亲爱的弟兄：
凌晨两点半，在家人闭门安睡之际，我开始写这些话给你。我想到了巴特尔克里克的大教会，重大利益集中的所在，这使它成了最高意义上的布道园地。世界各地的人来到疗养院，许多来自各州的青年来到此地上大学。这块园地需要最好的工作方法，以便对所有的人不断发挥最有力的宗教影响。上帝期望人们培养才能，以便拥有更为广博的理念策划实行祂的工作。当人们如此行时，基督恩典的拯救能力就会向那些相信现代真理的人们显现出来。{PC 401.1}
在工作发展的过程中，倘若工人们坚定地依靠上帝的智慧和能力，他们的心思就会扩展以合乎主所启示的旨意。那些虔诚而有才华的人应受到鼓励去获得必要的教育，使他们能协助传播真理亮光的大工。这样，就会看到末日最后伟大信息的进展。{PC 401.2}
上帝在圣工的不同部门有不同的工作人员。当一些人被主呼召来从事某一项工作，利用主所赐的能力将工作尽力向前推进时，主凭着祂的远见呼召并赋予能力给其他人加入进来与他们同工，一起将工作向前推进，将标准提得更高。如果那些祂所委托工作之人坚定忠贞地尽上本分，祂就绝不会容让祂的工作在力量或效能上减少。不可轻视上帝所接纳的工人。{PC 401.3}
这伟大而严肃的工作绝不会由几个凭机会选出来负责的人来完成。有些人的观念没有随着工作一起进步，而是落后于工作，在还没有充分了解环境以前，就发觉自己又累又疲乏。然后当那些正蒙上帝赋予资格来协助工作的人，用与这些负责人员稍微不同的方式来进行工作时，他们应该非常谨慎，不可阻碍这些帮手或限制工作。既然他们没有全面衡量此项工作，也没有负起上帝特意放在他人身上的担子，为什么要对那项工作指手画脚呢?那些没有辨明也没有使自己适应工作进展之要求的人，不应阻挡车轮前进，阻碍他人的进步。{PC 401.4}
大卫的例子说明了这一点。他为建造上帝的圣殿做了大量的准备，但是上帝告诉他，他不是做那项工作的人选，而要由他的儿子所罗门来做。他可以根据自己丰富的经验提出建议和忠告，鼓励所罗门;但必须由这位年轻人来做此项工作。{PC 402.1}
所有年长弟兄疲惫不堪的心思不能适应各方面工作的重任，也跟不上上帝所启示的旨意。故工作的责任不能完全落在他们身上，因为他们不能将工作进展的要素全部考虑进去;于是工作就受到了阻碍。{PC 402.2}
巴特尔克里克和密歇根州的工作远远落后了。在好几年时间里，区会委员会和工人们对圣工缺乏智慧的规划和周到的管理。总会会长虽然愿意做大量的工作，但他没有看到必须培养智力，使自己有计划的能力，发现年青人的才干，安排他们去做工，与那些能帮助他的人结交。看清形势和国外布道差会的需要，不至忽略他们，这原是好的。但我们也应能够看清身边工作的需要。国内的布道不容忽略。此项工作一直被忽略了。{PC 402.3}
不幸的是，巴特尔克里克没有利用身边的许多优势，使工作的中心处于健康的状态。各地的信徒肢体本应感受到工作中心的有力心跳。但如果心脏的跳动虚弱无力，它的低效就会影响工作的各个部门。为了使真理能传播到全世界，工作中心的健康有力是绝对必要的。真理要藉着家庭和团体来传播。这就需要计划的智慧统筹，训练他人来协助工作。要发现有才能的人，根据上帝赋予他们的不同能力，鼓励他们在各处工作。每一个上帝的工人都要接近有经验的长者，在他们的鼓励下找到工作的位置。要教育他们推进圣工。{PC 402.4}
在上帝的圣工中，许多才干没有利用起来，因为许多处于负责地位的人心思狭隘，未能看清日益增长的责任。他们没有扩大眼光看到工作已变得如此庞大，以致目前从事工作的人无法将工作往前推进。他们已不能胜任工作。许多该做的工作搁置未做，因为人们将事情揽在自己有限的手中，而不是因工作需要相应地扩大工作人员，相信上帝会帮助他们。他们已设法将各部门的工作都揽在自己手中，唯恐他人干不了。他们的意愿控制了一切，因为他们未能看清各部门事业的一切需要，就做出了一些不智的决定，结果就遭受了巨大的损失。工作受到了束缚，不是因为布局，而是因为没有看清各种不同的需要以迎合时代的要求。这主要是由于巴特勒长老认为地位给予了无限的权利。更大的责任压在他身上，他接受了，过于一个人所能承担的;结果使事态陷入混乱，虽然在此种情形下，他可能尽了自己最大的努力。但无穷的上帝看到具有不同资质的人应放到不同的工作岗位上。就他的弟兄而言，担心其他人想得到巴特勒弟兄的地位，这就导致了猜疑，结果就是上帝所要用的那些人被搁置一边。他们本应得到足够的鼓励，获得机会去工作的。因为猜测怀疑，因为缺乏眼力和规划，让每一个人都做能以聪明智慧的方式去做上帝安排他们去做的工作，上帝就未能按祂自己的意愿行事。所必须学习的教训是：当上帝为某一项工作指定工具时，我们不可忽略这些工具，将他们搁置一边，然后祷告期望祂行神迹补足我们的疏忽。上帝根据每一个人的资质和能力为他指定了工作。需要有智慧的计划将每一个人放在合适的工作范围之内，以便他获得一种经验，能担负更多的责任。{PC 402.5}
上帝在处理属世事物和属灵事物时，通过使用工具使福气临到人。若是农夫忽略耕种田地，上帝不会施行神迹弥补他的疏忽。到了收割的时候，他就一无所获。灵界的事物与自然界是一样的。上帝总是重视利用祂所指定要做祂工作的工具。人必须通过实践获得应付任何可能发生的紧急事件的能力。人们需要更好地了解自己，看清自己品格上的弱点，然后尽一切努力弥补这些弱点。这是上帝给他们的本分。{PC 403.1}
任何人都不应完全依靠他人的头脑;但是作为上帝自由的代理人，人人都应该寻求祂的智慧。当一个学者在很大程度上依赖另一个人的思想，只是接受他的计划，不肯更进一步时，他就只通过那人的眼光看问题，只不过是那人的回声。上帝愿意藉着祂自己的灵，通过祂已放在人里面的心意直接作工，只要人愿意给祂一个作工的机会，且愿承认祂在与他打交道。上帝的旨意是让人运用自己的思想和良心。祂绝无意叫一个人成为另一个人的影子，只是发出另一个人的观点。但这种错误却一直在进入我们当中，以致极少数的人成了所有上帝工人的头脑、良心和判断。基督教的根基是“基督我们的义。”人要亲自对上帝负责，必须行事好像上帝在他们心中运行，而不是另一个人的心意在他们心中运行;因为如果这种间接影响的方法继续下去，人心就不能受那位伟大的自有永有者感动和指导了。另一方面，他们的经验既与另一个人融为一体，就会处在一种道德约束之下，没有行动或选择的自由。{PC 403.2}
上帝视祂所造的人为负有责任的人。祂没有下令让巴特尔克里克教会的领袖停滞不前，直到有一股强大神奇的能力推动教会向上向前到达上帝指定的港口。若是我们愿意有智慧，殷勤地、虔诚地、满心感谢地利用上帝藉以向祂的子民传送亮光和福气的工具，地上就没有什么声音或权势会有权对我们说：“不可这样。”{PC 404.1}
主已向我显明，居负责地位的人正直接挡在上帝对祂子民做工的道上，因为他们认为工作的完成和福气的来临都必须按照他们所规定的方式，不会看出以任何其它方式做成的工作和来到的福气。“我们是与上帝同工的。”要效法主耶稣的方法。祂是完美无暇的。{PC 404.2}
愿上帝将这件事情的本来性质呈现在你面前。上帝作工不是按照人的计划，也不是按照人的意愿。祂“成就万般神迹，行动奥妙神奇”(库珀《上帝神迹》，1772年)。为什么因上帝的方式不合我们个人的看法就将之视为无价值的呢?上帝已经指定了亮光的通道，但这些不一定藉着任何特殊的人或某一类型的人赐予。当人人都在上帝的工作中处于所指定的位置，不让别人随意模造他们时，就会取得巨大进步，让亮光照耀世人。{PC 404.3}
因为真理和亮光的到来与某些领导人的观点不一致，这里就努力关闭通向亮光和真理的每一途径，这是很不合理的。这些人是绝无错误的吗?上帝赐给了他们最高的判断力来评判亮光怎样传给祂的子民吗?我的答案是：不是!没有。{PC 404.4}
在巴特尔克里克会议期间，当审阅《加拉太书》律法的问题时，我被带到一些房间，听到一些代表的非基督化言语和批评。然后听到以下的话：“他们必须拥有耶稣里的真理，否则真理对于他们就不会是使人得救的真理。”基督说;“离了我，你们就不能做什么”(约15:5)。当有限的人不再挡道时，上帝就会以前所未有的方式在我们中间作工。{PC 404.5}
