本书在编选的时候，并不打算普遍发行。其宗旨是帮助教会行政人员和其他传道人员维护教会高尚的道德标准，在处理信徒中不恰当或不道德的行为时兼顾公义和慈爱。但这本书很实用，需求的范围很大，故现已收入基督徒家庭藏书系列。
读者会注意到本书的很多信函是写给犯错的传道人员的。由于怀爱伦与传道人和其他福音工作者保持大量的通信往来，这一点不足为怪了。虽然书信涉及受信人的一些罪行，怀爱伦仍然对基督复临安息日会的传道人员怀有很大的信心。她在85岁高龄的时候，写了两封信在1913年的总会会议上宣读。在第一封信中，她向代表们保证：
“虽然我为一些人对发展上帝地上圣工的重要措施所抱的态度深感忧虑，但是我对整个园地的工人，仍充满信心，相信当他们聚集在一起，在主面前自卑，重新献身为祂服务时，他们必获得能力成就祂的旨意”。——《信息选粹》卷二401页
在第二封，也是怀爱伦给总会的最后一封信中，她宣称：
“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”。——《信息选粹》卷二406页
这些充满信心的话语说明本书中所引用书信涉及的道德问题并非普遍存在。但由于当代的道德问题与过去几十年相似，我们相信怀爱伦在一个世纪以前写的许多书信里所包含的警告和劝勉也是今日所需要的。论到这些书信的使用，怀爱伦说:
“我在上帝的帮助下努力撰写的书信，不仅要帮助受信人，也要帮助其他许多需要的人。”—《怀爱伦信函》 1905年79号
本书的编写，并不是作为处理淫乱，通奸，不合圣经的离婚和再婚等问题的规范手册。没有一本手册能包括所有不道德的问题。当W. C.怀特接到要求从他母亲的著作中编选一份权威性的材料，作为处理所有不合圣经之婚姻的准则时。怀特回答说：
“你阅读了我今天发给你的文稿之后可能会说，他并没有从怀姐妹的的著作中给我提供解答问题的直接答案。但是我相信你会从我寄给你的稿件中看出，怀姐妹的意思是，她笔下的任何作品都不应该作为处理婚姻，离婚，再婚和奸淫等问题的准则。她认为，魔鬼引诱人深深陷入的状况是各不相同的，也是很严重的。如果她写下什么话，被当作解决这类问题的金科玉律，就可能遭到误解或误用。”—W. C.怀特致C.P.博尔曼的书信，1931年1月6号。
我们完全赞同怀爱伦的观点。道德问题是复杂的。没有两种情况是完全一样的。每一个事例都必须仔细研究。尽管它们之间可能只有细微的差异，但都需要单独解决。对于面临道德问题的人来说，圣灵始终是他们神圣的向导和顾问。
本书中的姓名都是真实的。但在所引用的不同事例中，我们用字母来代替姓。各编和各章的标题是后加的。
我们希望和祈愿本书的材料在不断学习、真心关注的教会手中，能有助于提高教会的道德标准，同时它为那些面临人所似乎无法解决的复杂婚姻问题的读者提供安慰，鼓励和希望。
怀爱伦著作托管委员会
When this compilation was produced, it was not intended for general circulation. It was designed to assist church administrators and other ministers in their efforts to maintain high moral standards in the church, balancing mercy with justice in dealing with members involved in questionable or immoral conduct. However, the book has proved so helpful, and the demand for it so widespread, that it is now being made generally available as part of the Christian Home Library series.?{TSB 5.1}[1]
Readers will note that many of the letters in this volume were addressed to errant ministerial laborers. Since Ellen White corresponded largely with ministers and other gospel workers, this should come as no surprise. However, in spite of the faults and sins of those to whom she wrote, Ellen White had great confidence in the ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. At the age of 85 she sent two messages to be read to the General Conference session of 1913. In the first message she assured the delegates,?{TSB 5.2}[2]
“While I still feel the deepest anxiety over the attitude that some are taking toward important measures connected with the development of the cause of God in the earth, yet I have strong faith in the workers throughout the field, and believe that as they meet together and humble themselves before the Lord and consecrate themselves anew to His service, they will be enabled to do His will.”—Selected Messages 2:401, 402.?{TSB 5.3}[3]
In her second and final message to the conference Ellen White declared:?{TSB 5.4}[4]
“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.”—Selected Messages 2:406.?{TSB 5.5}[5]
These expressions of confidence make clear that the moral problems dealt with in the letters quoted in this volume were not general or widespread. Nevertheless, since contemporary moral problems are similar to those of past decades, we believe that many letters written by Ellen White a century ago contain warnings and appeals that need to be heard today. Concerning the use of her letters, Ellen White said:?{TSB 6.1}[6]
“I am endeavoring by the help of God to write letters that will be a help, not merely to those to whom they are addressed, but to many others who need them.”—Letter 79, 1905.?{TSB 6.2}[7]
The present compilation is not designed to serve as a manual of rules for dealing with immorality, infidelity, or unscriptural divorce and remarriage. No manual could cover every possible moral irregularity. When W. C. White was asked for an authoritative statement from his mother that would serve as a standard by which to settle all cases of unscriptural marriage, he replied:?{TSB 6.3}[8]
“After reading the documents I sent you today, you will say, well, he has not given me anything authoritative from Sister White that directly answers the question. But I think you will see from what I am sending you that it was Sister White’s intention that there should not go forth from her pen anything that?could be used as a law or a rule dealing with these questions of marriage, divorce, remarriage, and adultery. She felt that the different cases where the devil had led men into serious entanglements were so varied and so serious, that should she write anything that could be considered as a rule for settling such cases, it would be misunderstood and misused.”—W. C. White to C. P. Bollman, January 6, 1931.?{TSB 6.4}[9]
We concur fully with Ellen White’s view. Moral problems are complex. No two situations are exactly alike. Each will require careful study; and although the differences may be minor, each situation will require its own solution. The Holy Spirit will always be needed as a divine Guide and Counselor to help those who are grappling with moral problems.?{TSB 7.1}[10]
All given names in this book are genuine, but, in the various problem cases cited, letters of the alphabet have been substituted for the surname. All chapter titles and sub-headings have been supplied.?{TSB 7.2}[11]
It is our hope and prayer that in the hands of an ever-learning and truly caring church, the materials in this compilation will contribute to the elevation of moral standards in the church, and at the same time provide comfort, encouragement, and hope for those whose complex moral problems seem beyond human solution.?{TSB 7.3}[12]
The Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate[13]
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