- A Word to the Reader
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- Introduction
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- The Danger of Speculative Ideas
- The Charm of New Theories
- The Need for Clear Discernment
- Fanaticism to Appear in Our Midst
- Feeling Not to Master Judgment
- Obedience Versus Emotion or Rapture
- A Call for Old-fashioned Sermons
- Cold Formalism or Fanaticism
- False Ideas of God's Blessing
- All is Quiet, Calm, Unpretending
- The Example of Christ
- A Desire to Change the Present Order
- No Oddities or Eccentricities
- God's Word to Be Uncontaminated by Fallacies
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- Seek not for Miraculous Manifestations
- When the Miracle Worker Disregards God's Law
- None Need be Deceived
- Will Sweep in the Whole World
- Miracles not a Test
- Wonderful Miracles Will Deceive
- How Satan and His Agents Work
- Ellen G. White Worked No Miracles
- Why Miracles are Less Important Today
- Miracles in the Closing Conflict
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- Introduction
- Chapter 19—An Object Lesson
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- Satisfaction and Blessing in Sacrificial Labor
- Not to Demand a Stipulated Sum
- Do the Work and Accept Wages Offered
- Pay to Be According to Labor
- Privilege of Working Versus Wages
- “An Expensive Family”
- An Appeal for Equality
- The Toll of Large Wages
- Higher Wages Proposed for Superior Men
- The Necessities and Comforts of Life
- Free From Worldly Enterprises and Conflicting Duties
- Avoid Cultivating Expensive Tastes
- Spirit of Self-Denial of Early Days Required Now
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- Procuring the Very Best Talent
- Wages for Institutional Workers
- A View of Threatening Dangers in 1890
- The Importance of Self-Denial
- A Threat to All Our Institutions
- A Characteristic Feature of the Work Imperiled
- Physicians and Ministers Called to Self-Denial
- Counsel to a Physician Regarding a Fixed Salary
- A Percentage Proposition Counseled Against
- “Do Not Exact a High Salary”
- Extravagance and Influence
- An Important Interview Regarding Physicians’ Wages
- Meeting an Emergency
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- Chapter 23—Counsel to One Who for Financial Reasons Was Planning to Leave the Work of God
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- Introduction
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- Bereavement Softens and Subdues
- We Shall See Our Children Again
- Children In the Resurrection
- Jesus Says, “Lean on Me”
- Blessed Are the Dead Who Die in the Lord
- Look to the Happy Family Reunion
- Will Be Called in Special Resurrection
- No Sin in Weeping
- He Sleeps in Jesus
- The Lord to Be Your Comfort
- Ellen White in Her Hour of Bereavement
- The Glorious Resurrection Morning
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- Introduction
- Chapter 32—Proper Attitude in Prayer
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- Chapter 34—Useful Occupation Better Than Games
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- Chapter 37—The Aged Who Have No Homes
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- Chapter 39—Counsel on Voting
- Chapter 40—Hops, Tobacco, and Swine
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- Appendix 2—Important Factors in Choosing a Life Companion
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Counsel to a Young Woman Who Contemplated Marrying a Divorced Man
[In this case Brother L had left his wife and family and had journeyed to a distant land, trusting the wife's father to provide for their support. His wife in time sued for divorce on the grounds of desertion. Before the divorce was granted he began to place his affection on the young lady to whom this message is addressed.—Compilers.]
The Provoking Party has No Right to Remarry
I have been considering your case in connection with L, and I have no other counsel to give than I have given. I consider that you have no moral right to marry L; he has no moral right to marry you. He left his wife after giving her great provocation. He left her whom he had vowed before God to love and cherish while both should live. Before ever she obtained her divorce, when she was his lawful wife, he left her for three years, and then left her in heart, and expressed his love to you. The matter has been negotiated largely between you and a married man while he was legally bound to the wife he married, who has had two children by him.2SM 340.3
I see not a particle of leniency in the Scriptures given either of you to contract marriage, although his wife is divorced. From the provocation he has given her, it was largely his own course of action that has brought this result, and I cannot see in any more favorable light his having a legal right to link his interest with yours or you to link your interest with his....2SM 341.1
I am astonished that you should for a moment give thought to such a thing, and place your affections on a married man who had left his wife and children under such circumstances. I advise you to lay your thoughts and plans regarding this matter just as they are before our responsible brethren, that you may receive their counsel, and let them show you from the law of God the error into which you have fallen. You have both broken the law even in thinking that you might unite in marriage. You should have repelled the thought at its first suggestion.—Letter 14, 1895.2SM 341.2