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Did God send a prophet?
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The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets
by Ellen G. White
Preface
The publishers send out this work from a conviction that it
throws light upon a subject of paramount importance and
universal interest, and one on which light is to be greatly desired;
that it presents truths too little known or too widely ignored.
The great controversy between truth and error, between light and
darkness, between the power of God and the attempted usurpations
of the enemy of all righteousness, is the one great spectacle
which it is reasonable to suppose must engage the attention of all
worlds. That such a controversy exists as the result of sin, that it
is to pass through various stages of progress, and end at last in a
manner to redound to the glory of God and the higher exaltation
of His loyal servants, is as certain as that the Bible is a revelation
from God to men. That word reveals the great features of this
controversy, a conflict which embraces the redemption of a world;
and there are special epochs when these questions assume
unwonted interest, and it becomes a matter of the first importance
to understand our relation thereto.
Such a time is the present, for all things indicate that we may
now confidently cherish the hope that this long controversy is
drawing near its close. Yet many now seem disposed to relegate
to the realm of fable that portion of the record opening to our
view the steps by which our world became involved in this great
issue; and others, though avoiding this extreme view, seem
nevertheless inclined to regard it as obsolete and unimportant, and are
thus led to treat it with neglect.
But who would not wish to look into the secret causes of so
strange a defection; to discern its spirit, to mark its consequences,
and to learn how to avoid its results? with such themes this
volume deals. It tends to foster a living interest in those portions
[p. 18] of God's word most often neglected. It clothes with new meaning
the promises and prophecies of the sacred record, vindicates the
ways of God in dealing with rebellion, and shows forth the
wonderful grace of God in devising a way of salvation for sinful
man. Thus we are taken down in the history of this work to a
time when the plans and purposes of God had been clearly
unfolded to the chosen people.
Though dealing with themes so exalted, themes that stir the
heart to its depths and awaken the liveliest emotions of the mind,
the style of the book is lucid, and the language plain and direct.
we commend this volume to all who take pleasure in studying
the divine plan of human redemption and who feel any interest
in the relation of their own souls to Christ's atoning work; and
to all others we commend it, that it may awaken in them an
interest in these things.
That its perusal may be blessed to the good of those who read,
and result in turning the feet of many into the way of life, is the
earnest prayer of the | PUBLISHERS.
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