MR No.

1002 - THE BAKER LETTER

[MOST OF "THE BAKER LETTER" HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN EARLIER MANUSCRIPT RELEASES. HOWEVER, SINCE THIS
LETTER HAS BECOME A FOCAL POINT IN THE CONTINUING DISCUSSIONS ON CHRIST'S HUMAN NATURE, THE
TRUSTEES FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE WISE TO RELEASE IT ALL, SO THAT INTERESTED STUDENTS MAY HAVE IT IN ITS
COMPLETE FORM. THAT WHICH APPEARS HERE IN SMALLER TYPE HAS ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS
RELEASES. WE REPEAT ARTHUR L. WHITE'S INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT TO MANUSCRIPT RELEASE #414.--K. H.
WOOD.] {13MR 13.1}

"CONSIDERING THE KEY NATURE OF THE STATEMENT EXCERPTED FROM THE ELLEN G. WHITE LETTER TO W. L. H.
BAKER AND USED IN QOD, 7BC, AND ELSEWHERE, IT SEEMS THAT MORE SHOULD BE KNOWN OF THE CONTEXT AND
OF ELDER BAKER, THE MINISTER TO WHOM IT WAS WRITTEN. {13MR 13.2}

"BAKER AT THE AGE OF TEN JOINED THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH WITH HIS PARENTS. AT 24 HE WAS
EMPLOYED BY THE PACIFIC PRESS AND FIVE YEARS LATER HE WAS SENT TO AUSTRALIA TO ENGAGE IN THE
PUBLISHING WORK. WITHIN A FEW YEARS HE WAS CALLED TO FIELD EVANGELISTIC WORK. HE WAS LABORING IN
TASMANIA IN 1895 WHEN ELLEN WHITE WROTE THIS IMPORTANT 19-PAGE TESTIMONY TO HIM. TWO YEARS LATER
HE WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONFERENCE, WITH W. C. WHITE AS VICE-PRESIDENT. FROM
1893 ONWARD, W. C. WHITE WAS CORRESPONDING WITH BAKER AS A RESPONSIBLE WORKER. {13MR 13.3}

"BAKER WAS TO BE CALLED TO THE PRESIDENCY OF ONE CONFERENCE AFTER ANOTHER, SERVING NEW ZEALAND,
VICTORIA, TASMANIA, AND WEST AUSTRALIA. THEN IN 1914 HE WAS APPOINTED BIBLE TEACHER AT AVONDALE
COLLEGE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY EVANGELISTIC WORK IN SYDNEY. IN 1922 THE BAKERS RETURNED TO THE
UNITED STATES WHERE HE ENGAGED IN COLLEGE BIBLE TEACHING, AND THEN SERVED AS A SANITARIUM CHAPLAIN.
HE DIED ON FEBRUARY 5, 1933. SEE RH OBITUARY, MARCH 30, 1933. {13MR 13.4}

"APPARENTLY BAKER PROFITED WELL FROM THE 1895 TESTIMONY. TWO YEARS AFTER RECEIVING IT HE IS
REFERRED TO BY ELLEN WHITE AS A DISCREET, PROFITABLE WORKER IN THE FIELD. IN 1900 AS SHE COUNSELED A
YOUNGER WORKER TO SEEK HIS ADVICE, SHE REFERRED TO HIM AS "TRUE AS STEEL TO PRINCIPLE." {13MR 13.5}

"A NUMBER OF EXCERPTS FROM THE LETTER HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN EVANGELISM. WHILE THERE IS A REQUEST
FROM DR. DEDEREN AND ONE OF HIS STUDENTS IN CHRISTOLOGY, LYLE HEISE, AND A DESIRE ON THE PART OF
OTHERS FOR THE FULLER CONTEXT OF THE IMPORTANT "NATURE OF CHRIST" STATEMENT, THE LENGTH OF THE 19-
PAGE TESTIMONY AND THE PERSONAL COUNSEL TO BAKER AND HIS WIFE LEAD TO A SELECTION OF THAT WHICH IS
DEEMED PARTICULARLY PERTINENT. ALTHOUGH PORTIONS HAVE BEEN RELEASED, WE SET THE FULLER STATEMENT
FORTH IN ONE RELEASE.--A. L. WHITE." (INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT TO MANUSCRIPT RELEASE #414, FEBRUARY 12,
1975.")

