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diff --git a/old/11553.txt b/old/11553.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e22906b --- /dev/null +++ b/old/11553.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13653 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonders of Prayer, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Wonders of Prayer + A Record of Well Authenticated and Wonderful Answers to Prayer + +Author: Various + +Release Date: March 12, 2004 [EBook #11553] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERS OF PRAYER *** + + + + +Produced by John Hagerson, Kevin Handy and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +FACTS STRANGER THAN FICTION + +THE WONDERS OF PRAYER: + +A RECORD OF WELL AUTHENTICATED AND WONDERFUL ANSWERS TO PRAYER. + +AS NARRATED BY: + + GEORGE MULLER, W.W. PATTEN, D.D., + D.L. MOODY, CHAS. CULLIS, + C.H. SPURGEON, S.I. PRIME, D.D., + BISHOP SIMPSON, E. KRUMMACHER, + NEWMAN HALL, D.D., MARTIN LUTHER, + BISHOP T. BOWMAN, JOHN KNOX, + CHAS. G. FINNEY, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, + +AND HOSTS OF OTHERS. + + +NEW EDITION. REVISED BY D.W. WHITTLE. + +1885 + + * * * * * + + + + +INTRODUCTION TO FIRST EDITION. + + +The incidents which are published in this volume, are vouched for upon +the strongest proofs of authenticity possible to obtain, and are either +of circumstances known amid my own experience, or connected with the +lives of my correspondents and their friends. They are the thankful +record and tribute to the power of _persevering faith_. + +Nothing has been published concerning which there is the least shadow of +doubt. All have been carefully investigated. + +Every case has been one of real prayer, and the results that have come, +came only in answer to the prayer of faith, and were not possible to +obtain without it. + +They demonstrate to a wonderful degree, the immediate practical ways of +the Lord with his children in this world, that He is far nearer and more +intimate with their plans and pursuits than it is possible for them to +realize. + +Neither have we depended upon the relation of facts of a few, to +convince the world of the real power of faith, but have added concurrent +testimony of incidents actually known in the experience of such eminent +clergymen as Charles Spurgeon, Newman Hall, Martin Luther, W. +Huntington, Dr. Waterbury, George Muller, Dr. Cullis, Dr. Patton, Dr. +Adams, Dr. Prime, Bishop Simpson, and many others. + +Also we have added some incidents known and investigated and found +absolutely true, by the editors of the following journals, who add their +unquestioning belief in the power of prayer: _The Christian, The +Evangelist, The Observer, The Congregationalist, The Advance, The +Illustrated Christian Weekly, The American Messenger, The Witness_. +Likewise we have been greatly assisted by some of our Home Missionaries, +who, from their daily experiences with the poor and suffering, have been +eye-witnesses to remarkable experiences and the wonderful help of the +Lord in answering their prayers. + +These testimonies here recorded must be accepted as true. They +demonstrate that answers to prayer are not occasional, and therefore +remarkable that they do occur, but are of constant occurrence. + +There may be many minds who, having carried no trial to the Lord, have +never been brought into intimate acquaintances of the ways in which the +Lord tries the faith of his children, nor led to see and observe his +wonderful control over human wills and circumstances. The power of the +Lord is learned only by those who in deep trouble have faithfully sought +Him and seen his ways of deliverance. + +None can ever understand the full power of prayer until they have +learned the lesson of trust. It is only when for the _first time_ in the +Christian's own life of faith, it realizes the hand of God in his +personal dealings with him, how near He is, or how clearly he feels the +presence of that tremendous overruling Spirit which + + "_Turneth the heart whithersoever He will_." + +The actual existence of our God is therefore proved, not alone from +_History_, nor from the Bible alone, nor from current natural or +religious feeling and beliefs, nor from the testimony of old witnesses +several thousand years old, _but from the actual incidents of present +prayer_, and the _literal answer_. Daily faith and trust and prayer have +made the Christian deeply acquainted with Him and his ways, and humbly +dependent upon his care and love and help, in the events of life. _No +one ever faithfully trusted the Lord in vain_. + +Circumstances so clouded that it has been impossible for men to control, +have, through believing prayer, been so made to change, that through +them has been revealed _living evidences_ of the presence of + + _The Ever Living God_. + + * * * * * + + + + +DISCERNING PRAYER. + + +INTRODUCTORY. + + +BY D.W. WHITTLE. + + +To recognize God's existence is to necessitate prayer to Him, by all +intelligent creatures, or, a consciously living in sin and under +condemnation of conscience, because they do not pray to Him. It would be +horrible to admit the existence of a Supreme Being, with power and +wisdom to create, and believe that the creatures he thought of +consequence and importance enough to bring into existence, are not of +enough consequence for him to pay any attention to in the troubles and +trials consequent upon that existence. + +Surely such a statement is an impeachment of both the wisdom and +goodness of God. + +It were far more sensible for those who deny the fitness and necessity +of prayer to take the ground of the atheist and say plainly "We do not +pray, for there is no God to pray to," for to deny prayer, is practical +atheism. + +So in the very constitution of man's being there is the highest +reasonableness in prayer. And, if the position of man in his relation to +the earth he inhabits is recognized and understood, there is no +unreasonableness in a God-fearing man looking to God for help and +deliverance under any and all circumstances, in all the vicissitudes of +life. The earth was _made_ for man. One has said "there is nothing great +in the world but man; and there is nothing great in man but his soul." +With this in view, how absurd to talk about "fixed laws" and +"unchangeable order," in a way to keep man in his trouble from God. It +is all the twaddle of the conceit of man setting himself up to judge and +limit his maker. "To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal? +saith the Holy One." The Creator is greater than his creation; the law +giver is supreme over all law. He created the earth that it might be +inhabited by man, and He governs the earth in subordination to the +interests, the eternal and spiritual welfare of the race of immortal +beings that are here being prepared for glory and immortality. + +Laws, indeed, are fixed in their operation and results as subserving the +highest good in the training and the disciplining of the race, giving +them hope in their labor and sure expectation of fruit from their toil. +But as set in operation for _man's good_, so, in an exigency that may +make necessary their suspension, to secure his deliverance from peril +and bring man back to the recognition of the personal God, as above, +law, is it unreasonable to believe that God has power thus to suspend or +overrule his own arrangements? A wise father will govern his children by +rules as securing their best good. But he will retain in his power the +suspending of those rules when special occasions arise, when the object +for which they exist can be better secured by their suspension. Shall +not the living God have the same right? + +So much as to the reflections suggested by the dogmas of natural +religion. They sustain in reason our faith in prayer. The basis, +however, of our faith rests upon the unchanging and unchangeable +revelation of God, and not upon man's philosophy. Jesus taught his +disciples to pray, saying, "Our Father which art in Heaven." As +Christians, this is our authority for prayer. In the words, "OUR +FATHER," our Blessed Lord has given us the substance of all that can be +said, as to _the privilege of prayer, what to pray for_, and _how to +pray_. There can be no loftier exercise of soul ever given to created +intelligence than to come into conscious contact with the living God, +and be able to say "_My_ Father." + +And surely, as my Father, with a loving father's heart, it must be his +desire that I should tell him _all_ my needs, _all_ my sorrows, _all_ my +desires. And, so his word commands, "Be careful for nothing, but _in +everything_, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your +requests be made known unto God." (Phil, iv., 6.) Under this verse there +is positively no exception of any request that may not be made known +unto God. So there is true faith and right Christian philosophy in the +remark, "if a _pin_ was needful to my happiness and I could not find one +I would pray to God for it." + +The mistake of Christians is in _not_ praying over _little_ things. "The +hairs of your head are all numbered." Consult God about everything. +Expect His counsel, His guidance, His care, His provision, His +deliverance, His blessing, in everything. Does not the expression, "Our +_daily_ bread," mean just this? Can there be any true life of faith that +does not include this? Whatever will serve to help God's children to a +better understanding of the blessed privileges of prayer, and prove to +them the reality of God's answering prayer in the cares, trials and +troubles of _daily life_, will approve itself to all thoughtful minds as +a blessing to them and an honor to God. It is the purpose of this volume +to do this. We are more helped by testimony to _facts_ than by theories +and doctrines. When we have illustrations before our eyes of God's care +for his children, and His response to their faith, even in the minutest +things, we understand the meaning of His promises and the reality of His +providences. + +The writer had many thoughts in this line suggested to him by an +incident, with which he was connected, in the life of George Muller. It +was my happiness to cross the Atlantic in the company of this dear +brother on the steamship Sardinian, from Quebec to Liverpool, in June, +1880. + +I met Mr. Muller in the express office the morning of sailing, about +half an hour before the tender was to take the passengers to the ship. +He asked of the agent if a deck chair had arrived for him from New York. +He was answered, No, and told that it could not possibly come in time +for the steamer. I had with me a chair I had just purchased and told Mr. +Muller of the place near by, where I had obtained it, and suggested that +as but a few moments remained he had better buy one at once. His reply +was, "No, my brother, Our Heavenly Father will send the chair from New +York. It is one used by Mrs. Muller, as we came over, and left in New +York when we landed. I wrote ten days ago to a brother who promised to +see it forwarded here last week. He has not been prompt as I would have +desired, but I am sure Our Heavenly Father will send the chair. Mrs. +Muller is very sick upon the sea, and has particularly desired to have +this same chair, and not finding it here yesterday when we arrived, as +we expected, we have made special prayer that Our Heavenly Father would +be pleased to provide it for us, and we will trust Him to do so." As +this dear man of God went peacefully on board the tender, running the +risk of Mrs. Muller making the voyage without a chair, when for a couple +of dollars she could have been provided for, I confess I feared Mr. +Muller was carrying his faith principles too far and not acting wisely. + +I was kept at the express office ten minutes after Mr. Muller left. Just +as I started to hurry to the wharf a team drove up the street, and on +top of a load just arrived from New York, _was Mr. Muller's chair_! It +was sent at once to the tender and placed in _my hands_ to take to Mr. +Muller (the Lord having a lesson for me) just as the boat was leaving +the dock. I found Mr. and Mrs. Muller in a retired spot on one side of +the tender and handed him the chair. He took it with the happy, pleased +expression of a child who has just received a kindness deeply +appreciated, and reverently removing his hat and folding his hands over +it, he thanked his Heavenly Father for sending the chair. "In +_everything_ by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known +unto God." "Casting _all_ your care upon Him, for He careth for you." + +So the word of God teaches us as His children (_inviting_ us to pray, +_commanding_ us to pray, and _teaching us_ how to pray), that there is a +divine reality in prayer. Experience abundantly corroborates the +teaching. + +Every truly converted man knows from this experience that God answers +prayer. He has verified the promise. "Call unto me, and I will answer +thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." +(Jer. xxxiii., 8.) His life is a life of prayer, and grows more and more +to be a life of almost unconscious dependence upon God, as he becomes +fixed in the habit of prayer. This, and it is the purpose of God, is the +result secured by prayer. With this in view, it will not be so much what +we expect to get by praying, as a consciousness of coming into closer +relations to God, the giver of all, in our prayers, that will give us +true joy. + +Often God's children are driven to the throne of grace by some desperate +need of help and definite supply of an absolute want, and, as they cry +to God and plead their case with tears before him, he so manifests his +presence to them and so fills them with a consciousness of his love and +power, that the burden is gone and _without the want being supplied_ +that drove them to God, they rejoice in _God himself_ and care not for +the deprivation. This was Paul's experience when he went thus to God +about the thorn, and came away without the specific relief he had prayed +for, but with such a blessing as a result of his drawing near to God, +that he little cared whether the thorn remained or not--or, rather, +rejoiced that it was not removed; that it might be used to keep him near +to God, whose love so filled his soul. + +A widow once told the writer of the turning point in her Christian life, +when God's love was so shed abroad in her heart that she had been +enabled to go on through all her trials rejoicingly conscious of God's +presence, and casting all her burdens upon Him. She was driven to seek +God by great need. Her husband's death left her destitute, with little +children to provide for, and few friends from whom to look for +continuous aid. Winter drew on, and, one day, her little boy came in +shivering with cold and asked if he could not have a fur cap, as his +straw hat was very cold and none of the boys at school wore straw hats. +She was without a cent in the world. She gave a hopeful answer to the +boy and sent him out to play, and then went to her bedroom and knelt and +wept in utter desolation of heart before God, praying most earnestly +that God would give her a token that He _was_ her God and was caring for +her by sending her a cap for her boy. While she prayed the peace of God +filled her soul. She was made to feel the presence of her Saviour in +such a way that all doubts as to his love for her and his fulfillment of +all his promises to care for her vanished away, and she went out of her +room, rejoicing in the Lord and singing his praise. She had no burden +about the cap, and was quite content for God to send it or not as it +pleased Him; and, in the afternoon, when a neighbor called, occupied +with the Lord and his wonderful love, the thought of the cap had gone +from her mind. When the neighbor rose to depart, she said, "You know my +little boy died last fall. Just before he died I bought him a fur cap: +he only wore it two or three times. After his death I put away all his +things and thought I could never part with any of them. But, this +morning, as I went to the drawer to look them over, I felt that I should +give you this cap for your little boy. Will you take it of me?" As she +took the cap and told her neighbor of the morning trial, prayer and +blessing, two souls were filled with the sense of the reality of prayer +and the love of God for his children. "My little boy," said the widow, +"wore that cap for three winters. And often, when sorely tried by my +circumstances, has God lifted the burden from my heart, by my just +looking at it, and remembering the blessing that came with it." + +Experiences like this God gives to all his children, not for the purpose +of leading them to look to Him for supplying their physical necessities, +as an end, but to make Himself known to them, and to secure their +confidence and love, for "this is life eternal, that they might know +Thee, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent." (Jno. +xvii, 8.) + +The use of prayer is to bring us into communion with God, for the growth +of the spiritual life, that is ours by faith in Christ Jesus. To leave +it upon any lower plane than this, is to rob it of its highest functions +and to paralyze it of lasting power for good in any direction. The +promises of God are conditioned upon our being in this state of heart +toward God. "If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask +what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (Jno. xv., 7.) Abiding in +Christ, our will will be His will, as to desiring that which will most +advance the divine life and promote confidence in God, and all our +desires for material blessings will be subordinated to this motive. +Right here must come in a line of truth that will lead us from the +spirit of dictation in our prayers to God in all matters pertaining to +our worldly concerns. We cannot tell what is for our highest spiritual +good. The saving of our property or the taking it away. The recovery +from sickness or the continuance of it; the restoration of the health of +our loved one, or his departing to be with Christ; the removing the +thorn or the permitting it to remain. "_In everything_" it is indeed our +blessed privilege to let _our requests_ be make known unto God, but, +praise his name, he has not passed over to us the awful responsibility +of the assurance that _in everything_ the requests we make known will be +granted. He has reserved the decision, where we should rejoice to leave +it, to his infinite wisdom and his infinite love. + +There is a danger to be carefully guarded against in the reading of this +book and in the consideration of the precious truth. The incidents it +relates bring before the mind, of the unlimited resources and the +unquenchable love of God, that are made available to believing prayer. +That danger has been suggested by what has been said, that the highest +use of prayer is to bring the soul nearer to God, and _not the making of +it a mere matter of convenience to escape physical ills or supply +physical necessities_. + +"That which is born of the flesh is flesh" and continues flesh until the +end. "Have no confidence in the flesh" is always a much needed +exhortation. Now, unquestionably, the desires of the natural heart may +and do deceive us, and often lead as to believe that our fervent earnest +prayer for temporal blessing is led of the Spirit, when the mind of the +Spirit is, that we will be made more humble, more Christ-like and more +useful by being denied than by being granted. Again, we are in danger of +disobeying the plain commands of _God's word_ in allowing prayer ever to +take the place of anything _in our power_ to do, and _that we are +commanded to do as a means to secure needed good_. He who has said "pray +always," has also said, "Be ambitious to be quiet and to do your own +business, and to work with your hands, even as we charged you; that ye +may walk honestly toward them that are without, and may have need of +nothing." (1 Thess., iv., 11, 12; R.V.) + +How often the _flesh_ has led men to read (Phil, iv., 19): "My God shall +supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," +in a spirit entirely opposed to this exhortation. They have ceased to +labor with their hands, and, without warrant in the providences of God +and the judgment of brethren, have turned from doing their own business, +expecting the Lord to pay their debts and provide for their necessities. +The quotations of Scripture made by our Lord to Satan, "Thou shalt not +tempt the Lord, thy God," is surely applicable in all such cases. The +spirit of a "sound mind" (see 2 Tim. i., 7) will surely recognize this. + +So in _all_ things, that which God has given me intelligence and power +to do, in avoiding evil or securing good, I am under direct command from +him to do, always depending upon His blessing to secure the needed +result. A _true faith_ in God will be made manifest by careful obedience +to known commands. An _intelligent_ faith can never allow dependence +upon means used to take the place of dependence upon the living God, who +alone makes them efficacious. + +It must result in _presumptions_ faith, if obedience is neglected, and +the results only promised to obedience are expected. That God _can_ give +blessing, without the use of the ordinary means, on man's part, there is +no question. That he _has_ done so is a matter of record. Yet we should +remember that there were but _two_ miraculous draughts of fishes, and +_only twice_ did our Lord make bread without the use of seed-time, +harvest, grinding and baking. The _rule_ of Christ in his earthly +ministry was, most certainly, to receive the supply of his physical +wants from His Heavenly Father, in the use of means to secure the +results offered in the ordinary operation of the laws of God. He went +into the corn-field at autumn and visited the olive tree for sustenance +as did other men. And the question for his disciples is not what God +_can_ do, and not what he _has_ done (that he may be known as God over +all creation, blessed for evermore) in the suspension of natural laws, +but what has he revealed to us as his will during the time of the +present dispensation of the church on this earth, as to his children +using means for the avoidance of evil and securing of good, or depending +entirely upon miraculous interference in answer to the prayer of faith +for all need without reference to use of means. + +Does the prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread," mean that we are to +do nothing to secure our bread, lest we show no faith in God, and simply +wait in idleness for God to repeat the miracle of sending it by a +raven? or, does it mean that with thankful hearts to God for the ability +he has given us to work, that we go forth diligently fulfilling our task +in the use of all appropriate means to secure that which his loving +bounty has made possible for us in the fruitful seasons of the earth, +and return with devout recognition that He is the Creator, Upholder and +Giver of all, bringing our sheaves with us. When seed-time and harvest +fail and death is on the land, when corn fails in Egypt and there is no +bread, when _we have obeyed him_ and sought to toil with our hands and +no man has given unto us, then we will expect his interposition and will +have faith that he who has fed us by use of means, will supply us +without means, and that He alone is the living God. + +It is noticeable that the prophet Elisha, whose prayers God heard in the +multiplication of the twenty loaves during the dearth at Gilgal, was +made Elijah's successor when following his twelve yoke of oxen at the +plough in the field, diligently using means to obtain bread, and +undoubtedly communing with God all the while and recognizing the +evidences of his love and power in every upturned daisy as he ploughed +the sod, and in every seed that he dropped into the fertile earth, and +thought it grand to be a fellow worker with God in the husbandry of the +earth and not one to be fed in idleness, neglecting the toil appointed +to man, and losing the blessing that is promised in the word of God, in +the discipline and the knowledge of God in the operations of His laws, +that comes in a greater or less degree to all of earth's honest toilers. + +It is the opinion of many of God's children that as the present +dispensation draws to its close, there will be among the spiritually +minded and consecrated ones of the church, a reproduction of the gifts +of Pentecost for a last testimony to the world before Christ comes in +glory. There is much Scripture that might be quoted to sustain this +opinion. God grant in His grace and mercy that it may be so. But neither +the church or the world have any _claim_ upon God for it. The church has +abused grace and the world has despised mercy. All the promises as to +miracles wrought for a testimony as to the truth of Christ's +resurrection, have been fulfilled. If Christ were to come to-day, the +world would be without excuse in having rejected him, and could not +plead that signs and wonders had been abundantly wrought in His name in +the establishing of His church upon the earth. + +The question of our Lord in Luke xviii., 8, "When the son of man cometh +shall he find faith on the earth?" suggests to many minds that there may +not be vouchsafed during the time immediately preceding his +manifestations, any marked interference by God in the way of miracles or +signs among his children, but that their faith in Him as the unseen God, +and their trust in the truth and verify of His word, will be brought +forth to the praise and glory of God and their joy, by their being left +to the _word alone_ and the operations of the Holy Ghost by and through +the word for their comfort and stability in the faith. + +Coupled with this thought let it ever be borne in mind by the believer +that the testimony of God's word as to miracles, signs and wonders +wrought by _Satanic agency_ in the church, during the last day, is clear +and unmistakable, and warnings abound as to our danger from them. + +"The Spirit saith expressly that in later times some shall fall away +from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of +devils." 1 Tim. iv., 1. + +"But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come." "Evil +men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being +deceived." 2 Tim. iii., 1 and 13. + +"Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no +great thing if his ministers be transformed as the ministers of +righteousness. 2 Cor. xi., 14. + +"And then shall that wicked be revealed. Even him whose coming is after +the working of Satan, _with all power, and signs_, and _lying wonders_; +and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, +because they received not the love of the truth that they might be +saved." 2 Thess. ii., 8 to 10. + +By these passages it is plain that a sign or a wonder does not establish +a doctrine or endorse a man as certainly being _from God_. The doctrine +and the man must be judged by the written word of God. + +If there is ought in the doctrine that denies that Jesus is the Son of +God, that derogates in the slightest degree from the merit of His +atonement on the cross for our sins, or that takes the eye off from Him +as the risen and coming Lord, the alone object of our faith and hope, or +that dishonors in any way God's holy word, taking from or adding to it, +_then_ the more signs and wonders and manifestations of mysterious power +that there may be connected with it, then the more certainly we may know +that it is of Satan and not of God. + +And if, in the man who exhibits signs and wonders, there is a spirit +contrary to the spirit of Christ, in his seeking honor from man, and +using his power to establish a claim to such honor, "speaking of himself +as some great one," and not walking in humility as a sinner saved from +hell and kept day by day by the power of God through faith in Christ, +And if the purpose of his signs be to establish revelations he is +receiving in any form apart from the written word, then, though his +signs be as marvelous as those of the magicians in Egypt, or Simon +Magnus in Samaria, he is, like them, a minister of Satan and not a +minister of Jesus Christ. + +The age abounds in doctrines and men of this kind. The life of faith +lays the soul open to assaults of the Devil by their agency. + +"Beloved try the spirits whether they be of God." + +Let us not waver in our faith in God's overruling providence, and in the +reality of His interposition in answer to prayer for the deliverance and +help of his people under any and all circumstances. "In _everything_, by +prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let our requests be made +known unto God," but let our first request be that we be kept in a sound +mind obedient to the word, and let _all of_ our requests close with the +utterance, from a sincere heart, of the words, "Thy will be done." If +this be the attitude of our hearts our prayers shall be abundantly and +graciously answered, and God shall guide us from the wiles of the Evil +One for the sake of His dear Son Jesus Christ our Lord, through whose +precious blood we have all grace and all blessing. Amen. + +LAKE VIEW, July 24th, 1885. + + * * * * * + + + + +A MAN CAN RECEIVE NOTHING EXCEPT IT BE GIVEN HIM FROM HEAVEN. JOHN 3: +27. + + * * * * * + + + + +HIS COVENANT. + + +_"Know, that the Lord, thy God he is God, the faithful God, which +keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him, and keep his +commandments, to a thousand generations."_ + +_"My Covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of +my lips."_ + +_"I will not suffer my faithfulness to fail."_ + +_"I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I +will also do it."_ + +_"He is faithful that promised."_ + +_"I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of +David."_ + +_"Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David."_ + +_"God is not a man, that he should lie; hath he said and shall he not do +it? hath he spoken and shall he not make it good?"_ + +_"Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in Heaven; thy faithfulness is +unto all generations, thy word is true from the beginning."_ + +_"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations."_ + +_"The word of our God shall stand forever."_ + +_"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not +return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it +shall prosper in the things whereto I sent it."_ + + * * * * * + + + + +ANSWERS TO PRAYER + + +A WONDERFUL ANSWER TO PRAYER AND PROOF OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE HOLY +SPIRIT. + + +A trustful Christian, whose heart had been deeply touched with thoughts +of religion, was one day thinking and pondering and wishing that he +might be more truly convinced of the actual existence of the Holy +Spirit. "If," thought he, "there is a Holy Spirit, a Superior Mind and +Will, I reverently and sincerely wish that I may be convinced of it +beyond all doubt; that I may indeed know God is a living reality and +daily guide and mighty among the plans and ways of men." Though having +all the needed mental, historic and heart belief and trust in God--still +there was desired that special satisfaction which can only come by +_personal evidence._ + +With reverent feeling one morning, he asked the Lord humbly, in Prayer, +"_What can thy servant, do for thee this day? Teach him, that he may +gladly minister to any one in thy name_." In the course of the day there +came to him the thought of the revival services then proceeding in +Brooklyn, and feeling a cordial sympathy, he sat down and wrote a letter +to _Mr. Moody_, with these words: "_I know not how you are supported, or +anything of your needs; but I feel like helping you in your good work. +Enclosed find check for $25; take it and use it if you need it for +yourself; if not, then do some good with it_." The circumstance was +almost forgotten, when the day after there came this wonderful reply +from Mr. Moody: + + "_Your letter came to hand in the_ SAME MAIL, _at the_ SAME + INSTANT _of_ TIME, _with a letter from a brother in distress_ + WANTING THE SAME AMOUNT. _And now you have made him happy, and + my heart glad, and the Lord will bless you for it."_ + + + D.L. MOODY. + +Had there been a direct revelation from heaven, it could not have been +more astounding than this, to the heart of that Christian. His own +prayer was answered, as to his search for the evidences of the Holy +Spirit, but oh, how wonderfully! + +None but a Superior, Higher, Overruling Spirit, could have known the +thoughts and desires of each heart. Nothing but an Omnipotent hand of +Power and Wisdom could have brought these two letters together at that +identical instant of time. None but an All-knowing Father could have +fixed the amount of money which the one was to give and the other was to +pray for. + +This was a wonderful conjuncture of time, desire and amount, and could +never have happened by any chance operation of Nature or the natural +heart and will. Strangest of all, neither of the parties had ever met, +known or corresponded with each other before. Neither did Mr. Moody know +of the desire of the one, nor the necessity of the other, until in the +act of opening the two letters side by side. In the one envelope was the +prayer; in the other the answer. + +That check, those letters, with all signatures and endorsements and +those persons are this day living and can testify to the authenticity of +the circumstance. + + +THE PRAYER OF FAITH. + + +The family of Mr. James R. Jordan has resided in Lake View, Chicago, +since the spring of 1871. They are members of Lincoln Park +Congregational Church. The father, Mr. James R. Jordan, died in October, +1882, aged eighty-four years. Through a long series of financial trials, +sorrows, afflictions by death and pressing cares, this family learned to +depend on God for their daily prosperity; and the cures wrought in them, +according to God's Word, are only a small portion of the remarkable +answers to prayer with which their history is filled. + +It is an instructive fact for Christian meditation, that when the +exercise of intelligent faith was necessary to their cures, the faith +was there _ready for exercise._ They had not to begin, as, alas! so many +do, at the very foundation, and find out first, what faith is, and next, +how to exercise it. They had learned long before what faith is and what +faith is not; that _faith is trustful obedience to the Word of God;_ +that it _is not_ a determination to have one's own way, nor to expect +the immediate gratification of a desire, simply because the desire has +been made known to God. They knew that faith obediently accepts God's +commands and promises, expects to comply with the conditions of those +commands and promises, and, so complying, expects to receive the results +of such obedience at such times and in such ways as God appoints; all of +which truths they found, and all of which may be found in the Holy +Scriptures. + +Thus living in the hopes of the Gospel, realizing as much that their +"home is in heaven" as that their "rest is not here," they have, through +the years, performed the daily duties of their pilgrimage. + +The writer has known them for thirteen years, and gratefully testifies +that their faith has strengthened her's, and that their cheerful hope in +the Lord has been a strong consolation to many who were in trouble. + +After the sudden death of the youngest son of the family, in 1880, the +care of the family devolved entirely upon the two daughters, Mrs. H.J. +Furlong and Miss Addie S. Jordan. + +In April, 1876, Mrs. Jordan fell and badly fractured her hip. She was +then seventy-seven years old. On account of her age she could not well +be etherized, nor endure the repeated necessary resetting of the bones, +and consequently they grew together irregularly. Her hip-joint was +stiff, so that she was never able to walk without the support of a cane +or crutch. For eight years she could not leave her own little yard, nor +climb into a carriage, nor walk without support. + +Through this misfortune her afflictions grew worse. In January, 1884, +she fell and broke one bone and dislocated another in the left wrist. +Notwithstanding all that medical help could do, the shock brought on a +severe sickness, and when, after eight weeks, she left her bed to move +around feebly, she had almost lost her sight and hearing, her hand was +useless, and her mind greatly impaired. + +On her birthday, June 10, 1884, when she was eighty-five years old, she +greatly mourned that she had outlived her usefulness; that she could no +longer feed herself, nor read her Bible, nor remember the desirable +subjects for her prayers, and she hoped that she should not linger here +long in such a helpless and useless condition. + +During the latter part of this time the two daughters were sick, Mrs. +Furlong with paralysis and Miss Jordan with consumption. + +In the latter part of 1882 Miss Jordan, then in feeble health, was +needed at home to attend the father's last sickness, and Mrs. Furlong +was left to conduct their business alone. 'The extraordinary exertion +brought on paralysis. It began in her right arm, which became so +insensible that the strongest ammonia produced no sensation or apparent +effect. Gradually her whole right side lost power, her foot dragged, and +though she did manage to move about, she was comparatively helpless. +Physicians spoke not hopefully; and protracted rest was recommended as a +_possible_ relief. She planned to take electric treatment, though not +very hopeful about the result. She failed once to meet her physician, +and while planning the second time to take the treatment, and +considering Christ's miracles of healing, and the Bible's promises to +the sick, and having a feeling that possibly she might be doing wrong in +not relying entirely on the Lord, who had hitherto so much helped them, +she delayed a little, and failed again to meet the appointment. It was a +Saturday evening in January, 1883. + +She went home and sat down that evening alone, in the dining-room, +depressed. The enfeebled family--the aged crippled mother, the sick +sister and her own young son--had retired. As she thought the subject +through, she became convinced that it was not good to spend time and +money in the way proposed. Instantly the words THE SAVIOUR filled her +soul with indescribable hope, and as she thought of His miracles, and +how _the same Jesus_, on earth, healed paralyzed ones, the hope grew +that He would heal her. + +With the well hand she stretched out her paralyzed hand on the table and +said: "Dear Lord, will you heal me?" Like an electric shock the life +began to move in her arm, and the continued sensation was as though +something that, previously, had not moved was set in motion. The feeling +passed up to the head, and down the body to the foot. _She was healed! +and she was grateful!_ She did not speak of her experience to the +family, but retired. She rose early the next morning, and awoke her +son,--a prayerful, dutiful young man,--and said to him, "I'm going to +church, to-day." He replied, "Then I'll get up and go with you," +expecting that she must ride. + +Her soul was solemnly full that day of the felt presence of the Holy +Spirit, and she did not like to talk. Her son watched her movements, +astonished. + +She went to the church, took a class again in Sunday School, and; in +going back and forth to church that day and evening, walked about sixty +blocks without weariness. + +We are not permitted, here, to draw aside the curtain, to dwell upon the +surprises and the grateful joy of that ever-to-be-remembered, sacred +day. + +A few days after this healing, she, with a consciousness that she was +running a risk, lifted a heavy weight, and a numbness returned. She +confessed the sin to the Lord, and asked Him that, when she had been +sufficiently chastened, He would take the trouble away. Gradually, +within two days, it disappeared, and has never returned. + +At the time when Mrs. Furlong was healed, in answer to prayer, Miss. +Jordan's case was considered hopeless. Her lungs had been diseased since +1876. In November, 1879, her physician had decided that tubercles had +formed in the left lung, and that the right lung was much congested and +hardened. + +In 1882 she had many hemorrhages, and gradually grew worse, so that she +could not use her left arm or shoulder without producing hemorrhage. + +Mrs. Furlong, soon after her own healing, received a comforting +assurance from the Lord that her sister would be healed; but Miss +Jordan, herself, had not that assurance. At this time she took little or +no medicines, the physicians and the family having no confidence in +their curative effect; but, on the 1st of January, 1884, she had so many +chills and hemorrhages, that they sent for the family physician to aid +in checking, if possible, the severe attack. + +During this apparently rapid descent deathward, Mrs. Furlong continued +to repeat to the family and to the physicians that the Lord would heal +her sister. + +Miss Jordan was one day so low that she could just be aroused to take +her medicine. As Mrs. Furlong went to give it, Miss Jordan said to her, +"Do you want to throw that medicine away?" Mrs. Furlong said "Yes," and +threw it away. Six hours of united waiting upon the Lord followed. They +were hours of pain. From nine in the morning till three in the afternoon +she suffered indescribable pain. A few minutes after three, the pain +left her, and with a bright look she said, "I believe I'm better." She +wanted to rise and dress, but Mrs. Furlong advised her to rest through +the night. She said she had not, in five years, been so free from +weariness and pain. + +The aged mother was sick in bed with that broken wrist, and Mrs. Furlong +feared that her sister's improved condition would shock and perplex her. + +Miss Jordan lay on the lounge the most of the time for two days. One of +her expressions was, "It's perfect bliss to lie here free from pain." +Her breathing became perfectly natural, and very soon the great hollow +place in the upper part of the chest, over the left lung, filled out. +Shortly before her healing she only weighed eighty pounds; but a few +months after her weight had increased to one hundred and twenty pounds. + +She progressed in health rapidly, and on the second Sunday after the +healing came she attended church. The feeble mother was most sensitively +anxious lest her daughter should pursue some unwarrantable course which +should lead to relapse. + +Miss Jordan's health steadily improved, but it was several months before +a cough entirely left her. You may be sure that doubters made the most +of that cough! _But it left her!_ At one time she brought on a slight +relapse by giving lessons in crayon drawing. She came to the conclusion +that the Lord had other work for her to do: and at this writing, +September, 1885, having prayerfully and watchfully followed the leadings +of the Lord, is a missionary among the freedmen of the South, and is +strong in health and in faith, "giving glory to God." + +One of the aged mother's perplexities was that the Lord should want her +to live on in such a helpless and useless condition, while her +daughters, who might be so useful, must die; but oh, how successful she +had by precept and example taught those daughters that "He hath done all +things well!" How patiently she suffered whatever she thought was the +Lord's will! How sweet was her constant thanksgiving! Said a pious +Christian neighbor, whose poor health restricted her attendance at +church, "When I'm hungry for a blessing I go down to see old lady +Jordan." + +After eight painful weeks, she so far recovered from the sickness +consequent on the broken and dislocated wrist as to move around feebly, +but sight and hearing were almost gone. Her leg was stiff, her hand +stiff, her wrist deformed, and her mind greatly impaired. + +Miss Jordan became very hopeful, and received strong assurance, in +answer to prayer, that her mother might be healed. Mrs. Furlong received +no assurance whatever in her mother's case. There was a great deal of +talking and praying about it, in the family, and finally Mrs. Jordan +humbly claimed the Lord's help, beseeching Him that since He had +recorded that He would make the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the +deaf to hear, if it was His will He would heal her. This was the night +of June 16th, 1884. + +In the morning Miss Jordan was so hopeful that she rose early, and +attentively listened to the movements in her mother's room. She called +the little family's attention to them, saying, "Just listen to her;" and +as, holding on by the banister, the aged mother came with her accustomed +slow movements down to the dining room, Miss Jordan said, to them, "Now, +watch her." + +According to the long habit of eight years, she began to reach out for +her cane, unconscious that she had been walking around her room with new +freedom. Miss Jordan went toward her and said, "Mother, do you want your +cane?" and, wondering, the old lady walked freely into the dining room. +They gathered around her, and said, "Are you not healed, mother?" and +she began to think _she was_, and sat down in her chair by the table. +Could she move her hand? The doubled-up thumb, and straight, stiff +finger, were _perfectly free_ and as _limber as ever_, and the stiff +wrist joint _moved with perfect freedom!_ She _heard as well as +anybody!_ Could she see? She went up-stairs to her Bible, whose blurred, +dim pages she had thought closed to her forever, and _she could read as +well as ever_, and without glasses! She could thread the finest needle. +Could she kneel and thank the Lord? She had not knelt for eight years. +Yes, she could kneel as well as when she served the Lord in her youth! + +Christian reader, stop here and think what a joyful family that was that +June morning. That aged saint, of a little more than 85 years, was in +good health again! And her two daughters had been snatched from the jaws +of death! What a triumph of blessed memories to leave in legacy to that +young, hopeful, Christian son, who, in childhood, had himself repeatedly +proved that the Lord hears and answers prayer! + +Mrs. Jordan has never used cane or crutch since that morning. She has +frequently walked five blocks, to go to her church; and, a few weeks +after her healing, she one day walked the distance of about fifteen +blocks. She has walked for hours in Lincoln Park, among the plants and +flowers, and she goes up and down stairs, and wherever she likes, as +well as anyone. + +She has the use of her faculties, and an altogether comfortable use of +her sight, though that is not so acute as at first. Her earliest joy was +that she was permitted to see that the Lord had some purpose in sparing +her so long. + +Dear Christian reader, shall the wonderful manifestation of that +"purpose" strengthen your faith? It helps me. + +"Is anything too hard for the Lord?" "No good thing will He withhold +from them that walk uprightly." "If ye then, being evil, know how to +give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father +which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him." "If we live +by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." + +In the hopes of the Gospel, + + Miss E. Dryer. + +150 Madison St., Chicago. + + +ALMOST A BANKRUPT. + + +A prominent Christian had just entered a merchant's counting-room, when +the head man of the place said to him, "Let us kneel and ask God to help +me through, for without his help, I shall be a bankrupt before the +setting of the sun." So they knelt and prayed. That man went through the +pressure, and did not become a bankrupt. + + +"HE COULD NOT FLEE FROM THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT." + + +A clergyman of distinction gives this instance of the worthlessness of +all attempts to flee from the Power of the Spirit. + +"I looked out of my window one morning, while it was yet dark, and saw a +lady standing at my gate, leaning against a post, and evidently weeping +bitterly. I knew her. She was a member of the church, and was an +earnest, consistent Christian. She was married to one of the most bitter +Universalists I ever knew. I stepped down the steps to her, and asked, +'What is the matter?' She replied, 'Oh, my poor husband! I had so hoped +and prayed that he might be converted in this revival! and now he has +rode away, and says that _he will not come back till this religious +flurry is over_. What shall I do to bear up under this?' + +"I said, 'It is near the time for prayer. We will go and lay his case +before the Lord, and make _special request_ that God will bring him back +again under the power of the Spirit. The Lord can bring him home, and I +believe He will do it. We must pray for him.' + +"She dried her tears in a moment, and seemed to seize hold of this +'strong hope,' as we walked to the place of prayer. We found the room +crowded. It fell to my lot to lead the meeting. + +"At the opening, I stated the case of this Universalist husband, who had +undertaken to run away from the influence of the Spirit, by fleeing into +the country. I said that we must all pray _that the Holy Spirit may +follow him, overtake him, and bring him back again_, show him his sins, +and lead him to Jesus. + +"The meeting took up the case with great earnestness, and I could not +but feel that prayer would in some way be answered. + +"_But can you imagine our surprise when, at our evening prayer meeting, +this same Universalist came in_? + +"After standing a few minutes, till the opportunity offered, he said: + +"'I went away on horseback this morning, and told my wife I was going +into the country to stay till this flurry was over. I rode right over +the hills, back from the river, into the country, till I had got +eighteen miles away. _There, on the top of a hill, I was stopped as Paul +was, and just as suddenly_, and made to feel what a horrible sinner I +am. I am one of the worst sinners that ever lived. _I have lost my +Universalism_, and I know I must be born again, or I can never see the +kingdom of Heaven. Oh, pray for me that I may be converted; nothing else +will do for me.' + +"He took his seat amid the tears and sobs of the whole assembly. The +hour was full of prayer for that man's conversion. + +"This strong and intelligent man, once one of the bitterest +Universalists I ever knew, is now an elder in a Presbyterian church, and +one of the most joyous, happy, energetic men of God you will meet in +many a day. He believes he was 'converted on the spot in that prayer +meeting.'" + + +LIFE BROUGHT BACK AGAIN IN THE MIDST OF DEATH. + + +The following instance, when _death itself was made to give back the +life it claimed_, is personally known to us to be true: A mother, in +this city, sent a request for prayer to the Fulton street +prayer-meeting, asking the Lord for the recovery of her daughter, who +was sinking rapidly, and who she felt was almost dying. + +Her husband, an eminent physician, and others, also, the most skilled +physicians of the city, gave up the case as hopeless. The mother felt +that now none but God could or would help; that in the Fulton street +prayer-meeting were sympathizing friends, and to it sent her request. +She came to the meeting herself, to join in their prayers and testify +her faith. The moments of the meeting passed on. One request after +another was read, but hers was not touched. She was sadly disappointed. +Her child was so weak and almost dying, it could not live the day +through, perhaps. The time was within a few minutes, less than three, of +the close of the meeting. She, at last, with faltering steps and +palpitating heart, pressed her way to the desk and asked if her request +was there. Upon search, it was found that it had been overlooked. _Too +late_, said the leader, to _read it to-day_. See, the clock is at its +last moment; but it shall be read first thing at 12 o'clock, to-morrow, +and special prayer shall be offered immediately. + +With what heavy heart the mother went away, back to the chamber of the +dying one, none can ever know. All night the waiting ones watched, with +their ceaseless attentions and silent prayers. + +_A few minutes before_ 12 _o'clock the body sank, the eyes closed, +pallor came over the features, the spirit seemed gone_, and _all was +still; not a breath, not a motion--death had come_. + +The mother had taken her watch, hung it on the pillow of the bed, and +with streaming eyes, yet ceaseless prayer, they watched the slow finger +move to 12 o'clock. At precisely twelve, all joined in prayer, lifting +their hearts to God. _At fifteen minutes past twelve, the daughter +opened her eyes_, saying, "Mother, _I feel better_," then sank into +sleep, _breathing steadily_; after three hours awoke to consciousness +and sat up in bed, and before night was able to walk the floor of her +chamber. Prayer brought that life back, even when death had taken it. +_At the very moment when that precious prayer was offered in the +meeting, the Lord came and touched the dying one, and gave it new life._ +The mother's faith and prayer was honored, and the Lord remembered his +promise, "_If ye believe, ye shall see the glory of God."