Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 19 (1904)

Lt 137, 1904

Hiserman, H.

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

April 11, 1904

Portions of this letter are published in 4MR 165-167; 7MR 328.

My dear young friend,—

I wish to act my part faithfully in seeking to save your soul. A heavy price has been paid to redeem you. “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 1

In my dreams last night I was speaking to a company of young men. I asked them to sing, “Almost Persuaded.” Some present were deeply moved. I knew that they were almost persuaded, but that if they did not make decided efforts to return to Christ, the conviction of their sinfulness would leave them. You made some confessions, and I asked you, “Will you not from this time stand on the Lord’s side?” If you will receive Jesus, He will receive you. “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.” [John 1:10-12.] You need not be discouraged. Come to the Saviour, saying, 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 2

“In my hand no price I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.” 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 3

Will you now resolve to make a most decided reform in your life, in your character building. Will you not turn square about, and say firmly, “I will no longer give others the impression that I do not respect the law of God. I will be on the Lord’s side. I will give my heart to the service of God.” Will you not make this decision now, just now. It is for your eternal interest to do this. 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 4

I do not ask for a history of your past life, of how you have turned from Christ to the enemy. Tell all that to the One who loves you, the One who has for you more than human sympathy. He died to redeem you. 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 5

I expect to meet Professor Cady at Mountain View, on my way to Los Angeles. I shall tell him about you and ask if you cannot be admitted into the school at Healdsburg, and whether you cannot partly work your way for the next eight weeks. I shall make what arrangements I deem best. I want you to take your stand decidedly, of your own free will, to co-operate with me in my efforts to assist you. I want you to sign a pledge that you will be strictly temperate, that you will not associate with those who visit saloons, that you will abstain from the use of tobacco and intoxicating liquor. Will you sign this pledge? If you will, I shall on my part use my influence to get you a place in the school; for I believe that you will keep your promise. 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 6

Do you say, “What? Sign away my liberty?” You have no liberty of your own. “Ye are not your own; for ye are bought with a price.” [1 Corinthians 6:19, 20.] You are Christ’s purchased possession. What was the price that He paid to redeem you from the slavery of sin? He gave up His high command in the heavenly courts, laid off His royal robe and kingly crown, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might pay for us the penalty of transgression. He came to this world to stand at the head of the human family. For our sake He became poor, that we might come into possession of the eternal riches. With His long human arm He encircled the race, while with His divine arm He grasped the throne of mercy in behalf of fallen human beings, that He might take away their sins and make them partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 7

In Christ we have a sure defense. “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue.” A virtuous character is of the highest value. “And to virtue knowledge.” All slothfulness, all indolence is to be steadily overcome. “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience.” [2 Peter 1:3-6.] Take time to study how to make your work a success. It is by the quality of our work rather than the quantity that we shall be judged at the last great day. 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 8

“And to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brother kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verses 6-11.] 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 9

These words show the necessity of our doing most thorough, solid work in our character building. “He that lacketh these things is blind”—he has a perverted judgment—“and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” [Verse 9.] 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 10

The world is full of backsliders who refuse to become laborers together with God, building for time and for eternity in the sight of men and angels a noble character. They associate with the degraded and besotted, forgetting that Satan is playing the game of life for their souls. Shall we put Christ to open shame? Shall we give license to sin and by our example lead others to become weaker than ourselves? 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 11

Oh, for Christ’s sake, respond to the invitation given you by the Saviour. “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things”—living on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, building up day by day a pure, refined, noble character—“ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verses 10, 11.] 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 12

My brother, it means everything to you to secure your eternal life insurance policy. If you will take hold in earnest to co-operate with God, He will work with you. Read and ponder the words of the Scripture. Make sure work for repentance. Be in earnest. Secure heaven even if it must be at the loss of all else. 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 13

The Father in heaven cannot save you if you go contrary to His will. It is the obedient child only that He can bless. “He that hath My commandments and keepeth them,” Christ says, “he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will manifest Myself to him.” [John 14:21.] 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 14

May the Lord help you to cut loose from every fetter and to bind yourself up with the love and in the protection of an all-powerful Friend. Do not be lukewarm in this matter. Resolve that with God’s help you will build up a worthy character and will exert an influence for Christ and the right. 19LtMs, Lt 137, 1904, par. 15