Dear Brother and Sister Baker: In the night season I and their children. (Acts 2:39) These dear children
was conversing with you. I had a message for you, and received from Adam an inheritance of disobedience,
was presenting that message. You were cast down of guilt and death. The Lord has given to the world
and feeling discouraged. I said to you, The Lord has Jesus Christ, and His work was to restore to the world
bidden me speak to Bro. and Sr. Baker. You are the moral image of God in man, and to reshape the
considering your work as almost a failure, but if one character. {13MR 14.1}
soul holds fast to truth, and endures unto the end,
The truth is to be proclaimed in all places, and the
your work cannot be pronounced a failure. If one
mother has been turned from her disloyalty to human agents are to be co-laborers with Christ,
building up a wall of security about the children, and
obedience, you may rejoice. The mother who follows
on to know the Lord will teach her children to follow cutting off as far as possible the strong current of evil.
Parents who are thoroughly converted will seek the
in her footsteps. The promise is to fathers, mothers
salvation of their children, training them to be sons
and daughters of God. In doing this work in wisdom God requires that we give more whole-souled
they are co-laborers with God. The responsibility of energy to the work. None who hear and receive the
parents is great, and one father and mother converted truth are to refuse to shine. Ye are the light of the
makes Satan tremble, for he sees he will lose their world. Kindle your taper from the divine altar, and
children from under his control. The children of diffuse light. The inquiry is made, What shall the end
Christian parents are placed in their arms with the of these things be? Christ shall see of the travail of His
divine command, "Take these children and train them soul and be satisfied. [Revelation 19:5-8, quoted.]
for Me." Give these youth special attention, and {13MR 16.1}
surround them with hallowed influences; teach the
There might be some improvement made in your
father and mother, as well as the children, to let no
harsh words proceed from their lips, but let Jesus' delivery. Cultivate earnestness and positiveness in
addressing the people. Your subject matter may be
love be given from babyhood to childhood, and from
childhood to youth. The influence of Christian excellent, and just what the people need, but you
would do well to mingle a positiveness with the
example will surround them like a holy atmosphere.
The words that fall from the lips, the ear hears and persuasive entreaties. [1 John 1:5-8, quoted.] {13MR
16.2}
the heart receives for good or for evil. Parents have a
solemn, responsible work, for wise management from There is need of decided personal effort to reach
the earliest years forms the framework of the the people in their houses. Present the plain "Thus
children's characters. {13MR 14.2} saith the Lord" with authority and exalt the wisdom of
God in the written word. Bring the people to a
My brother, my sister, you can help parents to
educate and train their families. By your earnest decision; keep the voice of the Bible ever before
them. Tell them you speak that which you do know,
appeals, show them that they can illustrate to the
world the power and influence of a well-ordered, and testify that which is truth, because God has
spoken it. Let your preaching be short and right to the
well-disciplined family. Thorough Christian influence
in the home will demonstrate to the world that the point, and then at the proper time call for a decision.
Do not present the truth in a formal manner, but let
greatest amount of good can be done by sanctified,
parental example, and religious training. {13MR 15.1} the heart be vitalized by the Spirit of God, and let your
words be spoken with such certainty that those who
The Lord will not judge you by the amount of hear may know that the truth is a reality to you. Your
success manifested in your efforts. I was bidden to tell manner may be educated, and your words may be of
you that your faith must be kept revived and firm, and that character that they will voice the words of Peter:
constantly increasing. When you see that those who "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables,
have ears will not hear, and that those who are when we made known unto you the power and
intelligent will not understand, after you have done coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were
your best, pass on to regions beyond, and leave the eyewitnesses of his majesty." With just as much
result with God. But let not your faith fail. {13MR assurance you may declare the message of God's
15.2} truth. Those who believe sacred, eternal truth, must
put their whole soul into their efforts. We must be
We are sounding to the world the last message of stirred to the very heart as we behold the fulfilling of
warning. We are laborers together with God, living prophecy in the closing scenes of this earth's history.
and working amid the closing scenes of this earth's As our vision extends still further into the glories of
history. From God's watchmen the world must hear eternity, the coming of Christ with power and great
the truth for this time. He who commanded the light glory, and the scenes of the great day of judgment, we
to shine out of darkness has issued the command to should not remain tame and unmoved. "I saw the
us, Let your light shine before me. Go forth as a lamp dead," says John, "stand before God; and the books
that burneth. Diffuse light. Each period of the were opened: and another book was opened, which is
fulfillment of prophetic history is a preparation for the the book of life: and the dead were judged out of
advanced light which will succeed each period. As the those things which were written in the books,
prophecy comes to an end, there is to be a perfect according to their works. {13MR 16.3}
whole.
