安息日下午 3月7日
Memory Text:
“在这一切之外，要穿上爱，爱是联络全德的。”（歌罗西书 3:14，和合本）
“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” KJV — Colossians 3:14
“基督徒在努力达到上帝为他设定的理想境界的过程中，不应绝望。上帝应许，藉着基督的恩典和大能，人人都能获得道德和灵性上的完美。耶稣是力量的源泉，生命的泉源。他引领我们来到他的话语前，并从生命树上赐给我们叶子，医治我们被罪恶缠身的灵魂。他引领我们来到上帝的宝座前，并将祷告放在我们口中，藉此我们与他亲密相交。他为我们运行天上全能的机构。我们每一步都感受到他永活的大能。”（AA 478.2）
“上帝对那些渴望“在一切智慧和属灵悟性上充满祂旨意的知识”的人，其灵命的提升没有限制。通过祈祷、警醒、知识和悟性的增长，他们必“照着祂荣耀的大能，得着各样的力量”。如此，他们便预备好为他人服务。救主的旨意是，洁净圣洁的人类将成为祂的助手。为此伟大的特权，让我们感谢祂，祂“使我们有资格承受圣徒在光明中的产业；祂救我们脱离黑暗的权势，并将我们迁到祂爱子的国度里。”（《使徒行传》478.3）
“In his efforts to reach God's ideal for him, the Christian is to despair of nothing. Moral and spiritual perfection, through the grace and power of Christ, is promised to all. Jesus is the source of power, the fountain of life. He brings us to His word, and from the tree of life presents to us leaves for the healing of sin-sick souls. He leads us to the throne of God, and puts into our mouth a prayer through which we are brought into close contact with Himself. In our behalf He sets in operation the all-powerful agencies of heaven. At every step we touch His living power.” AA 478.2
“God fixes no limit to the advancement of those who desire to be “filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Through prayer, through watchfulness, through growth in knowledge and understanding, they are to be “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power.” Thus they are prepared to work for others. It is the Saviour's purpose that human beings, purified and sanctified, shall be His helping hand. For this great privilege let us give thanks to Him who ‘hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.’” AA 478.3
3月8日，星期日
思念上面的事
阅读歌罗西书3:1-4。保罗指出，我们若要属天的心志，需要具备什么条件？你认为这意味着什么？
Read Colossians 3:1–4. What condition does Paul indicate is necessary for us to be heavenly-minded? What do you think that means?
“凡立志进入属灵国度的人，必会发现未重生之人的一切权势和情欲，以及黑暗国度的势力，都与他为敌。他必须每日更新自己的奉献，每日与邪恶争战。旧习、遗传的作恶倾向，都试图占据上风，他必须时刻警惕，靠着基督的力量努力得胜。AA 476.3
保罗写信给歌罗西人说：“所以，要治死你们在地上的肢体，你们从前在这些肢体中生活的时候，也曾这样行过。但现在，你们要弃绝这一切：恼恨、忿怒、恶毒、毁谤，并口中污秽的言语……所以，你们既是神的选民，圣洁蒙爱的人，就要存怜悯的心肠，恩慈、谦卑、温柔、忍耐。倘若这人与那人有嫌隙，总要彼此包容，彼此饶恕；主怎样饶恕了你们，你们也要怎样饶恕人。在这一切之外，要穿上爱，爱是联络全德的。要让神所赐的平安在你们心里作主，你们也为此蒙召，归为一体；且要存感恩的心。” AA 477.1
写给歌罗西人的信充满了对所有事奉基督的人都极其宝贵的教训，这些教训展现了正确代表救主之人所应有的单一目标和崇高理想。信徒若能弃绝一切阻碍他灵命提升或使他人偏离正道的事物，便会在日常生活中彰显怜悯、仁慈、谦卑、温柔、宽容和基督的爱。（AA 477.2）
“He who has determined to enter the spiritual kingdom will find that all the powers and passions of unregenerate nature, backed by the forces of the kingdom of darkness, are arrayed against him. Each day he must renew his consecration, each day do battle with evil. Old habits, hereditary tendencies to wrong, will strive for the mastery, and against these he is to be ever on guard, striving in Christ's strength for victory. AA 476.3
“‘Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth,’ Paul wrote to the Colossians; ‘in the which ye also walked sometime, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.... Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.’ AA 477.1
“The letter to the Colossians is filled with lessons of highest value to all who are engaged in the service of Christ, lessons that show the singleness of purpose and the loftiness of aim which will be seen in the life of him who rightly represents the Saviour. Renouncing all that would hinder him from making progress in the upward way or that would turn the feet of another from the narrow path, the believer will reveal in his daily life mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, forbearance, and the love of Christ. AA 477.2
3月9日，星期一
弃绝属世
阅读歌罗西书3:5-6（另见罗马书6:1-7）。我们如何体验“向自我和属世的欲望死去，向‘上面的事’活着”（西3:1）的意义呢？
Read Colossians 3:5, 6 (see also Rom. 6:1–7). How do we experience what it means to be dead to self and to earthliness and alive to “those things which are above” (Col. 3:1)?
