Elder Daniels and the Fresno Church.  
THE following testimonies  of Sister White, addressed to  
the officers and members of the Fresno church, and which 
relate to the case of Elder E. P. Daniels, are placed in this  
form by request of Sister White, and sent to leading ones  
in our California churches- 
CAL. CONF. COMMITTEE.  
BATTLE CREEK, Mich.,  Feb. 13, 1890  
I have a deep interest in the Fresno church. I gave  
them counsel last winter, when by letter I was solicited to 
use my influence to have Elder E. P. Daniels return to 
labo for the church in Fresno. They said that the Lord  
was blessing them abundantly. The sick were healed, and  
the converting power of God was in their midst. They  
thought that if Elder Daniels could only come back, what  
a great work might be done!  
That night the angel of the Lord stood by my side, and  
talked with me". He said that the church at Fresno would  
have to learn many things; that many were there that  
ought not to be there; that all must draw nearer to God,  
and find their strength in him, and not in man. They  
must use their own powers that God has given them, and 
let their light shine forth in good works. He said that  
they had placed man where God should be; but when they


[2]  
should make God alone their trust, then he would educate 
them, and lead them in safe paths. Tl^ thev wou]d he  
lia|it,-hearprs  t.n wnrlrl and would not walk in dark- 
ness. But now they were trusting in man to do the work  
for them which the Lord God of Israel alone could do.  
The Lord was working, signifying  that he was their power  
and efficiency; and if they would work in harmony with  
him, talking to one another in faith and humility,  dwelling  
on the lessons of Christ; if they would set things in order  
in the church, and let God speak to human hearts, then 
the Spirit of God would come into their midst, and a  
repentance would be seen that would not need to be 
repented of. But if they did not make the Lord their  
'trust, the blessing they had received would be only their  
condemnation.  
It is not the will of God that the mould of Elder  
Daniels should be upon the church in Fresno, for it would  
not be the mould of Christ. He is not a man whose  
influence would be permanent. God would have his peo- 
ple in every Conference look to him, and him alone, and 
not make flesh their arm. He whose eyes are "as a  
(lame of lire is searching every church in the world. „His  
gaze is.„pjgrciag every heart. Me is measuring the temple**  
yCnd the worshipers thereof, weighing all their actions in  
thje golden scales of heaven, and registering  the result in  
the books of record. All things are open to the eye of  
Him with whom we have to do. He is a " discern er of  
the thoughts and intents and purposes of the heart."  
No deed of darkness can  be screened from his view. Sin,  
undetected by man, unsuspected by human minds, is noted 
and registered by the great Heart-searcher,  

L 3 ]  
Christ " loved the church, and gave himself for it." It  
is the purchase of his blood. The divine Son of God is  
seen walking amid the seven golden candlesticks. Jesus  
himself supplies the oil to these burning lamps; he it is  
that kindles the flame. " In him was  life; and the life  
was the light of men." No candlestick, no church, shines  
of itself. From Christ emanates all its light. The church 
in heaven to-day is only the complement of the church  
on earth; but it is higher, grander,—perfect. The same  
divine illumination  is to continue through eternal ages.  
The Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the light  
thereof> ffili^h.^  
glory it receives from the throne of Gad,.  
The "woe, woe, woe! was pronounced upon a church  
who walked in the sparks of their own kindling, who did  
not derive their light and power from the great central  
Light, the Sun of Righteousness,  and diffuse that light and  
glory to those who were in darkness. By absorbing and  
diffusing the light, they cause their own light to burn  
brighter. The one who receives light, but does not give it  
as God requires him to do, will become a receptacle of  
darkness.  
The church in Fresno is composed of fragments of other  
churches. They are not ignorant of the Scriptures and the 
power of God; and if they are what God would have them  
be, they will be light-bearers  to the world. This church is  
too large. Many ought to be out carrying the,  
truth to those who are in darkness. It they neglect this 
tlie \voe of '('iod wlTl be upon them. Le^them*no  
there, but go out as workers together with God. We are  
not here in this world to please and glorify ourselves, but


r  
[4]  
to be co-laborers with God. Probationary time is about to  
close. Now is the time to work, and that without delay.  
The present is a solemn, fearful time for the church.  
The angels are already girded, awaiting' the mandate of  
Hod to pour their vials of wrath upon the world. De- 
stroying angels are taking up the work of vengeance, for  
the Spirit of God is gradually withdrawing from the world.  
Satan is also mustering his forces of evil, going forth  
"unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world," to  
gather them under his banner, to be trained for "the  
battle of that great day of God Almighty." Satan is to  
make most powerful efforts for the mastery in the last  
great conflict. FW^^td^  
out, and decisions imi'dein regard tojthe^. Skepticism is  
TJBgocftiness abounds. Tb^j faith  
of individual members of the church will be tested as  
though there were not another person*'In the world.  . ,,,,.- .;,•.>-••• ' K nmniw mm*  
Who will render to every man according to his deeds;  
to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for  
glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but unto  
them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but 
obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation 
and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, to  
the Jew first, and also to the Gentile; but glory, honor,  
and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew  
first, and also to the Gentile; for there is no respect of 
persons with God." We claim to have faith, but, oh, how  
feeble! " The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right  
hand of the Lord doeth valiantly." " The haughtiness of  
men shall be made low; and the Lord alone shall be ex-
alted in that day."  
L  