_ The same Lord +who raised Lazarus and bade him come forth, also came and bade this +precious life come back again to earth. + + +SAVED FROM THE HANDS OF A DESPERADO. + + +The following circumstance is communicated to us by a United States +Surgeon: + +"After the close of the Mexican war, and in the year 1849, a train was +sent out from San Antonio to establish military posts on the upper Rio +Grande, particularly at El Paso. I was surgeon of the quartermaster's +department, numbering about four hundred men. While the train was making +up, the cholera prevailed in camp, for about six weeks, at first with +terrible severity. On the 1st of June it had so far subsided that we +took up the line of march. After about four days out from San Antonio, +the health of the men became very good, and continued so through the +whole route, with the exception of occasional cases of prostration from +heat, and slight fevers, the Summer being unusually hot. One evening in +July, after coming into camp, I received a call to see a man who had +been taken sick on the march. I found him lying under his wagon. The +wagon was loaded with bacon, in bulk about two tons. The heat with the +pressure had caused it to drip freely. I asked him to come from under +the wagon, that I might examine his case and prescribe, for him. This he +refused to do; but demanded that I should crawl under the wagon to him, +which I, of course, would not consent to do. No persuasion could induce +him to change his position in the least. Becoming satisfied that he was +not much, if at all sick, I left him. His profanity, threats and +imprecations were fearful. Perhaps it would be well to give a short +sketch of his life for the three years previous, as I learned it from +men who knew him, and had been with him for considerable portion of that +period. He went to Mexico, at the beginning of the war, a soldier in the +regular army. When his term of service expired, he was discharged, and +sought employment in the quartermaster's department, as a teamster. He +had the reputation of being a thief, a robber and an assassin. In a few +months he was ignominiously discharged from the service, and, at the +close of the war, he came to Texas, and sought and obtained employment +as teamster in the train then organizing for El Paso. But, to return to +my narrative. On the morning after the occurrence at the wagon, a +teamster came to me and said, in a hasty and abrupt manner, 'Doctor, Mc +will kill you to-day or to-night. He is full of rage, and muttering +terrible threats. He was out very early this morning and emptied his +six-shooter, and came in and reloaded it and put it in first-rate +order.' I said, 'Mc, what's up now?' He replied, 'I will kill that +d----d old doctor to-day or to-night;' and he will do it. I have known +him make threats before, and have never known him fail to execute them. +But I must go; he must not know that I have seen you.' Knowing the man, +I realized the danger, and felt that I was powerless, either to resist +or avoid it. I retired within my tent and closed it up. I prostrated +myself before Him who is able to save. I prayed for deliverance from the +hands of the cruel and blood-thirsty man, and that I might not be left +in the power of him who was my enemy without cause. I submitted my cause +into the hands of Him who doeth all things well, and prayed for entire +submission to his will. My anxiety subsided; my fear was removed, and I +commenced the duties of the day with usual cheerfulness. + +"Soon after this, the camp broke and we were on the march. I fell back +with the officers of the rear guard, and the excitement of the morning +was soon forgotten. About 10 o'clock, a courier came back in haste, for +me to see a man who had been thrown from his mule and crushed under the +wheels of his wagon. He did not know who the man was--he was about half +or three-quarters of a mile ahead. The thought then occurred to me, I +shall probably have to pass Mc's team. I will ride square up with the +courier, and keep him between myself and the train. When we came to the +spot I inquired who the man was, for he was so mutilated I could not +recognize him. _It was Mc. God was there_. Awe and terror took hold upon +me. I was dumb with amazement. + +"Mc had dismounted and walked some fifty rods by the side of his team. +Attempting to remount, his mule whirled and pitched, and he was thrown +upon his back, and his team with fourteen others instantly stampeded. +Both the fore and hind wheels on the near side of his wagon, passed +directly over his face, and crushed every bone in his head. It was a +fearful sight; not a feature of the human face could be discerned. + +"The stampeded teams were flying wildly over the prairie, in spite of +every effort of the teamsters to control them. + +"I directed the head of the corpse to be inserted in some new, thick +sacks, in such a way as to prevent the oozing of blood, and that it be +wrapped in his blanket and taken to the next camp for burial. When the +stampeded teams came in, it was found that no other person was injured, +nor any damage done. + +"The philosopher may tell us of the reign of law; of the coincidence of +circumstances; of the action of natural causes; but, to the Christian, +the fact still remains--prayer was answered. God heareth his people when +they cry unto Him." + + +THE PRAYER OF A MISSIONARY IN MEXICO ANSWERED.--SAVED FROM BANDITTI. + + +"In the Spring of 1872, I was, with my wife and child, in the city of +Cadereita, Mexico, where we had been laboring as missionaries, but felt +it was our duty to return to the States for a little season, and had +been asking God to open up the way for us. At length, about the middle +of March, the opportunity appeared to be given, the means being +provided; but the country was in a state of revolution (a no uncommon +thing there), and, consequently, there were no stages running out of the +country, so we had to take conveyance in Mexican carts. Therefore, we +engaged two men, with their carts; one in which we might ride and carry +a mattress, which should serve as a bed at night, and the other, to +carry the baggage and provisions for ourselves and the horses, as our +way was mostly through an uncultivated country. + +"We knew that General Cortinas, with his troops, was somewhere between +us and Texas, as the State we were in was one of those in rebellion. The +blood-thirsty character of General Cortinas is well known on the +frontier, there being no less than seventeen indictments against him for +murder in the State of Texas. He is regarded as having a special hatred +against Americans, and the Mexicans, themselves, stand in terror of him. + +"Our friends and brethren in Cadereita tried hard to deter us from +going, as most likely we would fall into the hands of General Cortinas; +in which event, they said, the very utmost we could expect would be to +escape with our lives, being left destitute of everything, in a +wilderness road; but, as God had seemed to open up the way, providing +the means, we determined to go forward, trusting that He also would +protect us in the way. Therefore, having completed our arrangements, we +started for Matamoras, some three hundred miles distant, on the 19th of +March, the wives of the two men accompanying their husbands, making our +party six adults and one child; the brethren in Cadereita promising to +pray daily for our safety. The third morning, after commending +ourselves, as usual, into the care of our covenant-keeping God, we +started on our journey. Some two hours later, we espied the troops of +General Cortinas, about two miles distant, marching toward us. We again +all looked to God for protection, and prayed that, as he shut the mouths +of the lions, that they should not hurt his servant Daniel, so He would +now restrain the evil passions of men, that they might not hurt nor +injure us--then we went on till we met the advance guard, who commanded +us to halt and wait till the General came up. After nearly half an hour, +General Cortinas, with his escort, rode up to where we were waiting for +him. After the ordinary salutation, he asked: (_?de adonde vienen y +adonde van?_) 'From whence have you come, and where are you going?'--to +which we replied properly; then he asked: 'What is the news from Nueva +Leon?' (the State we left)--to which we replied as faithfully as we +could. Then I asked him, 'Is the road safe between us and Matamoras?' He +replied: 'Perfectly; you can go on without any fear, and as safely as +you would in your own country.' Then, bidding us 'good morning,' he rode +on, not even inquiring about or examining any of our baggage. + +"When we arrived in Brownsville, Texas, and told of how gentlemanly +General Cortinas had treated us, all pronounced it wonderful, and said, +'We could not have believed General Cortinas capable of such kindness to +Americans so in his power. It was truly a miracle.' We believed that it +was God who restrained the naturally vicious passions of the man, in +direct answer to prayer." + + +AN INFIDEL'S LIFE SPARED A FEW DAYS. + + +"During the Summer of 1862, I became acquainted with a Mr. A----, who +professed infidelity, and who was, I think, as near an atheist as any I +ever met. I held several conversations with him on the subject of +religion, but could not seem to make any impression on his mind, and, +when a point was pressed strongly, he would become angry. + +"In the Fall, he was taken ill, and seemed to go into a rapid decline. +I, with others, sought kindly and prayerfully to turn his mind to his +need of a Saviour, but only met with rebuffs. As I saw that his end was +drawing near, one day I pressed the importance of preparing to meet God, +when he became angry and said I need not trouble myself any more about +his soul, as there was no God, the Bible was a fable, and when we die +that is the last of us, and was unwilling that I should pray with him. I +left him, feeling very sad. + +"Some four weeks after, on New Year's morning, I awoke with the +impression that I should go and see Mr. A----, and I could not get rid +of that impression; so, about nine o'clock, I went to see him, and, as I +approached the house, I saw the two doctors, who had been holding a +consultation, leaving. When I rang the bell, his sister-in-law opened +the door for me, and exclaimed, 'Oh! I am so glad you have come; John is +dying. The doctors say he cannot possibly live above two hours, and +probably not one.' When I went up to his room, he sat bolstered up in a +chair, and appeared to have fallen into a doze. I sat down, about five +feet from him, and when, in about two minutes, he opened his eyes and +saw me, he started up, with agony pictured on his face and in the tones +of his voice, exclaimed, 'O! Mr. P----, I am not prepared to die; there +is a God; the Bible is true! O, pray for me! pray God to spare me a few +days, till I shall know I am saved.' + +"These words were uttered with the intensest emotion, while his whole +physical frame quivered through the intense agony of his soul. I replied +in effect, that Jesus was a great Saviour, able and willing to save all +who would come unto Him, even at the eleventh hour, as He did the thief +on the cross. + +"When I was about to pray with him, he again entreated me to pray +especially that God would spare him a few days, till he might have the +evidences of his salvation. In prayer, I seemed to have great assurance +of his salvation, and asked God to give us the evidence of his +salvation, by granting him a few days more in this world. Several others +joined in praying God to spare him a few days, till he should give +evidence of being saved. + +"I called again in the evening; he seemed even stronger than in the +morning, and his mind was seeking the truth. The next day, as I +entered, his face expressed the fact that peace and joy had +taken the place of fear and anxiety. He was spared some five +days, giving very clear evidence that he had passed from death to life. +His case was a great mystery to the doctors. They could not understand +how he lived so long; but his friends, who had been praying for him, all +believed it was in direct answer to prayer." + + +REMARKABLE PRESERVATION FROM BRAIN DIFFICULTIES. + + +"A few weeks ago, a man who had once been a member of my church, but had +fallen from his steadfastness through strong drink, fell from a ladder, +striking his head on the corner of a stone, which made a dent in the +skull of over two and one-half inches in length, and three-fourths of an +inch in width, and half an inch in depth. This happened on Friday +afternoon. At our prayer-meeting, in the evening, most earnest prayers +were offered in his behalf; the brethren prayed that God would restore +him his senses and spare him a few days, that he might repent of his +back-sliding and be saved. + +"The surgeons raised the skull, and his senses were restored; his mind +seemed clear. This continued over a week, when it was evident that there +was still some pressure on the brain. The surgeons removed the skull, +and found three pieces driven down into the brain. They expressed, from +the first, no hope of his recovery; but wondered much at the clearness +of his mind, which continued for over two weeks. We believed that it was +in answer to the prayers of the church that he might have time and +opportunity to repent and prepare to meet God, which we trust he did." + + +LITTLE GEORGE'S PRAYER. + + +A clergyman writes us these incidents: + +"I knew a poor family whose son George, four or five years old, was +accustomed to pray. They lived five or six miles from neighbors, and, at +times, were quite destitute. One day, as little George observed his +mother weeping over their destitution, he said, "Why, mother, don't cry +any; we shall not starve; God will send us something to eat, I know He +will. I've just been praying, and asked Him to." The little fellow just +as much believed God would send them food, as if he had asked a reliable +neighbor and obtained his promise to supply their wants. In a day or two +after this, some friends living at a distance and knowing they were +poor, took them the welcome surprise of a wagon-load of substantial +material for food and other comforts. The little boy grew up to be a +Christian minister, and, about a year ago, on inquiry, his uncle told me +he had been at the head of an institution of learning in the +South-west." + + +A PRAYER FOR A HORSE. + + +"My horse died, and, after traveling through the snow-drifts to my +appointments, till I was lame, half sick, and unfit for service--as I +had not means to purchase a horse, I thought of quitting the work and +going to teaching, and laid the matter before God, in prayer; soon after +which, some person at a distance, who heard that I had lost my horse, +without my saying a word about it, raised the means by which I procured +another." + + +A PRAYER FOR A WIFE. + + +"When I believed it would be well for me to seek a companion for life, I +asked of God direction in making a wise choice, and that, in a matter of +so much importance to me and others, I might meet with success or +_hindrance_, as my heavenly Father knew best. He led me to a choice and +marriage, which I have not since regretted." + + +CHURCH TROUBLES QUELLED. + + +"I might mention a dozen instances in which church troubles were +gathering, and trials between members appeared certain, when all my +tactics failed, and the wisdom of brethren was of no avail; my last +resort was to ask God to send help and deliver from the threatened +evil--and in ways that no one could foresee, complete deliverance came." + + +A MINISTER'S SUPPLIES FALL SHORT. + + +"When very much in need of funds to procure supplies for a coming +Winter, all expedients failed; then I asked God for assistance, when, +unexpectedly, a friend in California sent me a little package of gold +dust, which I sold, at once, for $130. This came when it was needed, and +it did us good." + + +A PRAYER FOR A SERVANT. + + +"Some time after, we failed to find anything like suitable help in the +house, which we greatly needed. Before starting out one morning, in +secret I prayed to God to direct me as I went on my uncertain business, +and prayed as I called at different places, and soon found a colored +girl sixteen years old wanting a place, who came and proved to be the +best help we ever had, before or since. For seven years and a half she +lived in the family, taught two of our children to read; was glad, from +choice, to move with us to different places, till she left to be +married, fell sick and passed away. A dozen other times when driven in +straits, _in answer to prayer_ God has enabled us to procure necessary +help, which was difficult to obtain. + +"In 1874, while on my way to see my mother in Pennsylvania--who had just +been paralyzed, and died the next week--I was suddenly paralyzed in my +left arm, by which, I have since been helpless and useless. After coming +here to live, being in want of a man to lift me in and out of bed, dress +me, etc., for which we inquired of people, and prayed to God to send us +the needed help. We had not means to hire and pay any person to do such +work, even if he could be found. Soon the right one came, in the person +of a young German, who was tramping through the country in search of +employment and food; was ready and glad to do any work for a living. For +pay that satisfied him and us, he staid in the family over a year, +working out doors and in; could be trusted to do business with money, +and return every cent correctly. After being with us over a year, when +we needed him no longer, he obtained a situation in a good family, where +he is now living. In many instances, I have prayed to be healed of +special sickness, always using what remedies I thought best, yet asking +the divine blessing on their use." + + +HEALING. + + +"For over three years, I was troubled with frequent raising of blood +from my right lung, which physicians failed to cure. Of this I prayed to +be relieved; after which, the soreness healed, and for several years it +has ceased to trouble me." + + +THAT $18.75. + + +A man who had led a very wicked life, was converted and hopefully saved. +Previous to this time, a debt of $18.75 had not given him the slightest +thought. After receiving a new heart, he distinctly heard God's command, +"Pay what thou owest;" so called on his creditor, and urged him to send +to his house and get a bureau, table and looking-glass, which he desired +him to sell and pay himself the sum due him; but, not wishing to deprive +his debtor of such necessary articles, refused, saying he would wait +till he could pay. The 18th of November was set, and, as the day +approached, the prospect was no brighter; and when the night of the 17th +came around, he spent it in prayer that God would deliver him, and rose +from his knees at daybreak, with the full assurance that "He knoweth how +to deliver." + +On passing down a street the next morning, on his way to business, a man +who kept a large store was standing in the door-way, and called to him +to stop a minute. Wondering what could be the nature of the call, he +retraced his steps, to hear this astonishing news: "_For three days I +have been impressed with the idea that I must give you_ $18.75, _and for +three days have been trying to ascertain why I must give you this +amount, for I do not owe any man a penny_. I cannot get rid of the +thought, and if you value my peace of mind, I beg you take the money!" +Seeing, instantly, the hand of God in it, he told the story to the +astonished storekeeper, then left to pay his debt with the money so +strangely given. His creditor, surprised to see him so promptly on time, +questioned him as to the manner of obtaining it, thinking, perhaps, he +had made a great sacrifice to do so. On being told just how it was given +him, said, "_I won't take it; keep it. If God is as near to people as +that, I don't want it; it seems as if it had come directly from his +Almighty hand_." The result was the conversion of both the storekeeper +and creditor, to whom the incident came as the undoubted evidence of +God's presence among them. + + +GOD SENT THE BAG OF FLOUR. + + +In about the year 1830, in Central New York, there was a time of great +scarcity of provisions. Grain was very high, and difficult to be +obtained at any price; and, of course, families of limited means were +very much straitened. In one family, the wife and mother of six +children, a Godly woman, worked at her trade (tailoress) to the extent +of her ability, and prayed earnestly that God would deliver them from +pressing want. Husband and children all knew of their need, and of the +fervent prayers of the wife and mother for their supply; but no one knew +by what means the supply was to come. Every day, as their scanty means +were being consumed, the prospect grew darker. On the farm was a large +quantity of pine timber. Four miles from there, in the next town, lived +a man who needed some shingles; and, casting about him to see where he +should obtain a supply, thought he would go and purchase a pine tree, +and himself and man go into the woods and work it up into shingles. As +he was about starting, the thought occurred to him, "Perhaps they may be +in want of wheat flour--a bag cannot come amiss in this time of +scarcity." So, putting two bushels in a bag, he proceeded to the next +town, entered the house, and made known his errand, saying, "I have +brought along two bushels of flour towards paying for the tree, thinking +you might be in want of it in this time of scarcity, and I knew you live +six or seven miles from the mill, and have no horse." "That is in answer +to prayer," said the noble woman; and the husband believed it, though +not a praying man. When, at night, the oldest son came in, the mother +said to him, "God has answered our prayers, and sent a bag of flour." It +is believed that, while this was not miraculous, it was as directly the +interposition of God, as feeding Elijah by the ravens; and it was in +direct answer to prayer for that special blessing." + + +INCIDENTS FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF A CITY MISSIONARY.--A PRAYER FOR SUPPER +ANSWERED. + + +An educated, accomplished lady, reduced to the very lowest round of +poverty's ladder, whom we shall call Mrs. X----, bears unfailing +testimony to God's hearing and answering the prayer of faith. The +daughter came up-stairs one day to announce the utter emptiness of the +larder. There was not even a piece of dry bread, nor a drawing of tea; +not a potato, nor a bean; and "Charles, poor fellow, will come home from +his work at six, tired and so hungry; what _shall_ we do, mother?" + +"The Lord will send us something, before he comes," said Mrs. X----. So, +for three hours more the daughter waited. "Mother, it is five o'clock, +and the Lord has not sent us anything." "He will, my dear, before +half-past six;" and the widow went in an adjoining room, to ask that her +daughter might not feel it vain to call upon God. In fifteen minutes, +the door-bell rang violently, and a gentleman, valise in hand, said, +"Mrs. X----, I left the room which I hired of you one year ago, in a +great hurry, you will remember; and I owed you five dollars. I have not +been in the city since, and am rushing out of it again--jumped off the +car just to give you this money. Good-bye." + + +RELIEF FROM A CREDITOR'S DEMANDS. + + +"At another time, being sorely pressed by a heartless creditor, and +almost beside herself, she concluded to walk out and get free from the +insupportable burden, by change of air and scene for two or three hours. +Passing the house of a friend, just returned from Europe, she called for +a few moments, and was presented with a small and peculiar plant, +brought from Wales. All the way home she was asking the Lord to release +her from this relentless creditor, and all the way home a man, without +her knowledge, was following her. Arrived at her own stoop, he suddenly +confronted her, bowed, apologized for the liberty, but said he had not +had a sight of that dear old plant since he left home; and if she would +sell it to him, he would gladly give her ten dollars for it. As that was +half the sum for which she was persecuted, and would probably relieve +her from annoyance until she could raise the balance, she accepted the +offer." + + +TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS NEEDED AND GIVEN AT THE LAST MOMENT. + + +"At the time of her husband's death, there were _two hundred dollars_ +due an institute, for board and tuition of their two little boys. His +death was the flood-gate opened, which let in a successive torrent of +perplexities, losses, dilemmas, delays, law-suits, etc. She had not been +able to pay that bill; the principal was importunate, persevering, +bitter, and, at last, abusive. She cried to the Lord for a week, day and +night, almost without ceasing. Then, a gentleman whom she had taken to +her own house and carefully nursed through a dangerous illness, three +years before, called to say good-bye. He was on his way to a Bremen +steamer, and all other adieus were said, all his baggage on board, +except the valise in his hand. Might her boy ride down to the wharf and +see him off? Of course she was glad to consent. When her son returned he +brought back a letter, which opened, she found to contain _two hundred +dollars_ and the words, 'Not that money can ever express my gratitude, +but the enclosed may be useful for gas-bills or some other little +household matter.'" + + +HOW THE LORD REPAID A GENEROUS GIFT. + + +"Some gentlemen, urged to contribute to a most worthy cause, said, 'Go +first to Mr. Z.--whatever he gives, we will.' Mr. Z., upon application, +concluded to make his neighbors do something worth while, and, as he was +expecting a thousand dollars in a very few days, subscribed the whole of +that. Upon the arrival of the vessel which was to pay his subscription, +he found the difference in exchange between certain countries, had +swelled his thousand dollars to _twenty-two hundred_." + + +THE ASTONISHED GIVER. + + +"A gentleman, not marching in the ranks of 'cheerful givers,' was urged +to bestow five dollars toward the 'Fresh Air Fund.' 'He could not; +business wretched; poor enough himself,' and all the well known line of +excuses. The friend assured him, if the Lord did not more than make it +up to him, before the end of the week, he himself would return the +money. To those terms he agreed, quite sure he should call on Saturday +and get back the $5. But, the very next morning, he ran to the office of +his friend to say that an old debt, given up long ago, and for which he +would have taken one hundred dollars any moment, was paid him about an +hour after the friend left his store. So astonished was he, that he even +doubted the check, which was for _five thousand dollars,_ and sent it to +the bank to test its genuineness before he would give a receipt for it!" + + +ALL SAVED. + + +In a dismal basement, A. found a very interesting American family. The +father, in the last stage of consumption; a little girl of ten years, an +invalid from infancy. The mother and two daughters, both under fifteen, +were out all day at work, trying to keep even such a wretched shelter, +and a little coarse food, as daily supplies. The three together could +not make over four dollars a week. The only person to wait on the two +sick ones during the day, was a little boy four years of age, who, when +the missionary entered, was reclining upon the bed. But he started up, +put more coal on the fire, and brought a drink of water, first to his +sister, then his father; without any bidding, and with the consideration +of a grown person. + +On A.'s next visit, a few days after, he found the mother at home, +grief-stricken. Her eldest daughter had been taken ill the day previous. +He gave her all the money he had, prayed with them, and sent at once a +kind, assiduous physician. In a few weeks the daughter died, but not +without a good hope in Christ; and was buried at the expense of the few +kind friends whom A. had sent to see the family. The dying daughter +exhorted her dying father to seek his soul's eternal welfare, and not +boast, as heretofore, of his life-long morality. Her conversations led +him to see his danger out of Christ, and, in a little while after his +daughter's departure, he followed. The mother had not before had a sure +Christian hope; but, amidst such influences, her heart was soon opened +to admit the truth. Not long after her bereavement she began having a +"cottage prayer-meeting" in her room, and united with an evangelical +church. She immediately became anxious for the conversion of her two +boys, who were away, and urged the missionary to write them. He did so, +frequently, and his heaven-directed appeals led one of the boys very +soon to Christ. Soon after, he died; the brother returned home with +consumption. He took great pleasure in the little prayer-meetings, and +in three months cheerfully and exultantly exchanged this world of +suffering for the one where father, brother and sister awaited him. Worn +out with anxiety, care, hard work and poor health, the mother followed; +leaving the invalid girl and youngest boy; who are watched over, not +only by their Friend in heaven, but friends on earth. The eldest +surviving daughter is an esteemed and consistent member of a church of +Christ. + + +"THE LORD WOKE ME UP IN TIME TO SAVE MY CLOTHES." + + +In the very top of a four-story building, used only for various +manufacturing purposes, lived an old man and daughter. They lived +literally _by faith in Christ_, from _day_ to _day_; one hour at a time. +At his voice, followed Him, whether into darkness or light. Neither took +a step but as they held his hand. A lady calling one day, said, "Oh! +Jennie, I thought of your large wash hanging on the roof, last night, +when the drenching rain came; and I was so sorry to think you would have +your hard work all over again!" "_Oh! no ma'am. The Lord woke me up out +of a sound sleep, just as the first few drops fell_! I hastened up and +brought them all down nice and dry, and had only got to the foot of the +stairs with the last armful, when it poured down. Now that was the Lord, +ma'am, for there was not a single noise of any kind to waken me, and I +was sound asleep!" + + +THE LORD TAKES AWAY THE CUSTOM OF A LIQUOR SALOON. + + +At one time, the landlord rented the ground floor to a liquor seller. +The loafers going in and out, especially on Sunday, were a great grief +to Jennie and her saintly old father. They concluded to take it to the +Lord together, and, said the old man, "He will be sure to attend to it; +I have been young, and now am old, and I have never known Him fail +me--He _never_ does." _In three weeks after, the dram-seller closed his +place for want of patronage_. + + +HELP IN TIME OF NEED. + + +A poor, humble Christian woman had a claim on some property in a +neighboring State. It was in law, and she was summoned to attend court +at a certain time. Having scarcely money enough for her daily bread, she +was obliged to borrow the means to take her there, and pay some cheap +board while awaiting the conclusion of the trial. She was positively +assured by the lawyers, that she would receive several hundred dollars. +She was detained five weeks, instead of one, as she expected, and then +the suit was postponed till Fall. She was in agony of mind; in a strange +place--owing for board and washing, and no money to take her to her +home. Having spent a whole night pacing the floor and calling on the +Lord to redeem his promises, she felt the fresh air would do her good, +and sadly took her way down a side street. She had gone but three blocks +when she found a diamond ring. Being accustomed to the ownership of +diamonds in her younger days, she knew very nearly its value; took it +home, watched the principal papers, and the same evening saw a reward of +seventy-five dollars offered for it. We can imagine that joy lent wings +to her feet, and thanksgiving filled her whole heart. The sum was +sufficient to pay her bills, bring her back and return a portion of the +borrowed money. + + +CAST OUT INTO THE STREET, YET NOT FORSAKEN. + + +A piteous wail was heard on the street one day, and a poor Scotchman +crossed over to see the trouble. A widow and three children sat on their +few articles of household furniture. Put in the street, when they could +no longer find five dollars for the rent of the kennel in which, for six +months, they had not lived, but existed. He had just received five +dollars for a piece of work, and was hurrying home with it to his sick +wife, crippled mother and two children. He thought of the piece of +meat--a long untasted luxury--he meant to buy; of the tea his mother so +much craved, and hesitated. Could he give these up? But the streaming +eyes of the children, and the mute despair on the face of the mother, +took down the scale. He ran several blocks and found an empty basement; +hired it for four dollars; enlisted the sympathy and help of a colored +boy to carry the furniture; put up the stove, bought a bundle of wood, +pail of coal, and some provisions with the other dollar; held a little +prayer-meeting on the spot, and left with the benedictions of the +distressed ones filling his ears. The recital of his adventure +obliterated for the time all sense of their own desires, and they +thanked God together that their loss had been the widow's gain. The next +morning, while taking their frugal meal, a tea dealer, for whom this man +had frequently put up shelves, came to say he was short-handed, and if +the Scotchman was not very busy, he would give him a regular position in +his establishment, at a better salary than he could hope to earn. +Meanwhile, hearing his wife was sick, he had brought her a couple pounds +prime tea, and it occurred to him that venison steaks were a little out +of the ordinary run of meat, and, as he had a quantity at home, he +brought a couple. Thus the Lord answered the prayer of the poor, and +repaid the generous giver who sacrificed his money for the Lord. + + +A PERSECUTOR PUNISHED BY THE LORD. + + +A most devout, hard-working and poorly paid man, was the object of +constant persecution by a cross-grained, ugly, infidel neighbor. For +three years the thing went on, till the Christian thought he must remove +from the place. He could not do it without breaking up his humble home, +for which he had worked night and day. He and his wife were in deep +distress; told their plans to the Lord; asked Him to direct them to +another home, and then went to a newspaper office to advertise their +little place for sale. The editor was out, and they preferred to see +him--would return home and call again to-morrow. The next morning the +infidel was found dead in his bed, from a stroke of apoplexy. + + +HOW GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYER FOR $90. + + +"Suffice it, then, I was in debt. I was owing the large sum (large for a +poor home missionary) of $90.00. Expecting soon to be called upon for +the payment of it, and not seeing any way to meet it, _I went to the +Lord with it_. Early in life I had made this resolution: that no man +whom I was _owing_ should ever ask me for money, and I not pay him; but +now, I could see no way out; and if, as I expected, it should be +demanded, I was not in a condition to meet it. Such was my condition +when, on a certain day, the demand came. I took the letter from the +office at noon. What now was to be done? Again I took the case to the +Lord, and asked Him to help me pay it, so that my word need not fail, or +_his cause suffer reproach._ I first determined to pay a part; but, as +no letter could be sent out that day, I awaited the results of the day +following. From the northern mail, which first arrived, I took a letter +containing an unexpected draft of $50 to my wife, from parties whom we +did not know, and had never seen, nor they us. Within twenty minutes +more I was presented with a _surprise_ of $40, from a people where I had +preached for the six months past. Here was my $90, and, before the mail +went out, I had my letter written and in the mail. Both were as +unexpected as if they had come from heaven direct." + + +FROM WEALTH, TO POVERTY. + + +A lady of superior culture and refinement, fell from opulence to extreme +poverty, within four years. No less ready when at the bottom of +fortune's ladder, than at the top, to do good as she had opportunity, +she paid another poor woman's way to a neighboring State, where +employment awaited her, and did it literally with her _last_ dollar-and +a-half! Supposing herself the possessor of a ten cent note, over and +above the twelve shillings, she went with her somewhat feeble protege +over Jersey city ferry, and saw her safely in the cars. Starting back, +she was dismayed to find no ten cents in her pocket-book, and, all too +late, remembered having paid it for a quart of milk that morning; the +sole breakfast of herself and daughter. Night was approaching--what to +do she did not know. She had a plain, worn, old gold ring on her finger; +she took it off, offered it to the ferry-master, who would not take it, +though she told him she found her money gone and would redeem it next +day. She went back in the ladies' room and told it to the Lord, +beseeching his assistance. Just then, a girl passing, jostled against +her and knocked down her parasol. She picked it up, happened to turn it +upside down, and out rolled a _five-cent nickel!_ The Lord, then, hears +prayer for even _five cents_ to provide for the comfort and need of +those whom He loves. + + +A PRAYER FOR FIFTY DOLLARS. + + +A clergyman writes _The Christian_ as follows: + +"The Winter of 1872 I spent in missionary work, carrying the glad +tidings of the kingdom of God into new fields in the 'regions beyond.' +With my devoted wife, I labored ardently for the salvation of men 'from +the wrath to come.' We were full of comfort to be thus engaged, though +without pledge from man for support, or promised salary for preaching. + +"In spite of our rigid economy, I had contracted some debts for the +necessaries of life. I have since learned to go without what the Lord +does not provide means to pay for at once. I needed the money to pay the +debts, and felt impressed to pray for fifty dollars. I said to my wife: +'_I am going to pray for fifty dollars_.' 'Well,' said she, 'I will join +you;' and we bowed before God and told Him our needs, and unitedly asked +Him for fifty dollars; so that we might not bring ourselves or the truth +we preached, into reproach, by being unable to pay debts. We were agreed +in asking, and thus claiming the promise: 'If two of you shall agree as +touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my +Father which is in heaven.' (Matt, xviii. 19). We had the assurance that +money would come; but from whence we did not know, nor care, for we knew +the 'silver and gold' are the Lord's, as well as the 'cattle upon a +thousand hills,' and he could easily cause some one to give or send us +the money. + +"We felt full of peace; for we knew it was for God's glory to answer +that prayer. No one outside of the family knew we were praying for +money. We did not go around among our friends and tell them we were +praying for fifty dollars, in hopes that they would take it upon +themselves to answer the prayer. We told none but the God whom we serve. + +"Some little time passed, and no money came, but we did not lose our +faith or assurance. One morning, at family prayer, I was led out to pray +that we might see the Lord's working in our behalf that day, and I rose +from my knees with perfect confidence that our hearts would be made to +rejoice in God that day. When I came in to my dinner I asked my wife if +any one had brought our mail from the post-office. She said, 'Yes, there +are some papers on your table.' 'What!' said I, with surprise, 'no +letters?' I saw a peculiar expression on her countenance, and I asked no +more questions, but sat down to the dinner table and turned over my +plate, and there saw a letter she had put beneath it; and as soon as I +saw the hand-writing I felt, there is money in this, though, of all +sources, this was from the one least expected. I opened the letter, and +there was a draft for _fifty dollars, 'a gift to aid in preaching the +Gospel.'_ If I ever recognized the hand of God in anything, I did in +this; and if there was ever a time of devout thanksgiving to God, and a +humbling of self before Him in my house, it was that day. Since then, it +has been easier to trust in Him than before. He has said, 'I will never +leave thee nor forsake thee.' He has also said, through his apostles, +'Be careful for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication +with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.'" + + +CONCURRENT TESTIMONY OF THE VALUE OF PRAYER. + + +A request was published by the _Illustrated Christian Weekly,_ asking +that all who could report positive facts as direct results of prayer, +and thus, tend to show that _"God does answer prayer,"_ should +communicate them. Very many were communicated, regarding all trials and +troubles of the heart, and daily temporal or spiritual life. No one can +question they are authentic to the highest degree; they should silence +the skeptic, and convince the worldly of the presence of the mysterious +power and wonderful Spirit of God, which tempers the hearts and lives of +men and controls them as He wills. + + +A WORLDLY MAN SURRENDERS. + + +A clergyman says, "I was very anxious for the building of a mission +chapel to accommodate a flourishing mission-school that had been +organized under my pastorate. Knowing that a certain physician of the +city was possessed of abundant means and had a praying Christian mother, +though he had long since given up going to church, I resolved to call +upon him. Before starting from my study I knelt down and asked God to +prosper me in my appeal. Upon going out of my parsonage the physician +was in the act of passing in his carriage. I hailed him, explained to +him my desire, and the result was not only a contribution of money as +large as the largest, but a gift of a lot for the chapel worth several +hundred dollars." + + +A SERVANT'S PRAYER FOR A GOOD HOME. + + +"I was brought up religiously as a servant in a family in Connecticut, +and from twelve years of age until twenty-three, knew no other home. The +old couple died, and I lived with their children, but they were so +different that I became very unhappy and hardly knew what to do or which +way to turn. I had no relatives and knew nothing of any world save the +little one in which I had all my life moved, and I was terribly afraid +to try any other. I could only offer my constant prayer for help, and it +was answered so much beyond my highest hope, and so kind were God's +dealings with me that I was taken, almost without an effort of my own, +into a warm, loving heart, and such a happy home, and all so easily and +smoothly that to me it seems like a miracle; and never can I forget +while I live, nor cease to believe that truly 'He is the hearer and +answerer of prayer.'" + + +"BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER."--A PASTOR PRAYS FOR DECISION AS TO +GOOD CHOICES. + + +"The writer was once in great trouble to know what was duty. Urged by +ministers and laymen in high standing to undertake a work not exactly in +the line of the ministry, he hesitated. God's displeasure was feared, +lest in doing what was desired 'sin might lie at his door.' To refuse +the wish of good and wise men might be resisting God's call. In this +trial of conscience he sought in fasting and special prayer the guidance +of his Heavenly Father. While so doing the above promise came very +distinctly to his mind. He brought it to God as his own promise, and +pleaded, if it could be graciously done, that He would literally fulfill +it to the suppliant. In the very act of thus pleading, he heard a rap on +the door. Opening it, there stood his mother-in-law. She said, 'Two +gentlemen are in the parlor waiting for you.' I went down, and the +interview revealed the exact fulfillment both of the promise and the +prophecy. The Lord answered my prayer two days before I called on Him. +One of the two came from New York to my home in a Western city to +inquire about _the very thing which was troubling me. He was to me an +entire stranger_, never having heard of him until I saw him. Having +consulted his friend, the Rev. M.W. Jacobus, D.D., they together came to +call on me about the matter at the very moment I was pleading with God +that He would mercifully, 'while yet speaking, hear me.' Now could +Tyndall and his followers desire a more literal, a more exact +fulfillment of this prophecy and promise as proof of its inspiration, +and of prayer as God's ordinance than that prayer for such fulfillment +of these words actually before the prayer was made, and while the +petitioner was 'yet speaking?'" + +It will be noticed that the best judgment of good men advise one course, +but trust in God for superior wisdom brought the case to answer in a +totally different manner, by means of an unknown person, a total +stranger, who neither knew him nor his desire. The circumstance should +convince the world. + + +A FAMILY PRAY FOR A GOOD SERVANT. + + +"About three years since my family comfort was very much disturbed by +failure to obtain a good housemaid. And, having been accustomed to wait +upon God for right direction in my _temporal_ as well as spiritual +affairs, in simple faith I asked Him to direct me on reaching New York +City to where I would find a girl of good character that would +appreciate a Christian home. My steps were led to a boarding-house on +Greenwich street, and on inquiring for a German or Swede girl I was told +they had a nice Swede just landed. I talked to her through an +interpreter and was satisfied from what she said, as well as from her +countenance, that she was the one I was searching for. She came to my +home and proved, in two years' service, almost faultless. In +conversation one day, a short time after she came to our home, she said +she had had several places offered her that morning before I came, but +she did not like them; but as soon as she saw me, felt that she could go +with me--she was a Christian, member of the Lutheran church and wanted a +Christian home. Her desire was granted and my prayer was answered." + + +A RECOVERY FROM A DEATH-BED. + + +"Some forty years ago, in a rural parish in New England, a young man lay +apparently on his death-bed with a putrid fever. His aunt, in whose +family he was staying, was a woman who had long lived in habitual +intercourse with the unseen world through prayer. One afternoon, when it +seemed to those around him that the sick one must die, she went away +alone to speak with God. With intense earnestness she pleaded for the +young man's life. And, being deeply interested in the portion of our +country then beginning to be settled, she asked also that he might +become a home missionary at the West. There were various circumstances +which made this latter request, as well as the other, seem very unlikely +to be fulfilled. And yet it was. The young man recovered, pursued a +collegiate and theological course, and still lives and labors as a most +devoted and useful Christian pioneer. More than once he has been a +member of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, and his name +is familiar to many." + + +A POOR STUDENT PRAYS FOR MONEY. + + +"I was a poor student in a Manual Labor Institute at the West. The month +of February was our regular Winter vacation. We were privileged to keep +our rooms and have board at one dollar a week. But I had absolutely no +money. I was six hundred miles from my friends, and they were unable to +furnish me with funds. I had no books for the new term, though these +were a necessity if I went on with my class, and there was no work about +the Institution, nor that I know of in the neighborhood at that season. +My case seemed an exceedingly bad one; and I had no idea from where any +help could come. So I went to my room in the third story, locked my door +and carried my case to the Lord. It was a long, earnest, tearful cry for +help from Him who alone seemed able to give it. My prayer was answered. +When I had been there I do not know how long, I heard footsteps in the +empty hall, and in a moment a knock at my door. I wiped my eyes, and put +myself into presentable shape as soon as I could, and opened the door. A +lad stood there who said: 'A man wants to see you at the front door.' +Down the stairs I went, wondering who could want me and what he could +want me for. In the front yard was a man on a restless horse, who at +once said: 'We want you to teach our school for a month. The boys have +driven out the female teacher. We want you to take them in hand, and +we'll give you fifteen dollars and your board.' I said, 'All right, I'll +be down there to-morrow morning.' And then I went back to my room to +thank God for hearing my prayer." + + +"I CAN'T STOP TO PRAY." + + +"A deacon living in a Berkshire town was requested to give his prayers +in behalf of a poor man with a large family who had broken his leg. 'I +can't stop now to pray,' said the deacon (who was picking and barreling +his early apples for the city market), 'but you can go down into the +cellar and get some corned beef, salt pork, potatoes, and butter--that's +the best I can do.'" + + +REMARKABLE HEALING OF A CHILD. + + +A clergyman writes that during the ministration of his labors at Battle +Greek, Mich., there were several remarkable manifestations of divine +power--especially in the case of a little girl, the daughter of a Mr. +Smith, a child of about six years. + +"In September last, she was taken very sick with spinal fever. She +became much reduced, extremely nervous and helpless, excepting to move +her hands. Physicians gave up the case as a hopeless one, deciding that +should she live, her condition would be that of helplessness, a burden +to herself and to her parents. + +"But our gracious God had better things in store for that afflicted +family. It was on a Sabbath afternoon, at the very hour when the crowded +congregation in our house of worship were in prayer for the influences +of the divine Spirit, that a holy, solemn influence came into the +dwelling of Brother Smith, as if an angel had come to touch the child +with healing power. The mother could not leave the bedside of her +suffering child to attend the meeting, and she says that a sudden change +came over her feelings, and it appeared to her that an angel had come +into the house, and had shed a holy influence in every part of it. It +was at that moment that the hitherto helpless child drew herself up in a +sitting posture, and next rose upon her feet. She rapidly recovered to +her usual habits of taking food and sleeping, and now takes the exercise +of the most robust children of her age." + + +GOD PAID THE RENT.--ANSWER TO PRAYER. + + +A poor Christian family were in distress. The husband, during a long and +painful sickness, had borne his trials for months with cheerful +Christian resignation; "but, on this day," said a City Missionary, "I +found them, for the first time, in tears. The cause I soon learned was +the want of means to pay the rent of their little home, which would come +due on the following Monday, and must be paid then, or they would have +to leave and go they knew not where. The amount needed, _fifteen +dollars_, and the amount in hand but _fifty cents;_ the future all dark, +and no hope of recovery from sickness, and no hope of being able to meet +their expenses--it might be of a long sickness and want--what could I do +for them? If theirs had been the only case of like wants that day, I no +doubt could have gone to a few friends and have collected the amount. +But that would not do them the good I felt they needed. But I felt sure +of a better way to get it, and lead them to trust in the Lord, and +glorify God and not man. + +"On the wall, at the foot of the sick man's bed, I had hung, but a short +time previous, one of those precious silent comforters, a scroll of +Scripture texts, printed in large type, and a different prayer for every +day in the month. On the page before us for _that day_, after calling +their attention to it, I read the following words: '_And all things +whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive_.' Matt. +21:22. 'Again I say unto you, _that if two of you shall agree on earth +as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them_. +Matt. 18:9; remarking, 'Are not those precious promises? Your fears, +dear brother and sister, are that you will not be able to pay the rent +on Monday, and may be turned out into the street, unless you get the +means to pay the rent; are they not?' 'That is so,' said they. 'There +are two ways: one, to try to get some one to lend you the amount until +you can pay, if the landlord will not wait; another, to go and beg for +it.' I have learned a better way, and wish I could lead you to do the +same. Do as David did. Have you ever gone to the Lord as directed above, +and found in Him, as David did, a very present help in time of trouble? +Would not your faith and confidence in God's word and in his kind, +overruling providence be more strengthened, if, in going to Him now and +making known your present troubles and wants, He should in a way, +without your making known your wants to any other person, on Monday +enable you to pay all?' The answer was, 'We should.' + +"After prayer and encouragement to do so, I left them, with the promise +to call the following Tuesday. Doing so, I was met at the door by the +wife with a countenance full of joy. '_Oh, brother, we could not wait +until you came, to tell you the wonderful answer to our prayer_. On +Monday, _the very day_ that we had to pay the rent, one gentleman came +and handed my husband _five dollars_, and early in the morning Mrs. +F---- called and handed me _ten dollars_, making in all _just fifteen +dollars_, the amount we needed; was it not wonderful? Oh, how good the +Lord is!' The same week another called and gave them an order for fifty +dollars more, so that they were able to pay up all their debts, and the +sudden joy soon led to a speedy restoration to health, and the husband +is now one of the most active Christian workers and teachers in a +mission school, and the wife and daughter are also trying to do all they +can to lead others to trust in Jesus." + + +HE FORGETTETH NOT THE CRY OF THE HUMBLE. + + +A City home missionary has told us of the case of a poor colored family, +the husband nearly one hundred years old, totally incapacitated for +work, and confined to his room by sickness nearly twelve years. + +Although very often in straitened circumstances, the Lord has never left +them to want for any good they needed, having, in a truly wonderful +manner supplied their wants, in answer to prayer. The wife, having for a +long time been kept from the enjoyment of church privileges by close +confinement, she had been sorely tempted to doubt her acceptance in +Christ, and was in great darkness for days; but one day, in reading the +following words, found in the fifteenth chapter of John, _"If ye abide +in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall +be done unto you,"_ she was led to go to God in prayer, and to ask, if +not wrong in his sight, to grant her a request, that she might know that +her prayer was answered, and that she was abiding in Him. The request +was that, as they were in trouble for the rent coming due the next day, +and still in need of _three dollars,_ that the Lord would send them a +friend in a stranger, some one that they had never seen before, and that +he would put it into the heart of that stranger to give them three +dollars, and then they would not be tempted to believe, as they had +sometimes before, that it would have been sent by a friend even if they +had not prayed. + +"But," said she, "I knows if a stranger comes, none but the Lord could +send, then I would know the Lord heard my prayer, and I was truly the +Lord's. So I watch for the answer for you knows, brother, when we prays, +the Lord says we must believe we shall receive what we ask of Him, and +then He will give it. So I watch and listen for the knock at the door, +and do you believe me, brother, about three o'clock in the afternoon, I +hears a knock and opens the door, and a strange lady was there, one I +never saw before, and asked me if Mrs. H---- lived here; and said she +had been looking for us before, but could not find us; 'when, to-day I +felt I must try again, and I am so glad I have found you. I heard of you +through a friend who has known you a long time.' She spoke many kind +words, and when she took my hand to say good-by, she left a little roll +of notes, and when she is gone I count it, and _it was just three +dollars._ I is been so happy ever since. I loves to tell how good the +Lord has been to us; every time I does so I feels so happy." + + +INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF AN INVALID.