我蒙指示应该制订出更广泛的计划，同时圣工各部门的工作应该与每一其它部门联合一致，成为一个完全的整体。但是现在自私的观念和原则交织在工人的计划中，使工作产生缺陷。一个人已经负责某一项工作，却夸大自己的责任，直到在他的心目中这项工作高于任何其他工作，而实际上所有的工作都是一样重要的。人一旦接受了这种狭隘自私的观念，就会全力以赴用这种观念去感染别人。这是人的本性，但不符合基督的旨意。采用这一方针，就把基督撇在一边，凸现了自我。若是让救主参与这项工作，人都不会全神贯注于任何一部门，所有的人都会有宽阔的胸襟，给每一部门的工作以应有的重视。{PC 405.1}
在基督的时代，犹太人放纵高抬自我的精神，制定了严格的规条和措施，排斥了上帝在人心中做工的所有机会，直到在他们的工作中完全忽略了上帝的慈爱和怜悯。这就导致官长们将规条像沉重的担子压在人身上。这些担子是人们所不满，基督所谴责的。不要随从他们的脚踪。要给上帝机会为爱祂的人行事。不要强加给他们规则和条例。他们若是顺从这些条例，就会失去上帝的恩典，犹如基利波山没有雨露一样。你们的许多决议需要减少到三分之一。作出决议要十分谨慎。我们的传道园地有许多优势;若善加利用，就会有多得多的工人进入园地，担任牧师和传道士。但是由于有些人目光短浅，心思狭隘，使工作受到了限制。每一个区会中的教会都要作出积极的努力。显明我们时代特征的活泼信息要呈现给人们，不是以乏味无生气的方式，而是要以圣灵和上帝大能的明证。教会的每一个信徒都要负起责任。当布道的精神被唤起，聪明的工人被安排到需要的地方时，他们会成为活跃的牧者，作出自己的努力，使教会所在的范围再也看不到灵性死亡的现象。{PC 405.2}
关于其它部门的工作也对我讲了许多话，这次我就不写了。当我意识到我的处境时，我在床上没有睡，非常疲倦，我的心非常忧愁。我起来祷告，试图再写。某弟兄当时告诉我一些事情，从那时起关于你的立场和情绪使我极其痛苦。某长老所持的见解和观点使你们两个人站在错误的立场上。我不可能与你们站在一起，若是你们坚持这些立场，我将不得不在某些事上与你们分道扬镳，而且还会抵制你的观点和影响。我从未像在这次会议期间那样深刻地明了此事。我毫不犹豫地说，有一种精神被带入了此次会议，不是寻求获得亮光，而是挡住道路，惟恐一丝亮光从其他途径而不是你所认为合适的途径透入人的心灵和头脑。{PC 406.1}
Dear Brother,
At half past two in the morning, while the house is locked in slumber, I commence penning these lines to you. I think of the large church at Battle Creek, and of the important interests centered there, which makes it a missionary field in the highest sense. People are coming from all parts of the world to the Sanitarium, and many youth from the different States are attending the College. That field requires the very best methods of labor, that the strongest religious influence may be constantly exerted upon all. God would have men cultivate their abilities, that they may have broader ideas in planning and executing his work. When this is done, the saving power of the grace of Christ will be manifested by those who believe present truth.?{PC 401.1}
As the work grows, if the workers will rely firmly upon the wisdom and power of God, their minds will expand to keep pace with his opening providence. Those who possess piety and ability should be encouraged to obtain the necessary education, that they may assist in the great work of spreading the light of truth. Progress will then be seen in the great closing message for these last days.?{PC 401.2}
God has different sets of work men for the different branches of his cause. When those whom he has called to do a certain work, have carried that work along as far as they can with the ability he has given them, the Lord in his providence will call and qualify other men to come in and work with them, still making advance moves, that together they may carry it still farther, and lift the standard higher. He will never allow his work to diminish in strength for efficiency, if those to whom he has given their work will act their part with unswerving fidelity. There must be no (belittling) the men whom God has accepted as his workmen.?{PC 401.3}
