148.1895年9月写于新南威尔士州格兰维尔{PC 409.1}
致在巴特尔克里克居于负责岗位的人们
亲爱的弟兄们：
你们无权在巴特尔克里克吸收我们的人送去的资金，而任由传道园地穷困潦倒。在巴特尔克里克积累的资金并不是那些处理资金的人所创造的，而是百姓对上帝的事业和工作的信心才使他们将十分之一和奉献交到库中。{PC 409.2}
所做出的劝我们的人搬出巴特尔克里克的努力没有成功。为什么呢?因为不断扩大的规模一直在鼓励人们搬进来。我蒙指示看到一个巨大的葡萄园，需要大量的劳动去照料它。人们在葡萄园的一个地方工作，却撇下其它地方未开工，长了荆棘和蒺藜。很有威仪的一位说，你们为什么在园地的这一片地方种那么多植物呢?把一些植物带到上帝葡萄园的其它部分去。可以开垦更多的土地。这样工作就会大大扩展，并且引进新的元素。当人们聚集在一起像在巴特尔克里克一样时，就会比他们若是照着所应当的分散在园地的不同地区去照料同样的多的人需要更多的操劳以保持教会在正确状况。{PC 409.3}
合并意味着所有机构都要并入在巴特尔克里克的机构。多年来，一直有一个又一个的人提议这种事。然而根据我所得到的亮光，这种计划是错误的，绝对是错误的。让每一个机构都有自己的个性，在自己的地方做自己的工作吧!在巴特尔克里克，没有人有足够清晰的洞察力，被基督的恩典所圣化，担负起他们现在所僭取的责任。如果有人采取任何行动，将一切都合并成一个机构，听命于那些现在主持会议的人，就将是有史以来在巴特尔克里克办理的与上帝的圣工有关的最糟糕的事情之一。{PC 409.4}
太平洋出版社应该站在自己的道德独立的立场上，在落基山脉那一边，在它自己的小世界里继续工作。它的管理者们应当向上帝负责，从事他们的工作，如同在天上宇宙的全面鉴察之下。{PC 410.1}
人们开始倚靠人血肉的膀臂;而当那个膀臂没有挽着基督的膀臂时，他们就必发现自己在是在倚靠压伤的芦苇。在美国的出版社是本着上帝的旨意，在祂的指示和监督之下建立的，他们应当作为姐妹机构，以自己的个性站立。他们彼此的关系决不应该是一个机构要有权控制另一个机构的运营。如果一个机构采取另一个机构不认可的方针，另一个机构就不应该被败坏，而要本着上帝赐给它的责任站立，忠于其建立时的原则，与那些原则和谐一致地推进工作。{PC 410.2}
我们的人不知道他们在做什么。他们的一些举动就像盲人。在巴特尔克里克的管理人员总的来说正在将太多东西抓在他们手中;但他们并不了解这种联盟的结果。每一个机构都应该与其它机构和谐一致地工作，然而此外，他们不应该走向联盟或合并成一个机构。已经有人自以为聪明，设法按照他们的想法形成事件。事情可能一时在他们手中显为兴盛，但结果必是他们现在没有预料到的。{PC 410.3}
压制的精神进入巴特尔克里克已有多年，人正在高举自己达到自私和支配别人的目的。一切作品若不受他们控制就出版不了，如果作者不同意他们的意见，负责出版的人就会施加影响，令书报员和其它代销处妨碍书的销售，这样做完全不顾书的价值。如果各个机构都并入一个最大的机构——也就是接受她的控制权的，——这个机构就会确实成为一个统治的力量。如果最强大的机构里行动的原则败坏了，就像现在和过去那样，每一个其它机构就会学它的样，也会出现一种坚决的影响来抵制它。问题不出在机构本身，而在机构里的人员。{PC 410.4}
这种“顺我者昌，逆我者亡”的做法不符合上帝的旨意。那些做这种事人，正在把人带到不信和试探之中，驱赶到撒但的战场上。他们忘记了自己怎样待别人，上帝也要照样待他们。上帝的圣工不可让一个人或几个人来塑造。所有负责工作的管家应一起商量执行工作的计划。人不可忘记天上的上帝是一位公义的上帝。祂既不偏心也不虚伪。祂不会迎合人的自私，也不会同意剥夺他人权力的计划，让他们任意草率待人，发表言论制定计划强加于人，或令他处于孤立无助的地位。{PC 410.5}
难道一切的事都要处在我们明知与上帝毫无活泼联络的那些人的控制之下吗?那说“我知道你的行为”的主听到他们所有的建议，也听见他们所有的计划。上帝所创建的机构，就是祂在公正公平的原则上所建立的机构，正在寻求采取压迫的手段，迫使主的工人接受若是形势逆转，他们自己就不会接受的条件。{PC 411.1}
上帝的工具不是由人选择的，也不是由他们管辖的。他们应当预备一班人在耶和华的日子站立得住。上帝是每一笔交易的当事人，祂被得罪和歪曲了。主的强大工具竟然成了用来削弱和摧毁的利剑，因为那些管理这些工具的人具有引导他们这样做的属性。当人偏离真理和公义，在交易中违背正义，按自己的意愿订立约束他人的契约，并且违反契约时，要让他们记住，为这一切的事，上帝都要审判他们。苛刻的行为和不正当的收入不能使上帝得荣耀，使祂的真理得宣扬。凡这样得来投入库中的钱不会给任何人带来好处;因为上帝是不能用压迫和自私的罪来事奉的。{PC 411.2}
违背永恒的正义原则不可能取得真正的成功，这一点应写在良心上，就如铁笔刻在岩石上一般。必须洁净这些机构，像基督洁净古时的圣殿。主说：“我的殿必称为祷告的殿，你们倒使它成为贼窝了”(太21:13)。今日在我们的各机构中的交易与基督时代圣殿外院中发生的那些交易相似;全天庭都在看着呢。{PC 411.3}
上帝被那些处在负责的地位的人羞辱了，他们从事管理工作，却没有认识到必需在精神和言语上作那些与他们联络之人的榜样，后者已学会照他们的要求办事。每一个人都必须为自己的灵魂拥有上帝的恩典，必须藉着基督的功劳信赖上帝赦免之恩。于是他才不会表现一种要打击人伤害人的苛刻严厉的热心，而会表现一种成圣的热心，响应基督在受难之前献上的祷告，这种热心不是为了高举人，而是为了上帝的荣耀。{PC 411.4}
人心自然的、遗传的、和后天养成的各种倾向的改变，就是耶稣对尼哥底母说到的那种改变，祂说：“人若不重生，就不能见(看出)上帝的国”(约3:3)。尼哥底母没有明白基督的话。他问：“怎能有这事呢?”主的回答深入每一个身居负责岗位之人的心：“你是以色列人的先生，还不明白这事吗?我实实在在的告诉你，我们所说的是我们知道的;我们所见证的是我们见过的;你们却不领受我们的见证。我对你们说地上的事，你们尚且不信，若说天上的事，如何能信呢?除了从天降下、仍旧在天的人子，没有人升过天”(约3:9-13)。{PC 412.1}
新生所代表的内心的改变，只有藉着圣灵的有效运行才能发生。骄傲和爱自己的心抗拒上帝的灵;人心每一个自然的倾向都反对从自负和骄傲到基督的温柔谦卑的改变。惟有藉着领受的亮光，惟有藉着与天上的生灵合作，我们才能看出上帝国度的属灵性质。只有这样我们才能对我们在工作中有联系的所有人，或我们接触的所有人，有一种强烈的责任感。我们与上帝有契约。《旧约全书》的明确要求与《新约全书》的教导是完全一致的。{PC 412.2}
主耶稣从云柱中说过：“以色列啊，现在耶和华你上帝向你所要的是什么呢?只要你敬畏耶和华你的上帝，遵行祂的道，爱祂，尽心尽性事奉祂，遵守祂的诫命、律例，就是我今日所吩咐你的，为要叫你得福。看哪，天和天上的天，地和地上所有的，都属耶和华你的上帝。耶和华但喜悦你的列祖，爱他们，从万民中拣选他们的后裔，就是你们，像今日一样。所以你们要将心里的污秽除掉，不可再硬着颈项。因为耶和华你们的上帝祂是万神之神，万主之主，至大的上帝，大有能力，大而可畏，不以貌取人，也不受贿赂。祂为孤儿寡妇伸冤，又怜爱寄居的，赐给他衣食”(申10:12-18)。请将这些话与《新约全书》中基督的话相比较：“有一个律法师起来试探耶稣，说：‘夫子!我该做什么才可以承受永生?’耶稣对他说：‘律法上写的是什么?你念的是怎样呢?’他回答说：‘你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主你的上帝;又要爱邻舍如同自己。’耶稣说：‘你回答的是;你这样行，就必得永生’”(路10:25-28)。“上帝在祂的圣所作孤儿的父，作寡妇的伸冤者”(诗68:5)。“耶和华保护寄居的，扶持孤儿和寡妇，却使恶人的道路弯曲”(诗146:9)。“你的弟兄在你那里若渐渐贫穷，手中缺乏，你就要帮补他，使他与你同住，像外人和寄居的一样。……你借钱给他，不可向他取利;借粮给他，也不可向他多要。我是耶和华你们的上帝，曾领你们从埃及地出来，为要把迦南地赐给你们，要作你们的上帝。……不可严严地辖管他，只要敬畏你的上帝”(利25:35-38,43)。另见《申命记》15:7-11;24:14,15,19-21;《利未记》19:32-37。“凡事都不可亏欠人，惟有彼此相爱”(罗13:8)。对穷人的压迫不亚于实际的抢劫，除了非常极端的情况外，不受人类的惩罚;但天上的上帝却把它标记为祂绝不会容忍的可恶的行为。{PC 412.3}