歌罗西信徒在归信受洗时，立志弃绝以往生活中的信仰和习俗，忠于基督。保罗在信中提醒他们这一点，并恳求他们不要忘记，为了信守誓言，他们必须不断努力抵挡那些企图控制他们的邪恶势力。保罗说：“你们若与基督一同复活，就当求在上面的事，那里有基督坐在神的右边。你们要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。因为你们已经死了，你们的生命与基督一同藏在神里面。”（AA 475.3）
“‘若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人，旧事已过，都变成新的了。’哥林多后书 5:17。藉着基督的大能，男男女女挣脱了罪恶的枷锁，弃绝了自私。亵渎神明的人变得敬畏，醉酒的人变得清醒，放荡的人变得纯洁。那些曾被撒但形象所承载的灵魂，如今已变成神的形象。这改变本身就是奇迹中的奇迹。这改变是圣言所成就的，也是圣言中最深奥的奥秘之一。我们无法完全理解，我们只能相信，正如圣经所宣告的，这就是‘基督在你们心里，成了有荣耀的盼望。’”（AA 476.1）
“当神的灵掌管人的心思意念时，悔改的灵魂便会发出新的歌声；因为他意识到，在他的经历中，神的应许已经实现，他的过犯已被赦免，他的罪孽已被遮盖。他已为违背神的律法向神悔改，并信靠为世人称义而死的基督。‘既因信称义’，他便‘藉着我们的主耶稣基督得与神和好’。（罗马书 5:1）” AA 476.2
“我们迫切需要更高尚、更纯洁、更崇高的生命。我们心中有太多的思想都寄托于世俗，而天国却被我们忽略了。” AA 478.1
“At the time of their conversion and baptism the Colossian believers pledged themselves to put away beliefs and practices that had hitherto been a part of their lives, and to be true to their allegiance to Christ. In his letter, Paul reminded them of this, and entreated them not to forget that in order to keep their pledge they must put forth constant effort against the evils that would seek for mastery over them. ‘if ye then be risen with Christ,’ he said, ‘seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’ AA 475.3
“‘If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.’ 2 Corinthians 5:17. Through the power of Christ, men and women have broken the chains of sinful habit. They have renounced selfishness. The profane have become reverent, the drunken sober, the profligate pure. Souls that have borne the likeness of Satan have become transformed into the image of God. This change is in itself the miracle of miracles. A change wrought by the Word, it is one of the deepest mysteries of the Word. We cannot understand it; we can only believe, as declared by the Scriptures, it is ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ AA 476.1
“When the Spirit of God controls mind and heart, the converted soul breaks forth into a new song; for he realizes that in his experience the promise of God has been fulfilled, that his transgression has been forgiven, his sin covered. He has exercised repentance toward God for the violation of the divine law, and faith toward Christ, who died for man's justification. ‘Being justified by faith,’ he has ‘peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ Romans 5:1.” AA 476.2
“The power of a higher, purer, nobler life is our great need. The world has too much of our thought, and the kingdom of heaven too little. AA 478.1
3月10日，星期二
在知识上更新
阅读歌罗西书3:6-11。保罗接下来是如何展开这个思路的？
Read Colossians 3:6–11. How does Paul continue with this train of thought?
