魔爪中被夺回来，我们希望你们朝这个方向走，去拯救孩子们。有一班人在监视我们。我们要以这样的方式行事为人，让他们相信我们已经得到了他们没有的东西。我们是在追求天国，我们希望这里的每一个人都得到天国。{PC 184.1}
我们只能偶尔在这里。我们有更多的人在观望、等候和请求我们到来，我预计我们在这里一结束就会走。但我想要告诉你们，我们有一个天国要争取，有一个地狱要逃避!我们成为与基督同工的人，以基督会说：“好，又良善又忠心的仆人，进来享受你主人的快乐”的方式救赎我们的灵魂，乃是合宜的。我们是在帮助耶和华，我们想在我们所有的学校里教育和训练青少年，我们需要这里每一个人的帮助。上帝的儿子舍了自己的生命为要救赎我们，我们能为此做什么呢?我们能为我们周围的所有人做什么呢?我们必须将天国的原则付诸行动。我们必须全力以赴去尝试。主必帮助我们，祂肯定会帮助我们。{PC 184.2}
我不想让你们厌倦;我想我现在已经说得够多了。但我想让你们明白，我赏识对这个地方有利的一切事物，因为我希望这里会兴起一支军队来荣耀耶稣基督，祂为我们舍命。我们可以做什么呢，难道只是表示我们感激那个礼物吗?我们要在言语上表示出来，也要在行动上表示出来;我祈愿上帝赐福我们每一个人。阿们。{PC 184.3}
April 16, 1912
Talk to Students and Helpers, Mrs. E.G. White in Chapel, April 16, 1912
Matthew 6. “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.” Now there is a point we want to mark of these points: that if we expect that which Heaven is ready to bestow upon us, we must comply with the condition. “Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” Now we want to understand every word, for it belongs just as much to this company as in the days when Christ was upon the earth to speak the words that he spoke.?{PC 176.1}
“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Now how particular is the marking out of this matter:?{PC 176.2}
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Now there is a point that is of great advantage to us not to forget. You see we want all these things that are presented before us, we want them decidedly in our minds. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever, Amen.” Now here is one lesson, and we want to understand this lesson; we want to study it out and we want to see how much force and power that there is given us that we may understand how to conduct ourselves. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” Now here is the prayer for our daily bread, and we want to understand that we are to recognize the gifts of God to us. And then again, “After this manner pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.” Are we ready for it? Do we want it to come? Have we done all that God has specified that we should do in order that we may take this in completely and entirely? “Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” This is especially for us to practice, to learn. “For give us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not?into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.”?{PC 176.3}
Here is a positive agreement with God to us, and we want to understand this perfectly and intelligently, to carry it out. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses”—now let your ears be wide open—“if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.?{PC 177.1}
“Moreover when ye fast” - now here is special directions for us: “Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily, I say unto you, They have their reward.” It is all they will get. They won’t get anything more. What they want is the very spirit of the prayer that they offer, to take it in and let that prayer be carried out in their daily life. “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face: That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.” What does Sister White read all this for? you say. Because we have lessons to learn that we have not yet learned. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” These are lessons that every one of us want to understand and become intelligently upon.?{PC 177.2}
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” What a promise! How broad! It could not be broader! “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!?{PC 177.3}
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought” - that is, anxious thought, unbelieving thought - “for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Can you answer that question? We want and God wants us to recognize that every gift that we receive, to be a help and strength to us, it cometh from God. And we should be grateful and we are to carry the gratitude in our individual hearts. And if we carry that gratitude into our individual hearts, let me tell you there will be a different atmosphere surrounding our souls from what we now have. Try to live closely - take the truth of God just as it is given in his word.?{PC 177.4}
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the?one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought” - that is, anxious thought - “for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Now that is what we want to understand. We want to understand the Word intelligently, and we do not want to make any makeup or make believe story about it, but we want to know that we are planning for an eternal inheritance in the kingdom of heaven. I want that understood. “Therefore I say unto you, Take no” - what? - anxious thought “for your body what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink: nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are you not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought (anxious thought) for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”?{PC 177.5}
Now, I want to bring before you some things that have been presented to me, where many are making a mistake; and that is, their mind is more upon eating and drinking and dressing themselves than in feeling humble and prayerfully to serve God. And from the light the Lord has given me there is a decided change to take place in every family that has not this scripture unfolded in its meaning to them. We want to know what shall I do to be saved? individually. And when you begin to know the word in this way, you will find that God looks upon you and he will impart to you the understanding of his word that you shall not be covetous, after this thing and that thing and the other thing that is in the world. That is what this lesson is given for. And we want to be in that position that we can take our lessons, and that we can learn our lesson faithfully and put on Christ; put on the very elements of Christ’s character in all our actions, in all our doings. That is what I felt intensely anxious that you should understand; that there is a work that you are to do in unity with Christ, and if you do that work in unity with Christ, the Holy Spirit will give you representations to the world that you are a man that is