Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 7 (1891-1892)

Lt 47, 1891

Burke, Dr.

Battle Creek, Michigan

January 6, 1891 [June?]

Previously unpublished.

Dear Brother in Christ Jesus:

I have been recently much troubled in regard to some things at the Health Retreat, which the Lord has been presenting to me in regard to this institution. I was informed that the Lord was very pitiful and compassionate, full of mercy, forgiveness and love, and the Lord would lead you if you will put your whole trust in Him and not link yourself in with unbelievers because to you [it] is unsafe in a special, decided manner. The experience you passed through at the Health Retreat in your first connection with it was a snare laid by the enemy to create a state of feeling that was not after the order of God, which set you into a position of feeling that your merits were not appreciated. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 1

Your Lord would have worked for you if you had only waited and hid your life and your character in God. But you sought to make a name for yourself and you did not commit [your] way unto the Lord. The Lord had a place for you, and would have prepared you a place while He would have wrought to prepare you for the place; but you allowed your own natural feelings to arise and control. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 2

This scripture was presented to me as applicable to your case at that time. “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 3

Here was the very spot where you failed—where thousands have failed. Abraham failed here and because he did not see the promise of God fulfilled in God’s own time and God’s own way, at Sarah’s, his wife’s, suggestion he made a providence for himself and arranged matters to suit his finite ideas. But if they had only exercised faith and waited, then the Lord would have done according to His Word and all that sad experience chronicled in Bible history might have been avoided, sorrow and anguish to both souls, and bringing into existence a posterity which was constantly barring the way to God’s providences and creating enemies by multiplying the race that would be enemies to God and to the truth. Abraham did not see the full working-out of human devices in the race he gave to the world, mingling his seed with an idolatrous nation and creating a nation ever opposed to God, ever counterworking against God’s plans. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 4

In your case, your course was wrong. “Behold, all ye that kindle a fire that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.” Isaiah 50:11. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 5

Your first separating from the Health Retreat was altogether wrong. Your planting yourself on your own responsibility was all wrong, and Satan took advantage of all these things. He was your master leader. The worldlings who have hated the truth and despised our people were furnished weapons by your course of action to keep up a bitter warfare and enmity against the truth. Your connection with worldlings formed links of association with worldlings positively forbidden by the Word of God. You looked upon the class who was at enmity with God as your friends, and they extolled you in the place of glorifying God. This was not favorable to your obtaining a correct experience, which was essential for you to have at the very outset of your medical practice. You well knew that it was your aptitude in talking, when it would serve your purpose to do this, representing things as you did, serving the enemies with material to work against the people of God and strengthening their ideas that the Seventh-day Adventists were a people not worthy of confidence. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 6

But I stop the history here for some reason. For your good this matter has been laid open to me recently and I was bidden to repeat it to you, for you were in danger. I call these things to your mind because the [message was] given me that you would be in danger of repeating the past history. But I was charged with a message to you that you should bear in mind that in your movements at that time you were compassing yourself about with sparks, walking in the light of your fire and in the sparks that you had kindled, and that Satan will try you with his strong temptations to repeat a similar work. That experience will ever be your adversary unless the spirit, the ideas and judgment, which, carried out, led to the course of action that you pursued, is seen by you as it is and despised as it ought to be, and you cut yourself away from worldlings and cease to commingle them and unite with them in association in your work, for you give to them fully as much confidence, and even more at times, than you do to those who “are of like precious faith.” [2 Peter 1:1.] 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 7

Some would not be in [as] great danger as yourself of being corrupted in your course of action and following the sparks the light of your own kindling, because they have not, as you have done, so decidedly left the snow of Lebanon to drink of the turbid streams of the valley. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 8

Jeremiah 18:14. “Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken? Because my people hath forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up.” 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 9

The praise of men comes to be more valued by you than the favor of God. But although you were making grave mistakes, the Lord did not leave and cut you off. The Holy Spirit wrought upon you time and again, knew your natural heart, your strong traits of character. The Lord Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are and He knows how to succor those who shall be tempted. He might have said of you, Dr. Burke is perverse in spirit; I will not have any more trouble with him, I will cut him off, separate him from My presence, for he is acting over the first rebellion which drew many of the holy angels in sympathy with him. But Jesus did not leave you. He commissioned His holy angels to minister unto you still, although as scene after scene was presented before me you were doing that which you would not be willing to admit. In sympathizing and confiding your plans to unbelievers, you were acting the traitor, betraying your Lord. You were open and frank with unbelievers, casting suspicions and doubt in regard to the precious cause of God by your works and your example. Now, here is your danger. Here your feet have stumbled and will stumble unless your eyes are anointed and you will see not men as trees walking, but all things clearly. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 10

