Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Ms 177, 1907

Sermon/Thoughts on Hebrews 1

Loma Linda, California

April 27, 1907

Previously unpublished.

Hebrews 1:1, 2. Now these are great things to consider. Verse 3. “Image of his person.” Just bear that in mind. There are two personalities. The Father and the Son are two personalities. “Who being in the brightness ...” verses 3-14. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 1

Now it seems to me if the Word that God has given to us, to make known unto us the way of salvation through His only begotten Son Jesus Christ; if the Word could once get hold of the inspiration of the thought of the great and grand work that has been accomplished through the gift of His only begotten Son to our world, we would not see so much frivolity, we would not hear of so much crime, we would not have our ears pained with the drunkard’s song, but we would keep ourselves in such a position to realize that the gift of God to our world means everything to us. It is life, eternal life to the receiver; therefore that is the reason we feel like coming into possession of property such as we have here today, that we shall carry on the grand work that Christ has given us believing people to do, to go to all parts of the world. It is not to hover about one place, but it is to establish the work of compassion that He wants to have done for humanity. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 2

Christ was the great medical missionary that first trod the soil. Christ was One that was the gift of heaven. Did He come in grandeur, did He come with great display, as some think they must make if they make any impression upon people? They make less when they get a great company together at great expense, to show what wonderful things they are doing, but I have yet to learn of a soul that has been converted through that process. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 3

How did Christ come? If He thought it was essential, why did He not come with the glory of His Father and the holy angels to surround Him? He could have had angels, myriads of them to have round about Him, but no. He laid off His royal crown; He laid aside His royal robe; and He clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might understand that with humanity united with divinity, every soul, if they believe in Him, could overcome the temptations that are in the world through lust. Here He came as a humble child, of poor parentage, and He worked at the carpenter’s trade with His father, and yet from the very earliest age, presentations were coming to Him of His future work. He was faithful as a son; He accomplished the work of His father as a son. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 4

The carpenters that were in connection with Christ saw Him so very particular that everything should be solid. He put together the very finest and best work. Even the ones that were comparatively bearing the position of overseers would have these words to speak, that He need not put such work in as that. But He kept right on, and when they pressed Him to, He went right to the psalms, and He took some of the most precious of the psalms, and before He got through singing, all around Him were engaged in singing with Him. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 5

Well, here was His work. We cannot go into any lengthy talk, because I have been sick, and yet I wanted to speak a few words to you. I want to say, “Behold the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.” [John 1:29.] Every one who shall repent and believe in Him, to them gives He power to become the sons of God. And those that believe in Him, if they continue in their belief, and if they keep the teachings of the Word, just as it is written, the power of the Holy Spirit will rest upon them, and impressions are made on the human mind and in the human heart by the Son of God that it is not a very hard matter to believe. When the whole current and drift comes in from the outside to talk infidelity and skepticism and all kinds of satanic delusions, it is then that the people have so little understanding of the great advantage of laying hold of the hope set before them in the gospel, and they drift, drift away. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 6

Now we want to say to you here, We are very thankful for this building, these buildings on the hillside, that we can have the privilege of speaking words to those that shall assemble. We shall have better accommodations after a while in meetinghouse accommodations, of God wills. All the means of the wealthy, every dollar of it, is God’s property, and men are abusing the benefits of God in gratifying their own desires and tastes. But we know there are those that have planted their feet on the platform of eternal truth, that they will co-operate with the Word, the testimony and the Spirit of God. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 7

When we see the battle that is before us, but few have very little idea of it, there are battles that we have to fight, but whatever these battles are, the stronger they are, Jesus watches every single soul, that they shall not be tempted above what they are able. He wants every soul of us to have confidence and faith and peace and happiness in Him. He does not want that any one of us should entertain the idea that we are left to struggle our way along with the whole army of Satan against us, and there to stand with all these opposing influences. If our eyes could be opened when we feel that we are in such trouble, there would be seen the heavenly angels guarding the fort all around us, that the evil angels shall not disturb us, shall not have influence over us. We can have the victory as we look to Jesus Christ as our Helper, as our King, as our Saviour, as the Prince of life that never loses His interest in us. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 8

Now, He said in the last chapter of Matthew, that we were to go out into the world. “Then the eleven disciples ... some doubted.” [Matthew 28:16, 17.] You know we always have the doubting ones. Here is the commission, and every soul of us is to act our part. We may not all be in just the same line as the ministerial line, but we have a part to act, it is really a ministerial line after all. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 9