--HOW GOD CARES AND COMFORTS IN +SMALL THINGS. + + +The following incidents are from the life of an invalid, personally +known to the editor of this book, and can be depended upon as authentic +in every particular. They illustrate most beautifully the blessed way in +which the Savior's everlasting arms are around, strengthening, and His +presence comforting His weak and helpless ones, in all their little as +well as great trials of life. The ways in which he sent relief, and the +many hundred promises which he has given; will encourage other Christian +hearts to trust the same _Omnipotent, ever Helping Friend._ + + +GIVING HER LAST MONEY TO THE LORD. + + +"'The first money the Lord gives me I will send to you,' were the last +words I said to my old father, as I stood waiting for the train to bear +me to distant friends. So the weeks passed on, but I remembered my +promise and waited patiently for the Lord to enable me to fulfill that +promise. I had two dollars, but thought I must not give it away until +more came. But this feeling did not last long; something seemed to tell +me the Lord would not send me any until that was gone. One day I +received a letter from a friend containing this sentence: 'I have not +had three cents in five weeks.' My whole nature responded in a moment. I +put part of my money into a letter for him, the rest into a letter for +my father. Now I felt clear. Then I told the Lord all about it. A week +passed, and $5 came to me from my mother to pay my return fare. A few +days longer, and another $5 came from a lady friend, so I was provided +for. I needed a certain article of clothing, and one night made all +arrangements to get it next day. Morning came, and I went to the Bible +for my orders for the day; my eyes rested on these words: 'Be content +with what ye have.' This seemed so strange, because the Lord knew I +needed the dress; I was obliged to stay out of society on this account. +'But the Lord knows best,' I thought, and gave up all idea of getting +it. Nor did it trouble me further. I gave it all into his hands, feeling +He knew best. And afterwards it was made clear to my own heart I had not +trusted in vain. _'Commit all thy ways unto the Lord, for He careth for +thee.'"_ + + +MONEY WANTED TO PAY RAILROAD FARE. + + +"Once, on a visit, I left the company below, and went up stairs for an +hour's quiet and prayer. I was to return the coming week and I had only +just enough to pay my fare. For several days I had been anxious how I +was to get some money. This afternoon I had to pray very earnestly, +because the need was great. An hour passed; I felt weary and +unrefreshed, when a voice clear and near said unto me: 'Trust in the +Lord and do good, and verily thou shalt be fed.' It was not a human +voice, for no one was near me, but I started and looked around, _almost_ +expecting to see an angel visitant. I saw nothing, but the sun shone +brighter outside, and the room seemed brighter than before. And why +should it not? The Lord had been there with words of cheer and comfort +for his little child. I arose and went below, where I found other +company had called, and I was introduced to the lady and her husband, +whom I had met five years before. A pleasant chat and they left, after +giving me an invitation to visit them. At the door, as I learned from my +friend who attended them, Mrs. N---- said: 'I should like to give Miss +B---- something,' and handed my friend _a five dollar bill for me_. I +was more than surprised. I cannot tell you the emotions of my heart. +While I was yet asking, even, the messenger had brought my answer. I +could yet hear the soft sound of the voice up-stairs, and the soothing +influence of the unseen presence still lingered round me. How quickly +our needs flow on the wings of prayer into the very presence of our +Friend and Master." + + +PRAYER SAVES THE LIFE OF A LITTLE CHILD. + + +"A year ago this Summer, my sister's little baby, only five months old, +was taken very ill with that distressing complaint which often proves so +fatal, and takes so many sweet little ones out of loving hearts and +homes. I loved baby Ernest, but never so well as when he lay so sick he +could not know it. We all loved him, and everything was done that could +be thought of to ease the little sufferer all those long, close, hot +days. Day after day, for four long weeks, we tenderly cared for him. +Sometimes his mother would watch his every breath, fearing each would be +the last. One Sunday he lay just where we put him, so quiet and still, +with the sweet baby face so white and calm, we thought we should lose +him soon, the little hands and feet were so cold. All through his +illness, I kept asking the Lord to let his parents keep the tender bud +he had sent them. We could not let him die, and to-day I prayed very +earnestly all the time--even when we could not warm the little body at +all--we could not let him go. Well, Ernnie passed over the fearful day +and became a happy, well boy. He was saved. No physician saved him. Our +tender care did not save him. Prayer saved our Ernnie. Precious baby! He +is such a jolly, happy boy now, filling every heart and the whole house +with his sunshine. How I love the little fellow. When I am here at his +home, he always comes to Auntie for love and tenderness. When I am +resting on the lounge, he comes every few moments to kiss me, giving and +receiving real heart-love. We know God only lends these little treasures +to their human friends. But oh, they bring so much love with them, it is +hard to give them up." + + +THE LOST THIMBLE. + + +"One day I lost my silver thimble, a gift from my mother when I was a +young girl. I prized it _very highly_. I looked everywhere, long and +faithfully. The tears would come, at the best, it had been so long a +constant companion. I gave up the search after a while, thinking some +one had taken it, or a child had lost it--any way, it was gone. Feeling +sad over it, I sat down to console myself, and the thought came--pray +about it; so I did, and while I knelt there something whispered, 'Look +on the bed,' so plainly that I arose and went into my sister's +sleeping-room where I had turned the spread aside, and there nestled, in +a fold of the quilt, _my thimble_. I involuntarily said, 'Thank God!' +out of the depths of my glad heart. I had lain down a moment on this bed +with baby Ernest, early in the morning, and the thimble had fallen out +of my pocket." + + +A PRAYER FOR $25. + + "God moves in a mysterious way + His wonders to perform." + + +"I had a present of twenty-five dollars once, which was a direct answer +to earnest, pleading prayer. I was entirely out of money for months--I +could not earn a dollar. I had those who might have assisted me, but +they did not. I could have borrowed, but I might never be able to return +it; I knew not what to do. One evening, thinking it all over, scanning +the dark cloud with anxious eyes, I said, 'If the Lord cannot help me, +no one else can; I will ask Him.' And so I did, bringing all the +previous promises before Him, pleading my unworthiness, but my great +need; asking first for _ten dollars_; then, as I grew more earnest, I +asked for _twenty-five,_ feeling almost frightened as the words came +from my lips. Sometimes the thought would intrude, 'How can you ask for +any given sum--how do you expect it will come?' so I said, one day, to +the Lord, 'Any sum you choose; you know best; I will be content.' +Several weeks passed, and a sweet feeling of rest and assurance came, +that, whatever came of it, would be all for the best. But, by-and-by, +when the anxious pleading feeling was all gone, one morning came a +letter from one I had never seen, with $25--just what I had asked for. I +cannot tell you just how I felt; I only know I held the check long in my +hand, scarcely realizing it could be for me." + + +PRAYING FOR OTHERS. + + +"My sister's husband wished to raise a certain sum of interest money by +a given time, but could see no way; was very much troubled about it; +said he knew no one to whom he could apply. I told him to pray for it. +He answered, 'God won't hear the prayer of the wicked; suppose you ask +him yourself.' I did ask Him, earnestly and faithfully, and it was even +given me the idea who my brother could ask to loan it him. I spoke of +the man to him--said I thought he might get it; so he called on him one +evening, and the way was made plain for my brother to introduce the +subject; and when he came home that night, he brought with him the three +hundred dollars." + + +A VISIT TO FRIENDS. + + "I will hold thee by thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear + not, I will help thee." + + +"Once I held in my hand an open letter, containing an invitation to +visit friends I had never seen. My heart bounded with pleasure at +thought of the journey, and the pleasant visit to follow; but, on second +thought, it almost stood still--where could I get money and proper +clothing? Several weeks passed in thought. I could see no way, and so I +wrote my friends I could not come at present; but, in my heart, I could +not give it up. My parents were visiting in the far West, and I had no +one to advise me; so, up in my little room, night after night, I made it +a point to tell the Lord about it; and soon it seemed as easy and right +as though I were talking to a friend. One day, my brother-in-law said he +would pay my expenses to and fro. I thanked him, and took fresh courage, +and still kept on praying. Then the same good brother gave me money for +a dress; then a friend furnished other articles, and soon, I was en +route for the quaint old city by the sea. Every step was accomplished by +the simple way of prayer; and, when I slept, late that night, in a cosy +room at the Methodist parsonage in N.B., I could look back over the last +few weeks, and thank God for the _power of prayer_. But the best of it +all was the lesson I had learned--one which I shall never forget, while +memory holds her magic power--to carry _everything_ to God in prayer; to +trust him in every matter, however small; and this is the whole secret +of the power that lies in prayer." + +"I found another lady visitor at my friend's and we were to share the +same bed. This was a little trial; I had to ask the Lord to give me +patience--and He did. One night, I was very restless and nervous; I +could not sleep. I knew I was disturbing my friend--soon she said, +'Annie, I am going to ask the Lord to come and put you to sleep. Now, +lay still, and in five minutes you will be all right'. I did so, also +breathing the words, 'Give me sleep, dear Saviour.' The room seemed to +be full of a soft, soothing influence, and I fell asleep. Once only in +the night I awoke, but soon went asleep. When I awoke in the morning, +rested and refreshed, Tillie, who was dressing near me, looked up with +her pleasant smile and said, 'Annie, how wonderful it was. You were +asleep in less than five minutes. It seemed as though Jesus stood close +by your side; I could _almost see_ Him, I felt so clearly His presence. +He is here now, Annie; can't you feel Him near? He was very good to you +last night.' Yes, indeed, I felt the influence of His presence, and, all +day, whenever I entered the room, I felt it, and it seemed as though I +must tread softly, it was so like holy ground. This feeling lasted +through my stay, and, last Winter, while again visiting the home of my +friends, it all came back to me again. This beautiful influence has ever +kept with me, and I never close my eyes in sleep until I say, 'Oh, Lord, +breathe upon me the sweet spirit of sleep.' However weary, sick or +nervous I may be, I feel that the soothing power will come; and, with my +hand in His, I rest peacefully, at last." + + +PRAYING FOR A NEW HAT. + + "Whatsoever thing ye ask in _My_ name"-- + + +"For a long while I had been without money, and my need was very great. +I wanted a new hat so much; and the question arose in my mind, 'What am +I going to do about it?' As I had no human arm to depend on for +anything, of course there was only one way for me to do--ask the Lord +for money to get me a hat. With me, to think is to act, and so I told +the Lord all about it, asking, if it was His will, to send me, in His +own way, money for the article I needed. Day after day passed, and I +felt almost discouraged. One day, a letter came from a lady friend I had +never seen, enclosing one dollar. I bought my hat--neither could I have +used that dollar for another purpose. Soon after this, my physician +ordered something for me. I had no money to get it, but said I would get +it soon as I could. Three weeks passed, and no money came. Then I asked +the Lord for enough to get my medicine. Another letter came from an old +nurse, with a gift of one dollar. I had my medicine. Time after time, I +have not had wherewith to send my letters, and, as I have a large +correspondence, it often is a real trouble. The only way I have to do is +to _pray for it,_ and always, in some way, it comes; not in _my +way_--not just as soon as I ask for it--but in His own way, He always +provides. I have learned to trust and not be afraid, even though the +clouds hang heavy, and I see no ray of light, the promise is there, and +for me, 'I will _never_ leave thee, or forsake thee.' I am so entirely +dependent on Him for everything that sometimes, in little matters, my +faith will, for a brief season, droop. Sometimes I have to plead and +plead over again some particular promises; but these times of waiting on +Him only strengthen me for future conflicts. 'Wait on the Lord, and he +shall renew thy strength,' comes in beautifully on such occasions. No +human being to help me; no one but God. Sometimes, when I sit alone, +such a flood of feelings come over me, I well nigh sink. Loneliness, +homesickness, and the great want in every human heart of sympathy and +love, leave me, for a moment, without hope or faith; but, when the heart +is weakest, and the need greatest, the loving Saviour is nearest. 'Like +as a mother comforteth her child, so does He comfort me;' and then, +soothed by his power and love, how the aching heart rests 'by the still +waters, and in the green pastures.' There is nothing but prayer for the +helpless sinner; nothing else will bring us into loving companionship +with the Lord. We may go to Him always, with every trial, need or +sorrow. He is ever waiting--ever ready to hear and answer." + + +PRAYING FOR A SEWING MACHINE. + + +"One day a lady friend said to me: 'Would you like some nice sewing, +easy to do?' I answered, 'Yes.' 'Have you a sewing machine?' 'I have +not, but am praying for one.' 'That is right; so you believe you will +have it by praying for it?' I replied: 'If the Lord thinks I need it, He +will send it.' I had learned to use my sister's, but I wanted one of my +own, to use just when I felt like it. So the thought kept in my heart, +'Why can't I pray for one?' And yet it seemed foolish to go in prayer to +God for such a simple thing, but I had not then learned that _all +things,_ with Him, meant every wish and want of the human heart. But +there was no other way. He must send my machine, or I could have none. I +prayed very earnestly. After a few weeks of waiting, one golden winter +morning it came--my beautiful machine--just what I wanted. This seemed +so wonderful to me, that it seemed to bring me into nearer companionship +with the Lord, and ever after, whatever I needed, I went directly to Him +for. A ministerial friend once asked me what it was I had covered up on +the stand. I told him it was my piano, taking the cover aside and +showing him at once how my beautiful sewing machine worked. _'What tune +do you play oftenest?'_ he asked. _'Rock of Ages_ is its favorite one, +and I never sew without singing it.'" + + + +MONEY FOR POSTAGE. + + +"One day I opened my port-monnaie to get change for some little needful, +when I found I had but ten cents. I used five of it. As visions of six +or seven letters and many little things I needed came up before me, I +said aloud: 'The Lord will have to send me some money pretty soon.' I +think once through the day I prayed for some money, but felt no +uneasiness about it. That evening a lady friend called to say good-by +for the winter, and as she left gave me _fifty cents for postage._ While +I was calling He answered me. About a week before this, I thought I +would ask the Lord for $5 for my physician. He had come so faithfully, +day after day, without ever expecting one dollar, because I had told him +freely my circumstances. But I felt I must give him something for a gift +at least. So I asked for five dollars. Day after day passed away, and I +thought perhaps the Lord did not want me to have it. But still I prayed, +asking it for His will, not mine. One morning a letter came from a very +dear friend, containing a check for the amount for which I had prayed, +and a little beside. It seemed such a signal answer to my prayer, that I +could scarcely speak, and in my heart a glad prayer of thanksgiving went +up to Him, who had told me _to ask and I should receive._ A friend, to +whom I told this, said: 'Now you need this money yourself; I would not +give it to the doctor now--wait awhile.' 'But,' I replied, 'I dare not +do it. I need it, I know, but I asked God for it for my doctor, and I +must give it.' And here let me say, when we ask God for money, it is +sacred, and must be spent only to please Him." + + +PRAYING FOR A BIBLE. + + +"For a long while it has been my habit to be entirely guided for the day +by the first verse in the Bible on which my eyes rested. While dressing +for the day, I glance at the open page, or sometimes turning over the +leaves. But my old Bible was poor print and small, and it troubled me +for a long while. So I thought I would ask the Lord to send me a new +one. I told Him all about it. One day, this Summer, the postman brought +me a package of magazines and a letter. I began to undo the package, +eager to scan their welcome pages. My sister laughingly said she would +read my letter, and suiting the action to the word, opened the envelope. +I really did not mind what she was doing, until she said: 'Why there is +some money here, but no letter.' So she handed me the half sheet of +paper, with the money folded inside. I looked it over, and there were +only these words in pencil: 'For a Bible, and three dollars.' We looked +at each other; I could not say a word, until she said, 'What does it all +mean? 'I answered, 'The Lord sent it, I know; where could it come from?' +It was wonderful--wonderful because I could not remember as I ever told +any one that I was praying for a Bible." + + +A SPRING MATTRESS. + + +"Last Summer, when I bought my bedstead, I did not have money to get +either springs or a mattress, so I fixed up a clean, straw bed, and +covered it nicely with a thick comfortable. It was pretty hard--I did +not rest well. So, one sleepless night, I said aloud, 'I will just ask +the Lord to send me a set of springs.' I kept on day by day. When I felt +the severe pain which denoted illness, I thought of my hard bed and +prayed more earnest. One day my physician spoke of my hard bed. I told +him I was going to have a better one; I was praying for some springs. +And so I kept on. One day, a lady friend said something about my bed. I +did not say much. Somehow I felt I must not; I wanted to have it all the +Lord's doings, if I ever had any. One day my sister said a man was at +the door, who wanted to fit a set of springs to my bed. Why, I can't +tell how I felt; even after God had answered my simple prayers, and +honored my faith so many times, I was astonished at this. But she helped +me up, and the bed was fitted with nice, new springs. And they were +mine. The man could not tell anything about them. My sister says, +'Annie, did you order them?' I said, 'No.' 'Don't you know who sent +them?' I said, 'No.' 'Did you ask Mrs. W---- to order them?' I said, 'I +did not; I would lay here six years before I would do it. No, somebody +had a hand in it, but the Lord sent them, because I prayed for them all +the time.' A friend was present when my physician called. I told him +about the new springs. His kind face lit up grandly at this new evidence +that God did answer humble, faithful prayer, and he turned to my friend +with the words: 'I am glad they were just what she has been praying +for.' I do not think he had anything to do about them. But these springs +are only another proof of his love and power, in touching the hearts of +his children to help others. And they have their reward. Soon after +this, a lady sent me a white spread for my bed. Surely, God is good to +his little ones." + + +THE HEALING OF MARY THEOBALD. + + +The following incident is related by her pastor, at Woburn, Mass., who, +for three and a half years, was well acquainted with her physical +condition, and who testified, in _The Congregationalist_, that no +medicine, or physician's aid or advice, was of any avail: + +"From the first of my acquaintance to the last, she had an unswerving +confidence in her recovery. Many times has she said to me: 'I believe +that I shall be well. Jesus will raise me up. I shall hear you preach +some day.' + +"But, in common with the friends who were watching her case, and with +the physicians who had exhausted their skill upon her in vain, I had +little or no hope for her. It seemed to me that her life was to be one +of suffering; that God was keeping her with us that we might have a +heroic example of what His grace could enable one to bear and to become. + +"A few days ago, I received from her lips the following statement of the +origin and progress of her sickness: 'My first sickness occurred when I +was about sixteen years old. This illness lasted for a year. Indeed, I +was never well again. That sickness left me with a bad humor, which, for +two years, kept me covered with boils. When the boils disappeared, the +trouble was internal. Physicians feared a cancer. For ten years, I was +sick, more or less--sometimes able to work, sometimes utterly prostrate. + +"'My second severe illness began in the Autumn of 1871. I had been +failing for two years. Then I was obliged to give up. I was on the bed +five months. From this illness I never recovered so as to labor or walk +abroad. When not confined to my bed, I have been on the lounge, as you +have known me. No one can ever know the suffering which these years have +brought me.' + +"My acquaintance with her began in the Spring of 1873. Several times +since I have known her, she has been carried so low that we have thought +her release near at hand; and, indeed, the general tendency has been +downwards. I recently asked an intelligent physician, who had attended +her for a year or more, to give me the facts in her case. He replied: +'She is diseased throughout. Her system is thoroughly soured. It +responds to nothing. Almost every function is abnormal. There is no help +for her in medicine.' Other physicians had tried their skill with the +same result. It was generally admitted by doctors, friends and family, +that nothing more could be done for her. While all saw only suffering +and an early death in store for her, yet she confidently expected to be +well, and her faith never waned. + +"It was her custom to spend a few weeks each year in the family of one +of the sisters in the church. At her last visit, it was evident to this +lady that Mary was not so well as in former years. One day, when +conversation turned upon this topic, she felt constrained to express her +fears. But Mary was hopeful. A proposition was made, and arrangements +were perfected to visit Doctor Cullis, to secure the benefit of his +prayers. But her feebleness was so great that the plan was abandoned. +'If,' said Mrs. F., 'faith is to cure you, why go to Doctor Cullis, or +to any one? Let us go to God ourselves; and, Mary, if you have faith +that God can and will cure you sometime, why not believe that He will +_cure you now?_' + +"She felt herself cast on God alone. All hope of human help was at an +end. She had thought it, hitherto, enough patiently to wait His time. +She saw that, after all, she must not dishonor God by limiting His +power. Again her Bible opened to the familiar passages, '_the prayer of +faith shall save the sick_;' 'according to your faith be it unto you.' +She felt that the time for testing her faith had come. She would +dishonor the Lord no longer. Requesting the prayers of the family that +God would now grant healing and restoration, she tottered to her couch, +and, asking that in the morning she might be well, calmly closed her +eyes in the assurance that it would be so. _And according to her faith, +so it was. She came forth in the morning without a remnant of the pain +which had filled a decade of years with agony_. That Sabbath was to her, +indeed, 'a high day.' A week later the frequent prophecy that she should +hear me preach was fulfilled. + +"_Not a vestige of suffering remained_. So far as that is concerned, +there was not a hint left that she had been an invalid for almost a +score of years. + +"_She immediately took her place in the family as a well person._ Two +days after, I saw her. She came to meet me with a step light and strong, +and with a face written all over with thankfulness and joy. Since that +time all the abandoned duties of active life have been resumed. When +last I saw her, she was in bounding health and spirits, declaring that +she could not remember when she had felt so happy and well. That +night--one of the coldest of the winter, the roads at their iciest--she +walked more than half a mile to and from the prayer-meeting. + +It is difficult for those who are not conversant with the case to +believe it, yet there is no illusion in it. _That she went to sleep a +suffering, feeble, shattered woman, and, awoke free from pain, and that +she has been gaining in strength ever since, are facts that cannot be +doubted_." + + +HOW PRAYER HELPED HIM TO KEEP THE PLEDGE. + + +In a rural district, in the North of England, lived a shoe-maker who had +signed the temperance pledge often, but never had strength to keep it. +After a while, he was able to keep it, and reformed entirely. A friend +was curious to learn how he had been able, at last, to win the victory, +and went to see him. + +"Well, William, how are you?" + +"Oh, pretty well. I had only eighteen pence and an old hen when I +signed, and a few old scores; but now I have about ten pounds in the +bank, and my wife and I have lived through the summer without getting +into debt. But as I am only thirty weeks old yet (so he styled himself), +I cannot be so strong yet, my friend." + +"How is it you never signed before?" + +"I did sign; but I keep it different now to what I did before, friend." + +"How is this?" + +"Why, I _gae doon_ on my knees and pray." + +Here was the _real strength of prayer_. His own resolves were of no +value; but when he called on God to help, then came new strength, and he +was kept by restraining grace. The bitter experience of those who pledge +and pledge over and over again, and never gain the victory, at last must +come to either of two ends--their utter destruction, or else to call on +God in prayer, to help them keep the pledge manfully, and make them +steadfast in their resolutions. + + +ONE WHO REFUSED THE HOLY SPIRIT. + + +The following incident is related by D.L. Moody, the Evangelist, which +contains a warning, how the Holy Spirit avenges itself to those who +refuse its admonitions. It is a remarkable instance of the control of an +overruling God, who alone knew that man's mind, and which alone could +bring that text so often to his memory: + +"There was a young man in my native village--he was not a young man when +I was talking to him--we were working on the farm together one day and +he was weeping; I asked him what he was weeping about, and he told me a +very strange story. When he left home his mother gave him the text: +'_Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these +things will be added unto you_.' He was ambitious to get rich, and +thought when he had got comfortable, that was the time to give his +attention to religion. He went from village to village, and got nothing +to do. Sunday came, and he went into the village church. _What was his +great surprise to hear the minister preach from that text_. It went down +into his heart--he thought that it was his mother's prayers that were +following him--he thought the whole sermon was for himself, and thought +he would like to get out. For days be could not get that text and sermon +out of his mind. He went on still, from village to village, and at last +he went into another church after weeks had rolled away. He went for +some Sundays to the church, and it wasn't a great while before the +minister _gave out this very text_. He thought surely it was God calling +him then, and he said, coolly and deliberately, _he would not seek the +Kingdom of God_. He went on in this way, and in the course of a few +months, to his great surprise, he heard the _third sermon from the third +minister on the same text_. He tried to stifle it, but it followed him. +At last he made up his mind he would not go to church any more. When he +came back to Northfield, after years, his mother had died, but the text +kept coming to him over and over, and he said, 'I will not become a +Christian;' and said he to me, 'Moody, my heart is as hard as that +stone.' It was all Greek to me, because I was not a Christian myself at +the time. After my conversion, in Boston, he was about the first man I +thought of. When I got back and asked my mother about him, she told me +he was gone out of his mind, and to every one who went to the asylum to +see him he pointed his finger and said: '_Seek ye first the Kingdom, of +God and His Righteousness_.' When I went back to my native village, +after that, I was told he was still out of his mind, but at home. I went +to see him, and asked him did he know me. He was rocking backwards and +forwards in his rocking chair, and he gave me that vacant stare and +pointed to me as he said, '_Young man, seek first the Kingdom of God and +His Righteousness_.' When, last month, I laid down my younger brother in +his grave, I could not help but think of that man lying but a few yards +away. May every man and woman here be wise for eternity and seek now the +Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, is my prayer." + + +THE PRAYING SHOE-MAKER. + + +A correspondent of _The American Messenger_ relates this instance of a +poor man in the village where he lived, who, with a family of young +children and a wife in very feeble health, found it extremely difficult +to obtain a livelihood. He was at length compelled to work by the week +for a shoe-dealer in the city, four miles from the village, returning to +his family every Saturday evening, and leaving home early on Monday +morning. + +He usually brought home the avails of his week's labor in provisions for +the use of his family during the following week; but on one cold and +stormy night, in the depth of winter, he went towards his humble +dwelling with empty hands, but a full heart. His employer had declared +himself unable to pay him a penny that night, and the shoe-maker, too +honest to incur a debt without knowing that he should be able to cancel +it, bent his weary steps homeward, trusting that He who hears the ravens +when they cry, would fill the mouths of his little family. He knew that +he should find a warm house and loving hearts to receive him, but he +knew, too, that a disappointment awaited them which would make at least +_one_ heart ache. + +When he entered his cottage, cold and wet with the rain, he saw a bright +fire, brighter faces, and a table neatly spread for the anticipated +repast. The tea-kettle was sending forth its cloud of steam, all ready +for "the cup which cheers, but not inebriates," and a pitcher of milk, +which had been sent in by a kind neighbor, was waiting for the bread so +anxiously expected by the children. The sad father confessed his +poverty, and his wife in tears begged him to make _some_ effort to +procure food for them before the Sabbath. He replied, "Let us ask God to +give us our daily bread. Prayer avails with God when we ask for temporal +good, as well as when we implore spiritual blessings." The sorrowing +group knelt around the family altar, and while the father was entreating +fervently for the mercies they so much needed, a gentle knocking at the +door was heard. When the prayer was ended the door was opened, and there +stood a woman in the "peltings of the storm," who had never been at that +door before, though she lived only a short distance from it. She had a +napkin in her hand, which contained a large loaf of bread; and half +apologizing for offering it, said she had unintentionally made "a larger +batch of bread" than usual that day, and though she hardly knew why, she +thought it might be acceptable there. + +After expressing their sincere gratitude to the woman, the devout +shoe-maker and his wife gave thanks to God with overflowing hearts. +While the little flock were appeasing their hunger with the nice new +bread and milk, the father repaired to the house where I was an inmate, +and told his artless tale with streaming eyes, and it is unnecessary to +say, that he returned to his home that night with a basket heavily +laden, and a heart full of gratitude to a prayer-answering God. + + +HOW THE LORD CONTROLS EVEN THE LOCOMOTIVE AND THE RAILROAD TRAIN. + + +A remarkable instance of how the Lord controlled circumstances for the +detention of one train, and speeded the arrival of the other, in answer +to the prayer of a poor widow, who was in anxiety and distress, is thus +known to the editor of _The Watchman and Reflector_: + +"Not long ago an engineer brought his train to a stand at a little +Massachusetts village, where the passengers have five minutes for lunch. +A lady came along the platform and said: 'The conductor tells me the +train at the junction in P---- leaves fifteen minutes before our +arrival. It is Saturday night, that is the last train. I have a very +sick child in the car, and no money for a hotel, and none for a private +conveyance for the long, long journey into the country. What shall I +do?' 'Well,' said the engineer, 'I wish I could tell you.' 'Would it be +possible for you to hurry a little?' said the anxious, tearful mother. +'No, madam, I have the time-table, and the rules say I must run by it.' + +She turned sorrowfully away, leaving the bronzed face of the engineer +wet with tears. Presently she returned and said, 'Are you a Christian?' +'I trust I am,' was the reply. 'Will you pray with me that the Lord may, +in some way, delay the train at the junction?' 'Why, yes, I will pray +with you, but I have not much faith.' Just then, the conductor cried, +'All aboard.' The poor woman hurried back to her deformed and sick +child, and away went the train, climbing the grade. 'Somehow,' says the +engineer, 'everything worked to a charm. _As I prayed, I couldn't help +letting my engine out just a little_. We hardly stopped at the first +station, people got on and off with wonderful alacrity, the conductor's +lantern was in the air in half a minute, and then away again. Once over +the summit, it was dreadful easy to give her a little more, and then a +little more, as I prayed, till she seemed to shoot through the air like +an arrow. Somehow I couldn't hold her, knowing I had the road, and so we +dashed up to the junction six minutes ahead of time.' There stood the +train, and the conductor with his lantern on his arm. 'Well,' said he, +'_will you tell me what I am waiting here for? Somehow I felt I must +wait your coming to-night, but I don't know why_.' 'I guess,' said the +brother conductor, 'it is for this woman, with her sick and deformed +child, dreadfully anxious to get home this Saturday night.' But the man +on the engine and the grateful mother think they can tell why the train +waited. God held it to answer their prayers." + +Think of this wonderful improbability according to natural +circumstances. These trains never connected with each other, nor were +intended to. There was no message sent ahead to stop. There was not the +slightest business reason for waiting, yet the second conductor, on +arrival of the first, asks this question, "_What am I waiting for_," and +the answer of the first is more singular, "I don't know." + + +ANOTHER INSTANCE OF SUPERHUMAN CONTROL OF THE LOCOMOTIVE, IN ANSWER TO +PRAYER. + + +An exact parallel instance to the foregoing is given in the experience +of a correspondent of _The Christian_, which occurred in the latter part +of November, 1864, while traveling with her aged father and two small +girls: + +"We started from New Hampshire on Thursday morning, expecting to have +ample time to get through to Indiana before Saturday night; but, after +we crossed the St. Lawrence River, the next day, I think, there was a +smash-up on a freight train, which hindered our train about two hours. I +began to feel anxious, as I knew our limited means would not permit us +to stop long on the way. After the cars had started again, I inquired of +the conductor what time we should get to Toledo, fearing we should not +reach there in time for the down train. _He said it would be impossible +to gain the time._ Soon they changed conductors, and I made a similar +inquiry, getting about the same answer. Still I hoped, till we reached +the Detroit River. Here I found that, though they had put on all the +steam they dared to, they were _almost an hour behind time_, so I should +have to stay over till Sunday night. + +"After getting seated in the cars on the other side, I ventured to ask +the conductor if we should get to Toledo in time for the down train. He +readily said, '_No, madam, impossible! If we put on all the steam, we +dare to, we shall be more than half an hour behind time._ If we were on +some trains we might hope they would wait; but on this, _never! He is +the most exact conductor you ever saw. He was never known to wait a +second, say nothing about a minute, beyond the time._' I then inquired +if we could not stay at the depot. He said, No; we should all freeze to +death, for the fire is out till Sunday evening. + +"A gentleman sitting in front of us said he would show us a good hotel +near by, as he was acquainted there. I thanked him, but sunk back on my +seat. Covering my eyes with my hand, and raising my heart to God, I +said, 'O, God, if thou art my Father, and I am thy child, put it into +the heart of that conductor to wait till we get there.' + +"Soon I became calm, and fell asleep, not realizing that God would +answer my poor prayer; but, when we reached Toledo, to the astonishment +of us all, there stood the conductor, _wanting to know the reason why he +had to wait_, when our conductor told him there was a lady with her +crippled father and two little daughters, who were going down on that +train. + +"Soon as all were out of the car, both conductors came with their +lanterns and gave their aid in helping my father to the other train, +where they had reserved seats by keeping the door locked. All was hurry +and confusion to me, as I had my eye on father, fearing he might fall, +it being very slippery, when the baggage-master said, 'Your checks, +madam!' I handed them to him, and rushed into the car; but, before I got +seated, the car started, and I had no checks for my baggage. Again my +heart cried out, 'O, Thou that hearest prayer, take care of my baggage!' +believing He could do that as well as make the conductor wait. In a few +moments the conductor came to me with a face radiant with smiles, +saying, '_Madam, I waited a whole half hour for you_,--_a thing I never +did before since I was a conductor, so much as to wait one minute after +my time_.' He said, 'I know it was your father that I was waiting for, +because there was nothing else on the train for which I could have +waited.' I exclaimed, in a half suppressed tone, 'Praise the Lord!' I +could not help it; it gushed out. Then he said, '_At the very moment all +were on board, and I was ready to start, such a feeling came over me as +I never had in my life before. I could not start_. Something kept saying +to me, _you must wait_, for there is something pending on that train you +must wait for. I waited, and here you are, all safe.' Again my heart +said, Praise the Lord! and he started to leave me, when I said, 'But +there is one thing.' 'What is it?' was his quick reply. 'I gave the +baggage-master my checks, and have none in return.' 'What were the +numbers?' I told him. 'I have them,' he said, handing them to me, 'but +your baggage will not be there till Monday morning. We had no time to +put it on, we had waited so long.'" + + + +ANOTHER WONDERFUL RECORD OF $25. + + +_A Christian minister_, living in Northern Indiana, was in want, and +knelt in prayer again and again before his Father in heaven. His +quarterly allowance had been withheld, and want stared him in the face. +Constrained by urgent need, and shut up to God for help, he pleaded +repeatedly for a supply of his temporal wants. Now see how extraordinary +was the plan of the Lord to send relief. + +"In one of the lovely homes of Massachusetts, while the snow was falling +and the winds were howling without, a lady sat on one side of the +cheerful fire, knitting a little stocking for her oldest grandson, and +her husband, opposite to her, was reading aloud a missionary paper, when +the following passage arrested the attention of the lady and fastened +itself in her memory. + +"'In consequence of failure to obtain my salary when due, I have been so +oppressed with care and want, as to make it painfully difficult to +perform my duties as a minister. There is very little prospect, +seemingly, of improvement in this respect for some time to come. What I +say of my own painfully inadequate support, is substantially true of +nearly all your missionaries in this State. You, of course, cannot be +blamed for this. You are but the almoners of the churches, and can be +expected to appropriate only what they furnish. _This, however, the +Master will charge to somebody as a grievous fault;_ for it is not His +will that his ministers should labor unrequited.' + +"This extract was without name or date. It was simply headed 'from a +missionary in Northern Indiana.' Scores of readers probably gave it only +a passing glance. Not so the lady who sat knitting by the fire and heard +her husband read it. The words sank into her mind, and dwelt in her +thoughts. The clause, '_This, however, the Master will charge to +somebody as a grievous fault_,' especially seemed to follow her wherever +she went. The case, she said, haunted her. She seemed to be herself that +very '_somebody_' who was to answer at the bar of God for the curtailed +supplies and straitened means of this humble minister. + +"Impelled by an unseen, but, as she believes, a divine presence and +power, after asking counsel and guidance of the Lord, she took twenty- +five dollars which were at her own disposal, and requested her husband +to give it to the Rev. Dr. H------ for the writer of the above +communication, if he could devise any way to obtain the writer's +address. + +"Doctor H------ is a prompt man, who does not let gold destined to such +an end rest in his pocket. Familiar with the various organizations of +the benevolent societies, and only too happy to have an agency in +supplying the wants of a laborer in Christ's vineyard, he soon started +the money on its appointed errand. Early in April, the lady in her rural +home had the happiness of receiving the following note, of which we omit +nothing, save the names of persons and places: + + "'DEAR MADAM.--I have just received a draft for twenty-five + dollars, as a special donation from you. This I do with + profound gratitude to you for this unselfish and Christ-like + deed, and to Him who put it into your heart to do it. How you, + _a lady a thousand miles away, could know that I was, and had + been for some time, urged by unusual need to pray for succor + and worldly support with unwonted fervency, is a matter of + more than curious inquiry. It is an answer to my prayer, for + the Lord employs the instrumentality of his children to answer + prayer, and, when it is necessary, he moves them to it. This + is not the first nor second time that I have been laid under + special obligation by Christian sympathy and timely aid_. May + He who said, He that giveth a cup of cold water to a disciple, + in the name of a disciple, shall not lose his reward, repay + you a thousand-fold for this favor.' + +"Does not this little incident illustrate the power of prayer? The man +of God, weary and heavy-laden, in his closet in Indiana, spread his case +before the Lord. A disciple in Eastern Massachusetts, _a thousand miles +away_ from the spot where the prayer was offered, who did not know +anything about him or his need, is touched with his wants, and moved to +send him immediate aid." + + +MR. SPURGEON'S COW. + + +"My grandfather was a very poor minister, and kept a cow, which was a +very great help in the support of his children--he had ten of them;--and +the cow took the "staggers" and died. 'What will you do now?' said my +grandmother. 'I cannot tell what we shall do now,' said he, 'but I know +what God will do: God will provide for us. We must have milk for the +children.' + +"The next morning, there came L20 to him. He had never made application +to the fund for the relief of ministers; but, on that day, there were L5 +left when they had divided the money, and one said, 'There is poor Mr. +Spurgeon down in Essex, suppose we send it to him.' The chairman--a Mr. +Morley of his day--said, 'We had better make it L10, and I'll give L5.' +Another L5 was offered by another member, if a like amount could be +raised, to make it up to L20; which was done. They knew nothing about my +grandfather's cow; but God did, you see; and there was the new cow for +him. And those gentlemen in London were not aware of the importance of +the service which they had rendered. + + CHARLES SPURGEON." + + +"TRUST IN THE LORD." + + +"A poor negro woman, after the death of her husband, had no means of +support for herself and two little children, except the labor of her own +hands; yet she found means out of her deep poverty to give something for +the promotion of the cause of her Redeemer, and would never fail to pay, +on the very day it became due, her regular subscription to the church of +which she was a member. In a hard Winter she had found great difficulty +in supplying the pressing needs of her little family; yet the few pence +for religious purposes had been regularly put by. + +"As one season for the contribution came round, she had only a little +corn, a single salt herring, and a five-cent piece remaining of her +little store. Yet she did not waver; she ground the corn, prepared her +children's supper, and then, with a light heart and cheerful +countenance, set out to meeting, where she gave joyfully the five cents, +_the last she had in the world_. + +"Returning from the church, she passed the house of a lady to whom, a +long time before, she had sold a piece of pork, so long indeed that she +had entirely forgotten the circumstance. But, seeing her this morning, +the lady called her in, apologized for having been so tardy in the +settlement, and then inquired how much it was. Old Sukey did not know, +and the lady, determined to be on the safe side, gave her two dollars, +besides directing her housekeeper to put up a basket of flour, sugar, +coffee, and other luxuries for her use. Poor Sukey returned home with a +joyful heart, saying, as she displayed her treasures, "See, my children, +the Lord is a good paymaster, giving us 'a hundred-fold even in this +present life, and in the world to come life everlasting.'" + + +EXACTLY EIGHTY DOLLARS.--"THEY ARE SAFE THAT TRUST IN THEE." + + +A clergyman somewhat advanced in years recently related to a +correspondent of _The Messenger_ an incident in his own life, which well +illustrates the provident care of our heavenly Father over his children. + +"His first church was at V----, and, though he labored diligently, +working with his own hands for his support, he became eighty dollars in +debt. It was a grievous burden, and all his efforts to remove it proved +unavailing. One day, when he felt especially cast down, he retired to +pray over the matter, and on his knees he besought the Lord to aid, as +he despaired of help from any other source. He felt strengthened and +hopeful when he left his closet, and entered his church on Sabbath +morning with a lighter heart than usual. As he passed the door a young +lady met him, and placed in his hand _fifty dollars_, saying that +_twenty_ was to go for the Sabbath-school library, and the remaining +_thirty_ was for himself. He was so surprised that he scarcely trusted +his senses, and asked her not less than three times, that he might not +be mistaken. As he preached that day, God seemed 'a very present help.' +At the close of the service, a young man, noted for his free-hearted, +impulsive character, stepped up and requested that he would perform a +marriage ceremony for him the next week. He did so, and received for his +services a bill, which he placed in his pocket, and, on looking at it +afterwards, found it _fifty dollars_, thus making up _exactly the +eighty_ he had prayed the Lord to send him." + +We too often forget that God is as willing to listen to our temporal +wants as to our spiritual, and that "no good thing will He withhold from +them that walk uprightly." + + +A PRAYER FOR FOUR DOLLARS. + + +A Home Missionary from Brooklyn called one day upon an editor to gather +some tracts for distribution which he had published. The editor became +interested in the story of his visits among the poor, and though at +first not specially moved to give money at that time, yet toward the +last, putting his hand into his pocket he pulled out all the bills there +were there, $4, and gave them to the missionary with these words: "There +is something which may come useful." The gift was all forgotten until a +few days afterward the missionary returned and said to the editor, +"After I left you I received a letter from a poor lady who had been +owing money for rent for several months, which she could not possibly +pay. That very morning the landlord came and said that if she could only +raise $4 he would excuse the rest; but she did not have the $4. I did +not know where to get it. I happened to drop in to see you; did not tell +you anything of the need, and asked for nothing; yet you gave me the +exact $4 to answer that poor woman's prayer." + +An infinite Creator and God had brought these circumstances together in +this exact way. Neither the editor nor missionary had ever met before. +The missionary did not know that the lady was in distress. Who was it +that sent the landlord to the lady and fixed that amount of $4 in his +mind? Who was it that sent the home missionary to the office of a person +he had never seen or known? Who was it that knew of the $4 waiting in +that pocket and prompted that hand to take it out and give it away? Who +was it that led that missionary to obtain and send relief just as she +was praying for that special amount? + +_Was it chance or science? No, No. It was the will of a loving God_. + + +"AUNT SALLY'S" FAITH. + + +"'Aunt Sally,' says the _American Messenger_, was a devout, working, +trustful Christian. Her husband was a cripple, almost helpless, an +unbeliever, and to some extent an opposer of religion. They lived alone. +The severity of a northern winter was upon them, and in spite of her +best exertions their stock of fuel was scarcely a day's supply. + +"'What can be done?' was the anxious inquiry of the unbelieving husband +as they were rising from their bed. 'The Lord will provide,' was 'Aunt +Sally's' cheerful reply. 'I know you always say so, and so it has always +proved,' was the answer of her unbelieving companion; 'but I see no way +in which we can be provided for now.' 