1  
[5]  
The Christ of Patmos had in his right hand seven stars.  
This assures us that no church faithful to  their trust need  
fear of coming to naught; for not a star that has the 
protection of Omnipotence can be plucked from the hand 
of Christ, If a  star separates itself from God, and falls  
from its setting, another will take  its place. There will  
never be less than seven> this number being God's symbol"  
^cTCSmpTetengC ' "' " ' " ' '  
— Hj.^.ta....  *****  
Satan has worked upon every church in our land to lift  
uTTTtrrrr^Xalfc men, and thus Ine man is able to eclipse the  
glory of Trod. I have many things to  say unto the  
T-Tiurclics from the" Loril T!o<I of hosts, but""they cannot  
bear tnem now. """•^MM^^.^VW-.C-- <«-.  
Now God would have the church in Fresno dependent  
on no living man. But when they become so blind as to  
choose a man to preach to them the message appropriate  
for this time,—a man of so great weakness of character 
and of so little moral power as they know E. P. Daniels  
to be,—and give him the oversight of the flock, the candle-
sticks must be terribly shaken and moved out of their place.  
Tf  
you accept the labors of Elder Daniels in the church at  
Fresno while he is in his present state of darkness, it will  
be dishonoring God. It will lower the standard of right- 
eousness to the ruin of the man and the detriment of the  
church.  
The Lord said to Joshua, "Neither will I be with you  
any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you."  
, The defects of character in any member of the church, or  
in Tne iftmister a^e cftargecTtd TBe^mB'cn lfTKe^E^Wf"*!  
make light of the defects. Tf you place"®* Daniels  
oveT'the Wiirch as a minister, you, as a church, assume his


[6]  
defects, you make them your own, and the whole church 
stands under the rebuke of God, even as ancient Israel was  
under his rebuke on account of the sin of Achan. But  
your case will be more grievous than theirs, because you  
knew the evil, yet hid your eyes from it and walked con- 
trary to the will of God.  
Elder Daniels' peculiar talent is to move the feelings of  
the people; but this, in many, many cases, seen as God sees 
it, results in far more harm than good. His case has beert  
my special burden for years; and as God has laid open to  
me the weaknesses and errors of the man, I have laid them 
distinctly  before him. Has he received the testimonies?  
Has he acted upon them 1—No, lie has not taken the 
pains to study them point by point as a word from God to, 
him: he has not heeded the warning. He has imagined 
something that Sister White has done or said to make of 
none effect the warnings of the Spirit of God. Will you  
please to ask Elder Daniels to tell you wherein he thinks  
Sister White denies her own teachings? Set the words 
down on paper and send them to me. If I am guilty, I  
will confess the same; if not, I shall charge him with bear- 
ing false witness, as he has done again and again in regard  
to my words, my actions, and the things which I eat. He  
says he believes the testimonies but cannot understand  
them. I present these testimonies now as a solemn duty  
I owe to the Master, whose servant I am, to see if your 
eye-sight is so darkened that you cannot understand them.  
Blindness of the heart is a terrible barrier to the discerning 
of truth. "He shall take of mine and shall show it unto  
'you," is the declaration of Christ, revealing how the Holy  
Spirit operates upon the mind. Sin is the disease of the  

, r-,  
OT^^v^Sf'^  
soul, in consequence of which the understanding  fails to do  
its appointed work on the heart and memory. For many 
years I have met this more or less in my experience.  
When the soul is brought into close relationship with the  
great Author of light and truth, impressions  are made  
upon it revealing its true position before God. ^lien frglf  
-will die} pride,jdll. be laid low, and Christ will draw his  
own image in dee^r lines upon the souT.  
I fullybeneve  that the time has come for you at Fresno  
to take a decided stand against evil in one who has had so  
great light as Elder E. P. Daniels, if you would be the  
means of saving his soul.  
Men who are under the training of the Great Teacher,  
will understand the testimonies  that he sends them. Those  
who will not hear and obey the words of Christ, will not  
hear and obey the message of Christ to them personally.  
Men will rise up against anything that rebukes their un- 
Christ-like course. Shall the testimonies  of the Spirit of  
God be accounted as a thing of naught? Shall a man be 
put in the position of teacher whose course has been such  
as to make him an unsafe guide, both because he has not 
the Spirit of Christ, and because he says in his character,  
"I know not the man," just as he willfully  says, "I know  
not the testimonies"?  Will you in Fresno accept of a  
man as your teacher who cannot understand these things,  
which you all now have an opportunity to read for your-
selves^ Spiritual things  are spiritually  discerned; and if  
he cannot discern the testimony of the spirit of himself,  
how can he discern the testimony of God's word, and be 
able to give to every man his portion of meat in due  
season? He may present clear and cutting things to the