“你们已向肉体的欲望死去，向那些吞噬爱、温柔、仁慈和基督徒礼貌的炽烈激情死去。基督徒仅仅说‘我曾经悔改过’是不够的。太多基督徒的信仰和盼望并非建立在当下的经历上，并非建立在他们现在的状态上，而是建立在他们初信基督时的状态上。除非悔改使我们在神面前进入一种新的状态，彻底改变我们的生命，否则悔改对我们有何益处？重生之人可以这样说：旧的事物，急躁易怒的脾气，仇恨，嫉妒，复仇，报复的灵，心中的骄傲，一切的攀比，一切追求至高无上的欲望，都将被克服，将被从我的心中彻底清除，在我的生命中不再出现。”（2LtMs，Ms 2，1875，第10段）
“悔改的男女难道不会受到言语和行为上的诱惑吗？他会不断受到魔鬼的诱惑，必须以信心和祷告武装自己来抵挡它。有一股强大的暗流正迅速地将他拉回以往的罪恶状态，让他放纵未更新之心的自然情欲。若没有神的恩典不断地滋养，人的心就无法保持纯洁。若不警醒祷告，不使自己的灵魂与基督紧紧相连，不时信靠祂，不逆着罪恶的潮流奋力向天国前进，不逆风逆流而上，不运用信心和行为这两支桨，人就无法保持悔改的状态。” 归信就是竭尽全力为救主效力，祂舍弃了祂的威严、荣耀和财富，来到世上拯救世人。祂以无限的爱爱着世人。祂为贫穷悖逆的人类献出了生命。上帝还能为人类做些什么呢？如今，人为了自己，也为了同胞的救赎，又该做些什么来表明自己感激救主所作的牺牲和所赐予的怜悯呢？面对这伟大的爱和无限的怜悯，人岂不应当以恒久的忠诚紧紧跟随救主吗？（2LtMs, Ms 2, 1875, par. 11）
“Ye are dead to the carnal desires, dead to the fierce, burning passions which consume love and gentleness, kindness and Christian courtesy. It is not enough for the Christian to say, I was once converted. Too many Christians base their faith and hope not on present experience, not on what they now are, but on what they once were when they first professed Christ. Unless conversion brings us into a new state before God, transforming the entire being, what is it good for to us? The man that is born again can say, Old things, the quick and impatient temper, the hate, the envy, revenge, the spirit of retaliation, the pride of heart, all emulation, seeking for supremacy, shall be overcome, shall be emptied out of my heart and not seen in my life. 2LtMs, Ms 2, 1875, par. 10
“Will the converted man and woman have no temptation to speak and act wrong? He will have a tempting devil on his track continually, and he must arm himself with faith and prayer to resist him. There will be a strong undercurrent to work against which is running swiftly to bear him back to his former state of sin, to indulge the natural passions of the unrenewed heart. No heart can be kept pure without being constantly salted with divine grace. No man can remain converted unless he watches unto prayer, keeps his soul firmly united to Christ, trusting in Him every moment, forcing his passage heavenward against the current of sinful indulgences, rowing against wind and tide, using both oars—faith and works. Conversion is putting all our powers to work for the Saviour who has left His majesty, His honor, His riches, and come into the world to save man. He loved him with a love that was infinite. He gave His life for poor, rebellious man. What more could God do for humanity than He has done? What now will man do on his part in his own behalf, and for the salvation of his fellow man, to evidence that he appreciates the sacrifice made and the mercy bestowed upon him? Will he not, in view of this great love and infinite mercy, cling to the Saviour with constant, persevering fidelity?” 2LtMs, Ms 2, 1875, par. 11
保罗所说的“旧人”与“新人”有何区别？参见罗马书 6:6 和以弗所书 4:22-24。
What does Paul mean by the “old man” in contrast with the “new man”? See Romans 6:6 and Ephesians 4:22–24.
“凡奉父、子、圣灵之名受洗的人，都肩负着重大的责任。要努力理解‘你们已经死了，你们的生命与基督一同藏在神里面’这句话的含义。在你们所进入的新生命中，你们立志要效法基督的生命。穿上新人，‘这新人是照着创造他的主的形象，在知识上不断更新的’。”（19MR 236.1）
“那些选择成为皇室成员、天上君王儿女的人，必须以言行与所倡导的原则相符来表明他们的选择。我的弟兄姐妹，基督的同在是否已在你们心中建立起神的国度？还是自我仍然是你们心中的掌控力量？你们究竟是谁的子民？如果自私的灵继续使你们远离基督的服事，就祷告说：‘愿你的国降临。愿你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。’” 18MR 105.1
“Great responsibility comes to those who have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Strive to understand the meaning of the words, ‘Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’ In the new life upon which you have entered, you are pledged to represent the life of Christ. Having put on the new man, ‘which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him,’” 19MR 236.1
“Those who choose to become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King, must reveal their choice by bringing their words and actions into harmony with the principles they advocate. My brother, my sister, is the kingdom of God enthroned in your heart by Christ’s presence abiding there? Or is self still a controlling power within? Whose subject are you? If a selfish spirit continues to keep you out of Christ’s service, pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven.” 18MR 105.1
3月11日，星期三
新生命的品格
阅读歌罗西书3:12-14。经文如何描述信徒？你认为这与他们应当“穿上”的品格有何关联？
Read Colossians 3:12–14. How are believers described, and how do you think it relates to the qualities they are to “put on”?
