Letters and Manuscripts — Volume 22 (1907)

Lt 258, 1907

White, J. E.

St. Helena, California

August 16, 1907

Portions of this letter are published in Mar 283; 5BC 1083-1084; 7BC 946; OHC 23; TDG 237; LDE 27; 6Bio 134. +^Note

Elder J. E. White
Boulder, Colorado

Dear Children:

I feel very grateful to my heavenly Father for His preserving care granted to me in my old age. I have written a great deal in the past two weeks; my pen has been in my hand nearly all the hours of daylight. Two nights I was not able to sleep past twelve o’clock; for my mind was burdened with several matters. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 1

I am glad to be able to write you that we now have Brother and Sister Mason as members of our family; Mrs. Mason is doing the cooking for the family, and we are surprised and pleased that she does so well. She has been in delicate health for some years; but we believe that she will overcome this. For some time it has seemed impossible to secure anyone to fill the position of matron for my home. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 2

Brother Mason is my bookkeeper. He is also able to help his wife in many ways about the work of the kitchen. Now that this vexing question of securing suitable help in the home is settled, I feel more restful in my mind. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 3

I am very anxious to get into print the instruction that has been given me for our churches. We are all doing our best to bring this about; but I find the work very taxing on my strength. I pray that the Lord will strengthen my eyesight, that I may do the work that I see before me to be done. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 4

Willie left St. Helena this morning. He came into my room before leaving, and we had a short season of prayer together. We shall all miss him very much. He will first attend the Los Angeles meeting, and then go on to Colorado. I did not feel that it was my duty to leave home to attend this meeting in Southern California; for I have been quite sick since the St. Helena meeting. The burden of the cause is upon me night and day; but I am putting my trust in the Lord. He will work for the good of His people and the glory of His name. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 5

I received your letter this morning, telling of the calamity at Boulder, also the papers. I thank you for sending them. It was a strange occurrence. Did any of our people feel the effects of the disaster? 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 6

I have been shown that the Spirit of the Lord is being withdrawn from the earth. God’s keeping power will soon be refused to all who continue to disregard His commandments. The reports of fraudulent transactions, murders, and crimes of every kind are coming to us daily. Iniquity is becoming so common a thing that it no longer shocks the senses as it once did. I have been shown that the whole world is fast becoming as it was in the days of Noah. “For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark; and the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ... Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. ... Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” [Matthew 24:38, 39, 42, 44.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 7

Before the Son of man appears in the clouds of heaven, everything in nature will be convulsed. Lightning from heaven, uniting with the fire in the earth, will cause the mountains to burn like a furnace and pour out their floods of lava over villages and cities. Molten masses of rock, thrown into the water by the upheaval of things hidden in the earth, will cause the water to boil, and they will send forth rocks and earth. There will be mighty earthquakes and great destruction of human life. But as in the days of the great deluge Noah was preserved in the ark that God had prepared for him, so in these days of destruction and calamity God will be the refuge of His believing ones. Through the psalmist, He declares: “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” “For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.” [Psalm 91:9, 10; 27:5.] Then shall we not make the Lord our surety and our defense? 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 8

There is a work to be done at this time by those who believe that we are living in the closing days of this earth’s history. Light must be imparted to those who are in darkness. The truths of the Word of God must be brought in straight, clear lines to the people, whether they will receive them, or whether they will reject them. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily, I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” [Matthew 24:45-47.] Here is represented a class of workers who will not fail nor become discouraged in their work. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 9

“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards; the lord of that servant shall come in a day that he looketh not for him; and in an hour that he is not aware of; and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [Verses 48-51.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 10

Let us be children of the day. Let us walk in the light as Christ is in the light. Let us be sober, and watch unto prayer. We are warned that in these last days satanic influences will work with such power that if it were possible they would deceive even the very elect. But living amid these opposing forces, we may through the exercise of faith and prayer call to our side a retinue of heavenly angels, who will guard us from every corrupting influence. The worker who makes the Word of God his guide will walk in the light of the Lord and be safe. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 11

A study of Christ’s wonderful sermon on the mount will teach the believer what must be the characteristics of those whom the Lord calls “Blessed.” “And seeing the multitude, He went up into a mountain: and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him.” [Matthew 5:1.] The disciples gathered as close as possible about the Saviour while He taught; but they were sharers of Christ’s burdens in His work of ministry. When any in the multitude were in need of help and healing, they brought these ones to Christ, that He might grant their requests. Thus they were laborers together with Him. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 12

“And He opened His mouth and taught them saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” [Verses 2-12.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 13

