Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)

Lt 144, 1903

White, J. E.

“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California

July 12, 1903

Portions of this letter are published in TDG 202.

My dear son Edson,—

I had just finished a letter to you when your second letter came. This proved to be a copy of a letter that you had written to Dr. Kellogg in regard to the sanitarium for colored people. I am very sorry that things are as you represent them. Have you or Brother Butler heard from a sister living at Sebastapol, California, a place not far from Santa Rosa? She wrote to me saying that she had some money that she wanted to lend to the work in Nashville. Willie answered her at once, giving her your address. I cannot remember the sister’s name. I think that Miss Peck took the letter that I received from her. Please tell me whether you or Brother Butler have received a letter from some one at that place. If you have not, I will either write to the sister myself, or will have someone visit her. I would go to see her myself, but I wish to save my strength for my writing. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 1

Edson, do not worry. If, after you have done your best, things do not go as you wish them to, give the matter into the Lord’s hands, and the way will open before you. “If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him.” [2 Timothy 2:12.] Those who on this earth share in Christ’s sufferings will in the world to come share in His glory. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 2

Of Christ we read, “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.” [Hebrews 5:8, 9.] Let us be patient under disappointment. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.” [1 Peter 4:1.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 3

Christ suffered in sympathy with men. He declares, “The reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon Me.” [Psalm 69:9.] God may see that it is best for us to meet disappointment on the right hand and on the left. Let us stand in close union with Christ, content to be partakers with Him of His sufferings, that we may at last be glorified with Him. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 4

Christ suffers when one portion of His vineyard is deprived of the blessings that it should have, but does not have because His stewards are unfaithful in the discharge of their stewardship. Often the work in one place has an overabundance of facilities, while the work in another place has very few facilities for the carrying forward of the work that needs to be done. Through unfaithful stewardship souls are deprived of the blessings that God intended them to have. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 5

God has bestowed gifts on man, not capriciously, but with equality. To every man He has given talents according to his ability to use them. And it is His purpose that the different parts of His field shall receive the help that their needs demand. When His stewards act selfishly, His work is hindered, and suffering is caused. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 6

True Christians, whose interests are bound up with the interests of Christ, are pained to the heart as they see that by man’s cupidity the Saviour is dishonored in the person of His saints. They are cut to the quick as they see their fellow men perishing in their sins, and precious opportunities to save them passing by unimproved because means for the carrying forward of the work of soul-saving are not available. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 7

As laborers together with God, how can we but feel grieved as we see Christ robbed of the glory that He would receive from those who would be saved if the strange workings of men did not hedge up the way. But let us do our best, and let us remember that Christ suffers with those who suffer through the wickedness of the enemy’s inventions. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 8

The head of the body and its members; the shepherd and his flock—these words show the relation that exists between Christ and the members of His church. What a wonderful thought it is that we, poor, fallen sinners, can become one with Christ, partakers of His divine nature, through His grace refined, purified, glorified. We may overcome and sit down with Him on His throne, even as He overcame and sat down with His Father on His throne. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 9

O what love, what matchless love! Fallen human beings may become so closely united with Christ that they are glorified with Him. On this earth they have followed in his footsteps, laboring as He labored for the souls for whom He died, and when He comes to claim His own, they enter into his joy, sitting with Him at His table in His kingdom. “Where I am,” He says, “there shall also my servant be.” [John 12:26.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 10

We are to be obedient children in this life, and though our perplexities may often seem great and unjust, we must accept them as they come, all the time doing our very best. We are to be patient, never complaining or reasoning in regard to what we cannot help. We must ever remember that Christ is afflicted in all our afflictions. We must be like Jesus, sorrowing only because we cannot do more to bring souls into union with Him. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 11

We are to be patient in all our disappointments, hanging our helpless souls upon Christ. We are His property, bought with an infinite price. Frequently we must drink of the cup of sorrow, yet we are not to complain. Thus we are preparing ourselves to drink of the cup of everlasting joy. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 12

We must carefully guard the health of mind and body. We are not to take upon ourselves burdens that will unfit us for service or that will spoil the fulness of our joy in Christ. We are to be conformed to His image. He loves us, and He will help us. We are to be passive in His hands. We have His promise. We hold the title deeds to real estate in the kingdom of glory. Never were title deeds drawn out more strictly according to law, or signed more legibly, than those that give God’s people a right to the heavenly mansions. “Let not your heart be troubled,” Christ says; “ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” [John 14:1-3.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 13

Let us study the promises and assurances found in the first chapter of second Peter. The apostle writes: “Simon Peter, a servant, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us, through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verse 1.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 14

All who will may come under the covenant promise. Precious is the price paid for our redemption—the blood of the only begotten Son of God. Christ was tried by the sharp proving of affliction. His human nature was tried to the uttermost. He bore the death penalty of man’s transgression. He became the sinner’s substitute and surety. He is able to show the fruit of His sufferings and death in His resurrection from the dead. From the rent sepulcher of Joseph rings forth the proclamation, “I am the resurrection and the life.” [John 11:25.] Those who believe in Me, and do the works of righteousness that I do, are justified, sanctified, made white and tried. They have obtained godliness and eternal life. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 15

What is the endowment of every soul who is willing to be saved in God’s appointed way? “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue.” [2 Peter 1:2, 3.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 16

This is the pledge that God makes to those who follow on to know Him, and who impart to others the knowledge that they have received, that they also may know the power of Christ’s resurrection. We are assured that if we work on the plan of addition, Christ will work for us on the plan of multiplication. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 17

What part is man to act?—“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” And we are not to stop here. “Besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity; for if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” [Verses 4-9.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 18

This will be the sure result in the case of those who once believed, but who have been overcome by Satan because they did not with all diligence work on the plan of addition here outlined. They have become blind in regard to the course laid down for them in the great plan of redemption. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 19

Satan, with legions of evil angels, works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. They have become blind in regard to their eternal interests. They have forgotten the precious passages in their experience, when they were fruitful in the knowledge of God. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 20

Temptation must be met and resisted. Day by day the spiritual battle goes on. Day by day we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It is God that works in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure. Every soul is to strive with “all diligence” to add constantly to his spiritual attainments, strengthening every grace, increasing in efficiency that he may grow in usefulness and holiness, as a fruit-bearing tree in the Lord’s garden. [Verse 5.] He is to be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. True religion leads to the cultivation of the gifts that make a man more precious in God’s sight than the gold of Ophir. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 21

“All diligence” means much. It means a daily diligence. There is danger that we shall be blind in regard to the working of satanic agencies, and that we shall be ensnared by Satan’s alluring temptations. Therefore the word comes to us, “Giving all diligence,” add to your character the graces that will make you strong to resist evil. [Verse 5.] “He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off.” He does not realize his spiritual poverty. “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verses 9-11.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 22

This is our life insurance policy. May God help His people to accept the conditions that make it possible for them to receive this life insurance policy, is my prayer. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 23

Tuesday, July 14

I have just received a letter from Elder Daniells, written from Battle Creek. From what he says, I see that the very condition of things exists in Battle Creek that was presented to me as a reason for the removal of the publishing work from Battle Creek. A. R. Henry is doing his best to make all the trouble he can for the publishing company. He is working in a strong, unreasonable way to compel it to pay him certain sums of money. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 24

The strain that our brethren are under is taxing every nerve and muscle, and I entreat you to be patient. Let the Lord work out your perplexities. Do not worry; do not be troubled. Just wait patiently, and trust in the Lord. He lives and reigns. Be of good courage in Him. “Fret not thyself in anywise.” [Psalm 37:8.] 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 25

The Lord would have us wait His time. We are not to run ahead of Him. Watch, and wait, and pray, and trust the word of the Lord. Allow nothing to lead you to lose your hold on Him. He is our God, and He will keep guard over the interests of His cause. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 26

I have been much interested in the copy of a letter written by Brother Everson, who is laboring in Rome, to Brother Daniells. The Lord is opening the way before Brother Everson in a remarkable manner. He is much encouraged. He says that the people are ready to hear. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 27

I have thought of a way in which I can help the work of God in Europe. I can write a history of my visit there and publish it in book form. I am sure that such a book would be a help to the workers in new fields; for we had most precious experiences in Europe. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 28

I must not take time to write any more now. I will write again soon. Be of good courage in the Lord. I pray that He may richly bless you. 18LtMs, Lt 144, 1903, par. 29