 After a short discourse, keep fresh, that you may call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be
give a Bible reading on the points spoken of. Come called the son of the Highest; and the Lord shall give
right to the hearts of your hearers, urging them to unto him the throne of his Father David: And he shall
present their difficulties to you, that you may explain reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his
the Scriptures which they do not comprehend. Throw kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto
off all appearance of apathy, and lead the people to the angel, How shall this be, seeing that I know not a
think that there is life or death in these solemn man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The
questions, according as they shall receive or reject Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of
them. As you present testing truth, ask often, who is the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that
now willing, as they have heard the words of God, holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called
pointing out their duty, to consecrate their hearts and the Son of God." {13MR 18.2}
minds, with all their affections to Christ Jesus. "He
that is not for me, is against me." As the Lord lays out These words are not addressed to any human
being, except to the Son of the Infinite God. Never, in
before us the stirring scenes to be enacted in the last
great conflict, can we contemplate them without any way, leave the slightest impression upon human
minds that a taint of, or inclination to corruption
catching enthusiasm, ardor, and zeal, knowing that
heavenly angels are by our side. {13MR 17.1} rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to
corruption. He was tempted in all points like as man is
Come close to the people; get into the families tempted, yet He is called that holy thing. It is a
when you can; do not wait for the people to hunt up mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ
the shepherd. Bear with you the confidence and could be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet
assurance of faith which evidences that you are not be without sin. The incarnation of Christ has ever
trusting in idle tales, but in a plain "Thus Saith the been, and will ever remain a mystery. That which is
Lord." Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you revealed, is for us and for our children, but let every
dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set human being be warned from the ground of making
Him before the people as a man with the propensities Christ altogether human, such an one as ourselves: for
of sin. He is the second Adam. The first Adam was it cannot be. The exact time when humanity blended
created a pure, sinless being, without a taint of sin with divinity, it is not necessary for us to know. We
upon him; he was in the image of God. He could fall, are to keep our feet on the rock, Christ Jesus, as God
and he did fall through transgressing. Because of sin, revealed in humanity. {13MR 19.1}
his posterity was born with inherent propensities of
disobedience. But Jesus Christ was the only begotten I perceive that there is danger in approaching
subjects which dwell on the humanity of the Son of
Son of God. He took upon Himself human nature, and
was tempted in all points as human nature is the infinite God. He did humble Himself when He saw
He was in fashion as a man, that He might understand
tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen,
but not for one moment was there in Him an evil the force of all temptations wherewith man is beset.
{13MR 19.2}
propensity. He was assailed with temptations in the
wilderness, as Adam was assailed with temptations in The first Adam fell: the second Adam held fast to
Eden. {13MR 18.1} God and His word under the most trying
Bro. Baker, avoid every question in relation to the circumstances, and His faith in His Father's goodness,
mercy, and love did not waver for one moment. "It is
humanity of Christ which is liable to be
misunderstood. Truth lies close to the track of written" was His weapon of resistance, and it is the
sword of the Spirit which every human being is to use.
presumption. In treating upon the humanity of Christ,
you need to guard strenuously every assertion, lest "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince
of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me"--
your words be taken to mean more than they imply,
and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of His nothing to respond to temptation. Not one occasion
has been given in response to His manifold
humanity as combined with divinity. His birth was a
miracle of God; for, said the angel, "Behold thou shalt temptations.
conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt
Not once did Christ step on Satan's ground, to give Lord our God, as he hath commanded us." {13MR
him any advantage. Satan found nothing in Him to 21.1}
encourage his advances. {13MR 19.3}
This corresponds with the instruction given to the
As teachers we need to understand that the object multitude in answer to the lawyer's question, "What
and teaching of our Lord was to simplify in all His shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? The same
instruction, the nature and the necessity of the moral answer was given to the young ruler who asked a
excellence of character which God through His Son similar question, "Good Master, what shall I do to
has made every provision that human agents should inherit eternal life? And he said unto him, . . . If thou
obtain, that they may be laborers together with Jesus wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." By
Christ. This God requires, and to this end the ministers quoting the precepts of Jehovah He showed that He
of the gospel should work, both in their education of referred to the ten holy precepts. {13MR 21.2}
the people, and in the ministry of the word. {13MR
20.1} The young man claimed to have kept all these, and
asked, "What lack I yet?" Jesus then pointed him to
There are many questions treated upon that are duties he had not done, which the law of God plainly
not necessary for the perfection of the faith. We have specified--to love God supremely, and his neighbor as
no time for their study. Many things are above finite himself. "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect,
comprehension. Truths are to be received not within go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and
the reach of our reason, and not for us to explain. thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow
Revelation presents them to us to be implicitly me. But when the young man heard that saying, he
received as the words of an infinite God. While every went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions."