使徒雅各对富足人说：“工人给你们收割庄稼，你们亏欠他们的工钱，这工钱有声音呼叫，并且那收割之人的冤声已经入了万军之主的耳了”(雅5:4)。上帝谴责在任何地方、任何人、任何事务上表现出来的不公正。无论在什么地方，只要有人想出计谋，不把钱给应得的人，或剥夺任何人的权利，上帝都不答应。正是为了每一个参与上帝工作之人的益处，要接受祂的警告和督责，向那种反对上帝旨意的顽梗的意志死。{PC 413.1}
出版社是本着牺牲的精神建立起来的，任何想按照世界的方针工作的人都不应该被允许在工作中担任负责任的职位。工人的奉献和纯洁，将由他对上帝每一个儿女的态度所体现的原则来证明。成立出版社的目的是按照公正和公平的原则办事，不偏袒、不虚伪地判断每个事件。在我们的机构中，基督的灵应该成为一位见证，向世人见证上帝的品格，成为一封活的荐信，为众人所知道，所念诵。这些机构不应显出任何类似欺压的精神;管理者们应当是那些显然在上帝的控制之下的人。不应该自私自利、贪爱钱财，将那些牺牲的原则弃之不顾，牺牲的原则是建立这些机构的特征。{PC 413.2}
凡能被金钱收买或售卖的人都不应该蒙允许从事圣工。无论谁都不得利用任何人的无知或需要，就已完成的工作或出售的货品收取过高的价格。管理人员在用任何自私的谋算从工人的时间或才干获利时，就不是在遵守上帝的诫命。这种做法乃是抢夺你的邻舍。上帝已赐给祂的每一个工人某些资格，他的工人不用为这些资格向任何一个人或一组人负责，而要向上帝负责。他应当这样使用这些资格，通过尽力造福别人来使之成为自己的福气。在《评论与通讯》出版社流行的做法，和如今正在各区会发酵的的东西，是不正确的。我不能列举所有偏离公义的行为;它们太多了，不胜枚举，我没有蒙告知要这么做。{PC 413.3}
有的人会极力主张，在对付那些没有良知的骗子时，必须在很大程度上遵守盛行的习俗;要是他采取严格廉正的做法，他将被迫放弃自己的业务，或无法维持生计。你对上帝的信心在哪里呢?祂认你们为祂的儿子和女儿，条件是你们从世界出来，与他们分别，不要沾不洁净的物。会有猛烈的试探要你们偏离直路;会有数不清的论据支持习俗、采纳实在不诚实的做法。{PC 414.1}
当一个工人与另一个工人结成联盟时，就像已经做的那样，试图弥补另一人的缺乏天赋或知识的不足，他就是在伤害另一位工人，并协助他进行欺骗。那个工人领取他没有资格领取的报酬，而他本应履行的职责上的失误也很多。可是他却领取最高的工资，抢夺了金库。上帝已因这些事而大大不悦。{PC 414.2}
这些可能被人们视为区区小事，但亚当和夏娃吃上帝禁止他们吃的果子，难道是一件小事吗?这一行为的微小性并不能避免后果。这是不服从上帝的命令，灾难的闸门就在我们的世界上打开了。我们不能是基督徒而又纵容任何不诚实的行为或违反信托。不会看到基督徒挥霍他并没有挣到的钱。上帝要求每一个人都要准时、公正、口里心里都没有过失。你若愿意不仅有基督徒的名号而且有基督徒的品格，就要在与同胞打交道的一切事上都公义。那些离弃圣经的原则，还为自己的缺陷正名的人，还从未领受关于基督的真知识或成为真正的行道者的经验。上帝的话语中没有任何东西能掩盖或原谅一个自私的方面、一个近似过份或不诚实的方法。{PC 414.3}
上帝以祂最神圣的话语担保，如果你愿意行在祂的道中，秉公行义，祂就必赐福你。“你囊中不可有一大一小两样的法码。你家里不可有一大一小两样的升斗。当用对准公平的法码，公平的升斗。这样，在耶和华你上帝所赐你的地上，你的日子就可以长久。因为行非义之事的人都是耶和华你上帝所憎恶的。你要记念你们出埃及的时候，亚玛力人在路上怎样待你。他们在路上遇见你，趁你疲乏困倦击杀你尽后边软弱的人，并不敬畏上帝”(申25:13-18)。虽然以色列人经常违背主的忠告，令主忧伤，可是祂仍温柔地关怀他们。主耶稣基督看到他们的仇敌要落井下石，伤害他们，给上帝所带领疲乏的行路人带来苦难。请听上帝所宣布的惩罚：“所以耶和华你上帝使你不被四围一切的仇敌扰乱，在耶和华你上帝赐你为业的地上得享平安。那时，你要将亚玛力的名号从天下涂抹了，不可忘记”(申25:19)。{PC 414.4}
我写下上帝的这些话，是为了那些自称是祂儿女的人不因随从亚玛力人的行为而受到对亚玛力人所宣布的咒诅。连外邦人都因攻击软弱疲乏的人而受到这种谴责，耶和华要对那些已拥有亮光、良机和特权，却没有向弟兄表现基督精神的人怎么表示呢?主看见弟兄间的所有这些做法。这些行为会削弱信心，摧毁他们对自己作为公正公平交易之人的信心。祂用最明确的语言，表达了祂对交易中不公正行为的不悦。祂说：“我若用不公道的天平和囊中诡诈的法码，岂可算为清洁呢”(弥6:11)?我们的机构不该犯这里所提到的错误。有人却犯了，而且依然在犯。关于这些事，可以连篇累牍地写下去。所有的区会都受这种错误的原则所影响。“城里的富户满行强暴;其中的居民也说谎言，口中的舌头是诡诈的”(弥6:12)。主必采取行动洁净祂的教会。我明确地告诉你们，主即将在祂名下的机构中进行翻转倾覆。这个精炼的过程多久才会开始我不能说，但不会耽延很久了。祂手里已拿着簸箕，必要洁净祂的殿，清除它道德的污秽。祂必彻底扬净祂的场。上帝与凡不实行公义的人辩论;因为他们这么做，就是拒绝上帝的权威，破坏了他们对赎罪的兴趣，即基督为亚当每一个儿女所施行的救赎。采取令上帝生厌的做法合算吗?在你们的香炉中放上凡火献在上帝面前，并说这没有什么关系，这样做有好处吗?{PC 415.1}
那么多人集中在巴特尔克里克，不符合上帝的旨意。摆在我面前的现状乃是一个警告。所呈现的画面使我伤心。主已警告要阻止这种使人泄气的事态，但他们没有听。“你们是世上的盐。盐若失了味，怎能叫它再咸呢?以后无用，不过丢在外面，被人践踏了”(太5:13)。{PC 416.1}
我呼吁我的弟兄们要醒来。我必须把事实告诉大家，除非赶紧发生一场改变，因为这种状态是必须改变的。未归正的人不能再在这么重要神圣的工作中担任经理和主管。我们不得不与大卫一起说：“这是耶和华降罚的时候，因人废了祢的律法”(诗119:126)。{PC 416.2}
怀爱伦夫人(签名)
Granville, N. S. W. September, 1895 {PC 409.1}
To Men in Responsible Positions in Battle Creek
Dear Brethren,
You have no right to absorb in Battle Creek the means that is sent in by our people, and leave mission fields impoverished. The funds that accumulate in Battle Creek have not been created by those who handle the means. It is the faith of the people in the cause and work of God that has brought tithes and offerings to the treasury.?{PC 409.2}
The efforts made to induce our people to move away from Battle Creek have not succeeded. And why? Because the enlargements constantly going forward have been encouraging people to move in. There was represented to me a mammoth vineyard, requiring much labor to tend and care for it. Men were working in one part of the vineyard, while other parts were left unworked, to grow thorns and briers. One of dignified bearing said, Why are you setting out so many plants in this part of the field? Take some of the plants to other portions of God’s vineyard. More ground may be brought under cultivation. Thus the work will be greatly extended, and new elements will be brought in. When the people are congregated together as they are in Battle Creek, it requires more labor to keep the church in a right condition than would be required to minister to the same number if they were scattered as they should be in different parts of the field.?{PC 409.3}