“这些话语直白、朴实、毫不掩饰。任何人都不必落入撒旦为粗心大意之人设下的陷阱。愿那些渴望效法基督的人，凭着信心祷告，警醒祷告，然后凭着信心，唱出赞美和感恩的歌。20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 13
主耶稣看到祂的信徒们聚集在教会中，但并非所有人都拥有真理，也并非所有人都遵守诫命。许多情况下，有些人已经背离了信仰。如果这些人能够跟随主，认识祂，他们就会明白神对每个灵魂那深沉的爱。“神爱世人，甚至将祂的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信祂的，不至灭亡，反得永生。”
“神差他的儿子降世，不是要定世人的罪，乃是要叫世人因他得救。信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，罪已经定了，因为他不信神独生子的名。光来到世间，世人因自己的行为是恶的，不爱光倒爱黑暗，定他们的罪就是在此。凡作恶的都恨光，不来就光，恐怕他的行为受责备；但行真理的必来就光，要显明他所行的是靠神而行。”【约翰福音 3:16-21】20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 14
“摆在我们面前的是何等艰巨的任务！我们无法从一开始就看到结局。我们必须一步一步地跟随主，才能认识祂。祂正在引领我们，祂会赐给我们更多的光照。20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 15
“他们若能意识到自己违背了神的律法，并向神和耶稣基督悔改，便可脱离仇敌的陷阱。当他们的属灵感知复苏时，他们就会明白自己没有按照神的律法尊荣神。神对他们说：‘你们的感知需要神圣恩典的炼净，才能洗净思想、言语和行为中一切污秽的污点。’” 20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 17
“The words are straight, plain, and unvarnished. No one need walk into the trap that Satan has placed for the feet of the unwary. Let those who desire to be like Christ pray in faith and watch unto prayer, and then, believing, sing their songs of praise and thanksgiving. 20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 13
“The Lord Jesus sees His professed believers associated together in church capacity, but not all of them have the truth. Not all of them are obedient to the commandments. In many cases there are those who are backsliders. If these had followed on to know the Lord, they would have discerned the intensity of the love that God has for every soul. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every man that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds shall be reproved, but he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” [John 3:16-21.] 20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 14
“What a work is before us. We cannot see the end from the beginning. We must follow on to know the Lord, step by step. He is leading us, and He will give us increased light. 20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 15
“There are those who need to make a decided change in their lives. They have not been following the way of truth and righteousness. Their interest in God’s work has abated and their devotion gone, because they have not walked in the counsel of God, but in many respects have followed in the tread of the world. They have not kept their thoughts pure, clean, and holy. They are not surrounded with that fragrant spiritual influence that would mark them as those who love God and keep His commandments. 20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 16
“They may recover themselves from the snare of the enemy if they will realize that they are transgressing the law of God, and will show repentance toward God and Jesus Christ. When their spiritual perceptions are revived, they will see that they have not honored God as His law requires them to. God says to them, Your perceptions need the refinement of divine grace, that they may be cleansed from every stain of impurity in thought, word, or deed.” 20LtMs, Lt 225, 1905, par. 17
3月12日，星期四
活出新生命
阅读歌罗西书3:16-17。究竟是什么使基督掌管一切？音乐在这一切中又扮演着怎样的角色？
Read Colossians 3:16, 17. What specifically enables Christ to be in control, and what role does music play in all this?
