Fragments NP 1855 Formerly Undated Ms 110. Portions of this manuscript are published in AH 177; 6MR 297; 9MR 196-197. See also Annotations.
At the Conference at Sylvan I saw the necessity of the messengers dwelling on the preparation more than they have done. Souls are not prepared for what is coming on the earth and unless they speedily get ready, they will be weighed in the balance and found wanting. I saw that Bro. Cranson had moved too fast in some cases, that there had not been that patience and forbearance with individuals that there ought to have been. Others of the brethren had moved too fast.
(1LtMs, Ms 1, 1855, 1)
I saw that great caution should be used and the church will have to bear some with individuals who do not always understand the movings of the Spirit of God, and always have some errors. And if these individuals were disfellowshipped they would be brought more closely in connection with an unholy influence and the possibility of saving them be lost. But if they were still retained in the fellowship of the church, they will be where the church can have some influence over them and may by moving judiciously and carefully win them to all the truth, which will discover to them their errors, and cause them to yield them up and be fully united to the church.
(1LtMs, Ms 1, 1855, 2)
I saw that the messengers and the church must have compassion with some, making a difference. Now the messengers of God must seek wisdom and know how to treat each individual case. All must not be treated alike. By close examination it will be seen that individual cases differ. Some are to be borne with longer than others, but if one is living in disobedience to the commandments of God, the church must act and must separate them from them. And for other sins it will often be necessary to disfellowship souls if they continue in their sins; yet great care should be used and great patience and forbearance exercised.
(1LtMs, Ms 1, 1855, 3)
I saw that Brother Cranson had tried to do right and just as well as he knew how, yet he has failed at times. I saw that judgment and caution must be used. The messengers must all move out unitedly and with decision and energy; yet they must have meekness and patience and in love for souls fulfill their duty. They must all go among the people with the power and Spirit of God with them, and must have energy that will arouse the stupid and those who are off their watch and cause them to awake and get ready. Prepare! Prepare! should be sounded in the ears of the people. For the great day of God’s wrath is coming, and who shall be able to stand; and while messengers cry to God to prepare and get ready, they must be awake and have energy themselves and let it tell to all that hear them that they are standing between the living and the dead. Preachers and people who believe the third angel’s message should set a holy, lively example. Their conversation and actions should show that they are looking for the appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
(1LtMs, Ms 1, 1855, 4)
*****
There is a sacred circle around every family which should be preserved. No other one has any right in that sacred circle. The husband and wife should be all to each other. The wife should have no secrets to keep from her husband, and let others know, and the husband should have no secrets to keep from his wife to relate to others. The heart of his wife should be the grave for the faults of the husband, and the heart of the husband the grave for his wife’s faults. Never should either party indulge in a joke at the expense of the other’s feelings. Never should either the husband or wife in sport or in any other manner complain of each other to others, for in frequently indulging in this foolish, and what may seem perfectly harmless, joking, it will end in trial with each other and perhaps estrangement. I have been shown that there should be a sacred shield around every family.
(1LtMs, Ms 1, 1855, 5)
*****
I saw that God had qualified him who had to stand at the head of the publishing for his station, and if he did not fill his place, God would remove him from it. God had the oversight of the work. I saw that this was an important place. I saw that it was God who had rebuked the disease that was on James when nature had resisted it as long as it was possible and could do no more, and disease had fastened upon him and when Satan was exulting that he had his prey and that he would lay him in the grave, then God’s hand interposed and he put bands around James and strengthened him to fill the place he had put him in.
(1LtMs, Ms 1, 1855, 6)
Ms 2, 1855
Vision at Paris, Maine [Topsham, Maine] August 26, 1855 Portions of this manuscript are published in PH016 33-35; MRmnt 40. See also Annotations.
I saw while at Paris that James’ health has been in a critical situation; that his anxiety of mind has been too much for him. When the present truth was first published, he had to put forth double energies and labor with but little encouragement and from the first he has taken burdens upon him that were too much for his strength. The burdens were not equally borne. While he took much responsibility, some were not willing to take any and those who shunned taking responsibilities and burdens did not realize his burdens and were not as interested in the cause as they should have been. There was a lack. James felt it and laid his shoulder under burdens that were too heavy.
(1LtMs, Ms 2, 1855, 1)
He has thought he could deny himself of many things that were actually necessary to health and God would sustain him; that he could labor days without any rest. The labor has not only been days but nights too. He has looked upon things in their wrong light; he has violated the laws of nature, and his health has suffered in consequence.
