Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 21 (1906)
Ms 20, 1906
Preach the Word
NP
February 7, 1906 [typed]
This manuscript is published in entirety in 20MR 64-69. +Note
I am instructed that we are not to enter into any controversy over the spiritualistic representations that are fast coming in from every quarter. Further than this, I am to give those in charge of our papers instruction not to publish in the columns of the Review and Herald, the Signs of the Times, or any other papers published by Seventh-day Adventists, articles attempting to explain these sophistries. We are in danger whenever we discuss the sophistries of the enemy. The publication of articles dealing with these sophistries is a snare for souls. Let these theories alone, and warn all not to read them. Your explanations will amount to nothing. Let the theories alone. Do not try to show the inconsistency or fallacy of them. Let them alone. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 1
Do not perpetuate evil by talking of these theories in sermons or by publishing in our papers articles regarding them. The Lord says, Let them be unexplained. Present the affirmative of truth plainly, clearly, and decidedly. You cannot afford to study or combat these false theories. Present the truth, “It is written.” The time spent in dealing with these fallacies is so much time lost. Our papers are not published for the purpose of dealing with such subjects. Articles on Bible subjects, full of practical truth, and written in so simple a style that the children and the common people cannot misunderstand them, are to fill our papers. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 2
The writers who are quoted in articles discussing these subjects are much pleased to have their views thus introduced to our people. But this is sowing tares. Our ministers are not given the work of discussing these subjects of spiritualistic science. They are to keep strictly to Bible truth, “It is written.” They are to present the reasons of our faith and never reproduce the seductive heresies that will continually appear. No time or study is to be given to these seducing theories. The enemy stands close beside those who proclaim his sentiments. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 3
Let Bible truth be presented in our papers. Give the reasons of our faith. In the most cheerful, hopeful, encouraging articles, recommend the diligent searching of the Scriptures. Urge our people to become familiar with the Word of God. In their study, the students in our schools should commit to memory portions of the Word. The time will come when many will be deprived of the written Word. But if this Word is printed in the memory, no one can take it from us; and it is a talisman that will meet the worst forms of error and evil. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 4
Evil doctrines will be accumulated by the publication of seductive fallacies. To make these fallacies the subject of discourse is to put into the minds of many, thoughts that would never have been there had not these errors been brought out before them. Let the youth be taught to shun publications dealing with this subject. Do not print one article dealing with it; for you cannot without loss enter into these things. Thus seed is sown that will spring up and bring forth tares. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 5
What we need is truth, present truth. Let the truth shine forth in its unmeasured superiority, in all the dignity and purity that distinguish true religion. An acquaintance with the Word of God will strengthen us to resist evil. Hold up the cross of Calvary. This will rebuke heathen philosophy and pagan idolatry. Lift up the cross of Calvary higher and still higher, as the identified reality of Christianity. Let all our works, our every enterprise, show forth the sacred principles of the gospel. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 6
Bible truth is to be presented in short articles made intensely interesting. “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life.” [John 5:39.] I have sometimes thought that text strangely worded, but it is all clear now. “Think on what you read; for in the Scriptures ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they which testify of Me.” 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 7
We are now to make diligent work for eternity. Only for a very short time longer will the Lord bear with the gross wickedness that fills the world. O how suddenly will the end come, surprising the world in their increasing iniquity. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 8
I have to say to our people in Battle Creek, The seeds of unbelief have been sown by one in whom I have always had an intense <interest>. I have prayed that he shall be entirely changed and made a new man in Christ Jesus. I have seen the seeds he has been sowing in other countries, and his heart is set to do this work. Letters come to me that the work is being made hard because of the influence of -----, and the ministers are working under great discouragement because of the reports that have been circulated. This will compel me to make every effort possible to prevent him from taking captive poor souls that are easily deceived. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 9
In the night season I am instructed that issues will arise that will have to be met from now on more decidedly, because of the large sanitarium that has been erected in Battle Creek. Can I hold my peace and allow our people to be exposed to the influences exerted by the leading men in the medical work there? No, no! Those who accept the theories held by some will surely be led astray. Dr. ------- and his associates are already diseased with a species of spiritualistic sentiments; and unless they change, they will in the near future be swayed into accord with the wonderful miracle-working power that the Word of God has said will be seen in these last days. “Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” [1 Timothy 4:1.] Those who have been feeding their minds on the supposedly excellent but spiritualistic theories of Living Temple are in a very dangerous place. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 10
For the past fifty years I have been receiving intelligence regarding heavenly things. But the instruction given me has now been used by others to justify and endorse theories in Living Temple that are of a character to mislead. May the Lord teach me how to meet such things. If necessary I can charge all such work as coming directly from Satan to make the words God has given me testify to a lie. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 11
Nashville, July 4, [1904]. We are very sorry to read the article written by Elder Tenney in the Medical Missionary on the Sanctuary question. The enemy has obtained the victory over one minister. If this minister had remained away from the seducing influences that Satan is exerting at the present time, in Battle Creek, he might yet be standing on vantage ground. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 12
We are very sorry to see the result of gathering a large number to Battle Creek. Ministers who have been believers in the foundation truths that have made us what we are—Seventh-day Adventists; ministers who went to Battle Creek to teach and strengthen the truths of the Bible are now, when old and grey-headed, turning from the grand truths of the Bible and accepting infidel sentiments. This means that the next step will be a denial of a personal God, pulling down the bulwarks of the faith that is plainly revealed in the Scriptures. The sanctuary question is the foundation of our faith. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 13
