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I T rtODTT CTIOX.  
THE Testimonies to the Church, now twenty- 
six in number, cover a period of twenty years.  
These have ranged, in point of size, from a 
sixteen-page tract to a pamphlet of two hun- 
dred and eight pages. In these, a voioe has  
been appealing to the people of  God, in one  
straight-forward line for a score of years. This  
voice has in a uniform manner given warning of  
the deceitfulness of riches, and the dangers  
of the love and spirit of this world. It has also 
cried out against the prevailing sins of our evil  
time.  
On the other hand, we recognize the voice of  
the dear Shepherd comforting the little flock, 
and encouraging them to faithfulness in their 
Christian lives and sacrifices in his cause, in  
view of immortal rewards to be given at the  
second coming of Christ.  
The character of God, of his law, his Son,  
the Sacred Scriptures, and the way of holiness 
have been represented in a uniform manner for  
this period of twenty years.  This also may be  
said of Satan, sin, and the path of death. "  
Twenty years since, the idea of Testimonies  
from God to the church, through a frail, hum-


4  
ble instrument, was regarded very questionable;  
a few believed fully by reason of attending evi- 
dences. Many, however, balancing the matter  
in their minds like Gamaliel, said, "If this  
counsel or this work be of men, it will come to 
naught ; but if it be of God, ye cannot over- 
throw it." Here is a work that has been sub-
jected to the most rigid criticisms, and the most  
violent persecutions for the long period of 
twenty years, and yet remains unchanged.  
Had this work originated in the mind of an un- 
sophisticated woman, it would have been forced 
out of its course long since and brought to con- 
fusion and to naught.  
Let the following pages be read in the fear of  
God. Those who cannot feel the force of the  
great truths stated, and the importance of the  
admonitions given, at the first reading, should  
re-read this book upon their knees. Many who  
will read these pages of reproof, have read 
others of a similar character without taking 
heed to them. Their minds are consequently 
blinded, and their hearts are well nigh as cold 
and unfeeling ar a stone. Those who can read 
these pages unmoved, should read them again  
and again with fervent prayer until they do 
feel deeply these admonitions from the Lord to 
his waiting people.  
J. w.  
Oakland, Cat, Jan., 1876,  

TESTIMONY FOR THE CHURCH.  
Bible Biographies.  
THE lives recorded in the Bible are au- 
thentic histories of actual individuals. From  
Adam down through successive generations,  
to the times of the apostles, we have the  
plain, unvarnished account of what actually 
occurred, and the genirne experience of real  
characters. It is a subject of wonder to  
many, that inspired history should narrate  
facts in the lives of good men that tarnish  
their moral characters. Infidels seize upon  
these sins with great satisfaction, and hold 
their perpetrators up to ridicule.  
The inspired writers did not testify to false- 
hoods, fearing that the pages of Sacred His- 
tory would be clouded by the record of human  
frailties and faults. The scribes of God  
wrote as they were dictated by the Holy  
Spirit, having no control of the work them- 
selves. They penned the literal truth, and  
stern, forbidding facts are revealed for rea-
sons that our finite minds cannot fully com-
prehend.  
It is one of the best evidences of the au- 
thenticity of the Scriptures, that the truth is 
not glossed over, nor the sins of its chief


• 7  
characters suppressed. Many -will urge that  
it is an easy matter to give a relation of 
what has occurred in an ordinary life. But  
it is a proven fact that it is a human impos- 
sibility to give an impartial history of a co-
temporary ; and it is almost as difficult to  
narrate, without deviating from the exact 
truth, the story of any person or people with  
whose career we have become acquainted.  
The human mind is so subject to prejudice 
that it is almost impossible for it to treat the 
subject impartially. Either the faults of the 
person under review stand out in glaring re-
lief, or the virtues shine with undimmed 
luster, just as the writer is prejudiced for or  
against him. However impartial the his-
torian may design to be, all critics will agree  
that it is a very difficult matter to be truly so.  
But divine unction, lifted above the weak- 
nesses of humanity, tells the simple, naked  
truth. How many biographies have been  
written of faultless Christians, who, in their 
ordinary home life and church relations, shone 
as examples of immaculate piety. No blem- 
ish marred the beauty of their holiness, no 
fault is recorded to remind us they were of  
the common clay, and subject to the ordinary 
temptations of humanity.  
Yet, had the pen of inspiration written  
their histories, how different would they have  
appeared. There would have been revealed  
human weaknesses, struggles with selfishness,  
bigotry and pride, hidden sins perhaps, and  
the continual warfare between the spirit and  

87  
the flesh. Even private journals do not re- 
veal on their pages the writer's sinful deeds.  
Sometimes the conflicts with evil are recorded,  
but usually only when the right has gained  
the victory. But they may contain a faith- 
ful account of praiseworthy'acts and noble en- 
deavors, this, too, when the writer honestly 
intends to keep a faithful journal of his life.  
It is next to a human impossibility to lay  
open our faults for the possible inspection of  
our friends.  
Had our good Bible been written by unin- 
spired persons it would have presented quite 
a different appearance and would have been  
a discouraging study to erring mortals con-
tending with natural frailties and the temp- 
tations of a wily foe. But, as it is, we have 
a correct record of the religious experiences  
of marked characters in Bible history. Men  
whom God favored, and intrusted with great  
responsibilities, were sometimes overcome by  
temptation and committed sins, even as we of  
the present day strive, waver, and frequently 
fall into error. But it is encouraging to our  
desponding hearts to know that through  
God's grace they could gain fresh vigor to  
rise again above their evil natures, and re- 
membering  this we are ready to renew the  
conflict ourselves.  
The murmurings of ancient Israel and their  
rebellious discontent, are recorded for our  
benefit as well as the mighty miracles  
wrought in their favor, and the punishment  
of their idolatry and ingratitude. The ex-


• 8  
ample of ancient Israel is given as a warning  
to the people of God that they may avoid 
unbelief and escape his wrath. If the  
iniquities of the Hebrews had been omitted  
from the Sacred Record, and only their vir-
tues recounted, 'their history would fail to  
teach us the lesson that it does. •  
Infidels, and the lovers of sin excuse then- 
crimes by citing the wickedness of men to  
whom God gave authority in olden times. 
They argue that if these holy men yielded to  
temptation and committed sins, it is not to  
be wondered at that they too should be guilty  
of wrong-doing; and intimate that they are  
not so bad after all, since they have such  
illustrious examples of iniquity before them.  
The principles of justice required a faithful  
narration of facts for the benefit of all who  
should ever read the Sacred  Record. Here  
we discern the evidences of divine wisdom.  
We are required to obey the law of God, and  
we are not only instructed as to the penalty  
of disobedience, but we have, narrated for our  
benefit and warning, the history of Adam 
and Eve  in Paradise, and the sad results of  
their disobedience of God's commands. The 
account is full and explicit. The law given  
to man in Eden is recorded together with the 
penalty accruing in case of its disobedi- 
ence. Then follows the story of the tempta- 
tion and fall, and the punishment inflicted  
upon our erring parents.  
Their example is given us as a warning  
against disobedience, that we may be sure  

87  
the wages of sin is death, that God's retribu- 
tive justice never fails, and that he exacts 
from his creatures a strict regard for his com- 
mandments. When the law of Sinai was 
proclaimed, how definite was the penalty an-
nexed, how sure was punishment to follow  
the transgression of that law, and how plain  
are the cases recorded in evidence of  that  
fact.  
The pen of inspiration, true to its task,  
tells us of the sins that overcame Noah, Lot,  
Moses, Abraham, David and Solomon, while  
even Elijah's strong spirit sank under temp-
tation during his fearful trial. Jonah's diso- 
bedience and Israel's idolatry are faithfully 
receded. Peter's denial of Christ, the sharp  
contention of Paul and Barnabas, the fail- 
ings and infirmities of the prophets and apos- 
tles, are all laid bare by the Holy Ghost, who 
lifts the veil from the human heart. There  
lay before us the lives of the believers, with 
all their faults and follies, and they are in- 
tended as a lesson to all the generations fol-
lowingthem. If they had been without foible 
they would have been more than human, and  
our sinful natures would despair of ever  
reaching such a point of excellence. But,  
seeing where they struggled and fell, took 
heart again and conquered through the grace  
of God, we are led to be encouraged, and  
press on over the obstacles that degenerate  
nature places in our way.  
God has been ever faithful to punish  
crime. He sent his prophets to warn the


10  
guilty, denounce their sins, and pronounce  
judgment upon them. Those who question  
why the word of God brings out the sins of  
his people in so plain a manner for scoffers  
to deride and saints to deplore, should con-
sider that it was all written for their in- 
struction, that they might avoid the evils re- 
corded, but imitate the righteousness of 
those who served the Lord.  
We need just such lessons as the Bible  
gives us, for with the revelation of sin is  
recorded the retribution following. The sor-
row and penitence of the guilty and the wail- 
ing of the sin-sick  soul, come to us from the  
past telling us that man was then, as now, in 
need of the pardoning mercy of God. It  
teaches us that while be is a punisher of  
crime, he pities and forgives the repenting  
sinner. In his providence the Lord has seen  
fit to teach and warn his people in various  
ways. By direct command, by the Sacred 
Writings, by the spirit of prophecy has he  
made known unto them his will.  
My work has been to speak plainly of the  
faults and errors of God's people. Because  
the sins of certain individuals have bee'n 
brought to light, it is no evidence that they 
are worse in the sight of the Lord than  
many whose failings are unrecorded. But I  
have been shown that it was not  mine to  
choose my work, but humbly to obey the will 
of God. The errors and wrong-doings in the  
lives of professed Christians are recorded for  
he instruction of those  who are liable to fall  

11  
into the same temptations. The experience  
of one serves as a beacon light to warn others  
off the rocks of danger.  
Thus the snares and devices of Satan are  
revealed, the importance of perfecting Chris- 
tian character, and the means by which this 
result may be obtained. Thus God indicates  
what is necessary to secure his blessing.  
There is a disposition on the part of many to  
let rebellious feelings arise if their peculiar  
sins are reproved. The spirit of this genera- 
tion is, Speak unto us smooth things. But 
the Spirit of Prophecy speaks only truth.  
Iniquity abounds, and the love of many  
who profess to follow Christ waxes cold.  
They are blind to the wickedness of their own  
hearts, and do not feel their weak and help- 
less condition. God in his mercy lifts the  
veil and shows them there is an eye behind  
the scenes that discerns their hidden guilt  
and the motives of their actions.  
The sins of the popular churches are white- 
washed over. Many of the members indulge  
in the grossest vices and are steeped in iniq- 
uity. Babylon is fallen and has become the  
cage of every foul and hateful bird! The 
most revolting sins of the age find a shelter  
beneath the cloak of Christianity. Many  
proclaim the law of God abolished, and surely  
their lives are in keeping with their faith.  
If there is no law then there is no trans- 
gression, and therefore no sin, for sin is the 
transgression of t^BVENT SOURCE COlLfCTIOM  
The carnal mind .is at enmity with God  
General confe nc f eientii-Day kimMr  
WASHINGTO N, O. C.  
No. 3 0 15


• 12  
and rebels against bis will. Let it once 
throw off the yoke of obedience and it slips  
unconsciously into the lawlessness of crime. 
Iniquity abounds among those who talk 
grandly of a pure and perfect religious liberty. 
Their conduct is abhorrent to the Lord, and  
they are co-workers with the adversary of  
souls. The light of revealed truth is turned  
from their sight, and the beauties of holiness  
are but as shadows to them.  
It is astounding what flimsy foundations  
very many build their hopes of Heaven 
upon. They rail at the law of the Infinite  
One as if they would defy him and make his  
word null. Satan even, with his knowledge  
of the divine law, would not dare to make 
the speeches which some law-hating ministers  
do from the pulpit, yet he exults in their  
blasphemy.  
I have been shown what man is without  
a knowledge of the will of God. Crimes 
and iniquity fill up the measure of his life.  
But when the Spirit of God reveals to man 
the full meaning of the law, what a change  
takes place in his heart. Like BeLshszzar he  
reads intelligently the hand-writing of the  
Almighty and conviction takes possession of 
his soul. The thunders of God's word startle  
him from his lethargy and he calls for mercy  
in the name of Jesus. And to that humble  
plea God always listens with a willing  ear.  
He never turns the penitent away comfortless.  
The Lord has seen fit to give me a view of  
the needs and errors of his people. Painful  

87  
though it has been to me, I have faithfully  
set before the offenders their faults and the  
means of remedying them, according to the 
dictates of the Spirit of God. This has, in 
many instances, excited the tongue of slander, 
and embittered against me those for whom I 
have labored and suffered. But I have not  
been turned from my course because of this.  
God gave me my work, and, upheld by his  
sustaining strength, I have performed the  
painful  duties he has set before me. Thus  
has the Spirit of God pronounced warnings 
and judgments, withholding not however the  
sweet promise of mercy.  
If God's people would recognize his dealings  
with them, and accept his teachings, they 
would find a straight path for their feet, and a  
light to guide them through darkness and 
discouragement. David learned wisdom from  
God's dealings with him, and bowed in hu- 
mility beneath the  chastisement of the Most  
High. The faithful portrayal ®f his true state  
by the prophet Nathan, made David ac- 
quainted with his own sins and aided him to  
put them away. He accepted counsel meek- 
ly, and humiliated himself before God. "The  
law of the Lord," he exclaims, "is perfect, con-
verting the soul."  
Repentant sinners have no cause to despair  
because they are reminded of their transgres-
sions and warned of their danger. These 
very efforts in their behalf show how much  
God loves them and desires that they shall be  
saved. They have only to follow his counsel


18  
and do his will to inherit eternal life. God 
sets before his erring people their sins that 
they may behold them in all their enormity, 
under the light of divine truth. It is then •  
their duty to renounce them  forever.  
God is as  powerful to save from sin to-day  
as he was in the times of the Patriarchs, of 
David, and the prophets and apostles of  Bible  
times. The multitude of cases recorded in  
Sacrecl History, where God has delivered his  
people from their own iniquities, should make  
the Christian of this time eager to receive  
divine instruction, and zealous to perfect a  
character that will bear the close inspection  
of the  Judgment.  
Bible history stays the fainting heart with  
the hope of God's mercy. We need not de- 
spair when we see that others have struggled  
through discouragements like unto our own, 
fallen into temptations, even as we have done,  
yet recovered their ground and been blessed  
of God. The words of inspiration comfort 
and cheer the erring soul. Although the  
patriarchs and apostles were subject to human  
frailties, yet through faith they obtained a good 
report, fought their battles in the strength of 
the Lord, and conquered gloriously. Thus 
may we trust in the virtue  of the atoning  
sacrifice and be overcomers in the name of  
Jesus. Humanity is humanity the world 
over, from the time of Adam down to the  
present generation, and the love of God 
through all the ages is without a parallel.  

19  
Unity of the Church.  
DEAR BRETHREN:—As all the different  
members of the human system unite to form 
the entire body, and each performs its office  
in obedience to the intelligence that governs 
the whole, so the members of the church of  
Christ should be united in one symmetrical  
body, subject to the sanctified intelligence of 
the whole.  
The advancement of our church is retarded  
by the wrong course of its members. Unit-
ing with the church, although an important  
and necessary act, does not make one a Chris- 
tian or ensure salvation. Wc can not secure  
a title to Heaven by having our names en- 
rolled upon the church books, while our  
hearts are alienated from Christ. We should  
be his faithful representatives on earth, work- 
ing in unison with him. "Beloved, now are  
we the sons of God." We should keep in 
mind this holy relationship and do nothing 
to bring dishonor upon our Father's cause.  
Our profession is an exalted one. As  
Sabbath-keeping Adventists, we profess to 
obey all God's commandments, and are look-
ing for the coming of our Redeemer. A  
most solemn message of warning has been  
intrusted to God's faithful few. We should  
show by our words and works that we recog- 
nize the great responsibility laid upon us.  
Our light should shine so clearly that others 
can see that we glorify the Father in our  
daily lives; that we are connected with


18  
Heaven and are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ;  
that when he shall appear in power and great  
glory, we shall be like him.  
We should every one feel our individual 4  
responsibility as members of the visible  
church and workers in the vineyard of the  
Lord. We should not wait for our brethren, 
who are frail as ourselves, to help us along, for  
our precious Saviour has invited us to join 
ourselves to him, and unite our" weakness  
with his strength,  our ignorance to his wis- 
dc m, our unworthiness to his merits.  
None of us can occupy  a neutral position,  
our influence will tell for or against. We  
are active agents for Christ or for the enemy. 
We either gather with Jesus or scatter abroad.  
True conversion is a radical change. The  
very drift of the mind and bent oi the heart  
should be turned, and life become new again  
in Christ.  
God is leading out a people to stand in  
perfect unity upon the platform of eternal  
truth. Christ gave himself to the world  
"that he might purify unto himself a peculiar  
people, zealous of good woiks." This refin-
ing process is designed to purge the church  
from all unrighteousness aud the spirit of 
discord and contention; that they may build  
up instead of tear down, and concentrate 
their energies on the great work before them.  
God designs that his people should all come  
into the unity  of faith. The prayer of Christ  
to his Father, just prior to his crucifixion, 
was that his disciples might be one, even as  

19  
he was one with the Father, that the world 
might believe that he  had sent him. This  
most touching and wonderful prayer reaches  
down the ages, even to our day, for his words 
were, "Neither pray I for these alone, but  
for them also which shall believe on me  
through their word."  
How earnestly should the professed followers  
of Christ seek to answer this prayer in their  
lives. Many do not realize the sacredness of 
their church relations, and are loth to submit  
to restraint and discipline. Their course of 
action shows that they exalt their own judg-
ment above that of the united church; and  
they are not careful to guard themselves lest 
they encourage a spirit of opposition to its  
voice.  
Those who hold responsible positions in the  
church may have their faults in common with 
other people, and may err in their decisions;  
but notwithstanding this, the church of Christ  
on earth has given to them an authority  
that cannot be lightly esteemed. Christ,  
after his resurrection, delegated power unto 
his church, saying, " Whose soever sins ye  
remit, they are remitted unto them; and  
whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained."  
A relation to the church is not to be easily •  
canceled; yet some professed followers of  
Christ will threaten to leave the church when  
their path is crossed, or their voice has not  
the controlling influence which they think it  
deserves. True, in leaving the church, they 
would be the greatest sufferers themselves,  
3


18  
for in withdrawing beyond the pale of its 
influence, they subject themselves to the full  
temptations of the world.  
Every believer should be whole-hearted in  
his attachment to the church. Its prosperity  
should be his first interest, and unless he 
feels under sacred obligations to make his 
connection with the church a benefit to it  
m preference to himself, it can do far better 
without him. It is in the power of all to do  
something for the cause of God. There are  
those who spend a large amount for needless  
luxuries, and to gratify their appetites, but  
teel it a great tax to contribute means to sus- 
tain the church. They are willing to receive  
all the benefits of its privileges, but prefer to  
leave others to pay the bills. Those who  
really feel a deep interest in the advancement 
of the cause, will not hesitate to invest money  
m the enterprise whenever and wherever it  
is needed.  
They should also feel it a solemn duty to  
illustrate in their characters the teachings of  
Christ, being at peice one with another and  
moving in perfect harmony as an undivided 
whole. They should defer their individual  
. judgment to the judgment of the body of the  
church. Many are living for themselves 
alone. They look upon their lives with great  
complacency, flattering themselves that they 
are blameless, when in fact they are doin*  
nothing for God, and are living in direct op°- 
position to his expressed word. The observ- 
ance of external forms will never meet the  

19  
great want of the human soul. A profession  
of Christ is not enough to stand the test of 
the day of Judgment. There should be a  
perfect trust in God, a childlike dependence 
upon his promises, and an utter consecration 
of self, to his will.  
God has always tried his people in the  
furnace of affliction, in order to prove them  
firm and true, and purge them from all un- 
righteousness. After Abraham and his son 
had borne the severest test that could be im-
posed upon them, God spoke through his  
angel unto Abraham, " Now I know that  
thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not with- 
held thy son, thine only son from me." 
This great act of faith causes the character 
of Abraham to shine forth with remarkable 
luster. It forcibly illustrates his perfect  
confidence in the Lord, from whom he with- 
held nothing, not even his son of promise.  
There is nothing too precious for us to  
give to Jesus. If we return to him the  
talents of means he has intrusted to our  
keeping, he will give more into our hands.  
Every  effort we make for Christ will be re- 
warded by him; and every duty we per-
form in his name will minister to our own 
happiness. God surrendered his dearly-be-
loved Son to the agonies of the crucifixion, 
that all. who believe on him should become 
one through the name of Jesus. When  
Christ made so great a sacrifice to save  
men and bring them into unity one with  
another, even as he was united with the


102  
Father, what sacrifice is too great for his 
followers to make, in order to preserve that  
unity 1  
If the world sees a perfect harmony existing  
in the church of God, it will be a powerful 
evidence to them in favor of the Christian  
religion. Dissensions, unhappy differences, 
and petty church-trials dishonor our Re-
deemer. All these may be avoided if self is 
surrendered to God, and the followers of 
Jesus obey the voice of  the church. Unbe- 
lief suggests that individual independence  
increases our importance, that it is weak to  
yield our own ideas of what is right and 
proper, to the verdict of the church. But to  
yield to such feelings and views is unsafe, 
and will bring us to anarchy and confusion.  
Christ saw that unity and Christian fellow- 
ship were necessary to the cause of God, 
therefore he enjoins it upon his disciples. 
And the history of Christianity from that 
time until now proves conclusively that in 
union- only there is strength. Let individual  
judgment submit to the authority of the  
church.  
The apostles felt the necessity of strict  
unity, and they labored earnestly to this end.  
Paul exhorted his brethren in these words:  
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the  
name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye  
all speak the same thing, "and that there  
be no divisions among you; but that ye be 
perfectly joined together in the same mind 
and in the same judgment."  

1431  
He also writes to his Philippian brethren,  
"If there be therefore any consolation in 
Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellow- 
ship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,  
fulfill ye my joy, that ye be like-minded,  
having the same love, being of one accord, of  
one mind. Let nothing be done through  
strife or vainglory ; but in lowliness of mind  
let each esteem other better than themselves.  
Look not every  man on his own things, but  
every man also on the things of others.  
Let this mind be in you, which was also in  
Christ Jesus."  
To the Romans be writes, " Now the God  
of patience and consolation grant you to be  
like-minded one toward another according  to  
Christ Jesus, that ye may with one mind  
and one mouth glorify God, even the Father  
of our Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore re- 
ceive ye one another, as Christ also received  
us, to the glory of God." " Be of the same  
mind one toward another. Mind not high  
things, but condescend to men of low estate.  
Be not wise in your own conceits."  
Peter wrote to the churches scattered  
abroad, " Finally, be ye all of one mind, hav- 
ing compassion one of another; love as  
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous : not ren-
dering evil for evil, or railing for railing :  
but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye  
are thereunto called, that ye should inherit  
a blessing."  
And Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians  
says : " Finally, brethren, farewell. Be per-


feet, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live  
in peace; and the God of love and peace  
shall be with you."  
G-o Forward.  
THE vast armies of Israel marched in glad  
triumph from Egypt, the scene of their long  
and cruel servitude. The Egyptians would  
not consent to release them until they had 
been signally warned by the judgments of  
God. The avenging angel had visited every  
house among the Egyptians, and stricken with  
death the first-born of every family. None  
had escaped, from the heir of King Pharaoh,  
to the eldest-born of the captive in his dun- 
geon. And the first-born of the cattle were  
also slain according to the mandate of the  
Lord.  
But the Angel of Death passed over the  
homes of the children of Israel and did not  
enter there. Pharaoh, horror-stricken at the  
plagues that had fallen upon his people, called  
Moses and Aaron before him in the night,  
and bade them  depart from Egypt. He was  
anxious that they should go without delay,  
for he and his people feared that the land 
would become a vast burial-ground, unless  
the curse of God was removed from them.  
Israel was joyful to receive the tidings of  
their freedom, and made haste to leave^ the 
scene of their bondage. Bat the way was 
toilsome, and at length their courage failed.  

23  
Their journey led them over barren hills and 
desolate plains. The third night they found  
themselves walled in on each side by moun- 
tain ranges, and the Bed Sea lay before them.  
They were perplexed and greatly deplored 
their condition. They blamed Moses for con-
ducting them to this place, for they believed  
they had taken the wrong course. " This,  
sur-ely," said they, " is not the way to the  
wilderness of Sinai, nor the  land of Canaan  
promised to the fathers. We can go no far-
ther, but must now advance into the waters  
of the Red Sea, or turn  back toward Egypt."  
Then, as if to complete their misery, be- 
hold, the Egyptian host is on their track ! 
The imposing army is led by King Pharaoh 
himself, who has repented that he freed the  
Hebrews, and fears that he has sent tlif m  
out to become a great nation hostile to him-
self. What a night of perplexity and  dis- 
tress was this for Israel! What a contrast 
to that glorious morning when they left the 
bondage of Egypt, and with glad rejoicings  
took up the line of march into the wilderness!  
How powerless they felt before that mighty  
foe! The wailing of the terror-stricken  
women and children,  mingled with the low- 
ing of the frightened cattle, and the bleating  
of the sheep, added to the dismal confusion  
of the situation.  
But had God lost all care for his people  
that he should leave them to destruction 1  
Would he not warn them of their danger 
and deliver them from their enemies 1 God


102  
had no delight in the discomfiture of his 
people. It was he,  himself, who had directed  
Moses to encamp by the Red Sea, and he had  
farther informed him that, "Pharaoh will 
say of the children of Israel, They are entan- 
gled in the land, the wilderness hath shut 
them in. And I will harden Pharaoh's  
heart, that he shall follow after them ; and I 
will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon  
all his host; that the Egyptians may know 
that I am the Lord."  
Jesus stood at the head of that vast army.  
The cloudy column by day, and the pillar of  
fire by night represented their Divine Leader.  
But the Hebrews did not patiently bear the  
test of the Lord. Their voices were lifted  
up in reproaches and denunciations  of Moses,  
who was their visible leader, for bringing  
them into this great peril. They did not 
trust in the protecting power of God, noi  
recognize his hand staying the evils that sur-
rounded them. In their frantic terror they  
had forgotton the rod with which Moses had  
changed the water of the Nile to blood, and 
the calamities which God had visited upon  
the Egyptians for their persecution of his 
chosen people. They had forgotten all the  
miraculous interpositions of God in their 
behalf.  
"Ah !" they cried, " How much better for  
us had we remained in bondage ! It is better  
to live as slaves than to die of hunger and  
fatigue in the desert, or be slain in war with  
our enemies!" They turned upon Moses  

1433  
with bitter censure that he had not  left them  
where they were instead of leading them  
out to perish in the wilderness.  
Moses was greatly troubled because his  
people were so wanting in faith, especially as 
they had repeatedly witnessed the manifesta- 
tions of the power of God in their favor.  
He felt grieved that they should charge upon 
him the dangers and difficulties of their 
position, when he had simply followed the  
express commands of God. He met and 
quieted the reproaches and fears of his people,  
even before he could himself discern the plan  
of their deliverance ; but he was strong in  
his faith that the Lord would bring them into  
safety.  
True, they were in a place from which  
there was no possibility of release unless God  
himself interposed to save them ; but they 
were brought into this strait by obeying the  
divine commands, and Moses felt no fearof the  
consequences. He "said unto the people,  
Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation 
of the Lord, which he will show to you to- 
day ; for the Egyptians whom ye have seen  
to-day ye shall see them again no more forever.  
The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall 
hold your peace."  
It was not Tin easy thing to hold the hosts  
of Israel in waiting before the Lord. They  
were excited and full of terror. They lacked 
discipline and self-control. Impressed by 
the horrors of their situation, they became 
violent and unreasonable. They expected


102  
speedily to fall into the hands of their on- 
Cw' ,th6ir WaiHn^S and recrimina- tions were loud and deep.  
The wonderful pillar of eloud had accom- 
panied them in their wanderings and served  
to> protect them from the ferv-S rap of lie  
sun A 1  day "it had moved grandly before  
B, at_ night it had become a pillar of fire to  
aft el11 rV^T *** The>'had Allowed it  
a uesfcim 1 ° °d ^0» ol'Ward; but nowthey  
b t e wam°T the,113elvey if it might not  
be the shadow of some terrible calamity that  
thl tlt0 betal] them'for had ifc  an imna M WIOn« ride of th« mountain into an impassible way? Thus the an^l of God  
themU?0W',aS the Egyptian host aPPr°aches them expecting to make them an easy prey  
the cloudy column rises majestically into t]fe  
heavens, passes over the Israelites^ Z d?  
A wall of darkness interposes between the 
pursued and their pursuei4. The E^m  
can no longer discern the camp of the He  
brews, and are forced to halt. But as the  
darkness of night deepens, the wall 0f cloud  
& g'^t light to the Hebrews, ilE 
day W Camp With the radiance of  
Then hope came to the hearts of Israel  
g^qronght be delivered. And Mose  
UP hls V01ce unto the Lord. "And the  

1434  
Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou 
unto me 1 speak unto the children of Israel 
that they go forward. But lift thou up thy  
rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, 
and divide it; and the children of Israel 
shall go on dry ground through the midst of  
the sea,"  
Then Moses, obeying the divine command,  
stretched out his rod, and the waters parted, 
rolling up in a wall on either side, and leav- 
ing a b oad pathway across the bed of the  
sea for the children of Israel. The light from  
God's pillar of lire shone upon the foam- 
capped billows and lit the road that was cut  
like a mighty furrow through the waters of  
the Red Sea and was lost in the obscurity of  
the farther shore.  
All night long sounded the tramping of the  
hosts of Israel, crossing the Red Sea. But  
the cloutl hid them from the sight of their 
enemies. The Egyptians, weary with their  
hasty march, had encaui|je 1 upon the shore 
for the night. They saw the Hebrews only a 
short distance before them, and there seemed  
no possibil ty of escape, so they decided to  
take a night's rest, and make an easy capture 
in the morning. The night was intensely  
dark, the clouds seeme.l tc encompass them  
like some ' tangible substance. Deep sleep  
fell upon the camp, even the sentinels slum- 
bered at their posts.  
At 1 ist a ringing blast arouses the army !  
The cloud is passing on ! The Hebrews are  
moving ! Voices and the sound of marching  o o