Consolidation means that all institutions are to be merged into the Battle Creek institutions. For years something of this kind has been proposed by one and another. But according to the light I have had, the plan is wrong, decidedly wrong. Let every institution stand in its own individuality, doing its respective work in its own locality. There are not in Battle Creek men of sufficient clearness of discernment, sanctified by the grace of Christ, to carry the responsibilities which they now assume. If there is any action taken to merge everything into one institution under the dictation of those now presiding, it will be one of the worst pieces of business that were ever transacted in Battle Creek in connection with the cause of God.?{PC 409.4}
The Pacific Press should stand in its own moral independence, carrying on its work beyond the Rocky Mountains, in a little world of its own. Its managers are responsible to God to do their work as in full view of the universe of heaven.?{PC 410.1}
Men are coming to trust in men, and to make flesh their arm; and when that arm is not linked in the arm of Christ, they will find that they are leaning upon a broken reed. The publishing houses were established in America in the counsel of God, under his direction and supervision, and they should stand in their own individuality, as sister institutions. Never should they be so related to each other that one shall have power to control the running of the other. If one institution shall adopt a policy which the other does not sanction, the other institution is not to be corrupted, but is to stand in its God given responsibility, true to the principles that were expressed in its establishment, and carrying forward the work in harmony with those principles.?{PC 410.2}
Our people do not know what they are about. In some of their movements they act like blind men. The managers at Battle Creek are taking altogether too much on their hands; but they do not understand the result of this confederacy. Every institution should work in harmony with the other institutions, but farther than this they should not go toward confederacy or merging into one. Already there are men, who, supposing themselves wise, are trying to shape matters according to their ideas. Things may for a time appear to prosper in their hands, but the result will be that which they do not now anticipate.?{PC 410.3}
For years a spirit of oppression has been coming into Battle Creek. The human agents are lifting up themselves unto selfishness and domination. Not a work can be published but they try to gain control of it, and if authors do not concede to their propositions, those who publish the work will exert an influence with canvassers and other agents that will hinder its sale, and this wholly irrespective of the value of the book. And when every institution is merged into the one that is greatest - that is, measured by her power of control - that one will indeed be a ruling power, and if the principles of action in the most powerful institution are corrupted, as is now the case, and as has been in the history of the past, every other institution must follow the same path, also a determined influence will be brought to bear against it. The difficulty is not in the institution, but in the members.?{PC 410.4}