You were surrounded by those who were Satan’s agents, voicing his suggestions to flatter you, to make you believe that you were a remarkable man. You came to think so yourself. These praises which were given you, [you] knew were undeserved and belonged not to you, and that no human lips could utter the sentiments that were expressed to you without sinning against the Lord. But the mind and heart fed upon and drew nourishment, from this source, and the moral taste was perverted to enjoy those things which were poison to the soul. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 11

Still the Lord did not say, Cut him off, although you were crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting Him to open shame before our enemies by your course of action. Yet, He stood before the Father pleading in your behalf, “Spare him for My sake. I will win him to My side. Satan would have him that he might sift him as wheat, but I will take his sin. I will impute to him My righteousness. Behold My hands wounded for his transgressions. Satan shall not triumph. I will show him things that are now dark.” 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 12

You were enlightened, and had you humbled your heart before God, He would lead you. I was shown that it was nothing in your favor to be regarded perfect by men who had no true knowledge of what constituted perfection of character, for the only true standards of character they trampled under their feet. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 13

We read in Holy Writ upon a set day, “Herod arrayed in royal apparel sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.” [Acts 12:21.] And witnesses were there as were present at the sacrilegious feast of Belshazzar and heard the great men and nobles praising the cups of silver and gold and the bloodless hand traced over against the walls words that caused the countenance [of] the king to grow pale and tell his associates [to bring in the astrologers]. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 14

And in the case of Herod on this great day of self-glorification, when the multitude put sinful, erring man where God should be, the mandate came from heaven, Smite the idol, King Herod. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. Everything of this character, absorbing praise and glory of men, is an offense to God. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 15

But in your defection when you left the sanitarium, the taste had been created for human praise, for self-glorification, and would be a snare to you while life shall last. You feel a miss, a loss, as though you were not appreciated if there is not something of this kind to stimulate you. But God has forbidden anything of the kind among His people. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 16

Jesus was tempted on this point again and again. On the occasion of feeding five thousand from five loaves and two fishes, all were satisfied and refreshed and twelve baskets full of fragments were taken up. The responsible men were filled with great desire to voice the sentiments and enthusiasm of the people, framing into words their ambitions, hopes and purposes—“This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” John 6:14. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 17

The conviction was deepening. They had been listening to teachings such as never had been heard from any man on earth before, so pure, so simple and yet so grand and elevating, and as they looked with wonder and admiration upon Him, mingled with reverence, they loved Him. They saw the diseased relieved, heard words of kindness spoken, and their hearts were won. Whispers were turned to outspoken words, and words fired their hearts to open, jealous demonstrations. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 18

Jesus read the scene as an open book. They said, “He will never of Himself proclaim His right to the throne of David. We will take Him by force and make Him our King.” The enthusiasm had reached its height among the multitude, and His disciples participated in the excitement and swelling expectations. The Lord Jesus met the crisis, and He promptly ordered His disciples to take the vessel and return across the lake while He would remain to dismiss the multitude. The word is that “Straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship.” [Mark 6:45.] This act, so prompt and decisive compelled a reluctant obedience. Here was the crisis in the Master’s life. It was here that Judas became so dissatisfied with the turn Jesus gave the matter; Satan took occasion to manifest his discontent, to cause disaffection, and he framed his resolution to destroy the Lord. Now Satan was just as surely making his masterly efforts on that occasion with Judas as he saw Jesus firmly, and in an authoritative manner, constrain His disciples to take the vessel, and firmly and promptly refuse the offer to be made a king. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 19

The death blow was given to his selfish purpose in joining Christ as His disciple, for this act was the death blow to his ambitious motives of our earthly kingdom. The people were only repeating the suggestions of Satan on the mount in the wilderness of temptation. Christ was tempted. There was a real conflict in His mind, and He promptly and decidedly refused the honor proffered Him. He went alone into the mountain to pray. His sending the disciples away and His dismissing the multitude was virtually saying, Get thee behind Me, Satan. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 20

It was here that Satan found access to many minds, and the hopes of the disciples were disappointed. When He met them again He gave them the most precious lessons on the truth. [Read] (John 6:22) to the close of the chapter. He announced Himself to be the Bread of Life. “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:53, 54. “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” John 6:56. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 21