102  
come from toward the sea. It is still so  
dark thev cannot discern the escaping people, 
but the command is given to make ready for  
the pursuit. The clattering of arms, and  
the roll of chariots is heard, the marshalling  
of the captains and the neighing of the  
steeds. At length the line of march is  
formed and they press on through the obscur-
ity, in the direction of the escaping multitude.  
In the darkness and confusion, they rush  
onin their pursuit, not knowing that they have 
entered upon the bed of the sea, and are 
hemmed in on either hand by beetling walls  
of water. They long for the mist and dark- 
ness to pass away, and reveal to them the  
Hebrews and their own whereabouts. The  
wheels of the chariots sink deep into the soft  
sand, and the horses become entangled and  
unruly. Confusion prevails, yet they press on  
feeling sure of victory.  
At last the mysterious cloud changes  to a  
pillar of fire before their astonished eyes.  
The thunders roll and the lightnings flash,  
the waves roll about them, and fear takes'  
possession of their hearts. Amid the terror 
and confusion the lurid light reveals to the 
amazed Egyptians the terrible waters massed  
up on the right hand and on the left. They see 
the broad path that the Lord has made for  
his people across the shining sands of the sea,  
and behold triumphant Israel safe on the far-
ther shore.  
Confusion and dismay seizes them. Amid  
the wrath of the elements, in which they  

1435  
hear the voice of an angry God, they en- 
deavor to retrace their steps and fly to the 
shore they have quitted. But Moses stretches  
out his rod, and the piled up waters, hissing,  
roaring, and eager for their prey, tumble  
down upon the armies of Egypt. Proud  
Pharaoh and his legions, gilded chariot and  
flashing armor, horses and riders are engulfed 
beneath a stormy sea.  
The mighty God of Israel had delivered  
his people, and their songs of thanksgiving  
went up to Heaven, that God had wrought so  
wonderfully in their behalf. The history of 
the children of Israel should be for the in- 
struction and admonition of all Christians.  
When the Israelites were overtaken by dan-
gers and difficulties and their way seemed 
hedged up, their faith forsook them and they  
murmured against the leader God had ap-
pointed for them. They blamed him with 
bringing them into peril, when he had only 
obeyed the voice of God.  
The divine command was, " Go Forward !"  
Not to wait until the way was made plain, 
and they could comprehend the entire plan of 
their deliverance. God's cause is onward,  
and he will open the path before his people. 
To hesitate and murmur is to manifest dis-
trust in the Holy One of Israel. God in his  
providence brought the Hebrews into the  
mountain fastnesses, with the Red Sea before  
them, that he might work out their deliver- 
ance and forever rid them of their enemies.  
He might have saved them in any other way,


102  
but he chose this method in order to test  
their faith and strengthen their trust in him  
We cannot charge Moses with being at  
jault because his people murmured against  
ins course. It was their own rebellious, un-
subdued hearts that led them to censure the  
man whom God had delegated to lead his  
people. While Moses moved in the fear of 
the Lord, and according to his direction  
Having full faith in his promises, those who'  
should have upheld him became discouraged  
and could see nothing before them but dis- 
aster, defeat, and death.  
The Lord is now dealing with his people  
who beheve in present truth. He designs to 
bring about momentous results, and while in  
his prov.dence he is working towards this  
end, he says to his people, " Go Forward !"  
lrue, the path is not yet opened, but when  
they move on in the strength of faith and  
courage, God will make the way plain before  
their eyes. There are ever those who will  
complain, as did ancient Israel, and  charge  
the difficulties of their position upon those  
whom God has raised uu for the special pur- 
pose of advancing his cause. They fail to 
see that God is testing them by brin<nna 
them into straight places, from which there  
is no deliverance except by his hand.  
There are times when the Christian life  
seems beset by dangers, and duty seems hard  
to perform. The imagination pictures im-
pending ruin before, and bondage or death  
behind. Yet the voice of God speaks clearly  

1436  
above all discouragements, "Go Forward!" 
We should obey this command, let the result 
be what it may, even though our eyes cannot  
penetrate the darkness and we feel the cold  
waves about our feet.  
The Hebrews were weary and terrified,  
yet if they had held back when Moses bade  
them advance, if they had refused to move  
nearer to the Red Sea, God would never have 
opened the path for them. In marching  
down to the very water, they showed that 
they had faith in the word of God, as spoken 
by the man Moses. They did all that was in 
their power to do, and then the Mighty One 
of Israel performed his part and divided the  
waters to make a path for their feet.  
The clouds that gather about our way will  
never disappear before a halting, doubting 
spirit. Unbelief says, We can never sur-
mount these obstructions, let us wait until 
they are removed,  and we can see our  
way clearly. But faith courageously urges  
an advance, hoping all things, believing all  
things. Obedience towards God is sure to  
bring the victory. Through faith only can 
we reach Heaven.  
There is a great similarity between our his- 
tory  and that oi the children of Israel. God  
led his people from Egypt into the wildei ness, 
where they could keep his law and obey his  
voice. The Egyptians, who had no regard 
for the Lord, were encamped close by them ;  
yet, what was to them a great flood of light,  
illuminating  the whole camp, and shedding


32  
brightness upon the path before them, was to  
the hosts of Pharaoh a wall of clouds, mak- 
ing blacker the darkness of night.  
So, at this time, there is a people whom  
God has made the repository of his law.  
To those who obey them, the commandments 
of God are as a pillar of fire, lighting and  
leading the way to eternal salvation. But  
unto those who disregard them, they are as  
the clouds of night. The fear of the Lord is  
the beginning of wisdom. Better than all 
other knowledge is an understanding of the 
word of God. In keeping his commandments 
there is great reward, and no earthly induce-
ments should cause the Christian to waver 
for a moment in his allegiance. Riches,  
honor, and worldly pomp are but as dross that  
shall perish before the fire of God's wrath.  
The voice of the Lord bidding his faithful  
ones " Go Forward," frequently tries their  
faith to the uttermost. But if they should  
defer obedience till every shadow of uncer- 
tainty was removed from their understand- 
ing, and there remained no risk of failure or  
defeat, they would never move on at all. 
Those who think it impossible for them to  
yield to the will of God and have faith in 
his promises until all is made clear and plain  
before them, will never yield at all. Faith is  
not certainty of knowledge, it is the substance  
of things hoped for, the evidence of  things  
not seen. To obey the commandments of God 
is the only way to obtain his favor." Go For-
ward," should be the Christian's watchword.  

33  
Epistle Number One.  
DEAR BRETHREN AND SISTERS:—I have  
bSen shown some things in reference to the  
cli urch in P G . Individual cases were  
shown me, which in many respects represent 
the cases of many others. Among them was  
that of sister P. and her husband. The Lord 
convicted him of the truth. He was charm- 
ed with the harmony and spirit of the truth, 
and was blessed in confessing it. But Satan  
came to him with his temptations upon the  
point of appetite.  
Bro. P. had long indulged his appetite  for  
stimulants, which had an influence to becloud 
the mind, weaken the intellect, and lessen  
the moral powers. Reason and judgment were  
brought in bondage to depraved, unnatural  
appetite, and his birthright, liis God-given 
manhood,  was sacrificed to intemperate habits.  
If Bro. P.  had made the word of God his  
study, and  his* guide, had he trusted in God,  
and prayed for grace to overcome, he would  
have had strength in the name of Jesus to  
baffle the tempter.  
But Bro. P. had never felt the high claims  
that God had upon him. His moral faculties  
had been enfeebled by his habits of eating 
and drinking, and his dissipation. He had,  
when he embraced the truth, a character to  
form for Heaven. God would test and prove 
him. He had a work to do for himself that no 
one could do for him. He had, by his course 
of life, lost many years of precious, proba-


102  
tionary time, when he might have been gain- 
ing an experience in matters of religion, and  
a knowledge of the life of Christ, and the in-
finite sacrifice he made in man's behalf that  
he might free him from the fetters Satan had  
bound upon him, and enable him to glorify  
his name.  
Christ paid a dear  price for man's redemp- 
tion. In the wilderness of temptation he 
suffered the keenest pangs of hunger; and 
while emaciated with fasting Satan was at  
hand with his manifold temptations to assail 
the Son of God, to take advantage of his 
weakness and overcome him, and thus thwart  
the plan of salvation. But Christ was stead-
fast. He overcame in behalf of the race, that  
he might rescue them from the degradation  
of the fall. Christ's experience is for our  
benefit. His example in overcoming appetite  
points out the way for those who would be 
his followers and  finally sit with him on his  
throne.  
Christ suffered hunger in the fullest sense.  
Mankind generally have all that is needful  
to sustain life. And yet, like our first  
parents, they will desire that which God would  
withhold because it is not best for them.  
Christ suffered hunger for necessary food, and  
resisted the temptation of Satan upon the 
point of appetite. Indulgence of intemperate 
appetite, creates in fallen man unnatural 
desires for the things which will eventually  
prove his ruin.  
Man came from the hand of God perfect  

1438  
in every faculty of mind and body, in perfect  
soundness, therefore in perfect health. It  
took more than two thousand years of indul- 
gence of appetite and lustful passions to  
create such a state of things in the human or- 
ganism as would lessen vital force. Through  
successive generations the tendency was more 
swiftly downward. Indulgence of appetite  
and passion combined, led to excess and  
violence; debauchery and abominations of  
every kind weakened the energies, and brought  
upon the race diseases of every type until the  
vigor and glory of the first generations passed  
away, and man began to show signs of decay  
in the third generation from Adam. Suc-
cessive generations after the flood degen-
erated more rapidly.  
All this weight of woe and accumulated  
suffering can be traced to the indulgence of  
appetite and passion. Luxurious living and  
the use of wine corrupt the blood, inflame  
the passions, and produce diseases of every  
kind. Parents leave maladies as a legacy to  
their children. As a rule, every intemperate  
man, who rears children, transmits his incli-
nations and evil tendencies to his offspring,  
and the evil does not end here; he gives  
to them disease from his own inflamed and  
corrupted blood. Licentiousness, disease and  
imbecility is  transmitted as an inheritance of  
woe from father to son and from generation  
to generation, bringing anguish and suffering 
into the world, which is no less than a repeti-
tion of the fall of man.


102  
The continual transgression of Nature's  
laws is a continual transgression of the law  
of God. The present weight of suffering  
and anguish which we see everywhere, the  
present deformity, decrepitude, disease and  
imbecility now flooding the world, make it, in  
comparison to what it might be, and what  
God designed it should be, a lazar-house, and  
the present generation are feeble in mental,  
moral and physical power.  
All this accumulated misery from genera- 
tion to generation is because fallen man will  
break the law of God. Sins of the greatest 
magnitude are committed through the indul- 
gence of perverted appetite.  
The effort made to create a taste for the  
disgusting, filthy poison, tobacco, leads to the  
desire for stronger stimulants, as liquor, which  
is taken, on one plea or another, for some  
imaginary infirmity, or  to prevent some pos- 
sible disease. Thus an unnatural appetite is  
created for these hurtful and exciting stimu- 
lants, which strengthens until the increase of  
intemperance in this generation is alarming. 
Beverage-loving, liquor-drinking men may be 
seen everywhere. Their intellect is enfee-
bled, the moral powers are weakened, the  
sensibilities are benumbed, and the claims of 
God and heaven are not realized, and eternal  
things are not appreciated. The Bible de-
clares that no drunkard  shall inherit the  
kingdom of God.  
Tobacco and liquor stupefy and defile the  
user. But the evil does not stop here. He  

1439  
transmits irritable temper, polluted blood,  
enfeebled intellect, and weak morals to his  
children; and renders himself accountable  
for all the evil results that his wrong and 
dissipated course of life has brought upon his 
family and the community.  
The race is groaning under a weight of ac- 
cumulated  woe, because of the sins of former  
generations.  And yet with scarcely a thought  
or care, men and women of the present gen-
eration indulge intemperance by surfeiting  
and drunkenness, and thereby leave as a legacy  
for the next generation disease, enfeebled  
intellects, and polluted morals.  
Intemperance of any kind is the worst sort  
of selfishness. Those who truly fear God and 
keep his commandments look upon these  
things in the light of reason and religion.  
How can any man or any woman keep the  
law of God, which requires man to love his  
neighbor as himself, and indulge intemperate 
appetite, which benumbs the brain, weakens 
the intellect, and fills the body with disease ?  
Intemperance inflames the passions, and gives  
loose rein to lust. Reason and conscience 
are blinded  by the lower passions.  
We inquire, what will the husband of sister  
P. do 1 Will he, like Esau, sell his birth- 
right for a mess of pottage 1 Will he sell 
his godlike manhood to indulge a perverted  
taste which only brings unhappiness and deg- 
radation? "The wages of sin is death."  
Has not this brother the moral courage to  
deny appetite 1 His habits have  not been in


102  
harmony with the truth, and with the testi-
monies of reproof which God has seen fit to 
give his people. His conscience was not  
altogether dead. He knew that he could not 
serve God and indulge his appetite, therefore  
yielded to the temptation of Satan which was  
too strong for him, in his own strength, to 
resist. He was overcome. He has assigned 
his want of interest in the truth to other  
causes then the true one, in order to cover  
his own weak purpose, and the real cause of  
his backsliding from God, which was uncon- 
trolled appetite. This is where many stumble;  
they waver between denial of appetite and  
its indulgence, and finally are overcome by 
the enemy and  yield the truth. Many who  
have backslidden from the truth assign as a 
reason for their course, that they do not have  
faith in the testimonies.  
Investigation reveals the fact that they had  
some sinful habit that God through the testi-
monies condemned. The question with them  
is, will they yield their idol which God con- 
demns, or will they continue in their wrong  
course of  indulgence, and reject the light God  
has given them, reproving the very  things in  
which they delight? The question to be  
settled with them is, shall I receive, as of  
God, the testimonies which reprove my sins,  
and deny myself, or shall I reject the testi-
monies because they reprove my sins ?  
In many cases the testimonies are fully  
received, the sin and indulgence broken off,  
and reformation at once commences in har- 

1440  
mony with the light God has given. In  
other instances sinful indulgences are cher- 
ished, the testimonies are rejected, and many  
excuses which are untrue are offered to 
others as the reason for refusing to receive 
them. The true reason is not given. It is  
a lack of moral courage—a will, strength-
ened and controlled by the Spirit of God, to  
renounce hurtful habits.  
It is not an easy matter to overcome estab- 
lished habits of taste and appetite for narcot-
ics and stimulants. In the name of Christ  
alone can this great victory be gained. He 
overcame in behalf of man in the wilderness  
of temptation, in the long fast of nearly six 
weeks. He sympathizes with the weakness  
of man. His love for -fallen man was so  
great that he made infinite sacrifice that he  
might reach him in his degradation, and  
through his divine power elevate him finally 
to his throne. But it rests with man whether  
Christ shall accomplish for him that which  
he is fully able to do.  
Will man take hold of divine power, and  
with determination and perseverance resist  
Satan as Christ has given him example in 
his conflict with  the foe in the wilderness of  
temptation? God cannot save man, against  
his will, from the  power of. Satan's artifices.  
Man must work with his human power, aided 
by the divine power of Christ, to resist and  
to conquer at any cost to himself. In short,  
man must overcome as Christ overcame.  
And then, through the victory it is his privi-


102  
lege to gain by the all-powerful name of Jesus,  
he may become an heir of  God and joint heir  
with Jesus Christ.  
This could not be the case if Christ alone  
did all the overcoming. Man must do his  
part. Man must be victor on his own ac- 
count, through the strength and grace that  
Jesus gives  him. Man must be a co-worker  
with Christ in the labor of overcoming, and  
then he will be partaker with Christ of his  
glory. It is a sacred work in which we are  
engaged. The apostle exhorts his brethern,  
"Having therefore these promises, dearly be- 
loved, let us cleanse ourselves from all  filthi- 
ness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holi- 
ness in the fear of God."  
It is a sacred duty that we owe to God to  
keep the spirit pure, as a temple for the Holy  
Ghost. If the heart and mind are devoted to  
the service of God, obeying all his command-
ments, loving him with all the heart, might, 
mind, and strength, and our neighbor as our- 
selves, we will be found loyal and true to the  
requirements of Heaven.  
Again the apostle says: "Let not sin  
therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye  
should obey it in the lusts thereof." He  
also urges his brethern to earnest diligence 
and steady perseverance in their efforts for  
purity and holiness of life in these words:  
I'And every man that striveth for the mastery  
is temperate in all things. Now they do it 
to obtain a corruptible crown; but we, an in-
corruptible."  

1441  
He presents before us the spiritual warfare  
and its reward, in contrast with the various  
games instituted among the heathen in honor  
of their gods. For these games, young men 
wore trained with the  most severe discipline,  
practicing close self-denial. Every indulgence  
which would have a tendency to weaken the  
powers of body were forbidden. Those who 
submitted to the training process were not  
allowed luxurious food or wine, for this would 
debilitate instead of increase personal vigor, 
healthful activity, fortitude and firmness. It 
was considered the highest honor to gain a  
simple chaplet which would fade in a few 
short hours.  
Many witnesses, kings and nobles, were  
present on these occasions. The competitors 
for this perishable crown, after they had exer- 
cised severe abstemiousness, and submitted to 
rigid discipline in order to obtain personal 
vigor and activity with the hope of becom-
ing victors, were even then not sure of the  
prize. The prize could be awarded to but  
one. Some might labor fully as hard as others  
and put forth their utmost powers to gain the 
crowning honor, but, as they reached forth the  
hand to secure the prize, another, an instant  
before them, might secure the coveted treas-
ure.  
This is not the case in the Christian war- 
fare. All may run this race and may be sure 
of victory and immortal honor if they sub- 
mit to the conditions. Says Paul, "So  run  
that ye may obtain." He then explains the


102  
conditions which are necessary for them to  
observe in order to be successful: "And 
every man that striveth for the mastery is  
temperate in all things."  
If heathen men,  who are not controlled by  
enlightened conscience, who have not the fear  
of God before them, would submit to depriva-
tion and a discipline of training—denying 
themselves of every weakening indulgence  
merely for a wreath of perishable substance  
and the applause of the multitude, how much 
more should they who are running the Chris-
tian race in the hope of immortality and the  
approval of High Heaven, be willing to deny  
themselves unhealthy stimulants and indul- 
gences which degrade the morals, enfeeble  
the intellect, and bring the higher powers in  
subjection to the animal appetites and pas-
sions.  
Multitudes in the world are witnessing this  
game of life, the Christian warfare. And  
this is not all. The Monarch of the universe, 
and the myriads of heavenly angels are spec- 
tators of this race—anxiously watching to 
see who will be successful overcomers, and  
win the crown of glory that fadeth not away.  
With intense interest God and heavenly an- 
gels mark the self-denial, self-sacrificing* and 
agonizing efforts of those who engage to run  
the Christian race. The reward given to 
every man will be in accordance with the  
persevering energy and faithful earnestness 
with which he has performed his part  in the  
great contest.  

1442  
In the games referred to, but one was sure  
of the prize. In the Christian race, says the  
apostle, I run "not as uncertainly." We are  
not to be disappointed at the end of the race. 
To all those who fully comply with the con- 
ditions in God's word, with a sense of 
their responsibility to preserve physical vigor  
and activity of body, that they may have  
well balanced minds and healthy morals,  
the race is not uncertain. They, all may  
gain the prize, and win and wear the crown  
of immortal glory that fadeth not  away.  
The apostle Paul tells us that, "We are  
made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels,  
and to men." A clnud of witnesses are observ- 
ing our Christian course. "Wherefore, see- 
ing we also are compassed about with so great a  
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,  
and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and 
let us run with patience the race that is set 
before us, looking unto Jesus, the author  
and finisher of our faith, who, for the joy that  
was set before him, endured the cross, despis-
ing the shame, and is set clown at the right 
hand of the throne of God."  
The wox'ld should be no criterion for us.  
It is fashionable to indulge the appetite with 
luxurious food and unnatural stimulus,  
strengthening by indulgence the animal pro- 
pensities, and crippling the growth and de- 
velopment of the moral faculties.  
There is no encouragement given to any  
son or daughter of Adam that they may be- 
come victorious overcomers in the Christian


102  
warfare unless they decide to practice temper- 
ance in all things. If they do this thev will  
not fight as one that beateth the air.  
If Christians will keep the body in subjec- 
tion and bring all their appetites and passions  
under the control of enlightened conscience,  
feeling it a duty that they owe to God and to  
their neighbor to obey the laws which govern  
health and life, they will have the blessing 
of physical and mental vigor. They will  
have moral power to engage in the war- 
fare against Satan; and in the name of him 
who conquered appetite in their behalf, they 
may be more than conquerors on their own  
account. The warfare is open to all who will 
engage in it.  
I was shown the case of Bro. R, that a  
cloud of darkness surrounded him. The 
light of Heaven was not in his dwelling.  
Although he professed to believe the truth, 
he did not exemplify in his daily life its  
sanctifying influence upon his heart. He  
does not naturally possess a benevolent, kind, 
affectionate, and courteous disposition. His  
temperament is very unfavorable to himself,  
and his family and the church where his influ-
ence is felt. He has a work to do for him- 
self that no one can do for him. He has 
need of the transforming influence of the 
Spirit of God.  
We are bound, by our profession, as Christ's  
followers, to test our ways and actions, by  
comparing them with the example of our Re-
demer. Our spirit and deportment must  

1443  
correspond with the copy our Saviour has  
given us.  
Bro. R. is not of that temperament to  
bring sunshine into his family. Here is a  
good place for him to begin to work. He is  
too much like a cloud rather than a beam of  
light. He is too selfish to speak words of  
approval to the members of his family, es- 
pecially the one of all others who should have  
his love and tender respect. He is morose,  
overbearing and dictatorial. His words are 
frequently cutting, and leave a wound that he  
does not try to heal by softening his spirit,  
acknowledging his faults and confessing his 
wrong- doings.  
He does not make efforts to cometothe light.  
There is not with him a searching of heart 
and of motives, temper, speech and conduct, 
to see if his life is like the Example. He  
does not apply God's law to his life as his 
rule of action and character. The Lord would  
have a people honest and upright before him.  
Sister R. has many trials, and the weak- 
ness of her own nature to contend with, and  
she should not be compelled to have her lot  
made any harder than is positively neces-
sary.  
Bro. B. should soften, and cultivate refine- 
ment and courteousness. He should be very  
tender and gentle towards his wife, who is  
his equal in every respect. He should not  
utter a word that would cast a shadow upon  
her heart. He should begin the work of ref-
ormation at  home. He should cultivate


102  
affection, and overcome the coarse, harsh, un- 
feeling, and ungenerous traits of his dispo-
sition, for these are growing upon him. If we 
poor mortals reach - Heaven, we must over- 
come as Christ overcame. We must be  
assimilated to his image, and our characters be  
spotless.  
I was shown that Bro. R. has not a  
high sense of the perfection of character 
necessary to a Christian. He has not a 
proper sense of his duty to his fellow-men.  
He is in danger of advancing his own inter- 
ests, if an  opportunity presents, irrespective  
of his neighbor's advantage or loss. He re- 
gards his own prosperity as exceedingly im- 
portant, but is not interested in the fortunes  
or misfortunes ®f his neighbors, as a follower  
of Christ should be. For a trifle of advan- 
tage to himself Satan can  allure him from his  
integrity. This darkens his own soul, and  
brings darkness upon the church. "All this," 
says Satan, "shall be yours, if you will de-
part from strict, integrity. All this will I  
give you if you will only please me in this, 
or do and say that." And too often has Bro.  
R. been  deceived by the adversary, to his  
own hurt and the darkening of other minds.  
There are some others in the church who  
need to view things from a higher standpoint  
before they can be spiritually minded, and in  
a position to shed light, instead of casting a  
shadow, and where they can discern the mind  
and will of God.  
Bro. R. needs to have his eyes annointed,  

1444  
that he may clearly discern spiritual things, 
and also the devices of Satan. The Christian 
standard is high and exalted. But alas, the  
professed followers of Christ lower it to the  
very dust.  
You have need, Bro. R., of constant vigil- 
ance lest you are overcome by Satan's temp- 
tations to live for yourself, to be jealous and  
envious, suspicious and faultfinding. If you 
go murmuringly along you make not one step  
of progress in the heavenly road. If you  
stop for a moment in  your earnest efforts and  
prayerful endeavors to subdue and control  
yourself, you are in danger of being overcome  
by some strong temptation; you may take 
imprudent steps; you may manifest an un-
christian spirit, which wall not only bring  
bitterness to you own soul, but sadness to 
the minds of others. You may bring upon  
them a weight of perplexity and sadness that  
will endanger their souls, and you will be ac-
countable for this baneful influence. Bro. R., 
if you would escape the  pollution that is in  
the world through lust, you must adorn the  
Christian profession in all things.  
You will say, This is hard work—the way  
is too narrow, I cannot walk in it. Is the  
way made more straight in this letter than  
you find it plainly marked out in the  
word of God! Heaven is worth a life-long, 
persevering, untiring effort. If you now  
draw back and become discouraged, you will  
certainly lose Heaven—lose the immortal  
life and crown of glory that fadeth not away.


102  
Those who have a seat at the Saviour's  
side on his throne are only that class who 
have overcome as he overcame. Love for 
pure, sanctifying truth, love for the dear Re- 
deemer, will lighten the labor of overcoming.  
His strength will be cheerfully granted to  
all those who are really desirous of it. He 
will crown every persevering effort made in  
his name, with grace and peace.  
If your daily study is to glorify God and  
subdue self, he will make his strength perfect  
in your weakness, and you may live so that  
your conscience will not condemn you. You  
may have a good report from those who are  
without. A circumspect life will not only 
bring great profit to your own soul, but will  
be a bright light to shine upon the pathway  
of others, and will show them the way to  
Heaven.  
Bro. R., how have you governed your own  
temper 1 Have you sought to overcome your  
hasty spirit 1 With the disposition and feel-
ings you now possess you will as surely fail 
of Heaven as there is a Heaven. For your 
own soul's sake, and for the sake of Christ,  
who has given you unmistakable evidence of  
his infinite love, bring yourself nearer to him  
that you may be imbued with his spirit.  
Cultivate a spirit of watchfulness and  
prayer that you may rightly represent the  
holy faith you profess as a follower of our  
dear Redeemer who has left an example in  
his own life. Imitate our Saviour. Learn 
of Christ. Endure hardness as a good soldier  

1445  
of Jesus Christ, and overcome the tempta- 
tions of Satan as he overcame, and come off  
conqueror over all your defects of character.  
Christ was a perfect overcomer. We must  
be perfect and entire, wanting nothing—with- 
out spot or blemish. The redemption Christ  
achieved for man was at infinite cost to him-
self. The victory we gain over our own evil  
hearts and over the temptations of Satan will 
cost us strong effort, constant watchfulness 
and persevering prayer, and we shall then 
not only reap the reward which is the gift of  
eternal life, but will increase our happiness on  
earth by a consciousness of duty performed, 
and the greater respect and love of those  
about us.  
I was shown that there is a general lack  
of devotion, and sincere and earnest effort  
in the church. There are many who need to  
be converted. Bro. C. is not a stay and  
strength to the church. He does not advance 
in the divine life as he advances in years. He  
has professed the truth many years, yet has 
been slow to learn and live its' principles; 
therefore he has not been sanctified through  
the truth. He holds himself in a position to  
be tempted of Satan. He is still as a child 
in experience. He is watching others and 
marking their failings, when he should be  
searching diligently  his  own heart.  
That readiness to question, and to see  
faults in his brethren and talk of them to  
others, is reproved by the words of Christ  
to one whom he saw was more interested in  
4,


the course of his brethren, than careful to  
watch and pray lest Satan should overcome  
himself. Said Christ to his disciples, "What is  
that to thee? follow thou me."  
It is all that Bro. C. can do in the weak- 
ness of his nature, to guard his own soul and 
close every avenue whereby Satan could gain  
access to insinuate doubts in regard to others.  
He is in great danger of losing his soul, by  
failing to perfect Christian character during  
probationary time. He is slow to follow  
Christ. His senses seem to be clouded, and  
almost paralyzed so that he does not place a  
proper estimate  upon sacred things. He may  
even now correct his errors, and overcome his  
defects if he will work in the strength of  
God. i „ n  
There are several in the church at 1. U  
whose names I cannot call, who have victo-
ries to  gain over their appetite and passions.  
Some talk too much and stand in this posi- 
tion, " Report, and I will report it." Miser- 
able indeed is such a position ! If all these  
gossipers would ever bear in mind that an  
angelis following them, recording their words,  
there would be less talking and much more  
praying.  
There are children of Sabbath-keepers who  
have been taught from their youth to observe  
the Sabbath. Some of these are very good  
children, faithful to duty as far as temporal  
matters are concerned; but they feel no deep 
conviction of sin, and no need of repentance  
from sin. Such are in a dangerous condition.  

100  
They are watching the deportment and efforts  
of professed Christians. They see some who 
make high professions but are not conscien-
tious Christians, and they compare their own 
views and actions with these stumbling-blocks 
and flatter themselves that, as there are no  
outbreaking sins in their lives, they are about  
right.  
To these youth I am authorized to say,  
Repent ye and be converted, that your sins  
may be blotted out. There is no time for  
you to waste. Heaven and immortal life are 
valuable treasures that will cost an effort on  
your part to obtain. No matter how fault- 
less may have been your lives, as sinners 
you have steps to take. You are required to  
repent, believe, and be baptized. Christ was  
wholly righteous, yet he, the Saviour of the 
world, gkve man an example, by taking the 
steps himself which he requires the sinner 
to take to become a child of God—an heir  of  
Heaven.  
If Christ, the spotless and pure Redeemer  
of man, condescended to take the steps neces-
sary for the sinner to take in conversion, why  
should any, with the light of truth shining 
upon their pathway, hesitate to submit their 
hearts to God, and in humility confess that  
they are sinners, and show their faith in the  
atonement of Christ by words and actions,  
identifying themselves with those who profess  
to be his followers 1 There will ever be those 
who do not live their profession, whose daily  
lives show them to be anything but Chris-


100  
tians; but should this be a sufficient reason  
forany to refuse to put on Christ by baptism  
into the faith of his death and resurrection 1  
Even when Jesus was upon the earth him- 
self, and walked with, and taught his dis- 
ciples, there was one among the twelve who  
was a devil. Judas betrayed his Lord.  
Christ had a perfect knowledge of the life of 
Judas. He knew of his covetousness which  
he did not overcome. He gave him many 
lessons upon this subject in his sermons to  
others. Through indulgence Judas per-
mitted this trait in his character to grow and  
take so deep root that it crowded out the good  
seed of truth sown in his heart, until evil  
predominated, and he, for love of money,  
could sell his Lord for a few pieces of silver.  
Because J udas was not right at heart, be- 
cause he was so corrupted with selfishness  
and love of money that it led him to com- 
mit a great crime, is no evidence that there 
were not true Christians—genuine disciples 
of Christ who loved their Saviour and tried 
to imitate his life and example, and to obey 
his teachings.  
I was shown that  the case of Judas, being  
numbered among the twelve, with all his  
faults and defects of character, is a lesson of  
instruction which Christians may be profited  
in studying. When Judas was chosen by  
our Lord, his case was not hopeless. He had  
some good qualities. In association with  
Christ in the work, he had a favorable oppor- 
tunity, by listening to his discourses, to see  

1447  
his evils, and to become acquainted with his  
defects of character  if he really desired to be  
a true disciple. He was even placed in a 
position by our Lord where he could have his  
choice either to develop his covetous disposi- 
tion, or see and correct it. He carried the 
little means collected for the poor, and for  
the necessary expenses of Christ and the  
disciples in their work of preaching.  
This little money was to J udas a continual  
temptation, and he, from time to time, when 
he did a little service for Christ, or devoted a  
little time to religious purposes, paid himself 
out of the meager fund collected to advance  
the light of the gospel. He finally became 
so penurious that he made bitter complaint  
of the ointment poured upon the head of  
Jesus because it was expensive. He turned 
it over and over in his mind, and counted the  
money that might have been placed in his 
hands to expend, if that ointment had been  
sold. His selfishness grew stronger, until  
he felt that the treasury had really met with  
a great loss in not receiving the value of the 
ointment in money. He finally made open  
complaint of the extravagance of this expen- 
sive offering to Christ. Our Saviour rebuked 
him for this covetousness. This rankled in 
the heart of Judas, until he, for a small sum  
of money, consented to betray his Lord.  
There will be those among Sabbath-keepers  
who are no truer at heart than was Judas.  
But the cases of such should be no excuse to 
keep others from following Christ.