This disposition to press men into hard places if you cannot bring them to your ideas, is not according to God’s order. Those who do this when it suits them, are bringing souls into unbelief and temptation, and driving them on Satan’s battlefield. They forget that God will deal with them as they deal with their fellow men. God’s cause is not to be molded by one man,?or half a dozen men. All his responsible stewards are to bear a share in the devising, as well as in the execution of the plans. Men must not forget that the God of heaven is a God of justice; with him is no partiality, no hypocrisy. He will not serve with men’s selfishness, nor sanction their plans to rob one soul of his rights because they can press him inconsiderately, and make statements and plans that compel surrender or leave him helpless.?{PC 410.5}
Shall everything pass under the control of men whom we know have not a living connection with God? He who says, “I know thy works,” hears all their suggestions, listens to all their plans. The institutions of God’s creating, which he established upon principles of justice and equity, they are seeking to make a means of oppression, forcing the Lord’s workers to accept terms which they themselves were the situation reversed, would not accept.?{PC 411.1}
God’s instrumentalities are not chosen of men, or under their jurisdiction. They are to prepare a people to stand in the day of the Lord. God is a party to every transaction, and He is sinned against and misrepresented. The Lord’s powerful instrumentalities are made as a cutting sword to weaken and destroy, because those who are managing these instrumentalities possess attributes that lead them to do this. When men swerve from truth and righteousness, violate justice in deal, making contracts that bind others according to their will, and violate contracts, let them remember that for all this, God will bring them into judgment. By no sharp dealing or underhand advantage is the Lord to be glorified or his truth served. Money acquired in this way to supply the treasury will benefit no one; for God will not serve with the sins of oppression and selfishness.?{PC 411.2}
It should be written on the conscience as with a pen of iron upon a rock that no man can achieve true success while violating the eternal principles of right. There must be a cleansing of the institutions similar to Christ’s cleansing of the temple of old. “It is written,” saith the Lord, “my house shall be called a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” There are in our institutions today transactions similar to those that took place in the temple court in Christ’s time; and all heaven is looking on.?{PC 411.3}
God is dishonored by those who are in responsible places of stewardship, yet do not realize the necessity of being, both in spirit and words, an example to those connected with them, who have learned to do as they require. Every one must have the grace of God for his own soul, he must confide in the pardoning mercy of God through the merits of Christ. Then he will not manifest a harsh zeal to bruise and wound, but a sanctified zeal?to answer the prayer of Christ, which he offered before his crucifixion, zeal not for human uplifting, but for the glory of God.?{PC 411.4}
