1908年4月23日写于加利福尼亚州疗养院
致在加利福尼亚州南部的弟兄们
亲爱的弟兄们:
我蒙指示要对你们说,让每一个人都认真地寻求耶和华。我们都需要清楚地明白我们的责任是什么,以免采取错误行动。我们需要持定主已在过去赐给我们的经验。我非常渴望看到我们要采取的每一个行动都取得成功。{PC 263.2}
有一项十分重要的工作要做,是与洛马林达的疗养院和学校的利益有关;只有大家都为此而工作,才能完成。要以圣经为我们的教科书。我们大家团结起来,才能看见上帝在我们中间工作。{PC 263.3}
“不要作糊涂人,要明白主的旨意如何”(弗5:17)。让我们谨慎地行走和作工吧。让谦卑的祈祷升达上帝,并让我们全心寻求祂吧。于是主就必为我们开路,制定明智的计划。我的弟兄们,你们“当用诗章、颂词、灵歌、彼此对说,口唱心和的赞美主。凡事常常感谢主”(见 弗5:19,20)。{PC 263.4}
总要记住,上天对每一个激发你们对学校和疗养院的想法的问题都感兴趣。二者都应该得到加强。主是我们的帮助者和我们的上帝;让我们指望祂为我们计划的实施开辟道路吧。{PC 263.5}
我们必须在洛马林达有一座教堂,以便那些在疗养院和学校的人有一个合适的地方聚集礼拜;然而教堂不应该建得很昂贵。我们要建一个整洁、朴素但宽敞的礼拜堂,以便表明我们相信我们是生活在这尘世历史结束的时期,处在许多城市将因它们的罪恶而被夷为平地,它们的高楼也被摧毁的时代。{PC 263.6}
我们在洛马林达的学校可以把许多人培养成健康和节制事业上的布道士。要聘用最好的教师从事这项教育工作——不是那些自以为了不起的人,而是那些能谨慎行事,完全依靠上帝的人。{PC 264.1}
将不得不以很低的成本建造小平房供教师和学生居住;因为这些人应当从疗养院的讲座获得所有可能得到的好处。一得到资金就应尽快推进这项工作。{PC 264.2}
医务战线的教师若能站在自己的位分,就能成就一番善工。我恳切地祈求上帝保守内心诚实的人不至被那些自己尚处在混乱和黑暗中的人领入歧途。{PC 264.3}
教师要为多方面的工作做好准备。过去没有作出努力的地方,现在要设立学校。需要传道士前往做了很少工作的其它州去。圣经的真理要在许多地方传开。基督说:“这些事你们既做在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上,就是做在我身上了”(太25:40),这说明祂与地上一切有需要的人是相认同的。{PC 264.4}
所有的人都应努力扩大自己的经验。我们处在最严重的关头,然而基督深深认同我们的需要。基督徒应天天向基督学习。现在需要运用属灵的肌体在每一个城镇乡村里实行正确的原则。要重视和培养每一种才能,我们还需要真智慧。我们也许意识不到与上帝商量的必要性,可是每一个地方真正忠心的基督徒都会为自己个人的工作寻求主的旨意。{PC 264.5}
全天庭都对我们学校里要做的准备工作很感兴趣。要让我们中间的才干明智地结合起来,以便成就最大的善工。“你们是上帝的耕种的田地,所建造的房屋”(林前3:9)。那么就将上帝所赐的能力联合起来,从事祂所计划要完成的特殊工作吧。如果自我保持谦卑,基督改变人心的恩典和祂的智慧就会使人心连心。让我们存单一的心来奉献我们的礼物和供物吧。让我们利用我们的才干,记住它们是为这个目的而赐下的吧。上帝已将祂的工作给了每一个人;祂希望我们聪明地完成这工作。主必使每一个人都能做一番可蒙祂悦纳的工作。{PC 264.6}
主希望人人都藉着舍己的行为来帮助建立祂的工作。在将要建立的礼拜堂里,以及所需的额外教室里,但愿人人人都愿意尽最大努力,乐于舍弃用于炫耀的不必要的支出,以便有钱奉献给上帝的圣工。我们要完成主所安排的宣扬健康改革原则的工作。当我们研究基督的舍己,以祂的生活为我们的榜样时,真理和公义就会在我们中间占优势。我们就会把以温柔安静的心为装饰看得最有价值,这在上帝看来是极其宝贵的。{PC 265.1}
Sanitarium, California April 23, 1908
To the Brethren in Southern California
Dear Brethren,
I am instructed to say to you, Let every soul earnestly seek the Lord. We all need to understand clearly what is our duty, that we may make no false moves. We need to hold fast the experiences which in the past the Lord has given us. I have a great desire to see success attend every movement we shall make.?{PC 263.2}
There is a very precious work to be done in connection with the interests of the sanitarium and school at Loma Linda; and this will be done when we all work to that end. The word of God is to be our lesson book. In the unity that is coming in among our people we can see that God is working in our midst.?{PC 263.3}
“Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Let us walk and work circumspectly. Let humble prayers go up to God, and let us seek Him with the whole heart. Then the Lord will open the way for us to lay wise plans. My brethren, speak to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual songs, “singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto the Lord.”?{PC 263.4}
Ever bear in mind that heaven is interested in every question that agitates your mind in regard to your school and sanitarium. Both are to be strengthened. The Lord is our helper and our God; let us look to Him to open the way for the carrying out of our plans.?{PC 263.5}
We must have a church at Loma Linda, that those in the sanitarium and school may have a suitable place in which to meet for worship; but this should not be an expensive building. We shall build a neat, modest, but roomy chapel, that will show that we believe that we are living in the closing days of this earth’s history, in a time when many?of the cities because of their sins will be cast down and their lofty buildings destroyed.?{PC 263.6}
