As the Seventh-day Adventist movement has grown in all parts of the world, members who speak and read the various languages have yearned for the Testimonies for the Church, which, in full or in part, have edified and blessed the church throughout the world. It is not possible to publish in each language the full content of the nine Testimony volumes and the many other spirit of prophecy books. There is presented in this volume, however, a selection of general counsels drawn from these sources which will prove of great service and practical help to the church.
(CCh 5.1)
The selection of materials, which have been conveniently grouped in the sixty-six chapters of this volume, is the work of the trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate, who are responsible for the care of Mrs. White’s writings at the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist church in Silver Spring, Maryland, in the United States of America. It has been a painstaking task to gather, arrange, translate, and publish in this book a comprehensive selection of materials from the many E. G. White books. Because of the limitation of space, only the more essential counsels on vital themes could be included. Even this presents a wide range of subjects. In some cases the selection is confined to a few paragraphs at a time taken from scattered sources. Reference to the books from which the selections have been drawn are found in abbreviated form at the close of each chapter. By reference to the Key to Abbreviations you can easily find the books to which the letters refer. No attempt has been made to indicate by ellipsis marks that paragraphs or sentences have been deleted.
(CCh 5.2)
Do not confuse the introduction, written by the Trustees, with the writings of Mrs. White herself, which commence with chapter 1.
(CCh 5.3)
It is with satisfaction and joy that this book is now made available to those who have waited so long for its appearance. That the precious counsel and instructions that fills these pages may deepen the conviction of each reader in the truths of the advent message, broaden his Christian experience, and heighten his expectation of victory in the final day when our Lord shall return, is the sincere prayer of The Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate.
(CCh 5.4)