3月15日
1905年3月14日写于加利福尼亚州疗养院,榆园
致在格兰代尔疗养院的工人们:
我们很高兴,尽管有一些耽搁,还是买到了格兰代尔作疗养院的那块地产。多年前,主曾指示我,在洛杉矶市附近应该有一个疗养院。主还指示说我们应该找到待售的地产,其上有适合作疗养院的建筑,而且我们能以极低的成本买到这种地产。格兰代尔疗养院的位置符合我在异象中所见上帝为我们保留的那些地方的画面。该机构附近有电车运营,使得到它那里很方便。{PC 326.1}
凡在这个疗养院工作的人都要谨记买下这块地产的目的。该机构应当起到特殊的作用,把人带到基督面前,引导他们爱上帝并遵守祂的诫命。工人与上帝若没有活的联络,机构中若没有仁慈同情的精神,疗养院的建立就会徒劳。应该将心灵和身体的医治带给那些来求医治的人。{PC 326.2}
伯登弟兄和姐妹,我很高兴你们参与了格兰代尔疗养院的工作。愿主增加你们的智慧、勇气和信心。我很高兴辛普森医生和她丈夫能与你们联合。你们和艾伯特医生及其他工人能做一番宝贵的工作,让现代真理之光清晰地照耀出来。要记住你们是在为时代和永恒作工。你们应该对上帝之道的应许有不断增加的信心。你们有特权寻求来自上帝的智慧和帮助。要存谦卑的心来到救主面前,承认你们的罪,祈求力量和恩典。{PC 326.3}LLM86.5
圣灵启迪那倚靠一位被钉且复活之救主之人的心灵,创作一种蒙主悦纳的认罪悔改的祷告。“我们本不晓得当怎样祷告,只是圣灵亲自用说不出来的叹息替我们祷告。”“鉴察人心的,晓得圣灵的意思,因为圣灵照着上帝的旨意替圣徒祈求”(罗8:26,27)。{PC 326.4}
但愿谁也不要夸口自己不承认主已向他指出的罪。他若不认罪,就得不到上帝的赦免和饶恕。他就必须悲伤地出发,靠他自己的力量工作。仇敌发现他在这个境地,是个受欺骗的对象。{PC 327.1}
这等人有许许多多。愿主开他们的眼睛,使他们能看到他们自足自负的危险。一种表面工夫始终是每一个自称基督徒之人的网罗。撒但发现容易接近那个在经验上粗心大意马虎松懈之人的心,并用诱人的理论使他着迷,那些理论会摧毁他对上帝的信心。“到上帝面前来的人必须信有上帝,(正如祂在自己的个性中所宣称的那样)且信祂赏赐那寻求祂的人”(来11:6)。{PC 327.2}
在每一个疗养院中,都必须将真服务的原则始终摆在所有在机构里的人面前。亮光和知识应该从该机构中传出去。凡在疗养院工作的人都应该聪明地尽自己的本分,作现代真理的代表。年轻人被带到我们的疗养院,为的是可以让他们受训练去从事真正的布道工作。{PC 327.3}
你们若是愿意与上帝合作,祂就必行在你们前面,耶和华的荣耀必作你们的后盾。天使会在人们藉着耶稣基督接受上帝的伟大恩赐时爆发出歌唱声。你们可以使病人和受苦的人确信基督是他们的伟大医治者。他们可以信靠祂,倚赖祂的话;因为祂的话永远不会失败。{PC 327.4}
“耶和华如此说:你们当守公平,行公义;因我的救恩临近,我的公义将要显现。谨守安息日而不干犯,禁止己手而不作恶;如此行、如此持守的人便为有福”(赛56:1,2)。{PC 327.5}
这里给出的是何等的描述啊!“我的救恩临近,”——那藉着耶稣基督为每一个人行出来的伟大救恩,众先知早已详细地寻求考察的救恩。我们的主不久就要以仁慈、怜悯和爱临到我们。我们必须前去接受祂为一位受欢迎的贵宾。{PC 327.6}
主耶稣号召每一个人都兴致勃勃地从事圣工,成为光明的通道,藉以涌流基督的恩典。耶稣说过:“你们是世上的光。……你们的光也当这样照在人前,叫他们看见你们的好行为,便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父”(太5:14,16)。在藉着耶稣基督实行的伟大救恩中,不信的世界应当藉着信徒们的工作得到帮助。在你们所从事的疗养院工作中,许多人会信服你们确实是上帝的儿女。{PC 327.7}
“当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找祂,相近的时候求告祂。恶人当离弃自己的道路;不义的人当除掉自己的意念。归向耶和华,耶和华就必怜恤他;当归向我们的上帝,因为上帝必广行赦免”(赛55:6,7)。{PC 328.1}
“耶和华说:我的意念非同你们的意念;我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地,照样,我的道路高过你们的道路;我的意念高过你们的意念。雨雪从天而降,并不返回,却滋润地土,使地上发芽结实,使撒种的有种,使要吃的有粮。我口所出的话也必如此,决不徒然返回,却要成就我所喜悦的,在我发他去成就(发他去成就:或作所命定)的事上必然亨通”(赛55:8-11)。{PC 328.2}
上帝之道的所有应许,都是以福音为条件的。我们这一方若是履行条件,我们若是愿意趁着耶和华可寻找的时候寻找祂,就可以认领这个应许:{PC 328.3}
“你们必欢欢喜喜而出来,平平安安蒙引导。大山小山必在你们面前发声歌唱;田野的树木也都拍掌。松树长出,代替荆棘;番石榴长出,代替蒺藜。这要为耶和华留名,作为永远的证据,不能剪除”(赛55:12,13)。{PC 328.4}
要将这个信息传给万民:当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找祂。要寻求你们已经反叛了的主。让我们做出一切努力去抑制会进入我们队伍中的诱人情绪吧。让每一个人都完全醒着吧,好关闭撒但的诡辩进入人心的每一个通路,就如在天上和在伊甸园中所启示的。让我们保持警惕,抵制他的魅力吧。{PC 328.5}
Elmshaven, Sanitarium, California March 14, 1905
To the Workers in the Glendale Sanitarium,
We are glad that notwithstanding some delay, the property at Glendale has been secured for a sanitarium. Years ago the Lord gave me instruction that there should be a sanitarium near the city of Los Angeles. Instruction was also given that we should find properties for sale on which there would be buildings suitable for sanitarium purposes, and that we might secure such properties at a very low cost. The location of the Glendale Sanitarium meets the representation given me of places God has reserved for us. The electric cars running close by the institution make access to it very convenient.?{PC 326.1}
Let all connected with this sanitarium keep in mind the purpose for which this property has been secured. The institution is to act a special part in bringing souls to Christ, leading them to love God and keep His commandments. Unless the workers have a living connection with God, unless there is seen in the institution a spirit of kindness and compassion, establishment of the sanitarium will have been in vain. Spiritual as well as physical healing is to be brought to those who come for healing.?{PC 326.2}
Brother and Sister Burden, I am glad that you have a part in the work of the Glendale Sanitarium. May the Lord increase your wisdom and courage and faith. I am glad that Dr. Simpson and her husband can unite with you. You and Dr. Abbott and the other workers may do a precious work in letting the light of present truth shine forth in clear rays. Remember that you are doing a work for time and for eternity. You should have an ever-increasing faith in the promises of God’s word. It is your privilege to seek wisdom and help from God. Come to the Saviour in humility, confessing your sins, and asking for strength and grace.?{PC 326.3}
