《教会证言》卷九的写作年代跨越五年，至1909年夏末。在这段时间的开始和结束，怀夫人均从自己在加利福尼亚州圣赫勒的家前往美国东部，去参加重要的会议。在此期间，本会从1902至1903年的危机中完全恢复过来了，并且发展了圣工，创办了新的事业，建立了新的机构。
怀夫人在1904年春天出席了密歇根州的重要的会议之后访问了南方，然后前往华盛顿。那里正采取步骤，为在首都确立圣工而建造楼房。那里要兴建一座新的总部大楼，给《评论与通讯》出版社安家，还要建立一所疗养院和一所大学。怀夫人在华盛顿住了数月，就圣工发出勉言，因为这四项工程正在进行之中。这给工人们带来很大的鼓励，也对本会上下产生了深远的影响，坚固了教会信徒的信心，使他们相信上帝带领了本会行政部门和出版社向首都迁移。
在此期间，我们在太平洋海岸的医疗工作得到了迅速的进展。加利福尼亚州的纳雄耐尔城、格兰岱尔和洛马林达都开设了疗养院。从一开始，洛马林达似乎就注定要在不久的将来成为医疗工作者的培训中心，接续本会作在巴特尔克里克所开始的工作。在建立医学院的关键年份里，怀夫人频繁访问了加利福尼亚州南部，提供个人的劝勉和鼓励，帮助制定开展工作的计划。她根据上帝的启示所发的意见，一步一步带领了我们，最终建立了一所得到充分认可的医学院。所面临的障碍曾是那么难以逾越，若非经常得到预言之灵的劝勉，使我们产生信心和勇气，这项工程就绝不会坚持下来。
这些重要的工程占据了怀夫人大量的时间，使她出门在外，没有时间写作，结果大大推迟了一些书籍的发行，她原希望那些书籍不久就会在传道园地里发挥作用。在这五年的时间中，怀爱伦新发行的书只有一本《服务真诠》。
本会的圣工在这段时间里迅猛发展；我们无法详述各方面的进展情况。信息正向全世界传播。越来越多的传道士派遣出去；越来越多的学校、出版社和疗养院正在建立中。信息确实已达到地极。
1909年春天，世界各地圣工的代表聚集在华盛顿出席全球总会会议。与他们相见给怀爱伦的心带来了极大的喜乐。这是她最后一次到东部旅行——也是她最后一次参加总会会议。她当时已经81岁了，在上帝的圣工中侍奉了漫长的一生。她从这工作起初艰苦奋斗的日子就一直看到它的成长。当时只有极少人遵守安息日并期待主的快来。此时已有85,000人了，并有1,200位按立持证传道人。当怀爱伦站在总会大会之前时，她蒙引导讲论了某些极为重要的题目，是必须予以回顾的。这些题目之一是健康改良。四十五年来，她带头教导了她在异象中所看到的健康生活的伟大原则。她见到了这些教导的成果。但仍有一些人退缩不前，还有一些人倾向于极端，因此她逐点回顾了我们的立场和教训。她在总会上的这些言论构成了《教会证言》卷九的重要一章。
她选择的另一个主题是关于洛马林达医学院的。她阐明了那个机构的目标，并且呼吁全体工作人员和平信徒合作使这项工作成功。这一重要的讲话也是卷九的一部分。
怀夫人看到了本会教会工作的发展，从1863年指定负责总会工作的三人委员会发展到了此时的状况，有了总会各部门组织和分会联合会组织，由数百在世界园地不同部分挑担子的人分担责任。在她发言的结尾，她恳劝合一和献身。在她的书面声明中，她论述了总会的权威问题，以及总会全体大会所作决议的重要性。她写到了责任的分配和对谦卑和信心的需要。这些劝勉形成了《教会证言》卷九最后一编的重要部分。
在世纪之交，怀夫人开始呼吁重新关心在世界各大城市中的布道工作。这些需求在致主要工人的勉言中再三得到强调。由于响应这些信息，城市的圣工得到了复兴。中心大城市进入了，召开了许多布道会，坚固了原有的教会，建立了新的教会。为了永久保存对这项工作的呼吁和劝勉，《教会证言》卷九有一编专门论述了这个重要问题。
当时我们所开展的各项事业需要平信徒的才干和精力。显然，平信徒若不积极参加传道工作，把信息传给世界，这工作就绝不会完成。平信徒的工作呈现出了新的重要性。在《教会证言》的最后两卷中，更多强调了平信徒的工作，且在卷九中达到了高潮。在描述了最后的危机和世界历史结束时发生的大事之后，接下来的几章呼召每一个安息日复临信徒积极参加传道工作，家乡布道工作，和散发书报的工作。
还有另外两个方面的详细勉言收录于本卷，是初次出现在《教会证言》中的，尽管多年来已赐下与之有关的许多指示。一方面是涉及在有色人种中开展工作。另一方面是涉及信仰自由的工作。为了响应怀爱伦九十年代中期发表在《评论与通讯》中文章的呼吁，工人和平信徒向着大南方挺进，开创了那里的传道事工，有些人在教育战线，有些人在医疗战线，有些人在传信息的战线，有些人在尚未接受亮光的地区安家，安静地实行本会的信息。还有些人响应《教会证言》卷七中的呼吁，加入了这项工作。工人们面对了许多困难。必须制定前进的计划。必须对付新的问题。特别是在那些有种族对抗的地方从事工作的人。在这些关键的年份中，所赐下的勉言对工作给予了安全的指导，为了使这些勉言成为一份永久的记录以服侍教会，兹收录于本卷之中。
信仰自由工作是一条需要努力的战线。我们已多年从事这方面的工作。有些人倾向于极端的立场，极力主张真守安息日的人必须让周围的人都知道我们在星期日作工。在一些地区，这种行动导致了逼迫。主本着祂的良善传信息给这样的人，使我们对这类问题有平衡的观念。这些信息也出现在本章第七编《维护宗教自由的工作》，结束于第29章《警戒的话》。本卷就这样把新旧勉言收录在一起，重申了某些方面的指示，在某些方面给出了详细的劝勉，鼓励人服务，指出了极端主义的危险，导致人们对组织有信心，并且把人指向恳切努力的报赏，成了《教会证言》的顶点。
怀爱伦的工作并没有随着《教会证言》卷九的出版而结束。在接下来的五年中，她更积极地致力于她著作的出版。她在1911年出版了《使徒行述》，1913年出版了《给父母、教师和学生的勉言》。她还进行最后的文字工作，1915年出版了新版的《传道良助》和《怀爱伦传略》。1916年出版了《先知与君王》。
她尤其喜爱向各城市发出警告的特殊工作。从她的笔下不时发出劝勉和教导的信息，论到我们工作的这个重要方面。主的这位已上了年纪的使者当时虽住在加利福尼亚州北部安静的山间，却注意到圣工在全世界的稳定进展。尽管她知道自己的工作将近结束，却对上帝工作的前途毫不担心，因为就如她所说的：“不论我是否活在世上，我的著作将不断说话，其功效要延续到世界的末了。”——《教会证言的写作与发表》，第13,14页。
按照为1913年总会所制定的计划，怀夫人原本乐意参加。但鉴于她的高龄，这似乎不可取。她既不能口传信息，就写了两封信要向与会代表和教会信徒宣读。在总会会长于5月27日上午的会议上宣读的第二封信中，她回顾了历史的经验，并因上帝带领祂子民的明证而欢喜快乐。面对未来，她要求大家在救灵工作上作出新的努力，并再次呼吁对尚未受到警告的城市作工。展望将来，她看到了教会的胜利，并说出了鼓励的话：
“我的弟兄们，我有几句鼓励的话要向你们说。我们尽管凭着信心，抱着希望往前走，一心仰望上帝施行大事。仇敌虽想尽方法，要阻挠那为推进真理而作的努力，但靠赖主的力量，你们仍可获得成功，切莫讲灰心丧志的话，但要说那足以坚固和支持同工们的言语。……
“目前，我对于全球的工作，仍与以往一样地深切关心，我极愿这现代真理的工作，坚定不移地在世界各处推进。……
“我恳切地祈求主使我们目前所从事的工作，能深印于人心灵思想之中。困惑的事必定有增无已；但我们相信上帝的人却要彼此勉励。我们决不可降低标准，而是要提高它，仰望那位为我们信心创始成终的主。夜间我不能入睡时，就倾心求告上帝，承蒙上帝加添我的力量，又向我保证衪常与那在国内和远方为衪服务的仆人们同在。我既看出以色列的上帝仍然在领导衪的百姓，而且要继续与他们同在，直到世界的末了，便因而得到鼓励和赐福。……
“主希望看见传扬第三位天使信息的工作越来越有效地推进。衪怎样在各世代中作工，使衪的子民获得胜利，今日衪也照样希望使衪对于教会的旨意能胜利地完成。衪吩咐信靠衪的圣徒同心协力地前进，力上加力，从相信衪圣工的信实与公义，到确信和坚信。
“我们应当坚如磐石地维护圣经的原则，牢记上帝与我们同在，赐我们力量来应付每一个新的经历。我们应该在生活中始终坚持公义的原则，奉主的名，力上加力，勇往直前。我们应当把圣灵从早期直到如今通过教导和指示所确立的信仰看得十分神圣，把主藉着守衪诫命的子民所推进的工作看得十分宝贵。靠着衪的恩典，这项工作的能力和功效将与日俱增。仇敌正在设法蒙蔽上帝子民的判断力，削弱他们的效能。但如果他们按照圣灵的指引工作，衪就会在他们前面敞开机会的门户，使他们修建那久已荒凉之地。他们的经验将不断地积累，直到主带着能力和大荣耀从天降临，将衪最后胜利的印记盖在衪忠心的子民身上。
“摆在我们前面的工作需要我们全力以赴。需要运用坚强的信心和不断的警觉。有时我们所要遭遇的困难会令人极其灰心。任务之艰巨难免使我们心惊胆寒。然而在上帝的帮助下，衪的仆人终将取得胜利。”——《全球总会公报》1913年5月28日，第164，165页。