'Nor do I,' said 'Aunt Sally.' +'But help will come. God will not desert us.' + +"That winter's morning had not passed when their son, who had been a +soldier in the Mexican war, entered the door. It had been long since +they had heard from him, and they feared he was not alive. The sun went +down upon an abundant supply of fuel, cut in the forest by the strong +arms of the soldier-boy, and drawn to the door by means of his +procuring. The unbelieving husband and father declared he would never be +distrustful again. + + +GOD CARETH FOR YOU. + + +"Nearly forty years ago I was given up by the doctors for a dying man +from consumption. I had a wife and five children dependent on me, and +for many months was unable to provide for them by my own labors. All our +earthly resources were gone, and one Sabbath morning, when breakfast was +over, we were entirely destitute; there was no meal in the barrel nor +oil in the cruse. In family worship I read the fortieth chapter of +Isaiah. I think up to that time I had never found the word of God so +sweet and precious. I had very near access in prayer, and was enabled to +lay my burden at the Saviour's feet. I closed with the Lord's Prayer; it +seemed made on purpose for me. I think the petition, 'Give us this day +our daily bread,' was offered in faith. + +"_Within an hour there was a rap at the door_. When I opened it a young +man stood there who had come three miles to bring us bread, sugar, and +money. He apologized for coming on the Sabbath morning, but said an aunt +of his was at their house the evening before, and felt so anxious about +us she could not go away till he promised her he would come and bring us +those things." + + +A PRAYER NOT ANSWERED. + + +"Many years ago, a man then recently married, settled in my native town. +It was then quite new, destitute of religious privileges, and given to +all manner of wickedness. There was no Sabbath, and no sanctuary. The +man was pious. The thought of bringing up a family in such a place +distressed him. He wished to remove; and he used to retire daily to a +little grove, and _pray that God would send some one to buy his farm_. +This prayer was not answered. Better things were in store. A neighbor +was taken sick. He visited and conversed with him. In the midst of the +conversation, one sitting by interrupted him and said, 'Sir, if what you +say is true, I am lost.' This gave new interest to the occasion. Prayer +was offered, the Spirit was found out, and many were converted. A +prayer-meeting was started; other revivals followed; in due time a +church was organized, a house of worship built, and a pastor settled, +mainly through the instrumentality of that one man; and he trained up +his family there, and lived to see most of them members of the church of +Christ. Do not despair, God will _either answer your exact prayer,_ or +_do something better for you_; He knows what is for your best good." + + +TRUST IN THE LORD. + + +"A pious woman, who was reduced to extreme poverty and deserted by her +intemperate husband, was taken sick, and lay several days without +physical power to provide food for her two little children. She had +directed them where to find the little that was remaining in the house, +and they had eaten it all. Still she lay sick, with no means of +obtaining more, as night closed upon the hungry household. The children +soon forgot their hunger in sleep; but not so the mother. She saw no +help for them but in God, and she spent the night-watches in spreading +before him their necessities. As the morning approached her confidence +in God increased, and that passage from his word rested with peculiar +sweetness upon her mind, 'Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou +dwell in the land, and _verily thou shalt be fed_.' + +"Morning came. The starving children managed by her direction to build +them a little fire, and almost before they had commenced telling their +mother of their hunger, a stranger came in. She introduced herself as +Mrs. J., saying she had known for some time that there was a new family +in the neighborhood, and intended to call and make their acquaintance, +but had been prevented. _During the last night she had been so troubled +and disturbed about it_, that she thought she would run in early, lest +she should again be prevented, and see if there was any way in which she +could be of service to them. The mother in bed, with her head bound to +mitigate its pain, revealed the story of her sufferings, and the good +lady soon learned their entire destitution. They were immediately made +comfortable; and all will be glad to know that it was the beginning of +better days to that deserted wife and mother." + + +THE NECESSITY OF ASKING GOD'S BLESSING EVERY DAY, UPON YOUR DAILY WORK. +EVERY WORK, HOWEVER GOOD, NEEDS SPECIAL, SPECIFIC, DAILY PRAYER FOR ITS +PROSPERITY. + + +"A colporteur in the Wabash valley became quite discouraged and was +almost ready to give up his work, on account of the smallness of his +sales. On every side, his ears were filled with complaints of 'hard +times;' the wheat crop had partially failed two years in succession--the +California emigration, and railroad and plank-road speculations had +almost drained the country of money. Frequently he would be told, that +if he could come after harvest they would buy his books, but that it was +impossible to do so then. His sales were daily decreasing, and he became +more and more disheartened, until one night, after a laborious day's +effort, he found that he had _only sold twenty-five cents' worth_! He +felt that he could not go on in this way any longer. He was wasting his +strength and time, and the money of the Society. On examination of the +state of his heart, he found that it had, gradually and almost +unconsciously, grown cold and departed far from Christ. He felt that he +had not prayed as he ought to have done, especially _he had neglected +each morning, and on his approach to each dwelling, to pray that then +and there God would guide him, and own and bless his efforts to sell +books._ He saw that probably here was at least a part of the cause why +his sales had become so small. Early the next morning, before any of the +family were up, he arose and retired to the adjoining woods, where he +had a long and precious season of communion with God. There he anew +dedicated himself and his all to the service of Christ. There, as under +the eye of the Master, he reviewed the time he had labored as a +colporteur, and prayed for forgiveness for the past and grace for the +future. There he told the Saviour all about his work, and asked him to +go with him that day, preparing the way and enabling him to succeed in +the work on which he had entered. The result was what might have been +expected. He went forth a new man; his heart was interested more deeply +in the truths which he was circulating--they were more precious than +ever to his own soul, and he could recommend his books, as he failed to +do when his heart was cold and prayerless. _That first day he sold more +books than during the whole week before._ In one instance, he sold +several dollars' worth in a family where, as he was afterwards told by +pious men in the neighborhood, the father was most bitterly opposed to +everything connected with true religion. God had prepared that man's +heart, so that he was ready to purchase quite a library for his family. +And in many families that met him that day with the usual salutation, +'no money,' he succeeded in disposing of more than one volume by sale. +As he went from family to family, lifting up his heart in prayer to God +for success in the particular object of his visit, God heard his prayers +and owned his efforts. And so, he assured me, it had been since; +whenever he had been _prayerful_--_prayerful for this particular +object_, and then had diligently and faithfully done his best, he had +invariably succeeded in doing even more than he expected." + + +PRAYER FOUND THE REMEDY FOR THE DISEASE. + + +"A correspondent of _The Illustrated Christian Weekly_, states that a +mother of her acquaintance had a child taken alarmingly ill. She sent +for the physician. The child was in convulsions. The doctor began at +once vigorously to apply the customary remedies--cold water to the head, +warm applications to the feet, chafing of the hands and limbs. All was +in vain. The body lost nothing of its dreadful rigidity. Death seemed +close at hand, and absolutely inevitable. At length he left the child, +and sat down by the window, looking out. He seemed, to the agonized +mother, to have abandoned her darling. For herself, she could do nothing +but pray; and even her prayer was but an inarticulate and unvoiced cry +for help. _Suddenly the physician started from his seat. 'Send and see +if there be any jimson weed in the yard_,' he cried. His order was +obeyed; the poisonous weed was found. The remedies were instantly +changed. Enough of the seeds of this deadly weed were brought away by +the medicine to have killed a man. The physician subsequently said that +he thought that in that five minutes every kindred case he had ever +known in a quarter century's practice passed before his mind. Among them +was the one case which suggested the real, but before hidden, cause of +the protracted and dreadful convulsions. And the child was saved. + +"Now, is there anything inconsistent or unphilosophical in the belief +that, at that critical moment, a loving God, answering the mother's +Helpless cry, flashed on the mind of the physician the thought that +saved the child? Is it any objection to that faith to say, the age of +miracles is past? If the mother, may call in a second physician, to +suggest the cause and the cure, may she not call on God? What the doctor +can do for a fellow-practitioner, cannot the Great Physician do? Though +the doctor had often tried and thought, yet it was not till the last +prayer and call on God, brought the remedy to his mind." + + +PRAYER INSTANTANEOUSLY ANSWERED FOR CONVERSION. + + +On the evening of the fifty-first daily prayer-meeting in Augusta, Ga., +a large gathering assembled in the St. John's M.E. Church, at which Dr. +Irvine presided, and some very touching communications were read. One +was from a widowed mother, asking thanksgiving for the salvation of her +youngest daughter, recently from a boarding-school in New York city, +where she had finished her education. Some weeks ago she had sought the +prayers of the daily prayer-meeting for the conversion of her precious +child, who was spending a few weeks with some friends seventy miles from +Augusta. Prayers were offered accordingly, but without intimation of any +change. The loving mother sent in a second application or prayer to Dr. +Irvine, to be read on a recent Monday morning; all this without her +daughter's knowledge. On Tuesday the mother received a letter from her +daughter, dated two o'clock on Sabbath, informing her that on that day, +and at that hour, she had resolved to give her heart to Christ, +intending to ask admission to the church at the next communion. Strange +to say, at the very moment when the faithful mother was writing her +application for prayers for that child, she was announcing her own +conversion. + +What a verification of the blessed promise: "Before they call I will +answer; and while they are yet speaking I will hear." + + +HELP FOR THE SHIPWRECKED. + + +Admiral Sir Thomas Williams, a straight-forward and excellent man, was +in command of a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean. His course brought him +in sight of the Island of Ascension, at that time uninhabited, and +_never visited by any ship_, except for the purpose of collecting +turtles, which abound on the coast. The island was barely descried on +the horizon, and was not to be noticed at all; but as Sir Thomas looked +at it, he was _seized by an unaccountable desire to steer toward it_. + +He felt how strange such a wish would appear to his crew, and _tried to +disregard it; but in vain_. His desire became more and more urgent and +distressing, and foreseeing that it would soon be more difficult to +gratify it, he told his lieutenant to prepare to "_put about ship_" and +steer for Ascension. _The officer to whom he spoke ventured to +respectfully represent that changing their course would greatly delay +them_--that just at that moment the men were going to their dinner--that +at least some delay might be allowed. + +But these arguments seemed, to increase Captain Williams' anxiety, and +the ship was steered toward the uninteresting little island. All eyes +and spy-glasses were now fixed upon it, and soon something was perceived +on the shore. "It is white--it is a flag--it must be a signal!" And when +they neared the shore, it was ascertained that sixteen men, wrecked on +the coast many days before, and suffering the extremity of hunger, had +set up a signal, though almost without hope of relief. What made the +captain steer his ship in the very opposite direction to what he and his +crew wanted to go, but the _superhuman Spirit of God_. + + +SAMUEL HARRIS'S LAWSUIT, AND HOW THE LORD SETTLED IT FOR HIM. + + +"When Samuel Harris, of Virginia, began to preach, his soul was so +absorbed in the work, that he neglected to attend to the duties of this +life. Finding, upon a time, that it was absolutely necessary that he +should provide more grain for his family than he had raised upon his own +farm, he called upon a man who owed him a debt, and told him he would be +glad to receive the money. + +"The man replied: 'I have no money by me, and cannot oblige you.' + +"Harris said; 'I want the money to purchase wheat for my family; and as +you have raised a good crop of wheat, I will take that of you instead of +money, at a current price.' + +"The man answered: 'I have other uses for my wheat, and cannot let you +have it.' + +"'How then,' said Harris, 'do you intend to pay me?' + +"'I never intend to pay you until you sue me,' replied the debtor, 'and +therefore you may begin your suit as soon as you please.' + +"Mr. Harris left him, meditating. Said he to himself, 'What shall I do? +Must I leave preaching, and attend to a vexatious lawsuit? Perhaps a +thousand souls may perish in the meantime, for want of hearing of Jesus! +No; I will not. Well, what will you do for yourself? Why, this will I +do; I will sue him at the Court of Heaven.' Having resolved what he +would do, he turned aside into a wood, and on his knees laid the matter +before the Lord. Mr. Harris felt such an evidence of Divine favor,--he +felt, to use his own expressive language, that Jesus would become +bondsman for the man, and see that he was paid if he went on preaching. +Mr. Harris arose from prayer, resolved to hold the man no longer a +debtor, since Jesus had assumed the payment. He therefore wrote a +receipt in full of all accounts against the man, and dating it in the +woods, where he had prayed, signed it with his own name. Going the next +day by the man's house, on his way to meeting, he gave the receipt to a +servant, directing him to give it to his master. On his return from +meeting, the man hailed him, and demanded what he meant by the receipt +he had sent him in the morning. + +"Mr. Harris replied: 'I mean just as I wrote.' + +"'But you know, sir,' answered the debtor, 'I have never paid you.' + +"'True,' said Mr. Harris, 'and I know you said that you never would +unless I sued you. But, sir, I sued you at the Court of Heaven, and +Jesus entered bail for you, and has agreed to pay me; I have therefore +given you a discharge!' + +"'But I insist upon it,' said the man; 'matters shall not be left so.' + +"'I am well satisfied,' answered Harris. 'Jesus will not fail me. I +leave you to settle the account with him at another day. Farewell.' + +"This operated so effectually on the man's conscience, that in a few +days he _came and paid the debt_." + + +A WAGON-LOAD OF FOOD. + + +"A young minister and his wife were sent on to their first charge in +Vermont about the year 1846. On the circuit were few members, and most +of these were in poor circumstances. After a few months the minister and +his wife found themselves getting short of provisions. Finally their +last food had been cooked, and where to look for a new supply was a +question which demanded immediate attention. + +"The morning meal was eaten, not without anxious feelings; but this +young servant of the Most High had laid his all upon the altar, and his +wife also possessed much of the spirit of self-sacrifice; and they could +not think the Saviour who had said to those he had called and sent out +to preach in his name: 'Lo! I am with you always,' would desert them +among strangers. After uniting in family prayer he sought a sanctuary in +an old barn, and there committed their case to God;--his wife met her +Savior in her closet and poured out her heart before him there. + +"That morning a young married farmer, a mile or two away, was going with +a number of hands to his mowing-field. But as he afterward told the +minister, he was obliged to stop short. He told his hired help to go on, +but he _must go back_--_he must go and carry provisions to the +minister's house_. He returned to the house, and telling his wife how he +felt, asked her help in putting up the things he must carry. He +harnessed his horse into his wagon; put up a bushel of potatoes, meat, +flour, sugar, butter, etc. He was not a professor of religion. The +minister's wife told me there was a good wagon-load. He drove it to the +house, and found that his gifts were most thankfully received. This +account was received from the minister himself,--David P.--, who died in +Chelsea, Mass., in Dec. 1875, and subsequently from his wife,--and +communicated to a correspondent of '_The Christian_.'" + + +"GOD'S RAVEN." + + +"A lady who lived on the north side of London, set out one day to see a +poor sick friend, living in Drury Lane, and took with her a basket +provided with tea, butter, and food. The day was fine and clear when she +started; but as she drew near Islington a thick fog came on, and +somewhat frightened her, as she was deaf, and feared it might be +dangerous in the streets if she could not see. Thicker and darker the +fog became; they lighted the lamps, and the omnibus went at a walking +pace. She might have got into another omnibus and returned; but a strong +feeling which she could not explain made her go on. When they reached +the Strand they could see nothing. At last the omnibus stopped, and the +conductor guided her to the foot-path. As she was groping her way along, +the fog cleared up, just at the entrance to Drury Lane, and even the +blue sky was seen. She now easily found the narrow court, rang the +number 5 bell, and climbed to the fifth story. She knocked at the door, +and a little girl opened it. + +"'How is grandmother?' + +"'Come in, Mrs. A----,' answered the grandmother. 'How did you get here? +We have been in thick darkness all day.' + +"The room was exceedingly neat, and the kettle stood boiling on a small +clear fire. Everything was in perfect order; on the table stood a little +tea-tray ready for use. The sick woman was in bed, and her daughter sat +working in a corner of the room. + +"'I see you are ready for tea,' said the lady; 'I have brought something +more to place upon the table.' + +"With clasped hands the woman breathed a few words of thanksgiving +first, and then said, 'O, Mrs. A----, you are indeed God's raven, sent +by him to bring us food to-day, for we have not tasted any yet. I felt +sure he would care for us.' + +"'But you have the kettle ready for tea?' + +"'Yes, ma'am,' said the daughter; 'mother would have me set it on the +fire; and when I said, 'What is the use of doing so? you know we have +nothing in the house,' she still would have it, and said, 'My child, God +will provide. Thirty years he has already provided for me, through all +my pain and helplessness, and he will not leave me to starve at last: he +will send us help, though we do not yet see how.' In this expectation +mother has been waiting all day, quite sure that some one would come and +supply our need. But we did not think of the possibility of your coming +from such a distance on such a day. Indeed, it must be God who sent you +to us.' + +"'The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of +all their troubles.'" + + +HOW THE STOLEN SLEIGH WAS RETURNED BY A THIEF. + + +The widow of a minister of the Gospel sends to "_The Christian_" the +following instance illustrating God's faithfulness in hearing and +answering prayer: + +"About the year 1829, my husband, who died January 2d, 1854, lent his +sleigh and harness to a man calling himself John Cotton, to go some +twenty miles and be gone three days. Cotton was quite a stranger among +us, having been in our place but six weeks. During that time he had +boarded with my husband's brother, working for him a part of the time, +and the rest of the time selling wooden clocks, of which he had bought a +number. Three days passed, but he did not return. The fourth went by, +and we began to think he had absconded. On inquiry, Mr. P. found that +the clocks had been purchased on credit, and all sold for watches or +money; that Cotton owed sixty dollars toward his horse, and had borrowed +of the brother with whom he boarded, horse-blanket, whip, and mittens. +Now it seemed sure that he was a rogue, but what could be done? Pursuit +was useless after such a lapse of time. + +"My husband felt his loss severely, for we had little property then, and +what we had was the product of hard labor. But he was a Christian, and, +I believe, always made his business a subject of prayer. + +"About three weeks passed away. One evening, having been out longer than +usual, he came in, and, with his characteristic calmness, said: 'I shall +not worry any more about my sleigh and harness, I think I shall get them +again.' 'Why do you think so?' His answer was: 'I have been praying to +God to arrest Cotton's conscience, so that he will be obliged to _leave +them where I can get them_, and I believe he will do it.' + +"From this time, which was Wednesday evening, he seemed at rest on the +subject. The next Tuesday morning, as he stepped into the post-office, a +letter was handed him from Littleton, N.H. It was written by the keeper +of a public house, and read thus: + + "'_Mr. P.--Sir, Mr. John Cotton has left your sleigh and + harness here, and you can have them by calling for them_. + + Yours, etc., J--N + N----N.' + +"He returned home with the letter, and started for L----; went there the +same day, some forty miles; found sleigh and harness safe, with no +encumbrance. The landlord informed him that, a few nights before, at +twelve o'clock, a man calling himself John Cotton came to his house, +calling for horse-baiting and supper; would not stay till morning, but +wished to leave the sleigh and harness for Mr. S.--- P.--- of +Marshfield, Vt. He said he could not write himself; and requested the +landlord to write for him, saying he took them on a poor debt for Mr. +P., in one of the towns below! He started off at two o'clock at night, +on horseback, with an old pair of saddle-bags and a horse blanket, on a +saddle with one stirrup and no crupper, on one of the coldest nights of +that or any other year. He took the road leading through the Notch in +the mountains, left nothing for either of those he owed, and we have +never since heard from him." + + +"NONE OF THE LORD'S CHILDREN LEFT DESOLATE." + + +"_The Christian Era_ tells of a Dutch preacher who held a meeting one +evening in a strange city. While he was preaching, and enforcing upon +the hearts of his hearers the doctrine of the Cross, a police officer +came into the room and forbade him to go on. He even commanded him to +leave the city. As he was a stranger in the place, and the night was +dark, he wandered around the city gates. He was not, however, without +consolation; for he remembered Him who had said, 'Lo, I am with you +always. I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy +staff, they comfort me.' + +"He had long been in the school of Christ, and had learned to watch for +the slightest intimations of His will. While he was thus wandering +around, suddenly he saw a light in the distance. 'See,' he said to +himself, 'perhaps the Lord has provided me a shelter there,' and, in the +simplicity of faith, he directed his steps thither. On arriving, he +heard a voice in the house; and, as he drew nearer, he discovered that a +man was praying. Joyful, he hoped, that he had found here the home of a +brother. He stood still for a moment, and heard these words, poured +forth from an earnest heart: 'Lord Jesus, one of thy persecuted servants +may, perhaps, be wandering, at this moment, in a strange place of which +he knows nothing. O, may he find my home, that he may receive here food +and lodging.' + +"The preacher, having heard these words, glided into the house, as soon +as the speaker said, 'Amen.' Both fell on their knees, and together +thanked the Lord, who is a hearer of prayer, and who never leaves nor +forsakes His servants." + + +THE NEW COAT THAT FITTED EXACTLY. + + +"A few years since, a young preacher in the State of Massachusetts, who +was laboring in a field which yielded no great pecuniary returns, had +laid aside the sum of fifteen dollars from his scanty income, with which +to purchase himself a coat, of which he stood in need. Before he had +time to obtain it, there was presented to him a certain charitable +object which seemed to demand a portion of his little store. After some +consideration as to whether it was his duty to give as much as the ten +dollars, which first presented itself to his mind as the proper sum to +bestow, he concluded to follow his convictions, and thus assist one who +was more needy than himself, and trust in the Lord to provide the coat. + +"Within two or three days afterwards, he was visiting at the house of +his mother, in another town, and she, as mothers will, noticed that his +coat had arrived at that condition which usually affords the preacher of +the Gospel evidence that he is shortly to have a new one, and she made +some remarks about its worn appearance, saying, 'It seems to me you need +a new coat.' 'I know it,' he replied, 'and I shall get me one as soon as +I get the means.' She said, 'There is a coat up stairs which your +brother had made for him not over two weeks ago, which he never has worn +but once, because it was _made too small_, and he said that you might +have it, if you wanted it.' + +"The coat was accordingly brought down and tried on, and it fitted +exactly. The young man gladly accepted the coat, wondering a little at +the wisdom of the Lord in clothing him at the expense of his brother, +who was not particularly interested in the Lord's work, and who was so +much larger than he was, that nothing short of the wisdom of Providence +could have made a coat that was measured for one of them ever to fit the +other." + +This was the return that God made to him for his sacrifice to the Lord. +_Never withhold from the Lord_. + + +PRAYING TO STOP THE WIND AND THE SAILING OF A VESSEL. + + +The late aged and venerable Rev. Dr. Cleaveland, of Boston, relates the +following incident: + +"In a revival of religion in the church of which he was pastor, he was +visited one morning by a member of his church, a widow, whose only son +was a sailor. With a voice trembling with emotion, she said, 'Doctor +Cleaveland, I have called to entreat you to join me in praying _that the +wind may change_.' He looked at her in silent amazement. 'Yes,' she +exclaimed, earnestly, 'my son has gone on board his vessel; they sail +to-night, unless the wind changes.' 'Well, madam,' replied the doctor, +'I will pray that your son may be converted on this voyage; but to pray +that God would alter the laws of His universe on his account, I fear is +presumptuous.' 'Doctor,' she replied, 'my heart tells me differently. +God's Spirit is _here_. Souls are being converted here. You have a +meeting this evening, and, if the wind would change, John would stay and +go to it; and, I believe, if he went he would be converted. Now, if you +cannot join me, I must pray alone, for he must stay.' 'I will pray for +his conversion,' said the doctor. + +"On his way to the meeting, he glanced at the weather-vane, and, to his +surprise, _the wind had changed_, and it was blowing landward. On +entering his crowded vestry, he soon observed John, sitting upon the +front seat. The young man seemed to drink in every word, rose to be +prayed for, and attended the inquiry meeting. When he sailed from port, +the mother's prayers had been answered; he went a Christian. The pastor +had learned a lesson he never forgot. The Lord had said, 'O, woman, +great is thy faith; be it unto thee, even as thou wilt.' God answered +that prayer because the mother was seeking to advance His own kingdom. +God always hears a prayer that will in any way bring a soul to the +Lord." + + +INSANITY CURED AND SUICIDE PREVENTED. + + +"_Augusta Moore_, writes _The Christian_, of a young lady called home by +the illness of her widowed mother, who died before she could reach her. +This alone was a terrible shock to the delicate daughter, who, having +been reared in luxury, was ill-fitted for firm endurance of calamity. +But, when it became known that a relative, in whom she had placed +confidence, had managed, in ways that need not be explained, to defraud +her out of her inheritance, her mind gave way and _she became insane_. + +"For years, her distressed husband strove in every way to restore her +reason, but she seemed rather to become worse, and showed signs of +intentions to commit suicide; and her family and friends lived in a +wretched state of apprehension. In spite of the most faithful +watchfulness, she twice succeeded in securing the means for +self-destruction, but something prevented her from accomplishing her +design. At last, it occurred to a friend to present this woman's case in +the prayer-meeting, to the Lord, and earnest prayer was offered for her +restoration. + +"No immediate result appeared; but the friends _persevered_. During the +Winter, a revival of religion occurred in the town where she dwelt, and, +with much difficulty, the insane woman, who declared that she was +utterly and finally forsaken by God, was prevailed upon to attend the +meetings. They began immediately to have a good effect upon her. She +could sleep better; she grew more cheerful, and, in a short time, her +reason returned to her. A happier, or more grateful woman than she now +is, no mortal eyes ever beheld, and she affords one more instance of the +Lord's willingness to hear and answer fervent prayer." + + +ANSWERS TO PRAYER. + + +Dr. Newman Hall, minister of Surrey Chapel, London, gives the following +instances of answers to prayer from his own experience: + +"The writer's brother, when superintendent of a Sunday School, felt a +strong impulse, one Saturday evening, to call on a member of his +Bible-class, whom he had never visited before, and to inquire if he was +in any need. He found him very ill. Though the mother and sister seemed +in comfortable circumstances, he felt constrained to inquire if he could +aid them in any way. They burst into tears, and said that the young man +had been asking for food which they had no power to supply, and that, on +Monday, some of their goods were to be taken in default of the payment +of rates. When he knocked at the door _they were on their knees in +prayer for help to be sent them_. By the aid of a few friends, the +difficulty was at once met--but the timely succor was felt to be the +divine response to prayer. + +"With that brother, the writer was once climbing the Cima di Jazzi, one +of the mountains in the chain of Monte Rosa. When nearly at the top, +they entered a dense fog. Presently, the guides faced right about, and +grounded their axes on the frozen snow-slope. The brother--seeing the +slope still beyond, and not knowing it was merely the cornice, +overhanging a precipice of several thousand feet--rushed onward. The +writer will never forget their cry of agonized warning. His brother +stood a moment on the very summit, and then, the snow yielding, began to +fall through. One of the guides, at great risk, rushed after him and +seized him by the coat. This tore away, leaving only three inches of +cloth, by which he was dragged back. It seemed impossible to be nearer +death, and yet escape. On his return home, an invalid member of his +congregation told him that she had been much in prayer for his safety, +and mentioned a special time when she particularly was earnest, as if +imploring deliverance from some great peril. _The times corresponded!_ +Was not that prayer instrumental in preserving that life?" + + +BISHOP SIMPSON'S RECOVERY. + + +Bishop Bowman gives the following instance from his own experience: + +"In the Fall of 1858, whilst visiting Indiana, I was at an annual +conference where Bishop Janes presided. We received a telegram that +Bishop Simpson was dying. Said Bishop Janes, 'Let us spend a few +moment's in earnest prayer for the recovery of Bishop Simpson.' We +kneeled to pray. William Taylor, the great California street preacher, +was called to pray, and such a prayer I never heard since. The +impression seized upon me irresistibly, _Bishop Simpson will not die_. I +rose from my knees perfectly quiet. Said I, 'Bishop Simpson will not +die.' 'Why do you think so?' Because I have had an _irresistible +impression_ made upon my mind during this prayer.' Another said, '_I +have the same impression_.' We passed it along from bench to bench, +until we found that a very large proportion of the conference had the +same impression. I made a minute of the time of day, and when I next saw +Simpson, he was attending to his daily labor. I inquired of the Bishop, +'How did you recover from your sickness?' He replied, '_I cannot tell_.' +'What did your physician say?' '_He said it was a miracle_.' I then said +to the Bishop, 'Give me the time and circumstances under which the +change occurred.' He fixed upon the day, and _the very hour_, making +allowance for the distance--a thousand miles away--that the preachers +were engaged in prayer at this conference. The physician left his room +and said to his wife, '_It is useless to do anything further; the Bishop +must die_.' In about an hour, he returned and started back, inquiring, +'_What have you done?' 'Nothing,'_ was the reply. 'He is recovering +rapidly,' said the physician; '_a change has occurred in the disease +within the last hour beyond anything I have ever seen; the crisis is +past, and the Bishop will recover_.' And he did." + +The doctor was puzzled; it was beyond all the course and probabilities +of nature and the laws of science. What was it that made those ministers +so sure--what was it that made the patient recover, at the exact hour +that they prayed? There is only one answer, "_The ever living Power of a +Superior Spirit which rules the world_." + + +THE SEVEN LETTERS. + + +The following incident is given by "_The Presbyterian_," on the +authority of a private letter from Paris: + +"At a Bible reunion, held at the house of an English Congregationalist +minister, where several colporteurs, teachers and others meet for +devotional reading and conversation, a brief anecdote was related by a +clergyman living in La Force, who established there an institution for +epileptics, where he has now three hundred, supported entirely on the +principle of faith, like Muller's orphanage. + +"At one time, he found himself in debt to the amount of five hundred +pounds. After a sleepless, anxious night, he found, on his table, seven +letters. Opening five, he found them to be all applications, some of +them most painful in their details, for the admission of new inmates. +His excited mind could not bear it. Without opening the other two +letters he threw them to his wife. 'Put them into the fire,' he said, +and turned to seek relief in the open air. 'John,' said a sweet voice, +'this won't do. Come back.' So he did, taking up the sixth letter, which +proved to be from a stranger, enclosing a check for three hundred +pounds. The other envelope gave him just what was needed, just that and +no more. He thanked God, and took courage. Will he ever again hear the +sweet, sad voice, 'Wherefore didst thou doubt?'" + + +THE LORD DID NOT FORGET THE POTATOES. + + +"A correspondent of _Arthur's Magazine_ tells of a poor woman who had +been washing for us, who said: 'Seems as if the Lord took very direct +ways to reach people's feelings sometimes. Now, I was astonished once in +my life. I lived away out West, on the prairie, I and my four children, +and I couldn't get much work to do, and our little stock of provisions +kept getting lower and lower. One night, we sat hovering over our fire, +and I was gloomy enough. There was about a pint of corn-meal in the +house, and that was all. I said, 'Well, children, may be the Lord will +provide something.' '_I do hope it will be a good mess of potatoes_,' +said cheery little Nell; 'seems to me _I never was so hungry for taters +before_.' After they were all asleep, I lay there tossing over my hard +bed, and wondering what I would do next. All at once, the sweetest peace +and rest came over me, and I sank into such a good sleep. Next morning, +I was planning that I would make the tinfull of meal into mush, and fry +it in a greasy frying-pan, in which our last meat had been fried. As I +opened the door to go down to the brook to wash, I saw something new. +_There, on the bench, beside the door, stood two wooden pails and a +sack. One pail was full of meat, the other full of potatoes, and the +sack filled with flour_. I brought my hands together in my joy, and just +hurrahed for the children to come. Little dears! They didn't think of +trousers and frocks then, but came out all of a flutter, like a flock of +quails. Their joy was supreme. They knew the Lord had sent some, of his +angels with the sack and pails. Oh, it was such a precious gift! _I +washed the empty pails, and put the empty sack in one of them, and, at +night, I stood them on the bench where I had found them, and, the next +morning, they were gone_. I tried and tried to find out who had +befriended us, but I never could. The Lord never seemed so far off after +that time,' said the poor woman, looking down with tearful eyes." + + +THE PRAYER IN THE WOODS. + + +A friend relates the following incident, as received from the lips of a +poor afflicted, crippled orphan boy, whose own experience is a practical +illustration of the words: "When my father and my mother forsake me, +then the Lord will take me up." Ps. xxvii 10. + +"Out of many instances of answered prayer I will tell the following one: +In August, 1874, I wished to go to Lowell, a distance of some thirty +miles, or more. I had no money, and did not know how to get there. I +asked the station-agent and the conductor, but each refused, saying it +would not be consistent with their duty. Knowing of no human help, I +left the depot and went into the woods, some ways from the station, +where I could be alone, and tell that Friend who is able to provide, and +who is rich unto all that call upon Him. I knelt down beside the stump +of a tree and prayed, and told the Lord all about it, and asked Him +either to give me money, or provide some way that I could go where I +desired. I felt that the Lord heard and answered me, and filled my soul +with praise and joy. The language of my heart was, 'Bless the Lord.' + +"As I turned and was going out of the woods, I heard a voice saying, +'Halloo.' As I had seen no one, and knew not that any human being was +near, I was surprised at this greeting. 'Halloo!' said the stranger,' I +never heard such a prayer in my life. Why did you go and pray?' I told +him that I felt heavy, burdened, and I took the burden to the Lord. He +said, 'I heard you pray--you want money, do you? The Lord has opened the +way; here is five dollars. It is the best way to go to the Lord, and +trust Him to open the way. Go and use the money.' I thanked him, and I +thanked the Lord, and went oh my way rejoicing in Him whose promise is,' +My God shall supply all your needs,' and who himself had heard and +answered my request." + + +THE LORD CAN DO IT. + + +"In one of the mountainous towns--says _The Christian_--in the north- +western part of Connecticut, there lived, some time since, an aged +couple who had seen some eighty years of earthly pilgrimage, and who, in +their declining days, enjoyed the care of a son and daughter, who +resided with them at their home. + +"In process of time, the son became sick, and drew nigh the gates of +death. The doctor pronounced him incurable, saying that one lung was +consumed, and that he could live but a short time. + +"The fear of her brother's death, and the thoughts of being left alone +to bear the responsibility of the aged parents' care, burdened the +sister's heart exceedingly, and led her to cry mightily to the Lord, to +interpose for his recovery, and spare him still to them; and her +importunate supplications ascended to God, until the answer came to her +heart as a sacred whisper,--'I have heard thy cry, and have come down to +deliver thee.' + +"Comforted by this sweet assurance, she rejoiced exceedingly, knowing +that what our Heavenly Father promises he is abundantly able to perform, +and that He will fulfill his word, though heaven and earth shall pass +away. But her faith was destined to be tried, and, on the very day after +she had obtained the assurance of her brother's recovery, in came some +one, saying, 'The doctor says S---- can live but a little time.' For an +instant, these words were like a dagger to the sister's heart, but she +still held fast her confidence, and replied: 'If _men_ can't cure him, +the _Lord_ can.' + +"From that very moment, the brother began to amend. On the next day, +when the physician came, he looked at him, commenced examining his +symptoms, and exclaimed in astonishment: 'What have you been doing? You +are evidently better, and I don't know but you will get up, after all.' + +"His recovery was so rapid, that in two weeks' time he was out about his +customary duties on the farm; and that in weather so damp and foggy that +it would have kept some stronger men in-doors. But he was well; the +prayer of faith was answered, and it had saved the sick." + + +ANSWER TO PRAYER IN ALL THE LITTLE TEMPORAL ANXIETIES OF LIFE + + +The question having been asked, "Does God answer Prayer, in even all the +little anxieties and cares of daily life." _The Illustrated Christian +Weekly_, called in 1876, for testimonies of the surety of God in +fulfilling his promise, and giving answer in little things as well as +great things. Many, even good Christians have believed that they should +not pray for anything for themselves, but only for those things which +were to be used for God's work. The following instances show that those +who are devoted to God's good work and helping in his service can ask +for anything needed for their personal comfort, and expect the Lord to +grant them. In truth the Lord _has commanded_ all his disciples, "_Ask +and receive, that your joy may be full." "Anything that ye shall ask in +my name, I will do it_." + + +BREAD TO THE HUNGRY. + + +"God was pleased to deprive me totally of my hearing in early boyhood. +By the late war I lost all of my earthly possessions. I have a wife and +family totally dependent on me for a support. A man employed to attend +to my little manufacturing business as manager, by imprudent management, +deprived me of every earthly dependence for a support. I had no refuge +but God. This feeling was intense beyond expression--God was my only +hope. I laid my case before him. Then this came to me, 'Seek first the +kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be +added unto you.' 'Now,' I said, 'I am deeply conscious that I and my +wife seek and desire the kingdom of God above all things; God then will +give us temporal help.' Then a feeling came over me, a feeling of +waiting upon God. It was sweet waiting. I was at rest. I had thought +frequently if I could get _two hundred dollars_ I could start my little +business again. While thus trusting, and waiting, and praying, a package +was handed to me by the express-agent containing $200 from a stranger in +a distant county, against whom I held an old note dated 1856; and for +many years I had forgotten the note, and would have taken twenty-five +cents for it any time. The man was bankrupt, and did not fear the Lord, +nor know anything of my situation in life. He was under no legal +obligation to pay the note." + + +NO "IFS." + +"A number of years ago I went West to better my condition.... After a +little time I went into business of my own, had but little capital, and +my good name to be punctual in paying for what I bought on credit was of +great importance to me. I had promised to pay on a certain day a note of +about $60. I thought I was sure to get the money, but was disappointed; +I went to the Lord for help, not knowing how he could send me the money, +but convinced that he was able to do it. At about noon the same day a +man inquired for me. I knew him by sight; he had the name of being a +hard man, took all the interest he could get, and never put any money +out without security. He had not the note, but he asked me if I wanted +to hire any money; if so he had _sixty dollars_ he would like to let me +have. The man took my note and never did ask for any security. + +"At another time, being away from home some 2,000 miles, was at the +house of an uncle; same evening I received a letter from my wife that +the children were very sick and but little hope of recovery. The letter +had been written for over a week. I communicated the contents of the +letter to my aunt; went up in my room and prayed the Lord to be their +physician. I felt so sure that my prayer would be answered that I could +not help singing; when they heard me they thought what a cold-hearted +man I must be to sing if the children were dying at home. _But from, +that day the children did get better, and in a short time were out of +danger_. + +"In my younger years I had a good many ifs, but those are all gone; I +know that the Lord has the means at his command to answer all my prayers +if I come believing, asking in the name of Christ." + + +THE HORSE IS HIS. + + +"The writer was preaching Sundays at a little country church, about 70 +miles by rail from the institution where he attended. He went Saturday, +returning on Monday. One Saturday the train ran off the track. All day +long they worked at the wreck. At last, finding it too late to make +connection with the other railroad, he took the down train back to the +institution. What should be done? A promise to preach forty miles across +the country had been made. There was also an appointment six miles +beyond for an afternoon service. It was now night. To drive across the +country was the only way open, or stay at home. Two disappointed +congregations the result in the latter case. But the roads were heavy +from recent rains. 'Twill be so late that none can direct. Friends said, +'Stay; you can't go forty miles across, to you, an unknown country.' But +the writer felt it duty to go. Hiring a horse noted for endurance, at +nine o'clock at night--dark, threatening--he set out. As he headed the +horse in the direction of the village--for he could find none who could +tell him the exact road--he prayed: 'O God, starting out to preach thy +word to-morrow, direct the way--guide this horse.' The night wore on; as +cross-roads came, dropping the lines over the dashboard, the same prayer +was offered. When the horse chose a road, the driver urged him on. As +day began to break, emerging from some wood in an unfrequented road, +they entered the village they sought. The sermon that morning was from +the text, 'Son, go work to-day in my vineyard.' The largest congregation +of the Summer had gathered. It will not do to say that the horse knew +the road. Returning in broad daylight the next day, though directed and +directed again, we lost the way and went seven miles out of our course. +A scientist might laugh at this way of driving, or at asking God to +guide in such trivial matters. But we shall still believe that God led +the horse and blessed us in our attempt to serve him." + + +ALL OUR NEEDS. + + +"About eight years ago, while a Student in college, I became embarrassed +for want of funds. Debts began to accumulate. Anticipating money from +usual sources, promises had been made to pay at a certain date. + +"The time to make these payments approached. The anticipated money did +not come. A student in debt is most dependent and hopeless. In great +distress, locking the study-door, I sat down to think. First came +visions of an auction sale of a few books and scanty furniture; then of +notes and protests; finally the promises of God came into mind. I knew +he had promised to supply my wants. 'All things whatsoever ye have need +of,' came home in great power. I am needy, I have given up business, +all, to preach the gospel. I remember as 'twere yesterday the feelings, +the struggles, of that hour. With all earnestness I asked for help in my +hour of distress. At last I felt confident that the aid needed would +come in time, Saturday; this was Monday. I thanked God for the answer-- +and being questioned by a needy creditor of that afternoon, assured him +that his money would be ready. + +"Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday passed--no sign, but faith said God will +not fail. Friday morning--heart beat fast as I went to the +post-office--it seemed as if through its agency the help would come. +Nothing. But it must be here to-day. Returning from the office Friday +evening, wondering how God would send deliverance, I saw on my table a +long official envelope. A classmate preceding me at the office had +brought it. A letter from a gentleman in Wall street whom I have never +seen. On Monday, he casually asked of a tea-broker, an acquaintance, if +he knew of any one in H----. The broker mentioned, after a little +thought, my name. + +"The letter contained a request for service of a peculiar sort, +connected with some legal matters, contained money and promise of more. +_Over three times the sum I asked God for was finally given. More than +enough for a term's expenses_. + +"I never mentioned the matter of my need at that time to a human being, +nor spoke of the prayer. I have always thanked God for that, and am sure +he provides for me in accordance with his promise." + + +HE HEALETH THE SICK. + + +"The wife of Deacon W. was sinking rapidly with pneumonia. Friends gave +up all hope of her recovery, and even the hopeful physician felt that he +was hoping against hope. In his despair the husband bore the case +directly to God; he sought the prayers of his minister and of the +church; and he asked all Christians to pray that the mother of his +little children might be spared. She lingered between life and death for +several days, when unexpectedly to many, she began to gain strength, and +in due season was about again. This was several years ago, and she has +been an active worker in the church and Sunday-school ever since." + + +A POWERFUL DREAM. + + +"My father, a minister of the gospel, was prostrated by sickness. A +large family of little ones was dependent upon him for support. Funds +ran low. One evening my mother remarked that she had broken the last +dollar. My father lay awake most of the night, praying to his God for +help in this emergency. That same night a man in a parish not many miles +distant was much impressed by a dream. He dreamed that a minister who +preached in his church not long before, was sick and in want. He knew +neither his name nor his place of residence. He arose at the first dawn +of day, and going to his own pastor inquired the name and address of the +stranger who had recently preached for them. These obtained, he mounted +his horse, and knocked at our door just as my mother drew up the +window-shades. She answered the knock, when, without a word, a stranger +placed an envelope in her hand and immediately rode away. The envelope +contained a ten-dollar bill, which we all believed was the Lord's answer +to our father's prayer. Afterwards these facts were disclosed by the +pastor to him whom the Lord chose to disperse his bounty." + + +ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE. + + +"In 1874, through Providence, I became sore pressed to provide for +myself and family; two of my children had just begun to learn to read. I +was desirous to procure for them the 'N.---,' (a children's journal,) +but I could not see how I was to pay for it and meet other obligations. +So I carried it to our Father in heaven, asking if it was best and +according to his will my children should get the 'N.---.' In about ten +days afterward I received a note from a lady friend, with whom I or none +of our family had had any communication for weeks, and in that note she +advised us that her little daughter, the same age as our second, had +sent as a Christmas gift a subscription for the 'N.---,' to be sent to +our Mary's address. 'If ye abide in me, and my words in you, ye shall +ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.'" + + +CASTING ALL YOUR CARE ON HIM. + + +"Once, soon after the death of my husband and the loss of all his large +property, I had a bill of _fifty dollars_ to pay, and was notified two +weeks beforehand that not a day's grace would be given. Besides what I +was earning by my pen, I had due me, in a neighboring city, just the +amount I should need--the income on my only remaining piece of real +estate; and, as my tenant was always prompt, I wrote to him where to +send me the money, and gave the subject no farther thought. But, when +the time for his response was already past, and I heard nothing from my +debts, and but a few days to the time of my own need yet remained, I +felt anxious and sought divine direction as to the course I ought to +pursue. Rising from my knees, I took up my Bible, and the very first +words my eyes rested upon, were these: 'Casting all your care upon Him, +for he careth for you.' All anxiety from that hour left me; but I felt +impelled to apply to a certain editor for the payment of _twenty +dollars_ he owed me, and I felt sure the other thirty would come from +somewhere. + +"So the days passed until the morning of the day upon which I should be +called on for the fifty dollars, and _still I had not a single dollar_ +on hand to meet the claim. At ten o'clock my creditor came, but half an +hour before him the postman had put into my hand a letter containing a +check for _fifty dollars_, the exact amount I needed. It had come from +the editor to whom I had applied for twenty dollars, and lo! he had sent +me fifty. The thirty advanced he said I could give him credit for on my +next MS. He did not know my need, but God did, and thus He had answered +my prayer." + + +IN EVERYTHING MAKE KNOWN YOUR WANTS. + + +"Six years ago, on the low country of South Carolina, a friend asked me +to go with him to a camp-meeting. I was delighted with the idea, for, in +my estimation, a good camp-meeting comes nearer heaven than any other +place on earth. + +"Just three days before we were to go, an unexpected circumstance +connected with his business, made it impossible for him to leave. It was +with real heartfelt sorrow I heard of it. The day before we were to have +started, as I saw another member of the family, who was going with a +friend, packing her trunk, it seemed to me I could not bear it. I +carried my trouble to my dear heavenly Father, begging him to send me a +way to go. + +"I rose from my knees with the sweet assurance in my heart my prayer was +heard--packed my trunk and waited patiently. When night came and the men +came home, in the place of the expected buggy came a small spring-wagon, +and a seat for me. What may seem more remarkable, the change between +buggy and spring-wagon was made ten miles away, while I was praying. + +"I believe I enjoyed the meeting more for the feeling of thankfulness +that pervaded my whole being while there." + + +THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. + + +"Nearly five years ago, after a decline of almost two years, I was +brought very near to the grave. Medical aid availed nothing. I was +fearfully emaciated, and my death was daily expected. A devoted mother +and a sister, who had watched over me tenderly during my long illness, +were completely exhausted. + +"I determined to apply to the Great Physician, as directed in James +5:14. As I united with others in prayer, unconsciously I uttered these +words, 'I shall yet praise Thee in the great congregation.' All present +felt assured that it was the will of God to restore me to health. +Appearances were against me; for some time I could sleep but very +little, and there was no perceptible gain. But trusting in the sure +promise, the next Sabbath I rode a short distance to church, and, as I +thus ventured out little by little, my strength gradually returned. A +few months later, my mother, who through disease had been in a state of +despair for some years, was enabled again to hope in God's mercy." + + +SHALL SAVE THE SICK. + + +"I was desperately ill. My physicians had done all in their power, +without success--and yet I lived! For my father's sake, the hearts of +hundreds waited the issue, and prayed for me! For his sake, the bells in +the neighborhood were tied--the criers did not come within sound of the +house--nor was the sound of wheels heard upon the street. There was a +death-like stillness without and within. + +"The physicians sat with folded hands and wept, because the blow seemed +too heavy for my father to bear--the thought that I was going to die +without any assurance that I trusted in my Saviour! + +"'It cannot be,' he said, 'I will wrestle with my God until He hears +me!' Sunday came. In almost every church a special prayer was offered +for my recovery. After morning service, a band of devoted women met, and +offered fervent prayers that God would spare my life. Evening came--the +weary doctors went home, leaving the last sacred moments to my parents. +Early next morning they came again, and exclaimed, as they entered the +room, 'She is better! Prayer has saved her!' I still live, 'a spared +monument of God's mercy.'" + + +ALL-SUFFICIENT FOR ALL NEED. + + +"I am a mother of seven children. By the help of our Father in heaven, +we have all of us gone regularly to church and Sunday-school. We are +poor; and at length the time came we were not clothed so we could +comfortably go to church. I earnestly asked our Father to show me, +within a week, which was right for us to do: to go in debt for clothes, +or stay at home. Within that week, I received a large package of +ready-made clothing. The clothing came from a source I never thought of +receiving anything from." + + +A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. + +"At one time, during a season of adversity, there was urgent occasion +for a certain sum beyond the income of the family, and there was no way +of borrowing it. I took the matter to the Lord in prayer, asking Him, if +the money were really needed, as it appeared to be, to send it, and, if +it were not, to remove the distressing circumstances. The answer came in +a sum five times the amount asked for, and in a manner totally +unexpected." + + * * * * * + +"At another time, the mother of the family was very ill, and, when +apparently near death, the physicians had ordered a remedy which was to +be constantly employed, as her life, so far as they could judge, +depended on its use. One night, her symptoms became so alarming as to +compel the writer (who had charge of the nursing) to use this remedy +more freely than ever, and, about midnight the supply was exhausted. +There was no possibility of obtaining any more before morning, and the +rest of that night, while attending to the other directions of the +doctors, I spent in one earnest, agonizing prayer that God would so +overrule natural causes that death would not occur in consequence of +what I felt to be my own culpable carelessness in not having provided a +larger quantity of an article so necessary. In His great mercy, He +granted the prayer, the dangerous symptoms did not increase during the +seven or eight hours that intervened before the remedy could be +procured. One proof that it was a special mercy, is found in the fact +that there was no other such standing still of the disease, either +before this or afterward. And the doctors were astonished when they saw +that the disease had made no progress, under conditions that rendered +that progress inevitable in the usual law of cause and effect. And when, +on her final recovery, Doctor Parker told her that she owed her life to +the good care I had taken of her, my thoughts went back to the long +hours of that night of anguish, and I said, 'It was the Lord that took +care of her.' 