ingenious inquirer is to search out the truth as it is in This man loved his possessions above God and His
Jesus, there are things not yet simplified, statements service and more than the souls of his fellow-men.
that human minds cannot grasp and reason out, Riches were his idol. Then let none say that there are
without being liable to make human calculations and no conditions to salvation. There are decided
explanations, which will not prove a savor of life unto conditions, and everyone is put to the strenuous task
life. {13MR 20.2} of diligently inquiring and searching for the truth from
God's word. At the peril of our souls we must know
But every truth which is essential for us to bring the prescribed conditions given by Him who has given
into our practical life, which concerns the salvation of His own life to save us from ruin. We will certainly be
the soul, is made very clear and positive. The question
lost if we float along with the current of the world,
asked Christ by the lawyer, was turned over to himself receiving the saying of men. By our selfish love of ease
to answer; for Christ knew that the law was and by our indolence we endanger our souls and the
understood by him. "He said unto him, What is souls of others. We are to seek earnestly to know
written in the law? How readest thou?" To the what saith the Lord. {13MR 22.1}
lawyer's plain scriptural statements, Christ said, "Thou
hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. To his Human assertions, even from priests and rulers,
question, "Who is my neighbor," Christ answered by will not help my case. I must know what conditions
the parable of the good Samaritan. {13MR 20.3} are imposed on me, that I may cooperate with God in
the saving of my own soul. I cannot satisfy the claims
Christ revealed to His hearers their deficiency in of God upon me as his human agent, by meeting the
fulfilling the law of God. With them self-love was ideas and opinions of even teachers of doctrines,
supreme. These same principles Christ had spoken to unless they harmonize with the voice of God. "What
Moses from the pillar of cloud: "And thou shalt love saith the law? How readest thou?" is the question
the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy from the greatest of all teachers. {13MR 22.2}
soul, and with all thy might. Ye shall diligently keep
the commandments of the Lord thy God, and his The popular opinion of what saith the Fathers will
testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath not help my case. My work is given me of God to
commanded you. And it shall be our righteousness, if know and understand His will for my own individual
we observe to do all these commandments before the self. By thoughtful, prayerful study, I must seek to
know for myself the true meaning of the Scriptures. must make a charge against the enemy. You must
We should thank God every day that we are not left to study methods and ways to reach the people. Go right
human traditions and man-made assertions. We to them and talk with them. Study tact, how you can
cannot be safe in trusting to any other word except "It reach them: and be determined you will not fail nor
is written." We cannot float with the current; we be discouraged. {13MR 23.3}
cannot build our faith on any human theory, lest we
come under condemnation as did the Jews. "Ye teach God help you to daily hang your helpless soul on
Jesus Christ. Speak the truth in no hesitating, halting
for doctrine the commandments of men," said Christ
to them. And this statement is made decidedly plain style; but speak it with boldness and assurance and
with the spirit of the Holy Ghost resting upon you. Let
to us in these last days. {13MR 22.3}
the people understand that you have a message that
In Sunday observance the commandments of men means life, eternal life to them if they accept it. If any
are made supreme. Human authority and church subject should enthuse the soul, it is the proclamation
pretensions are made as the word of God, to which all of the last message of mercy to a perishing world. But
must bow. Should we do this, we would be laborers if they reject this message it will be to them a savor of
together with the man of sin, who thought to change death unto death. Therefore there is need to work
times and laws, and who exalted himself above God diligently, lest your labors be in vain. Oh that you
and all that is written in the word of God. {13MR would realize this, and that you would urge the truth
23.1} upon the conscience with the power of God. Give
force to your words, and make the truth appear
All who would have the seal of the living God, must essential to their educated minds. Please make your
be laborers together with God to make up the breach labor a subject of earnest prayer, that it may be
that has been made in the law of God by the man of approved of God, and that you may be a successful
sin, and to raise up the foundation of many worker in His vineyard. {13MR 24.1}
generations. "Ye are laborers together with God. They
will turn away their feet from trampling on the law of Your ideas are altogether too narrow, too bound
God, and by precept and example turn the feet of about; you need to widen and broaden. Do not
many others from the path of disobedience. They will educate your mind to see afar off, thus making the
keep the Sabbath from polluting it; they will call the subjects on which you dwell not of enough
Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable, consequence to engage immediate attention. Carry
and will honor him, not doing their own ways, nor your hearers with you. You can change your manner
finding their own pleasure, nor speaking their own of labor; you can put energy and deep interest into
words. "Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord, your subject. You can allow the Holy Spirit to work the
and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of man. You can bear responsibilities which you are
the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob inclined to neglect. Please read and apply most
thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." earnestly and thoroughly, for your own benefit, the
{13MR 23.2} following Scriptures. [Philippians 1:25-28, quoted.]
