A Letter

Dear Bro. and Sr. ——: The Lord has seen fit in his goodness to give me a vision at this place, and among the different things shown, were somethings relating to you. I saw that all was not right with you. The enemy has been seeking your destruction, and through you to influence others. I saw that you both take an exalted position that God has never assigned you. I saw that you both considered yourselves far in advance of the people of God. I saw you looking to Battle Creek with jealousy and suspicion. You would place your hands in there, and mould their acts and doings to what you consider would be right. You are noticing little things that you do not understand, and that you have not the least to do with, and that in no way concerns you. God has committed his work at B. C. to chosen servants. He has laid the burden of the work upon them. Angels of God are commissioned to have oversight of the work, and if it does not move right, those who are at the head of the work will be corrected, and things will move in God's order without the interference of this individual, or that.T05 26.1

I saw that God wants you to turn your attention to yourselves. Try your motives. You are deceived in regard to yourselves. You have an appearance of humility, and this appearance has influence with others, and leads them to think you are far advanced in the Christian life; but when your peculiar notions are touched, self rises at once, and you manifest a willful, stubborn spirit. This is a sure evidence that you do not possess true humility.T05 26.2

I saw that you had mistaken notions about afflicting your bodies, depriving yourselves of nourishing food. These things lead some of the church to think, surely God is with you, or you would not deny self, and sacrifice thus. But I saw that none of these things will make you more holy. The heathen do all this, but receive no reward for it. A broken and contrite spirit before God is in his sight of great price. I saw that your views were erroneous in these things, and you look at the church, and are watching them, noticing little things, when your attention should be turned to your own souls’ interest. God has not laid the burden of his flock upon you. You think that the church is upon the back ground, because they cannot see things as you do, and because they do not follow the same rigid course you think you are required to pursue. I saw that you are deceived in regard to your duty, and concerning the duty of others. Some have gone too far in the eating question. They have taken a rigid course, and lived so very plain that their health has suffered, disease has strengthened in the system, and the temple of God has been weakened. I was referred back to Rochester, N. Y. I saw that when we lived there we did not eat nourishing food as we should, and disease nearly carried us to the grave. I saw that as God gave his beloved sleep, he was willing to grant them suitable food to nourish the strength. The motive we had was pure. It was to save means, that the paper might be sustained. We were poor. I saw that the fault then was in the church. Those who had means were covetous and selfish. If these had done their part, the burden would have been lightened upon us; but as some did not do their part, we were burdened and others eased. I saw that God did not require any one to take a course of such rigid economy as to weaken or injure the temple of God. There are duties and requirements in his word to humble the church and cause them to afflict their souls, without entering into any course to make crosses, and manufacture duties to distress the body, to cause humility. All this is outside of the word of God.T05 27.1

The time of trouble is just before us; and then stern necessity will require the people of God to deny self, to merely eat enough to sustain life; but God will prepare and fit his people for that time. Our necessity will be God's opportunity to impart his strengthening power, and to sustain his people in that fearful hour. But now God requires his people to labor with their hands, the thing that is good, and lay by them in store as God has prospered them, and do their part in sustaining the cause of truth. This is a duty enjoined upon all who are not especially called to labor in word and doctrine, to devote their time in proclaiming the way of life and salvation to others.T05 28.1

And those who labor with their hands must nourish their strength to perform this labor, and those who labor in word and doctrine must nourish their strength, for Satan and his evil angels are warring against them to tear down their strength, and they should seek rest of body and mind when they can, from wearing labor, and should eat of nourishing, strengthening food, build up their strength, for they will be obliged to use, or bring into exercise all the strength they have. I saw that it did not glorify God in the least for any of his people to make a time of trouble for themselves. There is a time of trouble just before God's people, and he will prepare them, and fit them for that fearful conflict.T05 28.2