'I meant your care, under Providence,' was the reply." + + +HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS + +"I am a teacher by profession, and, a few years ago, I found myself +placed in a school whose every surrounding was utterly repugnant to my +tastes, and to all my ideas of right and wrong and what good teaching +should be. At first, I kept hoping that things would grow better, and +that I should, at least, be able to have some influence on the modes of +teaching; but I soon found that everything connected with the +establishment was directed by the iron will of an unscrupulous and +tyrannical woman, whose laws were as irrevocable as those of the Medes +and Persians. I at once decided I could not stay there long, but I had +no other position in view, and it was not easy to secure one in the +middle of the term. As usual, I made it a subject of prayer, and the +result was that, in a short time, I was most unexpectedly, and without +the least solicitation on my part, offered a much better position, in +every respect, which, of course, I was only too thankful to accept. That +is only one instance, out of thousands I could name, where God has heard +and answered my prayers, and I believe He will do so to the end." + + +HOW THE LORD IS CONSTANTLY CARING FOR HIS TRUSTING POOR. + + +A city missionary recently found, in this city on the streets, a refined +Englishwoman with her children, who had been turned out of her home for +non-payment of rent. With the aid of a few friends he installed her in a +new domicile, and procured work for her. From time to time he visited +her, and rejoiced with her that God had sent him to her in the hour of +extremity. At length, pressure of business kept him away for some time, +until, one evening, he started out to look up a few dollars owing him, +in order to procure some delicacies for a sick wife. One dollar was all +he could procure, and with that in his pocket he was returning homeward, +when he became so impressed with the idea that he should visit the +Englishwoman that he turned aside and did so. He found her in tears, and +asking the cause, heard the sorrowful tale of no work, no food in the +house for to-morrow, which was Sunday. He was in doubt whether to give +her the dollar and suffer his sick wife to go without something +palatable, but in a moment, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor; +the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble," presented itself to his +mind, and--the dollar dried the widow's tears. + +Upon reaching his home he found a lady had called on his wife and +brought with her three or four kinds of jellies, fruit, home-made +biscuit, various relishing things; three times more than the dollar +would have purchased. + +The same gentleman, while calling on a poor family one day, discovered a +little house in the rear, which he visited, finding a neat, cleanly +room, occupied by an old lady, crippled with rheumatism. He found she +had no one in the world but a sister, a monthly nurse, to care for her. +When first setting out on his tour that morning, the missionary had +fifty cents given him by a gentleman, who expressed the hope that "it +might do some good during the day." Although a number of visits had been +made, he had not felt called upon to bestow it until then, nor could he +tell why he should want to put it in the old lady's hand at parting, but +he did so. + +She was too much overcome by her emotions to speak, but she took his +hand and led him to a little table, on which lay a Bible, opened at the +passage, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it +you." She said, "Please tell me if any one sent you here?" "No." "Did +you ever hear that I lived here?" "I did not." "Then the Lord sent you +in answer to my prayer this morning. For the first time in my life, I am +without food. My sister was to have come home yesterday, but has not. I +was just asking the Lord to provide for me when you knocked at the +door." + +Such scenes as these amply repay our missionaries for all the toils and +weariness, all the anxieties and perplexities of the work. + + +A PRAYER FOR BREAD. + + +"Washington Allston, who stood at the head of American artists a half +century ago, was, at one time, so reduced by poverty, that he locked his +studio, in London, one day, threw himself on his knees and prayed for a +loaf of bread for himself and wife. While thus engaged, a knock was +heard at the door, which the artist hastened to open. A stranger +inquired for Mr. Allston, and was anxious to know who was the fortunate +purchaser of the painting of the 'Angel Uriel,' which had won the prize +at the exhibition of the Royal Academy. He was told that it was not +sold. 'Where is it to be found?' 'In this very room,' said Allston, +producing a painting from a corner and wiping off the dust. 'It is for +sale, but its value has not been adequately appreciated, and I would not +part with it.' 'What is its price?' 'I have done affixing any nominal +sum. I have always so far exceeded any offers, I leave it to you to name +the price.' 'Will four hundred pounds be an adequate recompense?' 'It is +more than I ever asked for it.' 'Then the painting is mine,' said the +stranger, who introduced himself as the Marquis of Stafford, and, from +that time, became one of Mr. Allston's warmest friends and patrons." + + +THE DAUGHTER'S PRAYER. + + +The late Doctor Krummacher, chaplain to the king of Prussia, in +referring to faith and prayer, writes as follows: + +"A little incident occurs to me which I can hardly withhold, on account +of its simplicity and beauty. The mother of a little girl, only four +years of age, had been, for some time, most dangerously ill. The +physician had given her up. When the little girl heard this, she went +into an adjoining room, knelt down, and said: 'Dear Lord Jesus, O make +my mother well again.' + +"After she had thus prayed, she said, as though in God's name, with as +deep a voice as she could: 'Yes, my dear child, I will do it gladly!' +This was the little girl's amen. She rose up, joyfully ran to her +mother's bed, and said: 'Mother, you will get well!' + +"And she recovered, and is in health to this day. Is it, then, always +permitted for me to pray thus unconditionally respecting temporal +concerns? No; thou must not venture to do so, if, whilst you ask, you +doubt. But shouldst thou ever be inclined by God's Spirit to pray thus, +without doubt or scruple, in a filial temper, and with simplicity of +heart, resting on the true foundation, and in genuine faith, then pray +thus by all means! None dare censure thee; God will accept thee." + + +THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. + + +"A city missionary, one Saturday night, was going home with a basket of +provisions on his arm. Meeting a policeman, he asked him if there had +any families moved in the bounds of his beat during the week. He +answered, 'Yes,' and, pointing to a building up an alley, said, 'a woman +and some children are living there now.' + +"The missionary went to the house, rapped at the door, and was admitted. +The woman was sitting by a small light, sewing. In the corner of the +room, were two little girls, apparently from nine to twelve years of +age, playing. + +"The missionary said, 'Madam, I am here to see if you will allow your +girls to attend Sunday-school to-morrow morning.' 'I would, sir; but +what you see on them is all the clothing they have, and you would not +wish them to go as they are now.' 'The Lord will provide, madam. Have +you no money?' 'Not yet, but I have committed my case into the hands of +the Lord.' 'Have you anything to eat?' 'Nothing, sir!' 'What will you do +for breakfast?' 'O, sir, I once had a husband; he provided when he +could. These children had a father; he supplied their wants; but he is +dead now. Yet my Maker, even God, is my husband, and He has promised to +be a father to the fatherless. We have committed all to Him, have called +upon Him in this our day of trouble. I am trusting in God to take care +of a poor widow and her children in a strange place, and I know He will +provide.' 'Thank God for such faith,' said the missionary; and, handing +her the basket, said 'here is your breakfast, and you shall have the +clothing for your children.' With tears streaming down her face, she +replied: 'Oh, thank God for his faithfulness! He heareth and answereth +prayer. May He bless you!' And, said our dear brother to us, 'I felt the +promise was sure, for she was blessed in receiving, I was more so in +giving.'" + + +A PRAYER FOR A LOAD OF WOOD. + + +Here is an illustration of the way in which God sends relief in trouble. +The story is told by the Christian woman to whom it happened, in her own +language: + +"About the month of January, 1863, I was living in Connecticut, alone +with two little boys, one of them four years old, and the other about a +year and a half old. My husband was away in the service of his country. +When the coldest weather came, I was nearly out of wood. I went down +into the village, one day, to try and get some, but tried in vain; so +many men were away in the army that help was scarce. Very little wood +was brought into market, and those living on the main street, got all +that came, while those who lived outside the village could get none. I +tried to buy a quarter of a cord from two or three merchants, but could +not get any. One of them told me he could not get what he wanted for his +own family. Another said he wasn't willing to yoke up his team for so +small a quantity; but, as I only had a dollar and seventy-five cents, I +could not buy any more, and so I was obliged to go home without any. I +went back to my little ones, feeling very sad. But while I sat there, +almost ready to cry, the words of Abraham came into my mind, 'Jehovah- +Jireh, the Lord will provide.' Then I went up to my chamber. There I +knelt down and told God of my trouble, and asked him to help me and send +the relief that we needed. Then I went to the window and waited, looking +down the street, expecting to see the wood coming. After waiting a +while, without seeing any come, my faith began to fail. I said to +myself, 'The Lord did provide for Abraham, but He won't provide for me.' +Our last stick of wood was put in the stove. It was too cold to keep the +children in the house without fire. I got the children's clothes out, +and thought I would take them to the house of a kind neighbor, where I +knew they could stay till we got some wood. But, just as I was going out +with the children, in passing by the window, I saw the top of a great +load of wood coming up the road towards our little house. Can that be +for us? I asked myself. Presently I saw the wagon turn off the road and +come up towards our door. Then I was puzzled to know how to pay for it. +A dollar and seventy-five cents I knew would only go a little way +towards paying for all that wood. The oxen came slowly on, dragging the +load to our door. I asked the man if there wasn't same mistake about it. +'No, ma'am,' said he, 'there's no mistake.' 'I did not order it, and I +cannot pay for it,' was my reply. 'Never mind, ma'am,' said he, 'a +friend ordered it, and it is all paid for.' Then he unhitched the oxen +from the wagon, and gave them some hay to eat. When this was done, he +asked for a saw and ax, and never stopped till the whole load was cut +and split and piled away in the woodshed. + +"This was more than I could stand. My feelings overcame me, and I sat +down and cried like a child. But these were not bitter tears of sorrow. +They were tears of joy and gladness, of gratitude and thankfulness. I +felt ashamed of myself for doubting God's word, and I prayed that I +might never do so again. What pleasure I had in using that wood! Every +stick of it, as I took it up, seemed to have a voice with which to say +'Jehovah-Jireh.' As Abraham stood on the top of Mount Moriah he could +say, 'The Lord _will_ provide.' But every day, as I went into our +woodshed, I could point to that blessed pile of wood sent from heaven, +and say, 'The Lord _does_ provide.'" + + +A REFRACTORY MAN COMPELLED TO PAY A DEBT. + + +A refractory man who owed a small debt of about $43, refused to pay it +all, but offered to do so if ten dollars was taken off. His creditor, +feeling that it was just, declined to abate the amount. + +For more than a year the creditor waited, after having no attention paid +to his correspondence or, claim by the debtor, who exhibited +unmistakable obstinacy and want of courtesy. At last it was put into the +hands of a lawyer. The lawyer, too, was fairly provoked at the +faithlessness of the debtor in his promises or his attention to the +subject; thus matters dragged wearily for months, yet exercised leniency +in pressing the claim. + +The creditor, whose forbearance had now reached the extremity of +endurance, at last was led to take it to the Lord in prayer; saying he +would "willingly forgive the whole debt if in anything he was wrong, but +if the Lord thought it was right, hoped that his debtor _might be +compelled to pay the amount he so obstinately withheld_." + +To the astonishment of all, a letter received from the lawyer four days +after, informed him _that his debtor had called and paid the claim in +full_ with interest to date. "In doing so, he said he paid it _under +protest_," thus showing he was _compelled by something he could not +resist to pay it all_. + + +A HURRICANE PASSES AROUND A SHIP. + + +A Sea Captain relates to the editor of the _Christian_, a remarkable +incident, whereby in one of his voyages his ship was unaccountably held +still, and thereby saved from sailing directly into the midst of a +terrible hurricane:--"We sailed from the Kennebec on the first of +October, 1876. There had been several severe gales, and some of my +friends thought it hardly safe to go, but after considerable prayer I +concluded it was right to undertake the voyage. On the 19th of October +we were about one hundred and fifty miles west of the Bahamas, and we +encountered very disagreeable weather. _For five or six days we seemed +held by shifting currents, or some unknown power, in about the same +place. We would think we had sailed thirty or forty miles_, when on +taking our observations we would find we _were within three or four +miles of our position the day before_. This circumstance occurring +repeatedly proved a trial to my faith, and I said within my heart, +'_Lord, why are we so hindered, and kept in this position_?' Day after +day we were held as if by an unseen force, until at length a change took +place, and we went on our way. Reaching our port they inquired, 'Where +have you been through the gale?' '_What gale_?' we asked. '_We have seen +no gale_.' We then learned that a terrible hurricane had swept through +that region, and that all was desolation. We afterwards learned that +_this hurricane had swept around us, and had almost formed a circle +around the place occupied by us during the storm. A hundred miles in one +direction all was wreck and ruin, fifty miles in the opposite direction +all was desolation; and while that storm was raging in all its fury, we +were held in perfect safety, in quiet waters_, and in continual anxiety +to change our position and pursue our voyage _One day of ordinary +sailing would have brought us into the track of the storm, and sent us +to the bottom of the sea._ We were anxious to sail on, but some unseen +power held us where we were, and we escaped." + +The Captain was a prayerful man, trusting in his Lord, though his faith +was tried, and he thought the Lord was not helping him. Yet the Lord was +keeping his promise to him, "_The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in +safety by him, and the Lord shall cover him all the day long_." + + +RECOVERY FROM SPINAL DISEASE. + + +"Miss M---- is the daughter of a respectable farmer, an elder in a +Presbyterian church in Western Pennsylvania. When a young girl her spine +was injured while nursing her aged and helpless grandmother, and she has +been a great sufferer for many years. For eleven years she has not been +able to attend church nor to go from home, and for a long time was +unable to leave her chamber or her bed. Two years ago she was so ill +that hopes of her recovery were abandoned, her mind was thought to be +seriously, even hopelessly impaired. Her physician acknowledged that her +disease baffled his skill. + +"A few months ago, being near her residence and hearing that her health +was better, I called on her, and to my surprise, found her able to sew, +walk about, and even go down stairs. She informed me that she suffered +so intensely from the remedies used for her cure, and constantly grew +worse, that she determined to do nothing more; it seemed like fighting +against God; she would put herself into His hands to do with her as He +pleased. Then it seemed to her that the Saviour came to her and said, +'M----, what aileth thee?' She told Him all her case, and He soothed and +comforted her. From that time she began to improve; the paroxysms of +pain grew less, and disappeared; her nervousness was relieved, she could +sleep, her mind was full of peace. She said, 'I am not cured, and do not +expect to be well, but I can bear what I have to suffer, and am willing +to depart whenever it is the Lord's will to take me away to himself.'" + + +PRAYER FOR A PAIR OF BOOTS. + + +In the Fall of 1858, H----, a student in the Theological Seminary at +Princeton, N.J., was in great need of a new pair of boots. His toes were +sticking out of his old ones, and he had no money to purchase new ones. +All the money he could command was barely enough to pay his fare to his +home, where be had promised a dear friend to be present on the +approaching communion Sabbath. + +H---- was a man of great faith, and was accustomed to carry all his +wants to God in prayer. To God he carried the present emergency, and +earnestly importuned Him, that He would send him a pair of boots, and +that He would do it before the approaching Sabbath. He was persuaded +that God heard, and would answer his petition, yet his faith was sorely +tried. Saturday morning came and still there was no answer; he resolved, +however, to go to his home, fully persuaded that God would in good time +grant his request. He took the morning train at the Princeton depot, and +reached home about eleven o'clock. It was a hard trial for him to go to +"Preparatory Lecture" with his boots in the condition they were in; yet +at two o'clock he went, still praying that God would send him a new pair +of boots. During the service, a merchant in the town took a seat in the +same pew with him, and at the close of the service, without a word being +spoken on the subject, the merchant, after shaking hands with H---- and +inquiring of his welfare, asked him if he would do him the favor of +going down town to a certain boot and shoe store and select from the +stock as good a pair of boots as he could find, and, said the merchant, +"have them charged to me." It was, as, H---- said to me on his return to +the seminary, a direct answer to prayer. Indeed, it might be said of +H---- that he went through college and seminary _on prayer_. He laid all +his plans before God, pleaded his promises, and never was disappointed. + + +UNDER GARMENTS IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. + + +Among the students in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J., in +1860, was my intimate friend L----. He was at the time poorly clad, but +was a devoted Christian, and is at present a successful foreign +missionary. + +One day when on the Seminary campus, I heard two of the students very +thoughtlessly criticising the exceeding shabbiness of L----'s wearing +apparel, his short pants, old shoes, and socks with no heels in them. At +almost every step L---- took when playing ball, his bare heels could be +seen. That day, after evening prayers, I took L---- by the arm, for a +walk to "Orthodox point," a tree about a mile distant from the Seminary. +During our walk, I gently told him of the criticisms I had heard, and +learned more fully than I had ever done of his destitution of wearing +apparel, especially of under garments. I offered him a share of mine, or +the loan of money, so as to meet his present wants, but this he declined +to receive, saying, that he "would take it to the Lord in prayer," and +that God would in good time supply all his wants. I, too, bore his case +to the throne of grace. The next day after this, on going into his room, +he laid before me an empty envelope, and a five dollar bill, and asked +me the question, "Did you throw that envelope with that bill in it, +through that ventilator?" I assured him that I did not. "Well," said he, +"when I came in from recitation a short time ago, I found this envelope +on the floor and that five dollar bill in it. It has evidently been +thrown in through the ventilator." We both recognized God's hand in the +provision made and mentally gave thanks to our Heavenly Father. Soon +after this, "a missionary box" was sent to the Seminary, and my friend +was therefrom well supplied with under garments. Frequently afterward +did he say to me, in substance, "Prayer is the key to God's treasury. +Trust in Him and the Lord will provide." + + +UNEXPECTED RELIEF. + + +Henry Badgerow was a man about seventy years of age at the time of the +incident, and a resident of Steuben county, State of New York. This was +in the year about A.D. 1830-31. He had been for many years an invalid-- +so much so that he couldn't walk--the result of a horse running away +with him. In a forest, isolated from neighbors, the old man resided +alone with an aged wife. They were quite poor, and wholly dependent upon +the labor of a son who worked away from home for others. This son was at +length taken sick with a fever, and unable to minister to his parents' +wants. This was in mid-winter, when storms were frequent and the snows +deep and lasting. One evening when the storm was at its highest, this +old couple found themselves without a particle of food in the house. +Matters were desperate with them. They could see but starvation staring +them in the face. They resolved upon prayer, having a firm trust in +their Heavenly Father, whom for many years they had been humbly serving. +They did not retire, but continued in fervent prayer that God would send +them food. About two and a half miles distant lived a young married man +in comfortable circumstances, by the name of Joseph Clason (the author +of the story). He was not at this time a Christian, although it was not +long after this he was converted, and has since lived an eminently +active and godly life. About 12 o'clock on the night of the snow storm +above mentioned, young Clason awoke. His first thoughts were of old Mr. +Badgerow and his condition in that storm. His mind became so impressed +with the thought of him, and so wrought upon that he could not again go +to sleep, although trying so to do. At length he awakened his wife, told +her that he was in trouble about Mr. B., for fear he and his wife were +starving. She replied that if he would get right up and make a light, +she would prepare something, and that he had better take it right down. +Young C. did so, taking with him a pail of provisions. After a jaunt +through the storm and snow in the dead hour of night, he reached the old +man's cabin. There he found a light burning. He knocked; the door was +opened by the wife. The old man was fervently praying; but when he saw +young C. with the pail of provisions, he held up both hands and said, +"Now I know that God heareth prayer. Not one mouthful have we in the +house to eat. I know that God sent you here." Young C. staid with the +old couple until daylight. The conversation revealed that about midnight +the old man perceiving that a storm had arisen, and that unless relief +came, which was not likely, they would starve, resolved to appeal to his +Heavenly Father, saying that God who sent the ravens to feed Elijah +would feed him if he went to him in faith, and now God had heard his +prayer, and he blessed God that he could do so in all trouble and trial. + +The old man having asked C. how he came to visit them, he replied he +didn't know, but supposed God had sent him, as he had awoke and couldn't +again sleep on account of thought of him. + +The incident made a serious and lasting impression on young C's mind. + +In the morning, as C. was returning home, he came by his father's house; +his mother, espying his pail, wished to know where he had been. He +replied, "To feed the hungry." His father spreading the incident, the +neighbors all turned out and brought in enough provision to last them +during several weeks, the old man being greatly loved and respected by +his community, on account of his sterling Christian life and character. + +Mr. Joseph Clason is still living, now seventy-five years of age, in +Bazine, Ness county, Kansas. + + +THAT BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT. HOW THE LORD USED IT. + + +A lady and gentleman were walking up Madison avenue, New York City, from +church, when incidentally the lady said, "We are trying to get up +Christmas decorations and entertainment for our Mission School." + +"_Well, put my name down for anything you like_," and then came into his +mind a certain sum to give. + +A day passed on, it seemed forgotten; but a note from the lady reminded +him of his promise, and he responded, giving the exact sum originally +thought of, $25. Notice, now, the most singular disposition of it, +which, by the hand of Providence, was made to go on its circuitous way +to meet those who needed it most. + +The next Sabbath, the lady and gentleman again meeting each other, she +said, "Your gift was too large. I cannot take so much from you. I shall +give you back part." + +"But I won't take it." + +"Well, you must. I can't keep it." + +It resulted in the lady taking $15 from her muff and forcing it back +into the gentleman's hand. + +The gentleman felt badly. "_I intended this for the Lord, and now it is +refused. It is the first time I ever heard that money ever given to a +Sunday school was not wanted. I meant the whole for the. Lord_. If she +don't want it and wont keep it, I will give the rest away. _It does not +belong to me_." Before night he had enclosed it in a letter and sent it +out of the city to an invalid as a _Christmas present_. He had occasion +not long after to visit the invalid, and was fairly astonished at the +extraordinary circumstances connected with its use; and this is his +story, told in his letter to the lady who returned the $15. + +"The sequel to the $15 is far more beautiful and wonderful than anything +I have ever known. This invalid had been praying for some money for a +needed article of dress to protect her from cold. _The_ $15 _came the +very next morning in answer to her prayer. But it was more than enough_. +As a consistent Christian, having asked the Lord only for enough to meet +but one need, she felt as if the rest belonged to the Lord and must be +used for Him. So in wondering how to use it, she thought of a poor woman +who needed a new calico dress, and at once bought it and gave it to her. +She had but $5 left. A dear friend was in distress; his horse and +carriage had been seized for failure to pay the livery bill of their +keeping; he could not collect any money of the debts due him, to pay his +bill, and had nothing. His wife and children were in New Britain, and +here he was, no means to get there. The little Christian invalid sent +him her $5, the last money she had, not knowing where her next was to +come from, with these words: "_The Lord has sent you this_," and though +he offered to return, or use only part, she said, "_No, the Lord meant +this for you_. You must keep it, I will not take it back." Now see how +beautifully all these incidents have been made to work for the good of +many, by the managing hand of Providence. + +"My original gift of $25 to you was _more than enough_. You did not need +it all for your Sunday-school, and the Lord made you force back the $15 +upon me. I could not keep it, because I felt, it belonged to the Lord. +So I sent it to the little invalid. + +"She, too, had only needed a part, and used only what she asked the Lord +for, and then she, in her turn, gave the rest away. The most wonderful +part of it is, that the money you gave back to me, and I gave to the +Lord, was _three-fifths of the amount you received_, and the money the +little invalid gave away _to the Lord_ was also _three-fifths the amount +she received. The money which you kept for your use was just two-fifths, +and the money that the invalid kept for her own use was just two-fifths +also. The very next day after she had given her money away_, a lady +called and gave her some money, which _was precisely the same amount_ +which _the poor woman's calico dress_ had cost, (though she knew nothing +of the circumstances), and in return for the $5 which she gave her +friend in distress, and refused to take back, the Lord remembered her +and gave her a good home. + + +THE WIDOW'S WOOD AND FLOUR.--THE UNBELIEVING ONES MADE SPEECHLESS. + + +The following instance is known to _The Christian_ as true, and to a +remarkable degree indicates how thoroughly God knows our minutest needs, +and how effectively He makes those who ever reproach his name ashamed of +their unbelief. + +"A friend and relative of the one who was 'a widow indeed,' one who +trusted in God, and continued in supplications and prayers day and +night, was once brought into circumstances of peculiar straitness and +trial. She had two daughters who exerted themselves with their needles +to earn a livelihood; and at that time they were so busily engaged in +trying to finish some work that had long been on their hands, they had +neglected to make provision for their ordinary wants until they found +themselves one Winter's day in the midst of a New England snow storm, +with food and fuel almost exhausted, at a distance from neighbors, and +without any means of procuring needful sustenance. + +"The daughters began to be alarmed, and were full of anxiety at the +dismal prospect, but the good old mother said, 'Don't worry, girls, the +Lord will provide; we have enough for to-day, and to-morrow may be +pleasant,' and in this hope the girls settled down again to their labor. + +"Another morning came, and with it no sunshine, but wind and snow in +abundance. The storm still raged, but no one came near the house, and +all was dark and dismal without. + +"Noon came, and the last morsel of food was eaten, the wind was almost +gone, and there were no tokens of any relief for their necessities. + +"The girls became much distressed, and talked anxiously of their +condition, but the good mother said, 'Don't worry, the Lord will +provide.' + +"But they had heard that story the day before, and they, knew not the +strong foundation upon which that mother's trust was builded, and could +not share the confidence she felt. + +"'If we get anything to-day the Lord will have to bring it himself, for +nobody else can get here if they try,' said one of the daughters, +impatiently, but the mother said, 'Don't worry.' And so they sat down +again to their sewing, the daughters to muse upon their necessitous +condition, and the mother to roll her burden on the Everlasting Arms." + +Now mark the way in which the Lord came to their rescue, and just at +this moment of extremity, put it into the heart of one of his children +to go and carry relief. _Human Nature_ at such a time would never have +ventured out in such a storm, but waited for a pleasant day. But Divine +Wisdom and power made him carry _just what was needed, in the face of +adverse circumstances, and just at the time it was needed_. + +"Mr. M. sat at his fireside, about a mile away, surrounded by every +bounty and comfort needed to cheer his heart, with his only daughter +sitting by his side. + +"For a long time not a word had been spoken, and he had seemed lost in +silent meditation, till at length he said, 'Mary, I want you to go and +order the cattle yoked, and then get me a bag. I must go and carry some +wood and flour to sister C.' + +"'Why, Father, it is impossible for you to go. There is no track, and it +is all of a mile up there. You would almost perish.' + +"The old man sat in silence a few moments and said, 'Mary, I must go.' +She knew her father too well to suppose that words would detain him, and +so complied with his wishes. While she held the bag for him, she felt +perhaps a little uneasiness to see the flour so liberally disposed of, +and said, 'I wish you would remember that _I_ want to give a poor woman +some flour, if it ever clears off.' The old man understood the +intimation and said, 'Mary, give all you feel it duty to, and when the +Lord says stop, I will do so.' + +"Soon all things were ready, and the patient oxen took their way to the +widow's home, wallowing through the drifted snow, and dragging the sled +with its load of wood and flour. About four o'clock in the afternoon, +the mother had arisen from her work to fix the fire, and, looking out of +the window, she saw the oxen at the door, and she knew that the Lord had +heard her cry. + +"She said not a word--why should she? She was not surprised!--but, +presently, a heavy step at the threshold caused the daughters to look up +with astonishment, as Mr. M. strode unceremoniously into the room, +saying, '_The Lord told me, Sister C, that you wanted some wood and +flour_.' + +"'_He told you the truth_,' said the widow, 'and I will praise Him +forever.' + +"'_What think you now girls_?' she continued, as she turned in solemn +joy to her unbelieving daughters. + +"_They were speechless_; not a word escaped their lips; but they +pondered that new revelation of the providential mercy of the Lord, +until it made upon their minds an impression never to be effaced. + +"From that hour they learned to trust in Him who cares for _His needy_ +in the hour of distress, and who, from His boundless stores, supplies +the wants of those who trust in Him." + + +A PAIR OF SHOES.--THE LORD'S REBUKE TO THOSE WHO "DIDN'T BELIEVE." + + +The following incident occurred in Connecticut: In an humble cottage two +sisters were watching over and caring for a much-loved brother, who, for +many long months had been upon a bed of sickness. At length, the younger +of them began to be discouraged. She was dependent, for her clothing, +upon her labor; her shoes were worn out, and how should she get another +pair, unless she could leave the sick bed and go away from home and work +and earn some money. + +"Well," said the mother, "I know you need a pair of shoes, but don't +worry, the Lord will provide." + +"_Do you think that_ THE LORD _will come down from heaven and buy me a +pair of shoes_?" said the younger sister, with an expression of +discouragement and vexation on her countenance. + +"No," said the mother, "but perhaps he will put it into somebody's heart +to buy you a pair." + +"Perhaps He will, _but I don't believe it_," said the discouraged girl. + +"Well," said the other sister, who was a little more hopeful, "you won't +get them any quicker by fretting, so you might as well be quiet." Then +the subject dropped and the day passed as usual. + +As the shades of evening were gathering, a brother who lived at some +distance, and who knew nothing of their previous conversation, called to +inquire after their prosperity. After the customary salutations he said, +"You have been sick here a long time, and I thought I would come round +and see if I could not do something for you; thought perhaps by this +time the girls needed something." Then turning to the younger sister, he +said, "_How is it, aren't your shoes worn out?"_ + +She dropped her eyes, blushed deeply, and, perhaps, a little +conscience-smitten, answered not a word. Nothing was said of the +previous conversation, though it was not forgotten by those who heard +it. The brother soon saw for himself enough to satisfy him, and said no +more, but went away. The next day _two pairs of shoes_ were sent around +to her, and with them came to her heart a lesson which she never forgot. + +She lived many years after that, but was never heard to murmur in that +way again, and often said that the two pairs of shoes taught her to +_wait, hope and trust_, and thereby learn implicit confidence in Him who +sendeth all blessings. The last time she alluded to the occurrence, she +said, "_I was speechless then, but, by the grace of God, I will not be +in the world to come_." + + +THE LAME HEALED. + + +Rev. Charles G. Finney, during his life-time, was familiar with the +circumstances connected with the remarkable healing of a sick lady in +Oberlin, O., the wife of Rev. R.D. Miller, and these facts were vouched +for as unquestionably authentic. Mr. Finney says: + +"Mrs. Miller is the wife of a Congregational minister, and a lady of +unquestionably veracity. However the fact of her healing is to be +accounted for, her story is no doubt worthy of entire confidence, as we +have known her for years as a lame, suffering invalid, and now see her +in our midst in sound health. This instantaneous restoration will be +accounted for by different persons in different ways. Mrs. Miller and +those who were present regard the healing as supernatural and a direct +answer to prayer. The facts must speak for themselves. Why should not +the sick be healed in answer to the prayer of faith? Unbelief can +discredit them, but faith sees nothing incredible in such facts as are +stated by Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller's own statement is as follows, and it +is fully endorsed by the most reliable citizens and members of the First +church at Oberlin: + +"From my parents I inherited a constitution subject to a chronic form of +rheumatism. In early life I was attacked with rheumatic weaknesses and +pains, which affected my whole system. For nearly forty years I was +subject to more or less suffering from this cause, sometimes unable to +attend meeting for months at a time. For seven years, until the last +three months, I have been unable to get about without the aid of crutch +or staff, generally both. I have used many liniments and remedies, but +with no permanently good result. I have been a Christian from early +life, but last Spring, in our revival, I received a spiritual refreshing +from the Lord, which gave a new impulse to my faith. Since then my +religion has been a new life to me. + +"Last Summer, several of us Christian sisters were in the habit of +spending short seasons of prayer together, that the Lord would send us a +pastor. Some of our number had read the narrative of Dorothea Trudel, +and had spoken to me on the subject of healing in answer to prayer. My +faith had not then risen to this elevation. I had in fact accepted what +I supposed to be the will of God, and made up my mind to be a lame and +suffering invalid the rest of my life. I had long since ceased to use +remedies for the restoration of my health, and had not even thought of +praying in regard to it, for I regarded it as the will of God that I +should suffer in silent submission. + +"Notwithstanding what had been said to me, I remained in this opinion +and in this attitude until the 26th of September, 1872, when several +ladies met at our house, by appointment, for a prayer-meeting. I had +been growing worse for some time, and was at that time unable to get out +to attend a meeting. I was suffering much pain that afternoon; indeed, I +was hardly able to be out of my bed. Up to this time none of the sisters +who had conversed with me about the subject of healing by faith, had +been able to tell me anything from their own experience. That afternoon, +one lady was present who could speak to me from her own experience of +being healed in answer to the prayer of faith. She related several +striking instances in which her prayers had been answered in the removal +of divers forms of disease to which she was subject. She also repeated a +number of passages of Scripture, which clearly justified the expectation +of being healed in answer to the prayer of faith. She also said that +Jesus had shown her that he was just as ready to heal diseases now as he +was when on earth; that such healing was expressly promised in +Scripture, in answer to the prayer of faith, and that it was nowhere +taken back. These facts, reasonings, and passages of Scripture, made a +deep impression on my mind, and, for the first time, I found myself able +to believe that Jesus would heal me in answer to prayer. She asked me if +I could join my faith with hers and ask for present healing. I told her +I felt that I could. We then knelt, and called upon the Lord. She +offered a mighty prayer to God, and I followed. While she was leading in +prayer I felt a quickening in my whole being, whereupon my pain +subsided, and when we rose from prayer I felt that a great change had +come over me, that I was cured. I found that I could walk without my +staff or crutch, or any assistance from any one. Since then my pains +have never returned; I have more than my youthful vigor; I walk with +more ease and rapidity than I ever did in my life, and I never felt so +fresh and young as I now do, at the age of fifty-two. + +"Now, the hundred and third psalm is my psalm, and my youth is more than +renewed, like the eagle's. I cannot express the constant joy of my heart +for the wonderful healing of my soul and body. I feel as if I was every +whit made whole." + +The testimony of eye-witnesses to this healing is as follows: + +"We were all present at the time of the healing, and know the facts to +be true. We are all Christians, and have no interest in deceiving +anybody, and would by no means dishonor God by stating more than the +exact truth. Since the healing, Mrs. Miller is still with us, and in +excellent health. Neither the severe cold of last Winter, nor the +extreme heat of this Summer, has at all injured her health. From our +first acquaintance with her, she has been so lame as to be unable to +walk, except by the aid of crutches. Since which time she has been able +to walk without help, and appears perfectly well." + +Her husband, also adding his testimony, says: + +"She has been unable to walk without crutches for a series of years. A +long time ago, we tried many remedies and physicians, with no lasting +good results, and were expecting she would remain an invalid. Of late, +she had applied no remedy, nor taken any medicine. At the time of her +cure, she was much worse than for a long while before, being in great +pain continually, until the moment she fully believed, and, _in an +instant_, she was restored to perfect soundness. From that moment to +this she has not felt a particle of her former complaint. + +"She can now walk for miles as fast as I wish to, without feeling very +much fatigue, does all her own housework, and attends seven meetings +during the week. In short, she is stronger, and seems as young and spry, +as when we were married, thirty-two years ago. The work of the dear +Savior in her cure seems to be perfect, and she is an astonishment to +all who knew her before and see her now. To _His_ name be all the +praise. + +"Another lady, the same week my wife was healed, a member of the First +Congregational Church, confined to her bed with a complicated disease, +was prayed for, and restored at once to soundness." + + +THE WONDERFUL CURE OF MRS. SHERMAN. + + +Although there are so many cases of healing in answer to prayer, yet the +incident of the healing of Mrs. Sherman is so minute, and resulted in +such a radical change of the physical constitution, that it is necessary +to relate it in full detail. It is too well proven to admit the +possibility of a doubt. + +"Mrs. Ellen Sherman is the wife of Rev. Moses Sherman, and, at the time +of this occurrence, in 1873, they were residents of Piermont, N.H. She +had been an invalid for many years. In the Winter after she was fifteen, +she fell on the ice and hurt her left knee, so that it became weak and +easy to slip out of joint. Six years after, she fell again on the same +knee, so twisting it and injuring the ligaments that it became partially +stiff, and, the physician said, incurable. + +"The next Summer, by very fast walking, one day, she brought on special +weakness, which no physician was able to cure. From that moment she was +subject to severe neuralgia, sick-headaches, at least monthly, and +sometimes even weekly. + +"In December, 1859, while stepping out of doors, she slipped, by reason +of her stiff joint, and fell, striking near the base of the spine, +directly across the sharp edge of the stone step. This caused such a +sickness that she was obliged to leave the school she was attending. + +"Three years after (in January, 1862), she fell at the top of a +stairway, striking just as before, and sliding all the way down to the +foot. This nearly paralyzed the spinal cord, and caused deep and +permanent spinal disease. After this she was up and down for many years, +attended by various physicians, yet nothing bettered, but, rather, +growing worse. It may be said, for short, that every organ of the lower +body became chronically diseased, and that the headaches increased in +violence. + +"In September, 1872, through a severe cold, she took her bed, where she +lay, except when lifted from it, till the night of August 27, 1873. She +was unable to walk a step, or even stand. She could sit up only a short +time without great distress. The best medical skill that could be +procured gave only temporary relief. The spine grew worse in spite of +every appliance, and the nervous sensitiveness and prostration were +increasing. During the two or three weeks immediately preceding her cure +she was especially helpless, two persons being required to lift her off +and on the bed. On the Monday before, one of her severest neuralgia +sick-headaches came on. During Wednesday she began to be relieved, but +was still so sick that when, in the evening, she tried to have her +clothes changed, she could only endure the change of her night-dress." + +It will be seen from this her utter physical helplessness, and not the +slightest hope of any amelioration. During the night of August 27th, she +enjoyed a blessed time of communion with her Lord, giving herself, in +all her helplessness, wholly to Him to do as he wills. + +With feelings beyond all expression, she _felt_ the nearness of her +mighty Savior, and the sense of receiving a new and most delicious +pulsation of new life. At last, though she had been bed-ridden for +twelve months, and incapable of any bodily assistance, she felt an +uncontrollable impulse to throw off the clothes of the bed with her left +arm, and sprang out of bed upon her feet, and started to walk across the +room. + +"Her husband's first thought was that she was crazed, and would fall to +the floor, and he sprang towards her to help her. But she put up her +hands against him, saying with great energy, 'Don't you touch me! Don't +you touch me!' and went walking back and forth across the room speaking +rapidly, and declaring the work which Jesus had been working upon her. + +"Her husband, quickly saw that she was in her right mind, and had been +healed by the Lord, and his soul was filled with unutterable emotion. + +"One of the women of the household was called, also their son, twelve +years old, and together they thanked God for the great and blessed +wonder he had wrought. + +"In the morning, after a sleep of several hours, she further examined +herself to see if entirely healed, and found both knees perfectly well; +and though for sixteen years she had not been able to use either, now +she lifted the left _foot_ and _put it upon the right knee_, thus +proving the completeness of her restoration. + +"At the end of two years from her healing, inquiry having been made as +to how thorough had been the work, Mrs. Sherman gave full and abundant +evidence. 