102  
God loves the children of Bro. N., but  
they are in fearful danger of feeling whole,  
and in no need  of a physician. Trusting in  
their  own righteousness will never save'them.  
They must feel the need of a Saviour. Christ 
came to save sinners. Said Jesus, " I came  
not to call the righteous but sinners to re- 
pentance." The Pharisees who felt that they 
were righteous, and who trusted in their good  
works, felt no need of a Saviour. They felt 
that they were well enough off without Christ.  
These dear children of Bro. N. should plead  
with Jesus to reveal to them their sinfulness, 
and then ask him to reveal himself as their  
sin-pardoning Saviour. These precious chil- 
dren must not be deceived and miss eternal  
life. Except they are converted they cannot  
enter the kingdom of heaven. They must 
wash their robes of character in the blood of 
the Lamb. Jesus invites them to take the 
steps that sinners must take in order to be- 
come his children. He has given them an  
example in his life in submitting to the ordi-
nance of baptism. He is our example in all  
things.  
God requires these children to give him  
their heart's best and holiest affection.  
He has bought them with his own blood. 
He claims their service. They are not their  
own. Jesus has made infinite sacrifice for  
them. A pitying, loving Saviour will receive  
them if they  will come to him just as,they  
are and depend on his righteousness and not  
on their own merits.  

1448  
God pities and loves the youth of P.  
G., and he wants them to find happiness  
in him. He died to redeem them. He will  
bless them if they come to him in meekness 
and sincerity. He will be found of them, if 
they seek him with all their hearts.  
Epistle Number Two.  
BRO. , I have been shown the con- 
dition of God's people. They are stupefied  
by the spirit of the world. They are deny- 
ing their faith by their works. I was pointed  
back to ancient Israel. They had great light  
and exalted privileges; yet they did not live 
up to the light, nor appreciate their advan- 
tages, and their light became darkness. They  
walked in the light of their own eyes, instead 
of following the leadings of God. The history  
of the children of Israel was written for the  
benefit of those who live in the last days,  
that they may avoid following their example  
of unbelief.  
Bro. , you  were shown me enshrouded  
in darkness. The love of the world had taken 
entire control of your being. The very  
best of your days are past. Your vitality  
and power of endurance, as far as physical 
labor is concerned, are enfeebled, and now  
when you should be  able to look back on a life  
of noble effort in blessing others, and glorify-
ing God, you can only have regret, and real- 
ize a want of happiness and peace. You


102  
are not living that life which  will meet the  
approval of God. Your spiritual and eternal 
interests are made secondary. Brain, bone,  
and muscle have been taxed to the utmost. 
Why all this expenditure of strength ? Why 
this accumulation of cares and  burdens for  
your family to bear 1 What is your reward 1  
The satisfaction of laying up for yourself a 
treasure upon the earth, which Christ has for- 
bidden and which will prove a snare to your  
soul.  
In Christ's sermon on the mount he says,  
" Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon  
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, 
and where thieves break through and steal.  
But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven."  
If you lay up treasures in Heaven, you do it  
for yourself, you are working for your own  
interest.  
Your treasure, my dear brother, is laid up  
on the earth, and your interest and affections  
are on your treasure. You have cultivated  
a love for money, for houses and lands, until  
it has absorbed the powers of your mind and  
being, and your love for worldly possessions 
has been greater than  your love for your Cre- 
ator, and souls for whom Christ died. The  
god of this world has blinded your eyes so  
that eternal things are  not valued.  
The great leading temptations that would  
assail man, Christ met in the wilderness of 
temptation. There he encountered, single- 
handed,the wily, subtilefoe,andovercamehim.  
The first great temptation was appetite; sec- 

1449  
ond, presumption; third, the love of the world.  
Satan has overcome his millions by tempting  
them to the indulgence of appetite. Through  
the gratification of the taste the nervous sys- 
tem becomes excited, the brain power enfee- 
bled, making it impossible to think calmly or  
rationally. The mind is unbalanced. Its 
higher, noblerproperties are perverted to serve 
animal lust, and the  sacred and eternal inter- 
ests are not regarded. When this object is  
gained then Satan can come with his two  
other leading temptations and find ready ac- 
cess. His manifold besetments of  sin grow  
out of these three great leading points.  
Presumption is a common temptation, and  
as Satan assails men with this, he obtains  
the victory nine times out of ten. Those who  
•profess to be followers of Christ, and claim by  
their faith to be enlisted in the warfare against  
all evil in their nature, frequently plunge with-
out thought, into temptations that would re-
quire a miracle to bring them forth unsullied.  
Meditation and prayer would have preserved 
them and led them to  have shunned the critical,  
dangerous position in which they have placed 
themselves where they have given Satan the 
advantage over them. The promises of Gocl 
are not for  us rashly to claim while we rush  
on recklessly into danger, violating the laws  
of nature, and disregarding prudence, and the  
judgment with which God has endowed us.  
This is the most flagrant presumption.  
The thrones and kingdoms of the world  
and the glory of them, were offered to Christ,


102  
•f lie would only bow down to Satan. Never  
will man be tried with temptations as pow-
erful as those which assailed Christ. Satan 
came with worldly honor, wealth, and the  
pleasures of life, and presented them in the 
most attractive light to allure and deceive.  
"All this," said he to Christ, "will I give thee,  
if thou wilt worship me." Christ repelled the  
wily foe, and came off victor.  
Satan has better success in approaching  
man. All this money, all this gain, this land,  
this power, honor and riches will I give thee.  
For what 2 His conditions generally are, that  
integrity shall be yielded, conscientiousness  
blunted, and selfishness indulged. Through  
devotion to worldly interests Satan receives  
all the homage he asks. The floor is left open  
for him to enter as he pleases, with his evil  
train of impatience, love of self, pride, avarice,  
over-reaching, and his whole catalogue of evil  
spirits. Man is charmed, and treacherously  
allured on to ruin. If we yield ourselves to  
worldliness of heart and life, Satan is satis- 
fied.  
Christ's example is before us. He over- 
came Satan, showing us how we may also  
overcome. Christ resisted Satan with script- 
ure. He might have had recourse to his'own  
divine power, and used his own words; but  
he said, "It is written, Man shall not live by  
bread alone, but by every word that proceed- 
ed out of the mouth of God." With the  
• second temptation he says, " It is written  
again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy  

1450  
God." Christ's example is before us. If the 
Sacred Scriptures were studied and followed, 
the Christian would be fortified to meet the  
wily foe; but the word of God is neglected,  
and disaster and defeat follow.  
Dear Bro., you have  neglected to heed the  
testimonies of warning given you years ago,  
showing you that the enemy was upon 
your track, to open before you the charms 
of this world, urging you to choose earthly  
treasure, and sacrifice the heavenly reward.  
Bro. L., you cannot afford to do this, there 
is too much at stake. "What shall it profit 
a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and 
lose his own soul1 or what shall a man  
give in exchange for his soul ?" You are sell- 
ing your soul at a cheap market. You cannot  
afford to make this great sacrifice. God has 
intrusted talents to your stewardship. They  
are your means and influence. He wishes to  
test and prove you. You should have lost 
no time but commenced immediately to in- 
crease your Master's store. Had you done  
this, your success would have been equal to 
your industry, perseverance and zeal in apply-
ing the capital placed in your hands. Had 
you done this, your talents of influence (set- 
ting aside the means which you could have 
called to your aid) would have turned many  
souls from error to truth and righteousness.  
These souls would have labored for other 
souls, and thus influence and means would  
be constantly increasing and multiplying in  
the Master's cause, and you, for the faithful


improvement of your talents, would have 
heard from the Master the most gracious  
words that shall ever fall upon the ear:  
"Well done, thou good and faithful servant.  
Thou hast been faithful over a few things, I 
will make thee ruler over many things.  
Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."  
Bro. L., had you directed the powers of  
your intellect into the right channel, serving 
your Heavenly Father, you would have been 
growing stronger in the truth, stronger in  
spirit, and power, and would now be a pillar  
of the church in M., and a successful teacher 
of the truth, through your example as well as 
by giving the reasons of our faith from  
the Scriptures.  
Had you used your powers of mind which  
you have employed in getting property, to  
bring souls from darkness to the light, you 
would have met the approval of God and  
been highly successful.  
Those with but small capacities, sanctified  
by the love of God, can do good for the Mas-
ter, but they who have quick, discerning  
minds may employ them for him in his high,  
exalted work, with grand results. To wrap  
them in a napkin, and hide them in the  
earth, and deprive God of the increase of the  
talents he has intrusted to them, is a great 
wrong.  
We are probationers. The Master is com- 
ing to investigate our course, and he will in- 
quire what use has been made of the talents  
lent us.  

100  
Bro. L., what use are you making of the  
talents God has placed in your care ? Have 
you done what you could to enlighten the  
minds of men in regard to truth, or have you 
found no time from your business cares and 
perplexities, to devote to this work ? It is a 
crime to use the bounties of God as you have 
done to diminish your physical strength, and  
separate your affections from God. "Ye 
cannot serve God and mammon." You-can- 
not love this wt»rld  and love the truths of  
God. " Know ye not that the friendship of  
the world is enmity with God 1 whosoever  
therefore will be a friend of the world is the en- 
emy of God." " Love not the world, neither  
the things that are in the world. If any  
man love the world, the love of the Father is  
not in him." You are not a happy man.  
Your family is not a happy family. Angels 
of God do not come in and abide with you. 
When the religion of Christ rules in the 
heart, conscience approves, peace and happi- 
ness reignj perplexity and trouble may sur-
round, yet there is light in the soul.  
Submission, love, and gratitude to God,  
keep sunshine in the heart, though the day 
may be ever so cloudy. Self-denial, and the 
cross of Christ are before you. Will you lift 
the cross! Your children have been blessed  
by a  mother's prayers. They loved religion.  
They tried to resist temptation, and live lives 
of prayer. Sometimes they tried very hard, 
but your example before them, your love and 
devotion to the world, and your close appli-


102  
cation to business, withdrew their minds  
from spiritual things and turned them to  
earth again. They had Satan upon their 
track to lead them to love the world, and the  
things of the world. They gradually lost 
their confidence in God, and neglected secret  
prayer and religious duties, and have with-
drawn their interest from holy things. Dear  
Bro. L., you have made a great mistake in 
giving this world your ambition. You have  
been exacting and sometimes#impatient, and  
at times require too much of your son. He  
has become discouraged. At your house,  
from early morning until night, it has been  
work, work, work. Your large farm has 
brought extra cares  and burdens into your  
house. You have talked  upon business, for  
business was primary in your mind. "Out  
of the abundance of the heart the mouth 
speaketh." Has your example in your fami- 
ly exalted Christ and his salvation above  
your farming interest and your desire for  
gain 1 If your children fail of everlasting'  
life the blood of their souls will surely be  
found on the garments of their father.  
The mother did her duty faithfully. She  
will hear the " well done," as she rises in the  
resurrection morning. Her first inquiry  
will be for her children who were the burden 
of her prayers the latter portion  of her life.  
Can you present them with beautiful charac- 
ters giving them a moral fitness for the socie- 
ty of angels 1 or will they be tarnished and  
sullied by the pollution of the world 1 Will  

1452  
they be found partakers of the divine nature  
ha\ ing escaped the corruption that is in the 
world through lust] Will  they  be as pillars  
pol.shed after the similitude of a palace? or 
will they be found lovers of the world, cursed 
with the spirit of avarice, and their bright  
and noble qualities buried in oblivion 1 Your  
course will do much to determine the future 
destiny of your children. If you drown your  
powers of mind in worldly care and scheming 
you are a stumbling-block to them. They  
see that, while professing Christianity, you  
have made no spiritual advancement, but are  
morally dwarfed. This is true. Your mind  
has been concentrated on earthly things; as  
a result you have developed great power in  
this direction. You are decidedly a worldly,  
business man, but God designed that you 
should use your ability and influence in a 
higher calling.  
You are dazzled and blinded by the god of  
this world. Oh, what a terrible insanity is  
upon you. You may gather together earthly 
treasure, but it will be destroyed in the great  
conflagration. If you now retnrn unto the  
Lord, and use your talents of  means and in- 
fluence, for the  glory of God, and send your  
treasure before  you into Heaven, you will  
not meet with a total loss.  
The great conflagrations and disasters by  
sea and land that have visited our country, 
were the especial providence of God, a warn-
ing of what is about to come upon the world.  
God would show man that he can kindle a


102  
fire upon his idols that water cannot quench. 
The great general conflagration is but just  
ahead, when all this wasted labor of life will  
be swept away in a night and day. The  
treasure laid up in Heaven will be safe. No  
thief can approach nor moth  corrupt it.  
A young man came to Christ and said,  
" Good Master, what good thing shall I do,  
that I may have eternal life?" Jesus bade 
him keep the commandments. He returned  
answer, Lord, "all these have I kept from my  
youth up, what lack I yet?" Jesus looked  
with love upon the young man, and faithfully  
pointed out to him his deficiency in keeping  
the commandments. He did not love his 
neighbor as himself. Christ showed him his  
true character. His selfish love of riches was  
his defect which if not removed would debar  
him from Heaven. "If thou wilt be perfect,  
go and sellthatthou hast, and give to the poor,  
and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven; and  
come, and follow me." Christ would have  
him understand that he required nothing of  
him more than he himself had experienced.  
All he asked was that he should follow his  
example.  
Christ left his riches and glory, and became  
poor, that man through his poverty might be 
made rich. He now requires him for the  
sake of these riches to yield earthly things,  
and secure Heaven. Christ knew that while  
the affections were upon worldly treasure, 
they would be withdrawn from God; there- 
fore he said to the lawyer " Go and sell that  

1453  
thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou  
shalt have treasure in Heaven; and come 
and follow me." How did he receive the 
words of Christ? Was he rejoiced that lie  
could secure the heavenly treasure ? He  
was very sorrowful for he had great posses- 
sions. Riches to lnm were honor and power. 
The great amount of his treasure made such  
a disposal of it seem like an impossibility.  
Here is the danger of riches to the avari- 
cious man. The more he gains the harder it  
is for him to be generous. To diminish his  
wealth is like parting with life. Rather than  
do this he turns from the attraction of the 
immortal reward in order to retain and in- 
crease his earthly possessions. He accumu-
lates and hoards. Had  he kept the com- 
mandments his worldly possessions would not  
have been so»great. How could he, plotting  
and striving for self, love God with all his 
heart, and  with all his mind, and with all his  
strength, and his neighbor as himself ? Had 
he distributed to the necessities of the poor,  
and blessed his fellow-men with a portion of 
his means, as their wants demanded, he would 
have been far happier, and would have had  
greater heavenly treasure, and less of earth 
to place his affections upon.  
Christ assured the young man who came to  
him, that if he would obey his requirements he  
should have treasure in Heaven. This world- 
loving man was very sorrowful. He wanted  
Heaven but he desired to retain his wealth.  
He renounced immortal life for the love of  
5


102  
money and power. Oh, what a miserable ex-
change ! Yet in any are doing this who pro-
fess to keep all the commandments of God.  
You, dear brother, are in danger of doing the 
same, but you do not realize it. Be not of- 
fended because 1 lay this matter so plainly  
before you. God loves you. How poorly  
have you returned his love!  
I was shown that in your first experience  
your heart was all aglow with the truth ; 
your mind was absorbed in the study of the 
Scriptures ; you saw new beauty in every line. 
Then the good seed sown in your heart was  
springing up, and bearing fruit to the glory  
of God. But after a time, the cares of this 
life, and the deceitfulness of riches choked 
the good seed of the word of God sown in  
your heart; and you failed to bring forth  
fruit. The truth struggled for supremacy  
in your mind; but the cares of this life, and  
the love of other things gained the victory.  
Satan sought through the attractions of this 
world to enchain you, and paralize your 
moral powers, that you should have no sense  
of God's claims upon you. Satan has nearly  
succeeded.  
Now, dear brother,  you must make a most  
earnest, persevering effort to dislodge the  
enemy ancl assert your liberty, for he has  
made you a  slave to this world, until your  
love of gain has become a ruling passion. 
Your example to others has been bad : selfish 
interests have been prominent. You have,  
by profession, said to the world, my citizen- 

1454  
ship is not here, but above, while your works 
decidedly say you are a dweller on the earth. 
As a snare shall the day of Judgment come  
upon all those who dwell on the face of the  
earth. Your profession is only a hinder- 
ance to souls. You have not corresponding 
works. " I know thy works " (not thy profes-
sion), says the True Witness. God is now  
sifting his people—testing their purpose, and  
their motives. Many will be but as chaff.  
No wheat, no value in them.  
Christ has committed to your trust talents  
of means, and of influence; ancl he has said  
to you, improve these till I come. When 
the Master cometh and reckoneth with his 
servants, and all are called to the strictest ac- 
count as to how they have used the talents  
intrusted to them, how will  you, my dear  
brother, bear the investigation? Will you  
be prepared to return to the Master his  
talents doubled, laying before him both prin-
cipal and interest, showing that you have been 
a judicious as well as faithful  and persever- 
ing worker in his service 1 Bro. L., if you  
follow the course that you have pursued for 
years, your case is correctly represented by  
the servant who wrapped his talent in a nap-
kin and buried it in the earth, that is, hid it in  
the world. Those to whom the talents 
were intrusted received reward for the 
labor expended in exact proportion to the  
fidelity, perseverance, and earnest effort made  
in trading with their Lord's goods.  
God holds you as his debtor, and also as


102  
debtor to your fellow-men who  have not the  
light and truth. God has given you light,  
not to hide under a bushel, but to set on a  
candlestick, that all in the house may be ben- 
efited. Your light should shine to others to 
enlighten souls for whom Christ died. The 
grace of God ruling in your heart, and bring-
ing into subjection your mind and thoughts  
to Jesus, would make you a powerful man on 
the side of Christ and the truth.  
Said Paul, " I am debtor both to the Greeks,  
and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and 
to the unwise."  God had revealed to Paul his  
truth, and in so doing made him a debtor to  
those who were in darkness, to enlighten  
them. You have' not had a proper sense of 
your accountability before God. You are 
handling your Lord's talents. You have  
powers of mind that if employed in the right  
direction would make you a co-worker with  
Christ and his angels. Had your mind been  
turned in the direction of doing good, of 
placing the truth before others, you would 
now be qualified to become a successful laborer  
for God, and as your reward you would see  
many souls saved, that would be as stars in  
the crown of your rejoicing.  
How can the value of your houses and  
lands bear comparison with precious souls 
for whom Christ died ? Through your instru- 
mentality, these souls may be saved with you  
in the kingdom of glory; but you cannot  
take with you there the smallest portion of  
your earthly treasure. Acquire what you  

1455  
may, preserve it with all the jealous care you 
are capable of exercising, and yet the man-
date may go forth from the Lord, and in a  
few hours  a fire which no skill can quench,  
has destroyed the accumulation of your entire 
life; they lay a mass of smouldering ruins. 
This was the case with Chicago. God's word  
had gone forth to lay the city of Chicago in  
ruins.  
This is not the only city that will realize  
the visible marks of God's displeasure. He  
has made a beginning • but not an end. The 
sword of his wrath is stretched out over the  
people who have by their pride and wicked- 
ness provoked the displeasure of a just God.  
Storms, earthquakes, whirlwinds, fire and  
the sword will spread desolation everywhere, 
until men's hearts shall fail them for fear, 
looking for those things which shall ^ come 
upon the earth. You know not how small a 
space is between you and eternity. You 
know not how soon your probation may 
close.  
Make ready, my brother, for the Master to  
demand  your talents, both principal and in- 
terest ! To save souls should be the life work 
of every one who professes Christ. We are  
debtors to the world for the grace given us 
of God, for the light which has shone upon us, 
and the discovered beauty and power of the  
truth. You may devote your entire exist- 
ence to laying up treasures upon earth, but 
what will they advantage you when your life 
here closes, or when Christ makes his ap-


102  
pearanee 1 Not a fartliing can you take with  
you. And just as high as your worldly hon- 
ors and riches have exalted you here, to the  
neglect of your spiritual life, just so much 
lower will you sink in moral worth before 
the great tribunal of God's Judgment.  
How will this wealth for which you have  
bartered your soul, be appropriated, should  
you be suddenly called to close your proba- 
tion, and your voice no longer control it.  
What will it profit a man if he gain the  
whole world and lose his own soul? Your  
means are of no more value than sand, only  
as used to provide for the daily necessities of  
life, and to bless others, and advance the  
cause of God. God has given you testimo-
nies of warning and encouragement,  but you  
have turned from them. You have doubted 
the testimonies. When you come back and  
gather up the rays of light, and take your  
position upon the testimonies, that  they are  
from God, then you will be settled in your  
belief and not thus waver in darkness and  
weakness.  
YJU can  be a blessing to the church at M.  
You can be a pillar there even now, if you  
will come to the light, and walk in the light.  
God calls after you again. He seeks to reach  
you, girded about with selfishness as you are,  
and covered with the cares of this life. He  
invites you to withdraw your affections from  
the world, and place them upon  heavenly  
things. In order to know the will of God,  
you must study it, rather than follow your  

1456  
inclinations, 'ind the natural bent of your own 
mind. "What wilt thou have me to do,"  
should be the earnest, anxious inquiry of 
your heart.  
The weight of the wrath of God will fall .  
upon those who have misspent their time,  
and served mammon instead of their Creator.  
If you live for God and for heaven,  pointing  
the way of life to others, you will go onward 
and upward to higher and holier joys. You  
will be rewarded with the " Well done, thou  
good and faithful servant, Enter thou into  
the joy of thy Lord."  
The joy of' Christ was that of seeing souls  
redeemed and saved in his glorious kingdom.  
" Who, for the joy that was set before him,  
endured the cross, despising  the shame, and is  
set down at the right hand of the throne of  
God." To gain the treasures of this world,  
to use them as you have done, to separate 
your affections from God, will be to you in  
the end a terrible curse. You do not take  
time to read, to meditate or to pray, and you  
have not taken time to instruct your children,  
keeping before them their highest interest.  
God loves your children, but they have had  
little encouragement to live a religious life. 
If you destroy their faith in the testimonies  
you cannot reach them. The minds of poor, 
failing mortals should be disciplined and 
educated in religious and spiritual things.  
When the training is all in reference to the  
world, and to making a success of acquiring  
worldly propertv, how can the mind attain


102  
spiritual growth. It is an impossibility.  
You, my brother, and your family, might  
have risen to the full stature of  men and  
women in Christ Jesus, had you felt one- 
half the interest to perfect Christian charac-
ter and to serve the Lord, that you have had  
to serve the world.  
God is not well pleased that his servants  
should be ignorant of his divine will, novices  
in spiritual understanding, but wise in 
wordly wisdom and knowledge. Your  
earthly interests can bear no comparison with  
your eternal welfare. God has a work for 
you to do higher than that of acquiring  
property. You need a deep and thorough  
work accomplished for you. Your entire  
family need it, and may God help you all to 
attain perfection of Christian character. 
Your children can and should be a blessing  
to the youth of your community. They can,  
by their example, by their conversation and  
actions, glorify their Heavenly Father and  
grace the cause of religion.  
Epistle Number Three.  
DEAR BROTHER AND SISTER C : I will  
now try to write what has been presented be- 
fore me in regard to you, for I feel that it is 
time for this church to get their hearts in  
order and make diligent work for eternity. 
You both have the truth and want to obey it,  
but you are inexperienced. I was shown  

1457  
that you would be placed in circumstances 
where you would  be tried and  tested, and  
traits of character would be revealed which  
you were not aware that you possessed.  
Many who have never been placed in posi- 
tions of trial, appear to be excellent Chris- 
tians, their lives faultless, but Gocl sees that  
they have traits of character that must be re-
vealed to them before they can perceive and  
correct them.  
Simeon under the inspiration of the Holy  
Ghost prophesied. He said unto Mary in  
reference to Jesus, "Behold, this child is set 
for the fall and rising again of many in 
Israel, and for a sign that shall  be spoken  
against .; yea, a sword shall pierce through 
thine own soul also that the thoughts of 
many hearts may be revealed." In the prov- 
idence of God, we are placed in different po-
sitions to call into exercise qualities of mind 
calculated to develop character under a varie- 
ty of circumstances. "  Whosoever shall  
keep the whole law, and yet offend in one  
point, he is guilty of all."  
Professed Christians may live unexception- 
able lives as far as outward appearance is  
concerned, but when a change of circumstan- 
ces throws them into entirely different posi-
tions, strong points of character are discov-
ered, which would have remamed hidden had  
their surroundings remained the same.  
I was shown that you have selfish traits  
which you have need to strictly guard against.  
You will be in danger of regarding your


102  
prosperity and your convenience irrespective 
of the  prosperity of others. You do  not pos- 
sess that spirit of self-denial that resembles  
the great Example. You should cultivate 
benevolence which will bring you more in 
harmony with the spirit of Christ in his dis-
interested benevolence.  
You need more human sympathy. This is  
a quality of our natures which God has given 
us to render us charitable and kind to those  
with whom we are brought in contact. We  
find it in men and women whose hearts are 
not in unison with Christ, and it is a sad 
sight indeed when his professed followers 
lack this great essential of Christianity. 
They do not copy the Pattern, and it is impos-
sible for them to reflect the image of Jesus in  
their lives and deportment.  
When human sympathy is blended with  
love and benevolence, and sanctified by the 
spirit of Jesus, it is an element which can be 
productive of great good. Those who culti-
vate benevolence are not only doing a good 
work for others, and blessing those who re-
ceive the good action, but they are benefiting 
themselves by opening their hearts to the  
benign influence of true benevolence. Every 
ray of light shed upon others will be reflected  
upon our own hearts.  Every kind and sym- 
pathizing word spoken to the sorrowful,  every  
act to relieve the oppressed, and every gift to 
supply the necessity of our fellow-beings, 
given or done with an eye to God's glory,  
will result in blessings to the giver. Those  

1458  
who are thus working are obeying a law of 
Heaven and will receive the approval of God.  
The pleasure of doing good to others im- 
parts a glow to the feelings which flashes  
through the nerves, quickens the circulation  
of the blood, and induces mental and physical 
health. Jesus knew the influence of benevo- 
lence upon the heart and life of the benefactor.  
He sought to impress upon the minds of his  
disciples the benefits to be derived from the 
exercise of this virtue.  
He says,-" It is more blessed to give than  
to receive." He illustrates the spirit of  
cheerful benevolence, which should be exer-
cised towards friends, neighbors, and strang-
ers, by the parable of the man who journeyed 
from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among 
thieves, " which stripped him of his raiment 
and wounded him, and departed, leaving him 
half dead." The Priest and Levite, notwith-
standing their exalted professions of piety, 
had not their hearts stirred with pitying ten-
derness for the sufferer. A Samaritan who 
made no such lofty pretensions to righteous- 
ness, passed that way, and when he saw the  
stranger's need, he did not regard him with  
mere idle curiosity, but he saw a human be- 
ing in distress, and his compassion was exci- 
ted. He immediately " went to him, and  
bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and  
wine, and set him on his own beast, and  
brought him to an inn, and took care of him."  
And on the morrow he left him in the charge  
of the host with an assurance that he would


102  
pay all charges on his return. Christ asks,  
" Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was  
neighbor unto him who fell among the thieves 1 
And he said, he that showed mercy on him. 
Then said Jesus unto him, go, and do thou 
likewise."  
Here Jesus wished to give his disciples a  
lesson in the moral obligations binding upon  
man to his fellow-man. And whoever neg-
lects to carry out these principles, illus-
trated by this lesson, are not commandment  
keepers, but, like the Levite, they break the 
law of God that they pretend to revere, while 
there are those who, like the Samaritan, make  
no pretensions to exalted piety, yet have  
a high sense of the  moi*al obligation due  
their fellow-men, and whose charity and  
kindness  is far greater than some who profess  
great love to God but fail in good works to- 
ward his creatures.  
Those are truly loving their neighbor as  
themselves, who realize their responsibilities 
and the claims that suffering Humanity has 
upon them, and carry out the principles of  
God's law in their daily lives. " And behold  
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 1 how readest thou 1 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 thy- 
self. And he said unto him, Thou hast  

1459  
answered right: this do, and thou shalt live."  
Christ here shows the lawyer that the true  
fruits of piety are to love God with all the 
heart and our neighbor as ourselves. " This 
do," said he, not merely believe but do, " ancl 
thou shalt live." It is not alone the pro- 
fessed belief in the binding claims of God's  
law, that makes the Christian, but also the  
carrying out of that law.  
In the parable Christ exalts the Samaritan  
aV>ove the Priest and Levite who were great  
sticklers for the letter of the law in  the ten  
commandments. The one obeyed the spirit  
of these commandments, while the other  
was content to profess an exalted  faith in  
them; but what is faith without works 1  
When the advocates of the law of God  
plant their feet firmly upon its principles, 
showing that they are not merely loyal in 
name but loyal at heart, carrying out in 
their  daily lives the spirit of God's command- 
ments, and exercising true benevolence to 
man, then will they have moral power to 
move the world. It is impossible for those 
who profess allegiance to the law of God, to  
correctly represent the principles of that  
sacred decalogue while slighting its holy in-
i unctions to love our neighbor as ourselves.  
The most eloquent sermon that can be  
preached upon the law of the ten command-
ments, is to do them. Obedience should be  
made a personal duty. Negligence of this 
duty is flagrant sin. God  lays us under ob- 
ligations not only to secure Heaven ourselves,


