136 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
exposed to a powerful stream of cold water. We tried to protect our
heads by covering them with our hands; but as soon as we lifted our
hands for this purpose, our attendant gave us a blow on the head.
Finally my comrade fell to the floor in a swoon, and as he fell, his
crutch [he was lame] struck me in the side with such force that I also
fell, completely exhausted. We lay in the water until we regained our
strength, when the same treatment was repeated. This done, we were
again taken before the doctor, who noticed that we trembled from cold
[205]
and exhaustion, and said, ‘I will soon warm you up.’ He produced a
large bundle of sticks, and beat us with them until he could do so no
longer.
“On the second day after this, we were again brought out for trial,
and were told that we would be scourged until we should be compelled
to swear. After consultation with each other we repeated the curses
mentioned in
Deuteronomy 28:15-20
, which God uttered against those
who would not obey his voice. Through the sympathy of the watchman,
it was represented to the governor that we had fulfilled the injunction,
and we were then set at liberty.”
They were permitted to return home, but the harsh treatment they
had received brought upon both a severe illness, which it was feared,
for a time, would prove fatal. Both recovered, however, and afterward
preached with greater power than before. Hundreds of people came to
their meetings, and the neighborhood for many miles around became
stirred. Many hardened and wicked persons were led to seek God, and
secret sins and crimes were confessed.
Efforts were again made to have them arrested; but persons who
sympathized with them appealed to the king in their behalf, and se-
cured an order that they should not be molested. From that time they
continued to labor undisturbed. About the middle of the year 1844,
however, the power which they had before possessed left them. The
truths they had presented appeared as clear and forcible as ever; but the
warning having been given, the special manifestation of God’s Spirit
which had been bestowed to aid its proclamation ceased.