Written in 1907.
"Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not; the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.' (John. 10:23-25)
Our attitude toward the serious charges that some are preferring against the writings of Mrs. E. G. White, must first be, of necessity a personal one. When we meet with things hard to be understood in connection with the Spirit of Prophecy, we are compelled to cast about for some sure foundation on which to anchor our faith and future believe in the divine source of these writings.
When in perplexity, we may attempt to relieve our minds by entering into a critical investigation of every seeming difficulty. Our opportunities for doing a thorough work may be all that could be desired. However, the result of such investigation may fail to afford relief. Sometimes, by no amount of reasoning and conjecture as to the probably explanation of the things we do not understand, can we remove every apparent difficulty.
In every instance we can come into the light regarding these matters, but often not until we begin to study from a point of view altogether different from that of a critical investigator. It is when we apply to the acceptance and understanding of the Testimonies the same principles that we apply to the acceptance and understanding of the Bible, that faith and confidence take the place of quibbling and questioning.
To illustrate: The surest and most satisfactory test by which one may establish his faith in the Word of rod, as revealed in the Bible, is the effect that this Word has upon life and character,--the transforming power of the Word seen in the lives of multitudes of men and women. It is difficult to define one's inmost faith. But God in his infinite mercy implants in the heart faith in him as the Creator, the Supreme Ruler, and faith in his Word. The operations of the Holy Spirit upon the human heart can not be explained; but a man may know that the Holy Spirit has worked on his heart, and that with the passing of time his faith in God and in the Bible is strengthening.
This fundamental faith comes not by any process of reasoning. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Faith in the Word comes through the Word itself; the Bible says so, and human experience proves it to be so. This fact admits of no explanation; it is, nevertheless, a fact. One's faith in the Bible, it is true, is strengthened by many external evidences as well.
The testimony of scientists who by their investigations are led to declare their belief in an unseen Intelligence directing the affairs of the universe; the mute testimony of ancient inscriptions giving historical records in accord with the Biblical record; the anticipation in the Bible of many of the greatest discoveries of scientists; the exact correspondence of history with prophecy,-these external evidences, and many moo ,tend to strengthen the faith of those who have been able to discern the divine origin of the Scriptures primarily on the basis of their internal beauty and of their spiritual, transferring power on the human heart.
When the faith of a believer in God's Word has been established by the influence it has had on his own mind and heart, as well as by many incontrovertible external evidences of genuineness, he is not troubled over the fact that certain portions of the Word are beyond his human understanding. Infidels may scoff at many statements and apparent contradictions found on the pages of Holy Writ; higher critics with their subtle insinuations and their erroneous conclusions may seek to undermine his confidence in the inspiration of certain portions of the Bible; but these things have no influence over him. His faith has been established on a sure foundation. He is firmly anchored, and is therefore unmoved by the tempest off criticism prevailing on every side. He is sustained throughout every trail of faith by his personal acquaintance with Holy Writ , by the transforming influence it is having on his life, and by the many external evidence of its genuineness that can not be gainsaid.
This is a sure basis on which to establish faith in the Testimonies of God's Spirit. There are many who for years have been powerfully influenced by the teachings of these writing.
Over the lives of thousands the Testimonies have been exercising a transforming power that the writings of no human being could ever have exercised. Aside from the Bible, nothing in literature can in any wise be compared with the Testimonies, with respect to the spirit and power accompanying them, as well as with respect to their scope--the depth and the breadth of thought found in them. Nowhere else can there be found anything that is similar to the closing chapters of "Great Controversy", or the opening chapter of "Desire of Aces", or the chapter in "Patriarchs" on "The Origin of Evil". Anyone who in conversant with the masterpieces of the world's literature, would be slow to concede that a human being, unaided by divine inspiration, could produce writings of such wonderful scope and depth of thought, and, withal, of such spiritual beauty and power.
Again: When we compare the Testimonies that were written sixty years ago, with those that were written under innumerable conditions and ever varying circumstances fifty years ago, forty years ago, thirty years ago, twenty years ago, and during the past decade; when we remember that the writer of these words has continually been burdened with perplexity and care, and that usually, when writing, she does not have access to many of the things she has written in former years; when , in the face of these circumstances, a critical comparison of all her writings on a certain subject reveals a marvelous harmony throughout, we are deeply impressed with the conviction that these writings have a higher source than that of a human mind. New conditions are continually developing; policies are changing; new men and mew measures are introduced during successive administrations; crises in distant lands are met without any opportunity for forethought and study; and yet the writings, during this long period of years, constantly set forth principles in which there can be found a beautiful harmony.