102  
but to feel it a binding duty to show others 
the way, and, through our care and disinter- 
ested love, to lead towards Christ those who  
come within the sphere of our influence.  
The singular absence of principle that  
characterizes the lives of many professed  
Christians, is alarming. Their disregard of  
God's law disheartens those who recognize its  
sacred claims, and operates to turn those  
from the truth who would otherwise accept  
it. 
It is necessary for a proper knowledge of  
of ourselves, to look into the mirror and  
there discover our own defects, and avail  
ourselves of the blood of Christ, the fountain 
opened for sin and uncleanness, where we  
may wash our robes of character and remove 
the stains of sin. Many refuse to see their 
errors and correct them, they do not want a  
true knowledge of themselves.  
If we would reach a high attainment in  
moral and spiritual  excellence, we must live  
for it. We are under personal obligation to  
society to do this, in order to exert an influ-
ence continually in favor of God's law. We  
should let our light shine so that all may see  
that the influence of the sacred gospel is  
upon our hearts  and lives, that we walk in  
obedience to its commands and violate none 
of its principles. We are accountable to the  
world, in a great degree, for the souls of those  
around us. Our words and deeds are con- 
stantly telling for or against Christ and the  
law of God, which he came upon earth to  

1460  
vindicate. Let the world see that we are  
not selfishly narrowed up to our own exclu-
sive interests and our religious joys, but that 
we are liberal, and desire them to share our  
blessings and privileges, through the sanctifi-
cation of the truth.  
Let them see that the religion which we  
profess does not close up nor freeze over the  
avenues to the soul, making us unsympathiz- 
ing and exacting. Let all who profess to  
have found Christ, minister as he did to the  
benefit of man, cherishing a spirit of wise  
benevolence. We should then see many 
souls following the light that shines from our 
precept and example.  
We should all cultivate an amiable dispo- 
sition and subject ourselves to the control of 
conscience. The spirit of the truth makes 
better men and women of those who receive  
it in their hearts. It works like leaven till  
the entire being is brought into conformity to 
its principles. It opens the heart that has 
been frozen by avarice; it opens the hand  
that has ever been closed to human suffering; 
and charity and kindness are seen as. its 
fruits.  
God requires that all of us should be self- 
sacrificing workers. Every part of the truth  
has a practical application to our daily lives. 
Blessed are they that hear the word of the 
Lord and keep it. Hearing is not enough,  
we must act, we must do. It is in the doing  
of the commandments that there is great  
reward. Those who give practical demon-


strations of their benevolence by their sym- 
pathy and compassionate acts towards the  
poor the suffering and the unfortunate, not  
only relieve the sufferers, but contribute  
largely to their own happiness, and are in  
the way of securing health of soul and body.  
Isaiah has plainly described the work that  
God will accept and bless his people in doing.  
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen 1 to  
loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the  
heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go 
free," and that ye break every yoke? Is  
it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and  
that thou bring the poor that are cast out to  
thy house 1 when thou seest the naked, that 
thou cover him ] and  that thou hide not thy- 
self from thine own flesh? Then shall thy 
light break forth as the morning, and thy  
health shall spring forth speedily; and thy  
righteousness shall go before thee ; the glory  
of the Lord shall be thy rearward. Then shalt 
thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou  
shalt cry, and he shall say, here I am.  If thou  
take away from the midst of thee the yoke, 
the putting forth of the finger, and speaking  
vanity, and if thou draw out thy soul to the 
hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then  
shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy dark-
ness be as the noon-day ; and the Lord shall  
guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in  
drought, and make fat thy bones ; and thou 
shalt be like a watered gardenand like a spring 
of water, whose waters fail not."  
The sympathy which exists between the  

100  
mind and the body is very great. When one  
is affected the other responds to that affection. 
The condition of the mind has much to do 
with the health of the physical system. If the  
mind is free and happy, under a conscious- 
ness of right-doing and a sense of satisfaction  
in causing happiness to others, it will create  
a cheerfulness that will react upon the whole  
system, causing a freer circulation of the 
blood and a toning up of the entire bodv. 
The blessing of God is a healer, and those  
who are abundant in benefiting others, will 
realize that wondrous blessing in their hearts 
and lives.  
If your thoughts dear Bro. and Sr.,  were more  
directed in  the channel of caring for others,  
your own souls would be more blessed. You  
both have too little human sympathy. You  
do not  bring your feelings to the necessity of  
others. You hold yourselves too rigid and  
unsympathizing. You have become stern, ex-
acting, and overbearing. You are in danger 
of making yourselves a conscience for others.  
You have your own ideas of Christian duties 
and propriety and you would gauge others 
by those ideas; this is overreaching the 
bounds of right.  
Other people have opinions and marked  
traits of character which cannot be assim-
ilated to your peculiar views. You also  
have defects and faults as well as your  
brethren and sisters, and it is well to remem- 
ber this when a difference arises. Your wrong-
doing is just as grievous to them as theirs is  
6


102  
to you, and you should be as lenient to them  
as you desire that they should be to you. 
You both need greater love and sympathy 
for others, like unto the tenderness of Jesus.  
In your own house you should exercise  
kindness, speaking gently to your child, treat- 
ing him affectionately, refraining to reprove  
him for every little error, lest he become 
hardened by continual fault-finding.  
You should cultivate the charity and long- 
suffering of Christ. You frequently coun-
teract the good you have done by a watchful  
suspicious spirit in regard to the motives and 
conduct of others. You are cherishing a 
feeling that is chilling in its influence, that 
repulses but does not attract and win. You 
must be willing to become as yielding and 
forbearing in your disposition as you desire  
others to be. Selfish love of your own opin-
ions and your own ways will, in a great meas- 
ure, destroy your power to do the good you  
are desirous of doing.  
Sister C , you have too much of the  
spirit of ruling. You are very sensitive; if 
your wall is crossed you feel very much  
injured; self rises in arms for you have not a  
meek and teachable  spirit. You will need to  
watch closely upon this point; in short, you  
need a thorough conversion before your influ- 
ence can be what it should be. The spirit  
you manifest will make you miserable if yoii 
continue to cherish it. You will see the mis- 
takes of others and be so eager to correct  
them that you will overlook your own faults  

1462  
and you will have hard work to remove the 
mote from your brother's eye while there is a 
beam obstructing-your own vision.  
God does not wish you to make your con- 
science a criterion for others. You have a  
duty to perform which is to make yourself  
cheerful and to cultivate unselfishness in your  
feelings until it will be ; our greatest pleasure  
to make all around you happy.  
Both of you need to soften your hearts and  
be imbued with the spirit of Christ, that you  
may, while living in an atmosphere of cheer-
fulness and benevolence, help those about you 
to be healthy ancl  happy also. You have  
imagined that cheerfulness was not in accord- 
ance with the religion of Christ. This is a  
mistake. We may have true Christian dignity  
and at the same time be cheerful and pleas- 
ant in our deportment. Cheerfulness with- 
out levity is one of the Christian graces. 
Y'ou should guard against taking narrow  
views of religion or you will limit your influ- 
ence and become ah unfaithful steward of God.  
Forbear reprimanding and censuring.  
You are not adapted to reprove. Your words 
would only wound and sadden, not cure and 
reform. You should overcome the habit of 
picking at little things you think amiss. Be 
broad, be generous ancl charitable in your  
judgment of people and things. Open your  
hearts to the light. Remember that Duty 
has a twin-sister which is Love; these uni- 
ed can accomplish almost everything, but  
eparated, neither is capable of good.


100  
It is right that you should both cherish  
integrity and be true to your sense of right.  
The straight path of duty should be yours 
from choice. The love of property, the love  
of pleasure and friendship, should never in- 
fluence you to sacrifice one principle of right.  
You should be firm in the dictates of an en-
lightened conscience and your convictions of  
duty, but you should guard against bigotry 
and prejudice. Do not run into a Pharisa- 
ical spirit.  
You are now sowing seed in the great field  
of life. That which you now sow you will  
one day reap. Every thought of your mind,  
every emotion of your soul, every word of 
your tongue, every act you perform, is seed  
that will bear fruit for good or evil. The  
reaping time is not far distant. All our  
works are passing in review before God. All  
our actions and the motives which prompted 
them, are to be open for the inspection of 
angels and of God.  
You should come into harmony, as much as  
possible, with your brethren and sisters. You  
should surrender yourselves to God and leave  
off your  sternness and your disposition to  
find fault. You should yield your own  
spirit and take in its place the spirit of the 
dear Saviour. Reach up and grasp his hand  
that the touch may electrify you and charge  
you with the sweet properties ot his own  
matchless character. You may open your  
hearts to his love and let his power transform 
you and his grace be your strength. Then  

1463  
will you have a powerful influence for good.  
Your moral strength will be equal to the 
closest test of character.  Your integrity will  
be pure and sanctified. Then will your light 
break forth as the morning.  
You both need to come more in sympathy  
with other minds. Christ is our example;  
he identified himself with suffering humanity;  
he made the necessities of others a considera- 
tion of his own. When his brethren suf-
fered, he suffered with them. Any slight or  
neglect of his disciples is as done to Christ  
himself. Thus he says, " I was a hungered, 
and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and  
ye gave me no drink."  
Dear brother and sister, you should seek  
for more harmonious characters. The absence  
of one essential qualification may render the  
actions of the rest almost inefficient. The 
principles you profess should be carried into 
every thought, word, and act. Self should 
be crucified and the entire being made subor-
dinate to the Lord.  
The church is greatly deficient in love and  
humanity. Some preserve a cold and chill- 
ing reserve and iron dignity that repels those  
who are brought within its influence. This  
spirit is contagious; it creates an atmosphere 
that is withering to good impulses and good 
resolves; it chokes the natural current of 
human sympathy, cordiality and love; under 
its influence people become constrained, and  
their social and generous attributes are 
destroyed for want of exercise. Not only is


102  
the spiritual health affected, but the physical  
health suffers by this unnatural depression.  
The gloom and chill of  this unsocial atmos- 
phere is reflected upon the countenance. The  
faces" of those who are  benevolent and sym- 
pathetic, will shine with the luster of true  
goodness, while those who do not cherish  
kindly thoughts and unselfish motives, ex- 
press in their faces the sentiments cherished  
in their hearts.  
_ Sister C , your feelings toward your  
sister are not exactly as God would have them. 
She needed sisterly affection from you and  
less dictating and fault-finding. Your course 
with her has caused a depression of spirit  
and anxiety of mind injurious to her health.  
Be careful lest you oppress and discourage  
your own sister. You cannot bear anything  
from her, and you resent "anything she says 
that has the  appearance of crossing your  
track.  
Your sister has a positive temperament.  
She has a work to do for herself in this re- 
spect. She should be more yielding, but you  
must not expect to exert a beneficial influ- 
ence over her while you are so exacting, and  
lacking in love and sympathy towards one  
who bears to you the close relations of a  
sister, and is also united with you in the  
faith. You have both erred. You have 
both given room  to the enemy, and self has  
had much to do with your feelings and ac- 
tions in regard to each other.  
Sister C , you have an inclination to  

1464  
dictate to your husband, your sister, and all  
those around you. Your sister has suffered  
in her mind very much, but this she could  
have borne had she  surrendered herself to  
God and trusted in him. But God is dis- 
pleased with your course towards her. It is  
unnatural and all wrong. She is no more  
unyielding in her disposition than you are in 
yours. When two such positive tempera- 
ments come in contact with each other, it is 
very bad for both. You should both of you  
be converted anew and transformed into the 
divine likeness. You would better err, if 
you err at all, on the side of mercy and for- 
bearance than that of intolerance.  
Mild measures, soft answers, and pleasant  
words, are much better fitted to reform and  
save, than severity and harshness. A little  
too much unkindness may place persons be-
yond your reach, while a concilatory spirit  
would be the means of binding them to you,  
and you might then establish them in the 
right way.  You should be actuated by a for- 
giving spirit also, and give due credit to 
everv good purpose and action of those 
around you. Speak words of commendation  
to your husband, your child, your sister,  
and all with whom you are associated. Con-
tinual censure blights and darkens  the life of  
any one.  
Do not reproach the Christian religion  
by jealousy and intolerance towards others. 
This will but poorly recommend your belief  
to them. No one has ever been reclaimed


102  
from a wrong position by censure and re- 
proach, but many have thus been driven from  
the truth, and steeled their hearts against 
conviction. A tender spirit, a gentle and 
winning deportment, may save the erring and  
hide a multitude of sins. God requires us  
to have that charity that suffereth long and  
is kind.  
The religion of Christ does not require us  
to lose our identity of character,  but merely  
to adapt ourselves, in some measure, to the  
feelings and ways of other; for  many people  
may be brought together in a unity of relig- 
ious faith, whose opinions, habits and tastes  
in temporal matters are not in harmony, but,  
with the love of Christ glowing in their  
bosoms, looking forward to the same Heav- 
en as their eternal home, they may have the  
sweetest and most intelligent communion  
together, and a unity the most wonderful.  
There are scarcely two whose experience  
is alike in every particular. The trials of  
one may not be the trials of another, and our 
hearts should be ever open to kindly sym-
pathy and all aglow with the love Jesus had  
for all his brethren.  
Conquer your disposition to be exacting  
with your son, lest too frequent reproof make  
your presence disagreeable to him, and your 
counsels hateful. Bind him to your heart, 
not by foolish indulgence, but by the silken 
cords of love. You can be firm yet kind.  
Christ must be your helper. Love will be  
the means of drawing other hearts to yours,  

89  
and your influence may establish them in the  
good and right way.  
I have warned you against a spirit of cen- 
sure, and I would again caution you in re- 
gard to that fault. Christ sometimes reproved  
with severity, and in some cases it may be  
necessary for us to do so ; but we should con-
sider that while Christ knew the exact con- 
dition of the ones he rebuked, and just the 
amount of reproof they could bear, and what  
was necessary to correct their course of 
wrong, he also knew just how to pity the  
erring, comfort the unfortunate, and encour-
age the weak. He knew just how to keep 
souls from despondency, and to inspire them  
with hope, because he was acquainted with 
the exact motives and peculiar trials of every 
mind. He could not make a mistake.  
But we, may misjudge motives, we  may be  
deceived by appearances, we may think we 
are doing right to  reprove wrong, and go too  
far, censure too severely, wound where we 
wished to heal;  br we may exercise sympathy  
unwisely, and counteract, in our ignorance,  
reproof that is merited and timely. Our  
judgment may be wrong, but Jesus was too  
wise to err. He reproved with pity, and 
loved those he rebuked with a divine love.  
The Lord requires us to be submissive to  
his will, subdued by his spirit, and sanctified  
to his service. Selfishness  must be put away,  
and we must overcome every defect in our 
characters as Christ overcame. In order to  
accomplish this work we must die  daily to


102 90  
self. Said Paul, "I die daily." He had a  
new conversion every day, an advance step  
toward Heaven. To gain daily victories in  
the divine life is the only course that God 
approves.  
The Lord is gracious, of tender pity, and  
plenteous in mercy. He knows our needs and  
weaknesses, and he will help our infirmities if  
we only trust in him and believe that he will  
bless us and do great things for us.  
Epistle Number Four.  
DURING the tent-meeting in 1874, and after  
its close was an important time for S F .  
Had there been a pleasant and commodious  
house of worship there, more than double the  
number that was really gained, would have  
taken their stand for the truth.  
God works with our efforts. We may  
close the way for sinners by our negligence 
and selfishness. There should have been  
great diligence in seeking to save those who  
were still in error, yet interested in the truth. 
There is as wise generalship needed in the  
service of Christ, as over the batallions of an 
army that protects the life and liberty of the  
people. It is not every one who can labor  
judiciously for the salvation of souls. There  
is much close thinking to be done. We must 
not enter into the Lord's work hap-liazard  
and expect success. The Lord needs men of  
mind, men of thought. Jesus calls for co- 

workers, not blunderers. God wants right-
thinking  and intelligent men to do the great  
work necessary to the salvation of souls.  
Mechanics, lawyers, mei'chants, men of all  
trades and professions, educate themselves for  
their business  that they may become masters  
of it. Should the followers of Christ be less  
intelligent, and while professedly engaged in  
his service, be ignorant of the ways and  
means to be employed1? The enterprise of  
gaining everlasting lite is above every earthly  
consideration. In leading souls to Jesus 
there must be a knowledge of human nature  
and a study of the human mind. It requires  
much careful thought and fervent prayer in  
order to know how to approach men and wo- 
men upon the great subject of truth.  
Some rash, impulsive, yet honest souls,  
after a pointed discourse has been given, will 
accost those who are not with  us in a very  
abrupt manner, ancl make the truth,  which  
we desire them to receive, repulsive to them.  
" The children of this world are wiser  in their  
generation than the children of light."  
Business men and politicians study cour- 
tesy. It is their policy to make themselves as  
attractive as possible. They study to render  
their address and maimers such  that they  
may have the greatest influence over the  
minds of those about them. They use their  
knowledge and abilities as skillfully as possible  
in order to gain this object.  
There is a vast amount of rubbish brought  
forward by the professed believers in Christ,


102  
which blocks up the way to the cross. Net-
withstanding all this, there are some who are 
so deeply convicted that they will come  
through every discouragement and will sur- 
mount every obstacle in order to gain the  
truth. But had the believers in the truth 
purified their minds by obeying the truth,  
had they felt the importance of knowledge  
and refinement of manners in Christ's work, 
where one soul has been saved there might  
have been twenty.  
Again, after souls have been converted to  
the truth, they need to be looked after. The 
zeal of many seems to fail as soon as a meas-
ure of success attends their efforts. They do  
not seem to realize that these newly convert- 
ed ones need nursing, watchful attention,  
help and encouragement. They should not 
be left alone, a prey to Satan's most powerful  
temptations; they need to be educated in re-
gard to their duties, to be kindly dealt with,  
to be led along, visited and prayed with.  
These souls need the meat apportioned to 
every man in due season.  
No wonder that some become discouraged  
and linger by the way and are left for wolves  
to devour. Satan is upon the track of all. 
He sends his agents forth to gather back to  
his ranks the souls he has lost. There should 
be more fathers and  mothers to take these  
babes in the truth to their hearts and encour-
age them and pray for them, that their faith  
be not confused.  
Preaching is a small part of the work  to  

93  
be done for the salvation of souls. God's  
Spirit convicts sinners of the truth, and he 
places them in the arms of the church. The  
ministers may do their part, but they  can  
never perform the work that the church 
should do. God requires his church to nurse 
those who are  young in faith and experience,  
to go to them, not for the purpose of  
gossiping with them, but to pray, to speak  
unto them words that are "like apples of  
gold in pictures of silver."  
We all need to study character and man- 
ner that we may know how to deal judiciously 
with different minds, that we may use our 
best endeavors to help them to a correct  
understanding of the word of God, and to  a  
true Christian life. We should read the  
Bible with them and draw their minds away  
from temporal things to their eternal inter- 
ests.  
It is the duty of God's children to be  
missionaries for him, to become acquainted  
with those who need help. If one is stag-
gering under temptation, his case should be 
taken up carefully  and managed wisely, for  
his eternal interest is at stake, and the words  
and acts of those laboring for him  may be  a  
savor of life unto life, or of death unto  
death.  
Sometimes a case presents itself that should  
be made a prayerful study. The person must  
be shown his true character, understand his  
own peculiarities of disposition and tempera- 
ment, and see his infirmities. He should be


23  
judiciously handled. If he can be reached,  
if his heart can be touched by this wise and  
patient labor, he can be bound with strong 
cords to Christ and led to trust in God.  
Oh, when a work  like this is done, all the  
heavenly court look and rejoice, for a precious 
soul has been rescued from Satan's snare and 
saved from death ! Oh, will it not pay to 
work intelligently for the salvation of souls?  
Christ paid the price of his own life for them,  
and shall his followers ask, "Am I my broth-
er's keeper ?" Shall we not work in unison  
with the Master? Shall we not appreciate  
the worth of souls for whom our Saviour  
died?  
Some efforts have' been made to interest  
children in the cause, but not enough. Our  
Sabbath-schools should be made more inter-
esting. The public schools have of late 
years greatly improved their methods of  
teaching. Object lessons, pictures and black- 
boards are used to make difficult lessons  
clear to the youthful mind. Just so may 
present truth be simplified and made in- 
tensely interesting to the active minds of  
the children.  
Parents who could be approached in no  
other way, are frequently reached through  
their children. Sabbath-school teachers can  
instruct the children in the truth, and they  
will, in turn, take it into the home circle.  
But few teachers  seem to understand the im- 
portance of this branch of the work. The  
modes of teaching which have been adopted  

with such success in the public schools could 
be employed with similar lesults in the  Sab- 
bath-schools, and be the means ot bringing 
children to Jesus and educating  them in  
Bible ti'uth. This will do tar more good than  
religious excitement of an emotional character 
that passes off as rapidly as it comes.  
The love of Christ should be cherished.  
More faith is needed in the work we believe 
is to be done before the coming of Christ. 
There should be more self-denying, self-sacri-
ficing labor in the right direction. There 
should be thoughtful,  prayerful study how to  
work to the best advantage. Careful plans 
should be matured. We have minds among  
us that can invent and carry out if they will  
only be put to use. Great results would follow  
well-directed and intelligent efforts.  
The prayer-meetings should be the most  
interesting gatherings that are held; but 
these are frequently ill-managed. Many  
attend the preaching, but neglect the prayer- 
meetiug. Here again thought is required.  
Plans should be laid, and wisdom sought of 
God, how to conduct the meetings so they  
will be interesting and attractive. The people  
hunger for the bread of life. If they find it  
at the prayer-meeting they will go there to  
receive it.  
Long, prosy talks and prayers are out of  
place anywhere and especially in the social 
meeting. Those who are forward and ever  
ready to speak, are allowed to crowd out the 
testimony of the timid ancl retiring. Those


102  
who are most superficial generally have the  
most to say. Their prayers are long-spun  
and mechanical. They weary the angels and  
the people who listen to them. Our prayers  
should be short and right to the point. Let 
the long, tiresome petitions be left for the 
closet if any have such to offer. Let the  
spirit of God into your hearts and it will 
sweep away all dry formality.  
Music can be a great power for good, yet  
we do not  make the most of this branch of  
worship. The singing is generally done from  
impulse or to meet special cases, and then  
it is left to blunder along losing its proper  
effect upon the minds of those present. Mu-
sic should have beauty, pathos, and power.  
Let the voices be lifted in songs of praise and 
devotion. Call to your aid, if practicable, in- 
strumental music, and let the glorious har- 
mony ascend to God, an acceptable offering.  
But it is sometimes more difficult to disci- 
pline the singers ancl keep them in working  
order, than to improve the habits of praying  
and exhorting. Many want to do things  
after their own style, object to consultation, 
are impatient under leadership. Well- 
matured plans are needed in the service of  
God. Common sense is an excellent thing  
in the worship of the Lord. The thinking  
powers should be consecrated to Christ, and  
ways and means should be devised to serve 
him best. The church of God who are try-
ing to do good by living out the truth and  
seeking to save souls, can be a power in the  

97  
world if they will be disciplined by the Spirit  
of the Lord. They must not feel that they  
can go hap-hazard at work for eternity.  
As a people, we lose much by lack ot sym- 
pathy one with the other, a want of sociabil- 
ity. He who talks of independence and  
shuts himself up to himself, is not filling the  
position that God designed he should. We  
are all children of God, mutually dependent  
upon each other for happiness. The claims  
of God and of Humanity are upon us. We  
must all act our part in this life. It is the  
proper cultivation of the social elements of  
our nature that brings us in sympathy with 
our brethren, and affords us happiness in our 
efforts to bless others. The happiness of  
Heaven is in the pure communion with  
holy beings, the harmonious social life with 
the blessed angels, and Avith the redeemed  
who have washed their iobeS ancl made them 
white in the blood of the Lamb. We cannot 
be happy while we are wrapped up in our  
interest for ourselves. We should live in  
this world to win souls to the Saviour. If 
we injure others, wo injure ourselves also.  
If we bless others, we also bless ourselves, for 
the influence of every good deed is reflected 
back upon our own hearts.  
We are in duty bound to help one an- 
other. It is not always that we are brought 
in contact with social Christians, those who  
are amiable and mild. Many have not re-
ceived a proper education, their characters  
are warped, they are hard and gnarled and


100  
seem to be crooked in every way; while we  
help these to see and correct their defects,  
we must be careful not to become impatient  
and irritable over our neighbor's faults.  
There are disagreeable ones who profess  
Christ, but the beauty of Christian grace  
will transform them if they will set diligent- 
ly about the work of obtaining the meekness 
and gentleness of Him they follow, remem- 
beinng that " None of us liveth to himself."  
Co-workers with Christ, what an exalted  
position! Where is to be found the self- 
sacrificing missionaries in these large cities 1 
The Lord needs workers in his vineyard. 
We should fear to rob God of the time he  
claims from us ; we should fear to spend it in  
idleness or in the adornment of the body, ap- 
propriating to foolish purposes the precious  
hours God has gi ven us to become conversant  
with our Bibles, to  devote to prayer, to labor  
for the good of our fellow-beings, and fit our- 
selves and them for the great work devolving  
upon us.  
Mothers spend unnecessary labor upon  
garments with which to beautify the persons 
of themselves and their children. It is our  
duty to dress ourselves plainly and to clothe  
our children neatly, without useless ornament,  
embroidery or display, taking care not to  fos- 
ter in them a love of dress that will prove  
their ruin, but seeking rather to cultivate the  
Christian graces. We can none of us be ex- 
cused from our responsibilities, and in no case  
can we stand clear before the throne of God  

99  
unless we do the work that the Master has  
left for us to do.  
Missionaries for God are wanted, faithful,  
men and women who will not shirk responsi- 
bility. Judicious labor will accomplish good  
results. There is real work to do. Thetiuth 
should be brought before people in  a careful  
manner by those who unite meekness with  
wisdom. We should not hold ourselves aloof  
from our fellow-men, but come close to them,  
for their souls are as precious as our own.  
We can carry the light into their homes, with  
a softened and subdi.ed spirit plead with them  
to come up to the exalted privilege offered  
them, pray with them when it seems proper,  
and show them there are higher attainments  
they may reach, and then guardedly speak to 
them of the sacred truths of these last days.  
There are more gatherings for  singing than  
prayer among our people, but even these 
meetings can be conducted in so reverential,  
yet cheerful a manner that thev may exert a 
good influence. There is, however, too much  
jesting, idle conversation and gossipping to  
make these seasons beneficial by elevating the  
thoughts and refining the manners.  
There has been too much of a divided in- 
terest at S F . When a new excite-
ment is raised, there are those who cast their  
influence on the wrong side. Every man and  
woman should be on guard when there are 
deceptions abroad calculated to lead away 
from the truth. There are those who are  
ever ready to see and hear some new and


100  
strange tiling, and the enemy of souls has, 
in these large cities, plenty to inflame the 
cvriosity and keep the mind diverted from  
the great and sanctifying truths of these last  
dtys.  
If every fluctuating religious excitement  
leads some to neglect to sustain fully, by  
their presence and influence, the minority  
who believe unpopular truth, there will be  
much weakness in the church where there  
should be strength. Satan takes various  
E'.eans by which to accomplish his purposes,  
and if, under the guise of popular religion,  
he can lead off' vacillating and unwary ones  
fiom the path of truth, he has accomplished  
much in dividing the strength of the people  
of God.  
This fluctuating revival enthusiasm, that- 
c-Dmes and goes like the tides, carries a det  
lusive exterior that deceives many honest  
persons into believing it the true Spirit of  
1 he Lord. It multiplies converts; those of  
rxcitable temperament, the weak and yielding  
flock to its standard, but when the wave re- 
cedes, they are found stranded on the beach. 
13e not deceived by false teachers, nor led  
by vain words. The enemy of souls is sure  
fo have enough dishes of pleasing fables to  
suit the appetites of all.  
There will ever be flashing meteors that  
arise, but the trail of light they leave goes 
out immediately in darkness that seems  
denser than it was before. These sensational 
religious excitements, that are created by the  

101  
relation of anecdotes and the exhibition of 
excentricities and odities, are all surface work,  
and those of our faith who are charmed and  
infatuated by these flashes of light, will 
never build up the cause of God. They are 
ready to withdraw their influence upon the 
slightest occasion, and induce others to attend 
those gatherings where they hear that which 
weakens the soul, and brings confusion to the  
mind. It is this withdrawal of  the interest  
from the work that makes the cause of God  
languish.  
We must be steadfast in the faith, we  
must not be movable. We have our work 
before us which is to cause the light of truth, 
as revealed in the law of God, to shine in 
upon other minds and  lead them out of daik- 
ness. This work requires determined, perse- 
vering energy, and a fixed purpose to succeed.  
There are those in the church who need to  
cling to the pillars of our faith, to settle  
down and find rock bottom, instead of drift- 
ing on the surface of excitement and moving  
from impulse. There are spiritual dyspeptics  
in the church. They are self-made invalids; 
their spiritual debility is the result of their  
own wavering course; they are tossed ab< at 
here and there by the changing winds of doc- 
trine, often confused and thrown into uncer- 
tainty because they move entirely by feeling;  
sensational Christians; they are hungry lor  
something new and diverse; strange doctrines  
confuse their faith; they are worthless to  
the cause of truth.  
Center for Adventist Research  
Andrews University  
Berrien Springs Michigan


102  
God calls for men and women  of stability,  
of firm purpose, who can be relied upon  
in seasons of danger and trial, who are as  
firmly rooted and grounded in the truth as  
the eternal hills, who cannot be swerved to 
the right or to the left, but move straight on- 
ward and are always found on the right side.  
There are those who, in time of religious  
peril, may be almost always looked for among 
the ranks of the enemy, if they have any in- 
fluence it is on the wrong side. They do  
not feel under moral obligation to give ail  
their strength to the truth they profess. Such  
will receive a reward according to their  
works.  
Those who do little for the Saviour in the  
salvation of souls, and in keeping themselves  
right before God, will gain but. little spiritual 
muscle. We need to continually use the  
strength we have that it may increase and 
develop. As disease is the result of the vio-
lation of natural laws, so is spiritual declen-
sion the result of a continued transgression  
of the law of God. And yet the very trans- 
gressors may profess to keep all God's com- 
mandments.  
r We must come nearer to God and placel  
\ ourselves in a closer connection with  Heaven,)  
and carry out the principles of the law in  
the minutest actions of our every-clay lives,  
in order to be spiritually whole. God has  
given his servants ability, talents to be used  
for his glory, not to lay idle or be wasted. 
God has given his servants light and knowl- 

