Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 17 (1902)

Lt 54, 1902

Prescott, Brother and Sister [W. W.]

St. Helena, California

March 30, 1902

Portions of this letter are published in PM 83-84; MRmnt 110; 10MR 352. +^Note

Dear Brother and Sister Prescott,—

I wish that I could see you. I should like to talk with you. I shall feel thankful indeed if you can connect with Elder Smith in the editorial work on the Review and Herald. You have had experience as an editor, and you can be a great help to Elder Smith. He should not be left out of the editorial work. In no case drop his name off the editorial list. You should co-operate with him in the work, that you and his son Leon may together be the strength that he needs. The Review is our church paper, and strength and vitality should be put into it. There is need of all the sharpened talent that the younger helpers can give. Impress upon the contributors the necessity of writing live, spirited articles. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 1

You can be a real comfort and blessing to Elder Smith, and he can be a help to you. The Lord will aid you, my brother, in this good work. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 2

Your influence in the Review and Herald Office can be a great blessing. The workers there have not received the spiritual help they should have received. In the past they have shown great deficiency because they have failed to understand how to make the most of their opportunities. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 3

Will you not exert an influence that will elevate them? Strive to arouse them to realize the opportunities they have in working for the Lord in the publishing house. Try to lead all who are working in the Office to see that they are engaged in God’s service, and that they should no longer fail to comprehend the needs of the present time. Every hour has its importance. Teach them the need of standing in their lot and place, of putting all their ability to the stretch in doing their appointed work. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 4

Work patiently. Remember that the entrance of God’s Word gives light. “It giveth understanding unto the simple.” [Psalm 119:130.] The word “simple” as used here does not refer to those of weak mind, but to those whose hearts are humble and contrite. When the hearts of the workers are united with Christ, when they realize that they are laborers together with God, angels will communicate with them. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 5

Some in responsible positions have shown but a feeble interest in those around them. They have not helped those weak in spirituality. They have not, by precept and example, led them to turn their faces heavenward to catch every ray of light. Let those in positions of trust shed the pure light of a bright experience on the pathway of those connected with them. Many are in darkness, surrounded by worldly influences. Take hold of such by faith. Save them from being swept away by the current of worldliness. Let them not drift from divine influences. Grasp them and hold them by the power of love and faith. In faith and patience labor for the erring. The Lord desires every one connected with the publishing house to obtain a rich Christian experience; and then to use this experience intelligently. As they do this, the Lord will give them His peace. They will become rich in thoughts and plans for helping those who are weak, and lame, and spiritless. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 6

Why are there so many idlers among those professedly engaged in the highest service for the Lord? Every soul may catch the divine fervor. How can these idlers afford to hoard their wealth of knowledge and experience, while precious souls are out of the fold, while those for whom Christ died are putting their hands into the hand of Satan? Impress upon them that they cannot afford thus to work on the enemy’s side. Souls are perishing. Have you not a leaf from the tree of life to present to them? Will you not be the Lord’s helping hand? 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 7

The Lord wants the workers in the Review and Herald Office to learn to submit their judgment to His judgment, and then to use all their capabilities for Him, giving Him their best thoughts and their best efforts. The Lord has a vineyard to be cultivated. The cultivation of this vineyard makes it necessary for every believer to be a producer of good works, as well as a consumer. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 8

Wisdom is at our command. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.” [James 1:5, 6.] The Lord Jesus is waiting for His people to feel their need of His grace. When they draw nigh to Him, He will draw nigh to them. By His infinite wisdom He will supply their deficiency. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 9

All your physical, mental, and spiritual powers are His gifts. Use them wisely. Develop the capabilities that God has given you. Let every ability, every power of body and mind, be used in earnest, willing service for God. Let there be no shirking of responsibilities. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” [Philippians 2:12, 13.] The human agent works, and God works. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 10

