The Testimony of Jesus

Reproduction of Mrs. White’s Letter

“Oakland, Calif., April 7, 1880.

“Dear Husband:

“I am very cheerful and happy now the Lord has graciously blessed me and His peace is abiding in my heart. This morning we met in the basement of the church at half past five. I was led out in prayer, and my faith grasped the promises of God. I learned anew that my heavenly Father answers prayer. ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.’ My soul is continually yearning for my Saviour. “‘Let me to Thy bosom fly!’
‘Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;
Leave, oh, leave me not alone!
Still support and comfort me.’ TOJ 149.2

“This has been the language of my soul ever since I have been upon this coast. All are so very busy I am alone in my room nearly all the time, and my mind has been very perplexed, my anxiety very great. My prayers have come from a burdened heart. But Jesus has lifted my burden, and He is a wellspring of joy in my soul. Christ’s words seem to be spoken to me in the night season. I seem to hear His voice, ‘If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.’ TOJ 150.1

“I had the assurance that the Lord will bless you and let light shine upon you. TOJ 150.2

“I talked some this morning to our ministers upon faith. Everyone who is trying to labor is crippled with physical feebleness. How clear and positive the promises of God, and why not claim them? Why not accept the blessings presented? The conditions must be met on our part first, and then we may without presumption claim the promise. The claims of the gospel upon us, urge upon us consistency of character in accordance with our profession. We are to conduct ourselves as the representatives of Christ, knowing that the church and the world are looking to us and taking knowledge of us whether we are indeed like Christ, self-denying, cross-bearing, and cultivating, not our own natural tempers, but the spirit which Jesus possessed. TOJ 150.3

“The moral forces of our natural tempers must be resisted, or we shall strengthen the Satan side of our character, and self-respect is lost, self-reliance in God is gone, and the promises are not claimed, for we cannot come with assurance through Christ to the throne of grace. The Holy Spirit is grieved, darkness envelopes the soul, and yet in this very state, many ministers are trying to labor. An aching void they constantly have, but do not attribute it to the right cause. Jesus will work with our efforts. If we do what we can on our part, God will do on His part. Ministers may labor with the blessings of God abiding upon them. Jesus has bequeathed peace to His followers. He has saved us by the offering of Himself to God, an offering spotless, that those He came to save may be through His merits unblamable, pure, and holy, for in order to do men good, we must inspire them with confidence in our piety. We must show the Christ side of our character. If they see we reflect the image of Christ in our words and deportment, then they will be affected, convinced, and saved. TOJ 150.4

“Our meetings move off well. We feel, deeply feel, our great need of Jesus, and, oh, such matchless love as He has expressed for us! My heart is melted with this love. TOJ 151.1

“I must now go to the eight o’clock meeting. Let us pray much and watch thereunto. I can trust everything in the hands of God. TOJ 151.2

“I shall have clear light in regard to my duty, and I will try to follow where Jesus leads the way. In much love, TOJ 151.3

(Signed) “Your Ellen.”