The Holy Spirit enlightens the mind of the one who depends on the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, and indites a prayer of confession and repentance that is acceptable to the Lord. “We know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groanings that cannot?be uttered,” “He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”?{PC 326.4}
Let no man boast that he does not confess the sins that the Lord has pointed out to him. If he makes no confession, he receives not forgiveness and pardon from God. He must go forth in sorrow, to work in his own strength. The enemy finds him in this position, a subject to be deceived.?{PC 327.1}
There are many, many of this class. May the Lord open their eyes, that they may see the danger of their self-sufficiency. A superficial work is always a snare to every professed Christian. Satan finds easy access to the heart of the one who is careless and slack in his experience, and beguiles him with seducing theories that will destroy his faith in God. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is, (as He has declared Himself in His personality) and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”?{PC 327.2}
In every sanitarium there must be kept before all in the institution the principles of true service. From the institution is to go forth light and knowledge. All connected with it are to act their part intelligently, as representatives of the truth for this time. It is that they may be trained to do true missionary work, that young people are brought to our sanitariums.?{PC 327.3}
If you will co-operate with God, He will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your reward. Heavenly angels will break forth into singing as souls receive the great gift of God through Jesus Christ. You may assure the sick and afflicted that Christ is the great Healer. They may believe on Him, and trust in His word; for it will never fail.?{PC 327.4}
“Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice; for My salvation is near to come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.”?{PC 327.5}
What a representation is here given! “My salvation is near to come,” - that great salvation wrought out for each soul through Jesus Christ, the salvation for which the prophets have inquired and searched diligently. Our Lord is soon to come to us in mercy and compassion and love. We must go forth to receive Him as a welcome guest.?{PC 327.6}
The Lord Jesus calls upon every one to become interestedly engaged in the work of becoming a channel of light through which the grace of Christ may flow. Jesus has said, “Ye are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good?works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” In the great salvation wrought through Jesus Christ, the unbelieving world is to be helped through the work of believers. In the work you do in the sanitarium, many may become convinced that you are indeed the children of God.?{PC 327.7}
“Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.”?{PC 328.1}
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord, For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”?{PC 328.2}
All the promises of God’s word are made on gospel terms. If we on our part will fulfill the conditions, if we will seek the Lord, while He may be found, we may claim the promise:?{PC 328.3}
“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign, that shall not be cut off.”?{PC 328.4}
Let this message be sounded to all people, Seek the Lord while He may be found. Seek Him against whom you have been in rebellion. Let us make every effort to check the seducing sentiments that would come into our ranks. Let every soul be wide-awake to close every avenue of the soul to the sophistry of Satan, as revealed in heaven and in Eden. Let us be armed with that vigilance that shall resist his enchantments. -?{PC 328.5}