{13MR 25.1}
We are living in perilous time, and we need that
grace that will make us valiant in fight, turning to When a laborer is set in a certain portion of the
flight the armies of the aliens. Dear Brother, you need Lord's vineyard, his work is given him as a faithful
more faith, more boldness and decision in your labors. laborer together with God to work that vineyard. He is
You need more push and less timidity. You will ever not to wait to be told at every point by human minds
meet with disappointment unless you move forward what he must do, but plan his work to labor wherever
with determination. You must not fail nor be he is needed. God has given you brain power to use.
discouraged. You need in every place to study the The wants of the believers and the necessities of
situation. Read less, and do more actual service. unbelievers are to be carefully studied and your labors
Circulate round, and practice the truth you do know. are to meet their necessities. You are to inquire of
Our warfare is aggressive. Your efforts are too tame; God and not of any living man what you shall do. You
you need more force in your labors, else you will be are a servant of the living God, and not a servant of
disappointed in its results. There are times when you any man. You cannot do the work of God intelligently
and be the shadow of another man's thoughts and circumscribed limits, but extend his labors where-ever
directions. You are under God. {13MR 25.2} necessity demands. God is his co-laborer; he should
seek wisdom and counsel of Him at every step, and
When a minister is appointed to a certain work, he not depend upon human counsel. {13MR 26.3}
is not to consider that he must ask the president of
the conference how many days he shall labor in a The work has been greatly hindered in many fields
certain locality, but he must seek wisdom from One because the laborers ask counsel from those who are
who has appointed him his work, One who promised not working in the field, and who see not and feel not
to give wisdom and unerring judgment, who giveth the demand, and therefore cannot understand the
liberally and upbraideth not. He must carefully situation as well as the one who is on the ground.
consider every part of the vineyard apportioned to Your labors, Bro. Baker, need to be improved in order
him, and discern by the grace given what he shall do, to be successful. You shun responsibilities. Where
and what he shall not do. Circumstances will arise, there is a variety of talent engaged in the work your
which, if carefully studied, with humility and faith, deficiency is better supplied, so that the want in you is
seeking wisdom of God, will make you a wise and not so clearly recognized, but in the field where you
successful laborer [Ephesians 1:17, 19, quoted.] Read and Brother Teasdale were the only laborers, you
this whole chapter, my brother. The prayer of Paul should have put forth every part of your being to
was for the Ephesians that the God of our Lord Jesus make a complete whole, and given lessons of practice
Christ, the Father of glory, might give unto them the to Brother Teasdale. A part of the moral vineyard was
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of assigned to you. The whole field in Tasmania was
Him. [Ephesians 1:19; 2:4-6, quoted.] This is, and has under your supervision, and in need of your most
been, your privilege, and the privilege of every earnest labor. You could have connected with
shepherd of the flock. As the shepherd is to go after believers in the truth near Hobart and Bismarck, and
the lost sheep, he is not to have merely a casual laid out your plans before them, soliciting their
interest, but an earnest travail for souls. This calls for suggestions. You could, and should, in every place
most earnest heart searching, most earnest prayerful seek counsel and give counsel much more graciously,
seeking for God, in order that we may know Him and even if you obtain but little enlightenment. {13MR
the power of His grace. "That in the ages to come he 27.1}
might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his
kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus." {13MR Our workers cannot be over-moderate and over-
retiring. They must speak in season and out of season,
26.1}
seeking the acquaintance of those not of the truth.