This great and solemn work is not to be carried to its completion by a few men who have been selected as opportunity has offered, to bear responsibility. There are some minds which do not grow with the work, but allow the work to grow far beyond them, and they find themselves tired and worn before they comprehend the circumstances. Then when those whom God is qualifying to assist in the work, take hold of it in a little different way from that in which these responsible men have tried to do it, they should be very careful not to hinder these helpers, or to circumscribe the work. Since they did not see the work in all its bearings, and did not have the burden which God has specially laid upon others, why should they say just how that work should be done? Those who do not discern and adapt themselves to the increasing demands of the work, should not stand blocking the wheels, and thus hindering the advancement of others.?{PC 401.4}
The case of David is to the point. He made large provisions for building a temple for the Lord; but the Lord told him that he was not the one to do that work; it must devolve on Solomon, because of his large experience; but the younger man must do the work.?{PC 402.1}
The weary, worn minds of all the older brethren do not take in the greatness of the work in all its bearings, and are not inclined to keep pace with the opening providences of God. Therefore, the responsibilities of the work should not rest wholly with them, as they would not bring into it all the elements essential for its advancement, and thus the work would be retarded.?{PC 402.2}
The work in Battle Creek, and in the State of Michigan is far, far behind. For several years there has been on the part of the Conference Committee and the laborers, a want of wise planning and discreet management in regard to it. While the President of the General Conference was willing to do much work he did not see the necessity of training the powers of mind and qualifying himself to plan to discern the talents of young men and set them to work, associating with himself those who could help him. It is well to see and understand the situation, and the needs of foreign missions, so as not to neglect them, we should also be able to comprehend the needs of the work at our very doors. Home missions should not be neglected. There has been an oversight in doing this.?{PC 402.3}
There is a sad neglect at Battle Creek in not using the many advantages right at hand, to keep the heart of the work in a healthy condition. Vigorous heart beats from the center should be felt in all parts of the body of believers. But if the heart is sickly and weak in its action, its inefficiency affects all branches of the work. A sound, healthy, working power at the center of the work, is positively essential, in order that the truth may be carried to the world. It must be diffused through families and communities. This will require wise generalship in devising plans, and educating others to assist in the work. Persons of talent must be sought out, and encouraged to labor in various places, according to the capabilities God has given them. Let every instrumentality of God that is brought within the reach of those older in experience, be encouraged by them to find a place in the work, and these to be educated with the advancing work.?{PC 402.4}
