Special Testimonies - Relating to Various Matters in Battle Creek

Admonition and Caution

Your letter tells me, my brother, that there are many who are stirred deeply to move out of Battle Creek. There is need, great need, of this work being done; and now, those who have felt at last to make a move should not go in a rush, in an excitement, or in a rash manner, or in a way that hereafter they will deeply regret that they did move out at all. Let all calmly consider what were their motives in coming to Battle Creek, and leaving the little churches that they might have helped and blessed if they themselves were enjoying a personal Saviour. Then let them consider the influence upon their own souls in making the move which they did. Have its results been deeper spirituality? Has it been an influence over them to make them feel their responsibility to be laborers together with God? Did it improve them in keenness of discernment, to make them wise in counsel, and give them experience in culture and training of their untrained abilities? Have they seen things in a clearer light as they listened to the words of truth? Have they practiced the truth which has been brought home to their souls with power? Have they shown corresponding zeal to be witnesses for Christ nigh and afar off? Have they felt that now was their opportunity to state the truth more correctly because they understood it better, that they could adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour with modest simplicity of language, and with a sincere, honest, earnest purpose to so follow the Pattern that they may represent through the grace of Christ, a perfect manhood, because they live an actual Christian life? PH084 14.1

Each has his work, his own individual work, to do. Has he done it in Battle Creek? Is he likely to do it if he has not? Can he recognize that he has been, through practice, learning to pray more earnestly, and, through education in the school of Christ, learning through the influence of the Holy Spirit to use better language to address our Heavenly Father in a manner that corresponds to the great principles of truth, that his supplications to God will bear the marks of an intelligent progressive Christian? PH084 15.1

What is truth? have you bought the field which contains the precious jewels hidden in that field? Has the human agent come into possession of the truth, precious truth, revealed in God's word? That word gives no uncertain sound. In obeying it, you follow no cunningly devised fables. It speaks with definiteness and with authority, never speaking hesitatingly, never doubtingly. It is a sure word of prophecy. PH084 15.2

Now will you take heed that there shall be no rash movements made in heeding counsel in moving from Battle Creek? Do nothing without seeking wisdom of God, who hath promised to give liberally to all who ask, and who upbraideth not. All that any one can do is to advise and counsel, and then leave those who are convicted in regard to duty to move under divine guidance, and with their whole hearts open, to learn and obey God. PH084 15.3

Let every one take time to consider carefully; not be like the man in the parable, who began to build, and was not able to finish. Not a move should be made until that movement and all it portends are carefully considered, everything weighed, and he feels that the Lord has something for him to do in educating and training himself to do a more spiritual work in imparting to others that which God has imparted to him. To every man was given his work according to his several ability. Then let him not move hesitatingly, but firmly, and yet humbly trusting in God. PH084 15.4

There may be individuals who will make a rush to do something, and enter into some business they know nothing about. This God does not require. Think candidly, prayerfully, studying the word with all carefulness and prayerfulness, with mind and heart awake to hear the voice of God. He does not follow his own imagination, but weighs the words of God, and counsels, and seeks wisdom from God. When, in the providence of God, he has a work to be done by the human agent co-operating with the divine, he has a man to do that work, if he will heed the moving of the Holy Spirit upon his heart and mind. To understand the will of God is a great thing. Divine Wisdom has his hand hold of the living machinery in human agencies; men are selected as fitting instruments to do a given work; and O what a precious ability is given of God to man to know his fellow-man, so that he can use, through the grace of God, the human agencies, and organize a working company to do the best work, according to their recognized ability! This is a sanctified gift—genius; it is wise generalship that can make use of men according to their ability. PH084 16.1

When God has a work for men to do in connection with Jesus Christ and the heavenly intelligences, and a revelation to give to men in regard to the eternal salvation of their fellow-men, he does not select men who have not a knowledge of God and truth and his righteousness; he does not choose weak and unsuitable men for this work, for this would misrepresent the work, and cast reflection upon God's wisdom. God makes no mistakes; and he is not glorified when those who profess to follow him are heedless, and make mistakes. The God of heaven has not left us to follow impulses, or our own impulses, or any man's guesses and weaknesses and perpetual mistakes, when vital, eternal interests are involved. There are things we need to know, and which we never can know, unless the Lord tells us about these things. Therefore we must call upon God to give us his wisdom. We need to have wisdom,—something reliable and sure; we need truth without any admixture of error. PH084 16.2