In our school at Loma Linda many can be educated to work as missionaries in the cause of health and temperance. The best teachers are to be employed in this educational work, - not men who esteem highly their own capabilities, but men who will walk circumspectly, depending wholly upon the Lord.?{PC 264.1}
Small cottages will have to be built at little cost to accommodate the teachers and students; for these are to gain all the advantages possible from the lectures given at the sanitarium. This work should go forward as fast as means for it be obtained.?{PC 264.2}
If the teachers in medical lines will stand in their lot and place, we shall see a good work done. My soul is drawn out in earnest prayer to God that He will preserve the honest in heart from being led astray by those who are themselves in confusion and darkness.?{PC 264.3}
Teachers are to be prepared for many lines of work. Schools are to be established in places where no efforts have been made. Missionaries are needed to go to other States where little work has been done. Truth, Bible truth, is to be presented in many places. Christ is represented as identifying Himself with all the needy upon earth when He says, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”?{PC 264.4}
All should put forth efforts to enlarge their experience. We are in a most critical situation; but Christ identifies Himself with our necessities. Christians are to learn daily of Christ. Spiritual sinew and muscle are now needed to work out right principles in every city and town and village. Varied talents are to be appreciated and cultivated, and with all we need true wisdom. We may not see our need of counseling with God; but the true Christian in every place will inquire what is the will of the Lord concerning his individual work.?{PC 264.5}
All heaven is interested in the work of preparation to be done in our schools. Let the talent that is among us be combined wisely for the accomplishment of the greatest good. “Ye are God’s husbandry; ye are God’s building.” Then link up the powers that God has given for the doing of the special work he designs to have done. If self, is kept humble, the transforming grace of Christ and His wisdom will blend heart to heart. Let us make our gifts and offerings with a single heart. Let us draw upon our talents remembering that for this purpose they were given. To every man God has given His work; and He would have this work done intelligently. The Lord will make it possible for each to do a work that can be accepted by Him.?{PC 264.6}
The Lord expects all, by acts of self-denial, to help in the upbuilding of His work. In the house of worship to be erected, and the additional schoolrooms that will be needed, let all be willing to do their best, willing to deny themselves the unnecessary expenditure for display, that they may have means to give to the cause of God. The work in promulgating the principles of health reform, which the Lord has outlined to us, must be accomplished. When we study the self denial of Christ, and make His life our example, truth and righteousness will prevail among us. We will esteem as of highest value the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. -?{PC 265.1}