1872年，在撰写《教会证言》卷三第一篇证言的时候，安息日复临信徒的全部工作都是在美国的范围内，主要集中在中部和东北部各州。有八十六位正式按立的牧师传扬信息，监督圣工。我们拥有和经营一家出版社和一个小型的医疗机构，均设在密歇根州的巴特尔克里克。二十五年来，上帝带领祂的子民在知识与合一方面迅速成长，祂先引导他们清晰地理解圣经的道理，又使他们认识到有责任宣传这些信息，之后组建成教会，又让他们认识到更美的生活方式。但教会依然面临发展的新经历和重大机会。《教会证言》卷三的勉言正是为此铺平道路。
在过去重要的二十五年里，怀雅各长老一直担任这项新事业的领袖。他开创了印刷工作，不知疲倦地为教会劳力，建立医疗事工，同时担任管理和编辑工作的领袖。他开辟了道路。由于他对这个成长中的教会具有敏锐的事业远见和完全献身，他被公认为领袖。事实就是这样，所以在这个发展中之教派的各项事工上，其他人自然没能看到自己也应当参与并承担起责任。本卷开篇便论述了这个问题，并且恳劝担负重担之人肩负起总部的工作，以便减轻怀雅各的重荷，因为他几乎被重担压垮了。本卷一再探讨圣工的拓展，责任的增加，以及需要兴起年轻人接续并肩负重任。本卷也阐明了依赖一个人作为伟大领袖的危险。
这段时期的经历就好比是老鹰教导雏鹰如何飞翔一样——开始时是背着雏鹰飞翔，然后就会让雏鹰自己煽动翅膀学习飞翔，但是老鹰随时都飞在距离雏鹰足够近的位置，以便在需要时救助雏鹰。怀雅各自身健康状况不良，但他深信人人应当参与并肩负起重任的思想，以及频繁呼吁各处肩负起责任的做法，这一切都有助于怀雅各离开在巴特尔克里克市的管理职任。虽然怀雅各长老和夫人怀爱伦依然在教会总部所开设的疗养院和出版社之间的地段安家，但我们发现他们常常在离家很远的地方。在1872年和1873年的夏天，他们在科罗拉多的山间休息，也曾在加利福尼亚州度过好几个月的时间。1874年，他们在美国西海岸度过了一段更长的时期，在此期间，怀雅各长老开始了《时兆》的出版。因此，别人不得不承担起总部的领导职责，工作力量也增强了。
这是一个关键的时期。因为教会正在领导与组织的路上探索。一些人过度强调个人独立，处于重蹈可拉，大坍和亚比兰反叛既定权威的危险中。在本卷中并不乏勉言，通过这样的经历，发挥了一些明确稳固的影响。本卷处处都有美妙的言辞阐述有关组织与领导的伟大原则。
本卷写作的这三年时间也是教导和实践健康改革头十年的最后三年。一方面发出了防止极端的劝勉，另一方面又劝人不要漠不关心。在一般性的文章和个人的证言中，怀爱伦指出了节制和健康生活的伟大原则，呼吁人在有益的健康改革新历程中进步。
这一切为更广泛的发展奠定了坚实的基础。在这个时期里，信徒们开始认识到，他们的工作园地包括全世界。这是一个惊人的发现，同时也提出了挑战。古德鲁·H.贝尔是一名资深的教师，他在疗养院治疗期间接受了复临的信仰。他在巴特尔克里克市创办了一所小型的教会学校，但当时信徒还没有认识到其重要性。1872年的初夏，古德鲁的学校开学了。同年之后不久，便制定了计划，要开设一所培训工人的更高级的学校。同年12月份，当我们的信徒拿到第22缉证言时，他们发现第一篇就是呼吁创办这样一所学校，并说明该所学校应如何管理。那篇证言的标题是《正确的教育》，共有30页，提出了训练我们青年的基本观点。我们如果没有教育机构，如何将我们的信息传给世界呢？我们如果没有学校，如何开展教育工作呢？我们的前辈们听从本卷第131-160页所阐明的教训，迎接这项挑战，首先创办了巴特尔克里克学院，作为教育工作的开始。该所学院的主楼于1875年1月4日正式奉献。
在这个重大历史事件的几个月之前，我们的一位主要传道士约翰·N.安德烈长老被派往瑞士，在欧洲开辟新工传扬信息。在这之前几个月的勉言中，怀爱伦就已经写到需要派传道士“去其他国家，小心谨慎地传扬真理”（第204页）。随着1874年秋天安德烈长老的异国之行，安息日复临信徒开始将视线转向其他国家。
这些年来，发布指导和劝勉信息的时间是很有意思的。从1859年开始，安息日复临信徒逐渐认识到自己定期捐献的责任，在履行自己对上帝的义务上有了进步；但他们起先没有完全觉悟到交纳收入的十分之一的义务。上帝的使者在《教会证言》卷三中间的两篇文章里阐明了交纳收入的十分之一，保留十分之九的基本原理。到1879年，这个更为广泛的定期捐献观念才成为教会制度的一部分。这个步骤为保证稳定的款项来源，满足正在发展的教会事工之急需，作出了很大的贡献。它起源于1875年初发表的两篇文章《十分之一与捐献》以及《定期捐款》的劝勉。当我们看到呼召人乐意捐献乃是上帝的旨意，不只是为了募集金钱，也是发展并完善奉献者品格的一种手段时，我们便更充分地认识到做上帝真正管家的意义。
正如所料，一个不断进取、发展迅速的布道规划必定会导致与其他宗教团体的冲突，这些团体经常前来挑动我们与其辩论争执。十年前，我们的一位传道人摩西·赫尔就曾置身于仇敌的境地与其辩论，结果迷失了方向。如今多次多方的勉言为我们提供了指导，指出了危险，说明此类争执不会有什么好的效果。本卷中有大量此类的劝勉。
所以本卷的话题十分广泛， 从劝勉富裕的农夫及其未受过教育之妻子，到指导教会牧者以及行政人员。本卷大部分是面对全体信徒的文章，个人的信息也随处可见，乃是为了众人的利益而发表的。正如怀爱伦所写，其中的许多信息所涉及的经验 “在很多方面也代表着他人的经验”。
