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Deceitfulness of Riches
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destitute, helpless condition, and your heart well-nigh fainted. At
this time, through the influence of Adventists who had united with
the Shakers, and in whom you had confidence because they had been
your friends in time of need, you were induced to go among that sect
for a time. But the angels of God did not leave you. They ministered
unto you and were as a wall of fire round about you. Especially
did the holy angels protect you from the deceptive influences which
prevail among that people. The Shakers believed that you would
unite your interest with theirs; and they thought that if they could
induce you to become one of them, you would be a great help to their
cause; for you would make an ardent member of their society. They
would have given you a high position among them. Some of the
Shakers had received spiritual manifestations, telling them that you
were designed of God to be a prominent member of their society;
but that you were one who should not be urged; that kindness would
have a powerful influence where force or pressure would cause a
failure of their hopes.
Magnetism was exercised among them in a powerful manner.
Through this power they flattered themselves that you would be
brought to view things in the same light in which they viewed them.
You were not aware of all the arts and deception used to bring about
their purpose. The Lord preserved you. There seemed to be a circle
of light round about you, proceeding from the ministering angels, so
that the darkness which prevailed about you did not cloud the circle
of light. The Lord opened the way for you to leave that deceived
community, and you left unharmed, the principles of your faith as
pure as when you went among them.
Your diseased arm was a great affliction. You had turned to the
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right and to the left for help. You had consented to have a woman
try her boasted skill upon you. This woman was a special agent
of Satan. Through her experiments, you nearly lost your life. The
poison introduced into your system was sufficient to kill a person
of the most robust constitution. Here again God interposed, or your
life would have been sacrificed.
Every means you had resorted to for the recovery of health had
failed. Not only your arm, but your entire system, was diseased.
Your lungs were affected, and you were fast going down to death.
At this time you felt that God alone could deliver. You could do one