The Spirit of Prophecy in the Advent Movement

“A Noble Christian Woman”

It was a Christian life that Mrs. White lived before the people, from the days of 1844, when she was called as a youth of seventeen, to the day of her death in ripe old age. SPIAM 127.1

Even the bitterest critic—one who had left the movement and turned to write many attacks upon the work of his former associates, and especially upon the Spirit of prophecy in the church—paid tribute to a noble Christian life. He came to Mrs. White’s funeral. His brother, an Adventist, told us of D. M. Canright’s emotion as they walked together past the casket, with others of the congregation, at the close of the funeral service. They came back to their pew, and stood while the great congregation was still filing past. “Then,” said our member, “my brother suggested that we go down again, to take one more look. We joined the passing throng and again stood by the bier. My brother rested his hand upon the side of the casket, and with tears rolling down his cheeks, he said brokenly, ‘There is a noble Christian woman gone.’” SPIAM 127.2

This also is a fitting tribute from without. SPIAM 127.3

Nothing could be further from the spirit of that lifework than for us to exalt the human agent. She was but a human agent. But it is right to say—what many thousands knew—that she was faithful to the call. Never a thing in her life brought shame to any believer. And the work done—and that is her monument—speaks confusion to all attacks. SPIAM 127.4

When she was called in girlhood, she was shown that the call would make her the target of attack. And so it did from the first. She later realized how true were the foretellings of the prophecy of Revelation 12:17,—the dragon making war upon the remnant church because of “the commandments of God,” which they kept, and “the testimony of Jesus,” which they held. But never did this agent swerve from the charge to “deliver the messages faithfully.” On her dying bed she said: SPIAM 127.5

“I am very weak. I am sure that this is my last sickness. I am not worried at the thought of dying. I feel comforted all the time, that the Lord is near me.... I do not worry about the work I have done. I have done the best I could.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 444, 445. SPIAM 127.6

And that is all that any one can do. There was no thought of any merit to be awarded on the grounds of special work done. All her trust was in the unmerited grace of Christ, the one hope of every believer. “I am guarding every moment,” she said in last hours with the family, “so that nothing may come between me and the Lord.... There will be a glorious meeting soon.” Then came the last words, SPIAM 128.1

“I know in whom I have believed.” SPIAM 128.2