Ellen G. White — Messenger to the Remnant

First Ten Reprinted

Testimony for the Church, Number Ten, came from the press early in 1864. By this time the small editions of the earlier pamphlets were out of print. As requests for these became urgent, it was decided that the earlier numbers of the Testimonies should be reprinted. Just at this time Volumes III and IV of Spiritual Gifts were being prepared, and the reprinted Testimonies formed part of Volume IV of this series. EGWMR 64.6

It is of interest to note in this connection, that in this first reprinting of the Testimonies not all of that which constituted the first ten numbers was included. This fact, with the reason therefor, was stated by Mrs. White in her “Remarks” which formed a foreword to the “Testimony” section of Spiritual Gifts Volume IV: EGWMR 64.7

“During the last nine years, from 1855 to 1864, I have written ten small pamphlets, entitled ‘Testimony for the Church,’ which have been published and circulated among Seventh-day Adventists. The first edition of most of these pamphlets being exhausted, and there being an increasing demand for them, it has been thought best to reprint them, as given in the following pages, omitting local and personal matters, and giving those portions only which are of practical and general interest and importance. Most of ‘Testimony’ No. 4 may be found in the second volume of ‘Spiritual Gifts,’ hence, it is omitted in this volume” [italics ours]. EGWMR 64.8

The significance of the action that was taken in this first reprinting of the Testimonies and of this statement written by Ellen White, is at once apparent. While she recognized that these testimonies were a presentation of messages from heaven, yet she pointed out that certain of these articles were, by their very nature, not necessary to all church members for all time. So in reprinting the Testimonies only those were selected which seemed to be “of practical and general interest and importance.” EGWMR 64.9

Three classes of matter were mentioned as being omitted. EGWMR 64.10

First, matters of local nature. Even within nine years after the first Testimonies were published, it was recognized that there were certain local matters that need not be perpetuated for general reading. EGWMR 64.11

Second, matters of a personal nature. With the passage of time, Ellen White felt that specific messages regarding persons whose actions and influence affected the general interests of the work only temporarily, might be omitted in future editions, designed for general circulation. EGWMR 64.12

Third, that which was repeated in other volumes. Mrs. White also felt that the volume of matter contained in Testimonies for the Church, might be lessened by omitting such subject matter as was included in other volumes that were available. The first ten numbers of the Testimonies totaled about 450 pages. After Mrs. White had selected from these ten numbers that which she considered to be “of practical and general interest and importance,” “omitting local and personal matters,” and that which was found in other publications, the reprinted series was reduced to 160 pages, or a little more than one third its original content. EGWMR 64.13

The question might very properly be asked whether she, as the Lord’s messenger, was working within her rights and prerogatives when she omitted in reprints a part of that which had previously been published as Testimony for the Church. EGWMR 64.14

In considering this matter, we may well bear in mind that not all the writings of the Bible prophets were preserved for general reading for all time in the Bible. And we may reasonably conclude that the books mentioned but not included in the Bible, and the messages of prophets who were named, but who did not contribute to the Scripture canon, were of immediate importance to the people living at the time that they were written. However, being local in character, they were not needed for all time, and were with good reason not included in the Scriptures. EGWMR 64.15

It would seem that Mrs. White exercised good judgment in omitting from a book for general circulation, matter that had already served its purpose in meeting certain specific issues. Although the messages were given to her by the Lord, she carried very largely, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and with the counsel of her brethren, the responsibility of deciding how to deliver those messages to individuals or to the church at the proper time and place. EGWMR 64.16