To a Physician in Battle Creek--
My Dear Brother: I received your letters
yesterday and read them with deep interest. I am always glad
to hear from you concerning your family and the institution in
which you are bearing responsibilities of no ordinary character.
Your only safety is in obeying the word of the Lord, in walking
in the light of His countenance. The enemy is continually seeking
to devise methods by which he may steal a march upon us, and
we need to pay strict heed to the cautions given by God.
If those who in the past have been standard-bearers
in the work of God had walked in the lines that He has marked
out, they would better have honored Him and would have had increased
usefulness. Some whose voices are now silent in death might have
lived to warn, entreat, and advise. If those who in past years
had been entrusted with large responsibilities had heeded the
warnings and entreaties of the Spirit of God, they would now
be walking before Him in strength and efficiency. When men educate
others to rely on them and trust in them, when, by pen or voice,
they dictate to others as to what they should do, they are teaching
others to make flesh their arm, to give glory to human beings
rather than to God.
We are safe only as we exalt Christ, speaking
in praise of His excellence. Isaiah says: "Unto us a child
is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be
upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no
end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order
it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice
from henceforth even forever. The zeal of
the Lord of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9:6, 7.
There is danger that men will receive the
counsel of men, when by so doing they will discard the counsel
of God. Oh, what lessons all must learn before they will understand
that God seeth not as man seeth. The Lord says: "My thoughts
are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. . . . For
as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher
than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah
55:8, 9. Unless there is a decided reformation among the people
of God, He will turn His face from them.
My brother, there is need of constant watchfulness,
lest, in Battle Creek, building shall be piled upon building
and advantage heaped upon advantage. The means thus expended
will testify against us. You should put wise plans into operation
and scatter the influence that is centering in Battle Creek,
diffusing the light that God has given you. Blessed are they
that sow beside all waters. The more there is invested
in Battle Creek, the greater will be the demand for additional
investment; but this is not in the order of God, and before a
very long period of time shall pass, the mistake of centering
interests in Battle Creek will be made evident.
In adding building to building in Battle
Creek, we are encouraging neglect of other fields. Superabundant
advantages there mean destitution elsewhere. Other parts
of the vineyard are robbed of the means they should have. Means
should be invested elsewhere in winning souls to the truth and
in providing houses of worship for them.
