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Testimonies for the Church Volume 1
bringing means to publish the paper, and the good news of many souls
embracing the truth.
With the beginning of this work of publishing, we did not cease
our labors in preaching the truth, but traveled from place to place,
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proclaiming the doctrines which had brought so great light and joy to
us, encouraging the believers, correcting errors, and setting things in
order in the church. In order to carry forward the publishing enterprise,
and at the same time continue our labors in different parts of the field,
the paper was from time to time moved to different places.
In 1850 it was issued at Paris, Maine. Here it was enlarged, and
its name changed to that which it now bears, The Advent Review and
Sabbath Herald. The friends of the cause were few in numbers and
poor in worldly wealth, and we were still compelled to struggle with
poverty and great discouragement. Excessive labor, care, and anxiety,
a lack of proper and nourishing food, and exposure to cold in our long
winter journeys, were too much for my husband, and he sank under the
burden. He became so weak that he could scarcely walk to the printing
office. Our faith was tried to the utmost. We had willingly endured
privation, toil, and suffering; yet our motives were misinterpreted,
and we were regarded with distrust and jealousy. Few of those for
whose good we had suffered, seemed to appreciate our efforts. We
were too much troubled to sleep or rest. The hours in which we should
have been refreshed with sleep, were often spent in answering long
communications occasioned by envy; and many hours while others
were sleeping we spent in agonizing tears, and mourning before the
Lord. At length my husband said: “Wife, it is of no use to try to
struggle on any longer. These things are crushing me, and will soon
carry me to the grave. I cannot go any farther. I have written a note
for the paper stating that I shall publish no more.” As he stepped out
of the door to carry it to the printing office, I fainted. He came back
and prayed for me; his prayer was answered, and I was relieved.
The next morning, while at family prayer, I was taken off in vision,
and was shown concerning these matters. I saw that my husband must
not give up the paper; for such a step was just what Satan was trying
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to drive him to take, and he was working through agents to do this. I
was shown that we must continue to publish, and that the Lord would
sustain us; that those who had been guilty of casting upon us such
burdens would have to see the extent of their cruel course, and come