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The Retirement Years
man’s life here in this world, preparatory to entrance into the city of
God to be His dear, precious redeemed ones in the mansions He has
gone to prepare for us. Then praise the Lord. Let us praise Him.
Please eat, Marian, because your earthly physician would have
you eat, and the great Medical Missionary would have you eat; and
Sister [M.J.] Nelson will get anything you ask for. No one can be more
pleased than I to have your life spared to continue to do the work; but
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if your or my time is come to fall asleep in Jesus, we must not shorten
life by refusing the nourishment that the system must have. Now eat,
my dear, whether you want to eat or not, and thus act your part toward
recovery. Do your very best to recover, and then if it please the Lord to
give you rest, you have done what you could. I appreciate your labors.
Praise the Lord, Marian, that Jesus, the Great Physician, can heal you.
In love.—
Letter 379, 1904
.
College View, Nebraska,
September 16, 1904.
Dear Sister Marian,
I keep your case before me, and I am grieved that you are troubled
in mind. I would comfort you if it were in my power. Has not Jesus,
the precious Saviour, been to you so many times a present help in
times of need? Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, but cease worrying. This
is what you have many times talked to others. Let the words of those
who are not sick, as you are, comfort you, and may the Lord help you,
is my prayer.
If it is the Lord’s will that you should die, you should feel that it
is your privilege to commit your whole being, body, soul, and spirit,
into the hands of a just and merciful God. He has no such feelings
of condemnation as you imagine. I want you to stop thinking that
the Lord does not love you. Cast yourself unreservedly upon the
merciful provisions that He has made. He is waiting for you to heed
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His invitation.... You need not think that you have done anything which
would lead God to treat you with severity. I know better. Just believe
in His love, and take Him at His word.... No suspicion or distrust is
to take possession of our minds. No apprehension of the greatness of
God is to confuse our faith.
May God help us to humble ourselves in meekness and lowliness.
Christ laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown, that He might
associate with humanity, and show that human beings may be perfect.