Much ability has been lost to the cause of God; because many in responsible positions were so narrow in their ideas, that they did not discern the increasing responsibilities. They did not have extended vision to see that the work was becoming altogether too large to be carried forward by the workers then engaged in it. The work had outgrown them. Much, very much is now left undone which should have been done because men have held things in their own finite hands, instead of proportioning the work to a larger number of workers and trusting that God would help them. They have?tried to take all branches of the work upon themselves, fearing others would not prove as efficient. Their wills have therefore controlled in everything, and through some unwise decisions, made because of their inability to grasp all the wants of the cause in its various parts, and as the result, great losses have been sustained. The work has been bound about, not from design, but from not discerning the necessity of a different order of things to meet the demands for the time. This is largely due to the feeling of Elder Butler that position gave unlimited authority. Greater responsibilities were pressed upon him and accepted, than one person could carry; and the consequence was a demoralized condition of affairs, notwithstanding he may have done the very best he himself could do under the circumstances. But the infinite God saw there was different kind of qualifications needed to place a different mold on the work. On the part of his brethren there was a fear that others desired Brother’s place, which has caused suspicions, and has resulted in keeping in the background those men whom God would have used, could they have had sufficient encouragement, and an opportunity to work. God has not wrought as he would, because of surmisings and suspicions, and because there was not discernment and planning to let every man do the work that God is fitting him to perform, in an understanding, intelligent manner. The lesson must be learned, that when God appoints means for a certain work, we are not to neglect these means, put them aside, and then pray and expect that he will work miracles to supply our neglect. To every man God has appointed his work, according to his capacities and capabilities. Wise planning is needed to place each one in his proper sphere in the work, in order that he may obtain an experience which will fit him to bear increased responsibility.?{PC 402.5}
In God’s dealings, in temporal as well as spiritual things, blessings come to man through the use of means. If the husbandman neglects to till his ground, God works no miracle to make up for his neglect; and when the harvest time comes, he has no crops to gather. As in the natural world, so in the spiritual; God always honors the use of the means he has ordained to do his work. It is by practise that men must be qualified for any emergency that may arise. Men need to become better acquainted with themselves and be discerning in regard to their own weak points of character, and then make every effort to strengthen these points, for God makes this their duty.?{PC 403.1}
No one should lean wholly upon another’s mind; but as God’s free agent, each should ask wisdom of him. When the learner depends in a large degree upon another man’s thoughts and goes no farther than to accept his plans, he sees only through that man’s eyes, and is so far only an echo of the other. God will, by his own Spirit, work directly through the mind he has put in man, if the man will only give him a chance to work, and will recognize?his dealings with him. God designs that men shall use their minds and consciences for themselves. He never designed that one man should become the shadow of another, and utter only another’s sentiments. But this error has been