Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 18 (1903)
Lt 35, 1903
Hall, L. M.
“Elmshaven,” St. Helena, California
February 25, 1903
Portions of this letter are published in TDG 64. +Note
Dear Sister Hall,—
I hoped to receive a letter from you telling me where to address you. I have been troubled much with my eyes. I have had a serious time with them. I thank the Lord that they are much better now, but I dare not tax them. I cannot venture to use them much; for when I do, I am soon reminded that I have overstepped the bounds. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 1
I am very anxious to receive words from you, that I may know where you are. We pray for you, that the great Physician may say to you, Be whole. You have had a very busy life and have not spared yourself. I am glad that the Lord understands the true situation of every one of us. He knows how to help us. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 2
Come to us as soon as you can settle up your business in Battle Creek. Your room is waiting for you. Sister Nelson came home, by her own request, the day before yesterday. She takes right hold just as if she had not been away for nearly three months. We are glad that she is in her old place again. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 3
I am so sorry that on account of my eyes I cannot do the writing that I desire to do. If I could do this writing, I think my mind would be relieved of its heavy load. The petition of my heart is, “Lord, give me my eyesight.” I believe that He will hear my prayer. For weeks I have not been able to write anything, but for the last few days I have been improving. I ride out every day, but this does not relieve my eyes. It seems to make them worse. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 4
I will send you a copy of my book on Education as soon as I know where you are. We expect to receive some copies of the book the last of the week. Marian has been home for about two weeks. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 5
I am carrying a very heavy burden. Some nights I sleep but little. I am not sure that it will be wisdom for me to attend the General Conference. If I went, I could not give any further evidence, in any wise, than I gave at the last General Conference. Then the Lord gave me a message for His people, and if they desire to know their spiritual standing, they can read the Bulletin of the last Conference, and then see themselves as a people who have had light, but have not walked in it; a people to whom the Master’s will has been made known, but who have refused to do it. Since the Conference, many who might have made diligent work for repentance have added to their guilt by refusing to be converted. They knew their Master’s will, but did it not. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 6
I do not feel it my duty to go through the same amount of labor that I went through at the last General Conference. The opportunities and blessings of heaven have covered men as a canopy, but they have not received the rich impartation of the Spirit of God. They did not follow the Master in self-denial and sacrifice, lifting the cross, and, in so doing, placing themselves on vantage ground; and increased light would be to them increased condemnation. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 7
My work is very clearly presented—to put into print all the light that I am capable of giving in behalf of the truth. I am sure that many will be brought into trying places. Because they have not walked in the light, because they have not followed on to know the Lord, they will be deceived by the enemy. He will lead them to call darkness light and falsehood truth. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 8
Like the Jews in the days of Christ, many today hear and believe, but are not willing to step out upon the platform of obedience and accept the truth as it is in Jesus. They are afraid of losing worldly advantages. Their minds assent to the truth, but to obey means to lift the cross of self-denial and sacrifice, and to cease trusting in man and making flesh their arm; and they turn away from the cross. They might sit at the feet of Jesus, learning daily of Him whom to know aright is life eternal, but they are not willing. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 9
Every one who is saved must surrender his own plans, his ambitious schemes, which mean self-glorification, and follow where Christ leads the way. The understanding must be yielded up to Christ for Him to cleanse and refine and purify. This will always be done when a right reception is given to the teachings of the Lord Jesus. It is hard for self to die daily, even when the wondrous story of God’s grace is presented with the wealth of His love, which He unfolds to the soul’s necessity. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 10
O how much we need a more intimate acquaintance with the Lord Jesus. We need to enter into His will and carry out His purposes, saying with the whole heart, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” [Acts 9:6.] O how I long to see our churches in a condition different from the condition in which they now are—grieving the Holy Spirit day by day with their lukewarm religious life, a life neither cold nor hot. Christ says, “I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” [Revelation 3:15, 16.] O how greatly Christ would be honored and glorified before irreligious, worldly men and women if His followers were what they claim to be—true Christians, the love of Christ constraining them to make Him known before an idolatrous world, showing the marked contrast between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 11
I see such loftiness of spirit in those who profess to believe in Christ! I am pained, deeply pained, by night and day, to see them more like worldlings than like Christ. God expects to receive from all who believe in Him the love of a heart filled with devotion. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 12
We shall find it profitable to be distrustful of ourselves. Christ has revealed Himself as wise, patient, longsuffering, full of divine pity. Be assured that He will not break the bruised reed. He will tenderly lead your steps in safe paths into all truth. He will gladden the hearts of all who will give themselves to His guidance. He will impart to them gracious instruction. 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 13
O how I long to speak these words to those who are not so lofty in their own ideas that they have lost their appetite for the precious grace of Christ’s love. This is the instruction that we so much need, that we may impart it to worn, weary souls. You and I must be where we can feed the souls who are longing to hear words of light and life. We shall feel heart-sore and sad as we see so many who might be earnest, successful workers in taking the light to others, unwilling to do what it is their privilege to do. Nevertheless, we are to tell others of the love of Christ, and in order to do this, we must know by experience what it means to have this love in the heart. All will find abundant opportunities to work if they will improve the opportunities that come to them. Eternity, eternity is before us. There is eternal life for us to gain. In no case must we lose an opportunity to speak a word in season to one that is weary, an opportunity to sow the seeds of truth. Christ, the Majesty of heaven, clothed His divinity with humanity and came to this world to stand at the head of the human race, that He might make men and women partakers of the divine nature, giving them grace to overcome as He overcame. The promise is made, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.” [Verse 21.] 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 14
“The grace of God, that bringeth salvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” [Titus 2:11-14.] 18LtMs, Lt 35, 1903, par. 15