A Prophet Among You

Testimonies Republished in 1871

Although some portions of the original testimonies were omitted from the group included in the Spiritual Gifts volume, later editions included the complete testimonies as presented in the early pamphlets. Ten more testimonies were sent out between 1867 and 1871. In 1871 copies of the later testimonies were available, but the earlier ones were again out of print. The desire of new church members to possess complete sets of the testimonies made it necessary to reprint the earlier messages. The first sixteen numbers were printed in their entirety and bound in two books of about five hundred pages each, paged consecutively. James White explained in the preface: APAY 321.1

“During the period of sixteen years Mrs. W. has published her Testimonies to the Church in a series of pamphlets, which, at this date, number twenty. But as the editions of the first numbers were small, and have long since been exhausted, we are not able to furnish the series complete to the numerous friends who subsequently embrace the views of Seventh-day Adventists. The call for these Testimonies being large, we republish, and offer them in this form. APAY 321.2

“And we are happy to do this, inasmuch as the testimonies, given under the trying, and ever-changing circumstances of the past sixteen years, ever breathing the same high-toned spirit of Scriptural piety, contain in themselves the best evidences of their being what they profess to be. APAY 321.3

“There are in them matters of a local and personal character, which do not have a direct bearing upon our time. But as many have desired it, we give them complete.” Testimonies for the Church, 1871 ed., vol. 1. APAY 322.1

In this preface James White brings out a point of extreme importance, not only in connection with these particular testimonies, but in the consideration of all the Ellen White writings. When the earlier testimonies were first reprinted, certain portions were not included, because they were of such a nature that they did not directly apply to all. It was felt at that time that there was no real need for them to be published again. But, James White emphasizes, if the people want them, there is no reason why they should not be made available again. Every one of them, he says, breathes “the same high-toned spirit of Scriptural piety.” Furthermore, they “contain in themselves the best evidences of their being what they profess to be.” APAY 322.2