几个显著的启示构成了本卷大部分内容的基础。在此期间，明显的异象并非时常发生，但内容却更加全面。本卷再三提及两个含义广博的异象，一个是在1871年12月10日，另一个是在1875年1月3日。后者是由怀雅各在第570页的脚注中讲述的。下面我们比较全面地阐述第一个异象的情形：见这个异象的地点是在佛蒙特州的波多威尔。12月9日和10日在布尔多长老家里举行会议，他将一份会议报告送到了《评论》。我们从中得知怀爱伦“特别为教会”操劳。在一次晚上的会议中，“有特殊的证言赐给几个在场的人。当这些人赞同这些证言时，就有光和自由照了进来。”星期日下午，一位信徒的两个儿子和一个媳妇来向怀爱伦告别。他们一直“处在退后的状态中”。然后布尔多长老生动地描述了当时的情况：
“这时，怀姐妹非常担忧他们的状况，特别希望他们得救，就给了他们大量的指示。她当时和这些人跪下来，以极大的热诚，信心，恒切为他们祈祷，祈愿他们能重新转向上帝。他们顺服了并祈祷，承诺要侍奉上帝。主的灵与他们越来越近。怀姐妹释然了，不久她出人意料地见了异象。她处在异象中十五分钟。”
“消息传开，屋子很快就挤满了人。罪人们在颤抖，信徒们在哭泣，远离上帝的人重新回转归向上帝了。据我们所知，其影响不限于在场的人。有些在家的人也深深感悟了。他们从未如此清晰地看明自己的状况。上帝的天使震动了这个场所。时日的短暂，审判的恐怖与迫近，大艰难的时期，还在追求世俗的教会，信徒之间缺乏手足之爱，以及他们未曾为了迎见主而预备的现状，这一切都在所有人的心中留下了深刻的印象”（《评论与通讯》1871年12月26日）。
这就是《教会证言》卷三写作的时代背景 。
怀爱伦著作托管委员会
IN 1872, WHEN THE FIRST TESTIMONY OF VOLUME 3 WAS WRITTEN, THE ENTIRE DENOMINATIONAL EFFORT OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS WAS IN THE UNITED STATES, AND LARGELY CONCENTRATED IN THE CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN STATES. THERE WERE EIGHTY-SIX ORDAINED AND LICENSED MINISTERS PREACHING THE MESSAGE AND SUPERVISING THE WORK. WE OWNED AND OPERATED ONE PUBLISHING HOUSE AND ONE SMALL MEDICAL INSTITUTION, BOTH AT BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN. FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY GOD HAD LED HIS PEOPLE AS RAPIDLY AS THEY COULD ADVANCE INTELLIGENTLY AND IN UNISON, FIRST INTO A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DOCTRINES TAUGHT IN THE WORD, THEN INTO A SENSE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PUBLISH THE MESSAGE, THEN TO ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH, AND THEN TO BETTER WAYS OF LIVING. BUT THERE WERE NEW EXPERIENCES AND GREAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCE BEFORE THE CHURCH. THE COUNSELS OF VOLUME 3 PAVE THE WAY FOR THESE.[1]
THROUGH THE PRECEDING TWENTY-FIVE CRITICAL YEARS, ELDER JAMES WHITE HAD BEEN THE LEADER OF THE NEW CAUSE. HE HAD STARTED THE PUBLISHING WORK, LABORED TIRELESSLY FOR CHURCH ORGANIZATION, BUILT UP THE MEDICAL WORK, AND HAD STOOD AT THE HEAD IN BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE AND EDITORIAL LINES. HE HAD PIONEERED THE WAY. WITH HIS KEEN BUSINESS FORESIGHT AND HIS ENTIRE DEVOTION TO THE GROWING CHURCH, HE WAS RECOGNIZED AS THE LEADER. THIS BEING THE CASE, IT WAS BUT NATURAL THAT OTHERS SHOULD FAIL TO SEE THAT THEY SHOULD STEP IN AND ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY IN THE VARIOUS ENTERPRISES OF THE GROWING DENOMINATION. THIS VOLUME OPENS WITH A DISCUSSION OF