103  
edge of his will, to be communicated to 
others and, in imparting to others, we become  
living channels of light. If we do not ex- 
ercise our spiritual strength we become feeble, 
as the limbs of the body become powerless  
when the invalid is compelled to long inac- 
tion. It is use that gives power.  
Nothing will give greater spiritual strength  
and increase earnestness and depth of feeling,  
than visiting and ministering to the sick and  
the desponding, helping them to see the light  
and to fasten their faith upon Jesus. There  
are disagreeable duties that somebody must 
do or souls will be left to perish. Christians  
will find a blessing in doing these duties,  
however unpleasant they may be. Christ  
took the disagreeable task upon himself of  
coming from the abode of purity and unsur-
passed glory to dwell, a man among men, in  
a world seared and blackened by crime, vio- 
lence, and iniquity.  He did this to save  
souls, and shall the objects of such amazing 
love and unparalleled condescension excuse  
their lives of selfish ease 1 shall they choose  
their own pleasure, and follow their own  in- 
clinations, and leave souls to perish in dark- 
ness because they will meet with disappoint- 
ment and rebuffs if they labor to save them ]  
Christ paid an infinite price for man's re- 
demption, and shall he say, My Lord, I will 
not labor in the vineyard, I pray thee have  
me excused!  
God calls for those who are at ease in Zion  
to be up and doing. Will they not listen to


102  
the Master's voice 1 God wants prayerful,  
faithful workers who will sow beside all 
waters. Those who labor thus will be sur-
prised to find how trials, resolutely borne in 
the name . and strength of Jesus, will give  
firmness to the faith, and renew the courage.  
In the path of humble obedience is safety  
and power, comfort and hope. The reward 
will finally be lost by those who do nothing 
for Jesus. Weak hands will be unable  to  
cling to the Mighty One, feeble knees will  
fail to support in the day of adversity.  
Bible readers and Christian workers will re- 
ceive the glorious prize, and hear the Well  
done, good and faithful servant, enter thou 
into the joy of thy Lord.  
The blessing of God will rest upon those  
in S F who have  the cause of Christ  
at heart. The free-will offerings of our  
brethren and sisters, made in faith and love 
to the crucified Redeemer, will  bring back  
blessings to them, for God marks  and re- 
members every act of liberality in his saints.  
In preparing a house of worship there must  
be great exercise of faith and trust in God. 
In business transactions, those who venture  
nothing make but little advancement; why 
not have faith also in the enterprise of God 
and invest in His cause.  
Some, when in poverty, are generous of  
their little, but become penurious as they ac-
quire property. Why they have so little  
faith, is because they do not keep moving  

105  
forward, as they prosper, and give even at  
a sacrifice to the cause of God.  
In the Jewish system it was required that  
benificence should first be shown to the Lord.  
At the harvest and the vintage, the first-
fruits of the fields, corn, wine and oil, were  
to be consecrated as an offering to the Lord.  
The gleanings and the corners of the fields  
were reserved for the poor. Our gracious 
Heavenly Father has not neglected the  
wants of the poor. The first-fruits of the  
wool when the sheep were shorn, of the  
grain when the wheat was threshed, were tt  
be offered to the Lord; and at the feast io  
was commanded that the poor, the widows, 
the orphans and the strangers, should be in- 
vited. At the close of every year all were 
required to make solemn oath whether or 
not they had done according to the com- 
mand of God.  
This arrangement was made by the Lord  
to impress upon the people that in every  
matter he must be first. They were, by 
this system of benevolence, to bear in mind  
that their gracious Master was the true pro- 
prietor of their fields, their flocks, and their 
herds. That the God of Heaven sent them  
sunshine and rain for their seed-time and 
harvest, and that every thing they possessed  
was of his creation. All was the Lord's 
and he had made them stewards of his goods.  
The liberality of the Jews in the construc- 
tion of the tabernacle and the erection of the  
temple, illustrate a spirit of benevolence


106  
which has not been equalled by Christians of 
any later date. They were just freed from  
their long bondage in Egypt, they were wan- 
derers in the wilderness, yet scarcely were  
they delivered from the armies of the  
Egyptians who pursued them in their hasty  
journey, when the word of the Lord came to  
Moses, saying, « Speak unto the children of  
Israel that they bring me an offering; of ev- 
ery man that giveth it willingly with his  
heart, ye shall take my offering."  
His people had small possessions and no  
flattering prospect of adding to them ; but 
an object was before them, to build a taber-
nacle for God. The Lord had spoken and 
they must obey his voice. They withheld  
nothing. All gave with a willing hand, not 
a certain amount of their increase, but a 
large portion of their actual possessions. 
They devoted it gladly and heartily to the 
Lord. They pleased him by so doing. Was  
it not all his 1 Had he not given them all 
they possessed 1 If he called for it was it  
not their  duty to give back to the lender  
his own 1  
No urging was needed. The people  
brought even more than was required, and  
they were told to desist, for there was al- 
ready more than could be appropriated.  
Again in building the temple, the call for  
means met with a hearty response. The  
.people did not give reluctantly; they re- 
joiced in the prospect of a building being  
erected for the worship of God. They dona&- 

102 106  
ted more than enough for the purpose. Da-
vid blessed the Lord before all the congrega-
tion, and said, " But who am I, and  what  
is my people, that we should be able to offer  
so willingly after this sort, for all things 
come of thee, and of thine own have we  
given thee." Again, in his prayer David  
gives thanks in these words, " 0 Lord, our  
God, all this store that we have prepared to  
build thee an house for thine holy name  
cometh of thine  hand and is all thine own."  
David well understood from whom came  
all his bounties; would that those of this day  
who rejoice in a Saviour's love could realize 
that their sil ver and gold is the Lord's and  
should be used to promote his glory, not  
grudgingly retained to enrich and gratify  
themselves. He has an indisputable right 
to all that he has lent his creatures. All  
that they possess is his.  
There are high and holy objects that re- 
quire means; they will, thus invested, yield 
to the giver more elevated and permanent  
enjo; ment than if they were expended in 
personal gratification or selfishly hoarded 
for the greed of gain. When God calls for  
our treasure, whatever the amount may be, 
the willing response makes the gift a conse-
crated offering to him, and lays up for the  
giver a treasure in Heaven that moth can-
not corrupt, nor thieves break in and steal, 
nor fire consume. The investment is safe.  
The money is placed in bags that have no  
holes. It is secure.


108  
Can Christians, who boast of a broader  
light than had the Hebrews, give less than  
they 1 Can Christians, living near the close 
of time, be satisfied with their offerings when  
not half so large as were the Jews 1 - Their 
liberality was to benefit their own nation, 
the work in these last days extends to the  
entire world. The message of truth is to 
go to all nations, tongues and people; its 
publications, printed in many different lan- 
guages, are to be scattered abroad like the  
leaves in Autumn.  
It is written, " Forasmuch as Christ hath  
suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves 
likewise with the same mind;" and again,  
"He that saith he abideth in him ough't 
himself also so to walk even as  he walked. '  
Let us inquire what would our Saviour have  
done in our circumstances, what would have  
been his efforts for the salvation of souls 1  
This question is answered by the example of 
Christ. He left his royalty, and lay aside  
his glory, and sacrificed his riches, and 
clothed his divinity with humanity that he 
might reach men where they were. His ex-
ample shows that he lay down his life for 
sinners.  
Satan told Eve that a high state of felicity  
could be gained through the gratification of 
unlicensed appetite. But the promise of God  
to man is through denial of self. When Christ  
was suffering in agony upon the shameful  
cross, for man's redemption, human nature  
was exalted. Only by the cross can the hu- 

102 108  
man family be elevated to connect with  
Heaven. /Self-denial and crosses meet us at  
every step of our Heavenward journey\ —.  
The spirit of liberality is the spirit o f Hea- 
ven. The spirit of selfishness is the spirit of  
Satan. Christ's self-sacrificing love is re-
vealed upon the cross. He gave all he had  
and then gave himself that man might be 
saved. The cross of Christ appeals to the . 
benevolence of every follower of the blessed  
Saviour. The principle illustrated there is to 
give, give. This carried out in actual benev- 
olence and good works is the true fruit of 
the Christian life. The principle of world- 
lings is to get, get, and thus they expect to  
secure happiness, but carried out in all its  
bearings, the fruit is misery and death.  
To carry the truth to the population of the  
earth, to rescue them from their guilt and in- 
difference, is the mission  of the followers of  
Christ. Men must have the truth in order  
to be sanctified through it, and we are the  
channels of God's light. Our talents, our 
means, our knowledge, are not merely for  
our benefit, they are  to use  for the salvation  
of souls, to elevate man from his life of sin  
and bring him, through Christ, to the Infi- 
nite God.  
We should be zealous workers- in this  
cause, seeking to lead sinners, repenting and  
believing, to a divine Redeemer, to impress  
them with a high an I exalted sense of God's  
love to man. God so loved the world that  
he gave his only begotten Son that who-


102 110  
soever believeth in him, should not perish but  
have everlasting life. What an incompara- 
ble love is this ! A theme for the most pro- 
found meditation ! The amazing love of God  
for a world that did not love him ! The  
thought has  a subduing power upon the soul,  
and brings the mind into captivity to the will 
of God. Men who are crazy for gain and are  
disappointed and unhappy in their pursuit of  
the world, need  the knowledge of this truth  
to quiet the restless hungering and thirsting  
of their souls.  
Missionaries for God are  wanted in your  
large city, to carry light to those who sit 
in the shadow of death. Experienced hands  
are needed, in the meekness of wisdom and  
the strength of faith, to lift weary souls to the  
bosom of a compassionate Redeemer. Oh, 
selfishness! What a curse ! It prevents us  
from engaging in the  service of God. It  
prevents us from perceiving the claims of  
duty, which should set our hearts aglow with  
fervent zeal. All our energies should be  
turned to the obedience of Christ.  
To divide our interest with the leaders of  
error, is aiding the wrong side and giving  
advantage to our foes. The truth of God  
knows no compromise with sin, no connection  
with artifice, no union with transgression.  
Soldiers are wanted who will always answer  
to the roll-call and be ready for immediate 
action. Not those who, when needed, are  
found aiding the power of the enemy.  
Ours is a great work. Yet there are  

many who profess to believe these sacred 
truths but are para,lized by the sophistry of 
Satan and are doing nothing for God but  
rather hinder his cause. When  will they act*  
like those who wait for the Lord'? When  
will they show a zeal in accordance with their  
faith I Many people selfishly retain their  
means, and soothe their conscience with a plan  
for doing sume great thing for the cause of  
God after their death. They make a will,  
donating a* large sum to the church and its 
various interests, and then settle down with 
a feeling that they have done all that is re-
quired of them. Wherein have they denied 
self by this act'! They have, on the contrary, 
exhibited the true essence of selfishness.  
When they have no longer any use for their 
money tliey propose to give it to God. But  
they will retain it as long as they caa, till 
they are compelled  to relinquish it by a mes- 
senger that cannot be turned aside.  
Such a will is often an evidence of real  
covetousness.  God has made us all his stew- 
ards, and in no case authorized us to neglect  
our duty or leave it for others to do. The 
call for means to advance the cause of truth  
will never be more urgent that now. Out- 
money will never do a greater amount of  
good than at the present time. Every day  
of delay in rightly appropriating it, is limiting  
the period in which it will do good in the sav- 
ing of souls. If we leave others to accomplish  
that which God has left for us to do, we  
wrong ourselves and him who gave us all we


102  
have. How can others do our work of benev-
olence any better than we can do it ourselves 1  
God would have every man an executor of  
his own will in this matter, during his life- 
time.  
Adversity, accident or intrigue, may cut off  
forever meditated acts of benevolence, when  
he who has accumulated a fortune is no long- 
er by to guard it. It is sad that so many 
neglect the golden opportunity to do good in 
the present, but wait to be cast out of their  
stewardship before giving back to the Lord  
the means  which he has lent them to  be used  
for his glory.  
One marked feature in the teachings of  
Christ, is the frequency and earnestness with  
which he rebuked the sin of covetousness  
and pointed out the danger of worldly ac- 
quisitions and the inordinate love of gain. 
In the mansions of the rich, in the temple  
and in the streets, he warned those who in-
quired after salvation, " Take heed and be- 
•ware of covetousness." "Ye cannot serve  
God and Mammon."  
It is this increasing devotion to money get- 
ting, the selfishness which the desire of gain 
begets, that deadens the spirituality of the 
church and removes the favor of God from 
her. When the head and hands are constant- 
ly occupied with planning and toiling for the 
accumulation of riches, the claims of God and  
Humanity are forgotten.  
If God has blessed us with prosperity it is  
not that our time and attentions should be  

113  
diverted from him and given to that which 
he has lent us. The giver is greater than  
the gift. We have been bought with a price, 
we are not our own. Have we forgotten that  
infinite price paid for our redemption'( Is  
gratitude dead in the heart 1 Does not the  
cross of Christ put to shame a life of selfish ease 
and indulgence 1  
What if Christ had left his work, becom- 
ing weary in consequence of the ingratitude  
and abuse that met  him on every  side!  
What if he had never reached that period  
when he said " It is finished !" What if he 
had returned to Heaven, discouraged by his  
receptions ! What if he had never passed  
through that soul agony in the garden of  
Gethsemane that forced from his pores great  
drops of blood!  
Christ was joined to his plan of labor to work  
out redemption for the race, by a love that is  
without parallel and a devotion to the Father's 
will. He toiled for the good of man up to the  
very hour of his humiliation. He spent his 
life in poverty and self-denial, for the degraded 
sinner. In a world that was his own he had  
no place to lay his weary head. We are reap-
ing the fruits of this infinite self-sacrifice, and 
yet, when labor is to be done, when our money  
is wanted to aid the work of the Redeemer in 
the salvation of souls, we shrink from duty and  
pray to be excused. Ignoble sloth, careless  
indifference, and wicked selfishness seal our 
senses to the claims of God.  
Oh, must Christ, the Majesty of Heaven,


102  
the King of Glory, bear the heavy cross, and  
wear the thorny crown, and drink the bitter  
cup, while we recline at ease, glorify ourselves  
and forget the souls he died to redeem by his  
precious blood 1 No, let us give while we 
have the power. Let us do while we have 
the strength. Let us work while it is day.  
Let us devote our time and our means to the  
service of God, that we may have his appro- 
bation and receive his reward.  
Epistle Number Five.  
DEAR  BRO. H L- • I feel very  
anxious for you that you may accept light  
and come out of darkness. You have been  
greatly tempted of Satan ; he has used you  
as his instrument to hinder the work of God.  
He has thus far succeeded with you, but it  
need not follow that you should- continue in 
the path of error. I look upon your case  
with great trembling. I know that God has  
given you great light. In your sickness last' 
fall the providence  of God was dealing with  
you that you might bear fruit to his glory.  
Unbelief was taking possession of your  
soul, but the Lord afflicted you that you  
might gain a needed experience. He blessed  
us in praying for you, and he blessed you in  
answer to our prayers. The Lord designed 
to unite our hearts in love and confidence,  
The Holy Spirit witnessed with  your spirit.  
The power of God in answer to prayer came  
upon you, but Satan came  with temptations  

115  
and you did not close the door upon him.  
He entered and has been very busy.  
It is the plan of the evil one to work first  
upon the mind of one, then, through him  
upon others. He has thus sought to hedge 
up our way and hinder our labors in the 
very place where our influence should be most 
felt, for the prosperity of the cause.  
The Lord brought  you into connection  
with his work at , for  a wise purpose;  
he designed that you should discover the de- 
fects in your character and overcome them.  
You know how quickly your spirit chafes  
when things do not move according to your  
mind. Would you could understand that  
all this impatience and irritability must be  
overcome, or your life will prove an utter  
failure, you will lose Heaven, and it would 
have been better had you never been born.  
Our cases are pending at the court of  
Heaven. We are rendering our accounts there  
day by day. Every one will receive reward  
according to his works. Burnt-offerings and  
sacrifices were not acceptable to God  in  
ancient times, unless the spirit was right  
with which the gift was offered. Samuel said,  
" Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt-
oft'erings and sacrifices, as in Obeying the 
voice of the Lord 1  Behold, to obey is better  
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of  
rams." All the money on  earth cannot buy  
the blessing of God or ensure you a single  
victory.  
Many would make any and every sacrifice


102 116  
but the very one they should make, which 
is to yield themselves, to submit their wills to  
the will of God. Said Christ to his disciples,  
" Except ye be converted and become  as little  
children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of 
heaven." Here is a lesson in humility. We 
must all become humble as little children in  
order to inherit  the kingdom.  
Our Heavenly Father sees the hearts of  
men, and he knows their characters better  
than they do themselves. He sees that some  
iiave susceptibilities and powers which,  
directed in the right channel, might be used  
to his glory, to aid in the advancement of  
his work. He puts these persons on trial,  
and in his wise providence brings them into 
different positions and under a variety of cir- 
cumstances, testing them that they may re-
veal what is in their hearts and the weak  
points in their characters which have been 
concealed from their own knowledge.  
He gives them opportunities to correct  
these weaknesses, and polish off the rough  
corners of their natures, and fit themselves  
for. his service, that when he calls them to  
action they will be ready, and that angels of  
Heaven may unite their labor with human  
effort in the work that must be done upon  
the earth.  
God in mercy reveals their hidden defects  
to men whom he designs shall fill responsible  
positions, that they may look within and ex- 
amine critically the complicated emotions and  
exercises of their own hearts, and detect that  

which is wrong; thus they may modify their  
dispositions and refine their manners. The 
Lord in his providence brings men where he 
can test their moral powers and reveal their 
motives of action, that they, may improve 
what is right in themselves and put away 
that which is wrong. God would have his  
servants become acquainted with the moral 
machinery of their own hearts. In order to  
bring this about, he often permits the fire of  
affliction to assail them that they may become  
purified. " But who may abide the day of 
his'coming 1 and who shall stand when he  
.appeareth I for he is like a refiner's fire, and  
like fullers' soap. And he shall sit as a  re- 
finer and purifier of silver, and he shall  
purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as 
gold and silver, that they may offer unto the  
Lord an offering in righteousness."  
The purification of the people of God can- 
not be accomplished without their suffering.  
God permits the fires of affliction to consume  
the dross, to separate the worthless from the  
valuable and let the pure metal shine forth.  
He passes us from one fire to another, testing 
our true worth. If we cannot bear these  
trials, what will we do in the time of trouble !  
If prosperity or adversity discover, falseness,  
pride or selfishness in our hearts, what shall  
we do when God tries every man's work as by  
fire, and lays bare the secrets of all hearts !  
True grace is willing to be tried; if we are  
loth to be searched by the Lord, our condi- 
tion is serious indeed. God is the refiner


102  
fessors, having a name but no zeal. God 
signified that he wanted men at the great  
heart of the work to correct the state of things  
existing there and to stand like faithful senti- 
nels at their post of duty. He has given them  
light at every point, to instruct, encourage  
and confirm them as the case required. But  
notwithstanding all this, those who should be  
faithful and true, fervent in Christian zeal, of  
gracious temper, knowing and loving Jesus 
earnestly, are found aiding the enemy to weak- 
en and discourage those whom God is using to 
up the build work.  
The term lukewarm is applicable to this  
class. They profess to love the truth, vet are 
deficient in Christian fervor and devotion.  
They dare not give up wholly and run the risk  
of the unbeliever, yet they are unwilling to die  
to self and follow out closely the principles  
of their faith.  
. Tlie 01)1 J hope for the Laodiceans is a clear  
view of their standing before God, a knowl- 
edge of the nature of their disease. They  
are neither cold nor hot, they occupy a neu- 
tral position and at same time flatter them-
selves that they are in need of nothing. The  
True Witness hates this lukewarmness. He  
loathes the indifference of this class of persons. 
Said he, " I would thou wert either cold or  
hot." They are, as  lukewarm water, nauseous  
to his taste.  
They are either unconcerned or selfishly  
stubborn. They do not engage thoroughly  
and heartily in the work of God, identifying  

121  
themselves with its interests, but hold aloof  
and are ready to leave their posts when their 
worldly personal interests demand it. The  
internal work of grace is wanting in their  
hearts; of such it is said, " Because thou say-
est, I am rich and increased with goods, and 
have need of nothing ; and knowest not that 
thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, 
and blind, and naked."  
Faith and love are the true riches, the pure  
gold which the True Witness counsels the  
lukewarm to buy. However rich we may be  
in earthly treasure, all our wealth will not  
enable us to buy the precious remedies that 
cure the disease of the soul called lukewarm-
ness. Intellect and earthly riches were  
powerless  to remove the defects of the Laodi- 
cean church or remedy their deplorable con- 
dition. They were blind yet felt that they  
were well off'. The Spirit of God did not  
illumine their minds and they did not perceive  
their sinfulness, therefore did not feel the  
necessity of help.  
To be without the graces of the Spirit of  
God is sad indeed, but it is a more terrible  
condition to be thus destitute of spirituality  
and of Christ, and yet try to justify our-
selves, by telling those who are alarmed for us, 
that we need not their fears and pity. Fear- 
ful is the power of self-deception on the 
human mind. What blindness ! setting light 
for darkness and darkness for light.  
The True Witness counsels us to buy of  
him gold tried in the fire, white raiment and


102  
eye-salve. The sjold here recommended as  
having been tried in the fire, is faith and love  
which maketh the heart rich, for if it has  
been purged until it is pure and the more it  
is tested the more brilliant is its luster. The  
white raiment is purity of character, the  
righteousness of Christ imparted to the sin-
ner. This is indeed a arment of heavenly 
texture that can be bought only of Jesus  
Christ for a life of willing obedience. The  
eye-salve is that wisdom and grace which 
enables us to discern the evil from the good  
and detect sin under any guise. God has given  
eyes to his church, and he requires them to 
be annointed with wisdom that they may see 
clearly, but many would put out the eyes of 
the church if they could, for they would not  
have their deeds come to the light lest they  
should be reproved. The divine eye-salve  
will impart clearness to the understanding. 
Christ is the repository of all graces. He  
says " Buy of me."  
Some may say it is exalting our own merits  
to expect favor from God through our good  
works. True we cannot buy one victory with  
our good works, yet neither can we be victors 
without them. The purchase which Christ  
recommends to us is only complying with the 
conditions he has given us. True grace,  
which, of inestimable value, which will endure  
the test of trial and adversity, is only obtain-
ed through faith and humble, prayerful 
obedience. Graces that will endure the proofs 
of. affliction and persecution and evidence  

123  
their soundness and sincerity, is the gold tried  
in the fire and found genuine. Christ offers  
to sell this precious treasure to man,  
" Buy of me gold tried in the fire."  
The dead and heartless performance of  
duty does not make us Christians, we must  
get out of a lukewarm condition and experi- 
ence a true conversion or we shall fail of  
Heaven.  
I was pointed to the providence of God  
among his people. I was shown that every 
trial made by the refining, purifying process  
upon professed Christians proves some to be  
dross. The fine gold does not always appear.  
In every religious crisis some fall under temp- 
tation. The shaking of God blows away mul- 
titudes like dry leaves. Prosperity multi- 
plies a mass of professors. Adversity purges  
them out of the church. They are a class  
whose spirits are not  steadfast with God.  
They go out from us because they are not of  
us. For when tribulation or persecution aris-
efcli because of the word, many are offended.  
Let these look back a few months to the  
time when they were sitting on the cases of  
others who were in a similar condition to that  
which they now occupy. Let them carefully  
call to mind the exercise of their minds in  
regard to those tempted ones.  Had any one  
told them then that notwithstanding their  
zeal and labor to set others right, they would  
at length be found in a similar position of  
darkness, they would have said, as did Hazael


100  
to the prophet, " Is  thy sevant a dog, that he  
should do this thing ?"  
Self-deception is upon them. During  the  
calm what firmness they manifest! what cour-
ageous sailors they make! But when the  
furious tempests of trial and temptation come, 
lo! their souls are shipwrecked. Men may  
have excellent gifts, good ability, splendid  
qualifications; but one  defect, one secret sin  
indulged, will prove to the character what the 
worm-eaten plank does to the ship, utter dis-
aster and ruin!  
Dear Bro.: God in his providence brought  
you from your farm to , to bear  
the tests and trials which you could not have 
where you were. God has given you some  
testimonies of reproof which you professedly 
accepted, but your spirit was continually 
chafed under rebuke. You are like those 
who walked  no more with Jesus after he  
brought to bear upon them some close, prac- 
tical truths.  
Bro., you did not take hold in faith to cor- 
rect the defects marked out in your character 
You have not humbled your proud spirit  
before God. You have stood at warfare against 
the Spirit of God in reproof. Your carnal,  
unsubdued  heart is not subject to control.  
You have not disciplined yourself. Time and 
again your uncontrolled temper and spirit of  
of insubordination has gained complete mas- 
tery over you. How can such an impulsive, 
unsubdued  soul live among the pure angels?  
If it cannot be admitted into Heaven, as you  

125  
yourself know, you cannot begin too soon to 
correct the evil in your nature, be converted,  
and become as a little child.  
Brother, you are proud spirited, lofty in  
your thoughts and ideas of yourself. All this 
must be put away. Your relatives have  
learned to fear these outbreaks of temper.  
Your tender, God-fearing mother  has done  
her best to soothe and indulge you, and has  
tried to remove every cause that would pro-
duce this self-rising and uncontrollable dispo-
sition in her son. But coaxing, and pleading,  
and seekin|Ro pacify, has led you to consider 
this impulsive temper as incurable, and that  
it is the duty of your friends to bear with it.  
All this petting, and excusing, has not rem-
edied the evil, but rather given it license.  
You have not fought w th this wicked  
spirit and conquered it. When your way  
has been crossed you have felt the provocation  
sufficiently to forget your manhood and that  
you were created in the image of God and 
after his likeness. You have sadly defaced 
and marred that image. You have not had 
self-control nor power over your will. You  
have been headstrong and yielded to the power  
of Satan. Every time that you have given  
up to passion, and self-rule, and let your feel- 
ings run away with your judgment, it has 
strengthened that set, uncontrolled will. The  
Lord saw that you knew not yourself, and  
that unless you saw yourself  in your true  
light and the sinfulness of your course, and 
and how aggravating in the sight of God were


102  
these outbreaks of temper which strengthened 
at every exhibition,you would surely fail of  
gaining a. seat by the side of the suffering Man • 
of Calvary.  
God calls upon you Bro. , to repent  
and be converted, and become as a little child.  
Unless the truth has a sanctifying influence  
upon your life to mould your character, you  
will fail of an inheritance in the kingdom of  
God.  
The Lord in his providence selected you  
to come more directly into connection with  
his cause and his work. He %ok you like  
an undisciplined soldier, new to the army, and  
brought you under rules and regulations,  
through responsibilities and  the drilling pro- 
cess. At first you did nobly, and tried to be  
faithful to your post. You bore trial better  
than ever before in your life. But Satan 
came with his specious temptations, and you  
fell a prey to them. The Lord pitied you and 
laid his hand upon you to save you. He  
gave you a rich experience which you 
have not benefited by as you should have  
done, but, like the children of Israel you  
soon forgot the dealings of Gocl and his great 
mercies.  
Pro. , you were raised up in answer to  
prayer, and God gave you a new lease of life;  
but you have let jealousy and envy into your 
soul, and have greatly displeased him. * He 
designed to bring you where you would de-
velop character, see your defects and correct  
them.  

