Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 13 (1898)
Lt 141, 1898
Wessels, Philip
Balaclava, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
March 1898
Previously unpublished. +Note
[Philip Wessels:]
The past night has been one of deep interest to me. I seemed to be in a new place. A company was assembled, composed mostly of the Wessels family. I was deeply moved as I saw how much might be done and could be done to set before them the will of the Lord concerning them. Some were careless and irreligious, not because they were in darkness, but because when light had shone all around them, they walked after the inclination and imagination of their own unsanctified hearts. I felt the Spirit of the Lord working upon me, urging me to set before them the true condition of things. Philip Wessels was present, and I spoke words to him; for a great burden was upon me. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 1
I saw the Lord looking upon him with pitiful tenderness. I said to him, Ye did run well for a while. What did hinder thee? Why did you not make straight paths for your feet? You have turned out of the way. You have apostatized from God. You have said, I want not Thy way, but my own way. You thought you would plan and devise for yourself, but you left the only safe Counsellor out of your reckoning. The Lord loves you, not because you are righteous, but because your soul is precious, altogether too precious to be lost. You have placed yourself in the enemy’s ranks, and the Lord could not prosper you, for it would have proved your eternal ruin. He calls you now, Philip, Return unto Me, and I will return unto thee and heal thy backsliding. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 2
I said, Philip, the Lord has given me words to speak to you. You became confused while in Battle Creek; for the tide of selfishness, untruthfulness, and unfair dealing made those who should have stood in the clear light, who should have flashed light upon your pathway, bodies of darkness. The Lord’s watchmen should have lifted up their voices like a trumpet, saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it.” [Isaiah 30:21.] But those who should have been as bright lights shining in a dark place carried with them a false light. Their tapers were not kindled from the holy altar, but from common fire that God had directed them not to use in connection with His service. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 3
The Lord has seen your turning away from Him into false paths, but He has not given you up. He calls after you, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” [Matthew 3:2.] You have had angels to protect you. The tree has been given another chance to bear fruit to God’s glory. Put your hand in the hand of God. Place it there confidently, saying, Lord, I find no rest away from Thee, in transgressing Thy holy law. I return to Thee, humble and willing to wear Thy yoke and lift Thy burdens. I would learn of Thee Thy meekness, Thy lowliness; then I shall find rest in Thee. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 4
You have felt a craving of soul to be in harmony with God. He knows all about this. The prayers of your wife have ascended before the throne of God. She has not lost her faith in your restoration. Will you not make her heart glad by submitting yourself to the will of God? Your lack of self-control made you ashamed and discouraged. Satan has been seeking your soul to destroy it, but Christ has stepped in between you and Satan, and He says, “Get thee behind me Satan. Let me come close to this soul.” To you He says, “Philip, Satan hath desired your soul, that he might sift it as wheat, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith shall not utterly fail.” [See Luke 22:31, 32.] 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 5
Hide yourself with Christ in God. He loves you. He asks for you. “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God; for he will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:7.] These promises are for you. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place; with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” [Isaiah 57:15.] Verses 16-19. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 6
The value of the human soul, who can estimate it? Come, Philip, come back to your heavenly Father’s house. The Lord is watching and calling, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] Come, and you will find Him your Lifegiver. You will find the Word of God suited to all the phases of your experience. It speaks for your consolation and guidance. You can truthfully say, I am weary and heavy laden. I come to Thee, O God, my Saviour. I stood upon my feet and He spake unto me, and the Spirit entered into me when He spake to me and set me upon my feet. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 7
I fully believe that you will rejoice in the light. You may trust in the atoning sacrifice. God has spoken, and He will heal. He alone can bind up the broken hearted, and give the oil of joy for mourning and the garments of Christ’s righteousness for the garments of heaviness. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 8
There is much more I would be pleased to write, but I must now go to the station. 13LtMs, Lt 141, 1898, par. 9