SPECIAL TESTIMONY FOR MINISTERS AND WORKERS-—NO. 11. BATTLE CREEK, MICH., July 31, 1898. Dear Felloic Workers: — THE following Testimonies have come to this place as their dates indicate. The ones entitled "God'sMessengers" and "Solemn Admonitions" have had but a limited circulation. However, ex- tracts from them have been published from time to time. The thoughts contained in these two are so in keeping with the other communications herein published, that it has been deemed best to send them out together. Judging from the eager- ness of our brethren everywhere to receive these Testimonies, we believe they will have a careful study. They plainly set before us the situation for our time, when " to sleep now is a fearful crime." " We must now do all in our power to seek a per- sonal consecration to God." COMMITTEE. Ontor for Adventlsi Basemen Andrews University Berrien Springs, GOD'S MESSENGERS. ( THE Lord would have his people divested of everything unscriptural in regard to the ministry. 1'he men called to the ministry shou!d_not be m&gfe idols oi; tEey_should not be looked_upon with superstitious reverence ; and because ofjhe power vested in them through their office, sin in them should" not loseJJ^ offensiveness.Their very office makes sin in them more exceedingly sinTuTXfor in committing sin they makejii£in- selves the ministers of sin, the agents of Satan, fhrougft wfibm he can work with success to per- petuate sin. | / All should bear in mind that Satan's snenlal. Worts are directed against the ministry. He knows that it is but a human instrumentality, possessing no grace or holiness of its own. He knows that it is an agent that.Godjias ordained to be a powerful means for the salvation of souls, andTTs" efficacious only ftnr^ t.frp ptpmal Spirit, makes it so! Me knows that the treasure of the gospel is in earthen vessels, that it is God's power alone that can make them vessels of honor,. They may cultivate the vineyard ; a Paul may plant and an Apollos water; but God alone CAJL-GIVE the increase^ God has never left his church without a wit- ness. In all the scenes of trial and proving, of opposition and persecution amidst moral dark- ness, through which the church has passed, God has had men of opportunity who have been pre- . pared to take up his work at different stages, and carry it forward and upward. Through patri-t archs and prophets he~ revealed his truth to his' t7 — 3 — people. Christ was the teacher of his ancient people as verily as he was when he came to the world clothed in the garments of humanity. Hiding his glory in human form, he often ap- peared to his people, and talked with them " face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." He, their invisible Leader, was enshrouded in the pillar of fire and of cloud, and spoke to his people through Moses. The voice of God was heard by the prophets whom he had appointed to a special work and to bear a special message. He sent them to repeat the same words over and over again. He had a message prepared for them that was not after the ways and will of men, and this he put in their mouths and had them proclaim. He assured them the Holy Spirit would give them language and utterance. He who knew the heart would give them words with which to reach the people. ( The message might not please those to whom it was sent. They might not wish for anything new, but desire to go right on as they had been doing ; b"t, the LnH stirred them up with re- proofs: he rebuked [heir rmirse nf af.t.jnn He Infused new life in those who were sleeping at their post of duty, who were not faithful senti- nels. He showed them their responsibility, and 'that'they would be held accountable for the safety of the people. They were watchmen who were not to sleep day nor night. They were, t,o_ discern the enemy, and give the alarm to the people, that every one might be at his post, that tfie watching foe might not obtain the least adva.r|f^ffe. S / And to day the Lord declares tn his wa.tf.hmen that if they are unfaithful, and do not warn the people wh_o are in p^rl, wj|] fa.kpn away in their sins. "His blood." he says, "will I re- quire at thine hand." But if his messengers lift up their voices in reproof and warning, to turii men Irorn their wicked ways, and thpgp armlg whn will not hear, th£n_the watctaafta-is cleat; the offender against God will be taken in his-sins ; his blood will be upon his own soul^ These solemn matters are set before me in clear lines. God has appointed apostles, pastors, evan- gelists, and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edi- fying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith. God declares to his peo- ple, " Ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." There must be a continual advance- ment. Step' by step his followers must make straight paths for their feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way. Those who would labor for God must work intelligently to replenish the deficiencies in themselves and glo- rify the Lord God of Israel by standing in the light, working in the light of the Sun of Right- eousness. Thus they will carry the church for- ward and upward and heavenward, making its separation from the world more and more dis- tinct. ^As thev assimilate their character to the Divine Pattern, men will not guard their own persopa.l dignity WHhJealous. sleenless. lov- ing, devoted interest, they will guard the sacrgd interest of jhe churchJxom the evil which threat- ens jo^dim and cloud the glory that God intends shall shine forth through her, 'they wiT[ see that Satan's devices have no plaC^ or counte- nance In her by"encouraging fault--fifldifl#rgogsiP' •lag, evil-speaking, and accusing 6f the brgthrtm1 TTO V -5 for those things wmilri w^knn ;inil nvprt.hrnw her_) /There never will be a time in the history of the cnurch when God's worker can fold his hands and be at ease, saying, "All is peace and safety." Then it is that sudden destruction cometh. Everything may move forward amid apparent