Pleasant Change of Circumstances

Pleasant change of circumstances — Kindness of Mi”s. B. — Threatened with immediate dissolution — Instructive dreams — The race — The crown — The day of judgment.

I NOW became an itinerant; at the kind solicitation of my friends, I went from house to house, from village to village. I was kindly welcomed and entertained wherever I went. Each family that I visited most cheerfully administered to my wants: while I rendered to them my only compensation — the fervent prayer, that “inasmuch as they had done it to one of the least of his disciples, they might be rewarded as having done it for Christ alone.” How truly could I now say, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing!” “”

My dear and well-tried friend, Mrs. C, now became the wife of Mr. B., and I was invited to take up my abode with them. It would be difficult to give an adequate idea of the kindness which they manifested toward me; every thing that could be done, was done to promote my comfort and augment my happiness. This was my home, to which I could always resort, after an absence on visits to other kind friends. I was very sick at their house several times, when my increased wants seemed to be supplied in a still more affectionate manner. In the year 1843 I had a violent attack of inflammation of the bowels, and for several days suffered greatly. The remedies applied seemed ineffective, and I found no relief.

Sister B. seemed much distressed by my situation, and fervently prayed that God would mitigate my sufferings, and grant speedy relief. One morning I awoke entirely free from pain, with a deathlike coldness throughout my whole body. Sister B. was greatly alarmed, thinking that mortification had taken place. The physician was immediately called, who said that I might possibly recover, but it was exceedingly doubtful.

My mind was now quiet and undisturbed. I was perfectly unconscious of any thing passing, and lay much like one in a sleep. It seemed to me that I had been placed by an invisible arm of strenath in a narrow road, on each side of which was a thick hedge. I was told to run. I endeavored to do so, but found it difficult. Sometimes I would take hold of the hedge on one side, and then on the other. Whenever I did this, I found myself suddenly drawn out of my course, and just ready to fall. I then seemed to be directed by the being that had placed me there not to take hold of any thing, but fold my hands and look straight before me. I had great difficulty in doing this, but, after strenuous effort, succeeded. I was now able to go with less difficulty, and was soon able to run very fast. The farther I advanced, the faster could I run, and with greater ease. I discovered that the road was thronged with people, and, what seemed very strange to me, I found myself outstripping many who were in the road before me. I saw many persons on each side, who had fallen while trying to take hold of the hedge: but none had fallen in the road. I soon found myself running so fast that my feet did not seem to touch the ground. I could hear those behind me uttering the ejaculatory complaints, “I can’t get along,” “I am sure I shall fall.” Some would call out to me, and say, ‘’How do you get along?” “How fast you go!” The invisible being then said, “This is the Christian race; you must keep your eye fixed on the end of the road, where you will see Jesus.” Just then sister B., who was behind me, said, “Sister, can’t you assist me? I can’t get along.” “Place yourself in the same position that I am in,” said I, “and you will get along with less difficulty.” The farther I advanced, the more rapid was my flight, and I earnestly called on those behind me to speed on their way, as I could now see the end of the race. Just at this time I distinctly saw another form; as I advanced toward it I discovered that it was an angelic form, clothed in white: around his head was a glittering circle, like the sun in its

brightness. This, thought I, is the Savior. He is the chief among ten thousand, and the one altogether lovely. His hands were extended toward me, and in each hand he held a radiant crown. As I came nearer he sweetly smiled, and said, “Run — the crowns are all ready!”

Mrs. B. now came to me, and raising my head from the pillow, said, “Dear sister, let me give you a little wine and water; I think it will not be long before you drink it new in your Father’s kingdom.” “I think so too, dear sister,” I replied; “but I am sorry you have disturbed me: I was running a race, and had almost reached the end of it, and you were just behind me.”

Not long after this, on falling asleep, I thought that the resurrection morn had come. The judgment was set, and the books were opened. I then saw a numerous company assembled at the right hand of the judgment-seat. Nearest the Judge was a large company of infants, and next to them a vast number of older children; and beyond them I discovered a vast multitude, such as no man could number, of every nation and kindred, and all classes, from the king to the beggar. There was an awful silence there, and I thought, “What means this silence?” I then heard a voice sapng, ‘’Have you never read in Revelation, ‘There was silence in heaven for the space of half an hour?’ ““0, yes!” I replied. The Judge now proceeded to examine each- case separately, strictly interrogating them as to the manner in which they had lived in their respective spheres of life. All seemed to be judged by their talents and opportunities of doing good. All seemed to be upon a common level. As I saw one after another receive their sentence, I thought, “How shall I bear the test?” I then heard a voice say, ‘-’You now see that the righteous are sc<ircely saved.” Among this vast multitude I saw many of my friends who are still living. It seemed to me that Mrs. B. and my cousin E. were there. My cousin was looking with great earnestness toward the group of children, to see if she could discover her little babe, that had died some time before. She then turned to me, and said, “Mary, what will they do with our children?” I replied, “Those who have not arrived at the state of accountabilitv will be saved by the blood of Jesus.”

After all the righteous had been examined, the vast multitude on the left hand appeared in sight. I also saw in this number some whom I had little expectation of seeing there; one in particular, whom I had thought an exemplary Christian. I asked why he was on the left hand, when a voice answered, “He has depended upon his morality and good works, instead of the blood of Christ.” As soon as his examination was over, he broke out in the most profane expressions against God and his righteous will. I was horror-struck with the howls and blasphemy of the damned, which I then heard. It was dreadful beyond description. I exclaimed, ‘’Why is all this?” The voice replied, ‘’Restraining grace is now taken away, and you now see man acting out his fallen nature.” When their examination was over they separated into three divisions, and passed from our view. I distinctly heard their wailings as they gradually died away in the distance. Of all I had ever pictured to myself of the misery of the finally lost, nothing could be compared to this. My physician now aroused me from my slumbers. I tried to tell him what I had just witnessed, but was unable. My whole physical powers were prostrated. This, too, was a dream: but while memory holds its throne, it will never be obliterated from my mind.