See: A. Burwell, “From Sr. Burwell,” Review, Jan. 1, 1857, p. 71; obituary: “Anthony L. Burwell,” Review, Jan. 28, 1873, p. 55; obituary: “Achsah Burwell,” Review, June 8, 1886, p. 366; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Anthony L. Burwell,” Vermont, Addison County, Panton Township, p. 262; obituary, “Mrs. Anna Lucretia King, née Burwell,” Review, Mar. 5, 1931, p. 28.
1EGWLM 509.2

Previously unpublished.

An appeal to bereaved parents to turn from their materialism and set a godly example to their only remaining child.1EGWLM 509.3

Dear Brother and Sister Burwell:

In the vision given at this place I was shown something concerning you. I saw that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. God has been merciful to you. He has in mercy spared you one child; and if you both pursue a right course, there is some prospect of her being influenced by the truth and being saved in the kingdom. But I saw that unless you were willing to make a sacrifice for this and prize her salvation and your own enough to act out your faith, cut loose from the world, and act like men waiting for their Lord, there is no prospect, none at all. Your course will influence her. Show her by acting out your faith that you really believe the message, “Be zealous … and repent.”1EGWLM 509.4

When you really [believe] this message the effect upon you will be to separate from the world, live out your faith, sell that you have, give alms, and lay up for yourselves a treasure in the heavens. God has come very near unto you when you were at a great distance from Him. He took two idols from you that you might draw near unto Him and that God alone might be exalted and reign supreme in your heart, and that your eye might be single to His glory. These children were snatched away to save you and her.²

Whereas the language used here suggests that the death of the two children was the direct action of God, in other places Ellen White describes death and suffering as the works of Satan. “Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God. … [However] the history of Job had shown that suffering is inflicted by Satan, and is overruled by God for purposes of mercy.” These are not necessarily contradictory positions. Parallels can be drawn from Scripture where “by figure God is frequently said to do that which He permits or does not prevent.”

Elaborating on this point in 1883, Ellen White wrote that she “was shown that the judgments of God would not come directly out from the Lord upon them [those refusing His merciful warnings], but in this way: They place themselves beyond His protection. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then if those who have been the objects of His special care will follow their own course independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they choose their own way, then He does not commission His angels to prevent Satan's decided attacks upon them.”

See: Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 471; Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 662; Ellen G. White, Lt 14, 1883 (Aug. 8).

1EGWLM 509.5

Brother, you love this world, especially Brother Burwell. You realize not how much your heart is set upon and glued to this world and how little you are willing to sacrifice for the better and heavenly country. If you prize the precious pearl of exceeding value highly enough to sell all that you have to purchase it, I saw that you could have it. Unless you prize it enough for this, it is not yours, neither can you have it.1EGWLM 510.1

Dear Brother, I dare not hold my peace. I must deal faithfully and truly with you. From what God has shown me, I fear your property will shut you out of heaven, because you love it, whether you realize it or not, better than anything else.³

The Burwells migrated from Vermont to Michigan in 1856. The value of their property, according to census information, doubled from a respectable $3,000 in 1850 to $6,000 in 1860, with a further $1,500 in “personal estate.” Anthony Burwell died in 1873. Already by 1855 Ellen White had published a general admonition to those who, like the Burwells. were moving to better economic opportunities in the West. “I saw that it should not be the object of those who leave the East for the West to get rich, but to win souls to the truth.” More published and unpublished testimony in the same vein had followed.

See: Ellen G. White, Lt 2, 1857 (Oct. 21); 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Anthony L. Burwell,” Vermont, Addison County, Panton, p. 262; 1860 U.S. Federal Census, “Anthony Burwell,” Michigan, Jackson County, Parma, p. 19; 1870 U.S. Federal Census, “Anthony Burwell,” Michigan, Jackson County, Sandstone, p. 11; obituary: “Anthony L. Burwell,” Review, Jan. 28, 1873, p. 55; Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 118.

A terrible calamity came upon you, yet it has not had the effect that God designed it should, to wean you from the world. Your possessions are still dear to you, are of worth, great worth, so much so that it looks to you to be a great thing to sacrifice anything even for your own soul's sake. Every idol, brother and sister, is not yet sacrificed with you, and if there is one idol left, whatever that idol be, it will shut you out of heaven.1EGWLM 510.2

I saw that you were in a hard place to serve God and should not let anything stand in the way—property, friends, or anything—of seeking counsel of God and placing yourselves in a situation to benefit your own souls. Let everlasting life be the object ever before you. The world is nothing, and less than nothing. Your possessions are a snare to you and I fear you will be taken in the snare and it will be impossible to escape. Make haste to get ready, for the days of preparation are few. Tear away the rubbish from the door of your heart and open the door and let the Saviour in.1EGWLM 510.3

I saw that if you expect Anna [Anna Lucretia King (née Burwell)]⁴

Identity: See note 1.

to be saved you must do more on your own part, make more decided efforts than you ever yet have made. One thing I saw you had erred in, that is in the company you suffer to be in your dwelling. Whatever sacrifice you should have to make for this should be cheerfully done. Have only those with you or in your dwelling that are clean and holy. Encourage none to be with you except those whose influence is saving. Whatever the consequences may be, this step should be taken. Have all clean in your dwelling. Then you may expect that the Lord will bless your efforts. But for years past it has been impossible to save your children while there was so little effort made to have all about them such that God could come into your dwelling. Have not those with you that love not God and that God hates. Take hold of the work in earnest, be in haste to get ready. Oh, make every effort for the salvation of your daughter! You have never realized the danger of having those around you whose influence was not good, but deathly. You must with decision have a pure, clean company around you. Anna's salvation depends upon the course you pursue.1EGWLM 511.1

Lt 6, 1856

Lt 12, 1857