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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
This was believed by the family to be a manifestation of the Spirit
of God, but did not convince them that it was the same divine power
that had rested upon me at times, robbing me of my natural strength
and filling my soul with the peace and love of Jesus. They were free
to say that my sincerity and perfect honesty could not be doubted, but
they considered me self-deceived in taking that for the power of the
Lord which was only the result of my own overwrought feelings.
My mind was in great perplexity in consequence of this opposition,
and as the time drew near for our regular meeting, I was in doubt
whether or not it was best for me to attend it. For some days previous I
had been in great distress on account of the feeling manifested toward
me. Finally I decided to remain at home, and thus escape the criticism
of my brethren. In trying to pray, I repeated these words again and
again: “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” The answer that came
to my heart seemed to bid me trust in my heavenly Father and wait
patiently to know His will. I yielded myself to the Lord with the simple
trust of a little child, remembering He had promised that those who
follow Him shall not walk in darkness.
A sense of duty impelled me to go to the meeting, and I went with
the full assurance in my mind that all would be well. While we were
bowed before the Lord, my heart was drawn out in prayer and filled
with a peace that only Christ can give. My soul rejoiced in the love of
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the Saviour, and physical strength left me. With childlike faith I could
only say: “Heaven is my home, and Christ my Redeemer.”
One of the family before mentioned as being opposed to the mani-
festations of the power of God upon me, on this occasion stated his
belief that I was under an excitement which he thought it my duty to
resist, but instead of doing so, he thought I encouraged it as a mark
of God’s favor. His doubts and opposition did not affect me at this
time, for I seemed shut in with the Lord, and lifted above all outward
influence; but he had scarcely stopped speaking when a strong man, a
devoted and humble Christian, was struck down before his eyes by the
power of God, and the room was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Upon recovering, I was very happy in bearing my testimony for
Jesus and in telling of His love for me. I confessed my lack of faith
in the promises of God and my error in checking the promptings of
His Spirit from fear of men, and acknowledged that, notwithstanding
my distrust, He had bestowed upon me unlooked-for evidence of His