J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
IN the Bible we have numerous accounts of the power and influence of angels. One angel, passing through the camp of Assyrians, slew one hundred and eighty-five thousand men. 2 Kings 19:35. Of the angel that came to Christ’s sepulcher we read, “For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow; and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.” Matthew 28:2-4. Nor is man the only creature that has experienced the influence of angelic presence: ferocious animals have been tamed by the presence of angels, as in the case of the hungry lions when Daniel was thrown into their midst. Those lions were calmed by the presence of an angel, and became as peaceable as domestic animals. HEVI 34.1
By way of comparison, we cite an instance where the influence of the angel who is ever present when Sister White is in vision, calmed the temper of an unruly, vicious horse. In the fall of 1846 Brother and Sister White wished to go from Topsham to Poland, Me., a distance of about 30 miles. Brother White obtained the use of a partly broken colt, and a two-seated market wagon, which was constructed without a dashboard. There was a step across the front of the wagon, and an iron step from the shafts. It was necessary that extreme care be taken in driving the colt; for if the lines or anything touched his flanks, he would instantly kick furiously; and he had to be held in continually with a “taut rein” to keep him from running. The owner of this colt lived in Poland. As Elder White had been used to managing unbroken colts, he thought he would have no serious trouble with this one. Had he known, however, that during its frantic demonstrations it had previously killed two men, one by crushing him against the rocks by the roadside, he might have been less confident. HEVI 34.2
On this occasion there were four persons in the wagon,-Elder White and his wife, on the front seat; and Elder Bates and Israel Damon, on the back seat. While Elder White was giving his utmost care to keep the horse under control, Sister White was conversing about the truth, when suddenly the power of God came down upon the company, and she was taken off in vision while seated in the wagon. The moment she shouted “Glory” as she went into vision, the colt stopped perfectly still, and dropped his head, looking like a sleepy old horse. At the same time, Sister White arose, and with her eyes turned upward, stepped over the front of the wagon, down unto the shafts, with her hand on the colt’s haunches. Elder Bates called out to Elder White, “The colt will kick that woman to death.” Elder White replied, “The Lord has the colt in charge now; I do not wish to interfere.” The colt stood as quietly as an old horse. By the roadside was a bank about six feet high, and beyond next to the fence, was a grassy place. Brother Bates said that the bank was steeper than the roof of a house, and that they could not ascend it. Sister White, with her eyes still upward, not once looking down, went up the bank as readily as if she were going up a flight of stairs. She walked back and forth on the grass-plot for a few minutes, describing the beauties of the new earth. Then, with her eyes in the same posture, she came down the bank, and walking up to the wagon, stepped upon the step of the shafts, again laying her hand on the colt. She then stepped on the shafts, and into the wagon again. The moment she sat down on the seat, she came out of vision; and that instant the horse, without any indication from the driver, started up, ready to go on his way. HEVI 34.3
While Sister White was out of the wagon Elder White thought he would test the horse, and see if he were really tame. At first he just touched him with the whip; at other times the horse would have responded with a kick, but now he did not move. Elder White then struck him quite a blow, then harder, and still harder. The colt paid no attention whatever to the blows, but seemed as harmless as the lions whose mouths the angel shut the night Daniel spent in their den. “It was a solemn place,” said Elder Bates, “and it was evident that the same power that produced the vision, for the time being subdued the wild nature of the colt.” The Review and Herald, September 5, 1899. HEVI 34.4