Dr. J. H. Kellogg
Battle Creek, Michigan
Dear Brother,—
I
must tell you that your ideas in regard to some things have been
decidedly wrong. I would that you could see your errors. The book Living Temple
is not to be patched up, a few changes made in it, and then advertised
and praised as a valuable production. It would be better to present the
physiological parts in another book under another title. When you wrote
that book, you were not under the inspiration of God. There was by your
side the one who inspired Adam to look at God in a false light. Your
whole heart needs to be changed, thoroughly and entirely cleansed.
My
brother, do not allow yourself to be alienated from your ministering
brethren who tell you of your dangers. Those who faithfully and frankly
tell you of your errors are your best friends. I am sorry, very sorry,
for your medical associates. They have been unfaithful to God and untrue
to you in failing to tell you kindly but firmly where you were not
working righteously.
There
are many things that you must overcome before you can be saved. In the
heart that is not led by God, there is a something that leads it to
desire to be sustained in its wrong course. The men who faithfully tell
you the truth, pointing out your mistakes, you have regarded as your
enemies. But often they are your best friends and, in telling you
wherein you were walking in strange paths, were doing a very
disagreeable duty. The Lord’s servants are not to flatter your pride;
they are not to stand silent, fearing to say, “Why do ye thus?” They are
faithfully to warn you of your danger.
My
husband, Elder Joseph Bates, Father Pierce, Elder Edson, and many
others who were keen, noble, and true were among those who, after the
passing of the time in 1844, searched for truth. At our important
meetings, these men would meet together and search for the truth as for
hidden treasure. I met with them, and we studied and prayed earnestly;
for we felt that we must learn God’s truth. Often we remained together
until late at night, and sometimes through the entire night, praying for
light and studying the Word. As we fasted and prayed, great power came
upon us. But I could not understand the reasoning of the brethren. My
mind was locked, as it were, and I could not comprehend what we were
studying. Then the Spirit of God would come upon me, I would be taken
off in vision, and a clear explanation of the passages we had been
studying would be given me with instruction as to the position we were
to take regarding truth and duty. Again and again this happened. A line
of truth extending from that time to the time when we shall enter the
city of God was plainly marked out before me, and I gave my brethren and
sisters the instruction that the Lord had given me. They knew that when
not in vision, I could not understand these matters, and they accepted
as light direct from heaven the revelations given me. Thus the leading
points of our faith as we hold them today were firmly established. Point
after point was clearly defined, and all the brethren came into
harmony.
The
whole company of believers were united in the truth. There were those
who came in with strange doctrines, but we were never afraid to meet
them. Our experience was wonderfully established by the revelations of
the Holy Spirit.
For
two or three years my mind continued to be locked to the Scriptures. In
1846 I was married to Elder James White. It was some time after my
second son was born that we were in great perplexity regarding certain
points of doctrine. I was praying to the Lord to unlock my mind, that I
might understand His Word. Suddenly I seemed to be enshrouded in clear,
beautiful light, and ever since, the Scriptures have been an open book
to me.
I
was at that time in Paris, Maine. Old Father Andrews was very sick. For
some time he had been a great sufferer from inflammatory rheumatism. He
could not move without intense pain. We prayed for him. I laid my hands
on his head, and said, “Father Andrews, the Lord Jesus maketh thee
whole.” He was healed instantly. He got up and walked about the room,
praising God, and saying, “I never saw it on this wise before. Angels of
God are in this room.” The glory of God was revealed. Light seemed to
shine all through the house, and an angel’s hand was laid upon my head.
From that time to this I have been able to understand the Word of God.
After
the passing of the time, we were opposed and cruelly falsified.
Erroneous theories were pressed in upon us by men and women who had gone
into fanaticism. I was directed to go to the places where these people
were advocating these erroneous theories, and as I went, the power of
the Spirit was wonderfully displayed in rebuking the errors that were
creeping in. Satan himself, in the person of a man, was working to make
of no effect my testimony regarding the position that we now know to be
substantiated by Scripture.
Just such theories as you have presented in Living Temple
were presented then. These subtle, deceiving sophistries have again and
again sought to find place amongst us. But I have ever had the same
testimony to bear which I now bear regarding the personality of God.
In (Early Writings, 60, 66, 67), are the following statements:
“May
14, 1851, I saw the beauty and loveliness of Jesus. As I beheld His
glory, the thought did not occur to me that I should ever be separated
from His presence. I saw a light coming from the glory that encircled
the Father, and as it approached near to me, my body shook and trembled
like a leaf. I thought that if it should come near me, I would be struck
out of existence; but the light passed me. Then could I have some sense
of the great and terrible God with whom we have to do.”
