“The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.”
The Ministry of Healing, p. 470
Ellen Gould White was an author and an American Christian pioneer. Along with other Sabbatarian Adventist leaders such as Joseph Bates and her husband James White, she formed what became known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Smithsonian magazine named Ellen G. White among the "100 Most Significant Americans of All Time.White received over 2,000 visions and dreams from God in public and private meetings throughout her life, which were witnessed by Adventist pioneers and the general public. She verbally described and published for public consumption the content of the alleged visions. The Adventist pioneers viewed these experiences as the Biblical gift of prophecy as outlined in Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 19:10 which describe the testimony of Jesus as the "spirit of prophecy." Her Conflict of the Ages series of writings endeavor to showcase the hand of God in Biblical history and in church history. This cosmic conflict, referred to by Seventh-day Adventist theologians as the "Great Controversy theme," became foundational to the development of Seventh-day Adventist theology. Her book on successful Christian living, Steps to Christ, has been published in more than 140 languages.
White was considered a controversial figure by her critics, with much of the controversy centering on her reports of visionary experiences and on the use of other sources in her writings. Historian Randall Balmer has described White as "one of the more important and colorful figures in the history of American religion". Walter Martin described her as "one of the most fascinating and controversial personages ever to appear upon the horizon of religious history". Arthur L. White, her grandson and biographer, writes that Ellen G. White is the most translated female non-fiction author in the history of literature, as well as the most translated American non-fiction author of either gender. Her writings covered a broad range of subjects, including religion, social relationships, prophecy, publishing, nutrition, creationism, agriculture, theology, social justice, evangelism, Christian lifestyle, education, and health. She advocated vegetarianism. She promoted and was instrumental in the establishment of schools and medical centers. During her lifetime she wrote more than 5,000 periodical articles and 40 books. As of 2015 more than 100 White titles are available in English, including compilations from her 100,000 pages of manuscript. Some of her other notable books include The Desire of Ages and The Great Controversy.
“The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian.”
The Ministry of Healing, p. 470
The Great Controversy (1911 edition), p. 248
Steps to Christ (1892) http://www.whiteestate.org/books/sc/sc.asp, p. 93
Christ's Object Lessons (1900)
Context: Through the creation we are to become acquainted with the Creator. The book of nature is a great lesson book, which in connection with the Scriptures we are to use in teaching others of His character, and guiding lost sheep back to the fold of God. As the works of God are studied, the Holy Spirit flashes conviction into the mind. It is not the conviction that logical reasoning produces; but unless the mind has become too dark to know God, the eye too dim to see Him, the ear too dull to hear His voice, a deeper meaning is grasped, and the sublime, spiritual truths of the written word are impressed on the heart.
In these lessons direct from nature, there is a simplicity and purity that makes them of the highest value. All need the teaching to be derived from this source. In itself the beauty of nature leads the soul away from sin and worldly attractions, and toward purity, peace, and God.
“The people are hungry for the bread of life. Do not offer them a stone.”
Book II, Ch. 1, p. 24
Selected Messages (1958 - 1980)
“Divinity was revealed in humanity; the invisible glory in the visible human form.”
Ch. 1 http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/col/col1.html, p. 17
Christ's Object Lessons (1900)
Context: In Christ's parable teaching the same principle is seen as in His own mission to the world. That we might become acquainted with His divine character and life, Christ took our nature and dwelt among us. Divinity was revealed in humanity; the invisible glory in the visible human form. Men could learn of the unknown through the known; heavenly things were revealed through the earthly; God was made manifest in the likeness of men. So it was in Christ's teaching: the unknown was illustrated by the known; divine truths by earthly things with which the people were most familiar.
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 1, p. 25 - 26
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 8, p. 114
The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1111.
Book II, Ch. 49, p. 384
Selected Messages (1958 - 1980)
The Signs of the Times (9 December 1903], paragraph 10
The Review and Herald (15 April 1880); also in Mind, Character, and Personality (1977), Vol. 2, p. 789
Book II, Ch. 25, p. 244
Selected Messages (1958 - 1980)
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 1, p. 23
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 1, p. 22
Context: Christ had truths to present which the people were unprepared to accept or even to understand. For this reason also He taught them in parables. By connecting His teaching with the scenes of life, experience, or nature, He secured their attention and impressed their hearts. Afterward, as they looked upon the objects that illustrated His lessons, they recalled the words of the divine Teacher. To minds that were open to the Holy Spirit, the significance of the Saviour's teaching unfolded more and more. Mysteries grew clear, and that which had been hard to grasp became evident.
Jesus sought an avenue to every heart. By using a variety of illustrations, He not only presented truth in its different phases, but appealed to the different hearers. Their interest was aroused by figures drawn from the surroundings of their daily life. None who listened to the Saviour could feel that they were neglected or forgotten. The humblest, the most sinful, heard in His teaching a voice that spoke to them in sympathy and tenderness.
And He had another reason for teaching in parables. Among the multitudes that gathered about Him, there were priests and rabbis, scribes and elders, Herodians and rulers, world-loving, bigoted, ambitious men, who desired above all things to find some accusation against Him. Their spies followed His steps day after day, to catch from His lips something that would cause His condemnation, and forever silence the One who seemed to draw the world after Him. The Saviour understood the character of these men, and He presented truth in such a way that they could find nothing by which to bring His case before the Sanhedrim. In parables He rebuked the hypocrisy and wicked works of those who occupied high positions, and in figurative language clothed truth of so cutting a character that had it been spoken in direct denunciation, they would not have listened to His words, and would speedily have put an end to His ministry. But while He evaded the spies, He made truth so clear that error was manifested, and the honest in heart were profited by His lessons.