coming in among us, that a very few are to be mind, conscience, and judgment for all God’s workers. The foundation of Christianity is “Christ, our Righteousness.” Men are individually responsible to God and must act as God acts upon them, not as another human mind acts upon their mind; for if this method of indirect influence is kept up, souls cannot be impressed and directed by the great I Am. They will, on the other hand, have their experience blended with another, and will be kept under a moral restraint, which allows no freedom of action or of choice.?{PC 403.2}
God deals with his creatures as with responsible beings. He has issued no command that the leaders of the Battle Creek church shall remain anchored, until by some mighty miracle-working power the church is sent forward and upward to the harbor God has appointed. If we would be wise, and use diligently, prayerfully, and thankfully the means whereby light and blessings are to come to his people, then no voice nor power upon earth would have authority over us to say, “This shall not be.”?{PC 404.1}
The Lord has presented before me that men in responsible positions are standing directly in the way of the workings of God upon his people, because they think that the work must be done and the blessings must come in a certain way they have marked out, and they will not recognize that which comes in any other way. “We are laborers together with God.” Copy the ways of the Lord Jesus. He was a perfect character.?{PC 404.2}
May the Lord place this matter before you as it is. God works, not as men plan, nor as men wish, but “in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform.” Why treat God’s ways as worthless, because they do not coincide with our private ideas? God has appointed channels of light, but these are not necessarily through the minds of any particular man or set of men. When all shall take their appointed places in God’s work, and not allow others to mold them at will, then one great advance will have been made toward letting the light shine upon the world.?{PC 404.3}
The efforts made here to close every avenue to light and truth which is supposed to disagree with the opinions of some leading men, are very unreasonable. Are these men infallible? Has God appointed them supreme judges of how light shall come to his people? I answer, No.?{PC 404.4}
During the Conference at Battle Creek, when the question of the law in Galatians was being examined,?I was taken to a number of houses, and heard the unchristian remarks and criticisms made by delegates. Then these words were spoken: “They must have the truth as it is in Jesus, else it will not be a saving truth to them.” “Without me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing.” When finite men shall cease to put themselves in the way, to hinder, then God will work in our midst as never before.?{PC 404.5}