The change of the natural, inherited, and cultivated tendencies of the human heart, is that change of which Jesus spoke when he said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see (discern) the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus did not understand Christ’s words. He inquired, “How can these things be?” The answer comes home to every man in responsible positions, “Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen: And ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of Man which is in heaven.”?{PC 412.1}
The change of heart represented by the new birth can be brought about only through the effectual working of the Holy Spirit. Self love and pride resist the Spirit of God. Every natural inclination of the soul withstands and opposes the change from self importance and pride to the meekness and lowliness of Christ. It is only through receiving divine light, only through the cooperation of heavenly intelligences, that we can discern the spiritual character of the kingdom of God. Only thus can we have a lively sense of the duties due to all with whom we are connected in labor, or with whom we are brought in contact. We are under contract to God. The express requirements of the Old Testament are in perfect agreement with the teaching of the New Testament.?{PC 412.2}
The Lord Jesus spoke from the pillar of cloud, “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? For the Lord your God is a God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh regards: he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, and giveth him food and raiment.” Compare this with the words of Christ in the New Testament: “A certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law, how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” “A father of the fatherless and a judge of the widow is God in his holy habitation.” “The Lord preserveth the strangers: he relieveth the fatherless and the?widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.” “If thy brother be waxen poor, and falleth into decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him; yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee; Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. I am the Lord your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. Thou shalt not rule over him with vigor, but shall fear thy God.” See also?Deuteronomy 15:7-11;?24:14, 15, 19-21;?Leviticus 19:32-37. “Owe no man anything, but to love one another.” The oppression of the poor, which is nothing less than actual robbery, is not punishable by human course, except in very extreme cases; but it is marked by the God of heaven as the abhorred practise which he would in no case tolerate.?{PC 412.3}
The apostle James says to the rich, “Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabbaoth.” God condemns injustice wherever manifested, whoever the person, whatever the business. Wherever schemes are devised to withhold money from those to whom it is due, or to deprive any man of his rights, there God’s disapprobation rests. It is for the interest of every soul connected with the work of God to receive his warnings and reproofs, and die to that stubborn will which has opposed the will of God.?{PC 413.1}
The publishing houses were brought into existence in a spirit of sacrifice, and no persons should have been permitted to hold a responsible position in the work, who desired to work according to the world’s policy. The consecration and purity of the worker will be evidenced by the principles manifested in his attitude toward every child of God. The publishing house was established for the purpose of doing business upon the principles of justice and equity, judging every case without partiality and without hypocrisy. In our institution the Spirit of Christ was to be a witness to the world of the character of God, a living epistle, known and read of all men. These institutions were to reveal nothing like oppression; the managers were to be those who showed decidedly that they were under the control of God. Selfishness and the love of money was not to set aside those principles of sacrifice which characterized the establishment of these instrumentalities.?{PC 413.2}