Will you consider this promise? Will you just take that promise right to your heart as I did after I had been in despair in my younger years, before I went forth with a commission? I was in despair quite a long time. But I was persuaded to go to a little prayer meeting at my uncle’s house. He was a backslider, and he happened to be in. They would get together some of the people in all parts of the city of Portland, Maine, to pray. You could hear, in all parts of the city as they went from the house to their homes in different parts of the city, they were singing the praise of God and glorifying Him. My mother thought that it might have an influence on me. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 10

My uncle was a backslider, and we would have a prayer meeting in his house, as he consented that it should be. While we were kneeling, the spirit of prayer came upon me; I do not know anything about it, but my voice was raised. They said they could hear a long distance, clear as a bell. My uncle got up and walked the room, O he was so disturbed, distressed. Well, that was the first breaking away from the despair. They could not take me home that night, for there I lay perfectly helpless. The next day they took me away. He said he would not pass another such night, but would rather die. He had been a Christian once. He recognized the voice, and he was so disturbed he could not sleep. Well, that broke the spell over me. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 11

It was there, the first time, that I lost my strength under the influence of the Spirit of God. But let me tell you I could fasten my interest upon Christ, and what a love was expressed to me—representations again and again of His love! And I could stand before the great congregations, only 15 years old, and I could tell them the love of Christ—what it was. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 12

I could speak of that love. I have felt that every one that was in a position where he felt that Christ was gone from him, should just leave himself in the care of God, and not worry, do his best, not try to arrange himself, but do his best. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 13

All that they knew was that the voice sounded forth for nearly a mile that night from me. And it certainly was not me, for I was as weak as a child and they thought I was dead. I remained there through the night until the next morning. I want to say that I have been trying to follow on to know the Lord since that time. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 14

I have seen in Christ matchless charms. And yet I have thought, how few will risk themselves on the promise! “Now therefore go ye, teaching them.” [Verse 19.] “Christ.” O there is a power in these words! When you gave yourself up to die to the world, you were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. The three great authorities of heaven that are pledged, pledged to be with you, will carry you through the temptations and trials that there are in this life, if you will only be obedient. The Word, we must keep the Word. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” [Verse 20.] Now, I take Christ at His word. And I have been at work more or less in a limited manner at first, but I have gone very widely over the world to carry the message that He has given to me. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 15

That is why I have felt so grateful for this building. This is why I felt that God determined there should be a center here, and that the cities all around here should have the last message of warning to be given to our world. And that is why we are anxious to have our sanitariums in various places, out of the cities, only near, but away from the cities, and to give them the warning in regard to the truth. And there are hundreds that ought to feel just as large an interest as I have felt myself. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 16

Christ our precious Saviour, who gave His life for us, speaks to us, Be ye co-laborers with God. Go out. He took the disciples right from their fishing boats. They did not go to the rabbis to get their learning, it was the teaching of the Word of the Old Testament. Christ would be walking with them by the way, and educating them; then the crowd would get so large and they would bring the sick and the suffering ones. There were no sanitariums in that time, and Christ would heal the sick, every one that would come to Him for healing. He is the greatest missionary that this world ever looked upon. He went traveling from place to place, until His own family felt that they must come by force and take Him away, so that He would not lose His life in constantly teaching and working. But He did not consent to be taken away. He carried on the very work that He had to do. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 17

And the Lord wants every soul of us to be in a position where we are missionaries. He does not want us to expend His money in dress, in luxurious things, or eating or drinking. He knew that we had nothing to furnish this building with; all that is in it came with the price that was asked, so that we have had the property all made ready for us. Now I thank our heavenly Father that He has prepared the way thus far so that we can be in a position to give the message to all that are around us, and we want that every soul of us that shall be connected with this sanitarium should understand that we are working under the guidance of our heavenly Father. We want that every soul that is here should understand that they are to improve every opportunity to help carry the work here. Those that are now engaged in doing this work will increase in capability, increase in judgment, increase in heavenly-mindedness, and be prepared to strike the highest number possible on Christ’s side. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 18