[10]  
people, and yet not understand that it is to be brought into 
his own life, and interwoven with his character. He keeps  
the truth outside of his inner life, in the outer court.  
It is the truth enshrined in the_ soul that makes one a  
man of God. Oratory, though it may please a certain class,  
will prove a snare to the one who uses it, and a snare to the  
church. When E. P. Daniels understands w®'constitutes 
sin""fieiwill understand the testimonies that reprove certain  
•sins with which he is so easily beset. But the examination  
of his own heart, his acts and motives, to see whether they 
are in accordance with the perfect standard of righteous- 
ness, is not pleasing to him. He has no desire to meditate 
and, pruy. The guilt of untruth is often upon his lips,  
because it is a  habit which has not been overcome, although  
he has confessed the sin.  
The part man has to act in the salvation of the soul, is  
to believe on Jesus Christ as a perfect Redeemer, not for  
some other man, but for his own self. He is to trust, to  
love, to fear the God of heaven. There is a certain Avork  
to be accomplished. Man must be delivered from the  
power of sin. He must be made perfect in every good  
work. In doing the words of Christ is his only assurance 
that his house is built upon the solid foundation. To hear,  
to say, to preach, and not to do the words of Christ, is 
building upon the sand. Those who do the words of Christ  
will perfect a Christian character, because Christ's will is  
their will Thus is Christ formed within, the hope of glory,  
/'they are beholding, as in a glass, the glory of God. By  
I making Christ the subject of meditation, he will become  
the subject of conversation; and by beholding, we will  
actually be changed into the same image, from glory to  

[9]  
glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord, ^an,.fallen map,  
may be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that  
can ^ prove whatj^that good, and acceptable, and per- 
fect wxlrof God? How does he prove this?—By the Holv  T-hliU rjinntif r , r J J  
Spirit taking possession of his mind, spirit, heart, and  
character. Where does the proving come in?—"We are a 
spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men." A real  
work is wrought by the Holy Spirit upon the human char- 
acter, and its fruits are seen; just as a good tree will bear  
good fruit, so will the tree that is actually planted in the  
Lord's garden produce good fruit unto eternal life. Beset-
ting sins are overcome; evil thoughts are not all&jmTjj^ 
the mind; evil habits are purged from thS  soul temple.  
The tendencies, which have  been biased in a wrong direc- 
tion, are turned in a right direction. Wrong dispositions 
and feelings are rooted out. Holy tempers and sanctified 
emotions are now the fruit borne upon the Christian tree.  
An entire transformation has taken place. This is the  
work to be wrought. jffi^S^e by experience that in our  
own human strength, resolutions, anct'purpgsgs are of .no 
avail. *®ust we, then, give up?—No; although our ex-
perience testifies that we cannot possibly do this work  
ourselves, help has been laid upon One who is mighty to do  
it for us. But the only way that we can secure the help  
of God is to put ourselves wholly in his hands, and trust 
him to work for us. As we lay hold of him by faith, he 
does the work. The believer can only trust, As God  
works, we can work, trusting in him and doing his will.  
This work must be done for E. P. Daniels before he can  
be intrusted with the care of the flock. Only let him 
become one with Christ, and then he will work as Christ


[10]  
worked. But he cannot sit down in the devil's easy-chair  
and say: " I have hereditary tendencies and I have habits  
which I cannot overcome. You must bear with my imper- 
fections; no one is perfect." If he does this, he is a lost  
man.  
i Sincere Christians have no doubtful piety. They have  
put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have made no pro- 
vision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof. They are  
constantly looking to Jesus for his orders, as a servant  
looks to his master, or as a maid looks to her mistress.  
Wheresoever God's providence may lead, they stand ready  
to go. JThey take no glory to themselves, They do not  
call anything they have—learning, talents, property—their 
own, but regard themselves as only stewards of the mani-
fold grace of Christ, and servants to the church for Christ's  
sake. These are messengers for the Lord, a light amid 
the darkness. Their hearts throb in unison with the heart  
j of Christ.  
I now present before E. P. Daniels his pitiable case.  
Anyone, whatever his position or influence, who will desire  
him to preach to the churches in his present unestablished  
coii'lition, cannot discern spiritual things. Elder Daniels  
says, "I believe the testimonies, but I do  not understand  
them; I believe in health reform, but I do not understand 
it." This is a falsehood to his own soul. If he is in this  
position, let him repent and do his first works. There are  
enough who are giving the trumpet no certain sound.  
Men like faithful Caleb are wanted now, who can give a 
ring'-ng message. It is a goodly land that we are going 
to, a'id we are well able to go up and possess it. We  
want no shepherds who cannot discern between truth and  
i falsehood, who give mixed provender of truth and error.  