No one should be allowed to engage in the sacred work who could be bought or sold for money. No one is to take advantage of any man’s ignorance or necessity, in order to charge exorbitant prices for work done or for goods sold. The managers are not obeying the commandments of God when by any selfish devising they secure the benefit of the time or talents of the workmen. Such a course is robbery of your neighbor. God has given everyone of his?workers certain qualifications for which he is responsible, not to any man or set of men, but to God. He is so to use them that they will be a blessing to himself by having it in his power to be a blessing to others. The practises that have prevailed in the Review and Herald office, and which are now leavening the managers of the Conferences, are not correct. I can not specify all the departures from righteousness; they are too many to be enumerated, and I am not told to do this.?{PC 413.3}
Some will urge that in dealing with sharpers, those who have no conscience, one must conform in a large degree to the customs that prevail; that should he adopt a course of strict integrity, he will be compelled to give up his business, or fail to secure a livelihood. Where is your faith in God? He owns you as his sons and daughters on condition that you come out from the world and be separate and touch not the unclean thing. There will be violent temptations to diverge from the straight path; there will be innumerable arguments in favor of conforming to custom, and adopting practises that are really dishonest.?{PC 414.1}
When one worker enters into a confederacy with another, as has been done, seeking to supply that other’s lack of aptitude or knowledge, he is doing that one an injury, and assisting in a deception. That worker receives pay for qualifications which he has not, and his failures in duties which he is supposed to perform, are many. Yet the largest wages are received, and the treasury is robbed. God has been greatly displeased by these things.?{PC 414.2}
These may be regarded by men as little things, but was it a little thing for Adam and Eve to eat of the fruit which God had forbidden them to eat? The smallness of the act did not avert the consequences. It was disobedience to God’s commandments, and the floodgates of woe were opened upon our world. We cannot be Christians and connive at any dishonest practise or breach of trust. The Christian will not be found spending extravagantly means that he has not earned. God requires every man to be punctual, just, and without guilt in his lips or in his heart. Be righteous in all dealings with your fellow men if you would have not only the name but the character of a Christian. Those who depart from Bible principles, and vindicate their defects as righteous, have never received the true knowledge of Christ or the experience of being in truth doers of the word. There is nothing in the word of God that glosses over or excuses one phase of selfishness, one approach to overreaching or dishonesty.?{PC 414.3}