'I cannot remember a Summer when I have been so healthy and +strong, and able to work hard. I am a constant wonder to myself, and to +others, and have been for the two years past. The cure exceeded my +highest expectations at the time I was cured. I did not look forward to +such a state of vigor and strength. No words can express my joy and +gratitude for all this.' + +"The parents of Mrs. Sherman also testify of the wonderful change +physically which occurred with the cure. + +"Before, her appetite was always disordered, but on the very morning of +the healing it was wholly changed, and her food, which distressed her +formerly, she ate with a relish and without any pain following; and she +so continues. For years before a natural action of the bowels was rare. +From that day since, an unnatural one is equally rare. + +"For fifteen years, with few exceptions, she had had severe neuralgic +sick headaches monthly or oftener. From that time she has been natural +and without pain, with no return of the headaches, except a +comparatively slight one once, from overdoing and a cold taken through +carelessness. + +"There was also at that time an immediate and radical change in the +action of the kidneys, which had become a source of great trouble +before. Moreover the knee which had been partially stiff for so many +years was made entirely well. In fine, her body, which had been so full +of pain, became at once free from pain, and full of health. + +"The week after she was healed she went fifty miles to attend a +camp-meeting, riding five miles in a carriage, the rest by cars. A near +neighbor said, 'She will come back worse than ever.' Though the weather +was especially bad, she came back better than when she went." + +These are but few out of many expressions respecting her extraordinary +recovery, which fully satisfy the believing Christian that _the Great_ +Physician is with us now, "_healing the lame_," and curing the sick. It +is faith only, unyielding, which the Lord requires ere he gives his +richest blessing. + +The unbelieving one simply sees in it "_something strange_," which he +can not understand, but the faith-keeping Christian knows it is the sign +of his _Precious Lord_, in whom he trusts and abides forever. + + +DR. NEWMAN HALL'S TESTIMONIES TO THE VALUE OF PRAYER. + + +Dr. Newman Hall, of London, in his wide experience has met with many +incidents of answered prayer, and thus relates several: + + +A PRAYER FOR THIRTY POUNDS. + + +"On a recent evangelizing visit to Newport, one of its citizens said to +me, 'In yonder house dwell a man and wife, who recently needed a sum of +L30 to meet some payment the next morning. Having failed in their +efforts to collect it, they earnestly prayed God to provide it. The +store was being closed for the night when a sea-captain knocked at the +door and asked for some seamen's clothes. The gas was relighted, and +various articles were selected; the purchaser then asked for the +account, and the money was paid--_a little more than_ L30. The man and +his wife thanked their Heavenly Father for sending it in this way in +answer to prayer.'" + + +RECOVERY FROM DANGEROUS ILLNESS. + + +Dr. Newman Hall was once visiting, on his dying bed, John Cranfield, son +of the great originator of ragged schools, under the ministry of Rowland +Hill. + +"We were conversing on prayer. He said, 'A remarkable instance occurred +in connection with my father. The former organist of Surry Chapel, Mr. +Howard, was dangerously ill. He was greatly beloved, and his friends met +for special prayer that God would spare his life. My father on that +occasion was remarkably earnest in asking that the life of his friend +might be lengthened, as in the case of Hezekiah. The next day he began +to recover; and during fifteen years was a blessing to his friends and +the church.'" + + +A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER IN DISTRESS. + + +"My brother," says Dr. Hall, "told me that when superintendent of a +Sunday school he felt a strong impulse, one Saturday evening, to call at +the home of one of his teachers whom he had never visited before. He +found his mother and sisters in such evident distress that he inquired +the cause. With much reluctance they explained that, being unable to pay +their taxes, their goods were to be taken on the coming Monday, and they +had been asking special help from God to save them from a disaster which +they felt would be a dishonor to religion. By the aid of a few friends +the difficulty was at once met, but the timely succor was regarded as +the divine answer to their prayer." + + +RESCUED IN PERIL. + + +"With my brother I was once climbing the _Cirrha di Jazze_, one of the +mountains in the chain of _Mount Rosa_. When nearly at the top, we +entered a dense fog. Presently our guides faced right about and grounded +their axes on the frozen snowed slope. My brother, seeing the slope +still beyond, and not knowing it was merely the cornice overhanging a +precipice of several thousand feet, rushed onward. I shall never forget +their cry of agonized warning. He stood a moment on the very summit, and +then, the snow yielding, he began to fall through. One of the guides, at +great risk, had rushed after him, and seizing him by the coat, drew him +down to a place of safety. + +"No one could be nearer death and yet escape. On his return home, an +invalid member of his congregation told him that she had been much in +prayer for his safety, and mentioned a special time when she was +particularly earnest, as if imploring deliverance from some great peril. +_The times corresponded._ His life was saved in answer to her prayer." + + +A PHYSICAL IMPEDIMENT REMOVED. + + +"A clergyman, of great scholarship and genius, has told me of a +remarkable answer to prayer, authenticated by three missionaries known +to himself, who are personally acquainted with the facts. + +"A Prussian, the master of a hotel in India, was anxious to relinquish +his large income, and labor as a missionary among the Santil tribes. +Objection was made to him on account of an impediment in his speech +which would render him, in speaking a foreign language, incapable of +being understood. Believing in the efficacy of prayer, he called +together his friends, specially to ask that his impediment might be +removed. The next morning, he presented himself again at the Mission +House--_the impediment had gone_! He was accepted, relinquished his +business, and is now preaching the gospel to the Santils in their own +tongue." + + +RESTORATION FROM DEATH. + + +"My father, the author of the _Sinner's Friend_, narrates in his +autobiography a circumstance which he often used to speak of with great +emotion. + +"My mother was very ill, and apparently dying. The Doctor said that now, +if at all, the children might be brought for her to look at them once +more. One by one we were brought to the bedside, and her hand was placed +on our heads. + +"Then my father bade her farewell, and she lay motionless as if soon to +breathe her last. + +"He then said to himself, 'There is yet one promise I have not pleaded, +"If ye ask anything in my name I will do it." He stepped aside, and in +an agony of soul exclaimed, '_O, Lord, for the honor of thy dear Son, +give me the life of my wife!'_ + +"He could say no more, and sank down exhausted. Just then the nurse +called him to the bedside saying, 'She has opened her mouth again as if +for food.' Nourishment was given, and from that time she began to +recover. The doctor said it was miraculous. My father said it was God, +who had heard his prayer." + + +THE HELP OF THE LORD IN LITTLE THINGS. + + +The Rev. Dr. Patton, of Chicago, in receiving many letters from +clergymen, received one from Mr. F., a pastor in Massachusetts. + +In it he speaks of his unsuccessful search for a valuable knife, prized +as a present from a friend, which he had lost on a hillside covered with +laurels. He paused in prayer, asked to be guided, commenced his search, +and was almost immediately successful thereafter. + +The same letter also mentions the case of a friend in a responsible +position under the government, whose accounts failed to balance by +reason of an error, which, after long search, he could not detect. + +In great distress he betook himself to prayer, and then opening his +books, _on the very first page_, which he happened to glance at, and at +the top of the column, he saw instantly the looked for error, standing +out so plainly that he wondered he had not seen it before. + +The writer also speaks of a rubber shoe being lost and promptly found +after mention in prayer. + +These may seem little matters, but they are the privileges of the +righteous to ask "anything" of "Him who careth for them." + + +A BOY'S FAITH IN PRAYER + + +In a letter to Dr. W.W. Patton, by Mr. T.I. Goodwin, M.D., of Staten +Island, he describes a little incident which happened to him when only +thirteen years old. + +"He lost a choice penknife while collecting and driving several cows +from a pasture covered with grass two inches high. Having read +Huntington's Book of Faith, he thought of prayer, and in childlike trust +he knelt under a tree, outside the bars, and prayed for his lost +treasure; for he was a farmer's boy, and his spending money amounted to +only about fifty cents a year. 'I rose up, cast my eyes down on the +ground, and without planning my course or making any estimate of +probabilities, walked across the meadow centrally to near its farther +edge, saw the penknife down in the grass directly before me, and picked +it up all as readily as I could have done had any one stood there +pointing to the exact place. _Had I gone ten feet to the right or left_ +I could not have seen the knife, for the grass was too high.'" + + +A PRAYER FOR FIVE DOLLARS. + + +One of the City Home missionaries in New York city received on a certain +day five dollars with special directions that it be given to a certain +poor minister in Amos street. In the evening the missionary called and +gave him the money. + +For a moment the good man stood amazed and speechless. Then taking down +a little journal he turned to the record made in his diary of that +morning, and showed it to the missionary. "_Spent two and a half hours +in earnest prayer for five dollars_." + +"And now here it is," said the man, with a heart overflowing with +gratitude. "The Lord has sent it." Both giver and receiver had their +faith strengthened by the incident. + + +GO TO THE POST-OFFICE. + + +A correspondent of "_The Guiding Hand_" relates this incident: + +"In the year 18--, having a brother living in the city of R., I went to +see him. Going to the store where he had been at work, I found that the +firm had suspended, and that he was thrown out of employment, and had +broken up housekeeping, but could not ascertain where he was, only that +he was boarding somewhere out in the suburbs of the city. I searched for +him all day, but in vain. + +"It was _absolutely necessary_ that I should find _him_. What MORE to do +I knew not, except to _pray_. Finally, I was impressed to write a line +and drop it into the post-office, and I obeyed the impression, telling +him, if he got it, to meet me at a stated place, the next morning, at +ten o'clock. _I prayed earnestly_ that the Lord would cause him _to go +to the post-office,_ so that he might get my letter. I felt full of +peace, and at rest about the matter. The next morning, at ten o'clock, I +went to the place appointed for him to meet me, _and he soon came in_." + +This incident might seem one of ordinary or chance occurrence, but for +the following unusual circumstances: + +"As they were returning to their home, his brother said: 'There is +something _very strange_ about my going to the post-office this +morning--_I had my arrangements all made to go with a party, this +morning early, to the bay, fishing; but, when I awoke, I had such an +impression to go down to the post-office, that I had to forgo the +pleasure of going to the bay, and went to the post-office and found your +letter_.' + +"I replied, '_It was the Lord_ that impressed you in answer to my +prayer, for I have prayed earnestly for the Lord to send you to the +office this morning,' and, although but young in years and religion, I +gave God the praise for his guidance and His grace." + + +THE WIDOW'S TREE + + +Not many years ago a violent storm, with wind and thunder, spread +devastation all through the valley of Yellow Creek, Georgia. For a mile +in width, trees were uprooted, barns and fences were prostrated, and all +the lands were desolated. + +Right in the center of the tornado stood a small cabin. Its sole +occupants were an aged widow and her only son. The terrible wind struck +a large tree in front of her humble dwelling, twisting and dashing it +about. If it fell it would lay her home in ruins. Desolation, death +itself, might follow. The storm howled and raged. The great trees fell +in all directions. When it seemed her tree must also fall and there was +no remedy, she knelt in fervent supplication to Him who gathereth the +wind in his fists, that he would spare that tree. Her prayer was heard. +The tree was spared, and was the _only one_ left within a considerable +distance of the widow's cabin. + + +THE LORD PAID HIS INTEREST. + + +A most curious answer to prayer occurred in the experience of a home +missionary in Brooklyn. It illustrates how God, in his trials of faith +to see if His people do really cling to the promises, compels them to +march right into the scene of danger, and into the mouth of the cannon, +that apparently is open specially to shoot them down. + +The interest on the mortgage of his property was due in a few days. Its +amount was $300. He did not have the money--did not know where to obtain +it. With anxious heart during the day, he kept up his faith and courage +by thinking of the Lord's promises, and, the last night before the +eventful day, was spent in prayer, until the assurance came that all was +well. Often he pleaded, often he reminded the Lord that, as his life was +_His_, to save him from reproach, and not let his trust in the Lord +suffer dishonor before others. + +The last moment came--no money--no relief. With sinking heart he went to +the holder of the mortgage to announce his utter inability to meet his +demand. While there, just at the last moment, when he was about to +leave, the gentleman said, "_By the way, here is an envelope I was told +to give you."_ + +The missionary opened it, _and out came six fifty dollar bills,_ just +the _three hundred dollars prayed for_. The Lord met and delivered him +in the very jaws of the enemy. + + +WILL THE LORD DELIVER FROM BAD HABITS OF TOBACCO, RUM, LIQUOR, +LICENTIOUSNESS, ETC., IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. + + +This question having been asked by a clergyman of Brooklyn, Rev. S.H. +Platt, he received a large number of communications, which evidently +prove that the Lord is _willing_ and _does_, either _instantaneously_ or +gradually in answer to prayer, deliver and take away wholly the bad +_habits_ and _appetites_ of those who are willing to forsake their +sinful ways and cleave only to Him. _The Lord's salvation cleanses and +delivers the body as well as the soul_. + +We quote a few extracts from his correspondence, which is but a small +portion out of many published in his volume, "_The Power of Grace_." + + +CURED OF TOBACCO APPETITE. + + +"A little more than a year has elapsed since I left off the use of +tobacco. This further time has more fully developed the thoroughness of +the case spoken of and the completeness of the victory over an evil +habit. I am filled with wonder, for I expected a terrible fight with an +appetite, strengthened by an indulgence of about thirty-five years, but +the enemy has not shown his head. _Not only has the desire for smoking +been effectually squelched_, but a perfect hatred of smoking has been +developed on account of the offensiveness of the odor of tobacco. I +frequently cross the street, or change my seat in a car to escape the +puff of smoke, or the fetid breath of a smoker. 'Thanks be unto God who +giveth us the victory.'" + + +BAD HABITS WHOLLY OVERCOME. + + +"A physician of extended practice was converted and reclaimed while I +had charge of the place in which he lived. He had acquired the habit of +using large quantities of whiskey and brandy, and withal more or less +given to licentiousness. Since that time he has been steadily advancing +in morals and moral power, till he now preaches the gospel as a local +preacher, side by side with the best of the district." + + +WAS IT INSTANTANEOUS? + + +"Yes, as respects tobacco; he became convicted of its sinfulness by a +voice saying, 'That is not the way to glorify God: stop, and stop now.' +And from that moment he says he has never used it, neither does he in +any way like the smell, or even the sight of tobacco." + + +THE LORD DELIVERS FROM BODILY SINS. + +"I had used tobacco from my childhood, and the love and use thereof grew +upon me. I became convicted of its sinfulness, went to God and said, +'_Destroy the appetite, and give me power over it_. Save me that I may +glorify thee as a God of power for our present sins, and I will glorify +thee ever more.' I wrote out the contract and signed it, and from that +blessed afternoon have no recollection of ever desiring it even." + + +ANOTHER DELIVERANCE. + + +"Tobacco was a great trouble to me; and I had tried a number of times to +leave it off, but could not do so. One night as I was retiring to rest, +I thought I would kneel by my bed and ask _Him_, who never refuses to +answer prayer, to take from me the desire for tobacco, and from that +moment it has been impossible for me to use it. + + +NOT YOUR OWN STRENGTH CAN BREAK THE HABIT. + + +"I smoked tobacco excessively for fifteen years, commencing when I was +about twenty years old. I often strove to break off from the use of it; +indeed I determined time and again to desist from it, sometimes +abstaining for a few months or weeks, once for twelve months, _but the +desire never left me_, and whenever I tasted it I was sure to take to it +again. I sometimes vowed whilst upon my knees in prayer, to abstain from +it and never touch it again, but I always attempted to do this in my own +strength; hence I failed, being overcome by the almost irresistible +influences it had upon my appetite, so long accustomed to the use. + +"One Sunday morning, I retired to a secluded place, got down upon my +knees, and asked the Lord to help me quit it, determining then and there +that I would, God being my helper, never touch the accursed thing again +by any kind of use in the way of consumption, and from that day to this, +I have never had any desire to smoke or chew tobacco, or to use it in +any way; I lifted my heart to God, imploring his assistance in +abstaining from it. I have now been clear of the desire of it for nearly +twenty-three years." + + +A DOUBLE CURE. + + +"At the age of twelve years I commenced to use tobacco, and continued to +use it, both smoking and chewing, till five years ago, when in answer to +prayer the appetite was instantly removed. + +"The circumstances were as follows: I had tried many ways to leave off +the use of tobacco, but the appetite was so strong that I could not +withstand it. At one time I left it off for a month, but not a day +passed but I craved it, and when I did begin again it tasted as good as +ever. I found that tobacco was injuring my health. My nervous system was +much deranged. + +"For more than a year before I left it off there was scarcely a night +but I lay for two or three hours, before I could go to sleep. I resolved +a great many times I would leave off, but always failed. I had also +acquired the habit of drinking, and became a confirmed drunkard. + +"I knew the habits were killing me, but I was powerless to stop. One +evening a prayer-meeting was appointed at my house. The minister in his +remarks spoke about habits, and said that religion would cure all bad +habits, such as tobacco, &c., and that by prayer God would remove all +evil appetites. + +"I thought but little about it that night; was very careless and +trifling about it. The next morning I took out my tobacco to take a +chew, and thought of what the minister had said the night before. It was +a new idea to me. I put the tobacco in my pocket again, and said, '_I'll +try it_.' + +"_I was alone in my barn; I kneeled down and asked God to remove the +appetite from me. It was done. I was cured_. I felt it. I knew it then. +I have never had a desire for it since. There has been no hankering for +it or for strong drink since. My sins were all forgiven, and I was made +a new man all over, inside and outside. + +"When I go into company where they are smoking, I have no desire for it +at all, neither have I for drinking, any more than if I had never had +those habits. _My nervous difficulty was also instantly cured_. No more +trouble about sleeping, and I know that Jesus can heal and remove and +destroy all evil habits." + + +A SPECIAL WORD TO ALL SEEKING TO ESCAPE EVIL WAYS. + + +Should these words meet the eye of any one so troubled over any evil way +or bad habit from whose bondage he would gladly escape, let me say to +you these words of good cheer: "_The Lord can save you, the Lord can +deliver you, the Lord can wholly heal you. He can take away your +appetite and cleanse you thoroughly_. He has done it for many others. He +can do it for you. Realize that your own strength can not do it. Forget +not that it is only in answer to your own prayer. Those who want this +good gift must _pray for it_. Deliverance may be instantaneous or +gradual, but do not cease your prayer. Seek in the Bible for those +promises which show that he can _deliver from all evil_, and plead them +and then trust in Him and his strength to fulfill them. + +"Forget not also to ask others to pray for you, and remember that the +answer is sure to come if you add to your prayer these true thoughts of +your heart, '_Deliver me and I give myself to thee forever_.' + +"If you expect so great a gift from the Lord, he asks of you, '_What are +you willing to do for me_?'" + + +HELP AT THE VERY LAST MOMENT. FAITH REWARDED. + + +A clergyman in the State of New York, through the influence of a +disaffected member, was unfairly and precipitately deprived of his +pulpit, which involved a large family in necessity. At supper the good +man had the pain of beholding the last morsel of bread placed upon the +table without the least means or prospect of a supply for his children's +breakfast. His wife, full of grief with her children, retired to her +bed. The minister chose to sit up and employ his dark hours in prayer, +and reading the promises of God. Some secret hope of supply pervaded his +breast, but when, whence, or by whom, he knew not. He retired to rest, +and in the morning appeared with his family, and offered family prayer. +It being the depth of Winter, and a little fire on the hearth, he +desired his wife to hang on the kettle, and spread the cloth upon the +table. The kettle boiled, the children cried for bread; the afflicted +father, standing before the fire, felt those deep emotions of heart over +his helplessness and impending starvation which those reared in +affluence never know. + +While in this painful state some one knocked at the door, entered, and +delivered a letter into the minister's hand. When the gentleman was gone +the letter was opened, and to the minister's astonishment it contained a +few bank bills, with a desire for acceptance. So manifest an answer to +prayer from Divine Goodness could not but be received with gratitude and +joy, and fulfills to the very letter these promises: "Verily thou shalt +be fed." Psalm 37:3. "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Heb. +13:5. + +To ascertain how this occurrence came to take place, this remarkable +coincidence of relief at the identical moment of time when there was the +last appeal to God, the incident was communicated to the editor of a +religious journal. Having an intimacy with the gentleman said to be the +one whose hand had offered the seasonable relief, he determined the next +time he made him a visit to introduce the subject, and, if possible, to +know the reason that induced the generous action. The story was told +with a modest blush which evinced the tenderness of his heart. On +interrogation, he said "he had frequently heard that minister. On a +certain morning he was disposed for a walk; thought in the severity of +the winter season a trifle might be of service, as fuel was high; felt a +kind of necessity to enclose the money in a letter; went to the house, +found the family, delivered the paper and retired, but knew not the +extreme necessity of the minister and his family, either at that time +nor till this very moment when his friend introduced the subject. Thus +it is seen none but God knew the want or moved the hand that gave the +supply, and brought them to meet at the right time. + + +SPINAL DISEASE CURED. + + +"There was a little girl in this place that had the +cerebro-spinal-meningitis; several had died with this disease, and the +physician had given her up to die. The weekly prayer-meeting met in town +that night, and her parents wrote a note and sent it by their little +son, requesting prayer that their little daughter might live and not +die, signed with the names of both parents. From that time she began to +recover, and to-day she is a bright little girl, with full use of every +faculty, and not deformed as most persons are from this terrible +disease. I cannot view it in any other light than a direct answer to +prayer." + + +AN OLD MAN'S PRAYER. + + +"I feel also like mentioning another instance. I knew an old father in +Israel, a minister of the gospel, who once in speaking with a brother +minister, after a revival of religion in which five of his grandchildren +had professed their faith in Christ, among others with whom he had +labored; said if he could only live to see his one remaining +granddaughter brought into the fold, and the two Presbyterian churches, +then, called the Old and New school, united, he could say, like Simeon +of old, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine +eyes have seen thy salvation.' About three years after, the two +Presbyteries met near this place in Germantown, Mo., and he seemed as if +he could not contain himself till the time came for the meeting, so +anxious was he for this great desire of his heart to be fulfilled. On +the day of meeting he took sick and could not be present at any of the +sessions, but many of his brethren were with him, among whom was this +one he had been conversing with. The sessions lasted three days, and +upon the last evening his wishes were gratified, the two Presbyteries +merged into one, singing 'Blest be the tie that binds;' and his youngest +granddaughter united with the church, and after the meeting adjourned +this brother came to watch with the aged servant of God. He was +permitted to convey the glad news to him, and see a heavenly smile light +up his countenance as he passed away with his earnest prayer gratified." + + +THE MYSTERIOUS LEADINGS OF PROVIDENCE. + + +The following incidents are contributed to the book by a prominent +clergyman: + +"A period, ever memorable in the life of the writer, occurred in the +Autumn of 1832, while attending a protracted meeting of more than +ordinary interest and power, held under the auspices of the Baptist +church in the city of Schenectady, under the then pastoral charge of +Rev. Abraham D. Gillette, this being his first settlement. It was in one +of the meetings that the Holy Spirit impressed my mind of its sinfulness +and the need of a Savior, not only to cleanse my soul of sin and sinful +stains, but to save me. These impressions caused me to humble myself at +the feet of sovereign mercy; and in the midst of my pleadings, God +answered my prayer, and opened to me new views, views of the heavenly +kingdom, which so electrified my soul, that with a full heart I could +say, 'Blessed be the Lord who has shown me marvelous works in this +lonely place beneath the star-lit sky.' + +"This great change was, and is, to me the most wonderful interposition +of God in my behalf in answer to prayer. This answer to prayer the +promised result of faith in Him." + +"Again, in the year 1836, the writer in the year mentioned was employed +by a transportation company, in the city of Troy, in the character of an +employee having direction of a portion of the business of the company +which brought me into close relation with the many boatmen connected +with the company. Association with the boatmen was painful to my +religious nature, compelled, as I was, to hear all manner of offensive +talk. The latter led me to indulge a wish that I might free myself from +such company, in order to form associations with persons of my own +religious turn of mind. But God willed otherwise, as will be learned +from the recital of God's dealings with me on an occasion of a journey +alone in a carriage from Troy to Schenectady. It was on the occasion +alluded to that most of the time was occupied in prayer, and the burden +of my prayer was 'that God would open up a way for me wherein I could +find more congenial company, where in fact my religious feelings would +not meet with the trials incident to my present associations.' But He +who knew my needs better, came to my relief in words seemingly distinct +enough to be heard. This was the answer: 'I have placed you just where I +want you.' Instantly my prayer for a change of location or separation +from my business and its connections ceased, and since, instead of +looking for easy positions, wherein the principles of the faith which is +in me may be undisturbed, I deem it suited to my growth in grace and +increase in devotion to my Master's cause, to covet the association of +men whose only tendency is to evil continually. I have found by +experience in the latter direction, that although many tongues are loose +in the habit of profanity, I am roused more and more by grace to impart +words of counsel. I know that efforts at consistency in Christian +conduct and converse will stop the mouth of profaners of the name of our +Redeemer, God." + +Another instance of the presence of God with his children is clearly +manifest in the following sketch of a meeting of two brethren, of whom +the writer was one, held in the conference room of the First Baptist +church in Troy, N.Y., of which church he was a member. The meeting +alluded to occurred in the early spring of 1840 or '41. We were +accustomed to meet almost every day for the purpose of arranging the +Sunday school library, but would occupy a portion of the time, usually +at noon, in prayer for such persons or objects as were presented to the +mind. On the particular occasion we propose to mention, it was mutually +agreed that we pray for one of the brethren, whose gifts were of a high +order, and his usefulness hindered by a lack of spirituality. We +mutually bowed in prayer for this brother, and while thus engaged the +door of the room was opened, and a person entered and knelt between us, +but who he was, or the purpose of his visit we knew not until we had +ended our prayer, at which time the person spoke and requested us to +continue praying for him. + +At the conclusion of the service, the question was mooted how he came +there. His reply was in substance as follows: "When standing on a stoop +on the corner of Fourth and Congress streets, cogitating which way I +should go, I was impressed by a voice within which directed my course to +the Conference Room. I debated with the impression, taking the position +that it being noon no meeting was then in progress. Still the impression +remained, and could not be removed. Noticing this, I gave way to the +voice and here I am." Neither of the three thus brought together could +doubt for a moment that our prayer for this brother was answered. His +joy was great in view of being thus called from his delinquency to share +in the fullness of his Savior's love. + +"Another instance in the experience of the writer very clearly shows the +power and worth of prayer. About the year 1840, in the Autumn thereof, +he experienced a lack of vital, spiritual energy. This had been of +months' continuance, but to his joy, culminated after retiring to rest. +After this manner, before sleep overcame him, he was impressed to +present his case before the mercy-seat. To do so he arose from his bed, +retired to a quiet part of his home and bowed in prayer, seeking to +occupy the entire night if need be in prayer for the bestowal of the +Holy Spirit, and the consequent revival influences of other days. This +season of prayer was of short continuance; but not by reason of +disrelish for the exercise, but because my prayer was answered and a +complete breaking away of the previous hindrances to my spiritual +enjoyment. Since the event alluded to, now more than thirty-six years, I +have not been afflicted by doubts, and counsel brethren and sisters not +to allow themselves to be made unhappy by this evil to our spiritual +progress." + + +LIFE SPARED FOR TWO WEEKS. + + +"On the 8th of January, last, I was called upon to visit a dying man in +Jersey City, whom the doctors had said could not live but a few hours. I +found him in severe bodily sufferings and a terrible agony of mind. He +had lived a moral and upright life in the eyes of the world, but +careless and neglectful of all religious duties, and now with eternity +before him he felt his life a failure and his imperative need of help. + +"In his agony he would cry out, 'Lord, help me,' and perhaps the next +moment blaspheme the name of God. I sought to show him his great sin in +having so long neglected God and his salvation, and at the same time +assured him that Jesus was a great Savior, 'able to save to the +uttermost all who would come unto Him.' I went from his bedside to the +union prayer-meeting, held in our city during the week of prayer, where +I presented his case and asked the brethren to pray that God would save +this poor man even at the eleventh hour, and spare him to give good +evidence of his conversion. His case seemed to reach the hearts of all +present, and most earnest prayers were offered in his behalf; so strong +was the faith that many came to me at the close of the meeting and said +that young man will certainly be saved before he is taken from this +world. + +"In answer to prayer he was spared nearly two weeks, and for some six or +seven days before his death, gave much clearer evidence of being truly +converted than could have been expected of one in his condition." + + +A MISSIONARY'S EXPERIENCE IN MEXICO. + + +"While laboring with my wife as a missionary in Northern Mexico, we +supported ourselves for nearly four years by teaching and such other +ways as the Lord opened up to us. + +"But our schools being decidedly Protestant, and I preaching regularly, +the opposition from Romanists was very strong; this, together with the +extreme poverty of the people, made our income very small. Frequently +the opposition would rise to that pitch that only the children of the +poorest would be permitted to come, but we never turned these away, +though they could pay no tuition, trusting that God would provide for us +in some other way. + +"Early in the year 1869, we were much exercised to know the will of the +Lord concerning us, whether he would have us continue or not. We brought +our case before the Lord and prayed him to make known his will and +provide for our necessary wants. In about three weeks we received a +check for eighty dollars, sent us, as we felt, truly by the Lord in +answer to our prayer through a friend in New York, who knew nothing of +our circumstances or prayer. + +"In August the same year, our condition became such that it seemed as if +in a few days we would be wholly without the necessaries of life. We +laid our case before the Lord, and as he did not appear to open up any +way for us to leave the field, we went forward with our work as +faithfully as we knew how, believing that the Lord would provide in his +own time and way, when one evening, just after family worship, a rap +came to the door. I opened it, there came in quite a company of persons, +all bearing something, and just exactly the things we needed most, and +to the amount of over fifty dollars' worth, and about a sixth of it was, +as we learned, given by Romanists who had opposed us very strongly all +the time we had been there. Truly the Lord answers prayer and turns the +hearts of men to do his will." + + +THE GREATEST OF PHYSICIANS. + + +Miss X. of Brooklyn, had suffered long and severely from a distressing +tumor. One physician after another had plied his skill, but to no +purpose; even the celebrated Doctor Simms of New York, corroborated +their verdict, that there was no help for her but in the knife. She +finally consented to that terrific method, but was in no condition of +strength to bear the operation. It was decided to postpone it till the +22d of June. Twelve doctors were invited to be present. Meanwhile a diet +nurse sent from New York, remained with her, to prepare her system for +the ordeal. + +Three days preceding the one appointed for the operation, she was +attacked by severe nausea, which lasted two days, and so weakened her +that again the doctors were all notified by the attending one, that a +further postponement was imperative, and a certain date fixed in +November. + +All this time her own prayers were unceasing, those of her friends added +to her own; and many a remembrance in the Fulton Street meeting, cheered +and encouraged her. + +_By November, the tumor had totally disappeared!_ That was two years +ago. She is still well, strong; able to walk three miles any time. + +She is as certain that the whole cure was performed by the Lord in +answer to all those fervent prayers, as she is certain she lives and +moves. + + +HOW THE LORD PAID BACK THE $5. + + +Mr. H., missionary, was appealed to by a poor man who seemed almost +distracted. He had a wife and five children; one of them ill; had been +sick himself for three months, and owed rent for the whole of that time. +The landlord had served him with a writ of ejectment, and he could get +no other tenement, unless he could pay five dollars on the rent. He had +applied to a well-known society in Brooklyn; but they were entirely out +of funds and gave him a note to the missionary, hoping he might have or +find the desired help. But missionaries' pockets are more often +depleted, than those of benevolent organizations, and the one in +question was fain to take the applicant to a friend, whom we shall call +Q. + +The poor man told his story, asked the five dollars only as a loan, and, +having an order for the painting of two signs, said he should be paid +for them when done, and could return the loan the next Saturday, one +week from that time. + +Mr. Q. saw, at once, that the utter destitution of the family, and the +need of _everything_, would prevent the man returning the money, however +much he might wish to, and so refused to lend it. The case was urged, +but without avail; and the missionary sent the man away, promising to +see him again that night or on Monday. After his departure, the +following conversation passed between the gentlemen: + +Q.--"Now, H., I don't take any stock in that man. Can you not see that +his paying that money back, is a simple impossibility?" + +H.--"Well, perhaps so; but the question with me in such cases, is this: +What is duty? Admit that he cannot pay it, or even that he will not try; +is it not better to relieve his desperate need, than to have him perhaps +turn criminal and prey upon society? He _must_ leave the house he is in; +he _cannot_ get another without the money, and he is desperate; feels +that five dollars he must have, by fair means or foul. Moreover, think +of his wife and children, leaving him out of the question. Now let us +open this little Bible, and see what meets our eye first." + +Q.--"Oh, pshaw! You know I do not believe in that kind of thing! Do you +go to the Bible for everything?" + +H.--"Why not? Can we have any better guide?" + +Q.--"Oh! well, I don't work that way. Now about that man and his money. +I will toss up a penny with you, whether I lend or not." + +H.--"No you won't! You know I don't believe in chance, but in the Lord. +And would you sooner rest your decision on a gambler's test, than on +God's promise? Now just let us open the book." + +Q.--"Well; what do you see?" + +H.--"'The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again; but the righteous +sheweth mercy, and lendeth.'" 37th Psalm, 21st verse. + +As there was no hunting up of passages, nor leaves turned down to open +easily, the coincidence was impressive, as well as amusing, and H., +following it up, said, "Lend him the money, and if he does not pay you +next Saturday night, I will." + +It was so agreed upon, and, when the man called on the missionary on +Monday morning, he was sent to Q. for the relief. + +The week passed on, as they all pass, weighted and freighted with human +ills; some capable of alleviation, some not; but of the former, a full +share had come under the notice and care of the missionary, and Saturday +found him stepping into the Fulton street prayer-meeting, N.Y., for +fresh encouragement and benediction on his labors. + +At its close, a gentleman said to him, "Mr. H., I have known you by +sight for years; know your work; but have never given you anything; and +I promised myself the next time I saw you, I would do so. Have you any +special need of five dollars now? If so, and you will step to the bank +with me, you shall have it." Instantly it flashed through the mind of H. +that this was the day when, either the borrower or he, must pay his +friend. It may be supposed that he went to the bank with alacrity. Going +back to B. and meeting the friend, he learned that neither man nor money +had appeared, and at once tendered the five dollars, telling the story +of the Lord's care in the matter. + +Q. was so interested in this manner of obtaining supplies, that he +refused to take the money, and instructed H. to use it in the Lord's +work. + + +PRAYING FOR MONEY FOR A JOURNEY. + + +A lady, Miss E., residing in New Bedford, received a letter telling of +the serious illness of her mother, in New York. Sick herself, from +unremitted care of an invalid during eight years, poor as Elijah when +his only grocers were the ravens, too old for new ambitions, too well +acquainted with the gray mists of life to hope for many rifts through +which the sunshine might enter, she had no sum of money at all +approaching the cost of the trip between the two places. + +"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou +trust," is a text bound over her daily life, as a phylactery was bound +between the eyes of an ancient Hebrew. She lives literally, _only one +day at a time_, and walks literally by faith and not by sight. So then +as ever, the Lord was her committee of ways and means; but for three +days the answer was delayed. Then, an old lady called to express her +indebtedness for Miss E.'s services three years before, and ask her +acceptance of ten dollars therefor, "no sort of equivalent for days and +days of writing and searching law papers, but only a little token that +the service was not forgotten." + +There was the answer to her prayer; there the redemption of the pledge: +"As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about +his people from henceforth, even forever." + + +EMPLOYMENT FOUND. + + +A man and wife were out of employment, and in very great trouble. Mr. H. +(missionary) had added his efforts to theirs, and sedulously sought +among the families he knew, for positions for them. After two weeks' +fruitless endeavor, he said to the man, "Well, John, let us go into the +Fulton street meeting and leave it with the Lord." They did so; the +request was read and remembered. + +The very next day, Mr. H. received a note from one of the families to +whom he had already applied, and without success, requesting him to send +the man and wife of whom he had spoken. Very joyfully he did so, and +they were both engaged! Mr. H. considered it a very marked answer to +prayer, inasmuch as it was quite difficult to find a family who wanted a +man as well as woman servant; and that particular family was, of all +others, the least likely to make such an arrangement! + + +A BARREL OF FLOUR. + + +For the "Faith Home for Incurables" Mr. H. received, one day, five +dollars. A barrel of flour was terribly needed. He went to a large house +in New York, hoping the Lord would incline the proprietor to sell him a +barrel for that sum. He felt too poor, was not willing; and with a heavy +heart, Mr. H. returned, asking the Lord what next he should do. He +called at the store of a friend, where the following conversation took +place. "Well, did you get the flour?" "I did not; they feel too poor, +and I am terribly disappointed. It is almost dark now; I have lost my +time going over there, and at this hour, the flour merchants here are +closed." "Well, Mr. ---- called here, and I told him you were in, and on +what errand you had gone to New York. He said he would send a barrel to +my store if I would send it up to the Home; and I did so, about an hour +ago." + + +WONDERFUL WAYS OF THE LORD IN GUIDING HIS PEOPLE. + + +Our missionaries move amidst the reality of scenes which religious +fiction vainly strives to equal. Remarkable proofs of genuine and vivid +piety, triumphs of patience and grace, lifting their possessors above +the most painful and distressing circumstances, are met with in all +their explorations, and more than repay them for toil or privation. + + +WONDERFUL CONVERSION OF A ROMAN CATHOLIC. + + +A frame dwelling in an alley, two rooms on the first floor, in the +smaller one a bed-ridden old colored man, who had fought the battle of +life for ninety years, fifteen of them on his bed, with eyes so dimmed +by age that he could not even read; and a wife who was eye, ear and +solace to him, are the salient points of our first picture. + +They were both earnest, exultant Christians, around whom the angels of +God encamped day and night. The wife was brought up in the West Indies, +as a Catholic, but her ideas of religion consisted mostly in counting +beads on a rosary. After coming to Brooklyn, she became a servant in the +family of a well-known naval officer, and was always a favorite on +account of her vivacity. One day, a young painter who was working there, +and proved to be one of the Christians whose light shines for all in the +house, spoke to her, and invited her to a prayer-meeting in a Protestant +chapel. She refused, laughing; but the painter's assurance next day, +that she had been prayed for in that meeting, made her restless, uneasy +and sick. In a few days, she was confined to her bed and pronounced by +some doctors, a victim to consumption. One, more sagacious than the +rest, said her trouble was of the mind, not the body, and a minister +would be better than a doctor. + +It proved to be the case; she was soon led into a glimmering hope, +though feeling that she literally carried a burden on her back. Starting +out, one night, to look for a place of worship, she turned her feet to a +Methodist meeting from whence the sound of singing had reached her. In +the prayer and exhortation, however, there were words which revealed to +her the secret of faith and salvation. She felt the burden loosen and +fall from her shoulders, so sensibly, that involuntarily, she turned and +looked for it on the floor. In a few moments she began to realize the +freedom she had gained, and started to her feet in joy and wonder. + +Her work then began in her own home, and through her prayers of faith, +five members of the Commodore's own family and an Irish Catholic servant +girl, were brought to "Christ, the living way." For years her faith was +proved by her works; her daily example in the household, her watchings +and waitings by the bedside of her helpless husband--poverty, sickness, +perplexities of every sort, but made her hope the brighter, her hold the +firmer. With no dependence for their daily bread but the benefactions of +one and another person, sometimes entire strangers, they never knew what +it was to suffer actual want, nor did Frances ever believe that her +friend would forget her. + + +REMARKABLE PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM LIGHTNING IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. + + +I was riding on top of the Boulder Pass of the Rocky Mountains, in the +summer of 1876, when a sudden storm of rain, wind, and furious tempest +came up. There was no shelter from rocks, no trees or buildings to be +seen--a lonely, wind-swept summit. I knew that the lightning on those +high elevations was fearful in intensity. I was appalled at the prospect +before me, but feeling that God had promised to care for his children-- +"No evil shall befall thee or come nigh thy dwelling"--I composed +myself, and though on horseback, with the rain beating in torrents, I +offered simple prayer to God that he would save me from the rain and +stop it. But _No_, it came harder than ever; then I prayed that I might +be protected from all danger, "_for I trusted in Him_!" + +I rode on and on for miles, chilly, cold, wet through, the clouds +hanging low and the lightning flashing above me, around me, striking +near me, constant flashes, peals of thunder; but I was not terrified. +"God must keep me." _Twice I was distinctly struck_ with the electric +flash, detached portions or sparks from the electric cloud, directly in +the center of the forehead, but it had no more force than just to close +my eyes, shake my head a little, obscure my sight a moment, and then it +was all over, and I was clearer, cooler, calmer, happier, and more +self-possessed than ever before. I attribute my protection from peril +entirely to prayer, and the fierceness of the tempest and the proximity +of danger were permitted by the Lord to try my trust. Those portions +which struck me, if in ordinary times had been given me from an electric +battery in a school-room, a shock with sparks only one-hundredth the +size, would have killed me. + +I can thus say with thanks, faith was then made perfect in danger, and +the Lord _was faithful_ in hearing his child's cry, and delivered him. + + +GOD NEVER FAILED HER. + + +An aged colored woman, lived that life of faith which shines brighter +and brighter unto the perfect day. Born a slave, on Long Island, she was +never taught to read, never enjoyed any social privileges; but the God +of the widow of Sarepta, who had neither "store-house nor barn," was her +God, and brought her out of the house of spiritual bondage. + +She outlived all her early associations; all her children and +grandchildren, husband and brother passed on before, leaving her alone +in poverty and sickness. Yet she sat in her little hut, a cheerful, +happy Christian; a living witness for God as a covenant-keeper. +Doubting, despondent souls were always glad to visit her, to listen to +her simple words of wisdom and gather strength from her invincible +trust. Roman Catholic neighbors persecuted and even threatened her; but +in reply to a missionary who remarked that it must be very trying and +somewhat dangerous, she said, "Don't you know the Lord has a hook in the +jaws of the wicked, so they shan't hurt us if we belong to him? Jesus is +always with me; so I'm never alone and never afraid." + + +HIS MOTHER'S PRAYER. + + +A poor sailor, leading a most profligate and abandoned life, whose +praying mother followed him like a shadow into and out of his drinking +saloons and gambling houses, at last absented himself from home, +whenever he was in port. Her burden, finally, seemed too great to bear, +and she resolved to make a stronger effort than ever before, to cast it +upon the Lord. As she knelt, with her heart well-nigh bursting with this +desire, she felt a powerful conviction that, at last, she was answered. +For several years the son went on in his wicked career, and the mother +sorrowed that it was so, but her soul was no longer laden with fear; she +felt the assurance of his conversion, sooner or later. Again, for +several years, she never heard of him, and thought him dead; then she +ceased praying for him, and was steadfast in the faith of meeting him in +heaven. But sight was to be given her, as a reward for faith. He +returned, at last, only thirty years of age, but broken down in health, +and worn out by dissipation and hardship. Still unconverted, but, to +satisfy his mother, he consented to remain in the room during a visit of +the missionary of that district; a man with sufficient tact not to make +his efforts obnoxious. He did not tell the young man he was a sinner and +must flee from the wrath to come; he merely presented the _love_ of +Jesus; the love that saved to the very _uttermost_; that waited more +patiently than any earthly friend, and forgave more royally. At first, +he listened indifferently, but, at last, burst into tears, saying, "I +thought I was so bad He didn't want anything to do with me." A long +conversation, and others at intervals followed, and, before his death, +which occurred several months after, his mother's heart was gladdened by +the account of his change, and the knowledge that, in farthest lands, +his thoughts were back with her. The deeper he went in sin, the more +unsatisfactory and abhorrent it became, and he would have turned, long +before, to the Lord, had he believed there was the least hope for him. +When he closed his eyes to earth, a few friends enabled his mother to +give him respectable burial, in the same grave where, years before, his +father was laid. + + +THE HEART OF STONE RELENTS. + + +Another consumptive in the neighborhood, was thoroughly an infidel. Mr. +A. visited the house three times a week, and, at last, succeeded in +overcoming his objections to a weekly prayer-meeting in his house. In +his hearing, earnest supplication was always made for him, and, at the +end of four months, the heart of stone relented. He had not, at first, +the courage to appropriate the promises to himself; but one morning very +early he sent for the missionary to reveal the news that he felt all his +sins forgiven, and had "Christ _in_ him, the hope of glory." four months +more he lived to hear witness continually to God's amazing mercy, and +then joyfully expired, declaring himself saved by grace alone. + + +A DISCOURAGED ONE REVIVED. + + +Mr. C----, walking home one Saturday afternoon, fell into a discouraged +train of thought because he appeared to have done so little for the +Master that whole week. At that moment a young man took him by the hand +saying--"You do not know me, but I know you. A few weeks ago I was on +the high road to destruction, but now through your instrumentality I am +in the narrow path which leads to everlasting life. I attended your +prayer-meeting one evening in company with a friend of mine. You spoke +with great earnestness, and after we sang the last hymn you remarked, +'How can I bless whom God has cursed? For he declares, If any man love +not the Lord, he shall be accursed.' I cannot describe my sensations. +For several days I could find no peace, but when at last my faith rested +on Jesus, I found that peace which flows like a river; and now, like +Moses, I have chosen rather to suffer affliction with the children of +God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin, for I know if I have to face any +trouble on account of my religion, I can look forward to a glorious +reward." + + +THE PRISONER LOOSED. + + +On the third floor of a tenement house, a missionary, Mr. B., found a +comely, intelligent young English woman in great distress. Her heart +seemed wrung by grief. A few kind words of sympathy drew from her the +story of her woe. She came to this country with her husband and three +young children. He was employed as book-keeper in a large mercantile +house; but soon became addicted to drink, and the story is ever the +same; loss of position, poverty, disgrace, suffering and recklessness. +On the day of the missionary's visit, he was in a prison cell, committed +as a vagrant and common drunkard. The wife was bitterly weeping in her +cheerless home, and the children around her fretting with hunger. Mr. B. +was so touched he could scarcely find words with which to console her, +but turned to Isaiah and read, "For thy maker is thy husband; the Lord +of Hosts is his name." "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but +with great mercies will I gather thee." After his prayer, she felt +calmer, and entreated him to come the next week, on the day her husband +would be released. He complied; found a prepossessing and cultivated +man; and upon telling him how earnestly his wife and himself had prayed +for him, was rejoiced to learn that in that lonesome cell the Spirit of +God had visited him, filled him with a sincere wish to reform the future +and redeem the past. The missionary called again and again, and +witnessed the strong determination of the young man to fight against his +pernicious habit. He was soon employed again in a large house, became a +regular attendant at the Lord's house, and began to pray both publicly +and privately for help from on high. Only a few months, and both husband +and wife united with a church and became teachers in the Sabbath school. +Their own home, once laid waste, again blossomed like the rose. + + +PRAYING FOR TEA. + + +On a top floor in a street of tenements lives a colored woman one +hundred and ten years old! Her son, a man over seventy, lost his wife, a +neat, active Christian woman, very suddenly, and his aged mother was +plunged in despairing grief. "Why, why was I left, old and rheumatic and +useless, and Mary, a smart, busy, capable woman taken away without a +minute's warning?" was her continual cry. But the son was left desolate, +and the two rooms were to be kept clean, the meals provided before he +left for