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Trust Your Brethren, April 17
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye
are brethren.
Matthew 23:8
.
Some days ago I received copies of a number of testimonials written for
Brother N_____ by different men in official positions. I read these testimonials.
In the night season a representation passed before me. Brother and Sister N__-
___ were looking over these testimonials. As they were talking together, there
stood by their side, not the One who appeared to Brother N_____ on a certain
occasion—the Messenger of heaven—but an evil messenger, who insinuated into
Brother N_____’s mind the belief that his brethren wanted to get control of his
property, and to put him and his wife out of the work.... The messenger said that
they had been turned out in their old age in order that these brethren might carry
on the work they had begun. Sister N_____ accepted this statement. Many false
reports were received as truth. Next, Brother N_____ was represented to me as
writing letters containing these false reports....
Then the scene changed. I heard words of counsel addressed to Brother N_-
____ by his brethren, but he was not willing to receive help from those who
had always been his sincere friends. It was represented to me that Brother and
Sister N_____ were both deceived by the enemy. They had become subject to his
temptations, and were deceiving themselves to their own hurt. One stood by the
side of the tempted ones, and said, “Have you lost sight of Him who said, ‘Come
unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my
yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light’ (
Matthew
11:28-30
)? Will you, by envy and evil surmising, spoil the good work that has
been done?”
My brother and sister, you now have the word of counsel from the Messenger
of God. You are in danger, by yielding to jealousy, of counterworking the good
work you have done. Stop right where you are. The Lord has helped you. He has
worked in your behalf....
Addressing you, the Lord’s messenger said, “Cease to heed the suggestions
of the enemy. Be led by the Lord. Walk in the way of His providence. Do
not betray the work into the enemy’s hands by yielding to his evil suggestions.
Look to Jesus.... In no case turn from your brethren, who have been your true
friends.—
Letter 61, April 17, 1902
, to a couple who had pioneered work in the
Southern States.
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