127  
There was a decided failure in your educa- 
tion and discipline during your childhood and 
youth. Now you have the great lessons of  
self-control to learn which ought to have been  
mastered in earlier days. God brought you  
where your surroundings would be changed, 
and you could be disciplined by his Holy Spirit,  
that you might acquire moral power and self- 
control to make you a conqueror. It will  
require the strongest effort, the most persever- 
ing and unfaltering determination, and the  
strongest energy to control self. Your spirit  
has long chafed under restraint, and your  
temper has raged like a caged lion when your  
will has been crossed. The education, which 
should have been the work of the parents,  
must now be wholly done by yourself. The 
twig might have been easily bent when young 
and small; but now how difficult' the task  
. after it has grown gnarled and crooked and  
strong. The parents permitted it thus to be  
deformed ; and now only by the grace of God  
united with your own peristent efforts, can  
you become conqueror over your will. You  
may, through the merits of Christ, part with  
that which scars and deforms the soul, and  
develops a misshapen character. You must  
put away the old man with. his errors, and 
take the new man, Christ Jesus. Adopt his  
life as your guide, then your talents and in- 
tellect will be devoted to God's service.  
Oh ! if mothers would only work with wis- 
dom, with calmness and determination, to  
train and subdue the carnal tempers of their


102  
children, what an amount of sin would  be  
nipped in the bud, and what a host of church 
trials would be saved ! How many families  
would be happy that are now miserable! Many  
souls will be eternally lost because of the 
neglect of parents to properly discipline their 
children, and teach them submission to au- 
thority in their youth. Petting faults and  
soothing outbreaks, is not laying the axe at  
the root of the evil, but proves the ruin of 
thousands of souls. Oh ! how will parents  
answer to God for this fearful neglect of their 
duty.  
Bro. , you are willing to stand at the  
head and dictate to others j but will not be  
dictated to yourself. Your pride fires in a  
moment at the attempt. Self-love and a  
haughty spirit are unruly elements in your 
character, hindering spiritual advancement. 
Those who have this temperament must take  
hold of the work zealously and die to self or 
they will lose Heaven. God makes no com-
promise with this element as do fond, mistaken  
parents.  
In my last vision I was shown that if you,  
Bro. , refused reproof and correction, and  
chose your own way, and will not be disci-
plined, God has no further use for you in 
connection with his holy work. If you had 
commenced the work of setting your own  
soul light with the Lord, you would  have  
seen so great a work to be done for yourself 
that you would not have spent so much time 
over the supposed wrongs  of Bro. W., dwell- 

129  
ing upon them behind his back. The work of  
the last thirty years should inspire confidence  
in the integrity of Bro. W. "Honor to  
whom honor is due."  
Men in responsible positions should im- 
prove continually. They must not anchor  
upon an old experience, and feel that it is not  
necessary to become scientific workers. Man, 
although the most  helpless of God's creatures  
when he comes into the world, and the most  
perverse in his nature, is nevertheless capa- 
ble of constant advancement. He may be  
enlightened by science, ennobled by virtue, 
and may progress in mental and moral dig- 
nity, until he reaches a perfection of intelli- 
gence and purity of character but little lower 
than the angels. "With the light of truth  
shining in the minds of men, and the love of  
God shed abroad in their hearts, we cannot  
conceive what they may be, and what great  
work they may do.  
I know that the human heart is blind  
to its own true condition. But I cannot  
leave you, without making an effort to help  
you. We love you, and we want to see you  
pressing on to victory. Jesus loves you.  
He died for you; and he wants you to be 
saved. We have no disposition to hold you 
in but we do want you should 
make thorough work with your owjfL soul, and  
right every wrong there, and make every  
effort to master self  lest you miss Heaven.  
This you cannot afford to do. For Christ's 
sake resist the devil and he will flee from you.  
9


102 130  
Epistle Number Six.  
DEAR BRO. AND SISTER L : I have  
been shown that you have erred in the  
management of your children. You received  
ideas at from Dr. which you  
have spoken of before the patients, and 
before your children. They will not bear to 
be carried out. From Dr. 's stand-point 
they may not appear so objectionable, but 
viewed from a Christian stand-point they are  
positively dangerous.  
The instructions Dr. has given in  
regard to shunning physical labor, has proved  
a great injury to many. The do-nothing 
system is a dangerous one. The necessity 
for amusements, as he teaches it and enjoins 
it upon his patients, is a fallacy. In order  
to occupy the time and engage the mind they  
are made a substitute for useful, healthful  
exercise and physical labor. Amusements, 
such as Dr. recommends, excite the  
brain more than useful employment.  
Physical exercise and labor combined has  
a happy influence upon the mind, strength-
ens the muscles, impi'oves the circulation, 
and gives the invalid the satisfaction of  
knowing his own power of endurance, where- 
as, if he is restricted from healthful exercise 
and physical labor, his attention is turned to  
himself. He is in constant danger of, think- 
ing himself worse than he really is, and of  
having established within him a diseased 
imagination which causes him to continu  

ally fear that he is overtaxing his powers of 
endurance. As a general thing if he should  
engage in some well directed labor, using 
his strength and not abusing it, he would  
find that physical exercise would prove a 
more powerful and effective agent in his re- 
covery than even the water treatment he is 
receiving.  
The inactivity of the mental and physical  
] lowers, as far as useful labor is concerned, is  
that which keeps many invalids in a condi-
tion of feebleness, which they feel powerless  
to rise above. It also gives them a  greater  
opportunity to indulge in impure imagination,  
which .indulgence has brought many of them  
where they are in point of feebleness. They 
are told they have expended too much vitali- 
ty in hard labor, when, in nine cases out of  
ten, the labor they performed was the only  
redeeming thing in their lives, and has been  
the means of saving them from utter ruin. 
While their minds were thus engaged they 
could not have as favorable an opportunity 
to debase their bodies and complete the work  
of destroying themselves. To have all such  
persons cease to labor with brain and muscle,  
is to give them an  ample opportunity to be  
taken captive by the temptations of Satan.  
Dr. has recommended that the sexes  
should mingle together; he has Wight  
that their physical and mental health de- 
mand a  closer association with each other.  
Such teaching has done, and is doing, great 
injury to inexperienced youth and children,


102  
and is a great satisfaction to men and wo-
men of questionable character, whose pas- 
sions have never been controlled, and who, 
for this reason, are suffering from various  
debilitating disorders. These persons are in- 
structed from a health stand-point to be much  
in the company of the opposite sex. Thus a  
door of  temptation is opened before them,  
passion rouses like a lion within their hearts,  
and every consideration  is overborne; every- 
thing elevated and noble is sacrificed to lust. 
This is an age when the world is teeming  
with corruption. Were the minds and bod-
ies of men and women in a healthful condi-
tion, were the animal passions subject to the  
higher intellectual powers of the mind, it 
might be comparatively safe  to teach that  
boys and girls, and the youth of still more 
mature age, would be benefited by mingling  
much in each others society. If the minds 
of the youth of this age were pure and un-
corrupted, the girls might have a softening  
influence upon the minds and manners of the  
boys, and the boys, with their stronger,  
firmer natures, might have a tendency to  
ennoble and strengthen the characters of the  
girls.  
But it is a "painful fact that there is not  
one girl in a hundred who is pure minded, 
and there is not one boy in a hundred whose  
morals are untainted. Many that are older 
have gone to such lengths in dissipation that 
they are polluted soul and body, and corrup- 
tion has taken hold of a large class who  

133  
pass among men and women as polite gentle- 
men and beautiful ladies. It is not the time  
to recommend, as beneficial to health, the 
mingling of the sexes by being as much as 
possible in each others society. The curse 
of this corrupt age is the absence of true  
virtue and modesty.  
Dr. L , you have advanced these  
ideas in the parlor. The young have heard  
you, and your remarks have had as great an  
influence upon your own children as upon  
others. It would have  been better to have  
left those ideas at .  
Close application to severe labor is injuri- 
ous to the growing frames of the young, but  
where hundreds have broken down their con-
stitutions by over-work alone, inactivity, 
over-eating, and delicate idleness has sown 
the seeds of disease in the systems of thou- 
sands that are hurrying to swift and sure  
decay.  
Why the youth have so little strength of  
brain' and muscle is because they do so little  
in the line of useful labor. " Behold, this  
was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, 
fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness  
was in her and in her daughters, neither did 
she strengthen the hand of the poor and 
needy; and they were haughty and commit-
ted abomination before me.: therefore I took 
them away as I saw good." Ezk. 16 : 49, 50.  
There are but few of the youth of this de- 
generate age who can even endure the study  
necessary to obtain a common education.


102  
Why is this 1  Why do the children com- 
plain of dizziness, headache, bleeding at nose,  
palpitation, and a sense of lassitude and gen-
eral weakness 1 Should this be attributed 
mainly to their close study 1 Fond and in- 
dulgent parents will sympathize with their  
children because they fancy their lessons are 
too great a task, and that their close applica- 
tion to study is raining their health. True,  
it is not advisable to crowd the minds of the  
young with too many and too difficult  
studies. But, parents, have you looked no  
deeper into this matter than merely to adopt 
the idea suggested by your children 1 Have  
you not given too ready credence to the ap-
parent reason for their indisposition ? It be-
comes parents and guardians to look beneath  
the surface forthe cause of this evil.  
In ninety-nine cases out of one hundred  
the cause searched out and revealed to you  
would open your understanding to see that it 
was not the taxation of study alone that was 
doing the work of injury to your children,  
but their own wrong habits were sappinw the 
brain and the entire body of its vital energy. 
The nervous system has become shattered by  
being often excited, and thus has been laid  
the foundation for premature and certain de-
cay. Solitary vice is killing thousands and  
tens of thousands.  
Children should have occupation for their  
time. Proper mental labor and physical  
out-door exercise will not break the constitu- 
tions of your boys. Useful labor and an ac~  

135  
quaintance with the mysteries of house-work  
will b.e beneficial to your girls, and some  
out-door employment is positively necessary 
to their constitution and health. Children  
should be taught to labor. Industry is the  
greatest blessing that men, women, and chil-
dren can have.  
You have erred in the education of  
your children. You have been too indul- 
gent. You have favored them and excused  
them from labor until, with some of them, it  
is positively distasteful. Inactivity, lack of  
well-regulated employment, has injured them 
greatly. Temptations are on every side ready  
to ruin the youth for this world and the 
next. The path of obedience is the only path 
of safety.  
You have been blind to the power the  
enemy was having over your children.  
Household labor, even to weariness, would  
not have hurt them one-fiftieth part as  
much as indolent habits have done. They  
would have escaped many dangers, had they 
been instructed, at an earlier period, to oc- 
cupy their time in useful labor. They  
would not have contracted such a restless  
disposition for change, and to go into society.  
They would have escaped many temptations  
to vanity and to engage in unprofitable  
amusements, light reading, idle talking, and 
nonsense. Their time would have passed  
more to their satisfaction, and without so  
great temptation to seek the society of the  
opposite sex, and to excuse themselves in an


102  
evil way. Vanity and affectation, uselessness  
and positive sin, have been the result of this  
indolence. The parents, and especially you,  
the father, have flattered and indulged them  
to their great injury.  
Dear Bro., you have made a sad mistake in  
standing before the patients in the parlor, as  
you have frequently done, and exalting your- 
self and wife. Your own children have  
learned lessons from those remarks that have 
given shape to their characters. You will 
now find it not an easy matter to correct the  
impressions that have been made. They  have  
thought that as your children they were supe-
rior to children in general. They have been  
proud and self-conceited. You have felt  
anxious lest the people should not give you 
the respect due your position as a physician  
of the Health Institute. This lias shown a  
vein of weakness in you which has hindered  
your spiritual advancement. It has also led  
to a jealousy of others, fearing that they 
would supplant you, or not place the right 
estimate upon your position and value. "  
You also exalted your wife, placing her be- 
fore the patients as a superior creature. You  
were like a blind man. You gave her credit for  
qualifications she did not possess. You should  
have remembered that your moral worth is  
estimated by your words, your  acts, your  
deeds. These can never be hidden, but will  
place you upon the right elevation before  
your patients. If your interest is manifested  
for them, if your labor is devoted to them  

137  
they will know it, you will have their confi- 
dence and love.  
But talk will never make your patients  
believe that your arduous labor for them has 
taxed you and exhausted your vitality when  
they know  that they have not had your  
special attention and care.  
The patients will have confidence and love  
for those who manifest a special interest in 
them and who labor for their recovery.  
If you are the one to do this work, which  
must be done, which cannot be left undone,  
which the patients pay their money to have  
done, then you need not by talking, seek to  
gain esteem and respect, you will as surely 
have it as you do the work.  
You have not been free from selfishness,  
and therefore you have not had the blessing  
which God gives his unselfish workmen.  
Your interest has been divided. You have  
had such a special care for yourself and yours,  
that the Lord has had no reason to especially  
work and care for you. Your course in this 
respect has disqualified you for your position.  
I saw one year ago that you felt competent  
to manage the Institute yourself alone. Were 
it yours and you the one to be  especially bene- 
fited or injured by its losses and gains, you  
would see it your duty to have an especial  
care that losses should not occur, and that  
patients who were there upon charity should  
not drain the Institute of means. You 
would investigate, you would not have them 
remain a week longer than it was positively


102  
necessary. You would see many plans and  
ways by which you could reduce expenses  
and keep up the property of the Institute.  
But you were merely employed, and the zeal,  
interest, and ability which you think you 
possess, to carry on such an institution, does  
not appear. The patients do not receive the  
attention for which they have paid and which 
they have a right to expect. You was shown  
to me frequently turning away from invalids  
who were in need of your counsel and advice. 
You were presented before me  as apparently  
indifferent, seeming rather impatient while  
scarcely listening to what they were say in a 
which was to them of great importance. You  
seemed to be in a great hurry, putting them  
off' till some future time, when a very few  
appropriate words, spoken in sympathy and 
encouragement, would quiet a thousand fears,  
and give, in the place of disquietude and dis-
tress, peace and assurance. You appeared to  
dread to speak to the patients. You did not  
enter into their feelings, but held yourself  
aloof when you should have manifested more  
familiarity. You were too distant and un-
approachable. They look to you as children  
to a  parent, and have a right to expect and  
receive attentions from you which they do  
not obtain. " Me and mine" comes between  
you and the labor your position requires you  
to do. The patients and helpers need your  
advice frequently, but they feel an unwilling-
ness to go to you, and do not feel free to speak  
with you,  

139  
You have sought to maintain an undue  
dignity. In the effort you have not attained  
the object, but lost the confidence and love  
which you might have gained had you been  
unassuming, possessing meekness and humil- 
ity of mind. True devotion and consecra- 
tion to God will find for you a place in the 
hearts of all, and clothe you with a dignity  
not assumed but genuine. You have been  
exalted by the words of approval you have 
received. The life of Christ must be your  
pattern, to do good in every place you occupy. 
In caring for others, God will care for you.  
The Majesty of Heaven did not avoid weari- 
ness. He traveled on foot from place to 
place to benefit the suffering and needy. 
Although you possess some knowledge and  
may have some understanding of the human  
system, and can trace disease to its cause, 
and even if you had the tongue of men and 
angels, there are yet qualifications necessary  
or all your gifts will be of no special value.  
You must have a power from God, which  
can only be realized by those who make him  
their trust and consecrate themselves with  
devotion to the work he has given them to  
do. Christ must be a portion of your knowl- 
edge. His wisdom instead of yours should  
be considered. Then will you understand  
how to be a light in the rooms of the sick.  
You lack freedom of 'spirit, power and faith. 
Your faith is feeble for want of exercise ; it  
cannot be  vigorous and healthful. Your  
efforts will not be as successful for those who


102 140  
are sick in heart and body, and they will not  
be gaining in physical and spiritual strength  
if you do not carry Jesus with you in your 
visits. His words and works you want to 
accompany you. Then you will feel that those 
whom your words of sympathy and prayers  
have blessed will bless you in return.  
You have not felt your whole dependence  
upon God, and your inefficiency and weak- 
ness without his especial wisdom and grace. 
You worry, fear, and doubt, because you  
have worked too much in your own strength. 
In God you can prosper. In humility and  
holiness of mind you will find great peace and 
strength. They shine brightest who feel most  
their own weakness and darkness, for such 
make Christ their righteousness. Your  
strength should come from your union with  
Christ. Be not weary in well doing.  
The Majesty of Heaven has invited the  
weary ones, "Come unto me all ye that labor  
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for 
I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall  
find rest unto your souls." Why the burden  
sometimes seems so heavy, and the yoke so 
galling, is because you have got above the  
meekness and the lowliness possessed by our  
divine Lord. Cease trying to gratify and  
exalt self; but rather let self be hidden in Je-
sus, and learn of him who has invited you  
and promised you rest.  
I saw that the Health Institute could  
never prosper while those who held responsi- 

ble positions connected with it, had more in-
terest for themselves than for the institution.  
God wants unselfish men and women as work-
ers in his cause, and those who take charge 
of the Health Institute should have an over- 
sight of every department there, practising  
economy, caring for the trifles, guarding  
against losses, in short they should be as care-
ful and judicious in their management as if  
they themselves were the actual proprietors.  
You have been troubled with a feeling that  
this and that was not your business. Every- 
thing connected with the Institute is  your  
business. If certain things come under year 
observation that you cannot  attend to prop- 
erly, being called in another direction, call 
for the help of some one who will give these  
matters immediate attention. If this work 
is too arduous for you, some one should take 
your place who can perform thoroughly all  
the duties devolving upon one holding your  
responsible position.  
You have frequently charged the patients  
and helpers, in your parlor talks, with bring-
ing unnecessary burdens and cares upon you,  
while, at the same time, I saw you were not  
performing half the duties resting upon you  
as a physician. You were not properly at- 
tending to the cases of the sick under your  
care. The patients are not blind; they per-
ceive your neglect of them. They are away  
from their homes and upon expense to obtain 
the care and treatment they could not receive  
there. All this scolding in the parlor is inju-


142  
rious to the institution and displeasing to God.  
It is true you have had heavy burdens to  
bear, but in many cases you have blamed the  
patients and helpers when the trouble was in  
your own family. They require your con- 
stant help, but do not help you in return;  
there is no one in your home to stay up your  
hands or give you encouragement. Had you  
no burden outside the Institute, you could 
bear up much better, and not lose strength  
and fortitude. It is your duty to care for  
your family, but it is not at all necessary for  
them to be as helpless as they are, ancl so  
great a weight upon you. They could  assist  
you if they would.  
It is your duty also to  preserve your health;  
and if your family cares are so great, and the 
work in which you are engaged is over-taxing  
you, and you are unable to devote the time 
and attention to the patients and the Institute  
which is actually their due, then you should 
resign your position and seek to place your- 
self where you can do justice to your family, 
yourself, and to the responsibilities you as-
sume.  
The position you now occupy is an impor- 
tant one. It requires clear intellect, strength  
of brain, nerve and muscle. Earnest devo-
tion to the work is necessary for its success,  
and nothing short of this will make the In-
stitution prosperous. To be a living thing 
it must  have live, disinterested workers to  
conduct it.  
Sister L , you have not been the help  

143  
to your husband that you should have been. 
Your attention has been devoted more to 
yourself. You have not realized the neces- 
sity of arousing your dormant energies to  
encourage ancl strengthen your husband in  
his labors, or bless your children with the 
right influence. If you had set yourself dil-
igently about the duties God enjoined upon 
you, had helped to bear the burdens of your  
companion and united with him to properly  
discipline your children, the order of things 
in your family would have been changed.  
But you have yielded to feelings of gloom  
and sadness which has brought a cloud upon 
your dwelling instead of sunshine. You 
have not encouraged hope and cheerfulness 
and your influence has been depressing upon  
those whom you should have aided by kindly 
words and deeds. All this is the result of 
selfishness. You have  required the attention  
and sympathy of your husband and children, 
and yet have not felt that it was your duty  
to take your mind off yourself and labor tor 
their happiness and well-being. You have 
given way to impatience, and have harshly 
reproved your children;  this has only con- 
firmed them in their evil ways, and severed  
the cords of affection that should bind the  
hearts of parents and children together.  
You have lacked self-control, and have  
censured your husband in the presence of 
your children, and this has lessened your  
authority over them as well as his. You  
have been very weak; when your children


204  
have come to you with complaints of others,  
you have immediately decided in favor of 
your children and have unwisely censured 
and blamed those of whom they complained. 
This has cherished in the minds of your 
children a disposition to murmur against  
those who do not pay them the deference  
they imagine they deserve. You have indi-
rectly encouraged this spirit instead of  si- 
lencing it. You have not dealt with your 
children as firmly and justly as you should  
have done.  
You have had trials. You have been op- 
pressed in mind. You have been discour- 
aged but have charged this unhappiness un- 
justly upon others. The main cause is to be  
found in yourself. You have failed to make 
your home what it should be and what it  
might have been. It is yet in your power  
to correct the faults there. Come out of  
that cold and stiff reserve. Give more love,  
rather than exact it, cultivate cheerfulness,  
let the sunshine into your heart and it will 
shine upon those about you, be more social  
in your manners, seek to gain the confidence  
of your children that they may come to you  
for advice and counsel, encourage in them hu-
mility and unselfishness, and set before them 
the right sort of example.  
Awake my dear brother and sister, to the  
needs of  your family. Do not be blinded,  
but take hold of the work unitedly, calmly, 
prayerfully, and in faith. Set your house in  
order and God will bless your efforts.  

145  
Epistle Number Seven.  
I WAS shown on Dec. 10, 1872, the  
state of Bro. N.'s family. He has been  
a true believer and lover of the truth 
but has been drinking in the spirit of  
the world.  
Said Christ, " Where your treasure is,  
there will your heart be also." Bro.  
N , your earthly treasure claims your  
interest and attention to such an extent 
that you do not afford time to serve God,  
yet your wife is dissatisfied that you 
give him the meager pittance that you  
do. A worldly insanity has taken pos- 
session of her heart. Neither of you 
give yourselves sufficient time for medi- 
tation and prayer. God is robbed of 
your daily service, and you yourselves  
are meeting with a greater loss than that  
of every earthly treasure.  
Sr. N., you are still further from God  
than your husband is. Your conformity  
to the world has banished your Saviour  
from your heart, there is no room for him 
in your affections. You have but little 
inclination for prayer and searching your  
heart. You are yielding yourself to  
obey the prince of the powers of dark- 
jiess. "To whom ye yield yourselves  
servants to obey, his servants ye are to  
whom ye obey, whether of sin unto


146  
death or of obedience unto righteous- » O  ness.  
Sister N , you know not what you  
are doing, you do not realize that you  
are warring against your Creator, in  
drawing your husband away from the  
truth. Your attention is on the advan- 
tages that the world gives. You have  
not cultivated a love for devotion, but 
are better pleased with the stir and bustle  
of laboring to acquire wealth. You are  
absorbed in your desire to be like the 
world that you may receive  the happi- 
ness that the world gives. Your earthly  
ambitions and  interests are greater than  
your desire for righteousness and a part  
in the kingdom of God.  
Your precious probationary  time is  
spent in laboring for your temporal wel- 
fare, in dressing, and eating, and drink-
ing after the manner of the world. Oil! 
how unsatisfying, how meager is the  
recompense obtained. In your worldly  
desires and pursuits you are carrying a  
heavier burden than your'Saviour has  
ever proposed to lay upon you. Your  
Redeemer invites you, " Come unto me,  
all ye that labor and are heavy laden,  
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke 
upon you, and learn of me; for I am 
meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall  
find rest unto your souls. For my yoke  

147  
is easy and my burden is light." My sis-
ter, Christ would have you lay down 
your heavy weight at his feet and submit 
your stubborn neck to his easy yoke.  
What if your probation should close  
at  this time ? How would you bear  the  
investigation of the Master ? How have  
you employed your talents of means and  
influence, lent you of God for wise im-
provement to his glory ? God has not 
given you life and. its blessings merely  
to devote to your own pleasure, jor selfish  
gratification, but to benefit others and  
do good. The Master has intrusted to  
you talents,  that you should put them  
out to the exchangers, that  when he re- 
quires them again he may receive his 
own with usury. Your influence and 
means have been given you to test you,  
to reveal what is in your heart; you 
should use them to win souls to Christ, 
and thus advance the cause of your Re- 
deemer.  
If you fail to do this you are making  
a terrible mistake. Every day that you  
devote to serving yourself, and pleasing  
your friends by yielding to their influ- 
ence in loving the world and neglecting 
your best friend, who died to give you 
life, you are losing much.  
Sister N" , you have thought it was  
not well for you to be different from


204  
those around you. You are in a com- 
munity that has been tested on the truth  
and has rejected it; and you have linked 
your interests and  affections with this  
company, until you are to all intents one  
of them. You love their society, yet you  
are not happy though you flatter your- 
self that you are so. You have said in  
your heart, " It is vain to serve God • and 
what profit is it that we have kept his  
ordinance and that -we have walked  
mournfully before the Lord of hosts  
It is no small matter for a family in  
an unbelieving community to stand' as  
representatives for Jesus, keepino- God's  
law. We are required to be& living 
epistles known and read of all men  
lhis position involves fearful responsibil- 
ities. In order to live in the light you  
must come where the light shines. Bro  
N~ ' at any sacrifice, should feel under  
solemn  obligation to attend, with his  
family, at least the yearly gatherings of  
those who love the truth. It would  
strengthen him and them, and fit them  
for trial and duty.  
It is not well for them to lose the priv- 
ilege of associating together with those 
of like faith with themselves, for the  
truth loses its importance in their minds  
their hearts cease to be enlightened and  
vivified by its sanctifying influence, and  

149  
they lose spirituality. They are not  
strengthened by the words of the living  
preacher. Worldly thoughts and worldly  
enterprises are continually exercising 
their minds to the exclusion of spiritual 
subjects.  
The faith of most Christians will waver  
if they constantly neglect to meet to-
gether for conference and prayer. If it 
were impossible for them to enjoy such 
religious privileges, then God would send 
light direct from Heaven by his angels, to  
animate, to cheer and bless his scattered  
people. But he does not propose to work  
a miracle to sustain the faith of his 
saints. They are required  to love the  
truth enough to take  some little pains to  
secure the privileges and blessings vouch- 
safed them of God. The least they can 
do is to devote a few days in the year 
to a united effort to advance the cause of  
Christ and to exchange friendly counsel  
and sympathy.  
Many devote nearly all their time to  
their own temporal interests and pleas- 
ures, and begrudge the few days spent and  
the expense involved in going a distance 
from their homes to meet with a company  
gathered together in the name of the  
Lord. The word of the Lord defines 
covetousness as idolatry; then how many 
idolaters are there even among those who


146  
profess to be the followers of Christ?  
It is required that we meet together  
and bear testimony to the truth ° The  
angel of God said :—  
^ " Then they that feared the Lord spake  
. 0;ten one to another; and the Lord  
hearkened and heard it, and a book of  
remembrance was written before him 
for them that feared the Lord, and that  
thought upon his name. And they shall  
be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that  
day when I make up my jewels; and I  
will spare them as a man spareth his  
own son that serveth him."  
It will pay, then, to improve the priv- 
ileges within our reach, and, even at some  
sacrifice, to assemble with those who fear  
God and speak for him. . For he is repre- 
sented as hearkening to those testimonies 
while angels write them in a book. God  
will remember those who have met to- 
gether and thought upon his name, and he  
will spare them from the great conflagra- 
tion. They will be as precious jewels in  
Ins sight, but his wrath will fall on the 
shelterless head of the sinner. It is not  
a vain thing to serve God. There is a 
priceless reward for those who devote  
their life to his service. Dear Bro. and 
Sr. you have been gradually entering the  
darkness, until, almost imperceptibly it  
has grown to appear like the light to you  

151  
Occasionally a feeble glimmer penetrates  
that gloom and arouses the mind, but  
surrounding influences shut out the ray 
of light, and the darkness seems denser 
than before.  
It would have been better for your  
spiritual welfare had you changed your 
place of residence some years ago. The  
light of truth tested the community in 
which you live. A few received the  
message of mercy and warning, while it 
was rejected by many. Still another  
class did not accept it because there was  
a cross to lift. They took a neutral po- 
sition and thought if they did not Avar  
against the truth they would be doing 
quite well; but the light they neglected  
to receive and cherish went out in dark- 
ness.  
They endeavored to quiet conscience  
by saying to the Spirit of God, Go thy  
way for this time, and when I have a  
convenient season I will call for thee.  
That convenient season has never come.  
They neglected the golden opportunity 
that has never again returned to them, 
for the world has shut out the light  
that they refused. The interests of 
thi3 life and the charm of exciting pleas- 
ures absorb their minds and hearts,  
while their b-st friend, the blessed  
Saviour, is rejected and forgotten.


146  
Sister N , although possessing ex- 
cellent natural qualities, is being drawn  
away from God by her unbelieving  
friends and relatives who love not the 
truth and have no sympathy with the  
sacrifice and self-denial that must be  
made for the truth's sake. Sister N  
has not felt the importance of separa-
tion from the world as the command of  
God enjoins. The sight of her eyes and  
the hearing of her ears have perverted  
her heart.  
John the Baptist was a man filled with  
the Holy Ghost  from his birth, and if  
there was any one who could remain un- 
affected by the corrupting influences of  
the age in which he lived, it was surely  
he. Yet he did not venture to trust his 
strength; lie separated himself from his  
friends and relatives, that his natural  
affections might not prove a  snare to him.  
He would not place himself unnecessarily  
in the way of temptation, nor where the  
luxuries or even the conveniences of  
life would lead him to indulge in ease or  
gratify his appetite, and thus lessen  
his physical and mental strength. By  
such a course the important mission he  
came to fill would have failed in its ac- 
complishment.  
He subjected himself to  privation and  
solitude in the wilderness where he  

153  
could preserve the sacred sense of the  
majesty of God, by studying his great  
book of nature and there becoming ac- 
qainted with the character of God, in 
his wonderful works. It was  an atmos- 
phere calculated to perfect moral culture 
and keep the fear of the Lord continually 
before him. John, the forerunner of  
Christ, did not expose himself to evil  
conversation and the corrupting influ-
ences of the world. He feared its 
effects upon his conscience, that sin might  
not appear to him so exceedingly sinful.  
He chose rather to have his home in the  
wilderness, where his senses would not  
be perverted by his surroundings. Should 
we not learn something from this example  
of one whom Christ honored and of  
whom he said, Among those born of  
women there are none greater than John  
the Baptist.  
The first thirty years of Christ's life  
was passed in retirement. Ministering 
angels waited upon the Lord of life, as 
he walked side by side  with the peasants  
and laborers among the hills of Nazareth,  
unrecognized and Unhonored. These 
high examples should teach us to avoid  
evil influences and shun the society of  
those who do not live aright. We should  
not flatter ourselves that we are too  
strong for any such influences to affect


154  
us, but we should, in humility guard our- 
selves from danger.  
^ Ancient Israel was especially directed by  
God to be and remain a people separate from  
all nations. They were not to be subjected  
to witnessing the idolatry of those about  
them, lest their own hearts should be cor- 
rupted, lest familiarity with ungodly prac- 
tices should make them appear less wicked  
in their eyes. Few realize their own weak-
ness, and that the natural sinfulness of the  
human heart too often paralyzes our noblest 
endeavors.  
The baleful influence of sin poisons the  
hfo of the soul. Our only safely is in sepa- 
ration from those who live in its daikness. 
The Lord has enjoined ; pon us to come out  
from among them and be separate, and to  
touch not the unclean thing and he will re-
ceive us and will be  a Father unto us, and we  
shall be his sons and daughters. If we wish 
to be adopted into the family of God, chil- 
dren of the Heavenly King, we must comply  
with his conditions; we should come out from 
the world and stand as a peculiar people be- 
fore the Lord, obeying his precepts and serv- 
ing him.  
Lot chose Sodom for his home because he  
saw there were advantages to be gained 
there from a worldly point of view. But  
after he had established himself and grown  
rich in earthly treasure, he was convinced  
that he had made a mistake in not taking  
into consideration the moral standing of the  

155  
community in which he was to make his 
home.  
The dwellers in Sodom were corrupt; vile  
conversation greeted his cars daily, and his  
righteous soul was vexed by the violence and  
crime he was powerless to prevent. His  
children were becoming like these wicked  
people, for association with them had per- 
ve ted their moir.ls. Taking all these things  
into consideration, the worldly riches he had 
gained se»med small  and not worth the pi ice  
lie had paid for them. His family connec- 
tions were extensive, his children having  
married among the Sodomites.  
The Lord's anger was finally kindled against  
the wicked inhabitants of the city. The  
angels of God visited Sodom to bring forth  
Lot, that he should not perish in the over- 
throw of the city. They bade Lot bring his  
family, his wife, and the sons and daughters  
who had married in wicked Sodom, and they  
told him to flee from the place, " For," 
said the angels, " we will destroy this place,  
because the cry of them is waxen great be- 
fore the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath  
sent us to destroy it."  
And Lot went out and  entreated his chil- 
dren. He repeated the words of the angel. 
Up, get thee out of this place, for the Lord  
will destroy this city ! But he seemed unto  
his sons-in-law as one who mocked, for they  
had lived so  long in Sodoiu they  had become  
partakers of the sins of the people. And the  
daughters were influenced by their husbands


146  
to believe their father was mad. They were  
well enough off where they were. ' They  
were rich and had great possessions, they 
could not believe it possible that beautiful  
Sodom, a rich and fertile country, would be  
destroyed by the wrath of a sin-avenging 
God. s b  
Lot returned sorrowfully to the angels,  
and repeated the story of his failure. Then  
the angels commanded him to arise, and take  
his wife, and the two daughters who were 
yet in his house, and leave the city. But  
Lot was sad, for the thought of leaving his  
children and his wife, for she refused to go 
without them, almost broke his heart. 
They would all have perished in the terrible  
ruin of Sodom, had not the Lord, in his  
great mercy, sent his angels to the rescue.  
Lot was paralyzed by the great calamity  
about to occur, he was stupefied with grief at 
the thought of leaving all he held dear on  
earth. But as he lingered, the angels of God  
laid hold upon his hand, and the hands of  
his wife and two daughters, and brought  
them out of the city and charged them to  
flee for their lives, neither to look behind  
them, nor to stay upon all the plain, but to  
escape to the mountains. How reluctant  
was Lot to obey the angel and go as far as  
possible from corrupt Sodom, appointed to  
utter destruction.  
Lot plead to remain; he distrusted God.  
Living in the wicked city, had weakened his  
faith and confidence in the justice of the  

157  
Lord. Lot plead that he could not do as  
he was required, lest  some evil should over- 
take him and he should die. Angels were 
sent on a special mission to save the life of  
Lot and his family, but Lot had so long been  
surrounded by corrupting influences, that his  
sensibilities were blunted and he could not  
discern the works of God and his purposes;  
he could not trust himself in his hands to do  
his bidding. He was continually pleading  
for himself, and this unbelief caused him the  
life of his wife.  
She looked back to Sodom and murmured  
against the dealings of God. She was changed  
to a pillar of salt, that she might stand as a  
warning to all those who disregarded the  
special mercies and providences of Heaven. 
After this terrible retribution, Lot 110 longer  
dared to linger by the way, but fled into  the  
mountains, according to the directions of 
the angels. The sinful conduct of his  
daughters after leaving Sodom, was the re-
sult of wicked associations while there. The 
sense of right and wrong was confused in 
their minds, and sin did not appear as sin to  
then.  
The case of Lot should be a warning to  
all those who wish to live godly lives, to sep- 
arate themselves from all influences calculated 
to lead them away from God. Lot remained 
so long among the wicked that he was only  
able to save himself and two daughters, and 
even they were corrupted in morals by their 
sojourn in Sodom.