I address these words to the church at Battle Creek, to move in the counsels of God. There is need of your moving—many from Battle Creek—and there is also need of your having well-defined plans as to what you will do when you go out from Battle Creek. Do not go in a rush, without knowing what you are about. You may be enthused with the Spirit of God, saying, Now it is time we awake out of sleep; and, Arise, and shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord has arisen upon us. Let not one go to enlighten others unless his own soul has been touched with the divine love of Jesus Christ. “Thus saith the Lord;” “It is written,” let it be oft spoken, and bring from the treasure-house things new and old. A great work is to be done, and an important work for this time; work for the Master may be done anywhere in this great moral vineyard. O for generals, wise and considerate, well-balanced men, who will be safe advisers, who have some insight into human nature, who know how to direct and counsel in the fear of God! PH084 17.1

I have seen that danger attends every new phase of experience in the church, because some hear things with such a wrong spirit. While some teachers may be strong and efficient in teaching in the lines of Bible doctrines, they will not all be men who have a knowledge of practical life, and can advise perplexed minds with surety and safety. They do not discern the perplexing situation that must necessarily come to every family who shall make a change. Therefore let all be careful what they say; if they know not the mind of God in some matters, let them never speak from a guess or suppose so. If they know nothing definite, let them say so, and let the individual rely wholly upon God. Let there be much praying done, and even with fasting, that not one shall move in darkness, but move in the light as God is in the light. We may look for anything now to break forth outside and within our ranks; and there are minds undisciplined by the grace of the Holy Spirit, that have not practiced the words of Christ, and who do not understand the movings of the Spirit of God, who will follow a wrong course of action because they do not follow Jesus fully. They follow impulse and their own imagination. Let there be nothing done in a disorderly manner, that there shall be a great loss or sacrifice made upon property because of ardent, impulsive speeches which stir up an enthusiasm which is not after the order of God, that a victory that was essential to be gained, shall, for lack of level-headed moderation and proper contemplation, and sound principles and purposes, be turned into a defeat. Let there be wise generalship in this matter, and all move under the guidance of a wise, unseen Counsellor, which is God. Elements that are human will struggle for the mastery, and there may be a work done that does not bear the signature of God. PH084 17.2

Now I plead with every soul to look not too strongly and confidently to human counselors, but look most earnestly to God, the One wise in counsel. Submit all your ways and your will to God's ways and to God's will. If you did not sufficiently consider the glory of God, the good of your own spiritual interest, and the work you might do for the saving of the souls of the neighbors and those with whom you were associated, when you left to make your home in the large church in Battle Creek, duly consider before making another move whether that is sensible and sound, in the right time and order, and under the supervision and direction not of man, but God, who never commits an error. Should some move hastily, and fly out of Battle Creek, and be brought into discouragement, they will not reflect upon themselves for moving unadvisedly, but upon others, who, they will say brought a pressure to bear upon them, all their discomfiture and defeat are charged back upon those who should not be reflected upon; for the Lord has given to them reason; he has given his holy word, full of counsel and cautions, and warnings and entreaties, and more, he has invited them, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heaven laden, and I will give you rest.” PH084 18.1

Now, just now, is the time when the perils of the last days are thickening around us, that we need wise men for counsellors, not men who will feel it duty to stir up and create disorder, and who cannot possibly give wise counsel, but who can organize and arrange that every stirring up shall bring order out of confusion, and rest and peace in obeying the word of the Lord. Let every man be found in his true place, ready to do some work for the Master, according to his several ability. None should be left to drift, to make a vast amount of trouble and confusion that is difficult to arrange and keep in order. How shall this great work be done? “Take my yoke upon you,” saith Jesus Christ, who hath bought you with his own precious blood, whose servants and property you are, “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.” If every one will come to Jesus in a teachable spirit, with contrition of heart, then he is in a condition of mind to be instructed and to learn of Jesus, and obey his orders. PH084 19.1

