Proof Ellen White Was Not a
Legalist
“My Dear Sister Lizzie Innes: I hear that you are being much afflicted, and I am in deep
sympathy with you. Since my acquaintance with you I have felt a tender, loving sympathy
toward you. My dear sister, while you are suffering, while infirmities are pressing upon your
soul, do not doubt the love of your heavenly Father. Satan will try to cloud your mind with the
thought that Jesus does not love you. He will try to make you believe that you are unworthy of
being acknowledged before the Father as His child, but do not believe his suggestions for a
single moment. I know that the Lord loves you and that there will be souls in the kingdom of
God that will be saved as the result of your unselfish labor, your steadfast adherence to the
faith.
“When Satan comes in with his suggestions, look unto Jesus and say, "Who is he that
condemneth? It is Christ who died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand
of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Romans 8:34). Only think of this, my sister. Christ
is the one who has died for you, who has purchased you with His own precious blood. Will He
permit those whom He values so highly to walk alone? Nay, He will not. The apostle continues,
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation?" (Romans 8:35). Nay. Jesus
bore all this in my behalf when He accepted humanity, and He bore it in order that I might not
perish, but have everlasting life. Will He who has done all this for you be indifferent to you
when it is difficult for you to engage in the warfare and to fight the good fight of faith? You are
weak, and the trembling hand of faith can scarcely grasp the promises, but cannot you now say,
"Lord, I am now too weak to use the weapons of warfare, but I can repose in Thee as my only
hope. In Thee, and in Thee alone, my Redeemer, is my only hope of eternal life. Thou art my
refuge."
“The message from God to me for you is "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast
out" (John 6:37). If you have nothing else to plead before God but this one promise from your
Lord and Saviour, you have the assurance that you will never, never be turned away. It may
seem to you that you are hanging upon a single promise, but appropriate that one promise, and
it will open to you the whole treasure house of the riches of the grace of Christ. Cling to that
promise and you are safe. "Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out." Present this
assurance to Jesus, and you are as safe as though inside the city of God.
“You are not to examine your feelings and put any dependence upon your emotions, for they
may be as varied as the wind, but take to your heart this one promise and you will find it a
passport to all the rich treasures of heaven.” Letter 35, Manuscript Releases, page 177.
*Appropriate as a verb: “take something for your own use.”
I’ve Tried in Vain
I’ve tried in vain a thousand ways
My fears to quell, my hopes to raise;
But what I need, the Bible says,
Is ever, only Jesus.
My soul is night, my heart is steel—
I cannot see, I cannot feel;
For light, for life I must appeal
In simple faith to Jesus.
He died, He lives, He reigns, He pleads;
There’s love in all His words and deeds;
There’s all a guilty sinner needs
Forevermore in Jesus.
Though some should sneer, and some should blame,
I’ll go with all my guilt and shame;
I’ll go to Him because His name,
Above all names, is Jesus.
