Recreation for Christians
477
providence we had obtained an experience in this work from its very
commencement, and thus our labors would be of greater account to
His cause. I saw that my husband’s constant and excessive labor was
exhausting his fund of strength, which God would have him preserve;
that if he continued to overtask his physical and mental energies as he
had been doing, he would be using up his future resources of strength
and exhausting the capital, and would break down prematurely, and
the cause of God would be deprived of his labor. Much of the time he
was performing labor connected with the office which others might
do, or was engaged in business transactions which he should avoid.
God would have us both reserve our strength to be used when specially
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required to do that work which others could not do, and for which
He has raised us up, preserved our lives, and given us a valuable
experience; in this way we could be a benefit to His people.
I did not make this public, because it was given specially to us.
If this caution had been fully heeded, the affliction under which my
husband has been so great a sufferer would have been saved. The work
of God was urgent and seemed to allow of no relaxation or separation
from it. My husband seemed compelled to constant, wearing labor.
Anxiety for his brethren liable to the draft, and also concerning the
rebellion in Iowa, kept his mind continually strained, and the physical
energies were utterly exhausted. Instead of his having relief, burdens
never pressed heavier; and care, instead of lessening, was trebled. But
there certainly was a way of escape, or God would not have given the
caution He did and would not have permitted him to break down under
the taxation. I saw that had he not been specially sustained by God he
would have realized the prostration of his physical and mental powers
much sooner than he did.
When God speaks, He means what He says. When He cautions,
it becomes those noticed to take heed. The reason why I now speak
publicly is that the same caution which was given to my husband has
been given to others connected with the office. I saw that unless they
change their course of action, they are just as liable to be stricken
down as was my husband. I am not willing that others should suffer
as he has done. But that which is most to be dreaded is, they would
be lost for a time to the cause and work of God, when the help and
influence of all are so much needed.