Dr. Kellogg is announcing for the first time his plan to revise his book the Living Temple.
Dr. Kellogg & EGW
Sister White says it is not proper to say that God himself is in the tree; at the same time she says that God is spirit, and his life is in the tree, and that his presence is in the tree.
TODO: paste examples where Sister White says that
Dr. Kellogg & Trinity
The difference is this: When we say God is in the tree, the word “God” is understood in its most comprehensive sense, and people understand the meaning to be that the Godhead is in the tree, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, whereas the proper understanding in order that wholesome conceptions should be preserved in our minds, is that God the Father sits upon his throne in heaven where God the Son is also; while God’s life, or spirit or presence is the all-pervading power which is carrying out the will of God in all the universe.
Transcript
Prof. W. W. Prescott,
222 North Capitol st.,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Brother:—
I have a suggestion to make which I wish you would consider and act upon if you think it advisable. It would help the situation somewhat if you would put a little note in the next REVIEW calling attention to the fact that a revised edition of “The Living Temple” is being prepared and will be ready in two or three weeks. I do not want the people to think that I am going to make a battle over this thing, and perhaps this would be the best way to let them know the contrary. I am preparing a little circular to send out to all our medical missionaries so as to quiet whatever agitation there may be, and get things into a harmonious state as rapidly as possible.
Since leaving Washington, I have been thinking over the letter from Sister White addressed to you in relation to the personality of God, and I think I can see where the difficulty is. Sister White says it is not proper to say that God himself is in the tree; at the same time she says that God is spirit, and his life is in the tree, and that his presence is in the tree. You, Elder Daniels, and others have spoken about a fine line of distinction, but I could not quite see what it was, but this statement by Sister White makes it clear to me. The difference is this: When we say God is in the tree, the word “God” is understood in its most comprehensive sense, and people understand the meaning to be that the Godhead is in the tree, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, whereas the proper understanding in order that wholesome conceptions should be preserved in our minds, is that God the Father sits upon his throne in heaven where God the Son is also; while God’s life, or spirit or presence is the all-pervading power which is carrying out the will of God in all the universe. The whole thing is now clear to my mind. I confess it was not quite clear before, and I felt a distrust and an uneasiness with reference to the matter, though I could not for the life of me see where there was an error.
I have not pushed the book out hurriedly, but waited as long as I could wait, hoping that this thing would be cleared up. All of us got the impression that you had taken the position that the life of God was not in the tree, and was not in the man until the man had been converted, and this made me hopeless of getting any help from your criticisms. Had it not been for this misunderstanding, I think we might have gotten together in the matter last fall; but I think I see the whole thing clearly now, and I do not think we will have any difficulty now in getting things straightened out. Certainly it is the last thing I want to do to have any part whatever in the propagation of error, and I will be glad to have what defects or errors there are in the book pointed out, even though it may in a way that makes the errors very conscious.
I shall be very glad for your cooperation in getting things straight, and shall very much appreciate whatever you may do in putting things in a right line before the readers of the REVIEW. I am through with contention. Whatever I can not get without contention, I will go without. I have got bigger things to do than to contend with my brethren, and what few years I have to live I want to do a constructive rather than a destructive work.
I enclose a few references to Sister White’s use of the word “temple” which I think you will agree with me will justify the use of the word as it is used in the title of the book. I am very glad indeed you agree with me in preserving the title. This will have much to do in helping to straighten things out.
I remain, as ever,
Your friend and brother in the work,
J. H. KELLOGG.
- “‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.’ No man can of himself cast out the devil throng that have taken possession of the heart. Only Christ can cleanse the soul-temple.” - Desire of Ages, p. 161.
- “They have taken a rigid course, and lived so very plain that their health has suffered, disease has strengthened in the system, and the temple of God has been weakened.” - Test. Vol. 1, p. 205.
- “We are God’s workmanship, and his word declares that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made.’ He has prepared this wonderful habitation for the mind; it is ‘curiously wrought, t a temple which the Lord himself has fitted up for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” - Special Test. on Education, p. 33.
- “He tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; and he requires us to take care of this temple, that it may be a fit habitation for his spirit.” - Christian Temp. p. 52.
- “It is a duty that we owe to God to keep the spirit pure, as a temple for the Holy Ghost.” - Christian Temp. 1. 161.