In Defense of the Faith

Chapter 16 — The Work of Mrs. E. G. White

One of Mr. Canright’s most bitter attacks is launched against the life and work of Mrs. E. G. White, who, until the time of her death, was a respected, beloved worker in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He devotes an entire chapter to her, and frequently attacks her in other chapters. Besides, there was published under his name, just about the time of his death, a volume of 201 pages devoted entirely to an effort to discredit her work. DOF 327.1

We do not hesitate to say that Seventh-day Adventists recognize in Mrs. E. G. White’s work a special manifestation of the gift of the Spirit spoken of in the Bible as the “Spirit of prophecy.” (See Revelation 19:10.) Nor is this a strange or new doctrine, since among the spiritual gifts promised to the church, and ranking with apostles, evangelists, teachers, etc., is the gift of prophecy, and its work has been recognized by the church in all ages. DOF 327.2

Thus Paul speaks of these gifts as follows: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God bath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:27, 28. DOF 327.3

In speaking of the last stage of the church of Christ, John the revelator describes it and the experience of its members thus: “The dragon was wroth with the woman [the church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:17. DOF 327.4

The church of God, here spoken of as a remnant, and against whom the dragon (Satan) will be especially angry in the last days, was foreseen as a commandment-keeping company who would have the “testimony of Jesus Christ.” if we inquire as to what is meant by the “testimony of Jesus,” we find an answer to our query in Revelation 19:10, where the angel, (Gabriel) clearly explained to John that “the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy.” These two characteristics will therefore distinguish the true remnant church of God in the latter end of the history of the world. Its members will be commandment keepers, and the Spirit of prophecy will be manifested among them. DOF 328.1

To this also agree the words of Paul’ recorded in 1 Corinthians 1:5-7: “That in everything you are enriched by Him, in all utturance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. DOF 328.2

Let it be noted that as the church waits “for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,” she is to come behind in no gift. Therefore, all the gifts of the Spirit are to be found in her. And lest there should be a question about the gift of prophecy, this is especially mentioned by the inspired writer: “Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you.” Verse 6. And “the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy,” or the prophetic gift. DOF 328.3

Seventh-day Adventists believe that this gift of the Spirit was early manifested among them through the work and writings of Mrs. White. They believe that just as in past ages God raised up prophets and messengers to perform a special work for the church, and to counsel and warn God’s people in times of special peril and need, so He raised up Mrs. White and bestowed upon her the gift of prophecy; and that He has used her life and work to bless and unify the church. DOF 328.4

Someone perchance may be ready to say, “Then you have another Bible.” We answer, No. That God sends special counsel, admonition, and help through some specially chosen servant is no evidence that the Bible is thus added to or taken from. Were there not prophets and prophetesses in the apostolic church who gave counsel and instruction to the church in their day, but whose writings did not become a part of the Bible? DOF 329.1

Luke tells us of one “Philip the evangelist,” and says of his family, “The same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.” Acts 21:9. Here, then, in the early church, were four prophetesses from one family. And while it is definitely stated that they exercised their gift and “did prophesy,” yet no prophecy of theirs is recorded in the Bible. DOF 329.2

In 1 Chronicles 29:29, 30, we read of two other prophets whom God raised up to do a work of local import, who wrote books, and whose influence extended over Israel and over all the kingdoms of the countries round about, and yet whose writings form no part of the Bible, which was handed down to succeeding ages. “Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, with all his reign and his might, and. the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.” DOF 329.3

Why should Nathan the prophet or Gad the seer have written books under inspiration of God, and then the books be allowed to be lost? We answer, Because God desired to give to the church in that day special counsel and instruction, warnings and entreaties that applied especially to that time and age, and that would not be “present truth,” to succeeding ages. DOF 330.1

The Bible contains the revealed will of God, and if followed, is sufficient to furnish men thoroughly unto all good works. (See 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.) It contains all the instruction necessary to salvation. But the difficulty is that men ate so prone to wander away from the written word and ignore its silent witness, that it has been necessary from time to time for God to raise up an Elijah to call the people back to the worship of the true God and the keeping of His commandments, and to destroy the heresies brought into the church by the priests of Baal. (See 1 Kings 18:17-4l). DOF 330.2

Such is the work God has done through Mrs. White, and for this cause she was raised up. Her appeal was ever to the Bible. Her entire life was spent in a supreme effort to lead men to a clear understanding of the Book of God. She never claimed verbal inspiration for her writings; but she claimed that through the gift of the Spirit special light was shed upon the written word, and this has been written out in her own words and given to the church and the world for their edification. DOF 330.3

