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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
remain there shorn of his strength, but that in his state of weakness
he should go among his brethren who could help him bear his afflic-
tions. While separated from God’s people in our affliction, we had
an opportunity to reflect, to carefully review our past life, and see our
mistakes and wrongs, and to humble ourselves before God and seek
His face by confession, humility, and frequent, earnest prayer. While
engaged in active labor, bearing the burdens of others, and pressed
with many cares, it was impossible for us to find time to reflect and
carefully review the past, and learn the lessons which God saw that it
was necessary for us to learn. I was then shown that God could not
glorify His name by answering the supplications of His people and
raising my husband to health in answer to their prayers, while we were
at-----. It would be like uniting His power with the power of darkness.
Had He been pleased to manifest His power in restoring my husband,
the physicians there would have taken the glory which should be given
to God.
Said the angel: “God will be glorified in the restoration of His
servant to health. God has heard the prayers of His servants. His
arms are beneath His afflicted servant. God has the case, and he
must, although afflicted, dismiss his fears, his anxiety, his doubts and
unbelief, and calmly trust in the great yet merciful God, who pities,
loves, and cares for him. He will have conflicts with the enemy, but
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should ever be comforted with the remembrance that a stronger than
the enemy has charge of him, and he need not fear. By faith rely on the
evidences which God has been pleased to give, and he will gloriously
triumph in God.”
I saw that the Lord was giving us an experience which would
be of the highest value to us in the future in connection with His
work. We are living in a solemn time amid the closing scenes of
this earth’s history, and God’s people are not awake. They must
arouse and make greater progress in reforming their habits of living,
in eating, in dressing, in laboring and resting. In all these they should
glorify God and be prepared to give battle to our great foe and to enjoy
the precious victories which God has in reserve for those who are
exercising temperance in all things while striving for an incorruptible
crown.
I saw that God was fitting up my husband to engage in the solemn,
sacred work of reform which He designs shall progress among His