Throughout the writings of Sister White, there is a delicate adjustment of every varying condition and statement and admonition to the bread principles underlying the plan of redemption, the controversy of the ages, God's great plan for his people, the final consummation of this plan amid the scenes of the closing conflict, and the restoration of all things in the earth made new. These principles can not be lost sight of; they are constantly presented; in way innumerable, so naturally and easily that apparently no effort has been made to make possible this most wonderful adjustment of everything to the one great purpose God has in view for mankind. The more these writings are studied, the clearer becomes the view of broad vistas leading direct to the city of our God, the new Jerusalem.
As is often said of the Bible, so it may be said of the Testimonies: Lines of thought, like golden threads, run throughout the whole, and are inseparable interwoven with the instruction that has been given during a long period of time.
Still more wonderful is the fact that all the principles developed in these lines of thought are in perfect accord with the principles set forth in the Bible. Nothing in Sister White's writings is contradictory to Bible truth. The more the Bible is studied, the clearer the light in the Testimonies shines and the more it is appreciated; the more the Testimonies are studied, the clearer the light in the Bible shines and the more it is appreciated. This in itself is one of the strongest evidences of the divine source of these writings.
To the student of denominational history, another most interesting phase of this question is opened to view. The gift of the Spirit of Prophecy was restored to the Christian church shortly after the 1844 movement, about the time God's people saw clearly the Sabbath truth, the connection between the three angel's messages of Revelation 14, and the meaning of the disappointment in 1844. At once the humble instrument through which this gift was exercised began having visions of the scenes through to the close of time and the second coming of Christ. A clear line of truth was presented, and the entire history of the remnant church, from its beginning to its final triumph, was gradually unfolded, at a time when the commandment-keepers were a small, despised people. Throughout the years that have followed, these predictions of the trials and the victories that would await God's people, recorded in the volume known as "Early Writings", have been fulfilling. All that has been revealed to Sister White since these earlier revelations, has been simply a development of the principles outlined in the beginning.
The student of denominational history find unmistakable evidence of the validity of the Testimonies in many, many experiences through which God's people have passed.
The establishment of a firm platform, based on fundamental pillars of faith, during the earlier years of our message; the establishment and growth of our publishing work; the introduction of a divine system of organization a few years later; the development of the tithing system; the reaching out into the regions beyond, begun early in the seventies; and rapidly gathering strength with the passing of the years; the development of our institutional work as the direct outgrowth of instruction received through the Spirit of prophecy; the crisis at Minneapolis and the subsequent broadened policy in the conduct of mission work at home and abroad; the outlining of principles that finally culminated in the strengthening of the general cause at the time of the 1897 General Conference; the peculiar experiences of the 1901 General Conference with subsequent revelations of the infinite love and compassion and long-sufferance of God toward the erring;-all these experiences, and many, many more, are evidences that can not be gainsaid--evidences everyone of which strengthens faith in the divine source of the Testimonies.
In the light of personal knowledge regarding the transforming influence of the Testimonies on the individual heart and life; in the light of the transformations seen in the lives of others; in the light of the wonderful consistency existing throughout the tens of thousands of pages of writings covering a period of upwards of sixty years; in the light of denominational experiences that we as a people have passed through safely,--in the light of such knowledge, everyone who desires to believe can find abundant opportunity to establish his faith firmly on a sure foundation, as regards the heavenly origin and the absolute reliability of the Testimonies of the Spirit of Prophecy.
Having once found a firm basis on which to establish faith, we shall not be affected by any so-called evidences of the seeming unreliability of certain portions of the Testimonies. This position is not one that "higher critics" would regard as tenable. But it is as tenable as the position we hold with respect to the plenary inspiration of the Bible itself. Our faith in the Testimonies must rest on the same basic principles that underlie our faith in God's Word; and with a spirit of submission to God's inscrutable plan we should submit to his method of presenting truth in the Bible and in the Testimonies. God's messengers are human; these messages are affected by their individuality and their environment; nevertheless their messages to the church of God are inspired. The individuality of the writers of tie gospels is reflected in their writings; John's record of the life of the Saviour was influenced by his natural temperament and his view of spiritual things; likewise with Matthew and Mark and Luke. Granting all this, their messages bear the seal of God's approval, and are written for our admonition and spiritual uplift.
(Signed) Clarence C. Crisler.