prosperity ; but Satan is wide awake. is A| i studying and counseling with his evil angels another mode of attack where he can be success- fuL_JThe contest will wax more and more fierce on the part of Satan ; for he is moved by a power from beneath. As the work of Ppf)PlP moves forward with sanctified, resistless energy, planting the standard of Christ's righteoqpnp.ss in the church, moved by a power from the throne ofTjod, the great controversy will wax stronger and stronger, and will become more and more dejtermined. Mind will be arrayed against mind- plans against plans, principles of heavenly origin against principles of Satan. Truth in its varied phases will be in conflict with error in its ever- varying, increasing forms, and which, if possible, wi_ll deceive the very elect^ Our work must be an earnest one. We are not to fight as those that beat the air. The ministry, the pulpit, and the press demand men like Caleb, who will do and dare, men whose >eyes are single to detect the truth from error, whose ears are consecrated to catch the words from the faithful Watcher. And the Spirit from the throne of God will make itself felt upon a degenerate Chris- tianity, a corrupt world, ready to be consumed by "the long-deferred judgments of an offended Gpd. There is danger now of men losing sight of the e important truths applicable for this period of time, and seeking for those "things that arenew andjstrange and entrancing. "~lianyr if reproved hv the Spirit of God through his appointed agencies, refuse to receive correction, and a root of bitterness is planted in their hearts against the Lord's servants who carry heavy, disagreeable burdens. Thpre are. who teach the truth, hnt, who are not perfecting *hejr WP-ys hftfo™ God, who are trying to conceal their defections, dnd encourage an estrangement from GodJ They have not the moral courage to do the things that it is for their special benefit to do. They see no necessity for reform, and so they reject the words of the Lord, and hate him who reproveth at the gate. This very refusal to heed the admonitions which the Lord sends, gives Satan every advan- tage to make of them the'bitterest enemies of those who have told them the truth. They be- come falsifiers of those who have borne to them the message from the Lord. The man who rejects the word of the Lord, who endeavors to establish his own way and will, tears to pieces the messenger and message which God sends in order to discover to him his sin. His own inclinations have infjiipjippd hrs con- duct. and he has built,himself up in a wrong way! The divide rule is, " Whether therefore ye eat! or drink, or what^vr- yQ ,j11 tihf glory of God." But, he would not, do this. As.ft man thinkpth. so is he. From withip. out of the heart1_jroceed evil thoughts inspired bv Satan- He begins to quibbl^t tifflhriiralHi?g I"1* man- y be seen every- where ; but when the power of God's grace is seen in our churches, the members will work the works of Christ. Natural and hereditary traits of character will be transformed. The indwell- ing of his Spirit will enable them to reveal Christ's likeness, and in proportion to the purity of their piety will be the success of their work, There are in our world many Christian workers who have not yet heard the grand and wonderful truths that have come to us. These are doing a good work in accordance with the light which they have, and many of them are more advanced in the knowledge of practical work than are those who have had great light and opportunities. The indifference which has existed among our ministers in regard to health reform and medical - — 20 — missionary work is surprising. Some who do not profess to be Christians treat these matters with greater reverence than do some of our own peo pie, and unless we arouse, they will go in advance of us. The word which the Lord has given to me for our ministers and our churches is, " Go forward." "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have com- manded you : and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." MKS. E. G. WHITE. llieceived July, 1898.] SPECIAL TESTIMONY TO BRETHREN IN BATTLE CREEK. "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N. S. W., Australia, June 6, 1898. Dear Brethren in Battle Creek: — There are times when the truth must be spoken, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. The Lord is greatly dishonored when those who claim to believe the truth fail to harmonize among themselves, and make their appeals to lawyers. Will you study the word of God, and heed its instruction on this point? The interests of the cause of God are not to be com- mitted to men who have no connection with heaven, -21 — Matters have been presented before me that have filled my soul with keen anguish. I saw men linking up arm in arm with lawyersjbut God waTnot in their company! Having many ideas regarding the work, they ffo to the lawyers for help ' to'carry out their plans] lam commissioned to say to such that you are not moving under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. "Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, t that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?" Men in responsible positions are uniting with those in the church and out of the church, whose counsel is misleading. Is it nec- essary for the Lord to come to you with a rod to show you that you need a higher experience be- fore you can be fitted for connection with the family above? Will you link up with men who have a faculty for accusing, and thinking and speaking evil of the things that God approves? In the name of the Lord, I tell you that you need clearer discernment and spiritual eyesight. If the light which God has given you over t and over again, that missionary centers should be established in many cities, and that the labor and the means centered in Battle Creek should be divided, and planted in many places, had been followed, the present state of confusion and dearth of means would never have been. Men located in Battle Creek have disregarded the counsels of the Lord, because it was more con- venient for them to have the work centered there. God has left these to the results of their human wisdom, and its fruit is seen in the present per- plexities. "Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth hi%fervan,t, that Andrews Univ^foity Berrten Springs, fvkav, ^ walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that com- pass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." " Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good. And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. There- fore thus saith the Lord; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard Such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing. Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flow- ing waters that come from another place be for- saken? Because my people have forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up." Again and again the Lord has pointed out the work which the church in Battle Creek and those all through America are to do. They are to reach « a much higher standard in spiritual advance- ment. They are to awake out of sleep, and go without the camp, working for Souls that are ready to perish. The medical missionaries_jy;e doirig the long-neglected work which God gavejo tfie church Brfftle Creek.—they are giving the last call to the supper which he has prepared. My brethren, why do you keep so many things bound up in Battle Creek? Why do you not take the tract and missionary work into other cities, where there is much missionary work to be done? The many interests centering in Battle Creek should be divided and subdivided, and placed in other cities. You who think you are wise men may say, " It will cost too much. We can do the work here in Battle Creek at less ex- pense." Well, does not the Lord know all this? Is not he a God who understands all the unbeliev- ing reasoning that holds so many interests in Battle Creek? He has revealed to you that cen- ters should be made in all the cities. This would call many out of Battle Creek to work in other places. In order to be carried forward aright, the medical missionary work needs talent. It re- quires strong and willing hands, and wise, dis- criminating management. But can this be while those in responsible places —presidents of confer- ences and ministers — bar the way? The Lord says to the presidents of conferences and to influ- ential brethren, Remove the stumbling-blocks that have been placed before the people. The people in Battle Creek have not exer- cised their talents in planning and devising how they may plant the standard of truth in regions where the message has not been proclaimed, and where decided efforts should be made; and tlj^ Lord has moved upon T)r TTHlngff unri his ««Or ciates to do the work which holnnnrr to-Hrire- Hnfi w^ich xyni "fferpd but which_Jj|fy rWi fn -"""pt Some in Battle Creek, instead of taking up the work given them of God, have, by following their own selfish ny J 2/v — 24 — way, blinded their spiritual eyesight and the eyesight of others; and God has placed his pre- cious work in the hands of those who will take it up and carry it forward. God is in his holy place, and he dwells also with him who is of a humble and contrite spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Those who are doing medical missionary work should have the full sanction and cooperation of the _c]mrah. If they do not have this, they are hindered. Nevertheless, they will advance, ffis not, God's plan that there be tw" churches; in fMtllft GrPPk, because of the want of cooperation in this line. How much betjter it is to seek for unity of action! If the medical missionary workers will carry this line of effort into the churches everywhere, if they will work in the fear of God, they will find many doors opened before them, and angels will work with them. Please read the invitation to the supper, and the last call made. Study to see what is being done to meet the command of Jesus. I can not understand why this indifference is manifested, why you should stand off, and criticize, and draw away. The gospel-net is to be cast into tho sea; and it draws both good and bad. But because this is so, shall men and women ignore the efforts made to save those who will believe, and who will unite in the work of reaching that class of which Christ spoke in his rebuke to the Phari- sees? Sinners and harlots, he said, go into the kingdom before you. Will you not see that even in the church there are those who have no connection with God? But Christ says, Let the tares and the wheat grow together until the har- — 25 — vest; then I will send my angel to gather out tares and burn them, but the wheat will I gather into my barn. When the Lord moves upon the churches, bidding them do a certain work, and they refuse to do that work; and when some, with their hu- man efforts united with the divine, endeavor J,o reach to the very depths of human woe and misery God's blessing will rest richly upon them. Even though but few souls accept the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, their work will not be in vain; for one soul is precious, very precious, in the .eyes of God. Christ died for that soul, in order that he might live through eternal ages. Let us study the eighteenth chapter of Matthew. This chapter should enlighten our eyes. "Take heed," says Christ, "that ye de- spise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always be- hold the face of my Father which is in heaven. For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is In heaven, that one of these little ones should perish." There are many souls being rescued, wrenched from Satan's hand, by faithful work- ers. Some one must have a burden of soul to find those who have been lost to Christ; and one soul redeemed over whom Satan has triumphed, causes — 20 — joy among the heavenly angels. There are those who have destroyed the moral image of God in themselves. The