It was shown me that broader plans should be laid but at the same time the work in each branch of the cause should be harmoniously united with that in every other branch, all making a perfect whole; but now, selfish ideas and principles are interwoven with the plans of the workers, which makes the work defective. One man, who has the oversight of a certain line of work, magnifies his responsibilities until that one branch, in his mind, is above every other branch, when in reality all are equally important. When this narrow, selfish idea is received, all his energies are set to imbue the people with the same idea. This is human nature, but not after Christ’s order. Just in proportion as this policy is followed, Christ is pushed aside, and self appears prominent. When the Saviour is allowed his part in the work, none will become entirely absorbed in any one branch of it, but all will have broad ideas, and will attribute to all parts of the work their due importance.?{PC 405.1}
The Jews, in Christ’s day, in the exercise of their own spirit of self exaltation, brought in rigid rules and exactions, and so took away all chance for God to work upon minds, until mercy and the love of God were entirely lost sight of in their work. It was this which caused rulers to lay upon the people the heavy burdens of which they justly complained, which our Saviour condemned. Do not follow in their track. Leave God a chance to do something for those who love him, and do not impose upon them rules and regulations, which, if followed, will leave them as destitute of the grace of God as were the hills of Gilboa, without dew or rain. Your very many resolutions need to be reduced to one third their number, and great care should be taken as to what resolutions are framed. Ours is missionary ground, having many advantages; and if wisely improved, a much larger number of workers would be fitted to go out into the field, as pastors and evangelists; but shortness of vision, and the narrowness of mind in some, have circumscribed the work. There is need of having vigorous efforts put forth in the churches in every conference. A living message, showing the living features of our times should be presented to them, not in a tame, lifeless style, but in the?demonstration of the Spirit, and in the power of God. Responsibilities must be laid upon individual members of the church. A missionary spirit should be awakened, and wise workers appointed as they are needed, who will be active pastors, making personal efforts to bring the church up to that condition where spiritual death will not be seen in all her borders.?{PC 405.2}
There was much said to me in reference to other departments of the work, which I will not at this time write. When I came to know where I was, I was sitting up in bed, weary, and my heart very, very sad. I arose and prayed, and tried to write. The knowledge, Brother ____, communicated to me at that time and since then in regard to your positions and feelings, has distressed me beyond measure. The positions and ideas also which are entertained by Elder ____ are of that character to lead you both to occupy incorrect positions, where it would be impossible for me to stand with you; and if you maintain these positions, I shall be compelled, not only to differ with you in some things, but to withstand your ideas and your influence. I was never more conscious of this than during the experience I have had here at this meeting. I have not the least hesitancy in saying that a spirit has been brought into this meeting, not of seeking to obtain light, but to stand barricading the way, lest a ray should come into the hearts and minds of the people, through some other channel than that which you had decided to be the proper one.?{PC 406.1}
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