A Plea for Larger Things

As everywhere, and always so in Europe, Mrs. White pleaded for larger things. Concerning the fruitage of our literature, she was reported to have said in one of her discourses at Basel:FSG 167.2

“God will soon do great things for us, if we lie humble and believing at His feet.... More than one thousand will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications.”—D. T. Bourdeau in The Review and Herald, November 10, 1885, page 700.FSG 167.3

In Copenhagen she thought the halls secured for our meetings were too small. She writes:FSG 168.1

“I am far from being convinced that these small and obscure halls were the best places that could be secured, or that in this great city of three hundred and twenty thousand inhabitants, the message should be given in a basement room that will accommodate but two hundred, and this but half seated.”—Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 184.FSG 168.2

Mrs. White always looked for a great spiritual revival in the years to come and used this to encourage all to seek for a larger spiritual harvest. After returning from Europe she wrote:FSG 168.3

“There are to be a multitude convinced of the truth, who will take their position for God. The time is coming when there will be as many converted in a day as there were on the day of Pentecost, after the disciples had received the Holy Spirit.”—The Review and Herald, June 29, 1905, page 8.FSG 168.4

Toward the close of May, 1887, Mrs. White, with others, went to Vohwinkel, Germany. After she spoke to the believers on Sabbath, she advised a testimony meeting, but they did not think the Germans would know how to take part in a testimony meeting. She, however, insisted that they have one. The results were gratifying, for nearly all bore their testimony. Mrs. White wrote:FSG 168.5

“I shall never forget this little company and the pleasant associations we have had with them in the worship of God.... My prayer is that the Lord may make this meeting one of great blessing to the church.”—The Review and Herald, September 27, 1887, page 2.FSG 168.6

For our children and youth, the visit of Mrs. White to Europe was most fruitful. She preached a sturdy manhood; she pleaded for schools in which young men and women might be thoroughly trained. She set forth the needs for young people to bear heavy burdens in future years; and we have certainly seen her words come true in every part of the world. She urged especially that the youth in our ranks give themselves to God for loving service.FSG 168.7

The heart of Mrs. White went out in earnest love to the millions in Catholic lands. On the way to the Waldensian valleys she wrote:FSG 169.1

“It was my fifty-eighth birthday, and surely it was to be celebrated in a way and place that I had little dreamed of. It seemed hard for me to realize that I was in Europe; that I had borne my testimony in England, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and was on my way to labor in Italy.”—Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 226.FSG 169.2

Writing of the advent cause here and there overseas Mrs. White says:FSG 169.3

“Europe is stretching out her hands, and the Macedonian cry comes from across the broad waters, ‘Come over and help us.’ The work here has advanced very slowly, for want of men and means.... Oh, my heart is full to bursting when I think what ought to have been done here in Europe in days gone by, and how far the work might now be advanced if those who have received the light of present truth had been faithful to their trust!...If the church had done the work that God made it her duty to do, we should to-day have thousands rejoicing in the truth here, and there would be light bearers in all parts of Europe.”—The Review and Herald, October 12, 1886, page 626.FSG 169.4

Similar touching appeals were printed several times while she was in Europe. To them we owe largely the marvelous fruitage seen in Europe from then on.FSG 169.5

Mrs. White possessed a rare gift in getting close to people, in winning their hearts, and thus cheering them on. Europeans are unusually responsive to kindness. It gave them confidence that she seemed to find special joy in helping the weary and downhearted. Her love for children and youth and her understanding way of winning them increased this confidence. The personal testimonies sent by Mrs. White to different individuals in Europe after her return to America guided and encouraged in many difficult cases.FSG 169.6