The warning is given in the Word, “Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” [Verse 1.] We now repeat: Parents, keep your children away from Battle Creek. Some of our medical missionary workers are becoming leavened with infidelity. Specious heresy has been taking hold of minds, and its threads have been woven into the pattern of the figure. Who is responsible for giving young men and women an education that has left a seducing influence upon their minds? One father writes that of his two children who were sent to Battle Creek, one is now an infidel and the other has given up the truth. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 14
Letters such as this have been coming from different ones. The warning is given me to give to parents: If your children are in Battle Creek, call them away without delay. Satan has come down with great power to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. The sentiment is prevailing that the testimonies of warning and reproof given for the past half a century are not reliable, because they may be the product of a human mind and not of divine origin. The same argument might be used that the words and works of Christ are not reliable; therefore the whole Christian religion is a something upon which there is no dependence to be placed. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 15
After His ascension, Christ came from heaven with a very important message to give through John to the churches. This message was to be written in a book, and sent to all the churches, that they might heed the warnings, believing their divine origin. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 16
Those who take the position that God condemns may gather up statements from my writings that please them and agree with their human judgment, while they entirely refuse the messages that come to correct their errors. This is the theory that has come in among the students at Battle Creek. The men who are opposed to being interfered with in the presumptuous positions of wrongdoing may rise up and declare that any testimony that does not commend their wrong course of action is human. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 17
I thank the Lord that the only true and living God still lives. Jesus Christ took humanity upon Himself, to make it possible for human beings, through faith, to be partakers of the divine nature and thus escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 18
The end is so near that it will come unexpectedly, as a thief in the night, and if we do not watch, we shall be found unready, with our lamps going out, unprepared to meet the Bridegroom. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 19
I was instructed to write to some these words: “Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit. ... A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 20
“Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” [Matthew 7:13-23.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 21
Here is the test that shows the difference between the genuine believer and the unbeliever. The principles of the lifework testify to the character. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 22
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand; and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” [Verses 24-27.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 23
Sending His disciples forth on their first missionary tour, Christ gave them this instruction: “And when ye come into an house, salute it; ... but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house, or city, shake the dust off your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.” [Matthew 10:12-15.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 24
Those who refuse to heed the warnings sent by God may say, It is only man who is rebuking us. They may decide to follow their own sinful way, flattering themselves that in the reproofs sent the divine and the human are commingled. They may declare that they will not be instructed, that they will do as they please. Thus said the Jews in the days of Christ. Those who claimed to be pious, the priests and rulers, said of Christ: He hath a devil; therefore we need not pay the least attention to His words. He is only a human being. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 25
“Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not: Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell; for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.” [Matthew 11:20-24.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 26
Chorazin and Bethsaida, which had been exalted to heaven in point of privilege were to be brought down to hell, because they had had great light, but had refused to be benefited by this light. Was this reproof given by the human nature of Christ? If so, all are at liberty to be unmindful of the advantages they have received. These denunciations fall from the lips of Christ as heaven-sent warnings to those who heard them, sternly rebuking their indifference and their determination to continue in their sins. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 27
Who would dare present the case in such a way as to remove the objection to sin because Christ clothed His divinity with humanity? Christ spoke in human nature. The divine and the human were united. Those who are following the will of Christ will have messages condemning sin and exalting righteousness, but always condemning sin. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 28
The Lord Jesus is not willing that any should perish; therefore He sends warnings and reproofs. If in coming to this world He had not clothed His divinity with humanity, His divinity would have quenched the life of sinners. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 29
*****
What is the test of true religion? Knowing and doing the will of God, in accordance with every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. There is a sanctuary, and in that sanctuary is the ark: and in the ark are the tables of stone, [on] which are written the law spoken from Sinai amidst scenes of awful grandeur. These tables of stone are in the heavens, and they will be brought forth in that day when the judgment shall sit, and the books shall be opened, and men shall be judged according to the things written in the books. They will be judged by the law written by the finger of God and given to Moses to be deposited in the ark. A record is kept of the deeds of all men, and according to his works will every man receive sentence, whether they be good or whether they be evil. 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 30
*****
The Holy Spirit always leads to the written Word. The Holy Spirit is a person; for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God. What strong evidence of the power of truth we can give to believers and unbelievers when we can voice the words of John, “We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” [1 John 4:16.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 31
The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. “For what man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of man, which is in him; even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” [1 Corinthians 2:11.] 21LtMs, Ms 20, 1906, par. 32