Ye are laborers together—together—bear that in mind, with God. Therefore we are not left to our own poverty-stricken ways, but we are laborers together with God, and there is a world to be warned. And the Lord will just as surely let His grace and the power of the truth reach human hearts if we will only give ourselves unreservedly to God and take the precious Word. O how precious it is! It is inexpressible. I ask you to take the Word and study it. It is the heavenly Word which has been preserved. Christ told them anciently to write everything in a book, and then when they would begin to murmur and complain, He made an ordinance that there was to be an eminence, or place where Moses would stand to proclaim the words of the book. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 19

And whenever there was a falling out, whenever there was sin upon the people, then what? God would proclaim the transgressors, and if they did not repent, then they were punished with death. The Lord wanted to keep these things before them, and almost every stopping place He would have to repeat all these things so that they should not forget them. Now that is just our work. We are to have it in our hearts and in our minds, and we are to present before the people the living Word of God, that it shall have an effect on mind and heart and character, so that every soul that is connected with the Word of God should understand that God is watching. Angels of God are watching us, that we shall have help in times of necessity and that we shall not be overcome. If we will do what?—watch unto prayer. And then keep the commandments of God. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 20

They would take the children, and they would repeat the commandments as they would travel, marching in order and repeating these songs as they traveled on their way. And at every halting place where they came, the commandments of God were repeated, and the destruction that had come upon those that had not kept the commandments of God. It had to be kept before them. So this is the way the work was carried on then with the children of Israel. The commandments were kept before the people. And they were familiar with the words. Even Moses, because he had made a mistake, he could not go in as a leader, and he would not go into the promised land to see it. He must lie in the grave. He must go up and die upon the mount. Joshua takes his place, and everything was done to keep them reminded of what their victories were to be. And we are not left to drift, drift, drift just as we please. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 21

We must come right to the Word of God and carry that before us, and if we refuse to do the will of God then, if we become rebellious, we shall see the judgments of God. Now, I am not going to dwell on that point. I am going to dwell upon what Christ has done for us. When He came to our world, His divinity was clothed with humanity. What for? That He might in humanity be tempted in all points like as we are. In overcoming these temptations as we may overcome them, He stood the test on the point of character. He made it possible for us to take hold of the divinity that He has clothed with His humanity, so that we may overcome the temptations that were around us. When you begin to make a business of overcoming temptations that are around you, you will have a very marked experience. You will have the angels of God round about you to help and strengthen every one of you. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 22

What we want is that every one in this sanitarium should understand this is a place where religious sentiment must prevail. In this institution we must, as helpers, reveal to all classes that may come what religion is, what it means to be a child of God—kind, patient, with no overbearing words, no impatient words, no fretful words. We shall be kind and we shall be helpful to all that are around us, and we will make an impression upon minds, and what then? They will lay hold upon the very efforts that they are making to become more and more like Jesus Christ. They will be partakers of that divine nature that He has never parted with, so that they can be overcomers through the power of that divine nature, they will not be overcome with lust, but they will be partakers of the divine nature. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 23

Now, we want that all should realize in this sanitarium that angels are round about us. We want to realize that there is growth that is to be expected of every one. We are to be learners so that we shall escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. That is what He wants us all to learn here, and we may learn it as little children. He call us His little children, and He tells us to be kind to one another. He tells us to be patient. He tells us the way that we may stand on vantage ground. We can be overcoming temptations step by step. Then what? Pray, says Christ. Pray. “Ask, and ye shall receive. Seek ... knock and it shall be opened unto you.” [Matthew 7:7.] We want to claim these promises that belong to us. We want to claim them as our property, and we want to be continually growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 24

When I was at San Diego, I was there some weeks, and I had about such an experience as I am having now with the poison in the cars with so many breaths, and yet I should stand and talk to the workers in the morning. I would give them about half an hour before they went to their work. Then the patients, when it came their hour, I would give them a talk. But was one man I saw all the time that looked in despair and discouragement, and finally I found out his situation. He could not believe. He accepted everything, but he could not believe that the Lord would save him. “Now,” said I, “I am going to pray for you, and I want you to believe that the Lord wants to help you. I want you to venture on faith.” 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 25

