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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry
of the third angel, they will be found wanting. The refreshing or power
of God comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by
doing the work which God bids them, namely, cleansing themselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God.
I was shown that in some respects my husband’s case is similar to
that of those waiting for the refreshing. If he should wait for the power
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of God to come upon his body, to feel that he was made whole before
he made efforts in accordance with his faith, saying, When the Lord
heals me I will believe and do this or that, he might continue to wait
and would realize no change, for the fulfillment of God’s promise is
only realized by those who believe and then work in accordance with
their faith. I saw that he must believe God’s word, that His promises
are for him to claim, and they will never, no, never, fail. He should
walk out by faith, relying upon the evidences that God has been pleased
to give, and work, as much as possible, to the point of becoming a
well man. Said the angel: “God will sustain him. His faith must be
made perfect by works, for faith alone is dead. It must be sustained by
works. A living faith is always manifested by works.”
I saw that my husband would be inclined to shrink from making
efforts in accordance with his faith. Fear and anxiety in regard to
his own case have made him timid. He looks at appearances, at
disagreeable feelings of the body. Said the angel: “Feeling is not faith.
Faith is simply to take God at His word.” I saw that in the name and
strength of God my husband must resist disease and, by the power of
his will, rise above his poor feelings. He must assert his liberty, in the
name and strength of Israel’s God. He must cease thinking and talking
about himself as much as possible. He should be cheerful and happy.
* * * * *
I did see, December 25, 1865, as I have many times before seen,
that Elder F had often erred and had done much harm by a rash,
unfeeling course toward those whom he supposed to be in fault. I had
often seen that his work was in new fields, and that when he should
bring out a company upon the present truth he should leave the work
of disciplining them to others, as his style of dealing, arising from