Preface
Christ the Great Teacher gave much of His instruction as He walked
with His disciples through the hills and valleys of Palestine or rested
by the lake or river. In His parable teaching He linked divine truth
with common things and incidents, as may be found in the experiences
of the shepherd, the builder, the tiller of the soil, the traveler, and
the homemaker. Familiar objects were associated with thoughts true
and beautiful—thoughts of God’s loving interest in us, of the grateful
homage that is his due, and of the care we should have one for another.
Thus lessons of divine wisdom and practical truth were made forcible
and impressive.
In this volume the parables are grouped according to their subjects,
and their lessons are developed and illustrated. The book is full of
gems of truth, and to many readers it will give a richer meaning to the
common surroundings of everyday life.
The many printings of several editions of Christ’s Object Lessons
in the English and other leading languages have proved the popularity
of the book. While preparing the manuscript the author was led to ded-
icate the proceeds of its sale to the aid of educational work. Through
the co-operative effort of author, publishers, and church members a
sizable sum has been turned to the interests of Christian education.
For a time after the reset and reillustrated edition was published, in
1923, it was impossible to secure the book in its original form, which
was used by those who prepared
[8]
the Index to the writings of Mrs. Ellen G. White. The printing of
the volume in this form will, therefore, be heartily received by those
who make frequent use of the Index, for its paging corresponds to that
of the original edition.
Not only in its harmonizing of the pages with the Index will this
new edition prove its worth, but also in its compact form, for con-
venience in handling. In reducing the book to a minimum in weight
and thickness, full-page illustrations and section title pages have been
omitted. The absence of these deleted pages will account for an occa-
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