(1LtMs, Ms 2, 1855, 2)
I saw by these extra efforts more souls would be saved, but it is these efforts that have undermined the constitution and taken away his strength. Regardless of his own interest and health, he has labored with interest for others and it has not been appreciated. His reward from many has been dissatisfaction, evil surmising and jealousy. Those who should have helped him bear the burdens were a burden themselves by their unwise course. By care and incessant labor and overwhelming anxiety has the work gone on until now the present truth is clear, its evidence by the candid undoubted, and it is easy work now to carry on the paper to what it was a few years ago. The truth is now made so plain that all can see it and embrace it if they will, but it needed much labor to get it out clear as it is, and such hard labor will never have to be performed again to make the truth clear.
(1LtMs, Ms 2, 1855, 3)
I was pointed back to Paris when we were there and Brethren Andrews and Rhodes went to Vermont. James was all awake to the interest of the cause and the interest of Brethren Andrews and Rhodes that they should go comfortable, and neglected his own health. He had been closely confined through the winter, his health and strength run down by lack of nourishing food and by constant labor. [He] required the greatest care and [needed] to journey comfortably, but he neglected his own health and trusted to get along any way and journeyed most uncomfortably and inconveniently, thinking if he sacrificed for others, God would take care of his health. He disregarded the laws of health, did not study his ease or comfort and was exposed to colds to save expense and help others; and the effects of colds taken upon that journey, and then the trials connected with the journey, have never yet been got rid of. The constitution became run down, disease fastened itself upon the lungs and its effects are still visible.
(1LtMs, Ms 2, 1855, 4)
After all this evidence that his brethren had of his interest in the cause, many looked over it all and the very ones he had helped were jealous and fault-finding; and in Brother Butler’s house where he labored under many difficulties and had to wade through evil feelings of jealousy and unbelief, it cost him much. He labored far beyond his strength, and through other’s wrong courses, he was left alone with but little, if any, sympathy. His friends were his enemies. Although they did not all realize it, it was so.
(1LtMs, Ms 2, 1855, 5)
These trials have done their work; but although all even now do not realize or understand the sufferings of mind caused by those trials, God has noticed them. Not one sorrowful pang will be passed by unnoticed. Disease has been making progress upon him, but God has answered prayer in his behalf and done that for him that no medicine could do. I saw the efforts made for the recovery of health were right, but God’s power above all, said the angel. I saw that medicine could not cure him. God’s power had sustained him and by still looking to the stronghold, he would obtain strength. I saw that he must lay aside his anxiety and care, for God is willing he should be relieved from such wearing labor and have rest in a measure and attend more to the cultivation of the minds of our children; try to fit them for heaven, explain in an easy way to them, and in an understanding manner, the way of salvation.
(1LtMs, Ms 2, 1855, 6)
I saw also that more time should be spent in devotion and care for our own souls; that our duty would not be as we travel to enter into individual trials and the burdens would not be laid upon us as they have been; that such mental trials and sufferings endured for others’ wrongs would be too much for his now broken-down health. God is lifting these burdens from us and James has not understood it; has feared he was displeasing God and that was why he did not feel the burdens, but in mercy God has been relieving from these burdens. He could now take all the anxiety and care upon him, labor with all his might and last a short time and go down to the grave; or he can now be relieved while he has some strength left, improve and last longer and his voice can be heard and he can have influence yet and do good.
(1LtMs, Ms 2, 1855, 7)
Ms 3, 1855
Fragments NP May 5, 1855 Portions of this manuscript are published in 1Bio 318. See also Annotations.
I then inquired if James would be spared or would be removed before the time of trouble. Said the angel, What is that to thee? Follow Jesus, follow the opening providence of God. Have unwavering faith in His promises. Walk by faith and not by sight.
(1LtMs, Ms 3, 1855, 1)
In regard to the office and what our duty is in regard to it, had no light, but was sighted to other visions that God had given. Look at them carefully; lose not sight of the opening providences of God; carefully regard all His teachings and obey them. I saw that no longer should those connected with the office bear the burdens they have borne. They must, they must, be free in mind and then their health will improve. There has been none to help them bear their burdens, but if faint or discouraged the comfort they had was to see others in the same state.
(1LtMs, Ms 3, 1855, 2)