1  
[11]  
I speak to the church in Fresno: For Christ's sake, move  
intelligently. Do not blunder here, when the interest of a  
church is at stake. I pity Elder Daniels, for the church at  
Fresno have hurt him by placing him where God should  
be. His ambition has been fed; self-indulgence and a  
low condition of piety have brought upon him spiritual 
feebleness and blindness, and he has become unfitted to be  
a minister of the gospel of Christ. If you place him in 
that position, you dishonor the cause of God; for he has 
surely fallen into the snare of the devil. There is only 
one way of escape,—he must be converted; he must do just 
as he has told others to do—repent, confess, make restitu- 
tion—or he will never see the kingdom of heaven. He  
must return to his first love, and come out from the dark-
ness of unbelief and skepticism. When he shall have  
clear convictions once more, when the Holy Spirit shall  
have dominion over his soul, when love, faith, and child-like 
simplicity shall be the rule of his life, then he may believe  
that Christ is dwelling in him, and the people everywhere 
may believe it too; for they see that he has learned the j 
lessons in the school of Christ. Is this more than God re-
quires?—No, no! Christ demands, in return for the blood  
he has shed, the heaven he has prepared, nothing less than  
entire consecration. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to  
do?" should be the burden of every prayer.  
Our anxiety should not be to please the people by smart  
speeches andoratory, in order to gam flattery and applause,  
but to"have  our labor such as <•;m be approvea by UoC.  
oSr  
i^nse* desire should be tb'give^'by a well-orofered  
life and a godly conversation, discourses, solemn, earnest,  
and tender, with the unction of the Holy Spirit. Those  
A


[10]  
who labor in this spirit are never satisfied with them- 
selves.  
God demands homage which he has not received from  
Brother Daniels,—homage in words, in actions. Let him  
remember that he is to give an account to God, who will  
"judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his  
kingdom." If our convictions of duty are honestly met, 
faithfulness becomes the great law of life, impressing,  im- 
proving, and moulding every principle and phase of charac- 
ter.  
God requires every steward of the grace of Christ to be  
faithful, to elevate and purify every power of his nature,  
that he may be a man, and a child of God.  Christ died for  
him; and with a high sense of his accountability,  under- 
standing when God speaks, he will become a polished  
instrument in the hands of God to bless his fellow-men.  
To perform his work well, to make the most of his price- 
less opportunities, will be to him a sacred duty.  
Stand back, brethren, do not lay responsibilities  on Elder  
Daniels now! He is not ready for them, and will not be  
until he knows something for certain. Leave him to pray  
and search his heart until the darkness passeth away and  
the true light shineth. Then he will know what God  
would have him to be.  Do you think, brethren in Fresno,  
or does Elder Daniels imagine, that it is a small offense to 
prove false to sacred obligations? Shall the man who per- 
verts his abilities, and uses his influence as unwisely as  
Elder Daniels has done, be placed in a position of sacred, 
holy trust? God forbid! He has robbed God in not put-
ting to the very best use all his blood bought powers.  
Shall he be guiltless  who misuses and misapplies talents  

[12]  
lent him of God to be improved to the utmost? Surely  
that God who will judge the world in righteousness,  and  
with a righteous impartiality, demands his own with usury. 
How can he say to Elder Daniels, "Well done,  good and  
faithful servant"? Condemnation will be passed on every- 
one who has wasted his Lord's substance.  
I hope that every man and woman who names the name  
of Christ in Fresno will consider the words I have written  
you with solemn earnestness, and that you will not flatter  
Blder Daniels. Give him no applaudits, to encourage him  
in his unbelief. He may despise the warnings of God; he  
may act an unchristian  part; and yet do you insist that  
there is no man like Elder Daniels? That you must have  
him, even under the rebuke of God, because his entertain-
ing sharpness pleases a certain class of minds ? Do you  
think that you can get along if he is not spiritual? That  
if he only pleases and interests you, piety, holiness, and  
the Christian graces are not essential? Do you know,  
brethren in Fresno, that the whole heavenly universe is 
looking upon you, to see whether you will exalt the stand- 
ard of Christianity,  or lower it in the very dust ? God is  
looking upon you; Jesus, who has given you an example in 
his holy life, is watching to see whether you, as a church, 
feel that it is an important matter that you should discern  
between true godliness and sin.  
The last days are upon us, and Satan is working with all  
his hellish  arts to deceive and destroy souls. Reproofs by  
testimony are met almost universally  by the ones corrected  
and"reproved, with, " I believe the testimonies, but 1 do  
The Lord fias corrected their  
wrong ways in order to  save them from unhappiness, de-


[10]  
ception, and ruin; but they pass on the same as if light  
and warnings had never come to them. If they were in 
harmony with God, they would not be departing' from him.  
It is because they, are so far separated from God that they  
do not hear his voice as he calls to them, " Return unto 
me, and I will return unto you," "and heal all thy back- 
slidings."  
Saul, after he had disobeyed the requirement of God to  
destroy the Amalekites, met Samuel, and said, "Blessed be  
thou of the Lord; I have performed the commandment of 
the Lord." And Samuel said, " What meaneth then this 
bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the  
oxen which I hear?" The answer was the same that we  
have heard in similar cases,—an excuse, a falsehood: "The  
people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sac- 
rifice unto the Lord thy God." Saul did not say my or 
our but thy God. Many who profess to be serving God  
are in the same position as Saul,—covering over ambitious 
projects, pride, or display, with a garment of pretended 
righteousness. The Lord's cause is made a cloak to hide  
the deformity of injustice, but it makes the sin of tenfold  
greater enormity.  
Samuel looked upon Saul with indignation,  yet with  
deep pity and undisguised  grief for the sinful course of  
one he loved sincerely; but this love must not close his 
lips. He said, "Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord 
hath said to me this night.'' The kingly head was bent, 
as he^answered, "Say on." Samuel then spake the cutting 
words of the Lord. Yet Saul repeated his defense,—they  
saved the spoil to sacrifice to the Lord. "Hath God as  
great delight in burnt-offerings  and sacrifices, a,s in obeying  

[14]  
the word of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than  
sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For  
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as  
iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the  
word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being 
king." Smitten with agony and terror, Saul cried, "I  
have sinned. . . . Pardon my sin, and turn again with  
me, that I may worship the Lord." Saul hoped the sen- 
tence would be reversed.  
Oh, how few can know the sadness of heart that Samuel  
bore back to Ramah! God had laid upon him the burden 
of Saul, and the burden of this terrible message that he  
must bear to the monarch.  
The sinner seldom f^gls right in regard to yeproof.. He  
blames tneT^ne*who opens his lips to speak the words of  
warning, as though it was a  personal matter. In his  
blindness he fails to see, that he is flinging  from him, in  
his stubborn resistance, his last offer of light and mercy.  
How little sympathy he feels for the one who has carried 
the heavy load the Lord has laid upon him! He assumes 
the role of a martyr, and thinks he deserves great pity  
because he is reproved, and counseled contrary to his own  
ideas and feelings. Hejjiay admit some things, but with  
_ dogged persistency lie holds last to his errors, his own  
ideas. " For rebellion is as Che' "sSFot witchcraft, and  7 

stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." The word of God 
is rejected in spirit, to all intents and purposes. I have  
been made to see this same bewitching power now as I  
have never seen it before,—of hatred against reproof, of 
stubbornness and rebellion,—the one reproved clings to his  
iown opinions, unyielding.


C16 J  
How different was the character of David! Though he  
had sinned, when God sent him sharp rebukes, he always  
bowed under the chastisement  of the Lord. JDavid was  
beloved of God, not because he was a perfect man, but  
because he did not cherish stubborn resistance to God's 
expressed will. His spirit did not rise up in rebellion  
1 Nam  
against reproof. Saith the Lord, "I dwell in the high and  
holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble  
spirit, and to revive the spirit of the humble, and to 
revive the heart of the contrite ones." David erred  
greatly, but he was just as greatly humbled, and his con- 
trition was as profound as his guilt. There was never a  
man more humble than David under a sense of his sin.  
He. showed J^mself a strong man, not in always resisting 
temptation, but in the contrition of soul and sincere peni-
tence manifested. He never lost his confidence in God,  
who" put* the stern rebuke in the mouth of his prophet. 
He had no hatred for... the- prophet of God. He was  
beloved, also, because he relied upon the mercy of a  God  
whom he had loved and served and honored. To whom  
much is forgiven, the same loveth much, David did  not  
take counsel of men who were sinning against God. This  
is where many fail. They are left in midnight darkness  
because they choose to counsel with men who walk not in  
the counsel of the Lord. The^ will excuse sin in^ the 
sinner when it is not repented of, and pass over wrongs  
when GodJaas not forgiven them. David trusted in God  
more than in man. The decision of God was accepted as  
just and merciful. Oh, how many are walking in blindness,  
and leading others in the same path, where both must  
perish, because' they will not heed the reproofs of the Spirit  
of God!  

1  
[17]  
Brethren at Fresno, there is with Elder Daniels a hu- 
man influence combined with a mesmeric power. It is  
^InTTKatT h^l^rTxmT" to speak of congregations  as bodies  
that he can manipulate. Why is it that the man cannot  
understand health reform?—It is because his appetites and  
practices are condemned by it. He cannot harmonize his 
practices with the light God has given on this subject in  
his word and through the testimonies.  He cannot, then,  
of course, have an intelligent,  practical knowledge of  
health reform.  
Will Elder Daniels please make his statements, telling  
wherein Sister White contradicts her own teachings ? I  
know that he stated that I drank tea, and invited him to 
drink it, saying it was good for him. Not only myself, 
but the members of my family, know this to be an un- 
truth. What other things he has stated I cannot deter- 
mine. But what if someone did use these things contrary  
to the light of health reform, is it not best to follow the  
Bible teaching upon temperance, and the light given in 
testimony? Do you not remember that we have an in-
dividual accountability?  We do not make articles of diet j  
a test question, but we,do try to e3ucat§.|lie intellect, and  
' to arouse the moral sensibility  tojtalce hold of healtK" re- "  
form in an intelligent  manner, as Paul presents it in  
Rom. 13:8-14; 1 Cor. 9:24-27; 1 Tim? Bi 'I^Hot 
the qualifications which he says are essential in the deacon,  
equally essential in the elder of the church ? The deacons  
were church officers (2 Cor. 6:4): "But in all things  
approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much  
patience, in afflictions,  in necessities,in  distresses;" (1 Tim.  
5 : 22): " Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be par- 
J