following on to know the Lord and to be taught of God. “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body raiment?” Will you weary your body, and will you worry and will you fret and will you spoil your religious experience,?because you do not trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to work for you when you are doing your best on your part? “Nor yet for your body, what shall ye put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin” - excellent opportunity you have to study that - “and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” What a wonderful speech that is! “Wherefore, etc.” Now we want to understand this. As it was presented to me, there is so much thinking and worrying and trouble of mind about things that you cannot help if you should think a week upon them. You cannot change it, but the Lord would help you to put your trust in Him, to look to Him, and his Holy Spirit will come upon you and you will have - not a disposition to quarrel because you do not have everything you want - but you will have a disposition to thank God from the heart for what you have. That is what we need. And unless you have that Spirit, and unless you carry it out, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.?{PC 178.1}
I wanted to talk this morning, and I want you to see and understand that our Lord is a just and righteous God. We do not want the constant worry and fretting and complaining, we do not want to encourage it at all. We want to just stand in a position that we can see the goodness of God. Then we will have a pleasant disposition, and your company will be that which is pleasant, and the angels of God will see that you are copying the example that they have presented before you. We want, every one of us, to have an amiable disposition, and unless you have a sanctified, amiable disposition, you will lose heaven entirely. So that the care, anxiety, instead of worrying all the time for fear you shall not have something good and nice to eat or some dresses to put on, - now it is the most foolish thing, because you want to stand in a correct position before God. There is a mighty work to be done for everyone of us. And we are to understand it, and we cannot afford to lose the lessons that are brought in. We must know what God wants to work out through us. There is a great deal of mischief done in the imagination of our own hearts and minds that we want our individual way. But God wants us to come into right relation to him. And if we will consent to learn, why then we shall see of the salvation of God.?{PC 179.1}
“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” - now there is where our lack is. We do not study and contemplate that disposition that calls us to help everyone that we possibly can, but we want that everything should come in an easy way to us. Now everyone will have the Holy Spirit of God upon them if they will seek for it in the right way, if they will?come to him as little children, and if they will ask him for his Grace and his power and his salvation that they can be lifted up? - No, that isn’t it. But that they may have all these advantages to present to be a blessing to those that are around them. What we want is to study the Bible and to find out the way that may take hold of the promises of God and claim them as ours. And we will be happy in that. The devil cannot get a chance either to come in and to tempt you and to destroy your peace. We must bring ourselves in right relation to God.?{PC 179.2}
We want the blessing of God to rest upon every scholar and every teacher and these teachers should be converted daily to God. Angels of God will help them, and the ugly disposition that comes in like a flash - it isn’t there. There is no place for it. We do not give it room. We aren’t studying how we can get above our brother, or those that are around us, or our Sister. We must not do that. But we want to prepare to meet Christ every day. He came to this earth to give his life for us, that we might gain the precious victory of eternal life in the kingdom of glory. And he wants to encircle every one of you in his precious care, that you shall not reveal to the world a disposition that will not tend to elevate the religion of Jesus Christ, but lower it. You cannot afford it. And the great work that has been presented to me for our people is now - We have the great advantages here, and none has worked for them harder than I have tried to work in order that I might every step honor Christ, in our work here in this world. We are not to have a hasty temper; that is the devil’s work, and we are not to have a wicked speech and unhappy thoughts of this one and that one and the other. No, indeed. We are not to try and excel this one and excel that one, but let our own fruit, in words, proper words, right words, words that will bless someone - let these words be spoken. But the converting power of God needs to be in all our schools, and we want to act for Christ. We want to serve him. We want to glorify him. We want to honor him, who made it possible by coming into our world and giving himself, giving himself a sacrifice to make it possible for us to be saved. That is what we want to appreciate, and we want to work it out in our life. We do not want to be a careless people here. We want everyone of us to be in the path that leads heavenward. And you read in the precious Book that “if you will follow on to know the Lord ye shall know his going forth is prepared as the morning.” You know what that is. We need not give you any explanation at all. We want the saving grace of God. We do not want to try - and there is in every place, as it is presented to me, always all this striving to be first, for fear you shall not have the first honor and that you shall not have the glory of this and that and the other thing.?{PC 180.1}
