be with him.
As our series of meetings in this place was near its close, Brother
Spooner of Tuscola came for us to visit that county. We sent
appointments by him as he returned on Monday, and we followed on
Thursday after the baptism. At Vassar we held our meetings Sabbath
and first day at the union schoolhouse. This was a free place in which
to speak, and we saw good fruit of our labors. First-day afternoon about
thirty backsliders, and children who had made no profession, came
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forward. This was a very interesting and profitable meeting. Some were
drawing back from the cause, for whom we especially felt to labor. But
the time was short, and it seemed to me that we should leave the work
unfinished. But our appointments were out for St. Charles and Alma,
and to meet them we must close our labors in Vassar on Monday.
That night what I had seen in vision concerning certain persons in
Tuscola County was revived in a dream, and I was still more impressed
that my work for that people was not done. Yet I saw no other way only
to go on to our appointments. Tuesday we journeyed thirty-two miles
to St. Charles and stopped for the night with Brother Griggs. Here I
wrote fifteen pages of testimony, and attended meeting in the evening.
Wednesday morning we decided to return to Tuscola if Brother Andrews
would fill the appointment at Alma. To this he agreed. That morning I
wrote fifteen pages more, attended a meeting and spoke one hour, and
we rode thirty-three miles with Brother and Sister Griggs to Brother
Spooner’s in Tuscola. Thursday morning we went to Watrousville, a
distance of sixteen miles. I wrote sixteen pages, and attended an evening
meeting, in which I gave a very pointed testimony to one present. The
next morning I wrote twelve pages before breakfast, and returned to
Tuscola, and wrote eight pages more.
Sabbath my husband spoke in the forenoon, and I followed for
two hours before taking food. The meeting was then closed for a
few moments, and I took a little food, and afterward spoke in a social
meeting for one hour, bearing pointed testimonies for several present.
These testimonies were generally received with feelings of humility and
gratitude. I cannot, however, say that all were so received.
The next morning, as we were about to leave for the house of worship
to engage in the arduous labors of the day, a sister for whom I had a
testimony that she lacked discretion and
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caution, and did not fully control her words and actions, came in with her
husband and manifested feelings of great unreconciliation and agitation.
She commenced to talk and to weep. She murmured a little, and
confessed a little, and justified self considerably. She had a wrong idea
of many things I had stated to her. Her pride was touched as I brought out
her faults in so public a manner. Here was evidently the main difficulty.
But why should she feel thus? The brethren and sisters knew these things
were so, therefore I was not informing them of anything new. But I doubt
not that it was new to the sister herself. She did not know herself, and
could not properly judge of her own words and acts. This is in a degree
true of nearly all, hence the necessity of faithful reproofs in the church
and the cultivation by all its members of love for the plain testimony.
Her husband seemed to feel unreconciled to my bringing out her
faults before the church and stated that if Sister White had followed the
directions of our Lord in Matthew 18:15-17 he should not have felt hurt:
“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his
fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained
thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be
established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church:
but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen
man and a publican.”
My husband then stated that he should understand that these words
of our Lord had reference to cases of personal trespass, and could not be
applied in the case of this sister. She had not trespassed against Sister
White. But that which had been reproved publicly was public wrongs
which threatened the prosperity of the church and the cause. Here, said
my husband, is a text applicable to the case: 1 Timothy 5:20 : “Them
that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”
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The brother acknowledged his error like a Christian and seemed
reconciled to the matter. It was evident that since the meeting of Sabbath
afternoon they had got many things about the matter wonderfully
magnified and wrong. It was therefore proposed that the written
testimony be read. When this was done, the sister who was reproved
by it, inquired: “Is that what you stated yesterday?” I replied that it was.
She seemed surprised and quite reconciled to the written testimony. This
I gave her, without reserving a copy. Here I did wrong. But I had such
tender regard for her and her husband, and such ardent desires and hopes
for their prosperity, that, in this case, I broke over an established custom.
Already meeting time was passing, and we hastened one mile and
a half to the waiting congregation. The reader may judge whether the
scene of that morning was well adapted to aid us in the collection of
thought and nerve necessary to stand before the people. But who thinks
of this? Some may, and show a little mercy, while the impulsive and
careless will come with their burdens and trials, generally just before we
are to speak, or when perfectly exhausted by speaking. My husband,
however, summoned all his energies, and by request spoke with freedom
on the law and the gospel. I had received an invitation to speak in the
afternoon in the new house of worship recently built and dedicated by the
Methodists. This commodious building was crowded, and many were
obliged to stand. I spoke with freedom for about an hour and a half upon
the first of the two great commandments repeated by our Lord, and was
surprised to learn that it was the same from which the Methodist minister
had spoken in the forenoon. He and his people were present to hear what
I had to say.
In the evening we had a precious interview at Brother Spooner’s with
Brethren Miller, Hatch, and Haskell, and Sisters Sturges, Bliss, Harrison,
and Malin. We now felt
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that our work for the present was done in Tuscola County. We became
very much interested in this dear people, yet feared that the sister
referred to, for whom I had a testimony, would let Satan take advantage
of her and cause them trouble. I felt an earnest desire that she might
view the matter in its true light. The course she had been pursuing was
destroying her influence in the church and outside of it. But now, if she
would receive the needed reproof, and humbly seek to improve by it,
the church would take her anew into their hearts, and the people would
think more of her Christianity. And what is better still, she could enjoy
the approving smiles of her dear Redeemer. Would she fully receive the
testimony? was my anxious inquiry. I feared that she would not and
that the hearts of the brethren in that county would be saddened on her
account.
After returning home, I sent to her for a copy of the testimony, and
on the 15th of April received the following, dated at Denmark, April 11,
1868: “Sister White: Yours of the 23d ult. Is at hand. Am sorry I cannot
comply with your request.”
I shall still cherish the tenderest feelings of regard for this family,
and shall be happy to help them when I can. It is true that such treatment
from those for whom I give my life casts a shade of sadness over me;
but my course has been so plainly marked out for me that I cannot let
such things keep me from the path of duty. As I returned from the
post office with the above note, feeling rather depressed in spirit, I took
the Bible, and opened it with the prayer that I might find comfort and
support therein, and my eye rested directly upon the following words
of the prophet: “Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak
unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest
I confound thee before them. For, behold, I have made thee this day a
defensed city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land,
against the
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
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kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against