I thank the Lord that such plain directions are given to believers. If we had no other instruction than is contained in these few words, here is sufficient, so that none need become bewildered. But we have a whole Bible full of precious instruction. None need be in darkness and uncertainty. Those who will seek by faith and prayer and earnest study of the Scriptures to obtain the virtues here brought to view will easily be distinguished from those who walk not in the light. Those who refuse to follow a Thus saith the Lord will have no excuse to render for their persistent resistance of the Word of God. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 14

“Ye are the salt of the earth,” Christ declared; “but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith will it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick and it giveth light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 15

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” [Verses 13-20.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 16

We have a message to bear to those who have not had the light of present truth; and in our work we must make no denial of our faith. A study of the history of the children of Israel will help us to learn lessons that will keep us from repeating the mistakes that spoiled their record. The Lord wonderfully delivered this people from their bondage to an oppressive king and Himself took charge of their vast army. He guided them by a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night—a cloud which enshrouded His own presence. He provided them with food in the wilderness; and they did eat angels’ food. But they longed for the flesh pots of Egypt. The food that God provided for them was that which would give them health and strength. But they murmured and asked for the food that they had had in the days of their bondage. The Lord granted their desires, although He knew that this food they craved would prove a curse instead of a blessing, as they thought. Read in the eleventh chapter of Numbers the result of their lust for flesh. “While the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague.” [Verse 33.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 17

Soon after Israel’s encampment at Sinai, Moses was called up into the mount to meet with God. Alone he climbed the steep and rugged path and drew near to the cloud that marked the place of Jehovah’s presence. Israel was now to be taken into close and peculiar relationship to the Most High God. As a nation they were to come under the special government of God. Through Moses the message was given: 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 18

“Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine; and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests and an holy nation.” [Exodus 19:4-6.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 19

Moses returned to the camp, and summoned the elders of Israel, and repeated to them the divine message. “And all the people answered together, All that the Lord hath spoken, we will do.” [Verse 8.] Thus they entered into a solemn covenant with God, pledging themselves to accept the Lord God as their ruler. They became in a special sense the subjects of His authority. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 20

Then Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. “And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I am come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee forever.” [Verse 9.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 21

Amid thunders and lightnings God spoke His law in the hearing of that vast multitude. God gave the occasion of the giving of the law one of awful grandeur. He desired that the people should understand the exalted character. The people must be taught that everything connected with His service must be regarded with the greatest reverence. The Sabbath command was not here given as something new, but as that which they had known in the past. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy: six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work; thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” [Exodus 20:8-11.] 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 22

The Sabbath day was to be sacredly observed as the memorial of the Creator’s work. Every week it was to call to their minds the Maker of the heavens and the earth. The Lord of heaven had rested on the seventh day at the close of Creation’s week, and His people through all time were to honor that day as the rest day of Jehovah. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 23

All who keep the seventh day Sabbath signify by their act that they worship the only true God. It is a sign of their allegiance to Him. The fourth commandment is the only one of all the ten in which is made known the authority of the Lawgiver. Thus it becomes the seal of God. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 24

The Lord has given man six days in which to labor. He bids him on the seventh to put away his own interests and pleasures and worship Him. Acts of necessity and mercy done on the Sabbath are not a transgression of the fourth commandment. Christ on the Sabbath performed works of healing, and in following His example, we cannot make a mistake. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 25

In many respects we have not maintained the high standard that God required of His people. Many who have excellent abilities have allowed self to take possession. Little by little, the leaven of selfishness has worked until the whole lump is in danger of being leavened. Capabilities which were the gift of God have been perverted until objectionable traits of character rule, and the influence of many has become a dangerous thing. In Boulder, men who might have done a good work have allowed their senses to be perverted, and their course has been an offense to the Spirit of God. The Lord has declared that He will not serve with their sins. When men seek to turn aside the counsels of God to meet their own ideas, they deceive themselves and others. They learn to believe a lie. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 26

The time left to us is very short. Let us put away all selfish indulgence; for this weakens the physical, mental, and moral strength and makes the human agent unable to have a true sense of the sacredness of God’s requirements. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 27

I will not write more at this time, but I say to those who claim to be Seventh-day Adventists, Can you claim the seal of living God? Can you claim that you are sanctified by the truth? We have not, as a people, given the law of God the pre-eminence as we should. We are in danger of doing our own pleasure on the Sabbath day. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 28

Precious instruction has been given to our people in the books I have been charged to write. How many read and study these books? The light that God has given may be regarded with indifference and unbelief, but this light will condemn all who have not chosen to accept and obey it. 22LtMs, Lt 258, 1907, par. 29