[10]  
taker of other men's sins; keep thyself pure." Here is a  
matter that is worthy of consideration. In the twenty- 
first verse the solemn charge is given: " I charge thee  
before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect  
angels, that thou observe these things without preferring  
one before another, doing nothing by partiality." These  
verses, twenty-one and twenty-two, need to be care- 
fully and prayerfully considered. Sin should be rebuked.  
Whatever opposition and trial might come to the elder 
of the church because of his faithfulness,  he should not  
swerve from true principles. Sins should not, because of  
unsanctified preferences and sympathy, be lightly regarded  
in one man which would be condemned in another. This 
matter is one of great importance. If he trusts respon- 
sibilities to one whose habits and practices he knows to be  
wrong, he shows that his own principles are not sound, 
that his motives are questionable. By this very act he  
sanctions the errors and sins of the man he has com- 
mended and appointed to the sacred office of caring for the  
flock of God. Unless he is guarded by heavenly wisdom,  
he will place himself in a position where he will feel it  
necessary to sustain the man with whom he has united his 
influence; and God will hold him responsible for his  
brother's unfaithfulness  in office, and fur the harm which  
will result to the church. He must keep himself pure by  
refusing to mingle with any unholy influence.  
Some men's sins are open beforehand, confessed in peni- 
tence, and forsaken, and they go beforehand to judgment.  
Pardon is written over against the names of these men.  
But other men's sins follow after, are not put away by  
repentance and confession, and these sins will stand reg- 

[19]  
istered against them in the books of heaven. Likewise  
also the good works of some are manifest beforehand.  
Christ is the pattern to be copied in the life. When a  
man gives evidence that he is sound in principle, when he  
is of good repute among those where he is best known,  
when his character is one whose influence will be Christ-
like, he should be admitted to fellowship and confidence  
without hesitancy. But he whose works show him to be  
unstable, who says onu thing and does the very opposite, is 
careless of his words and influence, bringing out of his  
heart the evil things lurking there, such a one will profane  
both men and God. He will say anything  that comes into  
his mind, whether he knows it to be falsehood or truth. 
There is a mixture of good and bad in his character, and  
he speaks just as he feels without studying the influence  
his words must have upon those who believe him to be a  
true minister of the gospel. They have heard him speak  
as Christ's ambassador, and therefore they will either re- 
gard his sins lightly or their confidence in him as a devoted  
servant of Christ will be destroyed. Tfa mincer of Christ  
should be nature.  
I have written quite fully to you, brethren, in regard to  
these matters in order that you might understand the case. 
I am now clear. Whatever course you may pursue cannot  
reflect on me. I would be pleased, and glorify God, if  
Elder Daniels would come into a position where we could,  
with all our hearts, give him the fullest confidence; but 
until he is a changed man we cannot give him a place of  
influence in the church. His movements are frantic, and  
in no way such as to recommend him as an overseer of the  
- flock of God. I have now done my duty in the fear of


[20 ]  
God, and I leave you to bear the responsibility.  In the  
fear of God I warn you not to place this man, whom you  
know is not controlled by the Spirit of God, in the preach- 
' er's desk to teach the people. You want a man who loves  
and fears God, one whom God can use as his instrument,  
who will not be playing himself into the hands of the 
enemy whenever circumstances  are favorable.  
E. G. WHITE.  
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Feb. 21, 1890.  
BRETHREN CHURCH AND BELL, AND ALL THE CHURCH IN  
FRESNO : I hope you will not be so greatly misled as to 
consider E. P. Daniels a suitable man to be trusted to 
preach the word of God to the church in Fresno, until he 
is a thoroughly converted man; and I have some little 
hope that he will be. You will have the privilege of read-
ing the testimonies that have been sent to him during past  
years. His course of action shows what influence these 
testimonies have had upon him. I have no confidence that  
the man is under the direction of the Spirit of God. I  
have felt it duty, as one upon whom the Lord has laid 
special burdens, to lay open before the churches the warn- 
ings and counsels given me of God; and if, after knowing  
them, you are so unwise as to accept E. P. Daniels as your  
minister, may the Lord pity you and the poor church. I 
dare not hold my peace. Better never have a sermon 
preached in your church than to have it from the lips of a  
man through whom the Lord cannot speak.  
Elder Daniels has knowledge enough; it is heart work  
that he lacks. You in Fresno have acted a part that God 
cannot approve. You have encouraged, praised, and ex- 

V  

[21]  
alted the man, when, to your certain knowledge, his  
course was unlike that which a minister of the gospel 
should pursue. I cannot allow you and the churches to  
fy cloak over a man's wrong course and set him in the pulpit  
to preach the word of God to the church, without remon- 
strating. He can move the feelings butwllg  
liave not a particle of the Spirit o|L Gfld^They can make 
the people laugh or cry at will. Some will be pleased with  
the smartness of E. P. Daniels, because they have not had  
their own eyes anointed with the eye-salve of true spiritual  
discernment. Sin is interpreted to be righteousness;  black  
, is made to appear white.  
I tell you, you would better stand on the right side now,  
in the integrity of the gospel of Christ, with your doors  
closed to the enemy, than to open the door and invite him  
in; for God will not work with E. P. Daniels until he is  
transformed in character. If you want a human, ift%ence  
mingle wit)h mesmeric j^ver in place nf the diving vmi 
can have it. You in Fresno have a spiritual pride which  t H| —1 1  
will surely be a snare to you unless the last vestige of it 
is taken out of your hearts, and the meekness and sim-
plicity of Christ put in its place. I cannot see you go 
forward in a wrong course, making false moves, without  
lifting my voice of warning.  
Satan is at work now to make of none effect the truth of  
God upon human hearts. Will you encourage a man to 
stand in the sacred desk when God cannot stand by his  
side 1 Better, far better, for the man to be working with  
his hands than standing in the desk; for this religious labor  
throws a covering of sanctity over the crooked course of  
action he has taken. Be careful how you extol the man  
0#m for Advwnfts* Re«earor<  
Andrews University  
9*fton Springs, Mtcfii^'  

