The Ellen G. White Letters and Manuscripts: Volume 1

Ms 7a, 1850

[August 24, 1850, Centerport, New York]¹ 1EGWLM 228.1

“A Vision the Lord Gave Me at the House of Brother Harris [William Harris],”² August 24, 1850. 1EGWLM 228.2

Variant of Ms 7, 1850. Portions of this manuscript are published in Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 318. 1EGWLM 228.3

Vision of Satan's attempts to hinder the work of God through sickness and affliction and through the deceptions of spiritualism. 1EGWLM 228.4

I saw the cruel power of Satan that had afflicted us of late, and bound us to keep the truth from coming out in the paper.³ I saw he meant to have taken the life of little Edson [James Edson White], but our united faith drove him back, and weakened his power. And as James [James Springer White] and myself went to Port Byron [New York] with Bro. Rhodes [Samuel W. Rhodes],⁴ Satan stepped in because some of the strength of faith was gone, to take the life of the child and when we came back he was at the point of death, where no human power could save him. I saw our acting out faith and sending for Bro. Rhodes after he had started on his journey saved the life of the child. For God heard the prayers of Bro. Rhodes and saved the life of the child.⁵ 1EGWLM 228.5

I saw the child was not afflicted because I held him dear as an idol, but to sadden our hearts, and to cause the nominal Adventists⁶ to triumph and to say where is their God, and to hinder the work of God in preventing the papers coming out. 1EGWLM 228.6

When Satan saw his power was broken on the child, he laid hold of James and afflicted his body. And he would have afflicted him unto death but God put bounds to his power and would not suffer it. The angels of God were hovering and thus far the enemy could go, and no farther. I saw his affliction had been the means of drawing us nearer to God to feel our dependence upon Him. God heard our prayers for James although we were weak, and answered them and the balm of Gilead was applied. The sick [were] made whole and others who had been bound and oppressed He set free, and James was raised up so he could go on with the paper. 1EGWLM 228.7

Then I saw it was the work of the enemy as we were going from Oswego [New York] to Volney [New York] to destroy us on the way by our being thrown from the wagon. I saw the angels of Satan triumphed as they were carrying out their purpose, but I saw that the angels of God were around to protect us. As we fell their arms were put beneath us that we should not be injured. I saw that the hand of one angel was busy at work and wrought for us or we should have been destroyed by Satan. I saw had we gone back to Oswego we should have pleased the enemy, our going on gave us the perfect victory over him. 1EGWLM 229.1

All these efforts of Satan I saw were to hinder the papers coming out, for the lines that were being published were written in the Spirit of God and would rejoice the hearts of the trusting ones. And Satan knew it would hurt his cause because it would be seen by these testimonies that most of the advent people once believed as we do that the door was shut in ’44.⁷ And to have the plain clear truth come out in the paper would cause many to come out in the truth and take an unyielding stand for the truth. I saw that the paper would strengthen the things that remain and would help build up God's people in the most holy faith. 1EGWLM 229.2

I saw Satan had entered the home of Brother Harris to take the life of some one of us but God had through Jesus given us the perfect, entire victory. Said the angel, Gird it about thee, buckle on every piece of the armor, and above all take the shield of faith, for the shield of faith guards the heart, the very seat of life, from the darts of the enemy. 1EGWLM 229.3

I saw that Satan will work more powerfully now than ever before, for he knows that his time is short and that the sealing of the saints⁸ will soon be over. And he will now work in every way, and try every insinuation to get the saints off their guard, and get them to [fall] asleep upon present truth, or doubting it, so as to prevent their being sealed with the seal of the living God. I saw that Satan would now come in almost human shape and that his angels were all around seeking some way that they might devour them. But I saw that God and His angels were hovering around the saints and their wings were wafting over them to keep off the unhallowed influence and to protect them from the power of Satan and his angels. 1EGWLM 229.4

I saw that God wanted His people to be separate from the wicked, for every wicked person was the lawful prey of the enemy and he would work through them in every way to perplex and destroy the saints. If we were obliged to be in company with a wicked person we must pray, pray, pray, and watch every movement lest we partake of their spirit, for they corrupted the atmosphere where they were, and their breath was darkness. I saw the wicked would wax worse and worse and that we must cut loose from them and be free, free indeed. I saw that God did not want His people to mingle with the wicked. 1EGWLM 230.1

I saw the rapping spirit was the power of the devil.⁹ Some of it was directly from him, and some indirectly, but it all proceeded from Satan. It was his work that he accomplished in different ways. And the nominal church¹⁰ and the world were so covered up in gross darkness that they thought and held forth that it was the power of God.¹¹ Said the angel, Should not a people seek unto their God, for the living to the dead? Should the living go to the dead for knowledge? The dead know not anything. For the living God do ye go to the dead to inquire? They have departed from the living God to converse with the dead that know not anything. 1EGWLM 230.2

I saw it would be considered blasphemy to speak against the rapping. And it would spread more and more, and Satan's power would increase, and some of his devoted followers would have power to work miracles and to bring down fire from heaven. I saw they would account for all the miracles that Jesus did when He was upon the earth, by the rapping and mesmerism. I saw that time was soon to come, and we should have to keep hold of the arm of Jehovah. For I saw that all these signs and mighty wonders of the devil were to deceive God's children and overthrow them. I saw that our minds must be stayed upon God and we must not fear the face of the wicked but be bold and valiant for the truth. 1EGWLM 230.3

Could our eyes be opened we should see forms of wicked angels around us trying to invent some new way to annoy and destroy us. And we should also see the angels of God guarding us from their power. I saw God's watchful eye was over Israel and He would protect and save them if they would trust in Him. And when the enemy should come in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord would lift up a standard against him. 1EGWLM 230.4

I saw we must buckle on the whole armor and take the shield of faith and we should be enabled to stand, [and] all the fiery darts [of] Satan could not move us. We should be mighty and terrible as an army with banners. I saw we were on the enchanted ground,¹² and we must watch lest we fall asleep. Said the angel, Remember the enchanted ground. 1EGWLM 230.5

I then saw Sister S. Peckham [Sophronia Peckham]¹³ that she would have to break loose from her husband, for he has no part nor lot with the saints. I saw he had sapped her strength, and that he had a fire of her kindling, that she would talk the truth with him and try to impress him with it. He would appear to have a love for the truth and a little feeling. I saw all his care was to get this world, and to lay up a treasure upon the earth. I saw she must look to Jesus and draw strength and grace from Him or she would fall right upon the borders of Canaan. I saw she had been losing her life and strength of late, for the weight of her husband has dragged her down, and the company of the wicked has opened a wide door for the devil to hit her with his darts. I saw she must shake off these shackles and go free or she will fall. I saw that the time had come when though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in the land they could not save son or daughter, husband, or any one but their own souls by their own righteousness. 1EGWLM 231.1

In love and sorrow. 1EGWLM 231.2