九卷《教会证言》的写作时间跨越了五十五年，其间教会在不断成长，发展壮大。所赐的勉言提供了安全的向导，所发的督责和纠正使许多迷路者的脚回到公义的道路上。鼓舞人心的话语唤醒了许多昏沉的心；忠心之人报赏的画面激励了本会成千上万的人朝着那摆在我们面前的标杆直跑。
展望未来，我们必须始终牢记《怀爱伦传略》第196页中的话：
“对于未来，我们无所畏惧，除非我们忘记祂以往的带领，以及祂在我们过去的历史中给我们的教训。”
怀爱伦著作托管委员会
As we look at the times of volume 9 we view a five-year span extending to the late summer of 1909. In Mrs. White’s experience this period is opened and closed with trips from her home in St. Helena, California, to the East to attend important meetings. For the denomination it is a time of full recovery from the crisis of 1902-03 and of extending the work, of launching new enterprises, and of establishing new institutions.?{9T 3.1}[1]
Following important meetings in Michigan in the spring of 1904, Mrs. White visited the South and then made her way to Washington, D. C., where steps were being taken to provide buildings for the work which was being established at the nation’s capital. There was a new headquarters building to be erected, the Review and Herald must be provided with a home, a sanitarium was to be built, and a college established. The fact that Mrs. White made her home in Washington for some months, where she could give counsel regarding the work, as these four enterprises were gotten under way, was a great encouragement to the workers. It also exerted a far-reaching influence throughout the denomination in establishing the confidence of the church members that God had led in the transfer of the administration and publishing interests to the nation’s capital.?{9T 3.2}[2]
This was a period of rapid advancement in the development of our medical work on the Pacific Coast. Sanitariums were opened in National City, Glendale, and Loma Linda, California. From the first, Loma Linda seemed destined to become a training center for medical workers at some future time to do the work for the denomination begun at Battle Creek. During the critical years of the establishment of the medical college, Mrs. White made frequent visits to Southern California, where she could give personal counsel and?encouragement, and could assist in the laying of plans for the advancing work. It was utterances, based upon the revelations given her of God, that led us step by step eventually to the establishment of a fully recognized medical college. So insurmountable were the obstacles that, had it not been for the faith and confidence inspired by the frequent counsels which came through the spirit of prophecy, the enterprise would never have survived.?{9T 3.3}[3]
These important interests that took Mrs. White much from her home and her writing, resulted in a great delay in the issuance of books she hoped could soon be in the field doing their work.?The Ministry of Healing?was the only Ellen G. White book newly issued during this five-year period.?{9T 4.1}[4]
The work of the denomination had by this time grown too large for us to mention in detail the various advance steps. The message was now belting the globe, missionaries were being sent out in increasing numbers, more institutions devoted to educational, publishing, and medical interests were being established. The message was truly reaching the ends of the earth.?{9T 4.2}[5]
It brought great rejoicing to the heart of Ellen White to meet with the representatives of the world-wide work as they gathered in Washington, D. C., in the spring of 1909 for the General Conference session. This was her last trip East—this the last General Conference session she attended. She was now eighty-one years of age and had given a long life of service to the cause of God. She had seen the work grow from the struggling beginning days when there were only a handful who kept the Sabbath and who looked for the soon coming of the Lord. Now they numbered 85,000, and there were 1,200 ordained and licensed ministers. As Ellen