Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 4 (1883 - 1886)

Lt 68, 1886

Bourdeau, Brother and Sister

Basel, Switzerland

March 28, 1886

Previously unpublished.

Dear Brother and Sister Bourdeau:

I am happy to write to you that I am improving. I think I shall recover from this cold without serious difficulty. The baths I enjoyed in Geneva [have] done me great good. 4LtMs, Lt 68, 1886, par. 1

I spoke to the church in this place yesterday because Brother Whitney was much afflicted with lameness. It wearied me more than usual, but this was because of this cold. Brother Ertzenberger came to Basel sick. He had chills and fever. Willie has been giving him treatment, and the report yesterday was that he is better. He will give him treatment I think today. I hope he will not be kept long from his field of labor. I feel so earnest that something shall be done in Switzerland. I felt that the enemy would withstand every effort made to let light in upon the people. He will dispute every inch of ground. We must keep the armor on and press back in the name of Jesus this determined, powerful foe. But Christ is our only helper. We must do what we can in His name and then leave the result wholly with Him whom we love and whom we serve. He loves souls more than we are capable of doing; and when we place ourselves in right relation to God, we will be channels of light; and may the Lord imbue the workers in Lausanne with His own spirit of wisdom and give them tact and skill that they may win souls to Jesus. 4LtMs, Lt 68, 1886, par. 2

Jesus would have His workers cultivate the graces that dwell so richly with Himself that they may be able to win souls. All harshness must be put away. The abrupt manners that are so natural to some must be softened, subdued, and all the rough edges taken away. He that winneth souls is wise. I am very desirous that the young men connected with the laborers in Lausanne should have the molding influence of God’s Holy Spirit, that they will start in right and will feel the necessity of being thoughtful and courteous and tenderhearted, pitiful. I hope that God will help every one of them, and may the Lord impart to you much of His Holy Spirit is my prayer. But let [none] of the workers think that they of themselves can do anything. Christ must work with our efforts. Jesus must abide in our hearts by faith. We must have a sense of our weakness in order to feel our need of the help which Jesus alone can impart. We must do what we can and with fidelity, and then trust Jesus to do the rest. The Lord knows our every weakness, and He can impart to us strength, and He can make us His polished instruments, but we must work with His efforts. We seek to reach the highest standard of perfection to so cultivate every organ that we may use our powers to the glory of God. 4LtMs, Lt 68, 1886, par. 3

I feel deeply the need of our workers cultivating personal piety, having their spirit, their thoughts and words under subjection to Christ. There should be no shirking responsibilities, no laboring for supremacy, but a most devoted zeal to do each one his very best. And the Lord will not be pleased to have one carry the heavy load and another go lightloaded. He would not have one eased and another burdened. It is your privilege, my brother, to unload and to seek to be rested that you may gather back vigor that has been lost through overwork and overanxiety. Christ says, My peace I give unto you [John 14:27]; this is the element you want to come in to your life, the peace and rest that is in Jesus. You want to repose in God, reap the comforts derived from the trustful faith in Jesus. Now, my dear brother, may the Lord imbue you with His Spirit. May the atmosphere around your soul be heavenly and your meditations of Jesus’ love and mercy, purity and excellence, be strength to your soul, vigor to your faith and wisdom, sanctification, and righteousness. O then how precious will be your experience. “If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you. Continue ye in My love. These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” [John 15:7-11.] Then let not a restless, confused spirit be cherished. 4LtMs, Lt 68, 1886, par. 4

Jesus wants us to be happy, trustful, peaceful. This is genuine faith. Let this mind dwell in you which was always in Christ Jesus. Be cheerful, reflect light. Let the beams of Christ’s righteousness dispel all gloom and be all light in the Lord. 4LtMs, Lt 68, 1886, par. 5

In much love. 4LtMs, Lt 68, 1886, par. 6