Portions of this manuscript are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, p. 200, and compare to the broadside “To Those Who Are Receiving the Seal of the Living God” (Ms 4, 1849 [Jan. 31]). See also Ellen G. White, Early Writings, pp. 56-58.

Guidance on financial sacrifice before the time of trouble.1EGWLM 145.3

Dear Brethren & Sisters:

The Lord has shown me in vision that it is contrary to the Bible to make any preparations for our temporal wants in the time of trouble.¹

See: EGWEnc, s.v. “Time of Trouble.”

I saw that if the saints have food laid up by them, or in the fields in that time of trouble, when sword, famine and pestilence is in the land, it will be taken from them by violent hands.1EGWLM 145.4

Then will be the time for us to trust in God, and He will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water would be sure at that time and we shall not lack or suffer hunger. The Lord has shown me that some of His children would fear when they see the price of food rising, and they would buy food and lay it by for the time of trouble. Then in the time of need I saw them go to their food and look at it and it had bred worms, and was full of living creatures and not fit for use.1EGWLM 145.5

About one week since the Lord showed me in vision that houses and lands will be of no use in the time of trouble; and that in that time they could not be disposed of. I saw that it was the will of God that the saints should cut loose from every encumbrance, dispose of their houses and lands before the time of trouble comes, and thus make a covenant with God by sacrifice. I saw they would sell if they laid their property on the altar and earnestly inquired for duty. God will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free in the time of trouble and have no clogs to weigh them down.1EGWLM 145.6

I saw if any held on to their property and did not inquire duty of God, He would not make duty plain and they would be left to keep their property, and then in the time of trouble their property would come up before them like a mountain to crush them. Then they tried to get rid of it, but could not. I heard them mourn like this:—God's people were suffering for truth, the cause was languishing; but we made no effort to supply the lack, and now our property is useless. Oh! that we had let it go, and laid up treasure in heaven. I saw that a sacrifice did not increase, but decreased, and was consumed.1EGWLM 145.7

I also saw that God had not required all of His people to dispose of their property at the same time, but in a time of need He would teach them, if they desired to be taught, when to sell, and how much to sell. I saw that some had been required to dispose of their property in past time to sustain the Advent cause; while He had permitted others to keep theirs until a time of need. Then as the cause needs it their duty is to sell.²

Although the second part of this manuscript calls for financial sacrifice, even to the extent of selling houses and lands, there are a number of qualifying statements expressed in the last paragraph. The whole question of informed as opposed to rash sacrifice should be seen in the context of certain radical voices within the young movement. Most influential was that of Joseph Bates, who, in a tract published the same month, January 1849, urged members to sell their properties and not to delay with the hope that prices would rise. Bates had followed that same stern path himself. James White wrote of Bates that he once “had some eight or ten thousand dollars … [but] has spent all his property in the Holy Advent cause.” The uncompromising stand taken by Bates in the 1849 tract was probably influenced by his conviction at the time that the contemporary revolutionary events in Europe constituted the beginning of the time of trouble spoken of in Daniel 12:1. Nevertheless, Bates's radical message, according to Ellen White, caused considerable problems in western New York, where poor members sometimes demanded that wealthier members sell their property in order to help support them. James White, writing in January 1850, held that “there has been means enough squandered away, and worse than lost in W. New York, the last nine months to support the paper [Present Truth] six months or a year.”

See: Joseph Bates, A Seal of the Living God, pp. 68, 69; Ellen G. White, Ms 14, 1850 (Sept.); idem, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 119-121; James White to “Bro. Bowles,” Oct. 17, 1849; James White to Leonard Hastings, Jan. 10, 1850.

1EGWLM 146.1

To the church of God who keep the Sabbath—the seal of the living God.³

See: EGWEnc, s.v. “Seal of God.”

1EGWLM 146.2

Ms 2, 1849

Ms 4, 1849