Our religious history should not be tame and [Ephesians 5:1, 2, 8-10, quoted.] This is our individual
common place, but an experience marked by the work. No one can do this for us. There has been a kind
grace and decided working of the power of God with of education that has led men from being taught and
our efforts. Please read Ephesians 3:7-21. Read led of God. Man has looked no higher than man, who
carefully and prayerfully; for this is for you, and for has no greater wisdom than himself unless he humbly
me, and for every minister in every Conference, seeks it of God, who is our Light, and Counselor, and
whether they have or have not been formally exceeding great reward. {13MR 27.2}
ordained to the work. {13MR 26.2}
Let no man become another man's shadow. The
Bear in mind that no living man can tell the precise promise is, "Ask of God," and if you present the divine
work, or bound the work of a man who is in God's credentials, He will hear your petition. Asking counsel
service. No one can prescribe the days, the weeks that from men too largely robs one of that experience he
one should remain in a certain locality before pushing can and ever should obtain for himself from God. If
on to another place. Circumstances must shape the any man lack wisdom, let him ask of some other man?
labors of the minister of God, and if he seeks God, he No. "Let him ask of God, that giveth to all men
will understand that his work embraces every part of liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given
the Lord's vineyard, both that which is nigh and that him" [James 1:5]. I point you to Jesus. Stand forth in
which is afar off. The laborer is not to confine his work moral power in God. You are doing service not for
to a specified measurement. He must have no man, but for God, who is to bless you. As we consult
one with another and compare ideas, all our We all need and must have pure religion, not
propositions are to be fully considered, frankly borrowed from another, but from Christ Jesus, the
discussed, and acted upon; but one man is only a part source of all heavenly grace. Then we are to honor
of the great whole, and he is not to be mind and God by looking to God, trusting in God, and keeping
judgment for the whole body of believers. Our great the truth in the heart pure and undefiled, having that
weakness is in placing men where God should be, to faith that works by love and purifies the soul. The
be looked up to and confided in. What are these men? truth, when practiced, is a guide. Christ is truth. We
Only bruised reeds unless they put their confidence must yield to him who alone is truth, and who alone
and trust just where it is your privilege to put your can give to the troubled heart assurance and peace.
trust and dependence. Why is the caution given, To every one of the human family, confident,
"Trust not in man, neither make flesh your arm"? For boasting, or desponding, God the searcher of hearts
the very reason that men have failed in a time when it declares, "I know thy works," God speaks, "know
was necessary for them to be entirely shut in with Him." There can be hypocrisy on the one hand or
God, walking with fear and trembling before Him, true deception on the other. God sees and knows. {13MR
as the compass to the pole. {13MR 28.1} 29.2}

There is danger, great danger with all men of My dear Bro. and Sr. Baker, whom I love in the
becoming self-deceived. There are certain Lord, the Lord will guide you if you will only trust in
circumstances when Satan will cunningly and with Him. He has given you every encouragement to do
artful talent, work to hinder the cause of God. Some this. Our youth must not be educated to make finite
influence not proceeding from the throne of God will man their dependence. The first principles of holiness,
introduce itself. Inborn and cultivated tendencies are (wholeness), to God are yet to be learned. God's will
fostered that Satan finds a chance to stir up and and God's way should be made our will and our way.
strengthen. If not discerned by the possessor these There is not one rule for the supposed superior and
will lead to a development of weakness. When a man another for the inferior; one way for the supposed
is not steadfastly following the Light of Life, he lordly, and another for the more humble. Keeping the
knoweth not at what he stumbleth. {13MR 28.2} commandments of God means more than we are
inclined to suppose. Of those who would find peace it
Men must keep their own souls in the love of God, is said, "They shall keep the way of the Lord; then
else they will fail to teach others these precious peace and holy joy will be theirs."-- Letter 8, 1895.
lessons, and will prove the worthlessness and power (Written to Brother and Sister [W.L.H.] Baker, North
to form a character after the divine similitude. Great American workers in Australia, probably from
learning and talent will not make a man sufficient for Sunnyside, Cooranbong, N.S.W.)
a responsible position which will make him a wise
master workman, unless he is proportionately
balanced by a symmetrical character, and by making
Jesus his heavenly Guide, not trusting to his supposed White Estate Washington, D. C. August 4, 1983 {13MR
29.3}
smartness or his talents. Men should never exchange
the heavenly Guide for an earthly guide, who is
himself only a part of the great web of humanity, like
unto themselves, finite and fallible. {13MR 28.3}

We often find in human character strong contrasts