his work in the morning, and after his work at night; there was +no one else to do it, and love for him called out new effort. With cane +in one hand she treads the rooms back and forth, performing the +household duties. Eyes undimmed, faculties unimpaired, she _does what +she can_. Upon receiving a call a few months after the death of her +daughter-in-law, she said--"You've brought me a whole pound of that nice +tea! Well, honey, _I asked the Lord for some good tea last night, and I +knowed well enough it would be along some time to-day, cos He never +keeps me waiting long_. I found out why he took Mary instead of me; old +as I was, I wasn't half so fit to go, and he was so full of mercy he let +me stay long enough to see it! You know, honey, I've got no one to talk +over old times with. There ain't none of 'em left that I was young with, +and not many I was old with; but I'm never lonesome, for I'm too busy +thinking of all the Lord's watching and waiting for me. I'm dreadful +little use, but my son couldn't get along very well without me, and then +I tell you I'm so busy thinking, I ain't got any time to be lazy or +lonesome. Good many little things we want, too, and I have to be runnin' +to the Lord for 'em." + +"Do they come every time, auntie?", "Every single time, honey! He never +fails, no matter who else does. He knows I don't ask for no nonsense; +only for the things we really need, and he has promised them all the +time." "But, are there not times, auntie, for instance, when your son is +sick, when you cannot see where rent and food is coming from?" "Don't +want to see, honey! What's the use seein'? Believin's the thing! +Believin's better than money." And so, all the revolving months, this +relic of the last century walks by faith in the unseen. + + +GIVING HER LAST DOLLAR TO THE LORD. + + +A poor woman, sitting in a little church, heard the minister make an +urgent appeal for money enough to pay a debt of two hundred dollars, +contracted by the church the previous Winter. She had one dollar in her +pocket; half drew it out; thought of the improbability of having any +more for several days; put it back. Thought again, "Trust in the Lord +for more;" drew it wholly out, and deposited it in the basket. The next +morning, a lady called to settle a bill of two dollars, so long unpaid +that it was, long before, set down among the losses. + + +THE DANISH GIRL'S BLESSING. + + +A very poor Danish girl, broken down in health, utterly unable longer to +labor for her own support, was provided with the means, and urged to go +to Denmark, as her friend felt sure there was some good in store for her +there, meaning, more definitely, the restoration of her health. She +could not be induced until, thoroughly satisfied by several tokens that +it was the Lord's will, and then she consented. + +A devout, humble Christian missionary became acquainted with her soon +after her arrival, and, being struck with the beauty of holiness in +every action and conversation of her life, asked her to marry him, that +he might have the constant satisfaction of rendering her life +comfortable, and finding his own encouragement in her unfailing faith. +His letters are full of his saintly wife, and her signally blessed +efforts in winning people to put their trust where it need fear no +betrayal. + + +THE SWEDISH GIRL BLESSED. + + +A Christian Swedish girl, who had, for three years, done the washing of +a certain family, had so interested them by her care of an aged father, +and gained their esteem by her humble piety, that, wishing to go to +Europe for six months, they offered her two rooms in their house for +that time, that she might not only save the labor necessary to pay her +rent, but, also, take charge of their effects. The offer was gladly +accepted, and recognized as a token especially from the Lord. + +In times when the father was yet able to work a little, they had +economized to a degree that resulted in saving twenty dollars. It was +laid by for three months' rent, when he should be no longer able to earn +it. That time had come; as yet the money had not been touched; but Satan +sent a wicked woman to hire the next room, and, while the father was +asleep, and his poor daughter at church, she stole it. Their grief was +great, but they reminded the Lord how hardly it was earned, and how +faithful lie had always been to His promises. It can be easily +understood with what emphasis this unexpected offer came to them. + + +SAVED FROM DROWNING. + + +A poor German woman rushed frantically through the street and into the +house of a countrywoman, very little better off than herself, declaring +she would drown herself that very night if _no_ one would give her work. +A family on the same floor gave her the use of a very small, bare room +for one week, free of charge; after that, it would be eighty cents per +week rent. Her countrywoman shared with her, such as she had for the +evening and the morning, and after the breakfast, sent for a good, +ever-ready missionary to talk and pray her into a better frame of mind. +He did so, but confirmed and rested her faith on substantial works. He +procured employment for her before the sun set; enough to pay the rent +and get a little common food. Then obtained coal sufficient to last a +couple of months; and so, leading her little by little into light and +hope, drew her into regular attendance at the Mission chapel in her +neighborhood. + + +THE WIDOW IN "WANT". + + +A home missionary in Brooklyn, who has an enviable reputation for his +entire consecration to the work of helping the poor, one day when +engaged in his benevolent works, entered a restaurant, kept by a +Christian friend, a man of like spirit with himself, who, in the course +of conversation, related to him the following circumstances, +illustrative of the power of prayer. + +He had, on a certain day, cleared a large sum, part of which consisted +of _Mexican dollars_. Returning home in high spirits, he felt as if he +could go to sleep sweetly on this silver pillow. But a thought suddenly +intruded, which gave a new turn to his feelings. It related to a poor +woman in his neighborhood, the widow of a very dear friend of his, whom +he knew to be in want. "Shall I take all this money to myself?" thought +he. "Does not the Providence who gave it to me say, _No! Give some of it +to the widow of your friend_." + +With this impression he retired, as was his habit, quite early, but he +could not sleep. The thought of the needy widow haunted him. "I will go +to-morrow," said he to himself, "and see what I can do for her." But +this good intention proved no opiate to his disturbed mind. "Possibly +she or I may not live to see to-morrow." Something seemed to say _go +now_. He tossed from side to side, but could not sleep. _Go now_ kept +ringing in his ear. So at length the restless man had to dress himself +and go. + +At this late hour, not far from eleven, he sallied forth to find the +widow. Seeing a dim light in the upper story where she resided, and +following its lead, he crept softly along on the stairway, until he +reached the room from which a low sound issued. The door was slightly +ajar; through which he could hear the voice of prayer, scarcely audible, +but deeply earnest. He dared hardly stir, lest he should disturb the +praying widow. But he came on an errand, and he must accomplish it. But +how? Recollecting at the moment, that he had in his pocket a few of the +_Mexican dollars_, he gently pushed at the door, and it opened just wide +enough for his purpose. So taking each piece of money between his +fingers, he rolled it in along the carpet, and withdrew as noiselessly +as he had ascended. Returning to his home, he fell asleep and slept +soundly, as well he might, after this act. + +The widow at length arose from her knees, and was struck on seeing the +shining money lying about her floor. Where had these pieces of silver +come from? Here was a mystery she could not solve. But she knew it was +from the Lord, and that he had answered her prayer. So with tears of +gratitude, she gave thanks to Him, "whose is the silver and the gold." + +Shortly after this event, she attended prayer-meeting, where she felt +constrained to make known this wonderful interposition in answer to +prayer. The Christians present were as much astonished as herself. The +silence which ensued was broken by a brother of that church, who rose +and said, "What this good woman has told you, is strictly true. These +dollars came from the Lord. They came in answer to her prayer." He then +detailed the circumstances before related. "God deputed me to carry this +money, and providentially I am here to night to testify to the fact that +God hears and answers prayer." + +It seems, from a subsequent statement, that this widow, owed a certain +sum, that she was obliged to pay immediately, and having nothing in +hand, she was pleading, that night, that her Heavenly Father would send +her the needed amount. + + +THE SEWING GIRL RELIEVED JUST IN TIME. + + +A sick Scotch girl was found lying on a narrow bed in a close, +uncomfortable room, her sobs audible to the missionary, when half-way up +the stairs. Her story was short. When about, she earned three dollars +and a half a week, at a business that was killing her. Of that, she paid +three dollars for her board; leaving but the half-dollar for clothing or +incidentals. But now--she had been lying there two weeks; six dollars +were due for board, and still she was unable to rise, and, when she did, +how could she ever pay the back indebtedness? + +The woman with whom she lived, was too poor herself to give her the lost +time, and, moreover, was one of the class whom struggle and battle +hardens. The missionary came just in time to quell the poor girl's +fears, and paid her debts; mind and body were set at rest, and, one or +two Christian ladies being made acquainted with the case, attended to +the comforts which hastened her recovery; and, when once more pursuing +her avocation, her "mither's God" seemed very near, not as one afar off. + + +PRAYING FOR A HOME. + + +A young Southern girl, who had lost a position through five months' +sickness, and found herself, at last, in the street and penniless, +turned her steps to a daily prayer-meeting. She said her earliest +impressions from her mother were, that the Lord never failed those who +really put their trust in Him. She had sought work for food and shelter, +though destitute of sufficient covering to keep her from trembling with +cold, and, so far, sought in vain; but she was sure it was waiting for +her somewhere, and she thought perhaps God's people could tell her +where. She was right. A sweet-faced lady, who had listened, said she +wanted some young girl who might help her a little when she left for her +summer residence, and she had been waiting to find a child of pious +parents. Bessie went home with her from that very meeting, and, in two +weeks, came back, with bright eyes and warm, good clothing, to say +good-by to the ladies who had spoken to her so kindly, and, in whose +midst, she had found a second mother. They were to leave town the next +day, and she asked permission to come to the meeting once more and tell +what the Lord had done for her. + + +HOW MUCH GOOD TWO DOLLARS DID. + + +A lady sent two dollars to a brave-hearted sister--who, by faith alone, +and not by money, had gathered some sick and poor about her, and lived +only by prayer--and a note of apology and half-contempt that it was such +a miserable pittance. She received, in reply, the following little +financial statement: + +"My Dear Friend:--Remember the five loaves and two fishes, and listen to +the message of your two dollars. This is the way I expended it: + + Corned beef,. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0 80 + Chop and egg for sick aunty,. . . . . . 13 + Sweet potatoes, . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 + White potatoes, . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 + Cabbage and bread,. . . . . . . . . . . 30 + Tea, milk and sugar,. . . . . . . . . . 30 + ----- + $1 88 + +The balance bought the coal with which it was cooked, and _fifteen_ +people were fed!" + + +SAVED FROM STARVATION. + + +On the second floor of a rear house lived a lady well known once as +among the foremost members of a wealthy church. The first blow of +adversity opened a wide passage for a succession of disasters. She +passed through the whole sliding scale, until the missionary found her +in the poor, dilapidated tenement where, for two days and nights, she +had lain in bed to keep warm; or as nearly so as her scanty covering +would admit. + +It was Saturday, and the only food she had to keep her alive until +Monday, was two soda biscuits! She had sold everything comfortable in +the way of furniture; all her clothing but one respectable suit for the +street, and the only thing remaining, that pointed to the history of +better days, was a pair of gold eye-glasses, given her by her dying +mother. Within a few months her dire necessity had often pointed to the +glasses; but she could not see without them, nor could she sell the gold +frames unless she had means to have the glass set in commoner ones. +Moreover, the harpies who feed and thrive on the miseries of the poor, +would in no case have given her more than twenty-five cents for them; +and the short respite derived from that amount would not have +compensated for the sacrifice. She had looked at them that morning; felt +that starve she must and would, but that souvenir of her mother should +never leave her. She went back to bed and prayed fervently that the Lord +would show her some way of escape, or take her that day to himself. She +slept an hour or two, and then awakened, strong in the conviction that +he would show her some way before night, and though it was six o'clock +P.M., before the missionary called, no doubt had arisen to trouble her +mind; and as soon as he entered and introduced himself, she said--"You +are a messenger from the Lord, sir; I have been expecting you." + + +GOD WITH US. + + +An old woman was taking home' some sewing the night before, and passing +through a narrow and dark street, was knocked down by a runaway horse. +Taken up senseless and unknown, she was carried into the house of a kind +family who sent for a physician. It was not till next morning that she +recovered consciousness, and was able to give her address. A messenger +was at once dispatched to her husband, who was supposed to be wild with +terror. He was truly thankful to hear from human lips of her +whereabouts; but said he knew she was not dead, and he would see her in +the morning; for the Lord had been with him all night and assured him of +it. He had also kept the fire from going out; and now that she would be +brought home in a few hours, he was ready to trust his Father, as he had +been through the night. His hourly friend was Immanuel, God _with_ us; +not God somewhere or other in infinite space. + + +A VESSEL SAVED. + + +A vessel was six months making the passage from Liverpool to Bermuda +Island. Fogs enveloped it; winds sent it hither and thither; captain and +mate lost their reckoning, lost their senses; and when, added to the +rest, the vessel sprung a leak, gave up in despair. Crew and passengers +were finally reduced to a few drops of water and one potato a day, and +they merely waited death from starvation or drowning. All but one! One +man; a minister, whose faith and belief in their final escape burned but +brighter and brighter, as the others sank in the gloom of silent +despair. A few days before they made the land, the leakage suddenly +ceased; no one could account for it; but a week after their arrival, +when the vessel had been condemned by the authorities as unsea-worthy, +it was proposed to turn it bottom upward and see what stopped the leak. +God seemed to have performed a miracle for them, when it was discovered +that that end of the vessel was entirely covered with barnacles! + + +A REMARKABLE PRAYER CONCERNING A REMARKABLE TEXT. + + +A clergyman, accustomed to preach regularly in his journey through +Fleming Circuit, Kentucky, was preparing on one Saturday for the labors +of the next day. He was then staying at the residence of a family named +Bowers, from which he was to journey the next day five miles to preach +at 11 A.M., at a church called Mt. Olivet. On this Saturday, as he +relates the incident, as soon and as privately as practicable, I pored +over the Bible in quest of a suitable subject for the next day at Mount +Olivet, and strange to tell! not one passage in the whole Book, that +afternoon and night, could I fix upon, as, in my estimation, suitable +for the next day. There was one passage, (two or three clauses of which +I had by some means got fixed in my memory), that early that afternoon +appeared in my mind as though each word was written in CAPITAL LETTERS. +I turned to the whole passage as soon as I could find it; Heb. 6: 4-6; +and read, "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened," +etc., etc. I had previously studied that whole subject, as recorded in +the original, and as disposed of by learned Commentators of different +creeds. I had settled in my own mind the import of the passage. But it +seemed unsuitable for me, not then three years old in the ministry, to +attempt the settlement of a theological question, about which the best +and most learned of modern days had differed. I therefore tried to +dismiss it from my mind, and to find some passage more suitable for the +coming morrow. But my constant effort proved unsuccessful; and the said +passage in Hebrews often recurred to my mind. Thus passed my time till I +had to go to bed, resolving to attempt an early settlement of the +growing difficulty next morning. But the morning studies produced no +change in the unsettled state of the question, what shall I preach from +to-day? Thus matters remained until I reached Mount Olivet, and had to +begin service without a text. But I concluded if a suitable text did not +occur while singing, praying and reading some Scripture lesson, rather +than have no text, I would take Heb. 6: 4-6. And, cornered in this +dilemma, so I did, and used it as well as I could. + +I then passed around the circuit as usual, and the fourth Saturday +thereafter, I arrived again at Brother Bowers', preached, met the class, +etc. Then, when all the class had left the room except their own family, +Brother and Sister Bowers said to me, each manifesting intense feeling +and interest, "Have you heard of the _strange_ thing that happened when +you were here four weeks ago?" Said I, "No! what was it?" They said, +"Did you see a man sitting in the house while you was preaching to-day?" +describing his dress, looks, etc. I answered, "Yes." Said they, "Did you +see a woman sitting over there," describing her? I said, "Yea." Said +they, "They are husband and wife--their name is--(I have long since +forgotten the name)--they are good members of the Presbyterian church, +their children are members of our class, as you have called their names +every time you have examined us. The man and his wife were here and +heard you four weeks ago--they know our rules, and when those not of our +church were dismissed, they left their children with us, as usual, and +their parents started home. And, as they themselves tell us and others, +as they went along, said the woman to her husband, 'Does not Mr. Akers +preach to-morrow at Mount Olivet?' And he answered, 'I believe he does.' +Said she, '_Well, if I thought he would take a certain text I would like +very much to go and hear him._' Said her husband, '_What text_?' And she +repeated the whole passage in _Hebrews_ 6:4-6. Said her husband, 'Well, +I reckon he will take some subject that will be interesting, and if you +say so we will not go to our own church to-morrow, we will go to Mount +Olivet.' She answered, '_Agreed,_ and I do pray the Lord that he may +take that text.' And she says, she continued to pray all that evening +and next morning, until sitting in the church at Mount Olivet, she heard +_you read out the said text, when she knew the Lord had answered her +prayer_, and she could scarcely help from loud crying of thanks to God." + +I then told Brother and Sister Bowers my troubles about that text, as +above stated. The Lord answers prayer. + + +HOW SHE LEARNED TO LOVE THE BIBLE. + + +The Rev. Frederick G. Clark thus writes of an answer to prayer, from one +who wanted to love the Bible more: + +"Twenty-seven years ago, in the congregation of my first charge, was a +lady whose love for the Bible was something remarkable. In the +confidence of a pastoral visit, she told me of her joy in the divine +word, and also recited the incidents of her experience in this regard. +She had formerly read her Bible as so many do--a chapter now, and a +halfchapter then, without much interest or profit. She was, even then, +most interested in religious things. But her chief sources of spiritual +strength were in such writings as those of Baxter, Payson and Robert +Phillips. It was her custom to read the Bible from duty, and then turn +to these uninspired volumes for the kindling of a higher devotion. For a +good while this satisfied her; but, at length, she came to feel grieved +about it. She thought it a dishonor to God's word that any book should +be as interesting to her as the Bible. She tried to change this, but, at +first, with little success. The Bible was still duty--Baxter was +pleasure and spiritual elevation. + +"_At length, she could bear it no longer; so she took the case to God, +with strong crying. She told her Heavenly Father how grieved she was +that any book should rival the Bible in her affections. She asked this +one thing--and she renewed her prayer every day--that her first delight +might be in reading the word of God_. I think it was some time before +she felt that her request was granted. But, at length, the answer to her +prayer was complete and marvelous. A strange light came over the sacred +page. A fascination held her to her Bible. She discovered a depth, a +meaning, a curiosity, a charm, which were all new and most wonderful. +Sometimes, when she had finished reading her Bible for the night, and +had closed the book and had moved towards her bed, she would go back +again and enjoy the luxury of a few more verses. + + +THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. + + +At the age of twenty years, a lady in Winchester, Iowa, began to lose +her health, and in a short time was confined to her bed. And she +writes:--"In addition to this I lost the use of my eyes, and was blind +and helpless, a greater portion of my time for five years. + +"I enjoyed the blessing of prayer and trust some six months before +feeling a liberty to pray for the healing of my body; fearing I should +desire it without due submission to God's will. It was with _fear and +trembling_ that I first made known this request. Though my pleadings in +this direction were earnest, and often agonizing, yet I could say with a +fervor as never before, 'Not my will, but thine be done.' + +"About the end of November, or early in December, 1873, I realized that +my faith was perfect, that I was ready _now_ to be healed, that my faith +was momentarily waiting on God, resting without a doubt on the promises. +From this time forward my faith remained fixed with but one exception. +During the time between December, 1873, and July, 1874, I was healed to +such an extent that I could walk some, and see more or less every day, +though sometimes with only one of my eyes. A portion of this time I felt +as though in a furnace of fire; but amid the flames I realized the +presence of the Son of God, who said, '_have chosen thee in the furnace +of affliction_.' This for a time seemed an answer to my petition, and so +thought it my life-work to suffer; for a while my faith became inactive, +and I almost ceased praying for my health. Though I felt submissive, yet +somehow I was soon crying, and that most instinctively, 'Thou Son of +David, have mercy on me.' After this, my faith did not waver. Oh, the +lesson of patience I learned in thus _waiting_ on _God's_ good time. And +with what comfort could I present my body an offering to Him, realizing +that as soon as at all possible with His will, I should be healed; I had +an assurance of this, but did not know whether it would be during life, +or accomplished only at death. + +"In this manner I waited before God until the morning of the 29th of +July, when, without ecstasy of joy, or extra illumination, came a sense +of the presence of Jesus, and a presentation of this gift, accompanied +with these words: 'Here is the gift for which you have been praying; are +you willing to receive it?' + +"I at first felt the incoming of the Divine power at the parts diseased, +steadily driving out the same, until death was swallowed up in victory. +I at once arose from my bed, and proceeded to work about the house, to +the great astonishment of my friends, some of whom thought me wild; but +I continued my work, assuring them that Jesus had healed me. Realizing +the scrutiny and doubt with which I was observed, I said to my father, +'What do you think?' He replied, 'It is supernatural power; no one can +deny it.' + +"My healing took place on Wednesday; on Saturday was persuaded to lie +down, which I did, but found the bed was no place for me; thought of +Peter's wife's mother, who 'arose and ministered to them; knew that to +her, strength, as well as health, was instantly given, as in the case of +the palsied man, who rose, took up his bed, and departed. I returned to +my work, backing my experience with those in God's word, and since then +have not lain down during the day time. + +"My friends could not realize the completeness of the cure, until I read +a full hour, and that by lamp-light, and until asked to desist, the +first opportunity after being healed. + +"A week from this time, I discharged the hired girl, taking charge of +the household work, which I have continued with perfect ease. About four +weeks after my healing, had occasion to walk four miles, which I did +with little or no weariness. Let me add to the praise of God, that I +have no disease whatever. Am able to do more hard work with less +weariness, than at any other period in my life, and faith in the Lord is +the balm that made me whole." + + +THE WIDOW'S SHOES. + + +A poor woman--a widow with an invalid son--a member of the church, could +not attend church, or the neighborhood prayer-meetings, for the want of +shoes. She asked the Lord for the shoes. That very day the village +school-master called in to see her son. Meanwhile he noticed that the +boy's mother had very poor shoes. He said nothing, but felt impressed, +and inwardly resolved to purchase the poor woman a pair of shoes +forthwith. He accordingly hired a horse, rode two miles on horseback to +a shoe-store, bought the shoes, and requested them sent to the widow's +cottage without delay. They proved a perfect fit; and that very night +the overjoyed woman hurried to the prayer-meeting to announce that in +answer to prayer the Lord had sent her the shoes. + +The young school-master, who, I suspect, was my informant himself, now a +venerable, white-haired man, heard the poor woman's testimony; and his +pillow that night was wet with tears of gratitude and joy because God +had used him thus to bless the poor widow, and to answer her prayers. + + +A REMARKABLE DREAM. + + +The late Dr. Whitehead was accustomed to repeat with pleasure' the +following fact: In the year 1764, he was stationed as an itinerant +preacher in Cornwall. He had to preach one evening in a little village +where there was a small Methodist Society. "The friend," said he, "at +whose house we preached, had at that time a daughter, who lived with one +of our people about ten miles off. His wife was gone to attend her +daughter, who was dangerously ill of a fever; and her husband had that +day received a message from her, informing him that his child's life was +despaired of. He earnestly and with tears desired Mr. Whitehead to +recommend his daughter to God in prayer, both before and after +preaching. He did so in the most warm and affectionate manner. Late that +evening, or very early next morning, while the young woman's mother was +sitting by her daughter's bedside (who had been in a strong delirium for +several days), she opened her eyes and hastily addressed her mother +thus: 'O mother! I have been dreaming that I saw a man lifting up his +eyes and hands to heaven, and fervently praying to God for my recovery! +The Lord has heard his prayers, and my fever is gone; and what is far +better, the Lord has spoken peace to my soul, and sealed His pardoning +love on my heart. I know it, I feel it, my dear mother; and His Spirit +bears witness with my spirit, that I am a child of God, and an heir of +glory.' Her mother, thinking that she was still in delirium, desired her +to compose herself, and remain quiet. The daughter replied, 'My dear +mother, I am in no delirium now; I am perfectly in my senses; do help me +to rise, that upon my bended knees I may praise God.' Her mother did so, +and they both praised God with joyful hearts, and from that hour the +young woman recovered so fast, that she was soon able to attend to the +affairs of the family where she lived. She had never seen Mr. Whitehead, +previous to this remarkable time; but some weeks after, she saw him, and +the moment she beheld his face, she fainted away. As soon as she came to +herself, she said, 'Sir, you are the person I saw in my dream, when I +was ill in a violent fever; and I beheld you lift up your hands and eyes +to heaven, and most fervently pray for my recovery and conversion to +God. The Lord, in mercy, heard your prayers, and answered them to the +healing of my wounded spirit, and to the restoration of my body. I have +walked in the light of His countenance from that time to the present, +and I trust I shall do so as long as I live.' How remarkably does this +circumstance illustrate the words of St. James, 'The prayer of faith +shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have +committed sins, they shall be forgiven him!'" + + +"YOU MUST NOT GO." + + +A remarkable instance of deep impression occasionally made by the Holy +Spirit on the mind of the Rev. William Bramwell during prayer, occurred +in Liverpool. A pious young woman, a member of Society, wished to go to +her friends, then living in Jamaica. She took her passage, had her +luggage taken on board, and expected to sail on the following day. +Having the greatest respect for Mr. Bramwell, she waited upon him, to +take leave and request an interest in his prayers. Before parting, they +knelt down, and he recommended her to the care of God. After he had been +engaged in prayer some time, he suddenly paused, and thus addressed her, +"My dear sister, you must not go to-morrow. God has just told me you +must not go." She was surprised, but he was positive, and prevailed upon +her to postpone her voyage, and assisted her to remove her luggage out +of the vessel. The ship sailed, and in about six weeks intelligence +arrived that the vessel was lost, and all on board had perished. + + +EVIL AVERTED. + + +A correspondent of the _Guide to Holiness_ says: "We remember a poor +woman who had had a life of sore vicissitude which she bore with +remarkable Christian cheerfulness; and after a time of the suspension of +trial, a bad prospect came in sight. She resorted to a friend to whom +she confidingly related the threatening evil, and at parting said, 'Oh +pray for us.' The case as it was known was taken immediately that early +morning to the throne of grace and laid out in all its circumstances +with a deeply sympathizing heart, and a consciousness of the past +sufferings of that woman--and as the friend rose from prayer, the answer +was given that the evil was averted, and a new change would come to that +afflicted one. + +"That very day a strange deliverance and opening appeared which set that +family at rest from their peculiar trials for the rest of life." + + +HOW A POOR LITTLE CRIPPLE CONVERTED A VILLAGE. + + +Mr. D.L. Moody relates the instance of a poor little cripple, whose +prayers were answered to the conversion of _fifty-six people._ + +"I once knew a little cripple who lay upon her death bed. She had given +herself to God, and was distressed only because she could not labor for +Him actively among the lost. Her clergyman visited her, and hearing her +complaint, told her from her sick bed she could pray; to pray for those +she wished to see turning to God. He told her to write the names down, +and then to pray earnestly; he went away and thought of the subject no +more. + +"Soon a feeling of religious interest sprang up in the village, and the +churches were crowded nightly. The little cripple heard of the progress +of the revival, and inquired anxiously for the names of the saved. A few +weeks later she died, and among a roll of papers that was found under +her little pillow, was one bearing the names of fifty-six persons, every +one of whom had in the revival been converted. By each name was a little +cross by which the poor crippled saint had checked off the names of the +converts as they had been reported to her." + + +PLEASE GOD, GIVE US A HOME. + + +Mr. Moody tells of a beautiful answer to the faith of a little child. + +"I remember a child that lived with her parents in a small village. One +day the news came that her father had joined the army (it was the +beginning of our war), and a few days after, the landlord came to demand +the rent. The mother told him she hadn't got it, and that her husband +had gone into the army. He was a hard-hearted wretch, and he stormed, +and said that they must leave the house; he wasn't going to have people +who couldn't pay the rent. + +"After he was gone, the mother threw herself into the armchair, and +began to weep bitterly. Her little girl, whom she taught to pray in +faith, (but it is more difficult to practice than to preach,) came up to +her, and said, '_What makes you cry, mamma, I will pray to God to give +us a little home, and won't He_?' What could the mother say? So the +little child went into the next room and began to pray. The door was +open, and the mother could hear every word. + +_"'O, God, you have come and taken away father, and mamma has got no +money, and the landlord will turn us out because we can't pay, and we +will have to sit on the door-step, and mamma will catch cold. Give us a +little home_.' Then she waited as if for an answer, and then added, +'_Won't you, please, God_?' + +"She came out of that room quite happy, expecting a home to be given +them. The mother felt reproved. God heard the prayer of that little one, +for he touched the heart of the cruel landlord, and she has never paid +any rent since." + +God give us the faith of that little child, that we may likewise expect +an answer, "_nothing wavering_." + + +"OF COURSE HE WILL." + + +Mr. Moody also gives the story of a little child whose father and mother +had died, and she was taken into another family. The first night she +asked if she could pray, as she used to do. + +They said, Oh, yes! So she knelt down, and prayed as her mother taught +her, and when that was ended she added a little prayer of her own: "_Oh, +God, make these people as kind to me as father and mother were_." Then +she paused, and looked up, as if expecting an answer, and added, "_Of +course he will_." + +How sweetly simple was that little one's faith; she expected God to +"do," and she got her request. + + +STRIKING ANSWER. + + +The following incidents are specially contributed to these pages by Rev. +J.S. Bass, a Home Missionary of Brooklyn, N.Y.: + +"While living in Canada, my eldest daughter, then a girl of ten years of +age, rather delicate and of feeble health, had a severe attack of +chorea, "St. Vitus's dance." To those who have had any experience in +this distressing complaint, nothing need be said of the deep affliction +of the household at the sight of our loved one, as all her muscles +appeared to be affected, the face distorted with protrusion of the +tongue, and the continuous involuntary motions by jerks of her limbs. +The ablest medical advice and assistance were employed, and all that the +sympathy of friends and the skill of physicians could do were of no +avail. She grew worse rather than better, and death was looked to as a +happy release to the sufferings of the child, and the anguish of the +parents; as the medical men had given as their opinion that the mind of +the child would become diseased, and if her life were lengthened, it +would be an enfeebled body united to an idiotic mind. + +"But God was better to us than our most sanguine hopes far better to us +than our fears. + +"In our trouble we thought on God, and asked his help. We knew we had +the prayers of some of God's chosen ones. On a certain Sunday morning I +left my home to fill an appointment in the Wesleyan chapel in the +village of Cooksville, two miles distant. I left with a heavy heart. My +child was distressing to look upon, my wife and her sister were worn out +with watching and fatigue. It was only from a sense of duty that I left +my home that morning. During the sermon God refreshed and encouraged my +heart still to trust in him. After the service, many of the congregation +tarried to inquire of my daughter's condition, among them an aged saint, +Sister Wilson, widow of a Wesleyan preacher, and Sister Galbraith, wife +of the class-leader. Mother Wilson encouraged me to 'hope in God,' +saying 'the sisters of the church have decided to spend to-morrow +morning together in supplication and prayer for you and your family, and +that God would cure Ruth.' + +"Monday morning came. Ruth had passed a restless night. Weak and +emaciated, her head was held that a tea-spoonful of water should be +given her. My duties called me away (immediately after breakfast) to a +neighbor's; about noon, a messenger came, in great haste, to call me +home. On entering the sick-chamber, I noticed the trundle-bed empty, and +my little girl, with smiling face, sitting in a chair at the window, +(say eight feet from the bed.) I learned from the child that, while on +the bed, the thought came to her that, if she could only get her feet on +the floor, the Lord would help her to sit up. By an effort, she +succeeded, moving herself to the edge of the bed, put her legs over the +side until her feet touched the floor, and sat up. She then thought, if +she tried, the Lord would help her to stand up, and then to walk; all of +which she accomplished, without any human aid, she being left in the +room alone. The same afternoon she was in the yard playing with her +brothers, quickly gained flesh, recovered strength, with intellect clear +and bright; she lived to the age of twenty-two, never again afflicted +with this disease, or anything like it. At the age of twenty-two, ripe +for heaven, it pleased God to take her to himself. + +"The sisters, led by Mother Wilson, waited on God in prayer, and God +fulfilled that day the promise--Isaiah 65:24: 'And it shall come to +pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet +speaking, I will hear.'" + + +A REMARKABLE CASE. + + +On the afternoon of Monday, August 20, 1869, I was sent for to visit +Mrs. M., who was reported to be very sick. Arriving at the house, I was +told that "Mrs. M., after a hard day's work, had retired to rest +Saturday night in her usual state of health, that immediately after +getting in bed she had fallen asleep and had not awoke up to this time, +(6 o'clock Monday evening,) that three physicians had been in attendance +for 30 hours, that all their efforts to arouse her were without avail." + +In the chamber, Mrs. M. lay in the bed apparently in a troubled sleep, +she was a woman of medium size, about 50 years of age, the mother of a +large family; around her bed stood her husband, four sons and a +daughter, and relatives, about twelve persons in all. The husband and +sons were irreligious, but awed in the presence of this affliction. + +I felt, as perhaps I never felt before, my ignorance, my helplessness, +and the necessity of entire dependence on God for guidance and +inspiration, that prayer should be made in accordance with his will. + +I knelt at the bedside and held the woman's hand in mine, lifted up my +heart to God and prayed, "If it be thy will and for thy glory, and for +the good of this family, grant that this woman may once more open her +eyes to look upon her children, once more open her lips in counsel and +holy admonition." While thus praying, as I believe, inspired by the +Spirit of God, and with faith in Jesus Christ, I was conscious of a +movement around me, and opening my eyes, I saw Mrs. M. sitting up in +bed. Some of the persons in the room were weeping, others laughing; the +sons came nearer the bed, and asked, "Mother, do you know me? do you +know me?" She called each by name, and beckoned to her daughter, held +her by the hand. I, poor faithless one, was wondering what does this +mean? One of the sons took me by the hand saying, "Oh! Mr. Bass, God +heard and answered that prayer." I sung the hymn, "There is a fountain +filled with blood," Mrs. M. singing to the close, and then, apparently +exhausted, sank back on the pillow, speechless and unconscious. The +physicians were sent for, came, wondered, speculated, administered +medicine, blistered the calves of the legs, and cupped the back of the +neck, but to no purpose. She remained in speechless unconsciousness till +the next afternoon, when, while prayer was being made, she again opened +her eyes, sat up and conversed with her children and friends. In a few +days she resumed her household duties, enjoying a good degree of health +and strength, and faithfully serving God and her generation until it +pleased God to call her home to the rest prepared for the people of God, +three years after the incident, the subject of this paper. + + +A LITTLE GIRL'S BEAUTIFUL FAITH. + + +A little German girl, who had never hitherto known the name of the Lord +Jesus, was led to attend a Mission school. It was the custom at the +school, before the little ones received their dinner, to lift their +hands and thank God for their food. + +When in course of time she spent her days at home, and her father's +family were gathered around their own table, this little girl said: + +"_Pa, we must hold up our hand's and thank God before we eat._ That's +the way we do at the Mission." + +So winning was the little one in her ways, the parents yielded at once. + +At another time her father was sick and unable to work, and the little +girl said, "_Pa, I'm going to pray that you may get well and go to work +to-morrow morning_." + +At four o'clock in the morning she awoke and called out, "_Pa, don't you +feel better_." The father said, "Yes, I am better," and he went to his +work in the morning, although weak and obliged to rest by the way. + +There came a time once when he could not get work, and there was no food +in the house for dinner. + +This little girl knelt down and asked God to send them their dinner, and +when she rose from her knees, she said, "Now we must wait till the +whistle blows, till 12 o'clock." + +At twelve o'clock the whistle blew, and the little girl said, "Get the +table ready, it is coming," and just then in came a neighbor with soup +for their dinner. + + +THE LORD HELPS TO PAY DEBTS. + + +The author of this incident is known to the editor of "Remarkable +Providences," and speaking of it says: "_God never gave me exactly what +I wanted. He always gave me more."_ + +"When I married I was a working man; I had not much money to spare. In +about three months after my marriage, I fell ill, and my illness +continued for more than nine months. At that period I was in great +distress. I owed a sum of money and had no means to pay it. It must be +paid on a certain day, or I must go to jail. I had no food for myself or +wife; and in this distress I went up to my room, and took my Bible. I +got down on my knees and opened it, laid my fingers on several of the +promises, and claimed them as mine. I said, 'Lord, this is thine own +word of promise; I claim thy promises.' I endeavored to lay hold of them +by faith. I wrestled with God for sometime in this way. I got up off my +knees, and walked about some time. I then went to bed, and took my +Bible, and opened it on these words: '_Call upon me in the day of +trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me_.' + +"I said, 'it is enough, Lord.' I knew deliverance would come, and I +praised God with my whole heart. Whilst in this frame of mind I heard a +knock at the door. I went and opened it and a man handed me a letter. I +turned to look at the letter, and when I looked up again, the man was +gone. + +"The letter contained the sum I wanted, and five shillings over. It is +now eighteen years ago. I never knew who sent it. God only knows. Thus +God delivered me out of all my distress. To Him be all the praise." + + +PRAYING FOR A LOST POCKET-BOOK. + + +A contributor to _The Christian_ writes as follows: + +"A few months since I lost my pocket-book, containing money and papers +of a large amount--more than I felt able to lose--and which I should +feel the loss of, as I was owing at that time about the same amount. + +"On the day of my loss, I had been from home about a mile and a half, +and it was about 9 o'clock _in the evening_, when I returned. And it was +not till then that I ascertained my loss. + +"My health was very poor, and the prospect of regaining the lost +pocket-book was quite uncertain; it was so dark that I thought it would +be impossible for me to find it. Consequently I determined to remain +awake during the night, and at 3 o'clock in the morning search for it, +and if possible, find it before any one should pass over the road. + +"The seeming impossibility of finding it, and the reflections consequent +upon the loss of the money were so unpleasant to me that I was led to +make it a subject of prayer, fully trusting that in some way God would +so direct that I should come in possession of it. If so, I determined to +give him $25 of it. + +"As soon as I had formed this purpose, all that unpleasant feeling left +me, and I did not admit a single doubt but I should get it. + +"Accordingly, _at 3 o'clock in the morning_ I made a thorough search, +but could not find it. Yet my faith in God's guiding hand did not fail +me, and I believed that my trust would be realized. + +"While I was thus thinking of the certainty of the fulfillment of the +promises of the Gospel to the believer, I was called on by a gentleman, +a leading business man of the place, who came to know if _I had lost +anything_. + +"I told him I had lost my pocket-book. He wanted to know how much it +contained. I told him. He said his son had occasion to pass early on +that morning, and had found it in the road, and that in all probability +I should otherwise have lost it, as two men passed by immediately after +it was found. + +"Thus God found it and returned it to me." + + * * * * * + + + + +LIVES OF FAITH AND TRUST + + +AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF FAITH AND TRUST. + + +For many centimes there has not been a more remarkable testimony of +unfaltering trust in the faithfulness of God in supplying human wants, +than is found in the life and labor of George Muller and his Orphan +Home, in Bristol, England. His record is one of humility, yet one of +daily dependence upon the providence and the knowledge of God to supply +his daily wants. It has been one of extraordinary trial; yet never, for +a single hour, has God forsaken him. Beginning, in 1834, with absolutely +nothing; giving himself, his earthly all and his family to the Lord, and +asking the Lord's pleasure and blessing upon his work of philanthropy, +he has never, for once, appealed to any individual for aid, for +assistance, for loans; but has relied wholly in prayer to the +Lord--coming with each day's cares and necessities--and the Lord has +ever supplied. He has never borrowed, never been in debt; living only +upon what the Lord has sent--yet in the forty-third year of his life of +faith and trust--he has been able, through the voluntary contributions +which the Lord has prompted the hearts of the people to give, to +accomplish these wonderful results: _Over half a million dollars_ have +been spent in the construction of buildings--_over fifteen thousand +orphans have been cared for and supported--and over one million dollars_ +have been received for their support. _Every dollar of which has been +asked for in believing prayer from the Lord_. The record is the most +astounding in the faith of the Christian religion, and the power and +providence of God to answer prayer, that modern times can show. + +The orphans' homes have been visited again and again by Christian +clergymen of all denominations, to feel the positive satisfaction and +certainty that all this were indeed the work of prayer, and they have +been abundantly convinced. + +The spectacle is indeed a _standing miracle. "A man sheltering, feeding, +clothing, educating, and mailing comfortable and happy, hundreds of poor +orphan children, with no funds of his own, and no possible means of +sustenance, save that which God sent him in answer to prayer_." + +An eminent clergyman who for five years had been constantly hearing of +this work of faith, and could hardly believe in its possibility, at last +visited Mr. Muller's home for the purpose of thorough investigation, +exposing it, if it were under false pretenses or mistaken ways of +securing public sympathy, or else with utmost critical search, desired +to become convinced it was indeed supported only by true prayer. He had +reserved for himself, as he says, a wide margin for deductions and +disappointment, but after his search, as "_I left Bristol, I exclaimed +with the queen of Sheba, 'The half had not been told me.' Here I saw, +indeed, seven hundred orphan children fed and provided for, by the hand +of God, in answer to prayer, as literally and truly as Elijah was fed by +ravens with meat which the Lord provided_." + +Mr. Muller himself has said in regard to their manner of living: +"_Greater and more manifest nearness of the Lord's presence I have never +had, than when after breakfast, there were no means for dinner, and then +the Lord provided the dinner for more than one hundred persons; and when +after dinner, there were no means for the tea; and yet the Lord provided +the tea; and all this without one single human being having been +informed about our need_." + +Thus it will be seen his life is one of daily trial and trust, and he +says, "Our desire therefore, is, not that we may be without trials of +faith, but that the Lord graciously would be pleased to support us in +the trial, that we may not dishonor him by distrust." + +The question having been asked of him, "Such a way of living must lead +the mind continually to think whence food, clothes, etc., are to come, +with no benefit for spiritual exercise," he replies: "Our minds are very +little tried about the necessaries of life; just because the care +respecting them is laid upon our Father, who, because we are his +children, not _only allows_ us to do so, _but will have us to do so_. + +"It must also be remembered that even if our minds _were_ much tried +about our supplies, yet because we look to the _Lord alone_ for all +these things, we should be brought by our sense of need, into the +presence of our Father for the supply of it, _and that is a blessing_, +and satisfying to the soul." + +This humble statement from the experience of one who has tried and +proven the Lord in little things, as well as large, conveys to the +Christian that world of practical instruction which is contained in the +precepts of the Bible, viz: to _encourage all to cast their cares on +God_; and teaches them the lessons of their dependence upon Him for +their daily supplies. + +The meaning of the Lord's blessing upon the work of Mr. Muller, is to +make it a standing example and illustration to be adopted in every +Christian home. "_How God supplies our needs, how he rewards faith, how +he cares for those who trust in Him. How he can as well take care of his +children to-day as he did in the days of the Prophets, and how surely he +fulfills his promise, even when the trial brings us to the extremities +of circumstances seemingly impossible_." + +Mr. Muller's experience is remarkable, not because the Lord has made his +an exceptional case for the bestowal of blessings, but because of the +_remarkable, unwavering and persevering application of his faith_, by +the man himself. + +His faith began with small degrees, and small hopes. It was painfully +tried. But it clung hopefully, and never failed to gain a triumph. Each +trial only increased its tenacity, and brought him greater humility, for +it opened his own heart to a sense of his own powerlessness, and this +faith has grown with work and trial, till its strength is beyond all +precedent. + +The lessons which the Lord wishes each one to take from it, is this: +"_Be your faith little or weak, never give it up; apply my promises to +all your needs, and expect their fulfillment. Little things are as +sacred as great things_." + +In the journal kept by Mr. Muller during his many years of experience, +he has preserved many incidents of answer to prayer in small matters, of +which we quote the following from his book. "_The Power of Faith and +Prayer_." + +1. "One of the orphan boys needed to be apprenticed. I knew of no +suitable believing master who would take an indoor apprentice. I gave +myself to prayer, and brought the matter daily before the Lord. At last, +though I had to pray about the matter from May 21 to September, the Lord +granted my request, and I found a suitable place for him. + +2. I asked the Lord that he would be pleased to deliver a certain sister +in the Lord from the great spiritual depression under which she was +suffering, and after three days the Lord granted my request. + +3. I asked the Lord daily in his mercy to keep a sister in the Lord from +insanity, who was then apparently on the border of it. I have now to +record his praise, after nearly four years have passed away, that the +Lord has kept her from it. + +4. During this year has occurred the conversion of one of the greatest +sinners that I had ever heard of in all my service for the Lord. +Repeatedly I fell on my knees with his wife, and asked the Lord for his +conversion, when she came to me in the deepest distress of soul, on +account of the most barbarous and cruel treatment that she had received +from him in his bitter enmity against her for the Lord's sake. And now +the awful persecutor is converted. + +5. It pleased the Lord to try my faith in a way in which before, it had +not been tried. My beloved daughter was taken ill on June 20. This +illness, at first a low