Example of Christ

When men lose sight of Christ's example, and do not pattern after His manner of teaching, they become self-sufficient, and go forth to meet Satan with his own manner of weapons. The enemy knows well how to turn his weapons upon those who use them. Jesus spake only words of pure truth and righteousness. It was He who inspired prophets and holy men of old, and they spake as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit. But Christ was superior to the prophets, in that He was the Author of eternal salvation, the Originator of all that they have written and spoken, and in His example He has left us a perfect model for faith and practice.16MR 161.1

If ever a people needed to walk in humility before God, it is His church, His chosen ones in this generation. We all need to bewail the dullness of our intellectual faculties, the lack of appreciation of our privileges and opportunities. We have nothing whereof to boast. We grieve the Lord Jesus Christ by our harshness, by our unChristlike thrusts. We need to become complete in Him. It is true that we are commanded to “cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” This message must be given. But while it must be given, we should be careful not to thrust and crowd and condemn those who have not the light that we have. We should not go out of our way to make hard thrusts at the Catholics. Among the Catholics there are many who are most conscientious Christians, and who walk in all the light that shines upon them; and God will work in their behalf.16MR 161.2

Those who have had great privileges and opportunities, and who have failed to improve their physical, mental, and moral powers, but who have lived to please themselves, and have refused to bear their responsibilities, are in greater danger and in greater condemnation before God than those who are in error upon doctrinal points, yet who seek to live to do good to others, corresponding to the knowledge which they have. Do not censure others, do not condemn them. As free moral agents under the government of God, our responsibility and obligation are not limited by the knowledge we actually possess, but the knowledge we might and ought to have had if we had advanced in faith, and obtained the rich Christian experience that would have corresponded with our advantages.16MR 162.1

We should improve our faculties, and we shall be held accountable for their improvement. They are a sacred trust, and if we do not use them properly, if we do not educate ourselves to trust in God, to believe and practice His word, we shall be held accountable. If we allow selfish considerations, false reasoning, and false excuses to bring us into a perverse state of mind and heart, so that we shall not know the ways and will of God, we shall be far more guilty than the open sinner. We need to be very cautious in order that we may not condemn those who before God are less guilty than ourselves.16MR 162.2

Willie, Brother Rousseau, and Sister Bree came from Melbourne last Friday. Willie had been away several weeks attending the convention at Melbourne. Sister Rousseau is staying with us. After the Sabbath the usual inflowing came for council meetings and so forth. My home is the only place in which the people can be accommodated for these meetings. Brother Colcord came from Melbourne on Monday. Doctor M. G. Kellogg has made his home with us for some time, by special invitation. There is no place in which to entertain our people but at my home. Last night we lodged seventeen persons. They report this morning that they have all rested well.16MR 162.3

Your letter only came today, and at a time when a number were about to leave our house to take passage on a steamer from Sydney to New Zealand. It was to sail at four P.M. Elder Corliss and his wife, Brother Colcord, Sister Bree, and Willie are among its passengers. Brother Sisley will go to New Zealand one week from today. Willie told me that a boat would leave for Cape Town, Africa, tomorrow. This gives me but little time in which to write to you, but I will send you copies of letters that are of importance to all.16MR 163.1

You inquire in respect to the propriety of receiving gifts from Gentiles or the heathen. This question is not strange; but I would ask you, Who is it that owns our world? Who are the real owners of houses and lands? Is it not God? He has an abundance in our world which He has placed in the hands of men by which the hungry might be supplied with food, the naked with clothing, the homeless with homes. The Lord would move upon worldly men, even idolaters, to give of their abundance for the support of His work, if we would approach them wisely, and give them an opportunity of doing those things which it is their privilege to do. What they would give we should be privileged to receive.16MR 163.2

We should become acquainted with men in high places and, by exercising the wisdom of the serpent and the harmlessness of the dove, we might obtain advantages from them, for God would move upon their minds to do many things on behalf of His people. If proper persons would set before those who have means and influence the needs of the work of God in a proper light, these men might do much to advance the cause of God in our world. We have put away from us privileges and advantages that we might have had the benefit of, because we chose to stand independent of the world. But we need not sacrifice one principle of truth while taking advantage of every opportunity to advance the cause of God.16MR 163.3

The Lord would have His people in the world but not of the world. They should seek to bring the truth before the men in high places, and give them a fair chance to receive and weigh evidence. There are many who are unenlightened and uninformed, and as individuals we have a serious, solemn, wise work to do. We are to have travail of soul for those who are in high places, and go to them with the gracious invitation to come to the marriage feast. Very much more might have been done than has been done for those in high places. The last message that Christ gave to His disciples before He was parted from them and taken up into heaven was a message to carry the gospel to all the world, and was accompanied by the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Lord said, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”16MR 164.1

“The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.” “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, saith the Lord of hosts.” “Every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof.”16MR 164.2

There is a great work to be done in the earth, and the Lord Jesus has taken men into copartnership with Himself, in order that heavenly agencies may cooperate with human agencies. Christ was in travail of soul for the redemption of the world, and those who are laborers together with God are representatives of Christ to our world, and will have compassion for the lost, and will travail in soul for the redemption of men. Unless the church awakes and stands to her post of duty, God will charge the loss of souls to her account. I have a deep interest that the work of God shall advance.16MR 165.1

Those who are the chosen of God are required to multiply churches wherever they may be successful in bringing souls to the knowledge of the truth. But the people of God are never to collect together into a large community as they have done in Battle Creek. Those who know what it is to have travail of soul will never do this, for they will feel the burden that Christ carried for the salvation of men.16MR 165.2

Everyone who is chosen of God should improve his intellectual powers. Jesus came to represent the character of the Father, and He has sent His disciples into the world to represent the character of Christ. He has not given us His word to point out the way of life and left us simply to carry that word, but has also promised to give the word efficiency by the power of the Holy Spirit. Is there need, then, that anyone should walk in uncertainty, grieving that they do not know and experience the movings of the Holy Spirit upon their hearts?16MR 165.3

Are you hungering and thirsting for instruction in righteousness? Then you have the sure promise that you shall be filled. “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” [1 John 5:20].16MR 165.4

The Lord would have us in possession of the spirit of heavenly wisdom. Are we all being impressed to pray to the Lord humbly and earnestly as our necessities require, importuning Him for the spirit of wisdom? Do we pray, saying, “Show me the secrets of wisdom. That which I know not, teach Thou me”? Oh, for humble, earnest prayer to go forth from unfeigned lips praying for the counsel that is of God! He says, “Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom.”16MR 166.1