“I have often seen the lovely Jesus, that He is a person. I asked Him if His Father was a person, and had a form like Himself. Said Jesus, ‘I am the express image of My Father’s person!’ [Hebrews 1:3.]
“I
have often seen that the spiritual view took away all the glory of
heaven, and that in many minds the throne of David and the lovely person
of Jesus have been burned up in the fire of spiritualism. I have seen
that some who have been deceived and led into this error, will be
brought out into the light of truth, but it will be almost impossible
for them to get entirely rid of the deceptive power of spiritualism.
Such should make thorough work in confessing their errors, and leaving
them forever.”
*****
There
is a strain of spiritualism coming in among our people, and it will
undermine the faith of those who give place to it, leading them to give
heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Errors will be
presented in a pleasing and flattering manner. The enemy desires to
divert the minds of our brethren and sisters from the work of preparing a
people to stand in these last days.
I
am instructed to warn our brethren and sisters not to discuss the
nature of our God. Many of the curious who attempted to open the ark of
the testament, to see what was inside, were punished for their
presumption. We are not to say that the Lord God of heaven is in a leaf,
or in a tree; for He is not there. He sitteth upon His throne in the
heavens.The
work of the Creator as seen in nature reveals His power. But nature is
not above God, nor is God in nature as some represent Him to be. God
made the world, but the world is not God; it is but the work of His
hands. Nature reveals the work of a positive, personal God, showing that
God is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
*****
I
could say much regarding the sanctuary; the ark containing the law of
God; the cover of the ark, which is the mercy seat; the angels at either
end of the ark; and other things connected with the heavenly sanctuary
and with the great day of atonement. I could say much regarding the
mysteries of heaven; but my lips are closed. I have no inclination to
try to describe them.
I
would not dare to speak of God as you have spoken of Him. He is high
and lifted up, and His glory fills the heavens. “The voice of the Lord
is mighty; it shaketh the cedars of Lebanon. The Lord is in His holy
temple; let all the earth keep silence before Him.” [See Psalm 29:5; Habakkuk 2:20.]
My brother, when you are tempted to speak of God, where He is, or what He is, remember that on this point silence is eloquence. Take off your shoes from off your feet; for the ground on which you are placing your careless, unsanctified feet is holy ground.
I
am instructed to say that there is nothing in the Word of God to
substantiate your spiritualistic theories. Will you not renounce these
theories at once? Upon them your mind has been dwelling for a long time,
but they have had no sanctifying, refining, ennobling influence upon
your life. The Lord has no use for these theories, and He would not have
His people vindicate or propagate them.
The
Father, the omniscient One, created the world through Christ Jesus.
Christ is the light of the world, the way to eternal life. He, the
anointed One, God gave to make an atonement for the sins of the world.
You need to understand that unless you believe in that atonement, and
know that you are bought with the price of the blood of the only
begotten Son of God, you will assuredly be bound up with the wicked one.
If you continue to cherish the theories that you have been cherishing,
you will be left to become the sport of Satan’s temptations. He is
playing the game of life for your soul. Remain for a little longer
linked up with him, and be assured that you will lose your soul.
By
declaring that our institutions are undenominational, you have put our
people and our work in a false position. You have been led over a
terrible path, the dangers of which you have not known, but may sometime
see. It is not yet too late for wrongs to be righted. There is hope for
you. You have followed the enemy step by step, striving to look into
mysteries too high and holy for your comprehension. Then in your
teaching the Holy One has been brought down to man’s scientific,
spiritualistic ideas. You have been walking in crooked paths. You have
lost the moral image of God. But there is hope for you. You may still
turn your feet into the right path. Will you not now make straight paths
for your feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way? Will you now
refuse to sow one more seed of skepticism and sophistry in the minds of
others? Will you now come to Christ and be healed?
I
have hesitated and delayed about the sending out of that which the
Spirit of the Lord has impelled me to write. I did not want to be
compelled to present the satanic influence of these sophistries. But
unless there is a decided change, in yourself and your associates, I
shall have to do this, to save others from following the path that you
have been following. I shall have to obey the command given me of God,
“Meet it.” This is the only thing that I can do.
I
present to you the things that the Lord has presented to me. There is a
great work to be done. We are to take hold of the work understandingly,
praying, believing, and receiving the Holy Spirit. Thus only can we do
the work given us. I am required by God to bear testimony against Living Temple.