There is a great work to do. The Lord has a very special work to do for every soul of us, if we ever see the kingdom of heaven. Here are the young people. You are to have just that education that can win souls to Christ. It is not yourselves, merely, that are to be saved, but you are winning by giving an example to those that are around you, what the power of truth can be upon the individual mind. We want Christ within, the hope of glory. And when we make up our minds to be right, you just read this and keep it in your life, and you will be the most?contented person, and not striving for the best place. No such thing. You want just the place that God would desire for you, where the Lord can look upon you with pleasure, and if you “follow on to know the Lord, you shall know that his going forth is prepared as the morning.” Now, I do not need to describe the morning to you. You know all about that. You are right here where you can see it, and we have not had very pleasant days for a few days, but we haven’t heard anyone going around and complaining about the sun not shining. No indeed. You just go and try to help some soul that cannot get out of doors and see if you can encourage them, and it will be a blessing to them, but a much larger one to you.?{PC 180.2}
What we want is to get what that as a people we shall reveal the sanctification of the Holy Spirit in our words and in our looks, and thus overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Now here is the point that will bring us into right relations to God. And when we begin to think that somebody else is getting ahead of us, just ask the Lord to put his Holy Spirit upon our mind and upon our heart and upon our character. What we want is pure and undefiled religion, and when we get that, let me tell you, three will be such a spirit seen here - Why, I remember how hard we work for fear that we would not get this place. There was a good many standing in our way, that did not want us to have it. They said that they could not carry the debt. They did not want us to have it. But we made our prayers to God, and came right where the men were and said, Not the first thing we will do is to present this case to God, and if he wants us to have this place, and we act in a righteous manner to get it, I have no question but we shall have it. The fears were started from a tall man that was in possession of the house, and dropping, dropping.?{PC 181.1}
Well, now these words are precious in the sight of God, and he wants every one of us to educate ourselves in the faculty of the Spirit that is to circulate in the heavenly court when we shall enter there. And we must circulate that spirit here, or we will never enter there. What we want is righteousness and truth and the glory that God will bestow upon the ones that are diligently seeking in the right way to serve God that they may obtain Christ’s righteousness. And in that way we shall find that our homes will be pleasant. Why, fathers and mothers have no right to be scolding and fretting with their children in their homes. It is a sin. We are fitting up - what for? The heavenly mansions. And we can teach it to our children that we can have no words, no crossness, we can have no quarreling in our house because that will send the angels of God away. We want the angels of God to fit us up that we may inherit the kingdom prepared for us from the foundation of the world.?{PC 181.2}
Seek to practice the life that Christ has presented to us, that is a righteous life. That is what I wanted to say to my brethren here. There is to be no quarreling at all. There is room enough in our world, and there is a chance for everyone of us to perfect a Christian character in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth; and let us take hold of the work intelligently and then when there is any change to take place in the working of?the cause here, if there is that sweetness and sanctification of the Holy Spirit of God there will be no such thing as this striving for the mastery. And when I said how here we have worked from place to place in order to obtain the health institutions I have felt it my duty to set before them the only claims they have of eternal life is to speak and act righteously. All this striving for the mastery is of the devil.?{PC 181.3}
We want a place in the kingdom of God, and we cannot afford to speak an unrighteous word. Christ gave his life for us. What have we given him??{PC 182.1}
When I saw this place I knelt right down before the man and prayed that God would give it to us if it was right that we should have it. And when we got up from praying, he just took us around the premises and in every place and explained things to us, and showed us the greatest courtesy. Said, he, I would rather you would have it than any others. We can’t keep it. And said he, we feel perfectly free that you should have this place. We gave him a price that we thought he would accept, and he did accept it, so that it was brought into our possession.?{PC 182.2}
Well now we had three seasons of prayer, perhaps more than that, right in his presence, asking the Lord to have an influence upon our people, a sanctifying influence, because that Satan was going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he could devour; and we could not afford to be devoured. We were trying with all our might to obtain this place in such a manner that it would be perfectly harmonious with the one that wanted to sell it to us. And it was, from the beginning to the end.?{PC 182.3}
Well, I want to tell you that I would not have this place enlarged one step unless there is a different atmosphere that shall circulate all through the premises here, and not one striving to get a place, and another striving to get a place, but that we should take everything into reasonable consideration. And every soul will have to be striving to do that every day. We want the light of heaven to decide our questions.?{PC 182.4}
