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Life Sketches of Ellen G. White
word of the Lord to me is: ‘Look on these things, and meditate on
them. You may claim the rich grace of truth, which nourishes the soul.
Have naught to do with controversy and dissension and strife, which
bring darkness and discouragement to your soul. Truth is clear, pure,
savory.... Speak the truth in faith and love, leaving the result with God.
The work is not yours, but the Lord’s. In all your communications,
speak as one to whom the Lord has spoken. He is your authority, and
He will give you His sustaining grace.’”
Unpublished Letter, December
2, 1902
.
These words were written about the time “Testimonies for the
Church,” Volume 7, was in the hands of the printers. Shortly after its
appearance, she wrote regarding volumes six and seven:
“I have been impressed to call upon the members of our churches
to study the last two volumes of ‘Testimonies for the Church.’ When
I was writing these books, I felt the deep moving of the Spirit of
God.... They are full of precious matter. In the visions of the night the
Lord told me that the truth contained in these books must be brought
before the members of our churches, because there are many who
are indifferent in regard to the salvation of their souls.”
Unpublished
Letter, April 15, 1903
.
But these volumes were not to be the last. There was much yet to
be accomplished. “I must prepare books,” she wrote in May, 1903,
“and thus give to others the light that the Lord gives me. I do not want
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to leave an unfinished work.” And during the same month she wrote
further: “I am trying to prepare for publication matter that will guard
the work on every side, so that it may not become disproportionate.
We have many things in preparation for publication.... The truth must
appear just as it is.”
In August, 1903, Mrs. White wrote to an old-time friend: “My
health is good, and I am able to do much writing. I thank the Lord
for this. I have decided not to attend so many camp meetings, but to
give my time to my writing.... I greatly desire to write on the life of
Solomon and on the history following his reign, and I desire, too, to
write on the life of Paul and his work in connection with the other
apostles. At times the thought of this neglected work keeps me awake
at night.”
Mrs. White lived to see her desires fulfilled with regard to much
that she had planned on doing. Her work on “Education” was com-