THIS PROBLEM AND WITH AN APPEAL FOR BURDEN BEARERS TO SHOULDER THE WORK AT THE HEADQUARTERS, RELIEVING JAMES WHITE, WHO WAS BREAKING UNDER THE LOAD. AGAIN AND AGAIN, THROUGH THE VOLUME, REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE EXPANDING WORK, THE ENLARGING RESPONSIBILITIES, AND THE NEED OF YOUNGER MEN TO TAKE HOLD AND BEAR THE BURDENS. THE HAZARDS OF LOOKING TO ONE MAN AS THE GREAT LEADER WERE CLEARLY ENUNCIATED.[2]
THE EXPERIENCES OF THIS PERIOD ARE AKIN TO THAT OF THE EAGLE TEACHING ITS YOUNG TO FLY--FIRST BEARING THE FLEDGLING UPON ITS BACK AND THEN LEAVING IT TO DEVELOP ITS STRENGTH, BUT WITH THE PARENT EVER NEAR ENOUGH TO RENDER AID WHEN NEEDED. JAMES WHITE'S OWN FAILING HEALTH, HIS CONVICTION THAT OTHERS SHOULD BE STEPPING IN TO LIFT THE BURDENS, AND HIS FREQUENT CALLS TO DUTY ELSEWHERE, ALL TENDED TO SEPARATE HIM FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE INTERESTS AT BATTLE CREEK. WHILE ELDER AND MRS. WHITE CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN THEIR HOME MIDWAY BETWEEN THE SANITARIUM AND THE PUBLISHING HOUSE IN THE HEADQUARTERS CITY, WE FIND THEM OFTEN IN DISTANT PARTS. IN THE SUMMERS OF 1872 AND 1873 THEY SPENT PERIODS OF REST IN THE MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO, AND WERE ALSO FOR SOME MONTHS IN CALIFORNIA. A STILL LONGER PERIOD WAS SPENT BY THEM ON THE WEST COAST IN 1874, AT WHICH TIME ELDER WHITE BEGAN THE PUBLICATION OF THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES. THUS OTHERS WERE FORCED TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES OF LEADERSHIP AT THE HEADQUARTERS, AND THE WORK GAINED STRENGTH.[3]
THIS WAS A CRITICAL PERIOD, TOO, FOR, DURING THE TIME WHEN THE CHURCH WAS FINDING ITS WAY IN THE QUESTION OF LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION, SOME WERE INCLINED TO UNDULY STRESS INDIVIDUAL INDEPENDENCE AND WERE IN DANGER OF REPEATING THE EXPERIENCE OF KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM IN REBELLION AGAINST PROPERLY CONSTITUTED AUTHORITY. SCATTERED THROUGH VOLUME 3 ARE COUNSELS PROVIDING A DEFINITE STEADYING INFLUENCE THROUGH THESE EXPERIENCES. HERE AND THERE ARE ENUMERATED IN MAGNIFICENT STATEMENTS SOME OF THE GREAT PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIZATION AND LEADERSHIP.[4]
THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD OF THE TIMES OF THIS VOLUME ALSO MARKED THE CLOSE OF THE FIRST DECADE IN THE TEACHING AND PRACTICE OF HEALTH REFORM. COUNSEL WAS GIVEN TO GUARD AGAINST EXTREMES ON THE ONE HAND AND INDIFFERENCE ON THE OTHER. AGAIN AND AGAIN, IN GENERAL ARTICLES AND PERSONAL TESTIMONIES, ELLEN WHITE POINTED TO THE GREAT PRINCIPLES OF TEMPERANCE AND RIGHT LIVING, AND CALLED THE PEOPLE TO ADVANCE IN THEIR NEW AND HELPFUL HEALTH REFORM EXPERIENCE.[5]
ALL THIS WAS LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONES FOR WIDER EXPANSION. IT WAS IN THIS PERIOD THAT THE BELIEVERS BEGAN TO GET A GLIMPSE OF THE ENTIRE WORLD AS THE FIELD OF LABOR. IT WAS A STAGGERING VIEW. IT PRESENTED A CHALLENGE. THEY DID NOT THEN SEE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LITTLE CHURCH SCHOOL STARTED IN BATTLE CREEK BY GOODLOE H. BELL, AN EXPERIENCED TEACHER WHO HAD ACCEPTED ADVENTISM THROUGH HIS CONTACTS AT THE SANITARIUM AS A PATIENT. IT WAS IN THE EARLY SUMMER OF 1872 THAT HE BEGAN THIS SCHOOLWORK. A LITTLE LATER THAT YEAR A BEGINNING WAS MADE IN LAYING PLANS FOR A MORE ADVANCED SCHOOL TO TRAIN WORKERS. IN DECEMBER, AS TESTIMONY NO. 22 REACHED THE HANDS OF OUR PEOPLE, THEY FOUND THAT IT OPENED WITH AN APPEAL FOR SUCH A SCHOOL AND INSTRUCTION AS TO HOW IT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED. "PROPER EDUCATION" IS THE TITLE OF THE THIRTY-PAGE ARTICLE SETTING FORTH THE GREAT BASIC VISION ON THE TRAINING OF OUR YOUTH. HOW COULD WE COMPASS THE WORLD WITH OUR MESSAGE UNLESS WE HAD AN EDUCATED MINISTRY? HOW COULD THERE BE AN EDUCATED MINISTRY UNLESS WE HAD A SCHOOL? RISING TO HEED THE INSTRUCTION AND MEET THE CHALLENGE SET FORTH SO CLEARLY IN THIS VOLUME IN PAGES 131-160, OUR FOREFATHERS ESTABLISHED AN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM BEGINNING WITH BATTLE CREEK COLLEGE. ITS MAIN BUILDING WAS DEDICATED ON JANUARY 4, 1875.[6]
ONLY A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THIS EPIC OCCASION, ELDER JOHN N. ANDREWS, ONE OF OUR LEADING MINISTERS, WAS SENT TO SWITZERLAND TO PIONEER THE HERALDING OF THE MESSAGE IN EUROPE. IN THE COUNSELS OF A FEW MONTHS EARLIER, ELLEN WHITE HAD WRITTEN OF THE NEED OF MISSIONARIES "TO GO TO OTHER NATIONS TO PREACH THE TRUTH IN A GUARDED, CAREFUL MANNER."--PAGE 204. WITH THE SAILING OF ELDER ANDREWS IN THE AUTUMN OF 1874, SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS BEGAN TO TURN THEIR EYES TO OTHER LANDS.[7]
