LIFE SKETCHES OF ELLEN G. WHITE
BEING A NARRATIVE OF HER EXPERIENCES TO 1881, AS WRITTEN BY HERSELF; WITH A SKETCH OF HER SUBSEQUENT LABORS AND OF HER LAST SICKNESS, COMPILED FROM ORIGINAL SOURCES. As an indication of the manner in which Seventh-day Adventists have been encouraged to engage in world-wide work, note the following instance, which occurred in 1874, and is given in full in chapter 34 of “Life Sketches”: “I dreamed that several of the brethren in California were in council, considering the best plan for labor during the coming season. Some thought it wise to shun the large cities, and work in smaller places. . . . Then a young man whom I had frequently seen in my dreams, came into the council. He listened with deep interest to the words that were spoken, and then, speaking with deliberation and authoritative confidence, said: “The cities and villages constitute a part of the Lord’s vineyard. They must bear the messages of warning. The enemy of truth is making desperate efforts to turn the people from the truth of God to falsehood. . . . You are to sow beside all waters.” “The messenger continued: ‘You are entertaining too limited ideas of the work for this time. You are trying to plan the work so that you can embrace it in your arms. You must take broader views. Your light must not be put under a bushel or under a bed, but on a candlestick, that it may give light to all that are in the house. Your house is the world.’” “The verity and truth of the binding claims of the fourth commandment must be presented in clear lines before the people. ‘Ye are My witnesses.’ The message will go in power to all parts of the world, to Oregon, to Europe, to Australia, to the islands of the sea, to all nations, tongues, and peoples. Preserve the dignity of the truth. It will grow to large proportions. Go forward. God will work with great power if you will walk in all humility of mind before Him. It is not faith to talk of impossibilities. Nothing is impossible with God. The light of the binding claims of the law of God is to test and prove the world.” “In my last vision I was shown that we should have a part to act in California in extending and confirming the work already commenced. I was shown that missionary labor must be put forth in California, Australia, Oregon, and other territories far more extensively than our people have imagined, or ever contemplated and planned.” “I saw that there would be a paper published upon the Pacific coast. There would be a health institute established there, and a publishing house created.” The fulfillment of this instruction and these predictions is seen in a membership of more than ten thousand in California at the present time. That this membership is constantly increasing is shown by the fact that 366 new members were baptized during the first quarter of this year, and that the tithes and donations paid during that three months were $66,115. In addition to the Pacific Press, with its annual distribution of a half million dollars worth of gospel literature, there are four large sanitariums, one college, one medical college, and two academies in this state at the present time. “Life Sketches” is filled with these accounts of the beginning of things, and this is one of the reasons why nearly four thousand copies have already been called for. Cloth ................................. $1.00 Limp leather .......................... 1.50 ORDER OF YOUR TRACT SOCIETY
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