Spiritual Gifts, Volume 2

155 Pages·2011·0.65 MB·English

by  Ellen G. White

Spiritual Gifts. Volume 2
Ellen G. White
1860
Copyright © 2011
Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.

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AbouttheAuthor
Ellen G.White (1827-1915)is considered themost widelytranslated Americanauthor, her
works having been published in more than 160 languages. She wrote more than 100,000
pages on a wide variety of spiritual and practical topics. Guided by the Holy Spirit, she
exaltedJesusandpointedtotheScripturesasthebasisofone’sfaith.
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i
Preface
Having bornemy testimony, andscattered, severalbooks containing myvisions, in the
Eastern,Middle,andWesternStates,andformedmanyhappyacquaintances,Ihavefeltit
myduty togive tomyfriendsand totheworlda sketchofmy Christian experience, visions,
andlaborsinconnectionwiththeriseandprogressofthethirdangel’smessage.
In preparing the following pages, I have labored under great disadvantages, as I have
had to depend in many instances, on memory, having kept no journal till within a few
years. In several instances I have sent the manuscripts to friends who were present when
the circumstances related occurred, for their examination before they were put in print. I
havetakengreatcare,andhavespentmuchtime,inendeavoringtostatethesimple facts as
correctlyaspossible.
I have, however, been much assisted in arriving at dates by the many letters which I
wrotetoBro. S.Howlandandfamily,ofTopsham,Me. Astheyfortheperiodoffiveyears
hadthecareofmyHenry,Ifeltitmydutytowritetothemoften,and
[4]
give them my experience, my joys, trials, and victories. In many instances I have copied
fromtheseletters.
Asthecry ofMormonismisoftenraised, especiallyinthewest,at theintroductionof
theBibleargumentoftheperpetuityofspiritualgifts,Ihavefeltanxiousthatmybrethren
shouldknowwhat myexperiencehasbeen,andwhereithasbeen.
WhenatKnoxville,Iowa,March,1860,welearnedthatamanhadbeenreportingthat
heknewmeandmyhusbandtwentyyearsago,whenwewereleadersamongtheMormans
[Mormons]atNauvoo! AtthattimeIwasonlytwelveyearsold!
The statements in this work, backed up by the testimonies of those who have been
personallyacquaintedwithmyexperienceandlaborsforthepastsixteenyears,mayhelp
themindsofsome. Thetongueofslanderwillnotharmunworthyme. Ithasbeenwiththe
hopetobenefit,insomedegree,thecauseoftruth,thatIhavepreparedthiswork. Andmay
Godaddhisblessing,thatitmayfeedandcheerthelittleflock.
E.G.W.
[5]
ii
Contents
InformationaboutthisBook .................................................. i
Preface ....................................................................ii
Chapter1—MyMisfortune ................................................... 4
Chapter2—TheAdventFaith ................................................. 7
Chapter3—FeelingsofDespair................................................ 9
Chapter4—TheMethodistChurch ............................................12
Chapter5—OppositionofFormalBrethren .....................................14
Chapter6—MyFirstVision..................................................16
Chapter7—CalltoTravel ...................................................19
Chapter8—FanaticisminMaine..............................................25
Chapter9—VisionoftheNewEarth........................................... 27
Chapter10—TrialsandVictories .............................................30
Chapter11—VisittoMassachusetts ...........................................35
Chapter12—MeetingatRandolph ............................................39
Chapter13—ReturntoMaine ................................................ 41
Chapter14—VisittoConnecticut .............................................46
Chapter15—WesternNewYork ..............................................49
Chapter16—ReturntoConnecticut ...........................................53
Chapter17—VisittoMass. andN.H ..........................................55
Chapter18—PublishingandTraveling.........................................58
Chapter19—VisittoVermontandMaine.......................................64
Chapter20—PublishingAgain ...............................................68
Chapter21—TheReviewandHerald ..........................................72
Chapter22—RemovaltoSaratogaSprings .....................................76
Chapter23—RemovaltoRochester ...........................................80
Chapter24—EasternTour ...................................................83
Chapter25—NathanielandAnna ............................................. 87
Chapter26—LaborsinMichigan .............................................90
Chapter27—SecondVisittoMichigan ........................................94
Chapter28—ExtremeTrials ................................................. 97
Chapter29—CaptivityTurned............................................... 101
Chapter30—TheWest .....................................................106
Chapter31—TheLaodiceanTestimony ....................................... 111
Chapter32—SystematicBenevolence ........................................115
Chapter33—VisionatMonterey.............................................119
Chapter34—YoungSabbath-keepers .........................................125
Chapter35—VisittoOhio ..................................................132
Chapter36—VisittoIllinois ................................................136
Chapter37—TestimonyfortheChurch .......................................138
iii
Chapter 1—My Misfortune
Attheageofnineyearsanaccidenthappenedtomewhichwastoaffectmywholelife.
In companywith mytwin sister, andone ofour schoolmates,I wascrossing acommon in
