[August 24, 1850, Centerport, New York]1 The headings of this manuscript and its variant, Ms 7, 1850, inform us that the vision of which this is an account was given “at the house of Brother Harris” on “August 24, 1850.” That Brother Harris lived in Centerport, New York, is argued in Ms 7, 1850 (Aug. 24), note 2. Presumably this account of the vision was written in Centerport shortly after August 24, 1850. This copy is accompanied by a note from J. N. Loughborough that reads: “Copied Nov. 8, 1914, from an original printed sheet of which the paper had become rotten with age.”
“A Vision the Lord Gave Me at the House of Brother Harris [William Harris],”2 Identity: See Ms 7, 1850 (Aug. 24), note 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 “The paper” mentioned here and farther on in the letter refers to The Advent Review. See: ibid., note 3. Identity: See ibid., note 4. For a full account of the healing of Edson and James in early August 1850, see Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts [vol. 2], pp. 136-140; idem, Lt 12, 1850 (Aug. 15).
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 On the expression “nominal Adventists,” see Ms 7, 1850 (Aug. 24), note 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 See: Introductory article “The ‘Shut Door’ and Ellen White's Visions”; EGWEnc, s.v. “Shut Door.”
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 See: EGWEnc, s.v. “Seal of God.”
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 See: Ms 7, 1850 (Aug. 24), note 9. On the term “nominal churches,” see ibid., note 10. See: Ibid., note 11.
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 See: Ibid., note 12.
I then saw Sister S. Peckham [Sophronia Peckham]13 Identity: The Review carried a letter from “S. Peckham” in 1852 with the address “Volney, N.Y.” According to census records there were several Peckhams in Volney in 1850, but only one wife with an S initial, namely Sophronia Peckham, married to Job B. Peckham. This identification is fairly certain because on May 18, 1859, Ellen White mentions receiving news from “Sophrona Peckham giving an account of her husband's death.” According to tombstone evidence Job B. Peckham had died two months earlier, on March 19, 1859. (Both spellings of her first name [“Sophronia” and “Sophrona”] appear in the sources.) See: S. Peckham, “From Sister Peckham,” Review, June 10, 1852, p. 23; 1850 U.S. Federal Census, “Job B. Peckham,” New York, Oswego County, Volney, p. 351; Ellen G. White, Ms 6, 1859 (May 18 entry); “Peckham, Job B.,” RootsWeb, Mt. Pleasant Western Ceme-tery, Volney, Oswego Co., N.Y., 2000, www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyoswego/cemeteries/mtpleasntwestvol4.html (Oct. 20, 2011).
In love and sorrow. 1EGWLM 231.2