We dare say that no candid person can read through one of the many volumes from her pen without being constrained to admit that thus many old familiar Bible texts are made to shine forth with new brilliancy and that many obscure passages have become clear and understandable. New rays of light are thus received, not because they are found in Mrs. White’s writings, but because they now clearly shine forth from the Old Book. It is not a new or additional Bible that the church needs today, but inspired counsel that can help the befogged minds of the people of the world to grasp the glorious truths of the Bible we have. DOF 330.4

Does someone reason that this gift is no longer necessary to the church? We inquire then, What mean the words of Peter when he said: “It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on My servants and on My hand maidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy”? Acts 2:17, 18. DOF 331.1

Here is a positive statement that the gift of prophecy will be seen in the church in the last days. And why not? Has God entirely removed Himself from His people? Is He not as able today as in former times to give them needed counsel, reproof, and encouragement? Has the channel of communication between heaven and earth become so obstructed that nothing more can flow through? We think not, for in these last days of abounding iniquity God will have, as He has had in former ages, “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but ... holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27), and He promises to enrich it with “all utterance,” and “all knowledge,” through the full bestowal of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Thus the church will “come behind in no gift,” as it waits “for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (See 1 Corinthians 1:5-7.) DOF 331.2

When Mr. Canright was preaching for the Seventh day Adventists, he was well aware that they made a distinction between the Bible and the writings of Mrs. White. And while still among them he wrote a clear testimony to that effect. Here it is: DOF 332.1

“Right here let me say that we do not throw away the Bible, and take Mrs. White’s visions instead. No; if there is a class’ of people under heaven who believe the Bible strongly, who love it devotedly, who study it and go to it for everything, it is Seventh-day Adventists. Here is our storehouse of doctrine and truth. We preach this everywhere and always. We have no other authority. We go to this to test and prove the genuineness of Sister White’s labors and visions. If they did not harmonize with this in every particular, we would reject them. It is wicked for men to cry, ‘The Bible, the Bible, the Bible,’ and profess to follow that implicitly when they reject one of the plainest doctrines of the Bible,—the doctrine of spiritual gifts. Of course, I have no time here to take up an argument on spiritual gifts, or enter into a lengthy statement of her [Mrs. White’s] labors, their nature, etc. We believe, however, that no doctrine of the Bible is plainer than that of the perpetuity of spiritual gifts, and particularly that these gifts are to be restored in the last days. Joel 2:28-32; Revelation 12:17; 19:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-21, etc.”—D. M. Canright in The Review and Herald, April 19, 1877. DOF 332.2

In his later statement that “they [Seventh-day Adventists] have another Bible, just the same as the Mormons have” (Seventh-day Adventism Renounced, p. 136), Mr. Canright stands convicted by his former testimony. It seems difficult to believe that he was not willfully misrepresenting the facts as to the distinction well understood by the Seventh-day Adventists between the Bible and Mrs. White’s writings. DOF 332.3

Mrs. White has published to the world her own estimate of the absolute and final authority of the Scriptures, and of the ‘relationship of her writings to the Bible. The following is from her pen: DOF 333.1

“In His word, God has committed to men the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are to be accepted as an authoritative, infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience. ‘Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.’ 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, R.V. DOF 333.2

“Yet the fact that God has revealed His will to men through His word, has not rendered needless the continued presence and the guiding of the Holy Spirit. On the contrary, the Spirit was promised by our Savior, to open the word to His servants, to illuminate and apply its teachings. And since it was the Spirit of God that inspired the Bible, it is impossible that the teaching of the Spirit should ever be contrary to that of the word. DOF 333.3

“The Spirit was not given-nor can it ever be bestowed-to supersede the Bible; for the Scriptures explicitly state that the word of God is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested. Says the apostle John, ‘Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are, gone out into the world.’ 1 John 4:1. And Isaiah declares, ‘To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.’ Isaiah 8:20.”—The Great Controversy, p. vii. DOF 333.4

Mrs. White always emphatically declared that her writings were not to be, considered an addition to the Word of God, and that anyone who claims this for them puts them “in a false light.” Her Testimonies were intended to bring men to “a clearer understanding” of the Scriptures. On one occasion she wrote: DOF 333.5

“Brother R. would confuse the mind by seeking to make it appear that the light God has given through the Testimonies is an addition to the word of God; but in this he presents the matter in a false light. God has seen fit in this manner to bring the minds of His people to His word, to give them a clearer understanding of it.’ ‘The word of God is sufficient to enlighten the most beclouded mind, and may be understood by those who have any desire to understand it. But notwithstanding all this, some who profess to make the word of God their study, are found living in direct-opposition to its plainest teachings. Then, to leave men and women without excuse, God gives plain and pointed Testimonies, bringing them back to the word that they have neglected to follow.’ ‘The word of God abounds in general principles for the formation of correct habits of living, and the Testimonies, general and personal, have been calculated to call their attention more especially to these principles.”—Testimonies for the Church 5:663, 664. DOF 334.1