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Moral Pollution
313
united in praying for the afflicted family. We were much worn, and
had the burden of labor upon us during the meeting, and wished to
be excused.
I had resolved not to engage in prayer for anyone unless the
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Spirit of the Lord should dictate in the matter. I had been shown
that there was so much iniquity abounding, even among professed
Sabbathkeepers, that I did not wish to unite in prayer for those of
whose history I had no knowledge. I stated my reason. I was assured
by the brethren that, as far as they knew, he was a worthy brother. I
conversed a few words with the one who had solicited our prayers
that he might be healed, but I could not feel free. He wept, and said
that he had waited for us to come, and he felt assured that if we
would pray for him he would be restored to health. We told him
that we were unacquainted with his life, that we would rather those
who knew him would pray for him. He importuned us so earnestly
that we decided to consider his case and present it before the Lord
that night; and if the way seemed clear, we would comply with his
request.
That night we bowed in prayer and presented his case before the
Lord. We entreated that we might know the will of God concerning
him. All we desired was that God might be glorified. Would the
Lord have us pray for this afflicted man? We left the burden with the
Lord and retired to rest. In a dream the case of that man was clearly
presented. His course from his childhood up was shown, and that if
we should pray the Lord would not hear us; for he regarded iniquity
in his heart. The next morning the man came for us to pray for him.
We took him aside and told him we were sorry to be compelled to
refuse his request. I related my dream, which he acknowledged was
true. He had practiced self-abuse from his boyhood up, and he had
continued the practice during his married life, but said he would try
to break himself of it.
This man had a long-established habit to overcome. He was
in the middle age of life. His moral principles were so weak that
when brought in conflict with long-established indulgence they were
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overcome. The baser passions had gained the ascendancy over the
higher nature. I asked him in regard to health reform. He said he
could not live it. His wife would throw graham flour out of doors
if it were brought into the house. This family had been helped by