THE TIMING OF THE MESSAGES OF INSTRUCTION AND COUNSEL WHICH HAVE COME TO US DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS IS INTERESTING. FROM THE YEAR 1859, SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS HAD MADE ADVANCEMENT IN ASSUMING THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO GOD AS THEY DISCERNED THEIR STEWARDSHIP IN SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE; BUT THEY DID NOT AT THE OUTSET PERCEIVE THE FULL OBLIGATION OF THE TITHE, THE TENTH OF THE INCOME. NOW IN TWO ARTICLES, IN THE HEART OF VOLUME 3, THE BASIS OF RECKONING THE TITHE OBLIGATION WAS CLARIFIED AS THE MESSENGER OF THE LORD WROTE OF A "TENTH OF THE" "INCOME" AND OF THE "NINE TENTHS" WHICH REMAINED. NOT UNTIL 1879 WAS THIS BROADER CONCEPT OF SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE TO BECOME A PART OF DENOMINATIONAL POLICY, BUT THAT STEP WHICH HAS DONE SO MUCH TO ASSURE A STEADY AND MUCH-NEEDED INCOME FOR A GROWING WORK HAD ITS ROOTS IN THESE COUNSELS OF THE TWO CHAPTERS, "TITHES AND OFFERINGS" AND "SYSTEMATIC BENEVOLENCE," WHICH WERE PUBLISHED EARLY IN 1875. THE FULLER CONCEPT OF TRUE STEWARDSHIP WAS DISCERNED AS WE WERE LED TO SEE THAT THE CALLS FOR BENEVOLENCE WERE DESIGNED BY GOD, NOT MERELY TO RAISE MONEY, BUT AS A MEANS OF DEVELOPING AND PERFECTING CHARACTER IN THE GIVER.[8]
AS MIGHT BE EXPECTED, AN AGGRESSIVE EVANGELISTIC PROGRAM LED TO CONFLICT WITH OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUPS, WHO OFTEN CHALLENGED US TO DEBATE AND ARGUMENT. TEN YEARS EARLIER MOSES HULL, ONE OF OUR MINISTERS, HAD LOST HIS WAY IN PLACING HIMSELF ON THE ENEMY'S GROUND BY SUCH DISCUSSIONS. NOW REPEATED COUNSELS PRESENTED GUIDANCE AS THEY POINTED OUT THE DANGERS AND THE SMALL FRUITAGE OF SUCH CONTENTIOUS EFFORTS. VOLUME 3 ABOUNDS IN SUCH COUNSELS.[9]
SO THE TOPICS OF THIS VOLUME ARE VARIED, RANGING FROM COUNSEL TO THE WEALTHY FARMER AND HIS UNEDUCATED WIFE TO INSTRUCTION FOR THE MINISTER AND THE EXECUTIVE. THE GENERAL ARTICLES FILL THE LARGER PART OF THIS VOLUME. HERE AND THERE ARE FOUND PERSONAL MESSAGES, PUBLISHED FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL, BECAUSE, AS ELLEN WHITE WROTE, SO MANY OF THEM HAVE TO DO WITH EXPERIENCES "WHICH IN MANY RESPECTS REPRESENT THE CASES OF OTHERS."[10]
