Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 6 (1889-1890)

Lt 32, 1890

Smith, Brother

Lynn, Massachusetts

December 9, 1890

Portions of this letter are published in 3BC 1146.

Dear Brother Smith,

I understand that you have been ordained as elder of the church at Norwich Town. I have much anxiety and burden of heart for this little church that they may be a living growing church: and in order for this to be, it is essential that every soul walk in humility and lowliness of mind before God. If they are constantly seeking to exclude all thinking and speaking evil of one another, there must be the cultivation of the precious plant of Christian love in the heart for one another, each striving to excel in practicing the virtues of Christ’s character in looking to Jesus, in trusting in Jesus, in believing all His words. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 1

There is a necessity of our hearts being emptied of all selfishness and human pride and each to cultivate the gentleness and meekness of Christ, and be determined to answer the prayer of Christ that we may be one as He is one with the Father. There is danger in all of our churches of the exaltation of self, praising one’s self, glorifying self; everything of this character separates the soul from God, and unless they repent they will depart from the faith, for they are always looking for and expecting to be praised and flattered. When this does not come, they become offended and consider themselves not sufficiently esteemed. When reproof comes from God to them, they will refuse to be corrected because they feel that they are whole and need not a physician. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 2

Christ’s work is to help all who really feel their need of help from Him and to be a strength to all who really feel their own weakness. Every individual member of the church should not rest until they have a deep and living experience in the things of God. It is not our work to be seeking for the supremacy, but it is ever safe to seek for the meekness and gentleness of Christ. (Matthew 18:1-6): “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a mill stone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 3

Let this be the language of every soul, God forbid from henceforth I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The tongue needs to be educated and disciplined and trained to speak of the glories of heaven, to talk of the matchless love of Jesus Christ. Angels of heaven are working constantly to answer the prayer of Christ to His Father, that His disciples may be one as He is one with the Father. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 4

When a new church is formed angels of God are sent from heaven to lovingly impart to them the spirit and power of the grace of God and send rays of light to the hearts of all who have surrendered their wills to God’s will, their ways to God’s ways. And when they see harmony and love binding heart to heart in the faith and love of Jesus Christ in the bonds of Christian union, they exclaim, “Herein is love.” [1 John 4:10.] 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 5

The Father hath sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world! The church united in the truth is ordained of God to be a bright and shining light to the world. Our Saviour having all power in heaven and earth, commands and combines individual sympathy and individual effort of the instrumentalities of the church in heaven with the church on earth. He assigns to the angels their agency in ministering to those who shall be heirs of salvation, and He Himself is present in their assemblies in the power and demonstration of His Holy Spirit. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 6

No genuine Christian will be idle, for every agency in heaven is [prepared] to be employed to combine with human agencies in the church to carry the light which Christ shall send to the church to all parts of the world. Every individual member of the church is to be, indeed, a working member, instrumental in saving souls for whom Christ has died. The genuine Christlike workers will have a deep interest for each soul drawing to Christ and each convert as he shall come into the ranks; and they should be interested in these to find something for them to do for the Master. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 7

All are to be united as links in the golden chain that is to bind their hearts to one another and to God that they may enlighten the world. All are to hear the voice of the Master saying, Go labor today in my vineyard. There is work for each, there is work for all. One will not need to crowd out another to build himself up. Let each church member feel himself responsible for the health and spiritual strength and growth of the church. It is religion, pure and unadulterated religion which we all must have. Then the prayer will go forth from sincere, contrite hearts for the grace and spirit of Christ to be imparted to their individual souls that they may work the works of God. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 8

The prayer of Christ was for His individual disciples, and He adds, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their words, that they all may be one as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 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 that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me.” [John 17:20-23.] 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 9

We must as Christ’s representatives be moved upon by hallowed influences that we may present a holy example and Christian devotedness in the work. We must be emptied of self, we must have Christ formed within the hope of glory, we must be ever striving to be pure and holy and complete in Christ Jesus. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 10

May the Lord bless His people in Norwich Town abundantly, is my prayer. 6LtMs, Lt 32, 1890, par. 11