Loading...
Larger font
Smaller font
Copy
Print
Contents
The Great Second Advent Movement: Its Rise and Progress - Contents
  • Results
  • Related
  • Featured
No results found for: "".
  • Weighted Relevancy
  • Content Sequence
  • Relevancy
  • Earliest First
  • Latest First
    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents

    A Prediction of Failure

    Then she said to Mr. Patch, “I was told to say to you that in this case the statement of the text will be literally fulfilled. Wait a month, and you will know for yourself the character of the persons who are engaged in the revival, and who profess to have such a great burden for sinners.” Mr. Patch said, “I will wait.”GSAM 231.1

    Within a fortnight from the time this vision was given, the said treasurer, who claimed such anguish of soul for sinners, in his affected agony burst a blood-vessel in his stomach, and had to be taken to his bed through loss of blood. The affairs of the treasurer’s office had to be taken hold of by the sheriff of the county, who with one of the constables looked at the balance called for on the treasurer’s book, and then counted up the money preparatory to taking charge of the business, when, lo, there was a shortage in the money to the amount of an even $1,000.GSAM 231.2

    To the sheriff and constable it seemed impossible that a man so earnest in a revival could be guilty of having taken the money. They thought he must have paid it out, and forgotten to make the proper entry on the book; or perhaps he had deposited it in the bank, and it did not appear in the account in the safe. At all events, they must seek of him a satisfactory explanation, but it must be done with caution; for if he had the money, he would undoubtedly make an effort to conceal it. It was therefore arranged that one of them should go on before and secrete himself in the shed back of the house, so as to watch the back door in case any demonstrations were made, while the sheriff should enter the front door. When the sheriff approached the house and entered the front door, he discovered the dress of a woman just leaving the back door. The man in the shed saw the woman go quickly to a snow-bank, dig a hole in the snow, and deposit something there, which she covered with the snow, and returned to the house.GSAM 231.3

    The sheriff came to the bedside of the treasurer, and after making inquiries as to his condition of health, hinted at their perplexities in the office, suggesting that he could probably explain the difficulty. The man, greatly agitated, raised his hand toward heaven, and calling God to witness, said he knew nothing about the money. Just then the wife stepped in, and wanted to know what was the matter, and why her husband was so much excited. The man replied, “They think we have their money.” The woman then lifted her hands in like manner, and called God to witness that they had not the money, and, furthermore, knew nothing about it. Just as she finished this sentence, the constable, who had hastened from his hiding-place to the snow-bank as she went into the house interfered, with these words, “Madam, what is this? I saw you rush from the house, and deposit this in the snow-bank, and here it is, the missing sack of money, marked upon it $1,000.”GSAM 232.1

    As might be expected, that revival suddenly collapsed. Mr. Patch and his intended, after learning the character of the one conducting the revival, took their position for the truth, and united with the Seventh-day Adventists, of which church they remained worthy members to the day of their death.GSAM 232.2

    This vision, as is clearly seen, was given in the interest and for the special benefit of the unconverted, and resulted in the conversion of sinners, while its immediate bearing was upon those who were themselves sinners and rejected of the Lord because of their hypocrisy. They had “dealt treacherously against the Lord;” professing to have great travail of soul for sinners, they only begat “strange children.”GSAM 232.3

    Larger font
    Smaller font
    Copy
    Print
    Contents