I was then shown that I must visit Massachusetts,
and there bear my testimony. When we reached Boston, I learned that T.,
who opposed me in Maine, arrived a few hours before. We considered our
being sent to Massachusetts just at that time, was to save God's people
from falling under his influence.
It was arranged that I should go to Roxbury and
there relate my message. I found a large company collected in a private
house. I felt the opposition that existed in the hearts of my brethren
and sisters, yet in the strength of the Lord delivered my unpopular
message. As I was speaking, a sister who had been opposed to me, arose
and interrupted me.
She grasped my hand, saying, "I said that the
Devil sent you, but I can doubt no longer," and she declared to those
present that I was a child of God, and that he had sent me. All in the
meeting were greatly blessed.
The power of the Lord attended the testimony, and
every heart was comforted and refreshed. T. Haskins who had usually led
in their meetings, arose with his countenance beaming with joy, and
said, "The same power attends this, that attended the truth in 1844. I
do not expect to find another so green a spot this side of our
deliverance."
We next visited Bro. Nichols' family in
Dorchester, and had a meeting there of the deepest interest. Again H.
testified that the Lord had abundantly blessed him, and that he could go
forty days on the strength he there received. But T. was exerting his
influence to discourage and close up my way by spreading lying reports
concerning me.
H., who had been made so happy as he received my
testimony, fell under the influence of T., and as his mind turned, he
became unsettled, then unstable. It was evident that he was rejecting
the counsel of God against himself. He seemed unhappy, and finally went
into the spiritual view of the second advent, and received the grossest
errors, neglected his family, took a spiritual wife, and his lawful wife
died of a broken heart.
I next visited Randolph, New Bedford and Carver.
The Lord gave me liberty in all these places to bear my testimony, which
was generally received, and the desponding and weak were strengthened. I
made it my home at the house of Bro. O. Nichols.
They were ever ready with words of encouragement
to comfort me when in trial, and often their prayers ascended to heaven
in my behalf, until the clouds were dispersed, and the light of heaven
again cheered me. Nor did their kindness end here. They were attentive
to my wants, and generously supplied me with means to travel. They were
reproached because they took a stand in favor of my visions, and on
account of this they were obliged to be in almost constant conflict, for
many were anxious to turn them against me. A faithful record is kept of
their acts of love and benevolence. They will not lose their reward.
He that seeth in secret is acquainted with every
kind and generous act, and will reward them openly. Soon H., who had
opposed me in Maine, came in great haste to Massachusetts with a
document to destroy my influence. I have never had the privilege of
reading it, or hearing it read, and have not been able to obtain a copy
of it to this day. This document was read in my absence, when I could
not answer for myself. As near as I can learn, H. got up the document,
then urged a sister, who was occasionally with me during the two weeks
of my extreme sickness, when my mind wandered, as stated on page 51, to
sign it.
She was then on a sick bed, suffering great
confusion of mind, and to get rid of H., consented to have him sign her
name to the document. At a later period this sister confessed to me in
tears her regret that her name was ever attached to the document. She
is not a Sabbath-keeper, yet has since cheerfully given her name to a
certificate on another page which kills the slanderous document. May the
Lord lead this sister to embrace the third message, and may we again
enjoy sweet union as when at her altar of prayer, I had my first vision
as stated on page 30.
We learned from one who had heard the document
read in Boston and Roxbury, that H. had gone to Carver to read it there.
At first I felt distressed. I could not see why God should suffer me
thus to be reproached. I had to suffer anguish of spirit for others, and
now my character was attacked. For a short time I sunk in
discouragement. But as I went before the Lord with this severe trial, he
gave me grace to bear it. His strong arm supported me.
I was not suffering as an evil-doer, but for
Christ's sake, and how many had suffered the same before me, even Jesus,
the Saviour of the world, was reproached and falsely accused, and these
words seemed ever before me, "Are ye able to drink of the cup?" Can "ye
be baptized with the baptism?"
I felt, as I was bowed before the Lord, that I
could say, Let me know the fellowship of Christ's sufferings. I knew
what was reported as being in that document was false, and Jesus knew
it, then why should I be troubled? I fully believed that Jesus was soon
to come, and then my name, which was handled so maliciously here, would
be justified.