I would ask him every morning; “Have you learned the right of believing?” “I am afraid not.” Well, the time came when we had to go. “Now,” I said, “I want to know of this brother, who had been engaged in the railroad business, but could not get hold of faith.” Said I, “Do you believe now?” I had explained to him morning after morning that faith was not sight, not feeling, but it was a simple belief in God’s Word. “Now,” said I, “Have you got the faith yet?” “I believe I have,” he replied. I saw his countenance lighted up. “I believe I have.” And every time he would speak it the countenance would grow brighter and more cheerful. Now I felt so thankful. I felt that it paid me for all my speaking there morning after morning. I was so glad that he went away a converted man. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 26

It is not for you to look to yourselves and see how poor you are. I am right where I have to have a Saviour or perish. I am right where I must cast my helpless soul on Jesus Christ and I now take Him by faith. Now that is the only way. You must risk yourself on the promise, not feeling. What is that? It is as distinct from faith as the east is from the west. It is the belief in God; it is the belief in His power in giving Christ for our world. And that is the living faith that we must work upon. It is not a feeling that is going to animate us right upward. It is a sensible belief in the words of Jesus. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 27

Now I want every soul here to understand that faith and feeling are just as distinct as the east is from the west, that faith is merely to take Christ, and to believe He will do just as He said He would, and then you take His Word, and rely upon it and say, I believe the Lord. And you keep saying it and trusting in Christ and your faith will come. We want to see it in this institution in a large degree. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 28

Now I want to say, dear friends, I have an intense interest in this institution. The Lord opened before me, when I was away in Washington, the sanitarium that should come into possession of our people where we could teach the truth. And we have got it, thank God we have got it. Now, we want to make no unnecessary display, there is plenty of that, but we want just to rely upon the Word of God that truth and righteousness are to go forth from this institution as a lamp that burneth. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 29

We want every one to realize that this is God’s property. We want them to realize that the money is the Lord’s that is invested here, and the Lord wanted that money to be put here. We want every one to have an interest to carry their end of the line, just as surely as they not let drop any rough words. Let there be nothing of this exercised upon this ground. Let us have patience. Let us have kindness. Let us pray that the Lord, who presented this matter before me in Washington, the capital of the nation, meant that His name should be glorified right in this vicinity. Here is where others should have an opportunity to hear and understand what is the truth for this time. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 30

I will not hold you longer, but I want to say I have an intense interest for every soul that lives. I feel so drawn out for them night after night, that I have been writing in the night season before daylight, until I have almost lost my eyesight. I want to say, God is good, and my soul is stirred up to such a degree for the perishing souls that are around us in various places, I cannot sleep. My pen is tracing the very words that should be preserved if I should be taken away, (I shall be 80 years old on the 26th of November). Yet my soul is all awake, and I want those that are around me, younger than I am, I want them to step right into the ranks and let the world be warned. I do not want the calamities of the destruction of this world to come with the little warning that has been given them. We must make intense efforts to let the light of truth shine forth into every city, into every place. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 31

And remember it takes money that you would lay out upon dress, that you would lay out upon furniture that is not needed. I want to say, Invest it where it can be used to the glory of God, in just such a way as this that is being used here today. We never would have gotten all these rocking chairs; we never would have gotten all this nice furniture; it would have bankrupted us if we would have done it, and we had a hard time to get what we did, but God helped us. He meant we should have it. He meant the truth should go forth from this place, and He wants every one that has any connection with this sanitarium to come in and fill their part. He wants you to take up the work with us. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 32

He wants that the intensity of the truth may be made known, that Christ laid off His royal robe, laid aside His kingly crown, and came as a poor man’s son to bear all the various temptations of Satan, that not one could say, “He did not know how poor I was, He did not know I was tempted.” He could have come with His angels, but He came where we could have no excuse. He came right to the poverty-stricken, and He had not a place to lay His head. Night after night He slept in the open air with the disciples. He would go apart, and the disciples would hear Him away off from them, praying, with strong crying, and with agonizing petitions. He was sending His prayers up to His Father. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 33

Let every one of us read the Bible and keep the Word of God. Let us stand in our position of holy trust, determined to do our duty, and to act the part that Christ has given us, and teach others how to escape lust by resisting the enemy so that he will flee from us. What has been reserved for us? A city, a city that it is impossible for us to describe. A life, eternal life, everlasting life in the kingdom of glory. We do not have the pains there and sufferings that we have in this earth. He calls you to come out and take your position and hide your life in Christ Jesus by a living faith, to partake of His divine nature. 22LtMs, Ms 177, 1907, par. 34