146  
God means what he says and he will not  
be trifled with. Oh ! how many short-sighted 
sinful mortals plead with God, to induce him  
to come to their terms, while if they would 
only yield themselves unreservedly into his  
hands he would compass their salvation and  
give them precious victories.  
Sister N , you are in danger of making  
decisions that will be very injurious to you.  
God has a work for you to do, which Aone  
can do for you, and without this your soul 
cannot be saved. God lovos you and is un-
willing you should perish in the general ruin. 
He invites you to leave those things which  
hinder your spiritual advancement, and to  
find ia him that strength and consolation you  
need. You have cares and burdens to bear  
in your family that often worry you, but if 
you do only those things necessary to your  
temporal comfort and happiness, you will  
find time to read your Bible with prayerful  
interest and perfect a Christian character.  
Bro. N , you have had many discour- 
agements, but you must be earnest, firm and  
decided to do your duty in your family, and  
tike them with you if possible. You should  
spare no effort to prevail upon them to accom- 
pany you on your heavenward journey. But 
if the mother and the children do not choose 
to accompany you but rather seek to draw  
you away from your duties and religious  
privileges, you must go forward even if you 
go alone. You must live in the fear of God.  
You must improve your opportunities of  

159  
attending the meetings, and gain all the spirit-
ual strength you can for you will need it in  
the clays to come. Lot's property was all 
consumed, if you should meet with loss you 
should not be discouraged, and if you can 
save only a part of your family it is much 
better than to lose all.  
Dear Bro. and Sr. you are parents, you are  
in a great measure, accountable for the souls  
of your children. You have brought them 
into existence and you should, by precept  
and example, lead them to the Lord and the  
courts of Heaven. You should impress them  
with the thought that their temporal interests 
are of little consequence when compared with  
their eternal welfare.  
These dear children are living among  
worl lly people, and they are imbibing a love  
for the vanities of life. Your son L , is  
a kind-hearted, fine-spirited boy, but he needs  
the watchful care of a mother, whose daily  
experience in  the Christian life will fit her to  
counsel and instruct him. He is at just that  
age whpn a tender, judicious mother can 
mould him by her influence; but I fetr,  
sister N , that you seek rather to mould 
your children after the fashion of this world,  
and neglect to teach them that the important  
work of life is to form characters that will  
insure immortality.  
If L neglects to become acquainted  
with i eligious subjects and p actical Chris-
tianity, his life will be a mistake. He should 
see that he needs an education in spiritual


160  
and divine things, that he may .use his abili- 
ties wholly for God. The Lord calls for 
young men to work in his vineyard. Young 
men should not neglect the essential branches  
of education. But if they turn their entire  
attention to secular study, and ueglect to  
become intelligent on the great subject of re- 
ligion, and do not acquire a Christian experi- 
ence, they are becoming disqualified for the  
work of God.  
However favorable the educational advan- 
tage may be, something  besides the knowl- 
edge of books is necessary to save  the soul  
and lead others to repentance. Devoting a 
period of years to the acquisition of scientific 
knowledge, alone, is not preparing to be an  
efficient laborer in the service of God.  
Young men should devote much time to  
study, but they should also unite physical 
labor with  their mental efforts, and put in  
practice the knowledge they have gained.  
That all the faculties of the mind, and powers  
of the body may be equally developed by  
useful exercise. But they should not neglect  
the things necessary to salvation, nor con-
sider them secondary to anything in this life.  
Daar Bro. and Sr. God loves your family  
and desires to shower his special blessings 
upon you, that you may become instruments  
of righteousness in  leading others toward  
Heaven. But Bro. N can do a great  
amount of good, if entirely consecrated to  
God, in a community  where his advice and  
influence would be better received and appie- 

161  
ciated. We have strong hopes that both  
of you will correct that which is wrong  
in your lives, and renew your faith and 
obedience to God, receiving new strength  
from him who has promised to help those  
who call upon his name.  
Young Bro. L , you have made a  
mistake in your life. In closely pursuing  
your studies you have neglected the de- 
velopment of all your faculties. The  
moral growth should never be dwarfed  
in the effort to acquire education, but  
should be cultivated in a far higher de- 
gree than is usually deemed necessary.  
My dear young brother, you have been  
ambitious to secure knowledge. This am-
bition is praise-worthy, but in order to  
gratify it, you have neglected your eter- 
nal interests and made them secondary to  
your studies. God and Heaven have oc- 
cupied a subordinate position in your af- 
fections. The claims of God's holy law 
have not been sacredly observed in your  
daily life. You have desecrated the Sab- 
bath by bringing your studies into that  
holy time which was not yours to occupy  
for your own purposes. God has saicl,  
in it thou shalt not do any work.  
"If thou turn away thy foot from the  
Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on  my  
holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, 
the holy of the Lord,  honorable; and


146  
shalt honor him, not doing thine own  
ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor 
speaking thine own words; then shalt 
thou delight thyself in the Lord; ancl I  
will cause thee to ride upon the high  
places of the earth, and feed thee with 
the heritage of Jacob thy father; for  
the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it."  
You have yielded to inclination rather  
than duty, and made  your studies para- 
mount to the expressed command of the 
Most High.  
Our camp-meetings are arranged ancl  
held at great expense. God's ministers 
who advocate unpopular truth, labor ex- 
cessively at these large gatherings to  bear  
the message of mercy from a crucified 
Redeemer to poor fallen sinners. To neg- 
lect or treat these messages with indiffer- 
ence, is to slight the mercy of God, and  
his voice of warning ancl entreaty.  
Your absence from these meetings has  
been very detrimental to your spiritual  
welfare. You have missed the strength 
that you might have gained there°in  
listening to the preached word of God, 
ancl mingling with the believers of the 
truth. Your mind has been lulled into  
a fatal apathy in regard to the well-being 
of your soul. You have exalted your  
secular education above the knowledge to 
be gained  in the school of Christ. °Ex- 

163  
perience in a true religious life is 
necessary in order to form a character  
acceptable to God ancl the pure virtues 
that will bear the light of Heaven.  
What anxiety you have manifested to  
discipline your mind by study, to become  
properly conversant with your text-books,  
that you might creditably pass the ex-
amination before your instructors, friends  
and interested spectators! How ambitious  
you have been to prove that you have 
been a diligent student and faithfully em-
ployed your time in storing your mind 
with useful knowledge. You have been  
as sincerely anxious to progress in your 
studies, as to secure the commendation of 
your friends and teachers. You have  
justly earned the honors you have receiv- 
ed for scholarship.  
But how has your mind been disciplin- 
ed in religion ?  Have you not unthink- 
ingly placed the kingdom of God and his  
righteousness below your advancement 
in the sciences ? True, some of the human 
faculties were given more especially for  
the purpose of engaging in temporal mat-
ters, but the higher powers of the  mind  
should be wholly consecrated to God.  
These control the  man, these form his life  
ancl character. Ancl while you should  
not neglect your secular studies, you have  
no right to give them all your attention,


164  
but should devote yourself especially to  
the moral and spiritual requirements of  
your Heavenly Father.  
How little anxiety you have manifest- 
ed to improve the religious advantages  
within your reach,togain a more thorough  
knowledge of the laws of God, and a de- 
termination to abide by them! You have  
made little effort to become a loyal and  
intelligent Christian. How then will you  
be prepared to -pass the grand review  
where all your deeds and words, and the  
inmost thoughts of your heart will be  
laid open before the great Judge and the  
assembled saints and angels You  
have had little ambition to obtain  
a spiritual fitness  to bear this close  
examination in the presence of that ex- 
alted throng. What then will be the  
final decision as to your moral and relig-
ious attainments, that decision from which  
there is no appeal ?  
What will be the honors accredited to  
you because of your faithfulness in pre-
serving the required harmony between  
religion and the pursuit of the sciences ?  
Will you stand as one possessing unfalt- 
ering moral courage, in whom is shown  
excellence of human knowledge united  
with a holy zeal for God and the obedience  
oi his law ?  
My brother, you should consider the  

165  
wisdom of God  as all in all. Religion  
must go hand in hand with science in 
order to make your education a sanctified  
means of doing good and turning others  
to the truth. The more we learn in the 
school of Christ, the more eager we are  
to advance in that knowledge. All our 
acquirements are of little value unless 
the character is ennobled by religion. God 
has special duties for every individual to  
perform, and a decision * will be passed  
upon every case as to the faithfulness with  
which these duties have been accomplish- 
ed. 
The Lord frequently places us in diffi- 
cult positions to stimulate us to greater  
exertion. In his providence special an- 
noyances sometimes occur to test our 
patience and faith. God gives us lessons  
of trust. He would  teach us where to  
look for help and strength in the time of  
need. Thus  we obtain practical knowl- 
edge of his divine will, which we so much  
need in our life experience. Faith grows  
strong in earnest conflict with doubt and  
fear.  
Brother, you may be a conqueror if you  
take careful heed to your ways. You  
should devote your young life to the 
cause of God and pray for success. You 
should not close your eyes to your dan- 
ger, but resolutely prepare for every difti-


166  
culty m your Christian advancement,  
lake time for reflection and humble  
earnest prayer. Your talents are marked  
and you are hopeful in regard to your  
future success, but unless you comprehend  
the weakness of your natural heart you  
will be disappointed.  
You are just starting out in life, have  
arrived at an age to bear responsibilities  
for yourself. This is a critical period in  
your life. Now, in your youth, you are 
sowing m the field of life. That which  
you sow y0ll shall also reap; as was  
the seed, so shall be the harvest. Ifvou '  
are neglectful and indifferent concerning  
eternal things, you will sustain a great  
loss yourself, and, through your influence  
prevent others from fulfilling their obli- 
gations to God.  
Both worlds are before you, which will  
you choose? Be wise and lay hold of eter- 
nal lite, Swerve not from your integritv  
however unpleasant your duties may ap- 
pear in the present emergency. It' mav 
seem that you are about to make great  
sacrifices to preserve your purity of soul  
but do not hesitate, press forward in the  
tear of God and he will bless your efforts  
and recompense you a thousand fold Do  
not yield your religious claims and privil- 
eges in order to gratify the wishes of  
your unconsecrated friends and relatives  

146 166  
You are called to take your position for 
the truth, even if it should be in direct  
opposition to those who are closely con-
nected with you. God forbid that this  
last trial should ever come to you, to  
test and prove your integrity for the  
right.  
Lay the foundation of your Christian  
character upon the eternal Bock of Sal- 
vation, and let the structure be firm and  
sound.  
We hope that your mother will aid  
your efforts, and those of your brothers  
and sisters, to perfect a true character 
after the pattern of Christ, that you may  
have a moral fitness for the society of  
holy angels in the kingdom of glory.  
Epistle Number Eight.  
DEAR BRN. G : In the vision given  
me last January, I was shown some  
things in reference to you both. I was  
shown that you are not growing in spir- 
ituality as it is your duty_and privilege to  
do. The greatness of the work and the  
opening providences of God should stir  
your hearts. Christ designed that his 
believing children should be the light of  
the world, the salt of the earth. The  
holy life and Christian example of one  
good man in a community, sheds a light


168  
that is reflected upon others. How  
great then should be the influence of a 
company 0f believers all walking in the  
commandments of God  
The preaching of the word is ordained  
, S ^ arouse and convict sinners.  
And when the living preacher exempli- 
hes m his own life the self-denial and  
sacrifices of Christ, when his conversation  
and acts are in harmony with the Divine  
Pattern, then his influence will be a pow- 
erful one upon those who listen to his  
voice. But all cannot be teachers of the  
ties ofm,%e PUlf" The individual ^  
is wo k f u FerTm var^' and there is work for all to do. All can aid the  
cause by glVing unselfishly 0f their  
means to help the various branches of  
atioTnf ;t0 !UmiS} means for the  
amZl ^ T l,eri(Klical« to scatter  
truth ft? Pe0?le' and disseminate the 
truth. Ihose who give money to promote  
ofMZ B?FNG A PART °F THE 
of the work; they are co-laborers with  
Jesus Christ, for God has furnished men  
tTenirnh%°n ^™ 
them lor holy and wise purposes Thev  
are the instrumentalities  Heaven has or  
darned for doing good, and these talents  
men are to put out to the exchange  
Dear brethren, ever bear in mind that  
you are the stewards of God, and that he  

169  
holds you accountable for the temporal  
talents he has lent you to use wisely for  
his glory. Will you not closely search 
your hearts and investigate the motives 
which prompt you to action? I was 
shown that your danger was in loving  
your possessions. Your ears are not  
quick to hear the Master's call in the  
person of his saints and the wants of his  
cause. You do not invest your treasure  
gladly in the enterprise of Christianity.  
If you desire a treasure in Heaven you 
should be securing it while you have the 
opportunity. If you feel safer to apply  
your means toward the greater accumu- 
lation of earthly riches, and invest spar-
ingly in the cause of God, then you  
should feel* satisfied to receive heavenly 
treasure according to your investment in  
heavenly stock.  
You desire to see the cause of God pro- 
gress, but you make little personal effort  
towards that end. If you, and others  
who profess our holy faith, could see your  
true position, and realize your accounta-
bility to God, you would become more  
earnest co-laborers with Jesus. "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." There can be no divided interest 
in this, for the whole heart and mind and


146 170  
strength is all that composes the man.  
Says the apostle, "Ye are not  your  
own, ye are bought with a price." When  
the poor, condemned sinner was lyino- 
under  the curse of the Father's law, Jesus  
so loved him that he gave himself for the 
transgressor. He redeemed him by the  
virtue of his blood. We cannot estimate  
the precious ransom paid to redeem fall- 
en man. The heart's best and holiest  
affections should be given in return for 
such  wondrous love. The temporal  
gifts you enjoy are merely lent you to 
aid in the advancement of the kingdom  
of God.  
I speak of the tithing system, yet how  
meager it looks to my mind! How small  
the estimate ! How vain the endeavor  
to measure with mathematical rules, time,  
money and love against a love and a sac-
rifice that is measureless and incomputa- 
ble ! Tithes for Christ! Oh, meager  
pittance, shameful recompense for that  
which cost so much ! From the cross of  
Calvary, Christ calls for an unconditional  
surrender.  
He promised the young ruler that if  
he sold all that he had and gave it to the  
poor, and lifted his cross and Mowed  
him, he should have treasure in Heaven.  
All we have should be consecrated to  
God. The Majesty of Heaven came to  

the world to die, a sacrifice for the sins  
of man. How cold and selfish is the hu-
man heart that can turn away from such 
incomparable love, and set itself upon the  
vain things of this world.  
When selfishness is striving for the  
victory over you, bear in mind One who 
left the glorious courts of Heaven, and 
laid aside the robes of royalty for your  
sakes, becoming poor that, through his 
poverty, you might be made rich. Will 
you, then, disregard this  great love and  
boundless mercy, by refusing to be incon- 
venienced, and to deny yourselves for 
his dear sake ? Will you cling to the  
treasures of this life and neglect to aid 
in carrying forward the great work of  
truth ?  
The children of Israel were anciently  
commanded to make an offering for the 
entire congregation to purify them from  
ceremonial defilement. This sacrifice 
was a red heifer, and represented the  
more perfect offering that should re- 
deem from the pollution of sin. This 
was an occasional sacrifice for the purifi- 
cation of all those who had necessarily  
or accidentally touched the dead All  
who came in contact with death in any  
way were considered ceremonially un- 
clean. This was to forcibly impress the  
minds of the Hebrews with the fact


146  
that death came in consequence of sin  
and therefore is a representative of  sin'  
Ihe one heifer, the one ark, the one  
brazen serpent impressively point to the  
owe great offering, the sacrifice of Christ  
This heifer was to be red without  
spot, which was a symbol of blood It  
must be without blemish, and one that  
had never borne a yoke. Here again  
was Christ typified. The Son of God  
came voluntarily to accomplish the  
work of atonement. There  was no obli- 
gatory yoke upon him, for he was inde- 
pendent and above all law. The angels  
as Gods intelligent messengers, were 
under the yoke of obligation, no personal  
sacrifice of theirs would atone for the  
guilt of fallen man. Christ alone was  
free from the claims of the law to under-
take the redemption of the sinful race  
He had power to lay down his life and  
to take it up again. " Who being in the  
form of God, thought it not robbery to  
be equal with God."  
. Yet this glorious being loved the poor  
sinner, and took upon himself the form 
of a servant, that he might suffer and  
die m man's behalf. JeSus might have  
remained at his Father's right hand 
wearing his kingly crown and royal  
robes. But he chose to exchange all the 
riches, honor and glory of Heaven for  

173  
the poverty of humanity,  and his station  
of high command for the horrors of Geth-
semane, and the humiliation and agony 
of Calvary. He became a man of sor-
rows and acquainted with grief, that, by  
his baptism of suffering and blood, he  
might purify and redeem a guilty 
world. Lo, " I come," was the joyful as- 
sent,  " to do thy will, 0 God !"  
The sacrificial heifer was conducted  
without the camp, and slain in the most 
imposing manner. Thus Christ suffered 
without the gates of Jerusalem, for Cal- 
vary was outside the city  walls. This  
was to show that Christ did not die for 
the Hebrews alone, but for all mankind.  
He .proclaims to a fallen world that he  
has come to be their Redeemer, and  
urges them to accept the salvation he  
offers them.  
The heifer having been slain in a  
most solemn manner, the priest clothed 
in pure white garments, took the blood 
in his hands as it issued from the body  
of the victim, and cast it towards the 
temple seven times. "And having a  
high priest over the house of God, let us  
draw near with a true heart, in full as-
surance of faith, having our hearts 
sprinkled from an evil conscience, and  
our bodies washed with pure water."  
The body of the heifer was burned to


146 174  
ashes, which signified a whole and ample 
sacrifice. • The ashes were then gathered  
up by a person uncontaminated by con- 
tact with the dead, and placed in a Vessel  
containing water from a running stream. 
This clean and pure person then took a  
cedar stick with scarlet cloth and a  
bunch of hyssop and sprinkled the con- 
tents of the vessel upon the tent and  
the people assembled. This ceremony  
was repeated several times in order to be 
thorough, and was done as a purification  
from sin.  
Thus Christ in his own spotless  
righteousness, after shedding his precious 
blood, enters into the holy place to  
cleanse the sanctuary. And there the  
crimson current is brought into the ser- 
vice of reconciling  God to man. Some  
may look  upon this slaying of the heifer  
as a meaningless ceremony, but it was  
done by the command of God, and bears  
a deep significance that has not lost its  
application to the present time.  
. T1}e priest used cedar and hyssop,  
clipping  them into the cleansing water  
and sprinkling the unclean. This sym- 
bolized the blood of Christ spilled to 
cleanse us from moral impurities. The  
repeated sprinklings illustrate the thor-
oughness  of the work that must be ac- 
complished for the repenting  sinner. All  

that he has must be consecrated. Not  
only should his  own soul be washed  
clean and pure, but he should strive to  
have his family, his domestic arrange- 
ments, his property and entire belong-
ings consecrated to God.  
After the sprinkling with hyssop of  
the tent, over the door of those cleansed  
was written, I am not my own; Lord, I 
am thine. Thus should it be with those 
who profess to be cleansed by the blood  
of Christ. God is no less exacting now  
than he was in olden times. The Psalm-
ist, in his prayer, refers to this symbolic  
ceremony when he says, " Purge me with  
hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me,  
and I shall be whiter than snow." 
" Create in me a clean heart, 0 God; 
and renew a right spirit within me." 
" Restore unto me the joy of thy salva- 
tion, and uphold me with thy free spirit."  
The blood of Christ is efficacious but  
needs continually to be applied. God  
not only wants his  servants to use the  
means he has intrusted to them for his 
glory, but he desires them to  make  
a consecration of themselves to his cause.  
If you, my brethren, have become selfish  
and are withholding from the Lord that  
which you should cheerfully give to his  
service, then you need the blood of 
sprinkling thoroughly applied, consecra-


204  
ting you and all your possessions to God.  
My much respected brethren, you  
have not that earnest and unselfish de-
votion to the work of God that he re- 
quires of you. You have given your at- 
tention to temporal matters. You have 
trained your minds for business in order  
to benefit yourselves thereby. But God 
calls for you to come more closely into  
union with him, that he may mould and  
train you for his work. A solemn state- 
ment was made to ancient Israel that the  
man who should remain unclean and re- 
fuse to purify himself, should be cut off'  
from among the congregation. This has 
a special meaning for us. If it was nec-
essary in  ancient times for the unclean to  
be purified by the blood of sprinkling,  
how essential for those living in the  
perils of the last days and exposed to 
the temptations of Satan, to have the  
blood of Christ applied to their hearts 
daily. " For if the blood of bulls and of  
goats, and the  ashes of an heifer sprink- 
ling the unclean, sanctifieth to the pu- 
rifying  of the flesh, how much more  
shall the blood of Christ, who through  
the eternal Spirit offered himself without  
spot to God, purge your conscience from  
dead works to serve the living God ? "  
You should both do much more than  
you have done towards bearing the bur- 

177  
dens of the work of the Lord. I ad- 
jure you to arouse from your lethargy,  
leave the vain idolatry of worldly things,  
and be in earnest to secure a title 
to your immortal inheritance. Work 
while it is day. Do not imperil your  
souls by forfeiting present opportuni-
ties. Do not make your eternal interests  
of secondary importance. Do not put  
the world before religion, and toil day  
after day to acquire its riches, while the 
peril of eternal bankruptcy threatens  
you. Every day is bringing you nearer 
to the final reckoning. Be ready to  
yield up the talents lent you with the  
increase gained by their wise use.  
You cannot afford to sacrifice Heaven,  
or jeopardize your safety. Do not let 
the deceitfulness of riches lead you to  
neglect the immortal treasure. Satan  
is a wily foe and he is ever on your 
track, striving to ensnare you and com-
pass your ruin. We are in the waiting  
time, let your loins be girded about, and  
your lights shining, that you may wait 
for the Lord when he returneth from  
the wedding, that when he cometh and 
knocketh you may open unto him im- 
mediately. . .  
Watch, brethren, the first dimming of  
your light, the first neglect of prayer, 
the first symptom of spiritual slumber.


146 178  
He that endureth unto the end shall be  
saved. It is by the constant exercise of  
faith and love that believers are made to  
shine as lights in the world. You are  
making but poor preparation for the  
Master's coming, if, when he appears,  
you must present to him talents that  
you have buried in the earth, talents 
neglected, abused, misused, a divided  
love, serving mammon while professedly  
serving ,God.  
You have both professed to be ser- 
vants of Christ. How necessary that  
you should obey your Master's directions  
and be faithful to your duties. "Behold  
what manner of love the Father hath 
bestowed upon us, that we should be 
called the sons of God." This love is  
without a parallel, giving to men the re- 
lationship of sons to God. Therefore the 
hather expects obedience from his chil- 
dren, therefore he requires a right dispo- 
sition of the property he has placed in 
their hands. It is not their own to use  
lor their personal gratification, but it is 
the capital of the Lord, for which they 
are responsible to him.  
Children of the Lord, how precious is  
the promise! How full the atonement  
ot the Saviour for our guilt! The Re-
deemer, with a heart of unalterable love  
still sheds his sacred blood in the sinner's  

behalf. The wounded hands, the pierced  
side, the marred feet plead eloquently  
for fallen man whose redemption is pur- 
chased at such an infinite cost. Oh,  
matchless condescension! Time nor  
events can lessen the efficacy of the  
atoning sacrifice. As the fragrant cloud  
of incense rose acceptably to Heaven,  
and Aaron sprinkled the blood  upon the  
mercy-seat of ancient Israel, and cleansed 
the people from guilt, so the merits of 
the slain Lamb are accepted by God to- 
day as a purifier from the defilement of  
sin.  
Watch and pray that you enter not  
into temptation. There are stern bat- 
tles for you to fight. You should put on  
the whole armor of righteousness and  
prove yourselves strong and true in your  
Redeemer's service. God wants no idlers  
in his field, but co-laborers with Christ, 
vigilant sentinels at their posts, valiant 
soldiers of the cross, ready to do and 
dare all things for the cause in which  
they are enlisted!1  
It is not wealth or intellect that gives  
happiness, it is true moral worth and a  
sense of duty performed. You may  
have the overcomer's reward and stand  
before the throne of Christ to sing his 
praises in the clay when he assembles 
his saints, but your robes must be


146  
cleansed in the blood of the Lamb, and 
charity must cover you as a garment  
and you be found spotless and without  
blemish.  
John says:—" After this I beheld, and,  
lo, a great multitude, which no man  
could number, of all nations, and kin-
dreds, and people, and tongues, stood be- 
fore the throne, and before the Lamb, 
clothed with white robes, and palms in 
their hands; and cried with a loud  
voice, saying, Salvation to our God 
which sitteth upon the throne, and unto 
the Lamb." "These are they which came 
out of great tribulation, and' have washed  
their robes, and made them white in the 
blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they  
before the throne of God, and serve him  
day and night in his temple; and he  
that sitteth on the throne shall dwell  
among them. They shall hunger no 
more, neither thirst any more; neither 
shall the sun light on them, nor any  
heat. For the Lamb which is in the 
midst of the throne shall feed them, and  
shall lead them untoiiving fountains of  
waters; and God shall wipe away all 
tears from their eyes."  