the city of Portland, Maine, when a girl about thirteen years old followed us, threatening
to strike us. My parents had taught me never to contend with any one, but if we were in
danger of being injured, to hasten away and return home. We were doing this, running
towardshome,butthegirlwasfollowinguswithastoneinherhand. Iturnedtoseehowfar
she was behind me, and as I turned, the stone hit me on my nose. I fell senseless. When
I revived, I found myself in a merchant’s store, the blood streaming from my nose, my
garmentscoveredwithblood,andalargestreamofbloodonthefloor.
A kind stranger offered to take me home in his carriage. I knew not how weak I was,
andtoldhimIshouldgreatlysoilhiscarriagewith
[8]
blood, and that I could walk home. Those present were not aware that I was so seriously
injured. I had walked but a few rods when I grew dizzy and faint. My twin sister and my
schoolmate carried me home. I have no recollection of anything for some time after the
accident. My mother says that I noticed nothing, but lay in a stupid state for three weeks.
Noonethought Iwouldliveexceptmy mother. For some reasonshefeltthatI wouldnot
die. A kind neighbor, who had interested herself much in my behalf, at one time thought
me to be dying, and wished to purchase a robe for me. Mother said to her, “Not yet;” for
somethingtoldherthatIwouldnotdie.
AsIarousedtoconsciousness,itseemedtomethatIhadbeenasleep. Iwasnotaware
oftheaccident,andknewnotthecauseofmysickness. Friendsoftenvisitedmyparents,
andlookeduponmewithpity,andadvisedthemtoprosecutetheparentsofthechildwho
had,astheysaid,ruinedme. Butmotherwasforpeace. Shesaidthatifitcouldbringme
backhealthandnaturallooksagain, thentherewouldbesomethinggained, butasitwas,
shewouldonlymakeherselfenemiesbyfollowingtheiradvice.
AsIbegantogainalittlestrength,mycuriositywasarousedbyhearingthosewhocame
toseeme,say,“Whatapity! Ishouldnotknowher,”&c. Iaskedforalooking-glass,
[9]
andasIlookedintoit,Iwasshockedatthechangeinmyappearance. Everyfeatureofmy
faceseemedchanged. ThesightwasmorethanIcouldbear. Theboneofmynoseprovedto
bebroken. Theideaofcarryingmymisfortunethroughlifewasinsupportable. Icouldsee
nopleasureinmylife. Ididnotwishtolive,andIdarednotdie,forIwasnotprepared.
ItwasalongtimebeforeIgainedmuchstrength. Physiciansthoughtthatasilverwire
couldbe putinmynose toholditin shape,butsaidthat itwouldbeof littleuse;that Ihad
4
MyMisfortune 5
lost so much blood my recovery was doubtful; that if I should get better, I could not live
long. Iwasreducedalmosttoaskeleton.
At this time I began to pray to the Lord to prepare me to die. When christian friends
visitedthefamily,theywouldaskmymotherifshehadtalkedwithmeaboutdying. ThisI
overheardwhich arousedme. Idesiredto beachristian,and prayedfortheforgivenessof
mysinsaswellasIcould,andfeltpeaceofmind. Especiallyatonetime,Ilovedeveryone,
andfeltaninterestthatallshouldhavetheirsinsforgivenandloveJesus.
Iwellrememberonenightinwinterwhenthesnowwasupontheground,theheavens
were lighted up, the sky looked red and angry, and seemed to open and shut. The snow
lookedlikeblood. Theneighborsweremuchfrightened. Mothertookmeoutofbedinher
arms,
[10]
and carried me to the window. I was happy. I thought Jesus was coming, and I longed to
see him. My heart was full. I clapped my hands for joy, and thought my sufferings were
ended. ButIwasdisappointed. Thenextmorningthesunaroseasusual,andthesingular
appearanceoftheheavenshaddisappeared.
ItwassometimebeforeIbecamestrong. AsIwasabletouniteinplaywithmyyoung
friends,Iwasforcedtolearnthisbitterlesson,thatlooksmakeadifferenceinthefeelings
ofmany. AtthetimeofmymisfortunemyfatherwasabsentinGeorgia. Whenhereturned,
hespoketomybrotherandsisters,andinquiredforme. Iwaspointedoutbymymother;
butmyfatherdidnotknowme. ItwashardtomakehimbelievethatIwashisEllen. This
cutmetotheheart;yetItriedtoputonanappearanceofcheerfulness,whenmyheartached.
Many times I was made to deeply feel my misfortune. With wounded pride, mortified at
myself,IhavefoundalonelyspottothinkoverthetrialsIwasdoomedtobeardaily. My
lifewas oftenmiserable,for myfeelingswerekeenlysensitive. Icouldnot, likemy twin
sister, weep out my feelings. My heart seemed so heavy, and ached as though it would
break,yetIcouldnotshedatear. IoftenthoughtthatifIcouldweepoutmyfeelings,thenI
shouldfindrelief. Otherswouldpityandsympathizewithme,andthatweight,
[11]
like a stone upon my heart, would be gone How vain and empty the pleasures of earth
looked to me. How changeable the friendship of my young companions. A pretty face,
dress,orgoodlooks,arethoughtmuchof. Butletmisfortunetakesomeoftheseaway,and
thefriendshipisbroken.
ButIbegantoturntomySaviourwhereIfoundcomfort. IsoughttheLordearnestly,
andreceivedconsolation. IbelievedthatJesusdidloveevenme. FortwoyearsIcouldnot
breathethroughmynose. MyhealthwassopoorthatIcouldattendschoolbutlittle. Itwas
almostimpossibleformetostudy,andretainwhatIlearned.
Thesamegirlwhowasthecauseofmymisfortune, wasappointedbyourteacherasa
monitor to assist me in writing, and to aid me in getting my lessons. She always seemed
sorry for what she had done, and I was careful not to remind her of the great injury she
haddoneme. Shewastenderandpatientwithme,andmuchofhertimeseemedsadand
6 SpiritualGifts,Volume2
thoughtful,asshesawmelaboringtogetaneducation. MyhandtrembledsothatImade
no progress in writing, and could get no further than the first examples, which are called
coarse-hand. AsIlaboredtobendmymindtomystudies,thelettersofmybookwouldrun
together,largedropsofperspirationwouldstanduponmybrow,andIwouldbecomedizzy
[12]
andfaint. Ihadabadcough,whichpreventedmefromattendingschoolsteadily. Myteacher
thoughtitwouldbetoomuchformetostudy,unlessmyhealthshouldbebetter,andadvised
metoleaveschool.
*****