Ellen G. White and Her Critics

10. “The Open and the Shut Door”

FIRST PRINTING

In The Present Truth, August, 1849, pages 21, 22. (See chapter 14, pages 220-222 for full text of this vision.) EGWC 632.1

SECOND PRINTING

In Experience and Views, pages 24-27 (Early Writings, 42-45), with the following deletions: EGWC 632.2

Deletions

(1) “The Lord has shown me that it is my duty to relate to you, what he has revealed to me relating to the present truth, our present tried, scattered and tempted state, and our duty in view of the coming judgments of God.” EGWC 632.3

(2) “... but from bad to worse; for those who professed a change of heart, had only wrapt about them a religious garb, which covered up the iniquity of a wicked heart. Some appeared to have been really converted, so as to deceive God’s people; but if their hearts could be seen, they would appear as black as ever.” EGWC 632.4

Comments on Deletions

(1) This is the introductory paragraph immediately preceding the vision. Obviously there would be no need of such a paragraph preceding a particular vision when a collection of writings were brought together. EGWC 632.5

(2) This passage is discussed at length in chapter 14. There we present evidence to show that the passage does not teach what critics charge that it teaches; namely, no more mercy for sinners. Hence, its deletion cannot be presented as an exhibit of “suppression” of abandoned teachings. We add here the further comment: Reference to chapter 14 will show that the deleted passage is followed immediately by these closing lines: “My accompanying angel bade me look for the travel [travail] of soul for sinners as used to be. I looked, but could not see it; for the time for their salvation is past.” What would the critics have said if these closing lines had been deleted? What would they not have said! But the lines were not deleted! Mrs. White taught that there were those who had sinned away their day of grace. She here speaks of the lost state of some such, and what she said has come down to us today. Incidentally, this passage helps to explain why critics in the 1860’s and 1870’s, when Experience and Views was out of print, triumphantly declared that we were ashamed to republish it, because of its shut-door teaching, and that we had decided to suppress it! Instead, we republished it. EGWC 632.6

In large part, deletion number 2 is a repetition of what has already been related in the vision. (The reader can follow this point better if he opens Early Writings, 44 and 45.) On page 45 the deletion has been made. But on page 44, directly opposite, are these lines: EGWC 633.1

“While they [“ministers who have rejected the truth and are given over to strong delusions to believe a lie”] were preaching or praying, some would fall prostrate and helpless, not by the power of the Holy Ghost, but by the power of Satan breathed upon these agents, and through them to the people. While preaching, praying, or conversing, some professed Adventists who had rejected present truth used mesmerism to gain adherents, and the people would rejoice in this influence, for they thought it was the Holy Ghost. Some even that used it were so far in the darkness and deception of the devil that they thought it was the power of God, given them to exercise.” EGWC 633.2

The deleted passage is little more than a commentary on this. EGWC 633.3