p. 171 | Living Faith by Joseph G. Wood

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 28, 1862

Living Faith.

By Joseph G. Wood

"And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name [name of Jesus] shall they cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands on the sick and they shall recover." Mark xvi, 15, 17, 18.

We ask how long these signs were to follow. Ans., verse 15, As long as there is any creature to preach the gospel to. But the objector says, Why do ye not see these signs following those that believe, in the different churches of our land? Ans. "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." James ii, 17. Works are lacking whereby faith is made perfect. James ii, 22. The commandments of God are rejected, or at least, the fourth. Ex. xx, 9-11. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James ii, 10. Therefore those that reject the fourth commandment, offend, and are guilty. It is no marvel, then, that these signs do not follow them. If they would have power to prevail with God, let them heed the language of Jer. iii, 22: "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings." Mal. iii, 7. "Return unto me and I will return unto you." The invitation is to come, and God will meet you.

But there is a people in these last days that are trying to keep the whole law, as God wrote it with his finger on two tables of stone, and we have faith in Jesus Christ, "and whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments." 1 John iii, 22.

"And these signs shall follow them that believe." At Avon, Rock Co., Wis., on the night of the 27th of Sep., 1862, we saw the power of living faith. Eld. Wm. S. Ingraham, while preaching in the State conference, then and there assembled, when about half through with his discourse, stopped and called upon Eld. Sanborn to take his place, saying, "I must go out, I have a severe sick headache." He went out, and Eld. S. went through with the subject, having great liberty. After meeting we went to our lodgings, but did not sleep; nor had we heard from Bro. Ingraham since he left the meeting. At about 1 o'clock, P. M. I was called and told that Bro. I. was very sick. I then called Eld. Bragg, and we went and found him in great pain. He said he had been dreadful sick, and had been vomiting, &c. They had given him some medicine, but he grew worse. I tended at his bedside. He complained some of his head, and was cramping all through his stomach, bowels, and limbs. He continued vomiting and the action of his bowels was copious and frequent, and mostly blood. I could find no pulse in his wrist for about half an hour. It seemed as though his blood was all turned out of its natural course.

Eld. Sanborn had been sent for, and quite a number of persons were present. Some talked about getting a doctor. Some thought nothing but divine aid would help him; and it was evident to all that what was done must be done quickly. So believing all things the Scriptures teach, we agreed to follow the directions of James v, 14: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up."

Three elders being present, we followed these directions, and the blessing of God rested upon us. It seemed as though the whole room was filled with his glory; and before we got through praying and shouting, Bro. Ingraham arose up in bed and said he wanted to tell us how he felt. Said he, "When Bro. S. was anointing me, the pain all left my body. It seemed as though he anointed it all away. Afterward it returned once or twice in my side, but is all gone now." Then he praised God, saying, He has healed me. The next action of the bowels was without pain. He then called for something to eat, after which he wanted rest; and about 2 o'clock A. M., he retired. The next morning he said he had rested, and felt well, but said he was a little weak. He was able to attend our business meeting at half-past eight A. M. and acted as chairman. He preached at 2 P. M., and said he felt well. "And these signs shall [may we not add do] follow them that believe." JOSEPH G. WOOD.

Brodhead, Green Co., Wis.

P. S. Should any who read this be unwilling to credit this statement of facts, they have only to refer to the following persons who were eye-witnesses of the same: Eld. Isaac Sanborn, Monroe, Wis., S. A. Bragg, Cambridge, Wis., Henry Decker, Avon, Rock Co., Wis., Robert Andrews, Round Grove, Ills. J. G. W.