- A Word of Explanation
- MR No. 1501—Testimony to the Members of the Prahran Church
- MR No. 1502—Funds Needed for Avondale
- MR No. 1503—Christ's Wilderness Temptation
- MR No. 1504—Giving Proof of the Call to the Ministry
- MR No. 1505—Train Canvassers; Stay Away From Large Centers; Keep a Tranquil Mind, Looking Constantly to Jesus
- MR No. 1506—Stay Away From Political Strife; The Fruit of True Conversion
- MR No. 1507—The State of the Work in Australia; Ministers and Church Members to Work for Souls; Influence of Parents; The Need for Health Reform
- MR No. 1508—An Appeal for Personal Piety, Unity, and Fiscal Responsibility Among Denominational Workers
- MR No. 1509—Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians; Medical Work to Be Connected to the Church
- MR No. 1510—The Proper Attitude in Prayer
- MR No. 1511—The Judgments of God
- MR No. 1512—Christ Our Helper; Seek for Unity
- MR No. 1513—Accept God's Plans; Be Humble; Trust Fellow Workers
- MR No. 1514—Obtaining and Using Funds for Buildings and Publications; Strong Areas of God's Work to Help Weaker Ones
- MR No. 1515—God's Judgments on the Cities
- MR No. 1516—God's People to Be the Light of the World
- MR No. 1517—Dedication of Paradise Valley Sanitarium; Results of the San Francisco Earthquake; Defense of the True Sabbath
- MR No. 1518—Locate Sanitariums Away From the Cities
- MR No. 1519—Churches to Be Built in Oakland and Mountain View; Structures to Reflect Our Belief in Christ's Soon Coming
- MR No. 1520—Ministers to Proclaim the Word; Avoid the Appearance of Evil
- MR No. 1521—Encouragement and Comfort From God's Word
- MR No. 1522—Nourishing, Appetizing Food to Be Served at Our Sanitariums
- MR No. 1523—A Son Urged to Obey the Fifth Commandment
- MR No. 1524—Exercising Faith and Rejoicing in the Lord in Spite of Pain and Suffering
- MR No. 1525—Divinely Led to Buy Elmshaven; Warning Against Fanatical Movements; Search the Word, and Believe its Promises
- MR No. 1526—Counsel to a Nervous Dyspeptic and His Family
- MR No. 1527—Lessons From the Feeding of the Five Thousand
- MR No. 1528—The Work of J. E. White and W. C. White
- MR No. 1529—Southern Field Robbed by Diversion of Funds
- MR No. 1530—Fanaticism May Accompany a Genuine Revival
- MR No. 1531—Christ's Method of Imparting Truth
- MR No. 1532—The Need for Faith, Love, and Christlikeness
- MR No. 1533—Counsel to an Immoral Administrator in an Adventist Institution
- MR No. 1534—The Danger of False Views About God
- MR No. 1535—Warning Against J. H. Kellogg and His Book, The Living Temple
- MR No. 1536—How a Christian Should Treat Others
- MR No. 1537—Spirituality and Financial Integrity Needed at Church Headquarters
- MR No. 1538—An Appeal for Sacrificial Giving
- MR No. 1539—Christ's Sacrifice Testifies to Permanence of God's Law
- MR No. 1540—Material Appearing in Delmer Johnson's “Colorado Vacations of James and Ellen White”
- MR No. 1541—Christ-Centered Messages Needed at Camp Meetings
- MR No. 1542—Dealing With Dissident Brethren Through Prayer, Preaching, and Personal Effort
- MR No. 1543—1880 Camp Meeting at Milton, Oregon
- MR No. 1544—Relation of Husbands and Wives
- MR No. 1545—God Uses Imprisonment for His Own Purposes
- MR No. 1546—How Shall We Celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas?
