Untitled article by R. F. COTTRELL

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Third-day, February 4, 1868

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. XXXI, No. 8

CONVALESCENT.

By R. F. COTTRELL

The readers of the REVIEW learned some months since that I was sick with typhoid fever. I was taken sick the latter part of September, and was confined two months. Some four or five weeks of this time is lost to me—an utter blank—as I cannot remember what took place any more than if I had been in the grave that length of time, with a very little exception. About the only thing that I can call to mind, is the season of prayer, when Brn. Loughborough and Andrews prayed for my recovery, as was reported in the paper. I knew nothing of their arrival or departure, nor of their anointing me with oil in the name of the Lord; but when their fervent prayers fell on my ears I knew the sound, and I was aroused. This made so deep an impression on my mind that I can remember it as a dream, and after I came to myself, and was told by my family what had been done for me, and of the freedom enjoyed by the brethren in praying for me, I had not a doubt that the Lord heard and would raise me up.

For eight weeks past I have been riding out, and fast recovering my health and strength, and for that length of time have gained a half pound a day in weight, which is a quarter of a pound for every meal I have eaten, as I eat but twice a day. I have taken no drugs, and consequently have no drug-disease to hinder my perfect restoration. My medicines have been nature's restoratives—air, water, heat, &c. I am commencing to labor a little in the cause of truth; and my prayer is that I may receive a fresh baptism to prepare me for the work. I wish to learn the lesson the Lord would have me learn from my affliction, and hope it will be sanctified for good to me and mine. I was highly blest in that I had the best of care and nursing; and my wife and daughter, though in almost constant attendance on me, escaped the disease, though they had the symptoms, and almost gave way. They were charged by Bro. L. to ride out daily, and this precaution was blest to their preservation from the fever. My neighbors, though almost strangers to us, were very kind to offer any service in their power; but some of them were alarmed that we had no doctor nor medicine. They have our sincere thanks. Oh! how thankful I have been to the Lord, since I began to recover, for his goodness to me in the care I received while I knew nothing,

being “as good as dead!” I was not troubled with fear of death, and had I gone into the grave, I should not have known it; and I do not believe I should have awakened to consciousness till the sounding of the trump of God.

My gratitude to God, since I have found myself convalescent, cannot be better expressed than in the language of the one hundred and sixteenth Psalm. How often have I repeated the words, “I WAS BROUGHT LOW, AND HE HELPED ME,” and, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” May I never forget my obligation to God.

R. F. COTTRELL.

Ridgeway, N. Y., Jan. 22, 1868.