Chapter 23—Removal to Michigan
In 1855 the brethren in Michigan opened the way for the publishing
work to be removed to Battle Creek. At that time my husband was
owing between two and three thousand dollars; and all he had, besides
a small lot of books, was accounts for books, and some of these were
doubtful. The cause had apparently come to a standstill. Orders for
publications were very few and small. My husband’s health was very
poor. He was troubled with cough and soreness of lungs, and his
nervous system was prostrated. We feared that he would die while still
in debt.
Comforting Assurances
Those were days of sadness. I looked upon my three little boys,
soon, as I feared, to be left fatherless, and thoughts like these forced
themselves upon me: My husband will die of overwork in the cause of
present truth; and who realizes what he has suffered? Who knows the
burdens he has for years borne, the extreme care which has crushed
his spirits and ruined his health, bringing him to an untimely grave,
leaving his family destitute and dependent? I often asked myself the
question: Does God have no care for these things? Does He pass them
by unnoticed? I was comforted to know that there is One who judgeth
righteously, and that every sacrifice, every self-denial, and every pang
of anguish endured for His sake, is faithfully chronicled in heaven,
and will bring its reward. The day of the Lord will declare and bring
to light things that are not yet made manifest.
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I was shown that God designed to raise my husband up gradually;
that we must exercise strong faith, for in every effort we should be
fiercely buffeted by Satan; that we must look away from outward
appearances, and believe. Three times a day we went alone before
God, and engaged in earnest prayer for the recovery of his health.
The Lord graciously heard our earnest cries, and my husband began
to recover. I cannot better state my feelings at this time than they
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