致J.A.伯登长老
亲爱的弟兄：
我有话要对你说。主已使你负上不寻常的责任。你在洛马林达安顿下来之前，在举行会议的时候，当时我病得很重，主指示我看到了作为疗养院的院长，你的工作是什么，你若愿意使自己与上帝的智慧联合，你就会受教于上帝。你需要清晰的头脑，以便明智地决定许多要你决定的问题。主会让你受祂教导。{PC 223.1}
我的弟兄，不要让经验有限的人进来，并承担控制权，像里瑟长老所做的那样。里瑟弟兄在许多问题上已把自己定位为教师、顾问和统治者，你若不小心地工作和警醒，这种影响就会阻碍工作。里瑟弟兄应该认识到，他并没有资格去做他以为自己应该做的工作。{PC 223.2}
里瑟弟兄认为，如果没有他对财务的监督，就会有严重的损失;其实不然，要是他在这些事情上无事可做，无话可说，就会省去许多困惑。他已承担了主并没有放在他身上的担子。他从希利长老身上学到了一些教训，后者做了许多事，阻碍了南方的工作。他若致力于他的传道工作，不插手指导工作，就会为自己和别人免去许多负担。根据我所得的亮光，我知道他参与我们疗养院的工作乃是一个错误;他不应该作经理。{PC 223.3}
关于健康食品业务，我劝你慢慢来。我们这里的弟兄刚刚考虑过凯洛格医生向我们的人出售玉米片20年权利的提议;我担心，要是我不在场，这件事就会就会得到执行，导致我们食品业务的亏损。当一种东西得到推崇，像玉米片那样，我们的人与它若再有什么关系，就不明智了。我们没有必要把玉米片当作好东西。{PC 223.4}
我的弟兄，我劝你要远离凯洛格医生巧妙计划的影响。让我们用自己的聪明才智，发明出最好的食物吧。我们生活在地球历史的最后阶段;人们渴望上帝圣言和健康生活的知识。让我们努力扎实地工作，就健康改良的原则提供一切可能的指导，与病人一起祈祷，教导人们如何在疾病和健康中照顾自己吧。{PC 224.1}
主已藉着怀特医生给了我们颇有价值的帮助，她在学习怎样遵循主的道路。但愿工人们多多献上恳切的祈祷，各人都倚靠那位大医师，好按照祂的旨意开展工作。“因为我们是与上帝同工的;你们是上帝所耕种的田地，所建造的房屋”(林前3:9)。我们努力在地上建立上帝的圣工时，要为永恒做确实的工作。{PC 224.2}
许多负责的弟兄正在包揽太多权力;他们必用独裁的权力混乱的人的判断。我必须警告弟兄们要提防这一点。当工人们变得自信自恃，追求包揽更多，过于主已放在他们身上的东西时，上帝的圣工就受到危害。这种精神的结果是阻碍圣工而不是推进圣工。{PC 224.3}
伯登弟兄，要聪明地从事你的工作，就是要请教上帝的道;因为这道对圣工中的工人来说非常宝贵。要研究上帝最近六十年来藉着预言之灵赐给祂子民的信息。不要寻求人的建议，而要藉着恳切的祷告寻求上帝的智慧。过去因倚靠人的指导已经犯了错误。要设法纠正这种错误。{PC 224.4}
November 2, 1906 Sanitarium, California
Elder J. A. Burden
Dear Brother,
I have words to speak to you. The Lord has laid upon you responsibilities of no ordinary nature. At the time of the meeting held before you were settled at Loma Linda, when I was so sick, the Lord showed me what was to be your work as director of the Sanitarium, and that if you would connect yourself with divine wisdom, you would be taught of God. You need a clear mind in order to settle wisely the many questions that come to you for decision. The Lord would have you taught of Him.?{PC 223.1} My brother, do not allow men of limited experience to come in, as Elder Reaser has done, and assume a controlling power. Brother Reaser has placed himself as teacher and adviser and ruler in many matters, and unless you work and watch carefully, such an influence will retard the work. Brother Reaser should learn that he is not qualified to do the work he supposes he is to do.?{PC 223.2}
Brother Reaser supposes that if it was not for his watching of the finances, there would be serious losses; whereas if he had nothing to do and say in these matters, it would save many perplexities. He has taken upon himself burdens that the Lord has not laid upon him. He has learned some of his lessons of Elder Healey, who has done much to retard the work in the South. If he would attend to his work of ministry, and keep his hands off the work of directing, he would save himself and others many burdens. From the light that has been given me, I know that it is a mistake for him to be connected with our sanitariums; he should not be a manager.?{PC 223.3}
In regard to the health food business, I would urge you to move slowly. Dr. Kellogg’s proposition to sell the corn flake rights to our people for twenty years has just been considered by our brethren here; and I fear, if I had not been on the ground, this matter would have been carried through to the loss of our food business. When a thing is exalted,?as the corn flakes has been, it would be unwise for our people to have anything to do with it. It is not necessary that we make the corn flakes an article of good.?{PC 223.4}
I would advise you, my brother, to keep away from the influence of Dr. Kellogg’s ingenious plans. Let us use our own ingenuity to invent the best kinds of food possible. We are living in the closing days of this earth’s history; souls are starving for a knowledge of the word of God and of healthful living. Let us seek to carry our work solidly, giving all possible instruction regarding the principles of health reform, praying with the sick, and teaching the people how to care for themselves in sickness and health.?{PC 224.1}
The Lord has sent us valuable help in Dr. White, who is studying to know how to follow the way of the Lord. Let there be much earnest prayer on the part of the workers, each depending on the great Physician to carry the work according to His purposes. “For we are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry; ye are God’s building.” In our efforts to build up the cause of God in the earth, we are to make sure work for eternity.?{PC 224.2}
Many workers who are bearing responsibilities are embracing too much authority; and they will certainly confuse the human judgment by their dictatorial authority. I must warn my brethren to be on their guard against this. The cause of God is imperiled when the workers become self-confident, and seek to embrace more than the Lord has laid upon them. Hindrance instead of advancement is the result of such a spirit.?{PC 224.3}
Brother Burden, carry your work intelligently, even consulting the word of God; for this word is very precious to the worker in the cause. Study the messages that God has sent to His people for the last sixty years through the Spirit of Prophecy. Do not seek the counsel of men, but by earnest prayer seek the wisdom of God. A mistake has been made in the past by leaning upon the guidance of men. Seek to correct this mistake. -?{PC 224.4}
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