White stood before the General Conference, she was led to speak on certain subjects of great importance which must be reviewed. Among these was health reform. For forty-five years she had led out?in teaching the great principles of healthful living which had been presented to her in vision. She had seen the fruitage of this teaching. However, there were some who still held back, there were some who were inclined to extremes, and so she reviewed our position and teachings point by point. This statement made before the General Conference forms an important chapter of volume 9.?{9T 4.3}[6]
Another topic upon which she chose to speak was that of the medical college of Loma Linda. She set forth the objectives of that institution and appealed for the co-operation of all workers and laity in making this work a success. This important statement is also a part of volume 9.?{9T 5.1}[7]
Mrs. White had seen the work of the administration of the church develop from a committee of three which was appointed in 1863 to take charge of the General Conference, to its present status of organization with General Conference departments and with Division and Union Conference organizations dividing the responsibilities among hundreds who carried the burden of the work in various parts of the world field. In her closing words she pleaded for unity and consecration. In her written statements she dealt with the authority of the General Conference and the importance of the actions taken by the General Conference in full session. She wrote of the distribution of responsibility and the need of humility and of faith. These counsels form an important part of the closing section of volume 9.?{9T 5.2}[8]
At the turn of the century Mrs. White had begun to appeal for a renewed interest in the evangelizing of the millions in the great metropolitan centers of the world. These needs had been emphasized again and again in the counsels which had been sent to the leading workers. In response to these messages, interests in city work was revived. Large centers were entered. Many evangelistic efforts were held, old churches were strengthened, and new churches were established. To?preserve the appeals for this work and the counsels as to its conduct in permanent form, an entire section of volume 9 is devoted to this important subject.?{9T 5.3}[9]
We were in days, too, when the various enterprises which were entered into called for the talents and energies of our lay members. It began to be clear that this work could never be finished unless the laity vigorously united with the ministry in carrying the message to the world. The work of laymen took on new importance. In the last two volumes of the?Testimonies?increasing emphasis had been placed upon the work of the laymen, and this is brought to a climax in volume 9. Following a picture of the last crisis and events to take place in the closing scenes of earth’s history, several chapters are devoted to the call for every Seventh-day Adventist to take an active part in evangelism, in home missionary work, and in the circulation of literature.?{9T 6.1}[10]
There were two other lines of detailed counsel which are represented in this volume for the first time in the?Testimonies, though considerable instruction had been given through the years relating to them. The first has to do with the work among the colored people. The second has to do with the religious liberty work. It was largely in response to the appeals made by Ellen White in the articles in the?Review?in the middle nineties that workers and laymen pushed into the great Southland and began their ministry, some in educational lines, some in medical lines, some in preaching the message, and others in quietly living the message as homes were established in regions which had not yet received the light. Still others had joined in this work in response to the appeals in volume 7. The workers faced many problems. Plans must be laid for advancement. New issues must be met, especially those relating to the work where there was race antagonism. Through the critical years counsel had been given which served as safe guidance for the work, and to make this counsel?a permanent record to serve the church, it was included in volume 9.?{9T 6.2}[11]
