Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Death of My Husband 103to do His will.” He accompanied me to the Tabernacle, and opened theservices with singing and prayer. It was the last time he was ever tostand by my side in the pulpit.On the following Monday he had a severe chill, and the next dayI, too, was attacked. Together we were taken to the sanitarium fortreatment. On Friday my symptoms became more favorable. Thedoctor then informed me that my husband was inclined to sleep, andthat danger was apprehended. I was immediately taken to his room,and as soon as I looked upon his countenance I knew that he wasdying. I tried to arouse him. He understood all that was said to him,and responded to all questions that could be answered by Yes or No,but seemed unable to say more. When I told him I thought he wasdying, he manifested no surprise. I asked if Jesus was precious to him.He said “Yes, oh, yes.” “Have you no desire to live?” I inquired. Heanswered: “No.”We then knelt by his bedside, and I prayed for him. A peacefulexpression rested upon his countenance. I said to him. “Jesus lovesyou. The everlasting arms are beneath you.” He responded: “Yes, yes.”Brother Smith and other brethren then prayed around his bedside,and retired to spend much of the night in prayer. My husband said hefelt no pain; but he was evidently failing fast. Dr. Kellogg and hishelpers did all that was in their power to hold him back from death. [110]He slowly revived, but continued very weak.The next morning he seemed slightly to revive, but about noon hehad a chill, which left him unconscious. At 5 p. m., Sabbath, August 6,1881, he quietly breathed his life away, without a struggle or a groan.The shock of my husband’s death—so sudden, so unexpected—fell upon me with crushing weight. In my feeble condition I hadsummoned strength to remain at his bedside to the last, but when Isaw his eyes closed in death, exhausted nature gave way, and I wascompletely prostrated. For some time I seemed balancing between lifeand death. The vital flame burned so low that a breath might extinguishit. At night my pulse would grow feeble, and my breathing fainter andfainter till it seemed about to cease. Only by the blessing of God andthe unremitting care and watchfulness of physician and attendants wasmy life preserved.Though I had not risen from my sickbed after my husband’s death,I was borne to the Tabernacle on the following Sabbath to attend his