*U  
J


[22]  
I know that the course you have taken toward him in the  
past, soliciting his labors as though he was the only instru-
ment through whom God could work, has had a disastrous  
influence upon him and placed him where all the reproofs  
and warnings and counsels of God cannot reach him or 
have the effect God designed they should have upon his  
heart and character. The church in Fresno will have 
something to answer for in the judgment, because, in doing  
so much for him and making so much of him, you have  
turned the man's head. Let every man stand for what he  
is in the sight of God,—a finite man.  
Brother M. J. Church, do not exalt to the heavens one who  
is full of weakness, because he is ready of tongue, and cast 
down another because he does  not please you in all things,  
or because his ideas cross yours, and he will not sanction 
all you do. May the Lord God of heaven give his people  
wisdom in these days of peril. I have been shown. Brother  
Church, that you must have the sanctifying  influence of  
Christ upon your heart continually,  or you will reject the  
counsel of God, and follow your own counsel to your eter- 
nal ruin. Without him you wi'l most assuredly walk in 
your own ways, in the sparks of your own kindling. You  
will approve that which God does not approve, and dis-
prove that which is excellent. You will bless that which  
God does not bless, and condemn that which God does not  
condemn. You need divine enlightenment.  You  must  
work where God works, and listen to his voice, as to your 
leader and captain.  
I speak things I dare not withhold. I consider that now  
is my time to say some things which I hoped to correct by  
dwelling on principles when I was with you in Fresno. I  

[23]  0  
have more to say, but not now. May the Lord have com- 
passion on his people at Fresno. Many of them have  
drifted into.the place without the Lord's counsel or ap- 
proval. Many should be elsewhere, lifting up the banner 
of truth, warning the world to get ready for the great day  
of God, which is just upon us.  
Brother Church, you talk of .independence, of one man's  
mind being all-sufficient to control institutions  and churches;  
and you feel that that mind must be your own. But your  
mind, I have been shown, often comes to view things in 
a wrong light. Thus you make many mistakes. Your 
money does not give you any such prerogative as you 
have been inclined to claim. The Lord lives and reigns.  
When you are little in your own sight, he can use you to  
his own glory. When you walk softly before him, and in  
humility,  he will guide you with his counsel; but when  
self becomes sufficient,  and you put yourself where Qod  
has not placed you, then you are a channel of darkness. 
You have a disposition  to want just what Israel wanted,—  
a king to lead their armies and to judge them, that they 
might be ' like other nations." They were told, as I have 
been te'ling you, what would be the result if their desire  
was granted; but they were persistent to have their own 
way. They would have a king who pleased them, instead 
of being satisfied to have God for their ruler. God had  
ruled them through wise men,—men who had waited upon  
him for counsel. You are well acquainted with this his-
tory. God manifested his displeasure bv thunder and liflht- 
ning and" haiT~ They could have retracted their decision, 
but were too proud to do it. God told Samuel not to op- 
pose them, but to let them have just what they called for,


[24]  
and all its consequences. They had not rejected Samuel, 
but the Lord God of Israel. He was the one who had  
been dishonored.  
If you place Elder Daniels in the church to be its minis- 
ter, you will be responsible for all the consequences result- 
ing therefrom; for God is dishonored by you. You refuse 
men whom God has used. They have made mistakes, but 
are ever ready to be corrected and to reform, because they  
fear God and obey his voice.  
What I wished to say to the church in Fresno is, Every- 
one is accountable to God for his own course of action. If 
one has light, it is not to be placed under a bushel or a bed,  
but it is to shine forth through good works. "Ye are the  
light of the world." They are not to be living epistles of 
E. P. Daniels, but of Jesus Christ. He will give them his  
light, which they are to give to the world in clear, sharp  
rays. Every true Christian is Christ-like  ; he is a doer of  
the word of God. Fathers, mothers, children, neighbors,  
superior or inferior, must walk as Christ walked, in all hu- 
mility, all purity, all meekness and forbearance and Chris- 
tian fidelity, or else they are not Christians. The Chris- 
tian's faith must be strong, his zeal consistent,  his prayers  
fervent, and his faithful, incessant admonitions must be  
heard against all wrong; for he is responsible for the sal- 
vation of other souls. Teach it in the home and in the  
church, that all religious manifestations  which do not  
proceed from heart-felt piety, must necessarily be utterly  
powerless for good. A religion which shines out in good 
works, emits a clear, sure, safe light.  
Every believer should become spiritual, by laying hold of  
the provision God has made through the humiliation  and  

