xxxiv
Counsels for the Church
information before her, the girl confessed taking the net, and burning
it lest she be detected. She made the matter right with Mrs. White and
with the Lord.
We may think that this is a very small matter for God to bother
about—just a hairnet. But it was a matter of much greater importance
than the value of the object stolen. Here was a young woman, a
member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She felt she was all
right, but she did not see the defects in her own character. She did not
see the selfishness there, which led her to steal and deceive. Now when
she realized how important the little things are—that God would give
a vision to his busy messenger here on earth just about a hairnet—this
young woman began to see matters in their true light. This experience
was the turning point in her life.
That is one reason visions were given to Mrs. White. Though
many of the testimonies written by Mrs. White had very specific
applications, yet they present principles that meet the needs of the
church in every country of the world. Mrs. White has made plain the
purpose and place of the testimonies in these words:
“The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress
vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed. Man’s
duty to God and to his fellow man has been distinctly specified in God’s
word, yet but few of you are obedient to the light given. Additional
truth is not brought out; but God has through the testimonies simplified
the great truths already given.... The testimonies are not to belittle the
word of God, but to exalt it, and attract minds to it, that the beautiful
simplicity of truth may impress all.”
All through her life Mrs. White kept the word of God before the
people. As she closed her very first book she stated:
“I recommend to you, dear reader, the word of God as the rule of
your faith and practice. By that word we are to be judged. God has, in
that word, promised to give visions in the ‘last days’; not for a new
rule of faith, but for the comfort of his people, and to correct those
who err from Bible truth.”
The Vision that Could not Be Told
During a series of meetings in Salamanca, New York, in November
1890, in which Mrs. White was making some public addresses to