A FEW OUTSTANDING REVELATIONS FORM THE BASIS OF THE LARGER PART OF THIS VOLUME. DURING THIS PERIOD THE OUTSTANDING VISIONS WERE LESS FREQUENT, BUT MORE COMPREHENSIVE. AGAIN AND AGAIN REFERENCE IS MADE TO THE COMPREHENSIVE VISIONS OF DECEMBER 10, 1871, AND JANUARY 3, 1875. THE LATTER IS DESCRIBED BY JAMES WHITE IN A FOOTNOTE ON PAGE 570. THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE FIRST WILL BE DESCRIBED MORE FULLY HERE: IT WAS AT BORDOVILLE, VERMONT, THAT THIS VISION WAS GIVEN. A REPORT OF THE MEETING HELD AT THAT PLACE, DECEMBER 9 AND 10, WAS SENT TO THE REVIEW BY ELDER A. C. BOURDEAU, IN WHOSE HOUSE IT WAS HELD. FROM IT WE LEARN THAT MRS. WHITE HAD LABORED "ESPECIALLY FOR THE CHURCH." AT ONE EVENING MEETING "SPECIAL TESTIMONIES WERE GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS PRESENT; AND AS THESE WERE ENDORSED [BY THOSE SPOKEN TO], LIGHT AND FREEDOM BROKE IN." SUNDAY AFTERNOON TWO SONS OF ONE OF THE BELIEVERS AND THE WIFE OF ONE OF THEM CAME TO BID MRS. WHITE GOOD-BY. THEY HAD BEEN "IN A BACKSLIDDEN STATE." THEN ELDER BOURDEAU GIVES A VIVID PICTURE OF WHAT TOOK PLACE:[11]
AT THIS POINT, SISTER WHITE FELT THE REAL BURDEN OF THEIR CASES, AND A SPECIAL YEARNING AFTER THEM FOR THEIR SALVATION, AND GAVE THEM RICH INSTRUCTIONS. SHE THEN KNEELED DOWN WITH THEM AND PRAYED FOR THEM WITH GREAT EARNESTNESS, FAITH, AND TENACITY, THAT THEY MIGHT RETURN UNTO THE LORD. THEY YIELDED AND PRAYED, PROMISING TO SERVE THE LORD. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD DREW NEARER AND NEARER. SISTER WHITE WAS FREE, AND SOON, UNEXPECTEDLY TO ALL, SHE WAS IN VISION. SHE REMAINED IN THIS CONDITION FIFTEEN MINUTES.[12]
THE NEWS SPREAD, AND SOON THE HOUSE WAS CROWDED. SINNERS TREMBLED, BELIEVERS WEPT, AND BACKSLIDERS RETURNED TO GOD. THE WORK WAS NOT CONFINED TO THOSE PRESENT, AS WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED. SOME WHO HAD REMAINED AT HOME WERE POWERFULLY CONVICTED. THEY SAW THEMSELVES AS THEY HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE. THE ANGEL OF GOD WAS SHAKING THE PLACE. THE SHORTNESS OF TIME, THE TERRORS AND NEARNESS OF COMING JUDGMENTS AND THE TIME OF TROUBLE, THE WORLDLY-MINDEDNESS OF THE CHURCH, THEIR LACK OF BROTHERLY LOVE, AND THEIR STATE OF UNREADINESS TO MEET THE LORD, WERE STRONGLY IMPRESSED UPON THE MINDS OF ALL.--REVIEW AND HERALD, DEC. 26, 1871.[13]
UCH WERE THE TIMES OF VOLUME 3.[14]
THE TRUSTEES OF THE ELLEN G. WHITE PUBLICATIONS.[15]
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