181  
Epistle Number Nine.  
DEAR BRO. : In my last vision your  
case was presented before me. I was  
shown that there are defects in your  
Christian character that must be over-
come before you can perfect holiness in 
the fear of the Lord. You love the truth,  
but you need to be sanctified by the truth.  
You are not selfish nor niggardly in hos-
pitality or in sustaining the cause of  
truth; but there is one kind of sel- 
fishness which exists in your heart. You  
are weded to your own opinion, and ex- 
tol your own judgment above that of  
others. You are in danger of exalting 
yourself above your brethren. You are  
exacting and inclined to carry  out your  
own ideas, independent of your brethren,  
because you consider your intelligence  
and experience superior to theirs.  
In this you fail to carry out the apos- 
tle's injunction, "Let nothing be done  
through strife  or vain glory; but in low- 
liness of mind let each esteem other bet-
ter than themselves." You have your no- 
tions, your purposes and your plans, and  
imagine they can never  be incorrect.  
In your household you have always  
taken too much of the management up- 
on yourself. When your opinions or 
plans have been crossed, instead of con-


146  
ceding to, or compromising with, those 
who opposed yon, considering that they, 
as well as yourself, had a right to their  
independent judgment, you have felt  
vexed and hurt. You could not endure 
that your family should call your plans  
in question, or offer suggestions differing 
from your opinions. In consequence of  
this unpleasant state of affairs, your fam- 
ily have usually submitted their wishes  
to yours and allowed you to have your  
own way in order to preserve harmony  
at home. Therefore there has been in  
your family much longsuffering and pa- 
tient indulgence of your whims, which  
appears to you only a proper observance 
of your legitimate authority. This you 
consider sound and correct management  
on your part.  
Whenever your determined spirit to  
carry out your own judgment at all haz- 
ards has driven your friends to the op- 
posite extreme and to feel contempt for 
your arbitrary spirit, you have felt, and  
intimated, that all such opposition was  
instigated by the temptations of the en-
emy. ^ This has made you more persis- 
tent in carrying out your own ideas, re- 
gardless of the wishes of others.  
You are in danger of having trouble  
because you are unwilling to grant lib-
erty of judgment and opinion to those  

183  
connected with you. It is well for you  
to remember that their ways and their  
opinions may be as dear to them as yours  
are to you. ' We are very apt to lose sight  
of this fact when we censure others for 
not agreeing with us. You govern the  
members of your family too rigidly. You  
are very punctilious in giving them line 
upon line and precept upon precept, and  
if they venture to  differ with you, it only  
renders you more determined to act ac- 
cording to your own mind and show that  
you are master in your own house, and  
not to be interfered with.  
You seem to consider that it is enough  
for you to say that a thing must be done  
in order to have it clone in the  very man- 
ner you indicated. In this arbitrary way  
you often place your mind and judgment  
between your family and their own good  
sense of what is right and proper under  
the circumstances. You have made _ a  
sad mistake in breaking down the will  
and judgment of your wife, and requir-
ing her to unquestioningly yield to your  
superior wisdom or bring discord into  
the home.  
You should not seek to rule the actions  
of your wife or treat her as a servile de- 
pendent. Never lift yourself above her  
and excuse yourself by thinking, "She is 
inexperienced and inferior to me." Never


146  
seek to unreasonably bend her will to  
yours, for she has an individuality that 
can never be submerged in yours. I have 
seen many families shipwrecked through  
over management on the part of  its head,  
whereas, through consultation and agree- 
ment together, all might have moved off  
harmoniously and well.  
My brother, you are self-conceited.  
You go out of your proper province in  
order to exercise your authority. You  
imagine that you understand the best  
way of doing the work in your kitchen;  
and in the working department you have  
your own peculiar ideas of how every-
thing should be done. You expect all to  
adapt themselves like machinery to these  
ideas, and observe the particular order  
that pleases you.  
These efforts to bring your friends into  
a position where they will meekly yield  
every wish and inclination to your will,  
is vain and futile. All minds are not 
moulded alike, and it is well that it is so,  
for if they were exactly similar, there 
would be less harmony and natural adap-
tability to each other than now. But  
we are all represented as being members 
of the body, united in Christ. In this  
body there are various members, and one  
member cannot perform exactly the same  
office as another. The eyes are made for  

185  
seeing, and in no case can they perform 
the work of the ears, which is that of 
hearing, neither can the ears take the  
place of the mouth, nor the mouth per-
form the office of the nose. Yet all these  
organs are necessary"to the perfect whole, 
and Avork in beautiful harmony with  
each other.  
The hands have their office and the  
feet theirs ; one is not to say to the other  
"You are inferior to me;" the hands are 
not to say to the feet, "We have no need  
of you;" but all are united in the body,  
to do their specific work, and should be  
alike respected as they conduce to the  
comfort and usefulness of the perfect 
whole.  
We cannot all have the same minds  
nor cherish the same ideas, but one is to  
be a benefit and blessing to the other, that  
where one lacks, another may supply  
what is requisite. You have certain  
deficiencies of character and natural biases  
that render it profitable for you to be  
brought in contact with a mind different- 
ly organized, in order to properly balance 
your own. Instead of superintending so  
exclusively, you should consult with your 
wife and mutually arrive at  joint decis- 
ions. You do not encourage indepen- 
dent effort on the part of your family,  
but if your specific directions are not


146  
scrupulously carried out you too frequent- 
ly find fault with the delinquents.  
Were your wife, and other members of  
your family, without tact or skill, you  
would be more excusable in taking the  
reins so entirely in your own hands, but  
this not being the case,  your course is  
altogether unwarrantable. After you  
have kindly informed them concerning  
your views of cooking ancl the manage-
ment of household matters, and intimated 
what your desires are in regard to it, go  
no farther, but let them use your sugges-
tions as they choose. They will be much  
more likely to be pleasantly influenced 
to please you than if you resorted to per-
emptory measures. And even if they do  
not adapt themselves to your opinions, do 
not persist in ruling every thing to be 
done in your own way.  
You must remember that the natural  
independence of others should be respect-
ed. If your wife does her work in a way  
convenient to herself, you have no right  
to interfere with her affairs and fret and  
burden her with your many suggestions 
and reflections upon her management.  
You have many good and generous  
traits of character. You are a courteous,  
affable" man, in general, to those outside  
your own family. Perhaps this is attrib- 
utable, in some measure, to the fact that  

187  
you dare not exhibit to them your natural  
disposition, excepting to those whom you  
consider greatly your inferior. If your 
superiority is not sufficiently recognized in  
society, you are determined that it shall 
be at home, where you think that none  
will presume to dispute its claims.  
You should go diligently about affect- 
ing a change in yourself. If you are will- 
ing to sacrifice your selfishness, your  
exacting disporition, your pet notions 
and ideas, you can have a peaceful ancl 
happy home that angels will delight to  
look upon. Is it sweeter to have your 
will than to see a proper freedom of ^ ac- 
tion and spirit in your household ? Your 
home is not always just what it should  
be, but you are the principal cause of its  
discord.' If you stand as a representative  
of Christ upon the earth, do not, I be- 
seech you, misrepresent your blessed Re- 
deemer, who was meek and  kind, gentle  
and forgiving. .  
It is a fact well worth your considera- 
tion that it is a difficult thing for people  
who have sound minds ancl ideas of then- 
own, to work precisely in the groove 
that another may lay out for them.  
Therefore you have no moral right to  
embarrass your wife ancl family with your 
whims and petulant notions concerning  
their employments. It will be hard for


146  
you to change at once your mode of oper-
ation; but make a firm determination 
that you will not enter your kitchen un- 
less it be to encourage "the efforts and  
praise the management of those who are  
laboring there. Let commendation take  
the place of censure.  
_ Cultivate traits of character the oppo- 
site of those which are here reproved. 
Seek to develop goodness, patience, love,  
and all the graces which will have a  
transforming influence in your home and  
brighten the lives of your family and your  
friends. Confess that you have done 
wrong and then turn squarely about and 
strive to be just and right. Do not en- 
deavor to make your wife a slave to your  
will, but draw her into close sympathy  
with yourself by kindness and an unsel- 
fish desire to promote her comfort and  
happiness. Give her an opportunity to 
exercise her faculties, and do not try to  
warp her mind and mould her judgment 
till she loses her mental identity.  
She is a child of God and a woman of  
fine capabilities and good taste, one who  
has a humble opinion of herself at best. 
And you have dictated to her so long and 
discouraged her independent thought,  
that it has had an influence to make her 
shut herself within herself and fail to de- 
velop the noble womanhood that is hers  

189  
by right. While consulting with your  
wife upon matters that effect her interests  
equally with your own, you well know 
that if she expresses an opinion contrary  
to yours, a feeling of injury rises in your 
heart and self takes possession of you  
and excludes that feeling of deference  
that you should naturally cherish towards 
the companion of your life.  
The very same spirit that you exercise  
at  home will be manifested more or less in  
your church relations. Your determined  
will, your rigid opinions wall be urged 
and made a ruling power as far as possi- 
ble. This will never do, you must feel 
the necessity of yielding your judgment 
occasionally to that of others, and not 
persist in your way to a degree that often  
approaches stubbornness. If you wish for  
the daily blessing of God you should  
modulate your imperious disposition, and  
make it correspond to the Divine Pattern.  
You frequently grieve your wife uncon- 
ciously to yourself, because you do not  
guard" your words and acts with that  
tenderness that you should. You thus  
lessen her love for you, and foster a cold-
ness that is creeping into your home  
unawares. If you will think less of your- 
self and more of the treasures in your  
household, giving due consideration to  
the members of your family, and allow-


146  
ing them a proper exercise of their in-
dividual judgment, you will bring a bless- 
ing upon yourself and them, and increase  
the respect they feel for you.  
You have been inclined to look  with a  
sort of contempt upon your brethren who 
were faulty, and, from their natural tem- 
perament, found it hard to overcome the  
evils that beset them. But Jesus pities  
them, lie loves them and bears with their  
infirmities, even as he does with yours.  
You do wrong to exalt yourself above  
those who are not so strong as you are. 
You do wrong to shut yourself up in a  
self-righteous spirit, thanking God that  
you are not like other men, but that 
your faith and zeal exceeds those of the 
poor, feeble ones striving to do right under 
discouragements and darkness.  
Angels from a pure and holy Heaven •  
come to this polluted world to sympathize  
with the weakest, the most helpless and 
needy, while Christ himself descended  
from his throne to help just such as these.  
You ha/e no right to hold yourself aloof  
from these faltering ones, or assert your 
marked superiority to them. Come more  
in unison with Christ, pity the erring  
and lift up the hands that hang down" 
ward, strengthen the feeble knees, bid the  
fearful  hearts  be strong. Pity and help  
them even as Christ has pitied you.  

191  
You have desired to do a work for the  
Master. Here is work for you to do that  
will be acceptable to him, the very work 
that angels are engaged in  carrying for- 
ward. You may be a co-laborer with  
them. But you will never be called to 
preach the word to the people. You may  
have a generally correct knowledge of  
our faith, but you lack the qualifications  
of a teacher. You have not the  faculty  
of adapting yourself to the needs and 
ways of others. You have not sufficient 
volume of voice; even in  conference meet- 
ings you speak too low to be heard by  
those assembled. Also, my dear brother, 
you are frequently in danger of being  
tedious; even in small meetings, your re-
marks are too lengthy. Every word of  
what you say may be true, but in order  
to find its way to the soul, it should be 
accompanied with a fervor of spiritual  
power. What we say should be right to  
the point and not of sufficient  length to  
weary the listeners, else the subject mat- 
ter will find no lodgment in their hearts.  
There is plenty of work for all to do.  
You, my dear brother, can with all safety  
do good service for the Lord in helping 
those who most need aid. You may feel 
that your work in this direction is not  
rightly appreciated, but remember that  
our Saviour's work was also lightly con-


146  
sidered by those whom he benefited. He 
came to save those who were lost, and  
the very ones he sought to rescue, re- 
fused his help and finally put him to  
death.  
If you fail ninety-nine times in a hun- 
dred, but succeed in saving the one soul  
from ruin, you have done a noble deed  
for the Master's cause. But to be a co- 
worker with Jesus, you should have all  
patience with those for whom you labor, 
not scorning the simplicity of the work,  
but looking to the blessed result. When  
those for whom you labor do not ex-
actly meet your mind, you often say in  
your heart, " Let them go, they are not 
worth saving." What if Christ liad treat- 
ed poor out-casts in like manner ? He  
died to save miserable sinners, and if  
you, in the same spirit, work in the same  
manner indicated by the example of Him  
whom you follow, leaving the results  
with God, you can never measure, in this  
life, the amount of good you have accom-
plished.  
You are inclined to reach for higher  
work than that which naturally presents 
itself to you. You would seek to influ-
ence only the intellectual and honorable  
among men. But this class will surely  
disappoint your expectations; if they  
continue long in transgressions, they sel- 

193  
dom fully feel their lost and hopeless 
condition. You should work, as did  
Christ, in all humility, and you will not  
lose your reward. It is as honorable to  
work among the humble and lowly, lead- 
ing them to the Saviour, as among the 
rich and great. Above all, do not undertake 
responsibilities that you are unable to  
carry.  
Every thing possible should be done to  
make the meetings of our people interest- 
ing. You may be a great help in this if  
you take the proper course. Especially  
should our social meetings be properly 
conducted.  
A few words spoken in a clear and  
audible voice, in an earnest manner, with-
out any effort of speech, to the point, in 
relation to your progress in the divine  
life, Avould be to the edification of others 
and a blessing to your ewn soul.  
You need the softening, subduing in- 
fluence of the Spirit of God upon your 
heart. No one should receive the idea 
that a correct knowledge of the truth  
alone will meet the demands of God. A  
love and good will that exists only when  
our ways are acknowledged by our friends  
as right, is of no real value, for these are 
natural to the unregenerate heart. Those  
who profess to be children of God and  
walking in the right, should not feel an- 
13


146  
noyed or angered when their track is 
crossed.  
You love the truth, and are anxious  
for its advancement. You will be placed  
in various circumstances in order to prove 
and try you. You may develop a true  
Christian character if you will submit  
yourself to  discipline. Your vital inter- 
ests are at stake, and true holiness and a  
spirit of self-sacrifice is what you most  
need. We may obtain a knowledge of  
the truth and read its most hidden mys- 
teries, and even give our bodies to be  
burned for its sake, yet, if we have not  
love and charity, we are as sounding 
brass and thinkling cymbal.  
Cultivate a disposition to esteem others  
better than yourself. Be less self-suffi- 
cient, less confident, cherish patience, for- 
bearance and brotherly love. Be ready  
to help the erring, and have pity and 
tender sympathy towards those who are  
weak. You need not leave your businass 
in order to glorify the Lord, but you may, 
from day to day, while pursuing your  
usual avocations, honor him whom you 
serve in every deed and word, thereby in- 
fluencing lor the right those with whom  
you are brought in contact.  
Be courteous, tender-hearted, forgiv- 
ing towards others. Let self sink into 
the love of Jesus, that you may honor  

195  
your Redeemer and do the work that he has  
appointed for you to  do. How little you.  
know of the heart-trials of poor souls who  
heve been bound in the chains of darkness,  
and lack resolution and moral power. Strive  
to understand the weakness of others. Help  
the needy, crucify self, and let Jesus take pos- 
session of your soul in order that you may  
carry out the principles of truth in your daily  
life." Then will you be as never before, a  
blessing to the church and all those with  
whom you come in contact.  
Epistle Number Ten.  
DEAR SISTER :—I have been shown that  
you have certain faults that you should feel  
the importance of correcting, in order to en- 
joy the blessing of God. Many of your trials  
you have brought upon yourself, because of  
your freedom of speech. You feel that it is 
a virtue to talk plainly and tell people just  
what you think of them and their acts;  you  
call this frankness, but it is down-right dis-
courtesy, and arouses the combativeness of  
those with whom you are brought in contact.  
If others should pursue the same course to- 
ward you, it would be more than you could 
bear. " Those who are accustomed to speak  
plainly and severely to others, are not pleas- 
ed to receive the same treatment in return.  
You have brought upon yourself many  
grievances that could have been avoided, had  
you possessed a meek and quiet spirit. You


146 196  
'provoke contention, for when your will has  
been crossed your spirit has arisen for con- 
flict. Your disposition to rule is a constant  
source of trouble to yourself. Your nature  
has become jealous and distrustful. You are  
overbearing and stir up strife by fault-tiud- 
ing and hasty condemnation. You have so  
long cultivated a spirit of retaliation, that  
you need continually the grace of God to  
soften and subdue your nature. The dear  
Saviour has said, " Bless them that curse 
you, and pray for tiiem that despitefully use  
you and persecute you."  
Dear sister, I was shown that you bring  
darkness into your own soul by dwelling upon  
the mistakes and imperfections of others.  
You will never have their sins to answer for,  
but you have a work to do for your own soul,  
and for your own family that no other can  
do for you. You need to crucify self, to  
check the disposition to magnify your neigh- 
bors' faults and talk thoughtlessly.  
There are subjects upon which you may  
converse with the very best results; it is  
always safe to speak of Jesus, of the Chris- 
tian's hope, and the beauties of our faith.  
Let your tongue be sanctified to God, that  
your speech may be ever seasoned with grace.  
" Finally, brethren, whatsoever things ai-e  
true, whatsoever things are honest, whatso- 
ever things are just, whatsoever things are 
pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatso- 
ever things are of good report; if there be  
any virtue, and if there be any praise, think  
on these things."  

The apostle's exhortation should be explic- 
itly followed. There is often a great temp- 
tation to talk of things which do not profit  
the speaker or hearer, but bring barrenness  
of evil to both. Our probationary time is 
too brief to spend in dwelling upon the short- 
comings of others. We have a work before  
us which requires the closest diligence, and 
the strictest watchfulness, united with un- 
ceasing prayer, or we shall be unable to over- 
come the defects in our characters, and copy  
the Divine Pattern.  
We should all study to imitate the life of  
Christ, then we shall  have a sanctifying influ- 
ence upon those with whom we associate. It 
is a wonderful thing to be a Christian, truly  
Christ-like, peaceable, pure and undefiled.  
Dear sister, God must be with us in all our 
efforts or they will avail nothing. Our good 
works will end in self-righteousness.  
In your own family there is much to cor- 
rect. " You have failed to give your children  
the attention and encouragement they need.  
You have not bound them to your heart by  
the tenderest cords of love. Your business  
is a great tax upon your time and energies,  
and causes you to neglect your home duties.  
Yet you have become so accustomed to this 
burden that it would seem a great sacrifice  
to lay it down; still, if you could do this, it  
would be for your spiritual interest, and for  
the happiness and morals of your children.  
It would be well for you to lay by your  
perplexing cares, and find a retreat in the  
country where there is not so strong an in


146  
fluence to corrupt the morals of the young.  
True, you would not be entirely free from  
annoyances and perplexing cares in the coun-
try, but you would there avoid many evils  
and close the door against a flood of tempta-
tions which threatens to over-power the  
minds of your children. They need employ-
ment and variety, the sameness of their home  
makes them uneasy and restless,  and they  
have fallen into the habit of mingling with 
the vicious lads of the town, obtaining a  
street education.  
You have devoted so much time to mis- 
sionary work, which has no connection  with  
our faith, and been so pressed with cares and 
responsibilities that you have not kept pace  
with the work of God  for this time, and have  
had little leisure to afford your children in- 
nocent attractions within the narrow precincts  
of their home. You have not studied their  
needs, nor understood their active, develop- 
ing minds, therefore you have withheld from  
them simple indulgences that would have  
gratified them without injury. It would  
have been a trifling tax upon you to have given  
your children greater attention, and it would  
have been of the greatest value to them.  
To live in the country would be very bene- 
ficial to them; an active out-door life would 
healthfully develop both their minds and  
bodies. They should have a garden to cul-
tivate, where they might find both useful  
employment and amusement. The training 
of plants and flowers tends to the improve-- 
ment of taste and judgment, while an ac- 

199  
quaintance with God's useful and beautiful  
creations has a refining and ennobling influ- 
ence upon the mind, referring it to the Maker  
and Master of all.  
The father of your children was harsh, re- 
lentless and unfeeling, cold and stern in his  
associations with them, severe in his discipline,  
and unreasonable in his demands. He was 
a man of peculiar temperament, wrapt up  in  
himself, thinking only of his own pleasure,  
and reaching out for means to gratify himself  
and secure the esteem of others. His indo-
lence and dissipated habits, together with his  
lack of sympathy and love for you and his chil- 
dren, weaned your affections from him at an 
early day. Your life was filled with hard  
and peculiar trials, while he was utterly in- 
different to your cares and burdens.  
These things have left their impress upon  
you and your children, especially have they  
tended to warp your character. You have  
almost unconsciously developed an independ- 
ent spirit. Finding that you could not de-
pend upon your husband, you have taken  
that course which you thought best, without  
taking him into your confidence. As your  
best endeavors were not appreciated, you  
mentally braced yourself to move forward  
according to your best judgment, regardless  
of censure or approval. Conscious of being  
wronged and misjudged by your husband,  
you have cherished a feeling of bitterness  
against him, and when censured you have 
retaliated upon those who questioned your  
course.


146  
But while you  have fully realized your  
husband's faults, you have failed to mark 
your own. You have erred in talking of 
his failings to others, thus cultivating a love 
to dwell upon disagreeable topics, and keep-
ing your disappointments and trials con-
stantly before you. You have thus fallen  
into the habit of making the most of your  
sorrows and difficulties, many of which you  
create by exaggeration and talking to others.  
If you should turn your attention away  
from outside annoyances and center them  
upon your family, you would be happier and  
become the means of doing good. The very  
fact that your children have missed the  
proper counsel and example of a father, renders  
it more obligatory upon you to be a tender 
and devoted mother. Your duty is more in  
your home and with your family. Here is  
real missionary  labor to perform. This re- 
sponsibility cannot be shifted upon another, 
it is the life-work God has appointed for you.  
In devoting yourself so entirely to the  
details of business you are robbing yourself 
of time for meditation and prayer, and you  
are robbing your children of the patient care 
and attention that they have a right to claim 
from their mother. You find it easier  and  
quicker to hurry through with many tasks 
yourself, than to patiently teach your chil-
dren to do them for you, yet it would be 
much better to put certain responsibilities  
upon them and instruct them to be useful.  
This would  encourage and occupy them, as  
well as relieve you  in part.  

201  
You give considerable time to those who  
have no special claims upon you; in so doing  
you neglect the sacred duties of a mother.  
God has not laid upon you many of the bur- 
dens which you have assumed. You  have  
visited and helped those who did not need your  
time and care half so much as your own  
children, who are now forming characters for  
heaven or perdition. God will not sustain 
you in ministering to many who are really  
suffering under the curse of God for their dis- 
solute and wicked lives.  
The first great business of your life is to be  
a missionary  at home. Clothe yourself with  
humility and patience, forbearance and love,  
and go about the work that God has ordained  
you °should do, which no other one can do 
for you. It is a work for which you will be  
held responsible in the day of retribution.  
God's blessing cannot rest upon an ill-disci-
plined household. Kindness and patience 
must rule in the home to make it happy.  
From a worldly point of view money is  
power, but from the Christian standpoint  
love is power. Intellectual and spiritual  
strength are involved in this principle. Pure  
love has special efficacy to do good, and can  
do nothing but good. It prevents discord 
and misery, and brings the truest happiness.  
Wealth is often an influence to corrupt and  
destroy ; lorce is strong to do hurt; but truth 
and goodness are the properties of pure love.  
My sister, if you could  see yourself as God  
sees you, it would be plain to your mind that  
without a thorough conversion  you can never


146  
enter the kingdom of God. If you would 
bear in mind that whatever measure you  
mete to others it shall be meted to you 
again, you would be more cautious in your  
speech, milder and more forgiving in your dis- 
position. Christ came into the world to 
bring all resistance and authority into subjec-
tion to himself, but he did not claim obedi- 
ence through the strength of  argument or  the  
voice of command; he went about doing  
good and teaching his followers the things  
which belonged to their peace. He stirred  
up no strife, he resented no personal injuries,  
he met with meek submission the  insults,  
the false accusations and cruel scourg-
ing of those who hated and condemned him 
to death. Christ is our example. His life is  
a practical illustration of his divine teach- 
ings. His character is a living exhibition of 
the way to do good and overcome evil.  
You have nursed your resentment against  
your husband and others who have wronged 
you, but have failed to perceive wherein you  
have erred and made matters worse by your 
own wrong course. Your spirit has been 
bitter against those who have done you injus-
tice, and your feelings have found vent in re- 
proaches and censure ; this would give mo- 
mentary relief to your burdened heart, but  
leave a lasting scar upon your  soul. The  
tongue is a little member, but you have cul- 
tivated its improper use until it has become  
a consuming fire.  
All these things have tended to check  
your spiritual advancement. But God sees  

203  
how hard it is for you to be patient and for- 
giving, he knows how to pity and to help.  
He requires you to reform your life, to correct  
your defects. He desires that your firm and  
unyielding spirit should be subdued by his  
grace. You should seek the help of God, 
for you need peace and quiet instead of storm  
and contention. The religion of Christ en- 
joins upon you to move less from impulse,  
and more from sanctified reason and calm  
judgment.  
You allow your surroundings to affect you  
too much. Lec daily watchfulness and prayer  
be your safe-guard ; then the angels of God  
will be around you to shed clear and precious  
light upon your mind and uphold you with  
their heavenly strength. Your influence  
over your children, and your course toward  
them should be such as to attract these holy  
visitors to your dwelling, that they may  
assist you in your efforts to make your family  
and your home as God would have them. 
When you essay to independently fight your  
own way through, the heavenly angels are  
repelled and retire from your presence in  
orief, leaving you to struggle on alone.  
Your children have the stamp of character  
that their parents have given them; then  
how careful should be your treatment of them,  
how tenderly should you rebuke and correct  
their faults. You are too stern and exacting,  
and have frequently dealt with them when 
you were excited and angry ; this has almost  
fretted away the golden cord of love that  
binds their hearts to yours. You should


204  
ever impress upon your children the fact  
that you love them, that you are laboring  
for their interest, that their happiness is  
dear to you, and you design to do only that  
which is for their good.  
You should gratify their little wants when- 
ever you can reasonably do so. There is but  
little variety or amusement that your pres- 
ent location affords their young and restless  
minds, and every year the difficulty increases.  
Your first consideration should be in the fear  
of God for your children. As a Christian  
mother you have obligations to them neither  
light nor small, and in order to fill them  
properly, you should lay down some of your  
other burdens and devote your time and ener- 
gies to this work. The home of your chil- 
dren should be the most desirable and happy 
place in the world to them, and the mother's  
presence should be the greatest attraction.  
The power of Satan over the youth of this  
age is fearful. Unless the minds  of the  
young are firmly balanced by religious prin- 
ciples, their morals will become corrupted by 
the vicious children with whom they come in 
contact. You think you understand these 
t; ings but you fail to fully comprehend the  
seducing power of evil upon youthful minds.  
Their greatest danger is from a lack of 
proper training and discipline. Indulgent  
parents do not teach their children self-denial.  
The very food they place before their children 
is such as to irritate the tender coats of the  
stomach ; this excitement is communicated to 
the brain through the nerves, and the result  

205  
is that the animal passions are roused and 
control the moral powers. Reason is thus  
made a servant to the lower qualities of the  
mind. Anything which is taken into the  
stomach and converted into blood, becomes a  
part of the being. Children should not be 
allowed to eat gross articles of food, such as  
pork, sausage, spices, rich cakes and pastry,  
for by so doing their blood becomes fevered, 
the nervous system unduly excited, and the  
morals are in danger of being affected. It is 
impossible for any one to live internperately in  
regard to diet, and yet retain a large de- 
gree of patience. Our Heavenly Father  
sent the light of Health Reform to guard 
against the evils resulting from a debased  
appetite, that those who love purity and  
holiness may use with discretion the good  
things he has provided for them, and exercise 
temperance in their daily lives, that they  
may be sanctified through the truth.  
You are not uniform in your treatment of  
your children. At times you indulge them  
to their injury, while at other times you re- 
fuse them some innocent gratification that  
would make them very happy. You turn 
from them with impatience, and scorn their  
simple requests, forgetting that they can en- 
joy pleasures that to you seem foolish and  
childish. You do not stoop from the dignity  
of your age and station, to understand and  
minister to the wants of your children.  
In this you fail to imitate Christ. He  
identified himself with the lowly, the needy  
and the afflicted. He took little children in


146  
his arms and descended to the level of the 
young. His large heart of love could com-
prehend their trials and necessities, and he  
enjoyed their happiness. His spirit, wearied  
with the bustle and  confusion of the crowd- 
ed city, tired of association with the crafty  
and hypocritical men, found rest and peace in  
the society of innocent children. His presence  
never repulsed them, the Majesty of Heaven  
condescended to answer their questions, and 
simplify his important lessons to meet their  
childish understanding. He planted in their  
young, expanding minds the seeds of truth, 
that would spring up and produce plentiful 
harvest in their riper years.  
In these children, who were brought to  
him that he might bless them, he saw the 
future men and women who should be heirs  
of his grace  and subjects to his kingdom, and  
some of whom would become martyrs for his  
name's sake. Certain unsympathizing dis- 
ciples commanded that the children be taken  
away lest they should trouble the Master;  
but as they were turning away in sadness,  
Christ rebuked his followers, saying, "Suffer 
little children to come unto me and forbid  
them not,for of suchis the kingdom of heaven."  
He knew that these children would listen  
to his counsel and accept him as their Re- 
deemer, while those who were world-wise and 
hard-hearted, would be less likely to follow  
him and  find a place in the kingdom of God.  
These little ones, coming to Christ and re-
ceiving his advice and benediction, had his 
image and his gracious words stamped upon  

207  
their plastic minds, never to be effaced. We  
should learn a lesson from this act of Christ,  
that the hearts of the young are most sus- 
ceptible to the teachings of Christianity, easy  
to influence towards piety and virtue, and 
strong to retain the impressions received.  
But these tender, youthful ones should be ap-
proached with kindness, and taught with love 
and patience.  
My sister, bind your children to your  
heart by affection. Give them proper care  
and attention in all things. Furnish them  
with becoming garments, that they may not  
be mortified  by their appearance, for this  
would be injurious to their self-respect. You 
have seen that the world is devoted to fashion  
and dress, neglecting the mind and morals to  
decorate the person ; but in avoiding this evil  
you verge upon the opposite extreme, and do 
not pay sufficient attention to your own dress  
and that of your children. It is always right 
to be neat and appropriately clad, as becomes  
your age and station in life.  
Order and cleanliness is the law of Heaven ;  
and in order to come in harmony with the  
divine arrangement, it is our duty to  be neat  
and tasteful. Your ideas are perverted upon 
this subject. While condemning the extrav- 
agance and vanity of the world, you fell into  
the error of stretching economy into penuri- 
ousness. You deny yourself that which is  
right and proper you should have, and which  
God has furnished you means to procure.  
You do not suitably clothe yourself or your 
children. Our outward appearance should


10 208  
not dishonor the One we profess to follow,  
hut reflect credit upon his cause  
The apostle says : "Charge them that are  
rich in this world, that they be not high- 
minded, nor trust in uncertain riches but in  
the living God, who giveth us richly a things  
to enjoy. That they do good that th,y e  
rich in good works, ready to distribute, will- 
in* to communicate." Your means are given  
you to use where needed, not to hoard up for  
destruction in the great conflagration. You  
are bidden to enjoy.the good gifts of the  
Lord, and should use them for your own com- 
fort and to advance His cause, by chanty and  
g00d works, thereby laying up for yourself  
treasures  in Heaven. , • *  
Many of your afflictions have been vi- .ted  
upon vou, in the wisdom of God, to bring you  
closer to the Throne of Grace. Ho softens  
aaf, subdues his children by sorrows and  
trials. This world is God's work-shop, where  
he fashions us for the courts of Heave... tie  
uses the planing-knife upon our quivering 
hearts until the roughness and Hjegulant.,s  
are removed, and they are fatted lor then  
proper places in the heavenly building.  
Through tribulation and distress the  
Christian becomes purified and strengthened  
developing a character after the model Christ  
ban given. The influence of a true godly  
life cannot be measured. It reaches beyond  
the immediate circle of home and friends,  
shedding a light that wins souls to Jesus.  
' ADVENT SOURCE COLLECTION  
6eneral Gonfe nc f syenb-Da? Ad^11"'  
WASHINGTO  , ~>.C. .  
3 £> 95  u


MRS. WHITE'S WORKS.  
THE SPIBIT  OF PROPHECY, or the Great Controversy be- 
tween Christ and his Angels, and Satan and his Angels, 
from Paradise Lost by Adam, to Paradise Restored by  
.Christ. The first volume is in print, and covers the  
period of the Old Testament. The Second and Third  
Volumes will soon be ready. Price,  post-paid, SI .00 each.  
THE LIFE OF OHBIST. NOH. 1-5. in pamphlet form of  
about one hundred pages each, will be issued during 
1876. Number Two is in print, under the title of Re-
demption. Price, post-paid, 15 cents each.  
SVNSHINE SEMES. 320 PAGES of blessed little sto- 
ries for the Little Folks, in ten books with glazed 
covers, post-paid, for 50 cents. The same  in plain cov- 
ers to cii-enlate in Sabbath-schools at S2.00 per 100, 
post-paid.  
LIEF., CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE AM> LABORS will be urged  
through the press without delay. There will be two 
editions; one, plain binding, common paper. 400 pp.,  
post-paid. $1.00. The other edition will contain 500  
larger pages, extra binding, fine paper, with portrait,  
post-paid. S2.00. This work will be published at Oak- 
land. Gal., and circulated only  through the mails, dur- 
ing the first year of its sale. '  
Orders for any or for all of the above books, accom- 
panied by the cash, thankfully received. They wilt be  
carefully put on tile,  and the books sent when o>m- 
ph ted. Adflnvr. SIONS or THF. TIMES. Oakland. Cal.  
WASHINGTO.., j  
o 10 9 5