"It is only as the law of God is restored to its rightful position that there can be a revival of primitive faith and godliness among His professed people. 'Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the OLD PATHS, WHERE IS THE GOOD WAY, AND WALK THEREIN, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Jer. 6:16.'" E.G. White, The Faith I Live By, p. 326.
"And they that shall be of thee shall build THE OLD WASTE PLACES: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." Isaiah 58:12.
"Characteristics of True Reformers.--Here [Isa. 8:11-14] are given the characteristics of those who shall be reformers, who will bear the banner of the third angel's message, those who avow themselves God's commandment-keeping people, and who honor God, and are earnestly engaged, in the sight of all the universe, in building up the old waste places. Who is it that calls them, The repairer of the breach, The restorers of paths to dwell in? It is God. Their names are registered [written--Heb. 12:22, 23] in heaven as reformers, restorers, as raising the foundations of many generations." E. G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, 1151.
"I am now looking over my diaries and copies of letters written for several years back. . . . I have the most precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While I am able to do this work, THE PEOPLE MUST HAVE THINGS TO REVIVE PAST HISTORY, THAT THEY MAY SEE THAT THERE IS ONE STRAIGHT CHAIN OF TRUTH, WITHOUT ONE HERETICAL SENTENCE, IN THAT WHICH I HAVE WRITTEN." E.G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 3, p. 52.
"The old truths, given us at the beginning, are to be heralded far and near. The lapse of time has not lessened their value. It is the constant effort of the enemy to remove these truths from their setting, and to put in their place spurious theories. But the Lord will raise up men of keen perception, who with clear vision will discern the intrigues of Satan, and will give these truths their proper place in the plan of God." E..G. White, Review and Herald, August 20, 1903.
"Enoch, Noah, Moses, Daniel, and the long roll of patriarchs and prophets,--these were ministers of righteousness. They were not infallible; they were weak erring men; but the Lord wrought through them as they gave themselves to His service." E.G. White, Gospel Workers, 13.
"None of the twelve was chosen because of perfection, either in character or in ability. Christ selected men who were willing and able to learn, who characters might be transformed. All had serious defects when called, but these, by His grace, were removed [except in the case of Judas], and in their place Jesus planted the precious seeds of the divine character that germinated, grew to maturity, and later produced the fruit of a Christlike character (Gal. 5:22, 23). Christ takes men where they are, and, if the are willing and submissive, He transforms them into what he would have them be. He appoints men and women to positions of responsibility, not because He considers them fully prepared for the demands these positions make of them, but because, in reading their hearts, He discerns latent abilities that, under divine guidance, may be encouraged and developed to His glory and to the advancement of His kingdom." E.G. White, SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 592.
"Everything will be placed to obstruct the way of the Lord's messengers, so that they will not be able to do that which it is possible for them to do now. We must look our work fairly in the face, and advance as fast as possible in aggressive warfare." E.G. White, Evangelism, 30.
"The messengers, as the ambassadors of God, must bear a living testimony to rebuke sin, which will cut through the soul, whether men will hear, or whether the will forbear. There are many who close their eyes that they may not see, and their ears that they may not hear. They think that there has been a mistake made, that all these plain, pointed testimonies cannot come from God, but are from human agencies alone. They wrap themselves up in their self-righteousness, and fight every inch of the way, that they may stand where they imagine they should stand, --in defiance of the warnings of God's servants." E.G. White, Review and Herald, Vol. 2, 225.
"The enemy is seeking to divert the minds of our brethren and sisters from the work of preparing a people to stand in these last days. His sophistries are designed to lead minds away from the perils and duties of the hour. They estimate as of little value the light that Christ came from heaven to give to John for His people. They teach that the scenes just before us are not of sufficient importance to receive special attention. They make of no effect the truth of heavenly origin, and rob the people of God of their past experience, giving them instead a false science. 'Thus saith the Lord: Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein." E.G. White, Gospel Workers, 306.
"The Jews despised the good that was proffered them in the time of Christ, and after long forbearance of god, the things that were for their peace were hidden from their eyes that which if received would have been to them their greatest blessing became their STUMBLING BLOCK. Thus it is today among us. They thought that Christ's teaching was counteracting the influence of the old and only religion that ad been from the beginning, after they had once rejected the light, their minds were blinded, and they thought Christ's teaching was a deception of the enemy. Christ was bringing out the old religion in its true light, but they had separated themselves from the OLD PATHS, from the OLD TRUTHS, and had permitted the customs and traditions of men to take the place of the only vital faith." E.G. White, The 1888 Materials, p. 407.
"All who live in Battle Creek will have a fearful account to render to God if they suffer sin upon a brother. It is an alarming fact that indifference, sleepiness, and apathy have characterized men in responsible positions, and that there is a steady increase of pride and an alarming disregard of the warnings of the Spirit of God. The barriers which god's word places about His people are being broken down. Men who are acquainted with the way in which God has led His people in the past, instead of inquiring for the OLD PATHS and defending our position as a peculiar people, have linked hands with the world. The most alarming feature in the case is that warning voices have not been heard in remonstrance, entreaties, and warnings. The eyes of God's people seem to be blinded, while the church is fast drifting into the channel of worldliness." Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, 513.
"I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known Him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.' The apostle here links the experience of the fathers with that of the young men; in like manner there is a link between the old disciples in this cause and those who are younger, who have not had an experience in the early events of this message. Those who were young when the message arose will have to be educated by the OLD STANDARD-BEARERS. These teachers must realize that too greet pains cannot be taken to fit men for their holy trust while the standard-bearers are still able to hold the standard aloft. And yet those who have so long fought in the battles may still win victories. They have been so thoroughly acquainted with the wiles of Satan that they will not be easily moved from the OLD PATHS. They remember the days of old. They know Him who is from the beginning. They may ever be light bearers, faithful witnesses for God, living epistles, known and read of all men." Testimonies, vol. 5, 584.