- MR No. 1547—Trials and Blessings at the Newcastle Camp Meeting; Abiding in Christ and Resting in His Love
- MR No. 1548—Rebuke the Devil and Praise the Lord
- MR No. 1549—Praising God for a Remarkable Healing
- MR No. 1550—Oregon's Camp Meeting and Ministerial Needs in 1878
- MR No. 1551—Severe Problems Resolved at the 1880 Milton, Oregon, Camp Meeting
- MR No. 1552—A Solemn Appeal to Surrender to Christ
- MR No. 1553—A Vision Concerning Problems in New York
- MR No. 1554—Testimony Concerning the Work in Ohio; Church Leaders to Be Chosen Carefully
- MR No. 1555—Perplexities in the South Are Not Impossibilities; Work on in Faith
- MR No. 1556—Church Leader to Be Self-Denying and Humble, Not Proud and Dictatorial
- MR No. 1557—Evangelism in Melbourne Suburbs; God's Law Everlasting; Truth to Triumph Over Error
- MR No. 1558—Dietary Advice to a Sanitarium Physician; Let the Adventist Light Shine
- MR No. 1559—The Use of Drugs vs Simple Remedies; Ellen White's Diet
- MR No. 1560—Strengthening the Cause in the Sydney Area; The Importance of the Seventh-day Sabbath
- MR No. 1561—Counsel on Open-Air Meetings
- MR No. 1562—Greater Need of Christ and Less of Self
- MR No. 1563—Call to a Greater Work in Europe
- MR No. 1564—The Meaning of Consecration
- MR No. 1565—A Trip Across Germany and Holland to Kettering, England
- MR No. 1566—The Ings Invited to Join the Work in England
- MR No. 1567—Counsel to S.N. Haskell Regarding Delay to Leave for Europe; Defense of Sister Harris
- MR No. 1568—A Report on Temporal and Spiritual Matters
- MR No. 1569—Encouragement for S.N. Haskell and the Ings; Conditions at the Health Retreat
- MR No. 1570—A Vivid View of Future Events
- MR No. 1571—Our Need of Christ's Transforming Grace, Humility, and Love
- MR No. 1572—The Need for Self-Restraint and Concerted Action
- MR No. 1573—Counsel Together and Lean Wholly on God
- MR No. 1574—Piety Low in Oslo; Meditations at a Funeral; Trouble in Nimes
- MR No. 1575—A Description of Christ's Return and the Final Judgment; An Appeal for Faithful Stewardship and Witnessing
- MR No. 1576—Meetings in Melbourne and Vicinity; Commercial Work at the Echo Office; Charge Adequate Tuition
- MR No. 1577—A Call to Rightly Represent the Truth
- MR No. 1578—News from Australia; A Call to Sanctification and to Work for Souls
- MR No. 1579—The Cases of I.C. Day, Stephen Haskell, and Stephen Smith
- MR No. 1580—Admonitions for a Wayward Minister
- MR No. 1581—The Melbourne Camp Meeting; God's Great Gift of Jesus
- MR No. 1582—Financial Straits Near Cooranbong in 1896
- MR No. 1583—Ministers Should Cooperate and Preach Practical Truths
- MR No. 1584—Call to a Higher Standard
-
- MR No. 1586—Preach the Message, Not Irrelevant Theories
- MR No. 1587—True Christianity; Being a Good Samaritan
- MR No. 1588—Dr. Kellogg's Case Almost Hopeless; The Indescribable Marvel and Mystery of Christ's Incarnation
- MR No. 1589—Meetings in Massachusetts and Connecticut
- MR No. 1590—Ministers to Stand Firm for Principles
- MR No. 1591—Counsel to Parents of a Wayward Son
- MR No. 1592—Health Reform to Be Advocated; Great Controversy to Be Promoted Strongly
- MR No. 1593—A Call to Prepare for the Final Crisis
- MR No. 1594—Importance of Financial Considerations When Revising E.G. White Books
- MR No. 1595—Words of Instruction Regarding Camp Meetings, Soul Winning, and Truth-filled Books
- MR No. 1596—American Sentinel Not to Change Its Policies; Circulation of The Great Controversy and Daniel and Revelation Urged; Publishing House Leaders Need to Be Converted
- MR No. 1597—One College Better Than Two in the Northwest
- MR No. 1598—Medical and Ministerial Workers Should Harmonize
MR No. 1572—The Need for Self-Restraint and Concerted Action
(Written August 6, 1886, from Basel, Switzerland, to Elder and Mrs. E. P. Daniels.)
