138 Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists
Many were weeping and sighing. They were told that time was given
them to repent, but they must do it immediately, and not put it off.
“We went home with stricken and trembling hearts. I felt that I
must take my Bible, which I thought I had carefully studied, and search
it yet deeper. I could hardly work the following week. My thoughts
were constantly running on God’s word, and the sharp reproofs and
expositions I had heard from that little child, who probably had not
even learned to read.
“A great awakening commenced among the people. Many drunk-
ards became sober men; thieves returned stolen property, and confessed
their sins; forgiveness was asked for wrongs done. A work was ac-
complished such as no preacher with learning and great talent could
have effected.”
“A girl who resided in Ljung Parish continued also to preach as
long as the first angel’s message was proclaimed. When that ceased,
she was imbued with a spirit of prayer, and often went out into the
woods and other solitary places, and these earnestly besought the Lord
to have mercy on the fallen race of humanity. She was very quiet and
reserved, and showed by her Christian walk and conversation that she
loved the Saviour, and was trying to live in obedience to God’s holy
requirements.”
Years ago, the work of the first message in these countries was
presented before me, and I was shown circumstances similar to those
related above. It was God’s will that the tidings of the Saviour’s coming
should be given in Sweden, and when the voices of his servants were
silenced, he put his Spirit upon the children, that the work might be
accomplished. When Jesus drew near to Jerusalem attended by the
rejoicing multitudes who with shouts of triumph and the waving of
palm branches heralded him as the Son of David, the jealous Pharisees
called upon him to silence them; but Jesus answered that all this was
the fulfillment of prophecy, and if these should hold their peace the
very stones would cry out. The people, intimidated by the threats of
the priests and rulers, ceased their joyful proclamation as they entered
the gates of Jerusalem; but the children in the temple courts afterward
took up the refrain, and, waving their branches of palm, they cried,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!” When the Pharisees, sorely displeased,
said unto him, “Hearest thou what these say?” Jesus answered, “Yea;
have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast