6 A Sketch of the Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White
Lord, and promised that I would do and suffer any thing if I could
have the smiles of Jesus. The same duty was presented. There was to
be a prayer meeting that evening which I attended, and when others
knelt to pray I bowed with them trembling, and after two or three had
prayed, I opened my mouth in prayer before I was aware of it, and
the promises of God looked to me like so many precious pearls that
were to be received by only asking for them. As I prayed the burden
and agony of soul that I had so long felt left me, and the blessing of
God came upon me like the gentle dew, and I gave glory to God for
what I felt, but I longed for more. I could not be satisfied till I was
filled with the fullness of God. Inexpressible love for Jesus filled my
soul. Wave after wave of glory rolled over me until my body grew
stiff. Everything was shut out from me but Jesus and glory, and I knew
nothing of what was passing around me.
I remained in this state of body and mind a long time, and when
I realized what was around me, everything seemed changed. Every
thing looked glorious and new, as if smiling and praising God. I was
then willing to confess Jesus everywhere. For six months not a cloud
of darkness passed over my mind. My soul was daily drinking rich
draughts of salvation. I thought that those who loved Jesus would love
his coming, so went to the class-meeting and told them what Jesus had
done for me, and what a fullness I enjoyed through believing that the
Lord was coming. The class-leader interrupted me saying, “Through
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Methodism,” but I could not give the glory to Methodism, when it was
Christ and the hope of his soon coming that had made me free.
My father’s family were most all full believers in the Advent, and
for bearing testimony to this glorious doctrine, seven of us were at one
time cast out of the Methodist Church. At this time the words of the
Prophet were exceedingly precious to us.
“Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s
sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy,
and they shall be ashamed.”
Isaiah 66:5
.
From this time, up to December, 1844, my joys, trials and disap-
pointments were like those of my dear Advent friends around me. At
this time I visited one of our Advent sisters, and in the morning we
bowed around the family altar. It was not an exciting occasion, and
there were but five of us present, all females. While praying the power
of God came upon me as I never had felt it before, and I was wrapt up