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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
even by some professed Christians who accepted the Bible, yet failed
to learn its great and important truths. Their blinded eyes seemed to
see but a vague and distant meaning in the solemn warning, God “hath
appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world,” and in the
assurance that the saints will be caught up together to meet the Lord
in the air.
The orthodox churches used every means to prevent the belief in
Christ’s soon coming from spreading. No liberty was granted in their
meetings to those who dared mention a hope of the soon coming of
Christ. Professed lovers of Jesus scornfully rejected the tidings that He
whom they claimed as their best friend was soon to visit them. They
were excited and angered against those who proclaimed the news of
His coming, and who rejoiced that they should speedily behold Him
in His glory.
Every moment seemed to me of the utmost importance. I felt that
we were doing work for eternity and that the careless and uninterested
were in the greatest peril. My faith was unclouded, and I appropriated
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to myself the precious promises of Jesus. He had said to His disciples:
“Ask, and ye shall receive.” I firmly believed that whatever I asked in
accordance with the will of God would certainly be granted to me. I
sank in humility at the feet of Jesus, with my heart in harmony with
His will.
I often visited families and engaged in earnest prayer with those
who were oppressed by fears and despondency. My faith was so
strong that I never doubted for a moment that God would answer my
prayers, and without a single exception the blessing and peace of Jesus
rested upon us in answer to our humble petitions, and the hearts of the
despairing ones were made joyful by light and hope.
With diligent searching of heart and humble confessions we came
prayerfully up to the time of expectation. Every morning we felt that
it was our first work to secure the evidence that our lives were right
before God. Our interest for one another increased; we prayed much
with and for one an other. We assembled in the orchards and groves to
commune with God and to offer up our petitions to Him, feeling more
fully in His presence when surrounded by His natural works. The joys
of salvation were more necessary to us than our food and drink. If
clouds obscured our minds, we dared not rest or sleep till they were
swept away by the consciousness of our acceptance with the Lord.