God pledges his most holy word that he will bless you if you will walk in his way, and do justice and judgment. “Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights, a great and a small: thou shalt not have in thine house divers?measures, a great and a small: but thou shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteousness, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God. Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way when we were come forth out of Egypt; how he met thee by the way, and smote the hindermost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary: and he feared not God.” Notwithstanding that the children of Israel had often grieved the Lord by departing from his counsel, he still had a tender care for them. The Lord Jesus Christ saw their enemies taking advantage of their circumstances, to do them an injury; for that work was to bring suffering against the weary, who were journeying under God’s leading. Hear the judgments which God pronounced: “Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.”?{PC 414.4}
I pen these words of God that those who profess to be his children may not receive the curse pronounced upon Amalek because they have followed the practises of Amalek. If the heathen received this denunciation from their course for overcoming the faint and weary, what will the Lord express toward those who have had light, great opportunities, and privileges, but have not manifested the Spirit of Christ toward their own brethren? The Lord sees all the dealings of brother with brother, which weaken faith, and which destroy their own confidence in themselves as men dealing with justice and equity. In the most positive language he expresses his displeasure at the iniquity practised in trade. He says, “Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights?” The very wrong here mentioned may not have been committed in our institutions, but acts which these things represent have been, and are still being done. Page after page might be written in regard to these things. Whole conferences are becoming leavened with the same perverted principles. “For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.” The Lord will work to purify his church. I tell you in truth, the Lord is about to turn and overturn in the institutions called by his name. Just how soon this refining process will begin, I cannot say, but it will not be long deferred. He whose fan is in his hand will cleanse his temple of its moral defilement. He will thoroughly purge his floor. God has a controversy with all who practise the least injustice; for in so doing they reject the authority of God, and imperil their interest in the atonement, the redemption which Christ has undertaken for every son and daughter of Adam. Will it pay to take a course abhorrent to God? Will it pay?to put upon your censors strange fire to offer before God, and say it makes no difference??{PC 415.1}
It has not been after God’s order to center so much in Battle Creek. The state of things now exists that was presented before me as a warning. I am sick at heart at the representation. The Lord gave warnings to prevent this demoralizing condition of things, but they have not been heeded. “Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”?{PC 416.1}
I appeal to my brethren to wake up. Unless a change takes place speedily, I must give the facts to the people; for this state of things must change; unconverted men must no longer be managers and directors in so important and sacred work. With David we are forced to say, “It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law.”?{PC 416.2}
(Signed) Mrs. E. G. White -
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