And when we went around with him from place to place, and he making his remarks about he was glad to have us have it, he thought we ought to have it, why, it pleased me very much. Well, here we have it, and the additions we have, and we are very grateful to God. But I want to tell you that it has been presented to me unless there is a decided change in some of the dispositions that are here, that they can never enter the kingdom of heaven. It is self, self, self. And you can’t afford it. We can’t any of us afford to serve ourselves. We want to work intelligently, and do that which will bring glory to God. That is what we want. And that spirit must come in here and abide here. It has not been here in all times and in all places; and when there is a striving the enemy comes in and suggests things to the mind. You don’t want that. You don’t want his companionship nor his advice. Not at all. You want to work like intelligent Christians, and we tried to work that way in obtaining this place. I do not know that there has been one word of disagreement spoken since we have come to purchase the place. But whenever we met the men?we would tell them how thankful we were that we had this place, that we needed so very much and didn’t know how that we should get along without it. “Well,” said he, “I am just as glad as you are that you have got it. I am just as glad that you are the ones that have got the place.” Well, now, I would a great deal rather than he would say that then for him to be complaining because we have it.?{PC 182.5}
And I want to say that there is a lot to be done for your children in your homes. No crossness; they are God’s children. It is the Lord’s heritage, and you have no right to speak to them in a way which will create an unhappy disposition and spoil their tempers. You want to speak to your children kindly. I have felt it my duty, notwithstanding all my trials and these things, to bring up some children. They say, Why, you are bringing up so many children! I want them right in my home. I see the mothers do not know how to discipline them, and they are very glad to have me take them. And so I take them, and I have now three or four children that I have taken and trained in the very way I told you, never to speak a cross word. I would tell them, We will give you a ride every day, and we will try in all our words that there is nothing that shall deserve a tod. That is what we are going to try for. Well now, we accomplish what we try for.?{PC 183.1}
Now there is an additional property that has come to us. Of course we have not purchased it, but we are glad of the addition. Why? Because we shall need it - every foot of it. I know how the matter has been presented to me. And I want to say that the Lord wants us to represent the Christian character. That is what he wants us to do. And it has not been represented here, not by all. But what did Christ do? When they tell me, “Why do you with all your work bring this child and that child and the other child?” Why, I said, “They would lose their souls if I did not.” They have got to be educated kindly and brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. And I want to say that the Lord wants every soul of us to be in a position not to strive for the greatest place or the greatest honor. He wants us to work out the disposition that he may work in if you will let him. And we want the truth, and we want you to stand in that position that we will feel that we have not taken all these responsibilities for naught. We want to realize it. Why, I have tried with all my might to work at this and that and the other that would be a blessing, and we must be where we can cooperate with Heaven. And may the Lord give us grace and his Holy Spirit. {PC 183.2}
I have more to say on this subject. I was going away today, but I told them I must tell them something here; that the converting power of God must come through the congregations of those that settle here in this place if we give honor and glory to God. And this disposition to strive to get the highest place, and to strive for this and that and the other - let us put a stop to it. It does not please Jesus. And instead of laying the rod upon them, I take them in my chamber. Now, children, you have a character to form, I tell them, and unless you overcome the evil of your character, why, the Lord cannot receive you. But the Lord loves you, and he wants to have you. Now, you are younger than I. We will take you out every day, and we will go out into the woods and groves and we will talk together and we will pray together. And this we do.?{PC 184.3}
And God wants us to be converted. O, how my heart aches for our children. We want them saved, but we must save them in God’s appointed way. And I want you to understand that we have a Heaven to win, a heaven to win. And when I think of it, that so many children are not prepared nor getting prepared to enter heaven, I want to give every place something of this that we have got. We want heaven, and we want every one of these children should enter the courts of heaven and enjoy that life. What is it? Eternal life in the kingdom of glory. One child saved; one child taken from the clutches of the enemy, and we want you to walk in this direction to save the children. We have got a people that are watching us. And we are to conduct ourselves in such a way that they will be convinced we have got something that they have not got. And we are seeking for heaven, and we want every soul here to gain heaven.?{PC 184.1}
We can be here only now and then. We have got more souls that are watching and waiting and begging for us to come, and we shall go as soon as we get through here, I expect. But I want to tell you we have a heaven to win, and a hell to shun! And it becomes us to be laborers together with Christ to redeem our souls in such a way that Christ shall say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou in to the joy of thy Lord. We are helping the Lord, and we want in all our schools to educate and train the youth, and we want the help of every soul that is in the place. The Son of God gave his life to redeem us, and what can we do for this? What can we do for all that are around us. We have got to act out the principles of heaven. We have got to try with all our might. And the Lord will help us, surely he will help us.?{PC 184.2}
I do not want to weary you; I think I have talked about enough now. But I want you to understand that I appreciate everything that is to the advantage of this place, because I hope there will be an army that will be raised up here to glorify Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us. What can we do, only to show that we appreciate that gift? We are to show it in word, and show it in action; and may God bless every one of us, is my prayer. Amen.?{PC 184.3}
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