Testimonies for the Church Vol 1 - Lansing SDA Church

Call to Travel 63Like a tender father he tried to encourage and comfort me, bidding mebelieve I was not forsaken by the Friend of sinners.I felt too weak and despondent to make any special effort formyself, but my heart united with the petitions of my friends. I caredlittle now for the opposition of the world, and felt willing to makeevery sacrifice if only the favor of God might be restored to me. Whileprayer was offered for me, the thick darkness that had encompassedme rolled back, and a sudden light came upon me. My strength wastaken away. I seemed to be in the presence of the angels. One of theseholy beings again repeated the words: “Make known to others what Ihave revealed to you.”One great fear that oppressed me was that if I obeyed the call ofduty, and went out declaring myself to be one favored of the MostHigh with visions and revelations for the people, I might yield tosinful exaltation and be lifted above the station that was right for meto occupy, bring upon myself the displeasure of God, and lose my ownsoul. I had before me several cases such as I have here described, andmy heart shrank from the trying ordeal. [65]I now entreated that if I must go and relate what the Lord hadshown me, I should be preserved from undue exaltation. Said theangel: “Your prayers are heard and shall be answered. If this evilthat you dread threatens you, the hand of God will be stretched out tosave you; by affliction He will draw you to Himself and preserve yourhumility. Deliver the message faithfully. Endure unto the end, and youshall eat the fruit of the tree of life and drink of the water of life.”After recovering consciousness of earthly things, I committedmyself to the Lord, ready to do His bidding whatever that might be.Providentially, the way opened for me to go with my brother-in-lawto my sisters in Poland, thirty miles from my home. I there had anopportunity to bear my testimony.For three months my throat and lungs had been so diseased that Icould talk but little, and that in a low and husky tone. On this occasion Istood up in meeting and commenced speaking in a whisper. I continuedthus for about five minutes, when the soreness and obstruction left mythroat and lungs, my voice became clear and strong, and I spoke withperfect ease and freedom for nearly two hours. When my message wasended, my voice was gone until I again stood before the people, whenthe same singular restoration was repeated. I felt a constant assurance