The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

Ms 5, 1850

[July 29, 1850, Oswego, New York]¹ 1EGWLM 203.1

“A Vision the Lord Gave Me in Oswego, July 29, 1850.” 1EGWLM 203.2

Portions of this manuscript are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, pp. 10-13.

General exhortation; warnings against spiritualism; instruction on rebaptism; the cases of Richard Gorsline and R. R. Chapin. 1EGWLM 203.3

I saw some in Zion² that were languishing; they were dormant and unbelieving. I asked the angel if Zion should languish. Said the angel, She is rising never to fall again. God has stretched out His hand the second time to recover the remnant of His people.³ I saw some that meet together at the conferences at Oswego [New York] and vicinity were not right. They do not partake of the spirit of the lovely Jesus; they have not vital godliness, and unless they soon partake of the spirit of Jesus and have their hearts sanctified by the truth they profess to believe, they will be purged out of the camp of Israel. I saw there needed to be a searching of heart among them. 1EGWLM 203.4

Said the angel, Thou art upon the enchanted ground.⁴ Dost thou not see it? Awake and arise and put on the strength of the Lord. The powers of darkness are rising. Art thou rising? Is it not getting the victory over thee? I was pointed back to the children of Israel in Egypt. I saw when God worked through Moses before Pharaoh, the magicians came up and said they could do the same, (that they could work the same miracles). I saw the same work was going on now on the earth that the magicians carried on anciently. I saw the signs and mighty wonders of the devil have increased within a few months ten fold and it will still be on the increase and spread.⁵ And unless Israel is constantly rising and is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, the powers of darkness will get the victory over them. 1EGWLM 203.5

I saw we must be daily rising and keep the ascendancy above the powers of darkness. I saw singing to the glory of God often drove the enemy away and shouting would beat him back and give us the victory.⁶ I saw there was too little glorifying God, too little childlike simplicity among the remnant. I asked the angel why there was not more faith and power in Israel. Said he, Ye let go of the arm of God too quick. Press your petitions to the throne and hold on by living faith. Believe ye receive the things ye ask for, and ye shall have them. 1EGWLM 204.1

I was then pointed to Elijah. He was subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly. His faith endured the trial. Seven times he prayed before the Lord, and at last the cloud was seen. I saw we had doubted and wounded Jesus by our unbelief. God's people are rising, said the angel, never to fall again. Be careful said the angel, lest the branches be cut off and others are raised up in their stead. I saw some would bear fruit and work to the glory of God. I saw we must keep close to Jesus and fast and pray if we could not get the victory over the powers of darkness. 1EGWLM 204.2

I then saw Brother Gorsline [Richard Gorsline],⁷ that he had wounded and torn the hearts of God's people. I saw he had been stubborn and rebellious, and unless he changed his course entirely, the church should disfellowship him, for he has been a dead weight to the church. 1EGWLM 204.3

Said the angel, Jesus’ work is almost finished in the sanctuary. It is no time to be stupid⁸ now; a quick work will the Lord do upon the earth, the four angels will soon let go the four winds.⁹ Said the angel, Beware how thou treadest enchantment all around thee, East and West, North and South. If Satan can get thee to slumber now, he is sure of his prey. I saw some in Israel had been half starved for food, and when the present truth¹⁰ was presented to them they ate it with thankfulness and gratitude like half-starved children. 1EGWLM 205.1

Said the angel, Can ye stand in the battle in the day of the Lord? Ye need to be washed and live in newness of life. (Then I saw those whose hands are now engaged in making up the breach and are standing in the gaps¹¹ that have formally, since ’44, broken the commandments of God and have so far followed the Pope as to keep the first day instead of the seventh, would have to go down into the water and be baptized in the faith of the shut door and keeping the commandments of God, and in the faith of Jesus¹² coming to sit on the throne of His father David and to redeem Israel. I also saw those who have been baptized as a door into the professed churches will have to be baptized out of that door again,¹³ and into the faith mentioned above, and all who have not been baptized since ’44 will have to be baptized before Jesus comes, and some will not gain progress now until that duty is done and then they must live anew unto God and serve him faithfully.) 1EGWLM 205.2

Said the angel, Will ye sink and let others take the stars to your crown? I told the angel I could not endure to see any in Israel sinking. Thou Advocate, save the purchase of Thy blood. What more can we do for Thee? Oh, that we had more to give to the lovely Jesus; more to render to Him for His merciful kindness unto us. We will do anything, we will go anywhere, only lend us strength from the Sanctuary. 1EGWLM 205.3

The angel said, Some tried too hard to believe; faith is so simple ye look above it. Satan has deceived some and got them to looking at their own unworthiness. I saw they must look away from self to the worthiness of Jesus and throw themselves just as they are, needy and dependent and unworthy, upon His mercy and draw by faith, strength and nourishment from Him. 1EGWLM 206.1

Said the angel, The desolations of Zion are accomplished. I saw he took away the first and established the second, that is, those who were in the faith would become rebellious and be purged out and others who had not heard the Advent doctrine and rejected it would embrace the truth and take their places.¹⁴ 1EGWLM 206.2

Said the angel, Will ye lack faith? Climb up; take hold; never let go of the promises of God, for they are sure. Ye have been discouraged too quick. 1EGWLM 206.3

I begged strength of the angel as I saw I must come back to this world. I covenanted to live unto God. I begged of the angel not to let me feel again the awful anguish of seeing some in Israel sinking. He said strength should be given me to endure all that God should lay upon me. 1EGWLM 206.4

I then saw Brother Chapin [Roderick R. Chapin]¹⁵ that he had been rescued from the jaws of the lion as a bird is rescued from the snare of the fowler. I saw God had felt after him while he was in darkness and he had but just escaped with the skin of his teeth and all his work at Hamilton [New York] must be taken back before he can gain progress. I saw he must make square work for eternity. I saw his soul was worth more than ten thousand worlds like this. I did praise and adore God that He had borne with Bro. Chapin and finally had stretched out His arm in that dark spot and brought him to the light that he might discover the darkness he had been in.¹⁶ 1EGWLM 206.5

This is written in haste. Excuse bad writing. 1EGWLM 207.1