I there consecrated myself, my name and all, to
God, and with reconciliation could say, Only let my poor name be written
in the Lamb's book of life, and men may handle it just as God suffers
them.
Let me suffer with Christ that I may reign with
him. My sister had previously gone to Carver, expecting Bro. Nichols to
bring me in a few days. She was present at the reading of that document.
She suffered on my account. H. said in the morning that he had been in a
horror of darkness all night.
No wonder. He feared my sister would expose him in
his past fanatical course; but she would not condescend to mention those
groveling acts of fanaticism in that portion of his career that she was
acquainted with. I bear no ill will to those who used me thus. In a
little from this the slanderer and the liar will receive their reward.
That which they have sown they shall also reap. I could look up and
rejoice from the depths of my heart, that there was a living God, Judge
over all, who is acquainted with every heart, and to him I committed my
cause.
In a few weeks I visited Carver, and found that a
few had been influenced by H. But in many instances where the way had
been previously closed up, it was now opened, and I had more friends
than I had before. There was a young sister in the house where we
tarried who was subject to fits, and she was afflicted with this most
distressing disease while we were there. All seemed to be alarmed.
Some said, "Go for the doctor;" others, "Put on
the tea-kettle for hot water." I felt the spirit of prayer. We prayed to
the Lord to deliver the afflicted. In the name and strength of Jesus I
put my arms around her, and lifted her up from the bed, and rebuked the
power of Satan, and bid her, "Go free."
She was instantly brought out of the fit, and
praised the Lord with us. We had a solemn, refreshing season in this
place. We told them that we had not come to defend character, or to
expose the wickedness of men who were laboring to destroy our influence,
but to do our Master's will, and God would take care of the result of
the efforts made by designing men. Our hearts were strengthened and the
church encouraged.
About this time sister C. S. Minor came from
Philadelphia, and we met in Boston. Different errors were affecting the
Advent people. The spiritual view of Christ's coming, that great
deception of Satan, was ensnaring many, and we were often obliged,
through a sense of duty, to bear a strong testimony against it. Sr. M.'s
influence went in favor of spiritualism, although she felt unwilling to
acknowledge it.
Those who would stand clear from this influence
were obliged to be decided, and have nothing to do with it, but in the
fear of God bear their testimony against it. As we were about to journey
to New Bedford, a special message came to me from Sr. M. to come and
relate what the Lord had shown me. Bro. N. took my sister and myself to
the house where quite a number were collected. There were individuals
present whom I had been shown were strong fanatics. They dealt in a
human or satanic influence, and called it the Spirit of God.
I had not seen them before with my natural eyes,
yet their countenances were familiar; for their errors and corrupting
influence had been shown me and I felt forbidden to relate my vision in
such a company. There were some present that we loved; but they had been
led away in this deception. The leading ones considered this a favorable
opportunity to exert their influence over me, and cause me to yield to
their views. I knew their only object was to mangle the visions,
spiritualize away their literal meaning, and throw a satanic influence
upon me, and call it the power of God.
Sr. M. addressed me, urging me to relate the
visions. I respected her, but knew she was deceived in regard to that
company. I refused to relate my vision to them, only that part which
related to them. We told them we had no fellowship for their spirit, and
in the name of God would resist it. They flattered; but it had no
effect. Then they tried to terrify me, commanding me. They said it was
my duty to tell them the visions. I faithfully warned those whom I
believed to be honest, and begged them to renounce their errors, and
leave the company that was leading them astray. I left them, free from
their influence and spirit. A portion of that company in a few weeks
were left to run into the basest fanaticism.
Those were troublesome times. If we had not stood
stiffly then, we should have made shipwreck of our faith. Some said we
were stubborn; but we were obliged to set our faces as a flint, and turn
not to the right hand nor to the left.
Those who believed in the spiritual coming of
Christ, were so insinuating, like the serpent in the garden, to suit
their purpose they would profess such a mild, meek spirit, that we had
to be on our guard, strengthened on every side with scripture testimony
concerning the literal, personal appearing of our Saviour.
I have often seen the lovely Jesus, that he is a
person. I asked him if his Father was a person, and had a form like
himself. Said Jesus, "I am in the express image of my Father's Person."
I have often seen that the spiritual view took away the glory of heaven,
and that in many minds the throne of David, and the lovely person of
Jesus had been burned up in the fire of spiritualism.