The religious liberty work was a line of endeavor in which we had been engaged for many years. Some were inclined to take extreme positions urging that true Sabbathkeeping meant that one must make it prominent to those about him that we labored on Sunday. In some regions this led to persecution. The Lord in his goodness sent messages to this people to give us a balanced conception of questions of this kind. These, too, appear in this volume in the section entitled, “The Religious Liberty Work,” opening with the chapter, “A Time of Trial Before Us,” and closing with the chapter, “Words of Caution.” So volume 9, drawing together counsels new and old, reiterating certain lines of instruction, giving details of counsel in other lines, encouraging to service, pointing out the dangers of extremes, leading to confidence in organization and pointing to the reward of earnest effort, became the cap-sheaf of the?Testimonies for the Church.?{9T 7.1}[12]
The work of Ellen White did not close with the issuance of?Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9. Addressing herself more closely to her work of book preparation during the succeeding five years, she brought out?Acts of the Apostles?in 1911 and?Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students?in 1913. She also did her final work on manuscripts for the new edition of?Gospel Workers and Life Sketches, published in 1915, and?Prophets and Kings, which came from the press in 1916.?{9T 7.2}[13]
Especially did she take delight in the special efforts which were made to warn the cities, and from time to time there came from her pen messages of counsel and instruction regarding this important phase of our work. The steady progress of the cause around the world was marked by this now aging messenger of the Lord residing among the quiet hills of northern California. Although she knew her labors were?nearly finished, she had no fears for the future of the work of God, for as she stated: “whether or not my life is spared, my writings will constantly speak, and their work will go forward as long as time shall last.”—Writing and Sending out of the “Testimonies for the Church,” Pages 13, 14.?{9T 7.3}[14]
As plans were laid for the General Conference session of 1913, Mrs. White would have been pleased to have attended, but in her advancing age this seemed inadvisable. Not being able to present an oral message, she wrote two communications to be read to the delegates and church members assembled. In the second message, which was read by the president of the General Conference to the conference in session on the morning of May 27, she reviewed the experience of past years, and rejoiced in the marked evidences that God had led his people. Then, looking ahead, she called for renewed efforts in soul-saving work and appealed again for the unwarned cities. Looking into the future she saw the triumph of the church and expressed words of courage:?{9T 8.1}[15]
“I have words of encouragement for you, my brethren. We are to move forward in faith and hope, expecting large things from God. The enemy will seek in every way to hinder the efforts that are being made to advance the truth, but in the strength of the Lord you may gain success. Let no discouraging words be spoken, but only such words as will tend to strengthen and sustain your fellow workers....?{9T 8.2}[16]
“My interest in the general work is still as deep as ever and I greatly desire that the cause of present truth shall steadily advance in all parts of the world....?{9T 8.3}[17]
“I pray earnestly that the work we do at this time shall impress itself deeply on heart and mind and soul. Perplexities will increase; but let us, as believers in God, encourage one another. Let us not lower the standard, but keep it lifted high, looking to him who is the author and finisher of our faith. When in the night season I am unable to sleep, I lift?my heart in prayer to God, and he strengthens me, and gives me the assurance that he is with his ministering servants in the home field and in distant lands. I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding his people, and that he will continue to be with them, even to the end....?{9T 8.4}[18]
“The Lord desires to see the work of proclaiming the third angel’s message carried forward with increasing efficiency. As he has worked in all ages to give victories to his people, so in this age he longs to carry to a triumphant fulfillment his purposes for his church. He bids his believing saints to advance unitedly, going from strength to greater strength, from faith to increased assurance and confidence in the truth and righteousness of his cause.?{9T 9.1}[19]
“We are to stand firm as a rock to the principles of the word of God, remembering that God is with us to give us strength to meet each new experience. Let us ever maintain in our lives the principles of righteousness, that we may go forward from strength to strength in the name of the Lord. We are to hold as very sacred the faith that has been substantiated by the instruction and approval of the Spirit of God from our earliest experience until the present time. We are to cherish as very precious the work that the Lord has been carrying forward through His commandment-keeping people, and which, through the power of His grace, will grow stronger and more efficient as time advances. The enemy is seeking to becloud the discernment of God’s people, and to weaken their efficiency, but if they will labor as the Spirit of God shall direct, He will open doors of opportunity before them for the work of building up the old waste places. Their experience will be one of constant growth, until the Lord shall descend from heaven with power and great glory to set His seal of final triumph upon His faithful ones.?{9T 9.2}[20]
“The work that lies before us is one that will put to the?stretch every power of the human being. It will call for the exercise of strong faith and constant vigilance. At times the difficulties that we shall meet will be most disheartening. The very greatness of the task will appall us. And yet, with God’s help, his servants will finally triumph.”—Reported in the?General Conference Bulletin, May 28, 1913, 164, 165.?{9T 9.3}[21]
In the times of the nine volumes of?Testimonies for the Church?written over a period of fifty-five years the church continually grew and developed and prospered. The counsel given afforded safe guidance, the reproof and correction led many straying feet back to the paths of righteousness, the words of cheer and encouragement revived many a faint heart, and the picture of the reward of the faithful spurred thousands to the determination to reach the goal set before us.?{9T 10.1}[22]
Looking ahead, we must ever remember the words recorded in?Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 196:?“We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.”?{9T 10.2}[23]
The Trustees of the Ellen G. White Publications.[24]
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