Ch. 8 http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/col/col8.html, p. 113
Christ's Object Lessons (1900)
Context: We need the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit in order to discern the truths in God's word. The lovely things of the natural world are not seen until the sun, dispelling the darkness, floods them with its light. So the treasures in the word of God are not appreciated until they are revealed by the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness.
The Holy Spirit, sent from heaven by the benevolence of infinite love, takes the things of God and reveals them to every soul that has an implicit faith in Christ. By His power the vital truths upon which the salvation of the soul depends are impressed upon the mind, and the way of life is made so plain that none need err therein. As we study the Scriptures, we should pray for the light of God's Holy Spirit to shine upon the word, that we may see and appreciate its treasures.
The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 6, p. 1112.
Education, p. 57, c 1903, 1952, The Ellen G. White Publications; Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Education (1903) http://www.whiteestate.org/books/ed/ed.asp, Ch. 30, Faith and Prayer http://www.whiteestate.org/books/ed/ed30.html, p. 257
“Christ sought to remove that which obscured the truth.”
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 1, p. 19
Context: Not only the things of nature, but the sacrificial service and the Scriptures themselves — all given to reveal God — were so perverted that they became the means of concealing Him.
Christ sought to remove that which obscured the truth. The veil that sin has cast over the face of nature, He came to draw aside, bringing to view the spiritual glory that all things were created to reflect. His words placed the teachings of nature as well as of the Bible in a new aspect, and made them a new revelation.
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 1, p. 20
Context: Jesus desired to awaken inquiry. He sought to arouse the careless, and impress truth upon the heart. Parable teaching was popular, and commanded the respect and attention, not only of the Jews, but of the people of other nations. No more effective method of instruction could He have employed.
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 1, p. 19
Context: Not only the things of nature, but the sacrificial service and the Scriptures themselves — all given to reveal God — were so perverted that they became the means of concealing Him.
Christ sought to remove that which obscured the truth. The veil that sin has cast over the face of nature, He came to draw aside, bringing to view the spiritual glory that all things were created to reflect. His words placed the teachings of nature as well as of the Bible in a new aspect, and made them a new revelation.
“His words are full of assurance, and tend to confirm trust in God.”
Source: Christ's Object Lessons (1900), Ch. 1, p. 19
Context: Christ interpreted the message which He Himself had given to the lilies and the grass of the field. He desires us to read it in every lily and every spire of grass. His words are full of assurance, and tend to confirm trust in God.
So wide was Christ's view of truth, so extended His teaching, that every phase of nature was employed in illustrating truth. The scenes upon which the eye daily rests were all connected with some spiritual truth, so that nature is clothed with the parables of the Master.
The Review and Herald (27 March 1890); also in Counsels for Writers and Editors http://books.google.de/books?id=UEM4uBD04asC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Counsels+to+writers+and+editors&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false (1946), p. 33; also in Evangelism http://books.google.de/books?id=gsy20ga71LEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Ellen+Gould+Harmon+White+Evangelism&cd=1#v=onepage&q&f=false (1946), p. 296; also in 1888 - The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials (1987), Ch. 64, p. 547.
Medical Ministry (1932), p. 131
Prophets and Kings http://www.ccel.org/ccel/white/prophets.html, Ch. 60 http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/pk/pk60.html, p. 732
Conflict of the Ages series
The Desire of Ages http://egwdatabase.whiteestate.org/nxt/gateway.dll/egw-comp/section00000.htm/book01247.htm/chapter01301.htm, Ch. 52, p. 480)
Conflict of the Ages series
“Perfect health depends upon perfect circulation.”
Vol. 2, p. 531
Testimonies for the Church (1855 - 1868)
Patriarchs and Prophets http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp.asp, Ch. 10 http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp10.html, p. 124
Conflict of the Ages series
Vol. 9 http://www.whiteestate.org/books/egwhc/EGWHCc27.html#sth6, p. 159
Testimonies for the Church (1855 - 1868)
Letter 16, 1887, also in Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce (1989) http://egwdatabase.whiteestate.org/nxt/gateway.dll/egw-comp/section00000.htm/book05997.htm/chapter06009.htm, p. 242
It was the Lord.
The Review and Herald (14 June 1906), p. 8
“Singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer.”
Patriarchs and Prophets, Ch. 58 http://www.whiteestate.org/books/pp/pp58.html, p. 594
Conflict of the Ages series
Proverbs 8:22-30.
Patriarchs and Prophets 34.1 https://egwwritings.org/?ref=en_PP.34.1¶=84.75
“Nature utters her voice in lessons of heavenly wisdom and eternal truth.”
Ch. 8 http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/col/col8.html, p. 107
Christ's Object Lessons (1900)
Thoughts From The Mount Of Blessing (1896) http://www.whiteestate.org/books/mb/mb.asp Ch. 3, "The Spirituality of the Law" http://www.whiteestate.org/books/mb/mb3.html, p. 75
Vol. 6, p. 62
Testimonies for the Church (1855 - 1868)
The Review and Herald (27 August 1889), p. 530.
Book II, Ch. 29, p. 287
Selected Messages (1958 - 1980)
“If the life we live in this world is wholly for Christ, it is a life of daily surrender.”
Vol. 6, p. 116
Testimonies for the Church (1855 - 1868)
The Desire of Ages, Ch. 68 http://www.whiteestate.org/books/da/da68.html, p. 623
Conflict of the Ages series
“The spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit.”
The Great Controversy (1864; 1911) Ch. 4 http://www.egwtext.whiteestate.org/gc/gc4.html, p. 70
Conflict of the Ages series
Counsels On Diet and Foods (1938), Section 2, p. 47
Mind, Character, and Personality (1977), Vol. 2, p. 411