(Verse 63), He explains, “It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 22

Dr. Burke, I expect to leave America soon, as my brethren have considered it wisdom for me to attend the camp meeting in Healdsburg and then go on to Australia, and I do wish you to have a true, deep, and growing experience in the spiritual life. No man would enjoy this more than yourself, but there is a decided work needed to be accomplished for you by the Holy Spirit. You cannot bless yourself, but you can, by living faith, fall on the Rock and be broken. This is your only hope. A new experience in God, “a new heart will I give you.” [Ezekiel 36:26.] 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 23

You need a higher, deeper experience in the things of God. You need to depend entirely on Jesus. You cannot trust yourself. You may be jealous of your impulses and of your judgment. If you have confidence in yourself, you will certainly fail. Satan knows your weak points and he will assail you again and again. But your judgment is not to control the Spirit of God in all matters where you imagine it should. It must not be. You are to be a doer of the Word. Obey the Word. Learn of Jesus; be meek, humble of heart, pure, and your words without guile. Say what you mean, and be open and true to your brethren. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 24

The Lord would have you far less communicative to those who are surely agents of the wicked one, and to be open and confiding and show that you have confidence in those who are seeking to obey the truth. You need to sever the last thread that binds you in unholy bonds and confederacy away from Jesus but with worldlings; for through these threads, Satan attaches himself to you to control your imaginings and he finds entrance to tempt and weaken your perception. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 25

God must give you wisdom if you move wisely in a perfect way. You will make many mistakes and there will be many losses incurred if you follow your own judgment and do not counsel with your brethren. You will have to bring yourself to the point, if you stand in the present position you do, although contrary to [your] ideas, to yoke up firmly with the men whom God is using. When your eyes are anointed with heavenly eyesalve, you will see things in a new light in regard to the nature of your association with those who have no love for the truth. In the place of communicating to the worldly element your plans and ideas, you will not give the enemy this advantage that he may set in operation his devices to make of none effect anything that your brethren may say or do that is not in harmony with your own ideas, because you do not consider them equal to yourself in discernment. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 26

Now, my brother, I wish to write out the matter so plainly as it has been presented to me, and I beg of you not to give it a casual reading and do as many others have done, consider it Sister White’s opinion and place it in your drawer and know nothing more about it afterwards. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 27

Your spiritual, eternal interest and your temporal, earthly interest require that you have wise counselors, not men who will not dare to open their lips to question any movement you may make, but men who have moral stamina, who feel that God has placed them as sentinels of sacred responsibilities, and their individuality cannot be submerged in Dr. Burke. Their opinions and ideas must not be created by you. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 28

You have shown great weakness in yielding to the tempter’s voice. Thank God that you have also listened to the movings of the Spirit of God and separated your connection with the world in a degree, but you did not make clean work. You have been divided. Your experience has not been beneficial to you and therefore is positively dangerous to those connected with you. You need to see the danger of putting confidence in those who are enemies of Christ. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 29

The whole family of workers in the sanitarium should be zealous to answer the prayer of Christ to His Father to be a unit. There is no reason why [there] should not be with every individual worker a determination to do the words of Christ. If they cannot be one in Christ Jesus, as the separate branches are one in the parent vine stock, they will not compose the family of God in heaven, for there would be mistrust, envies, jealousies, evil surmisings and love for the supremacy. All this is Satanic and must be crucified. Jesus would have you press together to be one in heart, one in judgment, because God and all the heavenly intelligences are working to this end. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 30

The natural heart must become cleansed, sanctified through the truth. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 31

(Some matter the Lord presented before me in clearness which I wrote out in June 10, 1881:) 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 32

There are things that need to be corrected in our leading brethren, for a sad condition of things will surely exist in our churches unless there is a marked change of action in those upon whom responsibilities rest. The Lord has given counsels and warnings that, if heeded, would prevent a state of confusion, of difference, [of] disunion, as is now coming in among Seventh-day Adventists. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 33

The very ones that needed these warnings and reproofs have passed on without heeding and correcting their own course of action in their work; but they turned accusers of their brethren. They were suspicious of those who did not follow out their precise mode of operation, which course of planning and devising was not in the order of the Lord. Looking upon and regarding their own ideas and devising without a flaw, they saw many imperfections in their fellow workers. The Lord was presenting before me things that needed to be reformed in the manner of labor in planning and devising of our leading men. 7LtMs, Lt 47, 1891, par. 34