“旧的罪恶生命已经死去，藉着洗礼的誓约，与基督一同进入了新的生命。要效法救主的品格，让祂的话语“丰丰富富地住在你们心里，用各样的智慧，彼此教导，互相劝戒，用诗篇、赞美诗、灵歌，以感恩的心歌颂神。无论做什么，或说话或行事，都要奉主耶稣的名，藉着祂感谢父神”[16-17节]。19MR 236.2
“这些事要在教会中宣扬。爱、怜悯和温柔要在我们中间彰显。作为神的选民，要穿上怜悯和恩慈。信主之前的罪要与旧人一同脱去。要与新人基督耶稣一同穿上“恩慈、谦卑、温柔、忍耐”。（19MR 236.3）
“那些与基督一同复活，行在新生命中的人，是神的选民。他们归于主为圣，被祂认作祂所爱的。因此，他们立下庄严的盟约，要以谦卑的心志来彰显自己。他们要披戴公义的衣裳。他们与世界、与世界的精神、与世界的行为分别出来，并且要表明他们正在学习那位说‘我心里柔和谦卑’的主。如果他们意识到自己已经与基督同死，如果他们遵守洗礼的誓言，世界就无法使他们偏离正道，否认基督。如果他们在这世上活出基督的生命，他们就分享了神的性情。那时，当基督——我们的生命——显现时，他们也将与祂一同显现在荣耀中。19MR 236.4
“神的子民应当彼此相爱，如同弟兄姐妹。他们应当和善待人，彬彬有礼。他们应当彼此饶恕，如同基督饶恕了他们一样。他们应当在一切事上效法基督的榜样；因为他们的生命与基督一同藏在神里面。我的弟兄姐妹们，请思考这样生活的可能性。基督徒的合一是一件伟大而美好的事。要努力追求它。‘那召你们的既是圣洁的，你们在一切所行的事上也要圣洁。因为经上记着说：‘你们要圣洁，因为我是圣洁的。’……你们既因顺从真理，洁净了自己的心，以致爱弟兄没有虚假，就当从心里彼此切实相爱。你们蒙了重生，不是由于能坏的种子，乃是由于不能坏的种子，是藉着神活泼常存的道。’[彼得前书 1:15, 22, 23]” 19MR 237.1
“The old sinful life is dead, the new life entered into with Christ by the pledge of baptism. Practice the virtues of the Saviour’s character. Let His word “dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” [verses 16, 17]. 19MR 236.2
“These things are to be presented in the churches. Love, compassion, and tenderness are to be revealed amongst us. Put on, as the elect of God, mercy and kindness. The sins that were practiced before conversion are to be put off with the old man. With the new man, Christ Jesus, are to be put on “kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” 19MR 236.3
“Those who have risen with Christ to walk in newness of life are the elect of God. They are holy unto the Lord, and are acknowledged by Him as his beloved. As such, they are under solemn covenant to distinguish themselves by showing humility of mind. They are to clothe themselves in garments of righteousness. They are separate from the world, from its spirit, its practices, and they are to reveal that they are learning of Him who says, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” If they realize that they have died with Christ, if they keep their baptismal vow, the world will have no power to draw them aside to deny Christ. If they live the life of Christ in this world, they are partakers of the divine nature. Then, when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, they also will appear with Him in glory. 19MR 236.4
“The people of God are to love as brethren and sisters. They are to be kind and courteous. They are to forgive one another as Christ has forgiven them. They are to follow His example in all things; for their life is hid with Him in God. My brethren and sisters, consider the possibilities of such a life. Christian unity is a grand and wonderful thing. Strive for it. ‘As He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.... Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever’[1 Peter 1:15, 22, 23].” 19MR 237.1
3月13日，星期五
进修资料
“我的弟兄姐妹们，你们难道不愿听从这呼吁吗？由于我无法亲自与你们同在，将由一位代表我的人向各教会的会众宣读这呼吁，愿信徒们回应。俯伏在神面前，承认你们的背道。谦卑地接受基督的话语：‘若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架，来跟从我。’（马太福音 16:24）‘你们当负我的轭，学我的样式，因为我心里柔和谦卑，你们必得享安息。因为我的轭是容易的，我的担子是轻省的。’（马太福音 11:29-30）” 19MR 237.2
“我们需要与基督同心合力，免得偏离信仰。夜间，我向墨尔本的各教会讲道，强调预备迎接基督再来的必要性。我们现在必须格外殷勤，因为我们的生命没有与基督一同藏在神里面，已经虚度了许多光阴。当我讲解这些内容时，会众感受到圣灵的感动，灵里充满了光明。他们谦卑地认罪。起初看似漠不关心的人，后来也崩溃了，认罪悔改，一场复兴运动就此开始。19MR 238.1
“我写这些给你，是因为我相信这能帮助你走出黑暗，走向光明。——1907年第32封信。” 19MR 238.2
“My brethren and sisters, will you not heed this appeal? As it is read to the members of the several churches by the one who shall stand in my stead, because I cannot be with you personally, let the believers respond. Bow before God, and make confession of your backsliding. In humility accept the words of Christ, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” [Matthew 16:24]. “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 11:29, 30]. 19MR 237.2
“We need to work unitedly and with Christ, that we may not be drawn away from the faith. In the night season I was speaking these words to the churches of Melbourne, impressing upon them the need of preparing for the coming of Christ. We need to be very earnest now; for much time has been lost because our lives have not been hidden with Christ in God. As I presented these things, the deep movings of the Spirit of God were felt, and light came into the meeting. Humble confessions were made. Some who at first had seemed to be indifferent, broke down, and confessed their sins, and a reformation was begun. 19MR 238.1
“I write these things to you because I believe it will be the means of helping you out of darkness into the light.—Letter 32, 1907.” 19MR 238.2