Our believers in Hamburg, Germany, had an unusual experience that showed them how timely and helpful the messages of Mrs. White were. They had started a mission school there, as well as a city mission. In this work they met some peculiar conditions, which created difficulties that they had not known before. It seemed for a time as though the work would be totally broken, but to their joy and surprise, just as they reached the crisis a long testimony letter came in from Australia. When they received this they wondered what had led Mrs. White to write and send them the testimony. No one had written to Mrs. White, and so far as they could find out she had no knowledge of their perplexities at all, but the light and instruction she sent them solved their problem perfectly and saved the school and the mission from great embarrassment and loss.FSG 170.1

In the providence of the Lord, the Adventist work in Europe began in Switzerland. The Swiss are a firm people, but somewhat inclined to a cold, intellectual religion. Sometimes there was among them a lack of unity. Mrs. White carried a heavy burden for the spiritual condition of our believers in Switzerland. She felt called upon to lead out here and there in a series of local revival services for the people. After visiting our various companies in Switzerland, she did not yet feel that the work was finished, and so a special season of spiritual consecration services with the workers and others at headquarters in Basel was arranged for. Concerning these meetings she wrote:FSG 170.2

“On returning from Tramelan to Basel, Feb. 7, 11887] we found that special efforts were being made by all connected with the mission building, to draw nigh to God by earnest prayer and confession, that the blessing of the Lord might be granted us in an especial manner when our Conference and Council should convene. Meetings were held at 6:30, commencing February 6. I commenced the next morning to speak to the people, and we labored earnestly with our brethren and sisters for deeper spirituality and knowledge of the will of God. We felt the great need as laborers together with God, of meeting a higher standard....FSG 170.3

“Sabbath morning, February 12, at half past six we had our morning meeting. The Lord gave me much freedom in speaking to the people, and the fallow ground of hearts was broken up. Many confessions were made with freely-flowing tears. We see that the Spirit of the Lord is coming into the meeting, and this makes me rejoice. We want the work to go deeper and be more earnest. I tried to impress upon the people that a happy flight of feeling is no evidence that we are in favor with God. We must have the living divine principles ever abiding in us, and not make an idol of impulse or of a high degree of feeling. If we have pardon, we must show repentance. We must have faith, and walk by faith; not entertain the idea that we must have assurance in feeling before we acknowledge ourselves blessed of God. The assurance is in God’s word. God has said, and it will be done. He who trusts in God must have due respect for all the means and all the helps to obedience. The written word, the services of God’s house, and the throne of grace—these are God’s blessings, and our work is to lay hold upon the promises of God and rely upon them. Live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. This is the victory, even your faith. Without holiness no man can see the Lord. Whatever our hopes or our profession, God calls for deeds and works. A meek and quiet spirit is the result of the grace of God in the heart. Faith in God’s promises must be exercised while we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, God working in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure. We must be constantly guarded, for we are on the battle-field against a wily foe. We have a heaven to win; a possession to gain that requires the vigilant exercise of every spiritual muscle. Half-hearted work will not do here. God will accept nothing short of whole-hearted service, willing obedience.FSG 171.1

“Sabbath, February 12, was almost entirely devoted to service. We have not had an exciting time, but firm conviction is taking hold of minds. We feel that we are advancing. We are trying to make the people understand that it is not God’s design to withhold His presence, but that we are not sufficiently spiritual to discern His presence, and to lay hold of His promises, and claim them by faith. Our hearts lie too much in vapors and mists of worldliness, sin, and frailty, through which only a dim light reaches us, penetrating this mist and fog which Satan pours in upon us, while the full brightness of Christ’s righteousness shines above us, and we scarcely look up. There are efforts which we ourselves must make. The cares of life will try us; but we let them disturb our confidence in God, and then we wonder why we have not more comfort, and more peace and hope and joy. Oh, I wish we could see these things as they are, and be sensible Christians! If we do not have ecstatic feelings, we begin to doubt whether we are Christians or not, when we should not look at our feelings, but at God’s word, for there is our assurance. We must bring our hearts into a right position. We must put away all sin, all pride, all impatience, all envy and evil thoughts, all jealousies, and then, while working out our own salvation, God will work in us to will and to do of His good pleasure....FSG 171.2