gospel-net must gather in these poor outcasts. Angels of God will cooperate with those who are engaged in this work, who make every effort to save perishing souls, to give them opportunities which many never have had. There is no other way to reach them but in Christ's way. He ever worked to relieve suffer- ing and to teach righteousness. Only thus can they be taken from the depths of hell. The workers must labor in love,—feeding, cleansing, and clothing those who need their help. In this way these outcasts are prepared to know that some one cares for their souls. The Lord has shown me that many of these poor out- casts from society will, through the ministration of human agencies who cooperate with the di- vine, seek to restore the moral image of God in others for whom Christ has paid the price of his own blood. They will be called the elect of God- precious, andjyill stand nPYf, tn t.hrnnP of God. _ " iind then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven : and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. . . . Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. -27 — 6PC an hour Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that serv- ant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Yerily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asun- der, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." ^ Brethren, be careful, very careful. There is ' a work being done to the medical missionaries. which answers to the description given in Matt. 24: 48-i>l. The LordJs_y^rking tr> 1'P9-"h th>* most depraved. Many will know what it means to be drawn to Jesus Christ, but will not have moral courage to war against appetite and passion. But the workers must not be discouraged at this; for it is written, "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." Is it only those rescued from the lowest depths that backslide? There are those in the ministry who have had light and a knowledge of the truth, who will not be overcomers. They will not restrict their appe- tite and passions, or deny themselves for Christ's sake ; and many of the poor outcasts, even publi- cans and sinners, will grasp the hope set before them in the gospel, and will go into the kingdom — 28 — of heaven before the ones who have had great opportunities and great light, but who have walked in darkness. In the last great day, many will say, Lord, Lord, open unto us. But the door will be shut, and their knock will be in vain. We should feel deeply over these things ; for they are truth. We should have a high estimate of truth and of the value of souls. Time is short, and there is a great work to be done. K vou feel no interest in the work that is going forward, if you will not encoi"-»m^li^i Trpusicmary work in the churches, it will be done without your con- sent; for it is the work of God, and it must be done. Brethren and sisters, take your position on the Lord's side, and be earnest, active, courageous coworkers with Christ, laboring with him to seek and to save that which is lost. MRS. E. G. WHITE. SOLEMN ADMONITIONS. "Sunnyside," Cooranbong, N. S. W., Australia, March 15, 1897. Now I wish to state to you that the Lord is opening before me that great weakness has come upon our people by the various ways that lead men to so thoroughly look to and depend upon his fel- low men, that the Lord is left out of the question. As the glory of the good tree testifies of its value by the fruit it bears, so also the genuine Christian is known by his usefulness. He does not merely blossom out with a pretentious show in professing godliness, but he bears fruit, with all his might and main. There is not a dying twig or a barren bough on the whole tree which grows by the riv- ers of waters of the grace of Christ. The fruit is yielded in varieties. They may be in foreign mission fields or in home missions ; the fruit ap- pears ripening under the sunshine of the right- eousness of Christ. " Herein is my Father glori- fied, that ye bear much fruit." ^How can a Christian sleep in such an agejusjve^ are now living in ? Knowledge is increased, and facilities are increased for_atitiainiricf {"-pat TpsnUg for God and humanity. Then WP. see so many harvest-fields of labor opening before us, inviting those of strong faith and hope and courage to enter them. To sleep now is a fearful crime. The Lord is coming. WtLiLI^UiPP"'"'^ to pre- pare the way for his coming by acting our part to prepare a_people to stand in that great day. IsThere one Christian whose pulse does not beat with quickened action as he anticipates the great events already opening hpfore us ? We hear the footsteps of an approaching God to punish the world l'or their iniquity.J There is a work to be done, and let every hand as well as heart be engaged to do the work. When men and women go to the Lord Jesus Christ for their individual selves, and are not educated to look to and trust in man, there will be fewer and fewer committee meetings ; for all will be instructed of God. Men and women wil' understand thoroughly their personal responsi- bilities and the important results of personal effort. Nothing in the way of barriers will be erected to keep men from their fellow men. The work of saving souls will be the first great work. The individual believer reaches the individual sinner. We shall all kindle our tapers from the filled wfthTh ^H11^ a lamP' and that filled with the golden oil emptied from the heav enly witnesses that stand before the thro^ of God, wi]I shed the most precjou of clear rays of light on the sinner's pathway Th word is given from the throne of God, "Every man to his work, each to do his best » coniwrth868810"8 °f C°mmittee meetin^s be don, u-ler With W°rdS °f £reat to be done, which have not been done at all We wan th ind ofChnst and theneachoneJ ntvin rr Partnei" " ^ great flrm with an invincible Jesus. There have been altogether dTfflcS hkr/n ^ ^ owri triafs and upon h ff WhCn they f°rget Self' 'ook is no tim TrerWg-reSSlUea °f °thers. ^ere st wo I f "rT 7