[25]  
death of his beloved Son. The excellency and power of  
the living oracles of God are to  be manifested to the world.  
God requires every soul who names the name of Christ to 
be a spiritual worshiper, in order that he may do his part  
toward the divine illumination  of the world. The war-cry  
of the brave English captain, with a single change, might  
well serve as a watch-word for the armies of the Lord,—  
Christ " expects every man to do his duty." The very best  
capabilities of high or low, rich or poor, great or small, are  
to be put into action; not for the sake offsetting.  praise  
^ ^ ^ ^^ jftfiftfrjj^jjj, of^jj^^^^^  
an intelligent,  workman-like  manner. If this is neglected,  
—"TTfirijlMtf  Miillll'lll  '•"**•* '•—•"! illlll  fill1  "f '" ° '  
weighed m the balances and found wanting will stand  
registered in the books of heaven.  
God employs earthly, human workmen. You cannot lay  
your responsibilities  upon any one man. God has given to  
every man his work. Each must let his light shine out be- 
fore the world in good works. If you, as a church, in  
Fresno, let your light burn low, if you sleep over your re- 
sponsibilities,  your light will go out in darkness, and souls  
will not have that light which God depended upon you, as  
his followers, to give them. If you lack the light you 
ought to have, which it is the privilege of everyone to have  
in Christian experience, you are deceivers, because you 
do not represent Christ as he is; you give no strength to 
the church, and no light to the world; in consequence, 
souls are misled, and perish.  
God calls upon the church to be like the wise virgins,  
to trim your lamps, to have the oil of gracfe in your ves- 
sels with your lamps. Your example should be pure,  
elevating, ennobling. "I sanctify myself," said Christ,


[26]  
"that they also [his disciples] might be sanctified." It is 
the duty of every Christian to be sanctified. The church  
must take up her individual responsibility;  it cannot be  
vested in any minister.  They may help you, but they can  
never do your work. The church of God is the great de- 
pository of truth. They must have skill, efficiency, and 
ability as home missionaries.  All have a solemn part to  
act at home, in the family, inA.*tlie church of God, and in  
the world. In the great day of reckoning God will re-
quire of you according to the tMents you have received; 
and all the improvement you might have made, but did  
not, because you were not true to your sacred trust, will  
be required at your hands. ' You will be unfaithful  serv- 
ants if you merely retain the capital, and do not trade 
upon it, if you do not improve the talents by putting them  
out to the exchangers.  
It is not the ready speaker, the sharp intellect, that  
counts with God. Xt.is the earnest purpose, the deep 
piety, the love of truth, the fear of God, that has a telling 
influence. A testimony  from the heart, coming' from lips  
inwnich is no guile, full of faith and  humble trust, though  
given by a stammering tongue, is accounted of God as 
precious as gold; while the smart speech and eloquent ora- 
tory of the one to whom is intrusted large talents, but  
who is wanting in truthfulness,  in steadfast purpose, in  
purity, in unselfishness,  are as sounding brass and a tink- 
ling symbol. He may say witty things, he may .relate  
amusing anecdotes, he may play upon the feelings; but the 
Spirit of Jesus is not in it. All these things may please 
unsanctified hearts, but God holds in his hands the bal- 
ances that weigh the words, the spirit, t ie sincerity, the  

\  
[27]  
devotion, and he pronounces it altogether lighter than  
vanity.  
The truly converted soul is illuminated by the light  
shining from the Sun of Righteousness  That light tells  
upon hearts, lightens the pathway, dispels the darkness, 
because it comes from Him who says, "I am the way,  
the truth, and the life." Let everyone, to a man, now  
rise, and let his "light sflfciine before men that they may 
see his good works, and ^orify our Father which is in  
heaven." Do what you an, and do it at once, cheerfully,  
heartily, prayerfully, joy'lly, not as unto men, but unto  
God. Settle it in your hearts that you are not on the 
earth to exalt self, to make a great name, but to sink self  
wholly out of sight in Jesus Christ. Let Jesus be lifted  
up. Let the great truths connected with the salvation of  
man be the theme of your meditation clay and night. 
Your work, both by precept and example, is to hold forth 
the word of life, to seek with all your power to bring souls  
to the knowledge of the truth.  
Let not a soul in Fresno entertain the thought that he  
has nothing to do for the salvation of others. Every shin- 
ing star which God has placed in the heavens, obeys his  
mandate, and gives its distinctive  measure of light to make  
beautiful the heavens at night; so let every converted soul  
show the measure of light committed to him; and as it 
shines forth, the light will increase and grow brighter.  
Give out your light, brethren in the Fresno church; pour 
forth your beams mirrored from heaven. 0 daughter of  
Zion, "arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of  
the Lord is risen upon thee."  
Has your lamp burned dim since you located in Fresno?


[28]  
If so, trim your lamps. It may be you have moved from  
unsanctified motives in coming to Fresno,- and will lose  
your love for the truth, your burden for souls, unless you  
go forth where you can lift the standard of your faith.  
Look well to these things. ELLEN G. WHITE.