Gather the precious leaves from the tree of life that are for the healing of the nations. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts. Christ is longing for you to open the door and let Him in, that His joy may be in you and your joy may be full. “They that seek me early shall find me.” [Proverbs 8:17.] This Scripture may be urged home to the youth as applicable to them. But it does not refer only to those who seek God in youth. It means more than this. Those who seek Him at the dawn of day will not find Him asleep. Let us seek Him in the early morning, to ask for strength for the work of the day. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 11

We need the deep moving of the Spirit of God. We need the love of God in the soul. All along the way we see souls dropping out of the ranks. Why? Because they are not yoked up with Christ. He says to us, “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 is easy and my burden is light.” [Matthew 11:28-30.] Yoked up with Christ, we are safe in any peril. Faith cleaves to Him, twining about Him. The promise is fulfilled, “Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me, and he shall make peace with me.” [Isaiah 27:5.] 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 12

My dear brother, I send this message to the workers in the publishing house. I have written it to you, as you will know to whom to read it. I seemed to be addressing the words to the workers in the Office. I am intensely desirous that they shall draw near to God, that He may draw near to them. His light and presence will be recognized and appreciated by all who seek Him with the whole heart. Please read these words to the workers. Tell them that as they become one with Christ, they possess the riches of His grace. They walk in His footsteps. They follow His example of love and sympathy, helping those who need help, lifting up the hands that hang down, and strengthening the feeble knees, directing the gaze to Him who gave His life for the life of the world. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 13

Brother and Sister Prescott, I feel a longing desire that the light of the Lord shall fill the Review and Herald Office. We pray for you in Battle Creek. Our hearts go out with your hearts for the saving grace of Jesus Christ to be so largely revealed that the souls who have been walking in darkness shall walk in the light. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 14

I rejoice in the Lord that I am gaining strength. I am now able to walk as well as I did before my journey to New York. I am obliged to continue my writing, and I praise the Lord for the strength that He gives me. I am carrying so heavy a burden that often I cannot sleep past twelve or one o’clock. When my mind is so pressed, I can find relief only in prayer and writing. My workers tell me that since my return from the East, I have written about six hundred pages of typewritten matter. And during the whole of this time, I have been in feeble health. In deep earnestness I am trying to accomplish the work the Lord has given me to do. I am trying to be a blessing to others. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 15

I am so desirous that the Lord shall work at this time. It is evident that the end is near, that the Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the world. As I read of floods and fires, cyclones and earthquakes, in different places, I know that the Lord is soon to come. Are we as a people asleep? O if the young men and young women in our institutions who are now unready for the Lord’s appearing, unfitted to become members of the redeemed family, could only discern the signs of the times, what a change would be seen in them! 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 16

John writes: “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” [Revelation 20:11, 12.] Are we prepared to meet our record in the judgment? 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 17

The Lord Jesus is calling for self-denying, self-sacrificing workers to follow in His footsteps, to walk and work for Him, to lift the cross, and follow where He leads the way. We may, yes, we may be ready when our Lord appears, and we may be helping others to prepare the way of the Lord, to make in the desert a highway for our God. Let us have faith in the Lord. Even amid discouragements let us have all faith. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 18

If our brethren will get out of the rut in which they have been for so long, the Lord by His mighty power will help them to make advancement. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 19

I am glad that you are at the present time in Battle Creek. I am very hopeful that the work there will be carried on in a way that will honor and glorify the Lord. You must not become discouraged. You will have to lift with all the power you have, but never lose the assurance that it is not in your might, your power, that you are to have confidence, but in One who is all-powerful, and who is willing to help and bless and strengthen you, that you may strengthen others. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 20

It will take experience and trial to make the fields in all parts of God’s vineyard productive. It takes God’s power to uproot the forest and to turn and overturn until His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven. It takes the sunshine as well as shower to cause vegetation to flourish. The Lord is our hope, our trust. By His mighty power He can cause the waning faith to become strong and mighty. 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 21

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 3:13, 14.] 17LtMs, Lt 54, 1902, par. 22