I saw that your views concerning swine's flesh would prove no injury if you have them to yourselves; but in your judgment and opinion you have made this question a test, and your actions have plainly shown your faith in this matter. If God requires his people to abstain from swine's flesh, he will convict them on the matter. He is just as willing to show his honest children their duty, as to show their duty to individuals upon whom he has not laid the burden of his work. If this is a duty of the church to abstain from swine's flesh, God will discover it to more than two or three. He will teach his church their duty. I saw that God was leading out a people, not a few separate individuals, one here and there, one believing this thing, another that. Angels of God are doing the work committed to their trust. The third angel is leading out a people, purifying a people, and unitedly they move with the third angel. I saw that some run ahead of the angels that are leading this people; but they have to retrace every step, and meekly follow no faster than the angels lead. I saw that the angels of God would lead his people no faster than they could receive, and act out well, the important truths that are communicated to them. I saw that some restless spirits do not more than half do up their work. As the angel leads them, they get in haste for something new, and rush on without any divine guidance, and they bring confusion and discord into the ranks. They do not speak or act in harmony with the body. I saw that you both will have to speedily be brought where you are willing to be led, instead of desiring to lead, or Satan will step in and lead you in his way, to follow his counsel. Some look at your set notions, and consider it humility. They are deceived. You are both making work for repentance.T05 29.1

Bro. —— you are naturally close and covetous. You tithe mint and rue, but neglect the weightier matters. The young man came to Jesus, and wanted to know what he should do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. He declared he had done so. Said Jesus, Yet lackest thou one thing. Go sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. The result was, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. I saw you had wrong ideas. God requires economy of his people; but I saw some had stretched their economy into meanness. I wish you could see your case as it is. The true spirit of sacrifice, which is acceptable to God, you do not possess. You look at others, and watch them, and if they do not pursue the same rigid course toward themselves that you do toward yourselves, why, you can do nothing for them, and your souls are withering beneath the blighting influence of your own errors. A fanatical spirit is with you, that you take to be God's Spirit. You are deceived. You cannot bear the plain, cutting testimony. You would have a smooth testimony borne to you; but when any one reproves your wrongs, how quick self rises. Your spirits are not humbled. You have a work to do.   *   *   *   Such acts, such a spirit, I saw, was the fruit of your errors, and the fruits of setting up your judgment and notions as a rule for others, and against those whom God has called into the field. You have both overreached the mark.T05 30.1

I saw that you had thought this one and that one was called to labor in the field, when you know nothing of the matter. You cannot read the heart. If you had drank deep of the truth of the third angel's message, you would not be so free to tell who was called of God, and who was not. It is no evidence because one can pray and talk well that God has called him. Every one has an influence, and that influence should tell for God; but when it comes to whether this one, or that one should devote his time to labor for souls, then there is something of the deepest importance in the matter, and it needs God to decide who shall engage in the solemn work. There were good men in the apostles’ days that could pray with power, and talk often to the point, yet the apostles, who had power over unclean spirits, and could heal the sick, dared not with merely their wisdom set one apart for the holy work of being mouth-piece for God. They waited unmistakable evidence of the manifestation of the Holy Spirit. I saw that God had laid the work of deciding who was fit for this holy work upon his chosen messengers, and in union with the church, and manifest tokens of the Holy Spirit, they were to decide who should go, and who were unfit to go. I saw that if this work should be left to a few individuals here and there, to decide who was sufficient for this great work, confusion and distraction would be the fruit everywhere.T05 31.1

Repeatedly has God shown that individuals should not be encouraged into the field without unmistakable evidence that God has called them. God will not entrust the burden for his flock to unqualified individuals. Those whom God calls must be men of deep experience, tried and proved, men of sound judgment, men who will dare to reprove sin in the spirit of meekness, men that understand how to feed the flock. God knoweth the hearts, and he knows whom to select. Bro. and Sr. —— may decide in this matter and be all wrong. Your judgment is imperfect, and can be no evidence in this matter. I saw that you were pulling off from the church, and if you continue to do so, you will have enough of it; for God will let you go to suffer by following your own way.T05 32.1

Now God invites you to get right, to try your motives, and press with the people of God.T05 32.2

E. G. White.

Mannsville, N. Y., Oct. 21, 1858