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Testimonies for the Church Volume 4
interesting and calculated to stir the soul to its very depths, being a
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relation of the trial, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ.
Before we were aware of it, he was very weary. He commenced labor
on Sunday at five o’clock in the morning and continued working until
twelve at night.
The next morning, at about half past six, he was attacked with
giddiness and was threatened with paralysis. We greatly feared this
dreadful disease, but the Lord was merciful and spared us the afflic-
tion. However, his attack was followed by great physical and mental
prostration; and now, indeed, it seemed impossible for us to attend
the Eastern camp meetings, or for me to attend them and leave my
husband, depressed in spirits and in feeble health.
When my husband was thus prostrated, I said: “This is the work
of the enemy. We must not submit to his power. God will work in
our behalf.” On Wednesday we had a special season of prayer that the
blessing of God might rest upon him and restore him to health. We also
asked for wisdom that we might know our duty in regard to attending
the camp meetings. The Lord had many times strengthened our faith to
go forth and work for Him under discouragements and infirmities; and
at such times He had wonderfully preserved and upheld us. But our
friends pleaded that we ought to rest and that it appeared inconsistent
and unreasonable for us to attempt such a journey and incur the fatigue
and exposure of camp life. We ourselves tried to think that the cause
of God would go forward the same if we were set aside and had no
part to act in it. God would raise up others to do His work.
I could not, however, find rest and freedom in the thought of
remaining away from the field of labor. It seemed to me that Satan was
striving to hedge up my way to prevent me from bearing my testimony
and from doing the work that God had given me to do. I had about
decided to go alone and do my part, trusting in God to give me the
needful strength, when we received a letter from Brother Haskell, in
which he expressed gratitude to God that Brother and Sister White
would attend the New England camp meeting. Elder Canright had
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written that he could not be present, as he would be unable to leave the
interest in Danvers, and also that none of the company could be spared
from the tent. Elder Haskell stated in his letter that all preparations
had been made for a large meeting at Groveland; and he had decided