Selected Messages, Volume 3 - Ellen G. White

Chapter 50
Disparaging the Pioneers
It is possible to relate that which has happened
in connection with the past experience of the
people of God, and so relate it as to make their
experience assume a ludicrous and objectionable
appearance. It is not fair to take certain features of
the work and set them apart from the great whole.
A mixture of truth and error may be presented in so
doing, which our enemies would handle greatly to
the disadvantage of the truth and to the hindrance
of the work and cause of God....
Let none of our brethren imagine that they are
doing God’s service in presenting the deficiencies
of men who have done good, grand, acceptable
work in laboring to unfold the message of mercy to
fallen men, for the salvation of perishing souls.
Suppose that these brethren have weak traits of
character which they have inherited from their
deficient ancestors, shall these deficiencies be
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