02.15.003 We left our little Henry, then ten months old, in sister Bonfoey's care, at Middletown.

02.15.004 This was a severe trial to me.

02.15.005 I had not been separated from him before for one night.

02.15.006 My health was poor.

02.15.007 It was impossible for me to travel and have the care of our child.

02.15.008 And we dared not let our affection for the child keep us from the path of duty.

02.15.009 Jesus laid down his life to save us.

02.15.0010 How small is any sacrifice we can make, compared with his.

02.15.0011 We took the steamboat for New York City.

02.15.0012 Bro. Chamberlain accompanied us.

02.15.0013 On board of the boat I coughed almost incessantly.

02.15.0014 Remarks were made as follows: "That cough will carry her to the grave-yard."

02.15.0015 "She cannot live long," &c.

02.15.0016 Some said that I would not live to see New York.

02.15.0017 But I knew in whom I believed.

02.15.0018 He that had bid me go, would give me relief when it would best glorify him.

02.15.0019 One word from him would heal my irritated throat and lungs.

02.15.0020 The next morning we reached New York City, and called upon Bro. Moody who was then living.

02.15.0021 We there met Brn. Bates and Gurney.

02.15.0022 My cough increased. I knew I must have relief, or sink beneath disease.

02.15.0023 I had not had a good night's rest for weeks.

02.15.0024 I followed the direction given in James v, and asked the brethren to pray for me.

02.15.0025 They prayed earnestly to God for me.

02.15.0026 But as often as I attempted to pray, was broken off by severe coughing.

02.15.0027 I relied upon the promise of God-- "Ask and ye shall receive."

02.15.0028 I tried to tell those present that I believed, but severe coughing prevented my speaking.

02.15.0029 I retired to rest trusting in the Lord.

02.15.0030 I commenced coughing as usual, but soon fell asleep, and did not awake till daylight.

02.15.0031 I then awoke with gratitude in my heart, and the praise of God on my lips.

02.15.0032 I felt the blessing of heaven resting upon me.

02.15.0033 My cough was gone. In the morning my friends noticed a pimple on my face, which increased and spread, and did not leave me for several years.

02.15.0034 I was not troubled again with a cough on that journey.

02.15.0035 Our first conference was at Volney in Bro. Arnold's barn.

02.15.0036 There were about thirty-five present, all that could be collected in that part of the State.

02.15.0037 There were hardly two agreed.

02.15.0038 Each was strenuous for his views, declaring that they were according to the Bible.

02.15.0039 All were anxious for an opportunity to advance their sentiments, or to preach to us.

02.15.0040 They were told that we had not come so great a distance to hear them, but had come to teach them the truth.

02.15.0041 Bro. Arnold held that the 1000 years of Rev. xx were in the past; and that the 144,000 were those raised at Christ's resurrection.

02.15.0042 And as we had the emblem of our dying Lord before us, and was about to commemorate his sufferings, Bro. A. arose and said he had no faith in what we were about to do; that the Sacrament was a continuation of the Passover, to be observed but once a year.

02.15.0043 These strange differences of opinion rolled a heavy weight upon me, especially as Bro. A. spoke of the 1000 years being in the past.

02.15.0044 I knew that he was in error, and great grief pressed my spirits; for it seemed to me that God was dishonored.

02.15.0045 I fainted under the burden.

02.15.0046 Brethren Bates, Chamberlain, Gurney, Edson, and my husband, prayed for me.

02.15.0047 Some feared I was dying.

02.15.0048 But the Lord heard the prayers of his servants, and I revived.

02.15.0049 The light of Heaven rested upon me.

02.15.0050 I was soon lost to earthly things.

02.15.0051 My accompanying angel presented before me some of the errors of those present, and also the truth in contrast with their errors.

02.15.0052 That these discordant views, which they claimed to be according to the Bible, were only according to their opinion of the Bible, and that their errors must be yielded, and they unite upon the third angel's message.

02.15.0053 Our meeting ended victoriously.

02.15.0054 Truth gained the victory.

02.15.0055 From Volney we went to Port Gibson.

02.15.0056 The meeting there was held in Bro Edson's barn.

02.15.0057 There were those present who loved the truth, and those who were listening to and cherishing error, and were opposed to the truth.

02.15.0058 But the Lord wrought for us in power before the close of that meeting.

02.15.0059 I was again shown in vision the importance of brethren in Western New York laying their differences aside, and uniting upon Bible truth.

02.15.0060 Wednesday we left Bro. Edson's, intending to spend the next Sabbath in New York City.

02.15.0061 We were too late for the packet, so we took a line boat, designing to change when the next packet came along.

02.15.0062 As we saw the packet approaching, we commenced making preparations to step aboard.

02.15.0063 Bro. Bates was to pay our fare.

02.15.0064 The packet did not stop, and we had to spring aboard while the boat was in motion.

02.15.0065 Bro. Bates was holding the money in his hand, saying to the men on the line boat, "Here, take your pay."

02.15.0066 As he saw the boat moving off he sprang to get aboard, but his foot struck the edge of the boat, and he fell back into the water.