He sees the past movements you have made, he knows every error and mistake of your life, which has been a hindrance to your spiritual advancement. He seeth not as man seeth; he knoweth the outcome of every movement, and if you have had little faith mingled with your prayers and movements, cultivate faith and hope and trust in God now, for if there was ever a period that has tried the souls of men in the past, there will be a greater necessity for faith in the times before us. We cannot have a weak faith now; we cannot be safe in a listless, indolent, slothful attitude. Every jot of ability is to be used, and sharp, calm, deep thinking is to be done. The wisdom of any human agent is not sufficient for the planning and devising in this time. Spread every plan before God, with fasting, with the humbling of the soul before the Lord Jesus, and commit thy ways unto the Lord, and the sure promise is, “He will direct thy paths.” He is infinite in resources. The Holy One of Israel, who calls the host of heaven by name, and holds the stars of heaven in position, has you individually in his keeping. PH084 19.2

There is a work to be done by living human agencies, which they are slow to comprehend. They need to study the Scriptures, to search the Bible, with humble, teachable minds, that they may know their place in the work, and not move haphazard, but fall into line, keeping step with Jesus. “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Every talent with which God has endowed the human agent is now to be awakened, to be employed, not solely in worldly transactions, to buy and sell and get gain, not to use your God-given powers selfishly, greedily to make a place for yourself in the earth; no, you want now to consecrate every entrusted talent of means and ability, having yourself under the influence and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Not a word is to be spoken unadvisedly, to stir up the elements of opposition; not an action entered into to create any deeper enmity than exists in the hearts of the enemies of truth; and, moving with well-balanced minds, holding aloft the banner of truth, grace from God will be given, wisdom will be imparted, and angels of God will be commissioned to minister unto all who walk in humility of mind, trustingly accepting the truth as it is revealed, standing by their colors, but not creating persecution by unwise actions, but moving in the footsteps of Jesus. “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” PH084 20.1

Let each now consider the strong and determined traits of his character, and not be misled by them, and misrepresent the precious truth, and thus misrepresent Jesus Christ by unguarded statements in public by voice, or in publications; for every such thing will he meet again. Those who have the truth, let the truth appear, while self is dropped out of sight. Give no occasion for any one to be harsh, denunciatory, or severe; for there are inexperienced men and women who will catch the manners and indiscreet words that fall from the lips of any one bearing aloft the banner of truth, and in an improper manner will repeat their very works, and in a spirit which will do much harm. Therefore, every man, however gifted, however prominent in the ranks of believers, let him know that caution in expression is his positive duty to practice, lest his words shall lead astray some souls, who will think he is imitating and following the example of the man, the messenger acknowledged to be sent forth by God to proclaim a message for this time. Let all consider that we are as sheep among wolves, and heed the caution of Christ by being “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” PH084 21.1

The Spirit of Jesus Christ dwelling within the heart of the true teacher of truth, will lead him to express in words and character the gentleness of Christ. The Lord Jesus is our Example, our Pattern, our sufficiency, in all things. He has identified his interest with suffering humanity. He knows just what his children need, how much divine power they will appropriate for the blessing of humanity; and he bestows no more than he sees the human agent will employ in blessing others, and elevating, and ennobling his own soul, and he may be uplifting and refreshing and ennobling those for whom Christ has died. I would that all could realize what possibilities and probabilities there are for all who make Christ their sufficiency and their trust. The life hid with Christ in God ever has a refuge. He who trusts in him can say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” PH084 21.2

I leave this matter with you; for I have been troubled in regard to the dangers that assail the church in Battle Creek, lest they shall move indiscreetly, and give the enemy advantage. This need not be, for if we walk humbly with God, we shall walk safely, and bear in mind the words of Jesus Christ, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one,” “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and [mark these words] that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” Blessed, blessed utterance! Will we believe the words of Jesus? Will we practice his words? If we do, we shall see far greater results than we have hitherto seen. O, we shall be filled with all the fullness of God! We shall possess a power that shall resist every device of the enemy. PH084 22.1

Let us, then, bring the lessons of Christ into our practical life, and we shall realize as the fulfillment of the prayer of Christ in all its specifications, “And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me, may be in them, and I in them.” Let the mind embrace the largeness of the promise, and contemplate the richness that is expressed. There is no excuse for unbelief. PH084 22.2

Ellen G. White