A Word to the Little Flock

How did Little Flock become part of the Early Writings story?

A Word to the Little Flock appeared in 1847 with writings signed by James White, Ellen G. White, and Captain Joseph Bates. James White’s opening is dated Brunswick, Maine, May 30, 1847, and explains that the articles were intended for Crosier’s Day-Dawn.

Keep the original publications and later compilations distinct

Early Writings first combined these three works in 1882. It is an author-era compilation of Ellen White’s early publications, rather than an entirely new book composed in 1882. Its publishers described verbal changes, including occasional word substitutions and sentence changes, with the author’s approval. The historical comparison is between identifiable editions and their actual wording.

Turn the actual pages: Early Writings, 1893

Digitized historical volume · 268 pages · PDF and page images available. This Library of Congress copy preserves a later printed edition, distinct from the separate 1851, 1854, and 1858 publications.

Read our 1893 edition and comparison guideDownload the 1893 scan

Library of Congress catalog and page images

Why does Little Flock cite Second Esdras?

“With these are six references to Second Esdras of the Apocrypha.”

The appendix attributes the added Scripture references to James White. Keep his references alongside the vision text as you compare the editions.

Omitted Statements: read the lines and their full context

The reading edition includes the later discussion of passages omitted from Experience and Views and Early Writings. Read the lines, the surrounding vision, and Ellen White’s explanation together.

“The first quotation mentioned by —— is from a pamphlet of twenty-four pages published in 1847, entitled A Word to the “Little Flock.” Here are the lines omitted in Experience and Views:

“‘It was just as impossible for them [those that gave up their faith in the '44 movement] to get on the path again and go to the city as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another.’ [Page 14.]

“I will give the context, that the full force of the expressions may be clearly seen:

“While praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell on me, and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them—when a voice said to me, “Look again, and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path. They had a bright light set up behind them at the first end of the path, which an angel told me was the Midnight Cry. This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet so they might not stumble. And if they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the City, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and they said the City was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a glorious light which waved over the Advent band, and they shouted Hallelujah. Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and got their eyes off the mark and lost sight of Jesus, and fell off the path down in the dark and wicked world below.’

* Day-Star, January 24 and March 14, 1846. Broadsides, April 6, 1846, and April 7, 1847, and A Word to the “Little Flock.”

[28] “Now follows the passage said to be in the original work, but not found in Experience and Views or in Early Writings:

“‘It was just as impossible for them [those that gave up their faith in the ’44 movement] to get on the path again and go to the City, as all the wicked world which God had rejected. They fell all the way along the path one after another.’

“It is claimed that these expressions prove the shut door doctrine, and that this is the reason of their omission, in later editions. But in fact they teach only that which has been and is still held by us as a people, as I shall show.

Follow Jesus into the Holiest: the Day-Star’s searching warning

Read the early published vision of two praying companies: one looking to Jesus before the Father, the other receiving an unholy influence. Examine the source and the difference it draws between power and the love, joy, and peace of the Holy Ghost.

Those who rose up when Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on him as he left the throne, and led them out a little way, then he raised his right arm and we heard his lovely voice saying, wait ye, I am going to my Father to receive the Kingdom. Keep your garments spotless and in a little while I will return from the wedding, and receive you to myself. And I saw a cloudy chariot with wheels like flaming fire. Angels were all about the chariot as it came where Jesus was; he stepped into it and was borne to the Holiest where the Father sat. Then I beheld Jesus as he was before the Father a great High Priest. On the hem of his garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Then Jesus shewed me the difference between faith and feeling. And I saw those who rose up with Jesus send up their faith to Jesus in the Holiest, and praying, Father give us thy spirit. Then Jesus would breathe on them the Holy Ghost. In the breath was light, power and much love, joy and peace. Then I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne. They did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne and pray, My Father give us thy spirit. Then Satan would breathe on them an unholy influence. In it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy and peace. Satan's object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God's children. I saw one after another leave the company who were praying to Jesus in the Holiest, go and join those before the throne and they at once received the unholy influence of Satan.

What did Ellen White warn about “books of a new order”?

The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.

Bring the documents into the light: compare the publications, examine the acknowledged omissions, and test later teaching against Scripture and the early witness. SundayLaw.com applies this warning in its Books of a New Order study and its White Estate Secrecy: Gehazi comparison.