Commissioned to Print a “Little Paper”

A few weeks later, at a conference of rather limited attendance held at the Otis Nichols home in Dorchester, Massachusetts, God made it clear that the time had come to publish. In a pamphlet titled A Seal of the Living God, Bates included his account of the meeting and of a vision given to Ellen on November 18.1BIO 150.1

A small company of brethren and sisters were assembled in a meeting in Dorchester, near Boston, Massachusetts. Before the meeting commenced, some of us were examining some of the points in the sealing message. Some difference of opinion existed about the correctness of the view of the word ascending, et cetera....1BIO 150.2

After some time spent in earnest prayer for light and instruction, God gave Sister White the following in vision.—DF 323, Joseph Bates, To Those who are receiving the seal of the living God, 24.1BIO 150.3

At times Ellen White, while in vision, spoke in short exclamations of what she was viewing. These gave clues to her companions as to the scenes passing before her. It was so in this case, and Joseph Bates, with pencil and paper in hand, noted the words as she spoke. Here are significant portions of Bates's notes:1BIO 150.4

Where did the light break out? —— Let thine angel teach us where the light broke out! —— It commenced from a little, when Thou didst give one light after another. —— The testimony and commandments are linked together; they cannot be separated. —— That comes first, the ten commandments by God....1BIO 150.5

He was well pleased when His law began to come up in strength, and the waste places began to be built up. —— Out of weakness it has become strong from searching His Word. —— The test upon it has been but a short time.... It's the seal! —— It's coming up! It arises, commencing from the rising of the sun. Like the sun, first cold, grows warmer and sends its rays. —— When that truth arose, there was but little light in it, but it has been increasing. —— O the power of these rays!1BIO 150.6

It grows in strength. —— The greatest weight and light is on that truth, —— for it lasts forever, when the Bible is not needed. —— It arose there in the east.1BIO 151.1

It began with a small light, but its beams are healing. —— O how mighty is that truth; —— it's the highest after they enter the goodly land, —— but it will increase till they are made immortal. —— It commenced from the rising of the sun, —— keeps on its course like the sun, —— but it never sets.”—Ibid., 24, 25.1BIO 151.2

In Europe at this time there was confusion among the nations, and war seemed inevitable. There had been considerable discussion among the early believers as to the significance of the turmoil. With that background, these exclamations were significant:1BIO 151.3

The angels are holding the four winds. —— It is God that restrains the powers. —— The angels have not let go, for the saints are not all sealed.... —— When Michael stands up, this trouble will be all over the earth. Why, —— they are just ready to blow. —— There's a check put on because the saints are not sealed.1BIO 151.4

Yea, publish the things thou hast seen and heard, and the blessing of God will attend. —— Look ye! —— That rising is in strength and grows brighter and brighter.— Ibid. (Italics supplied.)1BIO 151.5

Ellen White later wrote about the sequel to the vision:1BIO 151.6

After coming out of vision, I said to my husband: “I have a message for you. You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world.”—Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 125.1BIO 151.7

But how could he? From where would he get financial and moral support? Nonetheless, James White pondered the words spoken in the commission. From Dorchester, Massachusetts, he and Ellen returned to the Belden home at Rocky Hill, Connecticut.1BIO 151.8