The waiting, watching, praying ones, embraced the fourth precept of that law, and with fresh courage took their onward course to the golden gates of the city of God, cheered by the closing benediction of the Son of God: "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Thus they came out of the position of the shut door on the side of loyalty to the God of high heaven, the tree of life, and the eternal city of the redeemed. The reader will not fail to see the difference between their course and getting out of the shut door on the side of perdition. pity the apostate.

God

CHAPTER V.

PARENTAGE AND EARLY LIFE.

HAVING traced my early experience up to the year 1846, when I linked life's destiny in marriage with Miss Ellen G. Harmon, we shall leave the reader here, after a few brief remarks relative to our early united labors, while we go back and trace her early life to the same point, since which time our labors at home and abroad have been so united that both should be given in one.

Marriage marks an important era in the lives of men. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord," is the language of wisdom. Prov. 18:22. This expression taken alone may be understood to convey the idea that all wives are from the Lord. But Solomon qualifies the expression by other statements. "A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband; but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones." Prov. 12:4.

We were married August 30, 1846, and from that hour to the present she has been my crown of rejoicing. I first met her in the city of Portland, in the State of Maine. She was then a Christian of the most devoted type. And although but sixteen, she was a laborer in the cause of Christ in public and from house to house. She was a decided Adventist, and yet her experience was so rich and her testimony so powerful that ministers and leading men of different churches sought her labors as an exhorter in their several congregations. But at that time she was very timid, and little thought that she was to be brought before the public to speak to thousands.

We both viewed the coming of Christ near, even at the doors, and when we first met had no idea of marriage at any future time. future time. But God had a great work for both of us to do, and he saw that we could greatly assist each other in that work. As she should come before the public she needed a lawful protector, and God having chosen her as a channel of light and truth to the people in a special sense, she could be of great help to me. But it was not until the matter of marriage was taken to the Lord by both, and we obtained an experience that placed the matter beyond the reach of doubt, that we took this important step. Most of our brethren who believed with us that the second advent movement was the work of God were opposed to marriage in the sense that as time was very short it was a denial of faith, as such a union contemplated long years of married life. We state the fact as it existed without pleading the correctness of the position.

It had been in the good providence of God that both of us had enjoyed a deep experience in the Advent movement. Mine has been given in the preceding pages, that of Mrs. White is to be given in succeeding pages. This experience was now needed

as we should join our forces and, united, labor extensively from the Atlantic ocean to the Pacific, to build up churches and establish that discipline which the New Testament recognizes, and establish those institutions which should be of great service to the cause of truth. We mention as first in importance our houses of publication at Battle Creek, Michigan, and at Oakland, California. Next in importance is our denominational College, located at Battle Creek, and also the Sanitarium, as important to a good hold on health and life which has a decided bearing on usefulness here to be rewarded in the life to come.

We entered upon this work penniless, with few friends, and broken in health. Mrs. W. has suffered ill health from a child, as will be seen in succeeding pages, and although I had inherited a powerful constitution, imprudence in study at school, and in lecturing, as narrated in preceding pages had made me a dyspeptic. In this condition, without means, with very few who sympathized with us in our views, without a paper, and without books, we entered upon our work. We had no houses of worship at that time. And the idea of using a tent had not then occurred to us. Most of our meetings were held in private houses. Our congregations were small. It was seldom that any came into our meetings excepting Adventists, unless they were attracted by curiosity to hear a woman speak.

Mrs. W. at first moved out in the work of public speaking timidly. If she had confidence it was given her by the Holy Spirit. If she spoke with freedom and power it was given her of God. Our meetings were usually conducted in a manner so that both of us took part. I would give a doctrinal discourse, then Mrs. W. would give an exhortation of considerable length melting her way into the tenderest feelings of the congregation. Was my part of

the work important, hers was no less important. While I presented the evidences, and sowed the seed, hers was to water it. And God did give the increase.

It was in the autumn of 1846 that we commenced to observe the Bible Sabbath, and teach and defend it. There were at that time about twenty-five in Maine who observed the Sabbath; but these were so scattered in point of location and diverse in sentiment upon other points of doctrine that their influence was very small. There was about the same number, in similar condition in other parts of New England. It seemed to be our duty to visit these frequently at their homes, and strengthen them in the Lord and in his truth, and as they were very much scattered, it was necessary for us to be on the road much of the time. For want of means we took the cheapest private conveyance, second-class cars, and lower deck passage on steamers. Private conveyance was the most comfortable for Mrs. W. who was feeble. I could then endure hardships, labors and privations to almost any extent for the sake of the truth of God and his precious, scattered people. When on second-class cars we were usually enveloped in tobacco smoke. This I could endure, but Mrs. W. would frequently faint. When on steamers, on lower deck, we suffered the same from the smoke of tobacco, besides the swearing and vulgar conversation of the ship hands and the baser portion of the traveling public. Sleeping conveniences are summed up as follows: We lie down on the hard floor, dry-goods boxes, or sacks of grain, with carpetbags for pillows, without covering only overcoats and shawls. If suffering from the winter's cold, we would walk the deck to keep warm. If suffering the heat of summer we would go upon the upper deck to secure the cool night air. This was fatiguing to Mrs. W., especially so with an infant in her arms. This manner of life was by no means one of our choos

ing. God called us in our poverty, and led us through the furnace of affliction, to give us an experience which should be of great worth to us, and an example to others who should afterwards join us in labor.

Our Master was a man of sorrows. He was acquainted with grief. And those who suffer with him will reign with him. When the Lord appeared to Saul in his conversion he did not purpose to show him how much good he should enjoy, but what great things he should suffer for his name. Suffering has been the portion of the people of God from the days of the martyr Abel. The patriarchs suffered for being true to God, and obedient to his commandments. The great Head of the church suffered for our sake. His first apostles and the primative church suffered, the millions of martyrs suffered, and the reformers suffered. And why should we, who have the blessed hope of immortality, to be consummated at the soon appearing of Christ, shrink from a life of suffering? Were it possible to reach the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God without suffering we would not enjoy so rich a reward for which we had not suffered. We would shrink back from the glory, and shame would seize us in the presence of those who had fought the good fight, had run the race with patience, and had laid hold on eternal life. But none will be there who have not chosen to suffer affliction with the people of God as did Moses. The prophet John saw the multitude of the redeemed and inquired who they were. prompt answer came: "These are they which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." Rev. 7: 13, 14.

The

At that time we had no clearly defined idea of the third angel's message. The burden of our testimony as we came before the people was that the great

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