02.15.0067 Bro. Bates commenced swimming to the boat. His pocket-book was in one hand, and a dollar bill in the other.

02.15.0068 His hat came off, and in saving it lost the bill, but held fast his pocket-book.

02.15.0069 The packet halted for him to get aboard.

02.15.0070 We were near Centerport, and called at Bro. Harris' and put Bro. Bates' clothes in order.

02.15.0071 Our visit proved a benefit to that family.

02.15.0072 Sister Harris had been a sufferer for years with catarrh, and used snuff for this affliction, and said she could not live without it.

02.15.0073 She suffered much pain in her head.

02.15.0074 We recommended her to go to the Lord, the great Physician, who could heal her affliction.

02.15.0075 She decided to do so, and we had a sweet season of prayer for her.

02.15.0076 She left the use of snuff entirely.

02.15.0077 Her difficulties were greatly relieved, and her health better than it had been for years.

02.15.0078 While at Bro. Harris' I had an interview with a sister who professed to be looking for Christ's coming, who wore gold.

02.15.0079 We spoke of the express declaration of scripture against it.

02.15.0080 But she referred to where Solomon was commanded to beautify the temple, and that the streets of the city of God were pure gold.

02.15.0081 And said if we could improve our appearance by wearing gold, so as to have influence in the world, it was right.

02.15.0082 I replied that we were poor fallen mortals; and instead of decorating these bodies because Solomon's temple was gloriously adorned, we should remember our fallen condition, and that it cost the sufferings and death of the Son of God to redeem us.

02.15.0083 This should cause in us self-abasement.

02.15.0084 Jesus is our pattern.

02.15.0085 If he would lay aside his humiliation and sufferings, and cry, "If any man will come after me, let him please himself, and enjoy the world, and he shall be my disciple," the multitude would believe, and follow him.

02.15.0086 But Jesus will come to us in no other character than the meek, crucified One. If we would be with him in heaven, we must be like him on earth.

02.15.0087 The world will claim its own, and whoever will overcome, must leave what belongs to it.

02.15.0088 We took the packet on our way to Madison County, which left us within twenty-five miles of Bro. Abbey's, where we hired a carriage to complete the journey.

02.15.0089 When we arrived at the house, it was proposed that one go to the door and make inquiries, that if we should be disappointed we could return with the driver, and would keep the Sabbath at a public house.

02.15.0090 Sr. Abbey came to the door, and my husband introduced himself as one who kept the Sabbath.

02.15.0091 Said she, "I am glad to see you. Come in."

02.15.0092 He replied. "There are three more in the carriage with me.

02.15.0093 I thought if we all came in together, we might frighten you.

02.15.0094 "I am never frightened at Christians," was the reply.

02.15.0095 Heartily were we welcomed by sister A.

02.15.0096 She expressed much joy at seeing us, and when Bro. Bates was introduced she said, "Can this be Bro. Bates, who wrote that hewing book on the Sabbath?

02.15.0097 And come to see us?

02.15.0098 I am unworthy to have you come under my roof.

02.15.0099 But the Lord has sent you to us, for we are all starving for truth."

02.15.00100 A child was sent to the field to inform Bro. Abbey that four Sabbath-keepers had come.

02.15.00101 He was in no hurry to make our acquaintance; for he had been imposed upon.

02.15.00102 Some professing to be God's servants had often visited them, whose work was to scatter error among the little few who were trying to hold fast the truth.

02.15.00103 Bro. and Sr. A. had warred against them so long that they dreaded to come in contact with them.

02.15.00104 Bro. A concluded we were of the same class.

02.15.00105 When he came into the house he received us coldly, and then commenced asking a few plain, direct questions, whether we kept the Sabbath, and believed the past messages to be of God.

02.15.00106 When he had become satisfied that we had come with truth, he joyfully welcomed us.

02.15.00107 This dear family were just coming out from the furnace of affliction.

02.15.00108 They had been visited with that dreadful scourge, small-pox, and were just recovering.

02.15.00109 While we were there, we had an exhibition of some of the trials they had passed through, from those visiting them who made great pretensions, but were Satan's agents to worry and devour.

02.15.00110 A spiritualizer came in, and talked in such a fanatical and blasphemous manner, that it was painful to hear him.

02.15.00111 He at last declared himself to be Jesus Christ; that there would be no literal, personal appearing of Jesus, &c.

02.15.00112 My spirit was stirred within me.

02.15.00113 I could hold my peace no longer.

02.15.00114 I told him that my Saviour did not bear such a disgusting appearance as he manifested.

02.15.00115 Then I described the lovely person of Jesus, his glorious appearance in the clouds of heaven, as he comes to earth the second time; with what majesty and power he rides forth upon the cloudy chariot, escorted by all the angelic host, and with the glory of the Father.

02.15.00116 He grew angry, and raised his umbrella as if to strike me.

02.15.00117 He was vehement. In great rage he left the house, showering denunciations upon us as he went.

02.15.00118 But a sweet spirit rested upon us.

02.15.00119 Our meetings in that place were cheering to the few who loved the truth.

02.15.00120 We felt to rejoice that the Lord in his providence had directed us that way.

02.15.00121 We had enjoyed the presence of God together, and were comforted to find a few who had stood firm all through the scattering, and had held fast the messages through the mist and fog of spiritualism and fanaticism.

02.15.00122 This dear family helped us on our way after a godly sort.

02.15.00123 We continued our journey to Brooklyn, and held meetings in Bro. Moody's house.