Whatever your associates may say concerning this book, I take the
position now and forever that it is a snare. No union will be formed by
our people as a whole upon the theories that you have begun to present
in that book. You may regard this as forever decided. As a people we
shall stand firm on the platform that has withstood test and trial. We
shall hold to the sure pillars of our faith. The principles of truth
that God has revealed to us are our only foundation. They have made us
what we are. These new, fanciful theories are fascinating and
misleading. They endanger the eternal interests of the soul. The
Scriptures do not sustain them. Clothed with the Christian armor, shod
with the preparation of the gospel of peace, we shall stand firm against
these misleading theories. You may turn and wrest the Word of God to
your own destruction, but I entreat you not to do this.
Heaven is not a vapor. It is a place.
Christ has gone to prepare mansions for those who love Him, those who,
in obedience to His commands, come out from the world and are separate.
The principles of heaven must be brought into our experience, that we
may be distinguished from the world. There must be a marked contrast
between us and the world; for we are God’s denominated people.
The
Lord has given you an opportunity to make things right. I rejoice that
you have made a beginning. Do not think that we have no right to try to
correct your errors and the results of these errors. As long as God
gives me breath, and commissions me to use pen and voice in beating back
this evil thing that has come in among us, I shall act my part in the
warfare. Ever since I was seventeen years old, I have had to fight this
battle against false theories, in defense of the truth. The history of
our past experience is indelibly fixed in my mind, and I am determined
that no theories of the order that you have been accepting shall come
into our ranks. If you refuse to change, and labor to lead your
associates after you, and they venture to follow your leading, the
accountability rests with you and with them, not on my soul.
I
speak decidedly, in order that you may know, that unless there is a
decided change in you, there can be no hope of a union between you and
those who are holding the beginning of their confidence firm unto the
end. You have made the division. We must stand firm for the truths that
the Lord has given us as the pillars of our faith.
I
entreat you to turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, before it
is forever too late. Separate yourself from the influences which have
separated you from your brethren who are engaged in the gospel ministry
and from the people whom God is leading. Patchwork theories cannot be
accepted by those who are loyal to the faith and to the principles that
have withstood all the opposition of satanic influences.
If
you will empty yourself of all that has separated you from Christ, and
receive the Saviour into your heart, you will be transformed in
character. Lay off responsibilities for a time, and go away somewhere
with a few of your brethren, and with them search the Scriptures. Humble
your heart before the Lord, and make thorough work for repentance. The
religion of Christ is the spiritual leaven that is to be introduced into
the heart. This changes the life and character. This religion is a
heavenly principle, seen in the Christian’s life and conversation. It is
revealed in Christian purity. The love of Christ is seen in the
tenderness and grace of sanctified humanity. It is by the Word made
flesh that we are saved. Our redemption was wrought out, not by the Son
of God’s remaining in heaven, but by the Son of God’s becoming
incarnate—taking humanity upon Him and coming to this world. Thus
eternal life was brought to us. That which authority, commands, and
promises could not do, God did by coming to this world in the likeness
of sinful flesh.
Christ
came to the earth to live as a man among men, not to be spoiled by
human frailty, but to place in the minds of men principles of truth that
could never be obliterated, because they are eternally true. He came to
bring a new life to fallen human beings—an excellence that could not be
stained or deteriorated by sin.
My
brother, I must tell you that you have little realization of whither
your feet have been tending. You have been binding yourself up with
those who belong to the army of the great apostate. Your mind has been
as dark as Egypt. If you will fall on the Rock and be broken, Christ
will accept you. But you have been standing on the enemy’s ground, doing
his work. The religious world is fast going over the same road that you
have been following. If you continue to follow this road, you will have
plenty of company. But what will the end be?
So
long have you been walking in darkness, so long have you followed your
own way, that you may be strongly tempted to resist this appeal that I
make. If it were not that your eternal interests are involved, I would
not speak to you on this subject. It would seem that I have written
enough, that there is no need of my urging this subject upon you
further. But I tell you in truth that I clearly understand what I am
doing. Sufficient light has been given you. But for several years you
have not heeded this light. If you had wished to know what the Lord has
said, you could have known; for you have the books that have been
written under the guidance of His Spirit. You have had all the
directions that could be asked for to point out the right way. Direct
light has been sent you. But you have looked upon this as of less
importance than your own plans and devisings. If you had heeded the
testimonies sent you, Living Temple would never have been written.
Will
you not make a thorough, determined, Christlike effort to break the
spell that Satan has cast over you? He has had great power over your
mind and has swayed you in wrong lines. He thinks that he can hold you
now. Will you not defeat and disappoint him?
I
write to you as I would to a son. Break away from the enemy—the accuser
of the brethren. Say to him, “Get thee behind me Satan. I have
committed a grievous sin in heeding your suggestions. I will no longer
listen to them.” I beg of you, for your soul’s sake, to resist the
tempter, that he may flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw
near to you. You will lose heaven unless you fall on the Rock and are
broken. Lt 253, 1903