Again my mind is much exercised in regard to you. I dreamed that I was in your home sitting at your table, but I could not see that the teachings that you have given others on self-denial and health reform were carried out. I groaned in spirit and said, “Brother Daniels, you are going into darkness.”21MR 332.1
The Lord has shown me that you have such traits of character that, should you be prospered financially, you would be in danger of losing your soul. You would not be economical, you would use your means too freely, your wants would increase, and you would not practice self-denial. I was shown that the Lord in mercy has kept you in the school of poverty that He might save your soul.21MR 332.2
Sister Daniels has lessons to learn in economy. I saw that you, Brother Daniels, had been tested by poverty, and that the Lord would test you with prosperity. If your use of His blessings and the advantages He gives you should not be in accordance with your faith and your instructions to others—if you should not appropriate the means God brings in your hands in accordance to your faith—then He would come closer to you by affliction, disappointment, and privations, for I saw that you do not know yourself. You would be led on by your natural inclinations, building high hopes on future prospects, but God would put His hand against you. He can in a moment remove your wisdom. He can in a moment take from you the power He has entrusted to you, by which you should glorify Him.21MR 332.3
If left to yourself, to follow your own will and judgment, you will surely ruin your soul. Both you and your wife need to learn in the school of Christ. Nebuchadnezzar was warned by God not to pursue a certain course, but his prosperity elevated and deceived him, and in an unguarded moment he exclaimed, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” The instant he uttered these words, the sentence was issued that felled the tree. The blessings God had bestowed upon him were removed, his reason was taken away, and the mighty ruler was driven from men to find his place among the beasts of the field.21MR 332.4
There are many ways in which God can punish, and punishment will surely follow wherever pride is indulged. “Pride goeth before destruction.” Let a man be lifted up by a sense of his own ability, and trust in his human strength, and he will surely be overcome by temptation. God will bring him down. He will teach him his utter weakness, that he may feel his need of divine aid. Let anyone glory in his wisdom or his talents, or in anything but Christ and Him crucified, and he will learn that the Lord alone is to be exalted.21MR 332.5
Now, Elder Daniels, stop just where you are and consider. Bring forth fruits unto righteousness such as you have not brought forth. A great deal was said about the injustice that was manifested when you did not receive [the] credentials desired to labor in the cause and work of God, and could do so much good. Your credentials have been restored, and now God is waiting to see what you will do, whether you will give yourself unreservedly to His work or will please yourself. Will you connect in your work with those who will lead you to meet the world's standard rather than the standard of Christ?21MR 333.1
My heart is very sad when I think of the state of things in Healdsburg. I know the church is not in a right condition. I know that your plans and ideas have fashioned some of its members not to their spiritual advantage but to their injury, and the end is not yet. I was in my dream led into the church, into the college, and into your house. I sat at your table, and visited your rooms fitted up for your students, and I was led to see beneath the outward appearance, and I was very sad. I saw the working of things at present and what they would be in the future, which was far from being in God's order or according to His arrangements. I was shown some things in your family, the dangers that threatened your children of receiving a wrong stamp of character, a mold that will not be easily effaced—vanity, pride, love of dress, self-will, and anything but the meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price. May the Lord open your eyes to see and your heart to feel the necessity of an entire change.21MR 333.2
You do not know how to use means, but God is proving you, and will you stand the test? But, as I have written to you so fully in my former letter, I will now forbear.21MR 333.3
The Lord would have all who act a part in His work bear testimony in their lives to the holy character of the truth. The end is near, and now is the time when Satan will make special efforts to distract the interest and separate it from the all-important subjects that should arrest every mind to concentrated action. An army could do nothing successfully if its different parts did not work in concert. Should each soldier act without reference to the others, the army would soon become disorganized. Instead of gathering strength from concentrated action, it would be wasted in desultory, meaningless efforts.21MR 333.4
