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Counsels on Health
An Example of Degradation
My husband and myself once attended a meeting where our sym-
pathies were enlisted for a brother who was a great sufferer with the
phthisic. He was pale and emaciated. He requested the prayers of the
people of God. He said that his family were sick, and that he had lost
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a child. He spoke with feeling of his bereavement. He said that he
had been waiting for some time to see Brother and Sister White. He
believed that if they would pray for him, he would be healed. After the
meeting closed, the brethren called our attention to the case. They said
that the church was assisting them; that his wife was sick, and his child
had died. The brethren had met at his house, and 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 Spirit
of the Lord should dictate in the matter. I had been shown that there
was so much iniquity abounding, even among professed Sabbathkeep-
ers, 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.
The 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
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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