HE SLEEPS IN JESUS by Sarah B. Belden

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · Apr 14, 1853

HE SLEEPS IN JESUS.

By Sarah B. Belden

A sketch of the experience and last sickness of Robert F. Harmon.

My dear brother, Robert F. Harmon, died of consumption, in Gorham, Me., Feb. 5th, aged 27 years. At the age of thirteen, he was converted under the first course of Lectures on the Second Coming of Christ, delivered by William Miller in Portland, Me. His faith in the immediate coming of Christ, and in the divine origin of the Advent movement, remained unshaken up to 1845. At this time he was placed under very trying circumstances. Many of the Advent people were giving up their past experience; and on the other hand, there were those who were teaching that Christ spiritually came in 1844, and contended that one of these two positions must be taken, Christ had spiritually come, or the Advent movement had not been right. My brother could not believe the glorious appearing of Christ was merely spiritual, and not being able to fully define his position, was influenced by some of the leading ones among those who had given up their Advent experience, to question the great movement. From that time, his faith and interest in the Advent was seen to gradually die away; yet he ever manifested a firm purpose to live a Christian life.

Last July he was taken suddenly ill, and was a great sufferer until his death. At the first of his sickness, his mind seemed beclouded, and he was distressed with doubts and fears. He spent much time in earnest prayer to God for a preparation to meet the event that was evidently before him. Light and peace gradually broke in upon his mind; also faith in the speedy coming of Christ revived, and he soon saw the force of the Sabbath of the Lord, and heartily embraced it, and greatly rejoiced in it. He now saw clearly, and acknowledged the application of the three angels of Rev. xiv, two in the past, and that this is the period for the third, presenting the commandments of God. And as he acknowledged this, convictions of past unbelief and its consequences, seemed to press upon him.

Only a few weeks before he was taken sick, he united with the M. E. Church. None of us knew this, until he saw the work of the two angels in the past, and, of his own accord, mentioned the subject, and confessed his error. He expressed his firm faith that the Lord called the Advent people to leave the churches, and that he had erred in returning to the church again. He was very anxious to retrace his steps, and requested father to inform the minister that he wished his name taken from the church book. The Methodist minister immediately visited him, and heard his request to leave the church, from his own mouth. He then seemed perfectly free. The minister spoke of the clearness of his mind, and, as he left, said to mother, "That is a triumphant soul." From this time till he fell asleep in Jesus, he continued free from doubts, happy in the love of God. During the period of his protracted sickness, six months of which time, I have cheerfully watched over him, he has ever manifested great patience, and resignation to the will of God.

The funeral was attended by our dear Bro. Wheeler of Washington, N. H., who, through the kind providence of God, was in the State, where we could secure his services. He gave a short discourse from I Thess. iv, 13, 14, and the sorrowing heart was greatly cheered by the hope of the resurrection, when we shall, if faithful to the end, meet him who is torn from us by death, clothed with immortality to die no more.

SARAH B. BELDEN. Rochester, March, 1853.