Christ prayed that His disciples might be one with Him as He was one with the Father. A limited number united under one head, all obeying orders, will accomplish more than ten times the number who are drawing apart, who expend their strength on many things at the same time. Whatever good qualities a man may have, he cannot be a good soldier if he acts independently. Good may occasionally be done but often the result is of little value, and often the end shows more mischief done than good. Those who act independently make a show of doing something, attract attention, and flash out brightly, and then are gone. All must pull in one direction in order to render efficient service to the cause.21MR 334.1
In Healdsburg some have acted from self-will. They have a high appreciation of their own ability. They put a great estimate on their own plans, and are all ready to take offense at the doings of others, and they refuse to act in concert. Now, these, I saw in my dream, were attracted to you, and God's blessing cannot attend them, because His Spirit does not rule in their hearts or control their actions.21MR 334.2
God requires concerted action of His soldiers, and in order to have this in the church self-restraint is essential; self-restraint must be exercised. But some in Healdsburg, as well as in other churches, will have to learn this lesson; they will have to learn to forgo their own wishes and preferences for the good of others. We have determined adversaries; we know not their number or their position. Satan works through agencies which we do not always see—through some whom we do not suspect. When we think Satan is routed, he is only preparing to make an attack to discomfit and repulse. When we fancy ourselves secure, we are in the very greatest danger. Watchfulness and prayer, combined with persevering effort to keep the rank and file unbroken, is more necessary than ever before.21MR 334.3
The work of the cause of truth in Healdsburg is a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. Satan has brought elements into the Healdsburg church that will ever be a source of trial unless these unconverted members shall see their defects of character as they have never yet seen them, and will repent of their evil surmisings, their envy, their fault-finding, their accusing of the brethren, their walking after their own independent judgment. These have made independent assertions and are bold and forward, not knowing their place, and not realizing the order that must be observed in the church of God.21MR 334.4
Such are a greater affliction to the church than any of the influences we meet with from unbelievers. The very worst elements will become instruments in the hands of Satan to obtain sympathizers. For this reason we see the need of using great caution in selecting persons to take responsibility in the school and in the church, for Satan will set these unsanctified ones to work to clog the wheels, to question, to find fault, to create suspicion, disunion, and a disordered state of things, and all the time they will think they are doing God's service. These elements are already at work in the church, but their work is not yet fully developed. Much is kept in the dark. An undercurrent is working. Satan lays hold of those who are self-willed and who move from impulse, and skillfully diverts them into channels where they will be an element of weakness in the church.21MR 334.5
Our conflict with Satan and his host must be earnest and determined. The enemy will use these rebellious ones to worry, confuse, and perplex those who would stand as bold, faithful, soldiers for Jesus. We wish you to understand your danger, to know what gins and snares Satan has set for you. The warfare is waging now and will continue to the end.21MR 335.1
The church must be a unit. I wish, my brother, that you had spiritual discernment, but in this you are deficient. I entreat you in the name of Jesus to seek wisdom from God, for Satan is surely coming to you as an angel of light. It is not easy to meet and withstand foes who wear the same dress as do the soldiers of Christ. But let the Lord come in and work with your efforts. God would have you and your wife consecrated to His service, but you both need divine enlightenment. You need to be careful with whom you connect, to take heed whom you admit into your confidence. The Lord will help you if you feel the need of His help. But He is found only of those who seek Him with faith in earnest, humble prayer. May the Lord guide and control you, is my prayer.—Letter 11a, 1886.21MR 335.2