“At nine o’clock there was a social meeting, and then a sermon by Elder Ings. The German portion of the congregation received a blessing, having an opportunity to hear the Bible truth in their own language. Seventeen have recently come to the truth in Basel, for which we thank and praise God. In the afternoon a discourse is given to the Germans. Three are to be baptized (several have already received the ordinance), and the communion service is to be attended this afternoon. I am full of thankfulness to God for the mercies of this Sabbath. We should make our life a clear, steady, burning light to the world. If we are not always on the mount, it is because God sees it would not be for our best good, because we would not see and be thankful for the lesser blessings. We should be thankful that He is still with us in the lowly valley of cares and troubles that press the soul. The Lord would have us look up, and be grateful to Him that there is a heaven; that Jesus is preparing mansions for us, where the weary will be at rest. Let us praise God from whom all blessings flow. Let us grasp by living faith the rich promises of God, and be thankful from morning till night.FSG 172.1

“February 14. This morning we had another meeting to seek God in prayer, and by humble confession. I spoke from these words: ‘And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.’ The Lord helped me to speak pointedly upon this scripture. The gospel demands from every human being an unreserved consecration to God, of both body and soul, with all their energies and capabilities, throughout the entire period of our probation. In this work there is to be no indolence; continual advancement is required of us, while God claims every ordinary or peculiar power, endowment, and faculty He has given us in trust. To withhold these from God, is robbery toward God; while every talent is given us as a sacred trust, upon condition that it shall be used and improved, enlarged and strengthened, by use, in accordance with the will and design of the great Giver, that by this means divine light and power shall be communicated to the world through God’s appointed channel....FSG 172.2

“Our social meetings have shown still more decided advancement. We are coming nearer to the point, nearer to the freedom and liberty of the children of God. Confession with weeping has been made, and we see there is a deeper sense of how far short they have come of meeting the standard of righteousness. There is a firm purpose to do better, and if we can by repetition of great and solemn warnings and precious inducements in the promises, bring them to feel their great need and the willingness of God to pardon and bless, we shall have gained a victory over Satan and over his devices. God requires of every one of His followers faith, sincere prayer, and a spotless example. Not one is excused; they are His employed servants, working for wages, even the life which is to come. To be unfaithful to God, who has manifested so great interest for us, is the basest ingratitude.”—The Review and Herald, April 12, 1887, pages 1, 2.FSG 173.1

These intensive efforts were not without fruit as later years made plain. They are also a great object lesson for God’s servants today. There is need now of deep searching and protracted revival work in many churches. The messages from God call upon our ministers to do this and awaken the people. The spiritual revival which Mrs. White brought to Europe and the help she gave our churches and missionary workers were of untold value and will never cease to bear fruit. She constantly pleaded for a stronger faith, more love, toleration, and kindness among the brethren of all races, higher moral standards, and holiness of life. In all her addresses she exalted Christ and set forth the glory of His saving grace.FSG 173.2

Yet her most fruitful labors for Europe were not these revival efforts, important as they were. The greatest work which she, through the Spirit of prophecy, has done for Europe was not her counsels but her writings. The books of Mrs. White have been translated into almost every European language and have been an even greater blessing than her visit there, much as that meant. These books have made her name known in thousands of homes. Hundreds of persons ask us who that woman is, and how she is able to write such beautiful, spiritual truths. For Europe Steps to Christ is her book number one; then Early Writings for our believers, and for all, Ministry of Healing, Christ’s Object Lessons, and so forth. It would take another chapter to tell how these Spirit filled books have been read and appreciated, from kings’ palaces to the poorest fishermen’s hovels. Our colporteurs have scattered them everywhere, and the reading of them has literally been to millions like a “voice from heaven.” In some lands of papal darkness we have visited, they have been and are the only genuine gospel literature the people have ever seen. Thus the Spirit of prophecy is a wellspring of spiritual blessing to this generation.FSG 173.3