fever, turned to typhus, _and July 3 there +seemed no hope of her recovery_. + +Now was the trial of faith, but faith triumphed. My wife and I were +enabled to give her up into the hands of the Lord. He sustained us both +exceedingly. + +She continued very ill till about July 20, when restoration began. On +August 18, she was so far restored that she could be removed to Clevedon +for change of air. It was then 59 days since she was taken ill. + +6. The heating apparatus of our Orphan Home unexpectedly gave out. It +was the commencement of Winter. To repair the leak was a questionable +matter. To put in a new boiler would in all probability take many weeks. +Workmen were sent for to make repairs. But on the day fixed for repairs +a _bleak north wind set in_." + +Now came cold weather, the fire must be put out, the repairs could not +be put off. Gladly would I have paid one hundred pounds if thereby the +difficulty could have been overcome, and the children not be exposed to +suffer for many days from living in cold rooms. + +At last I determined on falling entirely into the hands of God, who is +very merciful and of tender compassion. I now asked the Lord for two +things, viz.: "That He would be pleased to change the _north wind into a +south wind_, and that he would give the workmen a mind to work. + +Well, the memorable day came. The evening before, the bleak north wind +blew still; but on the Wednesday the south wind blew _exactly as I had +prayed_. The weather was so mild that no fire was needed. + +About half-past eight in the evening, the principal of the firm whence +the boiler-makers came, arrived to see how the work was going on, and +whether he could in any way speed the matter. + +The principal went with me to see his men; to the foreman of whom he +said: "The men will work late this evening, and come very early again +to-morrow." + +"_We would rather_," said the leader, "_work all night_." + +Then remembered I the second part of my prayer, that God would give the +men a mind to work. By morning the repair was accomplished, the leak was +stopped, and in thirty hours the fire was again in the boiler; _and all +the time the south wind blew so mildly that there was not the least need +of a fire_. + +7. In the year 1865, the scarlet fever broke out in several of the +Orphan Homes. In one of which were four hundred girls, and in the other +four hundred and fifty. It appeared among the infants. The cases +increased more and more. But we betook ourselves to God in prayer. Day +by day we called upon Him regarding this trial, and generally two or +three times a day. At last, when the infirmary rooms were filled, and +some other rooms that could be spared for the occasion, to keep the sick +children from the rest, and when we had no other rooms to spare, at +least not without inconvenience, it pleased the Lord to answer our +prayers, and in mercy stay the disease. The disease was very general in +the town of Bristol, and many children died in consequence. _But not one +in the Orphan Home died. All recovered_. + +At another date, the whooping-cough also broke out among the four +hundred and fifty girls of our Home, and though many were dying in the +towns of the same disease, yet all in the Orphan Home recovered except +one little girl who had very weak lungs, a constitutional tendency to +consumption. + +8. In the early part of one Summer, it was found that we had several +boys ready to be apprenticed, but there were no applications made by +masters for apprentices. This was no small difficulty, as the master +must be also willing to receive the apprentice into his own family. We +again gave ourselves to _prayer_, instead of _advertising_. Some weeks +passed, but the difficulty remained. We continued in prayer, and then +one application was made for an apprentice, and from the time we first +began, we have been able to find places for eighteen boys." + + +THE CONSUMPTIVE'S HOME. + + +In the United States there is a Parallel Record to George Mailer's Life +of Faith and Trust, found in the history of the Consumptive's Home of +Boston, Mass. It was established twelve years since by Doctor Cullis, +who in the ardor of his faith and trust gave himself to the work of the +Lord, by ministering in _Jesus' Name_, to the poor consumptives who were +unable to provide for themselves. Doctor Cullis is a man of humility, +and devoted to his life work, and has been most abundantly blessed by +the Lord in his field. To the honor and glory of our Heavenly Father, he +has never been forsaken by Him. + +The Institution began twelve years ago, in small quarters. Now it +embraces a very large gathering of useful enterprises: _A Consumptive's +Home, Children's Home, Grove Hall Church, Tract Repository, a Training +College_, and a _Cancer Home_. The means provided have all been sent by +the Lord, who has prompted the hearts of good people to send to it their +voluntary contributions. + +There is no financial fund, endowment, or pecuniary provision whatever +existing for the support of the Home. No individuals have made any +agreement for its support; there is no trade or occupation used or +connected with it, whereby to obtain any remuneration. There has never +been any appeal to man for assistance, no subscriptions ever taken, no +contributions solicited, either publicly or privately; there are no +agencies or connections to receive funds from any religious society for +procuring charitable relief. + +The supplies for the carrying on of this work, during these twelve +years, have been wholly _in answer to believing prayer, to the Lord_. + +They have fulfilled faithfully the Lord's commands, "_Cast all your +cares on Him, for he careth for you_." They have also pleaded in faith, +without a doubt, "_Anything ye shall ask the Father in my name, I will +do it_." And they have asked and received, and the Provider has never +yet failed them. + +During the twelve years' time there has been sent to the Consumptive's +Home, without any solicitation whatever, but in answer to believing +prayer and faith and trust in God's providence, a sum no less than +_three hundred and sixty thousand dollars, and over fifteen hundred +patients have been gratuitously cared for_. No one has been urged, +asked, or even hinted to contribute to it. Each morning, noon and night +prayer has been offered to send means to provide for their daily wants, +and the Great Shepherd has sent the supplies. + +During these twelve years, the experiences of Doctor Cullis, the +founder, have been most remarkable in the frequent answers to prayer in +minute details of life, and especially in healing. There are so many +such cases, that there is no possible room to doubt. There have often +been moments, yes, days of distress and intense trial, when, with not a +single penny on hand, it seemed as if failure had come; but faith could +not let the promise go, neither was it possible for them to believe that +He who could do so much, would forsake so good a work, which was +undertaken only in obedience to the guidance and direction of the Lord; +and God has always brought deliverance, and honored them and brought +glory to his own name. + +In the daily history of these struggles and trials and triumphs of +faith, are found many surprising incidents, a few of which we relate. + + +A BAD DEBT PAID. + + +"To-day a bill was paid of $31, which I had given up as good for +nothing. A long time ago I gave it to the Lord in prayer, and promised +Him if it was ever canceled that it should be His." + + +HELP IN NEED. + + +"The sums received for several days had been small. One day as the +Doctor was in prayer for his needs, he received a note from a lady +asking him to call at her house, naming the day and the hour. At the +time appointed he called, and found the lady sick in consumption, near +to death. She said she had some money which she wished to dispose of +before her death. She placed in his hand a _five hundred dollar note_. +It was her last gift. She had received it from the hand of the Lord, and +she returned it to Him again." + + +PRAYING FOR STOVES. + + +"This afternoon, knowing the necessity of stoves for some of the upper +rooms, as the weather is quite cool, I went to the Lord, in prayer, and +told him of our need, praying Him in one way to supply us. + +"I then went down town to a friend, to look at stoves and inquire the +price, when he said, 'that's all right, I shall not charge anything,' +and said he would see that they were put up. This man knew nothing of +our great need; he had never visited the Home, knew but little about it, +and not a word did he know of the state of my purse. "The Lord inclined +the man's heart to give the stoves." + + +PRAYING FOR A FURNACE. + + +"I am earnestly praying for the means to purchase a furnace, for we +cannot receive patients into the new Home until it can be warmed. I am +looking to the Lord, and He will help." + +_Seven days later_. "A gentleman has this day ordered a furnace to be +put in, with fourteen tons of coal at his expense. I will here say that +his attention was not called to our need, but he asked how the house was +to be warmed; he then learned of our want, and ordered as above. Truly, +'Whosoever believeth in Him shall not be confounded.'" + + +THE LORD'S RETURN FOR GIVING UNTO THE POOR. + + +"This afternoon a poor woman, whose history I have known for some time, +and who has a sick husband over eighty years of age, called on me, +stating that she had only a ten-cent loaf of bread for herself and her +husband to eat since Wednesday, and to-day is Saturday. + +"Notwithstanding my own need, I felt that I could not withhold from one +in greater straits than myself, so in Christ's name, I gave her enough +to procure necessary food for a few days. The Lord did not forget it, +but this evening has returned the amount with bountiful interest. For +the turn I gave Him, He has sent me $40. _'There is that scattereth yet +increaseth_.'" + + +A WATCH GIVEN TO THE LORD--HOW THE LORD RETURNS A BETTER ONE. + + +"Last year, during a season of great need, I sold my watch; yesterday, +the Lord returned it by a gift of a much better one from a friend, who +had purchased it abroad, knowing nothing of my need, thus proving, 'He +that soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully.'" + + +THE LORD GAVE DOUBLE WHAT WAS ASKED FOR. + + +"This morning and noon I called upon the Lord in prayer for the means to +pay a bill of $100. By three P.M., a check was sent me of $200." + + +BLESSINGS AMID CALAMITIES. + + +"The roof of one of our houses having caught fire from a spark from a +neighbor's chimney, it was mostly destroyed; some of the furniture, and +the whole home badly damaged by water. All hearts thanked the Lord the +circumstances were no worse. In the midst of our calamity, blessings +surrounded us. An unknown donor sends in 20 tons of coal. For weeks I +have been praying for the means to purchase our Winter fuel, and now the +Lord has inclined the heart of an unknown friend to supply our need." + + +A REMARKABLE PROMISE. + + +At one period in the history of the Consumptive's Home, a sum of three +thousand dollars placed in the safe, and reserved to be used for payment +on the purchase of a new building was stolen, and there was not left a +single dollar; every penny was gone. + +Nothing daunted, again going to the Lord, and pleading the Lord's own +promise, "_If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask +what ye will and it shall be done unto you_." The request was made in +prayer for the three thousand dollars, and the promise of the amount was +definitely made to be paid out a certain day. + +The day came. Before it had arrived, the Lord had sent the three +thousand dollars with unusual contributions, and both the promises of +the Lord and that of his children were kept. + +The ordinary business man would have said it was foolishness for a poor +man, with not a penny in the world, all his means stolen from him, to +positively promise on a certain day the next month, to pay so large a +sum, exactly the same as was stolen. + +The skeptic would have said, "All foolish to plead before an unseen God, +and ask for such a sum. You will never get it. Why didn't your God +prevent your money from being stolen. If your Bible is true, he ought to +have protected you from loss." + +The answer to all these is thus: The Doctor did trust in the promise of +an unseen God, whom he had tested in the past many hundred times, and +who had always been faithful in keeping his promises, and his faith knew +that his God would not suffer his own work to fail nor suffer reproach. + +Still further to silence the skeptic, let it be said that after the +robbery became known, the sympathy for the institution became so much +greater, that the contributions voluntarily sent in consequence thereof +replaced the three thousand dollars within thirty days, and produced far +more in excess, to go towards other needs. Thus an adversity became a +blessing. The Lord uses sorrow to produce good. + + +A WOMAN DELIVERED FROM THE HABIT OF DRINKING. + + +"I visited a family for whom I have felt a deep interest for weeks past. +The father had been out of employment some time, and they have lacked +food and clothing. Much of their trouble has been caused by the +intemperance of the mother. Her husband has borne long and patiently +with her, and although she would for a long time leave off drinking, it +was only to fall again still lower. While furnishing them with clothing, +and assisting them in other ways, I besought the mother to give her +heart to Jesus, knowing that he could keep her from falling. She became, +a constant attendant at our meetings. Says "_Jesus has taken her love +for drink all away_." One of her little ones, who is just beginning to +talk, said the other day, "Mamma, you don't drink now." They are a happy +family, and their home is greatly changed. + + +PRAYER FOR PURCHASERS. + + +When removal to the new Home was determined upon, there still remained +five of the old buildings on hand to be disposed of. This too was taken +to the Lord in prayer that he might send purchasers. + +One building was sold in October, and the remaining four in November. +When it is considered that a portion was property usually very difficult +of sale, and that no advertisement of it had been made, no other means +than prayer resorted to, it must be convincing to all that there must be +"one who knoweth all things," who hears and helps in financial as well +as in spiritual necessities. + + +ASKING FOR LARGE GIFTS. + + +Upon the 26th of September the record of the Home was as follows: "There +is due on the first of next month, $2,450 interest on our property, and +we are now within four days of the time, with not a dollar towards it. +For several days I have been asking that amount of the Lord." + +Now here was a man depending wholly upon _chance gifts_ for the +livelihood of several hundred people, with a debt of over two thousand +dollars to pay in four days. His occupation and work were such that no +one could even possibly think of making any loans, as there was no +security. Neither was it the principle or the practice of the Home ever +to solicit a dollar. What was to be done? _It was taken to the Lord in +prayer_, and all waited the result. + +Was it at all probable that so large a sum of money could be sent in so +short a time by any one or any number of persons? + +That evening a letter from the probate office at Exeter, N. H., was +received by Dr. Cullis, informing them of the death of a citizen of +Portsmouth, with a bequest to the Home of _five thousand dollars_. The +Lord answered their prayer the same day and sent _double what was asked +for_. + + +A SEVERE TUMOR HEALED. + + +During the year 1872, there was under the professional care of Dr. +Cullis, at the Consumptive's Home, a Christian lady with a tumor which +confined her almost continuously to her bed in severe suffering. All +remedies were unavailing, and the only human hope was the knife; but +feeling in my own heart the power of the promise, I one morning sat down +by her bedside, and taking up the Bible, I read aloud, God's promise to +his believing children. "_And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, +and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they +shall be forgiven him_." + +I then asked her if she would trust the Lord to remove this tumor and +restore her to health and to her missionary work. She replied, "I am +willing to trust the Lord for it." + +I then knelt and anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord, asking +Him to fulfill his own word. Soon after I left she got up and walked +three miles. From that time the tumor rapidly lessened until all trace +of it at length disappeared. + + +FAITH CURED HER. + + +This incident was related by the lady herself in a public meeting in +Boston, where it was heard by the sorrowing wife of an afflicted +husband, whose statement is as follows: + +"I was first confined to my house with a violent cold. I lost my voice +completely, suffered with pain in my lungs and expectorated almost +constantly. I grew worse every day, and in a week called in a physician. +On examination he found my lungs diseased. I also had fever. With all +his care my cough grew worse, and night sweats set in; a few weeks later +my wife was told by the Doctor that my lungs were badly ulcerated, and +that my case being hopeless, it was not worth while for him to attend +longer; also that she must NOT be surprised if I should pass away +suddenly. I then tried some highly recommended medicine, which seemed +only to increase my disease. + +"When I became so weak as to be nearly helpless, Dr. Cullis was called +in. He sounded my lungs and gave the same verdict, saying my only hope +for recovery was in the Lord. Diarrhea also set in, and my feet began to +swell." + +This statement will show his perfect helplessness. + +After the return of his wife from the above meeting, he read over and +over the precious promises of God, and became more and more convinced of +the power of faith. Believing that "_He is faithful that promised_" he +sent for Dr. Cullis to come and pray with him. + +"Dr. C. prayed, anointed me with oil, and in the name of the Lord Jesus, +commanded me to be healed. Instantly my whole being was thrilled with an +unknown power, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. From the +moment I believed, the _work was done_. My lungs, so long diseased, +breathed with new vigor, and I returned thanks to God for the results of +faith. Since that memorable night I have taken no medicine, and my +health has been constantly improving, so _that I am feeling better now +than I did before my sickness_." + +Two years after he was seen by Dr. Cullis, and continued in perfect +health, and engaged in active business. + + +CURED OF CANCER. + + +A lady came to the Consumptive's Home with a cancer in the cheek, which +had attained the size of a filbert. It had a very red and angry +appearance. After prayer for her healing she went into the country, when +some one remarked, 'E. thinks that faith will cure her, but _that_ is +something that will have to be burned out or cut out.' Her friends tried +to induce the use of various applications, all of which she firmly +refused. She returned home in eight weeks, entirely cured. Her friends +acknowledged, '_Faith did do good after all_.' + + +CURED OF NEURALGIA. + + +A lady of East Cambridge writes, "For nineteen years I have been +afflicted with neuralgia; added to this, of late years a combination of +diseases has rendered life an intolerable burden, and baffled the skill +of every physician to whom I have applied. By the prayer of faith I have +been healed, both body and soul, and made to rejoice continually. I can +now say I am entirely well, and engaged in arduous work--often among the +sick, losing whole nights of rest." + + +CURED OF SPINE DISEASE. + + +Dr. Cullis thus speaks of a signal answer to his prayer. "While at the +home of L.R. in England, I was asked to pray with his daughter, who had +spinal curvature. Subsequently L.R. writes, 'We. are full of +thankfulness and praise about E. She is quite well and strong, and does +everything like her sisters. She has such perfect faith that the Lord +had healed her, that she at once put away the board and said she should +never lie upon it again, and on the following Sunday she walked four +miles in a hot sun, and sat for two hours on a bench without a back. As +far as we can judge, she is quite well in every respect. For fifteen +months before she had been a constant cause of anxiety to us--never +walked or attended to study.'" + + +AN INJURED LEG RESTORED TO PROPER LENGTH. + + +"Some months ago a young lady called, requesting to be prayed for. She +simply told me that some years ago she was run over and her hip badly +injured. I asked her if she could trust the Lord for healing. She +replied, 'Yes.' I prayed, with her, and she went home. + +"I learned after a day or two, that she was perfectly cured, and +obtained from her these facts: Some six years before, she was run over +by a hack, and her hip so injured that she was confined to her bed for +six months. She then got up with a permanent lameness, one limb being +shorter than the other. In two or three instances since, she has been +confined to her bed for three months at a time. She now walks perfectly, +both limbs being of the same length. She says of herself, 'I can leap +and run as well as any other person, and my heart overruns with praise +and thanksgiving to God.'" + + +A LOST VOICE REGAINED. + + +"Some nine months since a lady showed signs of indisposition, and soon +was attacked by a cough. Change of air was prescribed, but after a lapse +of some weeks she returned to her home, in no way improved. Physicians +were consulted, her lungs found to be much irritated and pulse low. Soon +all appetite left her, a hoarseness succeeded, resulting in entire loss +of voice. + +"There was little desire to eat, as everything taken into the stomach +caused great distress. Months succeeded; nothing could be gained from +medical treatment. I felt that I must trust all to God. I seemed to feel +that God would heal me. I read in his Bible, 'The prayer of _faith shall +save the sick_.' I accepted it at once, I felt sure that it was for me. +I was led to visit Boston and see Doctor Cullis. I stated all the +circumstances of my illness, and was asked if I could trust God to heal +me? I replied, 'Yes, I am sure the Lord is able and willing.' + +"'We knelt in prayer; _in a moment, as it were, my. voice came to me, I +was able to talk with ease_, and from that time nothing that I have +eaten has given me any distress. The Lord's promises are sure, and He +has filled my soul with joy and praise.'" + +In speaking of the many cases of cures in answer to prayer, Doctor +Cullis says: "I have noticed that in some cases the cure has been +instantaneous; others I have prayed with two or three times, or even +more. My explanation is, as far as I have been able to observe, that +there has been oftentimes a question or lack of faith on the part of the +patient; for some seem to come, not in faith, but as a matter of +_experiment. God's word says it is the prayer of faith that shall save +the sick._" + +From this it will be noticed that the _faith is that of the patient,_ +and the more strongly it is fixed on God and the promise, the surer the +answer. + +It is but justice to say, that in no case has there ever been the +thought or the assumption, by Doctor Cullis himself, of having _any +divinely conferred power_ to heal all that come to him, or for whom he +may pray. No such power would ever be given to any human creature by our +Lord. It is the Lord himself who works the wonder--but solely because of +the faith of sufferers who have sought the addition of the prayer of one +who is stronger in faith and prayer than its own. Each must wait upon +God, and must have faith without a doubt, and perfect willingness to +trust all to Him, and continue to expect the blessing. + +It should be noticed, also, that all who have come pleading the prayer +of faith, and asking the Lord for relief, have either then, or before, +_pledged themselves to the service of the Lord_, and have desired the +good gifts they seek, that they may more efficiently work for His own +honor and glory, and the good of others. + +When such a desire for healing is united with the desire and the promise +to work in future for the Lord, His own kingdom and glory, the Lord is +pleased with it, and His promise is made sure to those who come in +faith. + +It is needless to say that those who come for prayer, with the desire +only for _experiment_, and also those who are _withholding their lives +or pledges of devotion to Him, need never expect an answer_. + + +CURED OF ST. VITAS' DANCE. + + +"Very early in childhood, I was seized with a nervous trouble, something +like St. Vitus' Dance. As I grew older it did not pass off, but settled +into a disease of the muscles. It became a terrible affliction. It was +usually under my control, but I could not endure protracted work of any +kind, or unusual fatigue; I had consulted, in various cities, the best +physicians, but they pronounced it incurable. All that could be done was +to be careful of overwork and excitement. It must have been twenty-five +years since I was first taken. + +"Doctor Cullis asked me if I could give my body to the Lord to be +healed; I felt that I could truly say 'Yes.' He then, in a simple +manner, prayed that the Lord would restore strength of nerve and muscle. +I went home, touched and improved by the comforting words. At the end of +the week I was startled at the recollection that I had felt hardly +anything of my trouble. My nerves began to feel as if they were held +with a grasp of iron. The muscles refused to move as before at every +inclination. For two weeks this painful tension lasted. Then I felt a +gradual relaxation, and found that I was strong like other people. I +tested myself in the severest way--walked, wrote and lifted--after each +exertion I could enjoy perfect rest. The mystery of the miracles was +explained to me. This power of God manifested in the past, is manifest +to us still. Faith can grasp and use it. Close beside us stands a +_living Christ_." + + +HIP DISEASE CURED. + + +A lady from Brooklyn, N.Y., came to the Consumptive's Home for prayer +cure. + +"She had a diseased hip, and _had used crutches for twenty years_. Often +the hip joint would slip from its socket, so that it was impossible for +her to walk without crutches. She now writes, 'My lameness was +incurable, and God interposed in my behalf, in answer to your prayer. I +have been able to walk for five months without the crutches I have used +for over twenty years.'" + + +A BAD DEBT PAID. + + +A correspondent of Doctor Cullis, who was unable to collect a debt from +a refractory and worthless debtor, promised to give it to the Lord, if +it was ever paid. The following is his letter: + +"Perhaps you remember that the writer, some months ago, asked you to +pray that some money which had been due him a long time, and which to +all human appearance was never to be paid, might by God's interposition +be paid in full. Enclosed, find the full amount, $25, which was paid a +few days since. All glory to Him, who _never, never fails_." + + +CONSUMPTION INSTANTLY HEALED. + + +"At a meeting in the Chapel of the Consumptive's Home, held March 7, +1876, public prayer was offered for a young man in Florida, who was +apparently gone in consumption; an interested friend had previously +written him that prayer would be offered for him at that time. + +"Not long after she received letters from him, stating that at _that +same hour_ he too had joined in supplication, and _was instantly +healed_. He says that while before the Lord, pleading his promise, his +voice and strength were taken away for a time. Then he began to praise +the Lord, and to feel, 'tis done,' and it was done, and tells of the +wonderful change, his ability to talk and sing, with no difficulty +whatever." + + +CURED OF CATARRH. + + +"I have been afflicted with catarrh for over twenty years. I had +consulted many physicians and used many remedies--all failed to help me. +In the Spring of 1874, I grew so much worse that life became a burden; I +suffered from dizziness and great prostration; I was urged to go to you +for faith cure. This was no new thing to me; I believed in it, yet found +it difficult to exercise faith for myself. + +"My daughter went to see you, as I was then unable to go. I looked to +God, and believed from that very moment. My whole soul and body seemed +thrilled, and I began to gain strength immediately. + +"In a few days I was able to go to your _Home_. You prayed simply that +God would take all disease from me. I have been entirely well from that +time; not only cured of catarrh, but tumors on my limbs were entirely +removed. I desire to give God the praise; I bless him that He does +forgive our transgressions and heal our diseases." + +These instances are only a very few out of many, that have occurred, too +numerous for repetition here. It must be admitted, that God has most +signally blessed the faith of the inmates of the Consumptive's Home, +answered their prayer for others. In nearly all the cases of healing +which have occurred, the sufferers have failed in all other means, and +in their extremity have depended wholly in faith in God. + +In speaking of them, Doctor Cullis says: "We do not give these instances +of the healing of the body, dear friends of Jesus, as in any degree +paramount to the healing of the soul; but that as the dear children of +God, we may claim all our privileges, and enjoy the knowledge of our +fullness of possession in Him who declares" _all things are, yours_." +Shall we in any manner, of smallest or largest import, limit the love +and power of God, who deigneth out of the highest heaven to declare," +_The Lord thinketh upon me_." As an earthly parent separates no part of +the well-being of his child from his watchful care, so doth our Heavenly +Father not only "_forgive all our iniquities_," but "_healeth all our +diseases." Let us not confine faith operation to the saving of the soul, +while God's word is full of previous promise for the saving, keeping, +and healing of the body_. + +"_For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy +wounds, saith the Lord_." + + +A MOTHER'S FAITH--THE LIFE OF BEATE PAULUS. + + +In a sketch of the life of Beate Paulus, the wife of a German minister +who lived on the borders of the Black Forest, are several incidents +which illustrate the power of living faith, and the providence of a +prayer-hearing God. + +Though destitute of wealth, she much desired to educate her children, +and five of her six boys were placed in school, while she struggled, and +prayed, and toiled,--not only in the house, but out of doors,--to +provide for their necessities. + +"On one occasion," writes one of her children, "shortly before harvest, +the fields stood thick with corn, and our mother had already calculated +that their produce would suffice to meet all claims for the year. She +was standing at the window casting the matter over in her mind, with +great satisfaction, when her attention was suddenly caught by some +heavy, black clouds with white borders, drifting at a great rate across +the Summer sky. 'It is a hail-storm!' she exclaimed in dismay, and +quickly throwing up the window, she leaned out. Her eyes rested upon a +frightful mass of wild storm-clouds, covering the western horizon, and +approaching with rapid fury. + +"'O God!' she cried, 'there comes an awful tempest, and what _is_ to +become of my corn?' The black masses rolled nearer and nearer, while the +ominous rushing movement that precedes a storm, began to rock the sultry +air, and the dreaded hail-stones fell with violence. Half beside herself +with anxiety about those fields lying at the eastern end of the valley, +she now lifted her hands heavenward, and wringing them in terror, cried: +'Dear Father in heaven, what art thou doing? Thou knowest I cannot +manage to pay for my boys at school, without the produce of those +fields! Oh! turn Thy hand, and do not let the hail blast my hopes!' +Scarcely, however, had these words crossed her lips when she started, +for it seemed to her as if a voice had whispered in her ear,' Is my arm +shortened that it cannot help thee in other ways?' Abashed, she shrank +into a quiet corner, and there entreated God to forgive her want of +faith. In the meantime the storm passed. And now various neighbors +hurried in, proclaiming that the whole valley lay thickly covered with +hail-stones, _down to the very edge of the parsonage fields, but the +latter_ had been quite spared. The storm had reached their border, and +then suddenly taking another direction into the next valley. Moreover, +that the whole village was in amazement, declaring that God had wrought +a miracle for the sake of our mother, whom he loved. She listened, +silently adoring the goodness of the Lord, and vowing that henceforth +her confidence should be only in Him." + +At another time she found herself unable to pay the expenses of the +children's schooling, and the repeated demands for money were rendered +more grievous by the reproaches of her husband, who charged her with +attempting impossibilities, and told her that her self-will would +involve them in disgrace. She, however, professed her unwavering +confidence that the Lord would soon interpose for their relief, while +his answer was: "We shall see; time will show." + +In the midst of these trying circumstances, as her husband was one day +sitting in his study, absorbed in meditation, the postman brought three +letters from different towns where the boys were at school, each +declaring that unless the dues were promptly settled, the lads would be +dismissed. The father read the letters with growing excitement, and +spreading them out upon the table before his wife as she entered the +room, exclaimed: "There, look at them, and pay our debt with your faith! +I have no money, nor can I tell where to go for any." + +"Seizing the papers, she rapidly glanced through them, with a very grave +face, but then answered firmly, 'It is all right; the business shall be +settled. For He who says, "The gold and silver is mine," will find it an +easy thing to provide these sums.' Saying which she hastily left the +room. + +"Our father readily supposed she intended making her way to a certain +rich friend who had helped us before. He was mistaken, for this time her +steps turned in a different direction. We had in the parsonage an upper +loft, shut off by a trap-door from the lower one, and over this door it +was that she now knelt down, and began to deal with Him in whose +strength she had undertaken the work of her children's education. She +spread before Him those letters from the study table, and told Him of +her husband's half scoffing taunt. She also reminded Him how her life +had been redeemed from the very gates of death, for the children's sake, +and then declared that she could not believe that He meant to forsake +her at this juncture; she was willing to be the _second_ whom He might +forsake, but she was determined not to be the _first_. + +"In the meanwhile, her husband waited down stairs, and night came on; +but she did not appear. Supper was ready, and yet she stayed in the +loft. Then the eldest girl, her namesake Beate, ran up to call her; but +the answer was, 'Take your supper without me, it is not time for me to +eat.' Late in the evening, the little messenger was again dispatched, +but returned with the reply: 'Go to bed; the time has not come for me to +rest.' A third time, at breakfast next morning, the girl called her +mother. 'Leave me alone,' she said; 'I do not need breakfast; when I am +ready I shall come.' Thus the hours sped on, and down stairs her husband +and the children began to feel frightened, not daring, however, to +disturb her any more. At last the door opened, and she entered, her face +beaming with a wonderful light. The little daughter thought that +something extraordinary must have happened; and running to her mother +with open arms, asked eagerly: 'What is it? Did an angel from heaven +bring the money?' 'No, my child,' was the smiling answer, 'but now I am +sure that it will come.' She had hardly spoken, when a maid in peasant +costume entered, saying: 'The master of the Linden Inn sends to ask +whether the Frau Pastorin can spare time to see him?' 'Ah, I know what +he wants,' answered our mother. 'My best regards, and I will come at +once.' Whereupon she started, and mine host, looking out of his window, +saw her from afar, and came forward to welcome her with the words: 'O +Madame, how glad I am you have come!' Then leading her into his back +parlor he said; 'I cannot tell how it is, but the whole of this last +night I could not sleep for thinking of you. For some time I have had +several hundred _gulden_ lying in that chest, and all night long I was +haunted by the thought that you needed this money, and that I ought to +give it to you. If that be the case, there it is--take it; and do not +trouble about repaying me. Should you be able to make it up again, well +and good--if not, never mind.' On this my mother said: 'Yes, I do most +certainly need it, my kind friend; for all last night I too was awake, +crying to God for help. Yesterday there came three letters, telling us +that all our boys would he dismissed unless the money for their board is +cleared at once.' + +"'Is it really so?' exclaimed the innkeeper, who was a noble-hearted and +spiritual Christian man. 'How strange and wonderful! Now I am doubly +glad I asked you to come!' Then opening the chest, he produced three +weighty packets, and handed them to her with a prayer that God's +blessing might rest upon the gift. She accepted it with the simple +words: 'May God make good to you this service of Christian sympathy; for +you have acted as the steward of One who has promised not even to leave +the giving of a cup of cold water unrewarded.' + +"Husband and children were eagerly awaiting her at home, and those three +dismal letters still lay open on the table, when the mother, who had +quitted that study in such deep emotion the day before, stepped up to +her husband, radiant with joy. On each letter, she laid a roll of money +and then cried: 'Look, there it is! And now believe that faith in God is +no empty madness!'" + + +THE PERSECUTOR'S FATE. + + +Dr. Eugenio Kincaid, the Burman missionary, states, that among the first +converts in Ava were two men who had held respectable offices about the +palace. Some time after they had been baptized, a neighbor determined to +report them to government, and drew up a paper setting forth that these +two men had forsaken the customs and religion of their fathers, were +worshiping the foreigner's God, and went every Sunday to the teacher's +house; with other similar charges. He presented the paper to the +neighbors of the two disciples, taking their names as witnesses, and +saving that he should go and present the accusation on the next day. + +The two Christians heard of it, and went to Mr. Kincaid in great alarm, +to consult as to what they should do. They said if they were accused to +government, the mildest sentence they could expect would be imprisonment +for life at hard labor, and perhaps they would be killed. Kincaid told +them that they could not flee from Ava, if they would; that he saw +nothing he could do for them, and all that they could do was to trust in +God to protect them, and deliver them from the power of their enemies. +They also prayed, and soon left Kincaid, saying that they felt more +calm, and could leave the matter with God. + +That night the persecutor was attacked by a dreadful disease in the +bowels, which so distressed him that he roared like a madman; and his +friends, which is too often the case with the heathen, left him to +suffer and die alone. The two Christians whom he would have ruined then +went and took care of him till he died, two or three days after his +attack. The whole affair was well known in the neighborhood, and from +that time not a dog dared move his tongue against the Christians of Ava. + +Is there no evidence in this of a special providence, and that God +listens to the prayers of persecuted and distressed children? + + +THE CAPTAIN AND THE QUADRANT. + + +A godly man, the master of an American ship, during one voyage found his +ship bemisted for days, and he became rather anxious respecting her +safety. He went down to his cabin and prayed. The thought struck him, if +he had with confidence committed his soul to God, he might certainly +commit his ship to Him; and so, accordingly, he gave all into the hands +of God, and felt at perfect peace; but still he prayed, that if He would +be pleased to give a cloudless sky at twelve o'clock, he should like to +take an observation to ascertain their real position, and whether they +were on the right course. + +He came on deck at eleven o'clock, with the quadrant under his coat. As +it was thick drizzling, the men looked at him with amazement. He went to +his cabin, prayed, and came up. There seemed still to be no hope. Again +he went down and prayed, and again he appeared on deck with his quadrant +in his hand. It was now ten minutes to twelve o'clock, and still there +was no appearance of a change; but he stood on the deck, waiting upon +the Lord, when, in a few minutes, the mist seemed to be folded up and +rolled away as by an omnipotent and invisible hand; the sun shown +clearly from the blue vault of heaven, and there stood the man of prayer +with the quadrant in his hand, but so awe-struck did he feel, and so +"dreadful" was that place, that he could scarcely take advantage of the +answer to his prayer. He, however, succeeded, although with trembling +hands, and found, to his comfort, that all was well. But no sooner had +he finished taking the observation than the mist rolled back over the +heavens, and it began to drizzle as before. + +This story of prayer was received from the lips of the good Captain +Crossby, who was so useful in the Ardrossan awakening; and he himself +was the man who prayed and waited upon his God with the quadrant in his +hand. + + +THE FAITH OF DOROTHEA TRUDEL. + + +The life of Dorothea Trudel has afforded some remarkable instances of +answer to prayer; during the years 1850 to 1860, at the Swiss village of +Maennedorf, near the Lake of Zurich, and that of Molltingen, were seen +and witnessed, cases of cure in response to unyielding faith in the +promises of the Lord. + +Dorothea Trudel was a worker in flowers, and in time came to have many +workers under her, and when she was about thirty-seven years of age, +four or five of her workers fell sick. The sickness resisted all +treatment, grew worse, appeared to be hopeless. She was a deep, earnest +Christian, and while diligent and unselfish as a nun, yet her anxiety +for her work people drew her to earnest prayer and study of the +Scriptures for relief. Like a sudden light, she says, the well known +prayer of the Epistle of James, 5: 14, 15, flashed upon her. + +"If medical skill was unavailing, was there not prayer? And could not +the same Lord who chose to heal through medicines, also heal without +them? Was he necessarily restricted to the one means? There was a time +when his healing power went forth directly; might it not be put forth +directly still?" + +Agitated by these questions, she sought help in prayer, and then +kneeling by the bedside of these sick people, she prayed for them. They +recovered; and the thought that at first had startled her, became now +the settled conviction of her life. + +Her reputation spread; others who were sick, came to her for relief, but +she sought only the recovery of the patients by prayer alone. Many +recovered. Her doors were besieged, and at last she consented to receive +invalids at her home, from compassion. By degrees her own house grew +into three, and at last it became in fact a hospital. + +She lived a life of humility, and perfect simplicity, yet strength of +faith, and at her death her work was, and still is, carried on by Mr. +Zeller, who also has had marvelous successes in answer to prayer. + + +REMARKABLE CURES. + + +There have been gathered together in her biography, well authenticated +cases of answer to prayer, when the patient was considered wholly +incapable of help from medical skill. + +"There was one of a stiff knee, that had been, treated in vain by the +best physicians in France, Germany and Switzerland; one of an elderly +man who could not walk, and had been given up by his physicians, but who +soon dispensed with his crutches; a man came with a burned foot, and the +surgeons said it was a case of '_either amputation or death_' and he +also was cured; one of the leading physicians of Wurtemburg, testifies +to the cure of a hopeless patient of his own; another remained six +weeks, and says he saw all kinds of sicknesses healed; cancers and +fevers have been treated with success; epilepsy and insanity more +frequently than any other form of disease. + +"Neither is the life and experience of Dorothea Trudel an exceptional +one. Pastor Blumenhart of Wurtemberg, has had his home crowded for years +with patients, and cures occur constantly. + +"The mother of Dorothea Trudel was an eminently pious woman, and it was +her custom, when any of her children were ill, to bring them in prayer +before the feet of the Heavenly Physician, as Dorothea herself says: +'Our mother had no cure except prayer, and though at that time we did +not understand, yet since then we have found it out, that it was the +healing hand of the Saviour alone, that helped and restored us.'" + + +CURED OF THE SMALL-POX. + + +"Even when I had the small-pox, and became blind, no doctor was sent +for, and no one was told of it. Our father was not at home (he, father, +most unfortunately, was not a religious person); and when our mother +asked him to come, telling him how ill I was, he would not believe it, +and preferred to remain with his friends. Our mother, however, was not +in the least vexed or excited; she prayed for him, for all of us, +especially for her sick child, and before my father came home, my eyes +were re-opened." + + +CURED OF SEVERE FITS. + + +"Once again, one of my brothers had a fit brought on through fright. It +was a most violent and painful attack, and we were greatly alarmed. This +time, also, our father was out; and our mother said to us, I know this +fearful illness, my children; it is one of the heaviest trials which +could have, occurred, but Jesus, who cured that lunatic boy, can heal +our child. Do not speak of the attack to any one; we will go only to +Jesus about it; and then she prayed with us. + +"Not long after, a second fit came on, and again our father was taking +his pleasure at the public house. This time mother told him what had +happened in his absence; but he laughed at it, and said, 'I don't +believe it; you were frightened at the child having bad dreams.' + +"His wife replied, 'For the sake of your unbelief, I hope that the child +will have another attack whilst you are at home, so that you may witness +it yourself, then you will believe; I pray God, however, that this may +be the last time.' + +"It came to pass about a week after, that another most dreadful fit came +on; the boy foamed violently, and threw himself about in fearful +convulsions; on this occasion the father was present, and he was +convinced of the nature of the attack, and alarmed at what he saw. _But +the mother's prayer was heard, for the disease never showed itself again +for thirty-four years, while both parents lived_." + + +BUYING A COW. + + +"Our father going away abroad, he sold one of our two cows, and took the +proceeds with him. (He, the father, was a reckless spendthrift, idle, +and fond of the public inn.) A rich neighbor directly offered to loan us +money enough to buy another; this kind proposal we gratefully accepted. +Although we did not understand much about bargains of this kind, yet the +cow we purchased served us so remarkably, that we were obliged to +acknowledge whence the blessing came. In Summer we could sell fourteen +measures of milk; in Winter, twelve to the dairyman, so that the +borrowed money was speedily paid. + +"At the same time the cow performed the farm work required of it, with +such strength and quickness, we were astonished. When our father, on his +return, heard us speaking with pleasure of this animal, he became so +enraged with the poor thing, that he was determined to sell it, and +actually _offered it at half its value_. + +"The faithless children were in a continual fright. When any one came +near the house, we thought that we were assuredly going to lose our cow. +But mother exhorted us not to be so fearful; for, said she, 'If your +father could do always as he likes, none of you would be alive now; but +God will never let him go any farther than he sees to be for our good. +Believe me, God, who has given us this cow, will keep it for us as long +as we need it.' + +"And so it turned out, for the cow never left us whilst our mother was +alive; and when we were all provided for, a purchaser came, who paid a +high price for the creature, having heard of its wonderful powers from +the man to whom we sold the milk for so many years; but no sooner was +the animal taken to its new home, than the wonder ceased, and _this cow +became no better than any other_." + + +A LADY CURED, WHO HAD BEEN REJECTED FROM AN ASYLUM. + + +"Madam M----, the mother of twelve children, had been quite shattered in +mind by the death of her husband, and had been actually sent away +uncured from an asylum. She came to Dorothea's home, was blessed in +remembrance in her prayers, _and after seven weeks went away perfectly +cured_. She acknowledged the Lord was indeed her helper, and she has +remained well to this day." + + +THE SOUL CURED AS WELL AS THE BODY. + + +On many occasions she experienced wonderful help from God, who, while +performing marvels for the body, which is the least important part, +accomplishes what is far greater, even the salvation of souls. + +"Among others, one named B. T----, went to her, who had been suffering +for six months from a disease of his bones, and had been for a +lengthened period in a Swiss hospital, under medical treatment. At +length he, by the advice of Christian friends, sought for relief from +his malady at Dorothea's house. His care began in the first week of his +visit, and in a few weeks he was completely recovered." + +On one occasion a young artisan came, in whom cancer had made such +progress as to render any approach to him almost unbearable. + +"At the Bible lessons, this once frivolous man, now an earnest inquirer, +learned where the improvement must begin; and from the day that he +confessed his sins against God and man, the disease abated. Some time +afterwards he acknowledged one sin he had hitherto concealed, and then +he speedily recovered his bodily health, and returned to his home cured +in spirit also." + +"A lady in S---- had so injured her knee by a fall, that for weeks she +lay in the greatest agony. The doctors declared that dropsy would +supervene; but the Heavenly Physician fulfilled those promises which +will abide until the end of the world; and by prayer, and the laying on +of Dorothea's hand, the knee was cured in twenty-four hours, and the +swelling vanished." + + +PRAYER, NOT MESMERISM. + + +"Several people have maintained that her work was one of mesmerism; and +when once she was asked to visit an out patient, she earnestly implored +the Lord _not_ to heal this invalid through her means if she employed +mesmerism; but if not, to permit recovery. The woman was cured in a +short time, though Dorothea had never entered her house, and had, +therefore, no opportunity of placing herself in a mesmeric relation to +this patient." + + +HELP IN PECUNIARY AFFAIRS. + + +"In pecuniary affairs, also, the Lord was their helper. Many times +something had to be paid, and they had no means wherewith to meet the +claims. Once, God actually sent aid by means of an enemy, who offered +money; another time, _three thousand francs_ came from Holland, just as +they were needed, and also unexpected on a third occasion they were +about to borrow money to pay for bread, when two hundred and fifty +francs arrived." + + +THE FAITH LIFE OF MR. ZELLER. + + +After the death of Dorothea Trudel, the work at Maennedorf, instituted by +her, has been furthered and carried on by Mr. Samuel Zeller, who had +been her associate. He has published two reports, which contain many +instances of answers to prayer, showing that the Lord still gave blessed +results, and rewarded their faithful trust. + +"No disease is found to be more obstinate than epilepsy, yet several +instances are recorded of patients being restored to perfect health. +Persons afflicted with mental disorder and convulsions are frequently +brought to Maennedorf, and many return cured or benefited. + +"On one occasion, a lady who had been afflicted with constant headache +for five years, found her disorder removed speedily under the influence +of prayer. In other cases the passion for strong drink was taken away; +fever more or less disappeared; and the subjects of various kinds of +chronic diseases, even some apparently far gone in consumption, have +found their strength return to them under the same influence. + +"Unhappy victims of spiritualist delusions have found deliverance at the +mercy-seat; and there, too, many in the bondage of sin have rejoiced in +a present Saviour. + +"One patient afflicted with convulsions, who came several years +successively without being cured, at last confessed that she possessed a +book of 'charms' in which she put some degree of, faith, and she had +recommended them to others. She was led to see the folly and sin of such +things, and soon after the book was burned she was restored to health." + +Many cases have occurred where the suffering patient was utterly unable +to come to Maennedorf, but prayer has been offered there in their behalf, +and the answers have been as frequent as with the cases which have come +under the same roof. + +"A brother living at R---- was seized with a violent fever, and appeared +to be at death's door. Intelligence having been sent to Maennedorf, +united prayer was made in his behalf; and very soon afterwards a +telegraphic message announced that he was recovering. On this occasion +the promise was remembered with joy,' Before they call I will answer.'" + +"Perhaps one of the most striking cases of blessing recorded is that of +a lady, who was subject to fits of insanity so violent that they +threatened her life, and who was so far conscious of her miserable +condition, that happening to go into a meeting where she heard God's +word, she requested to be prayed for. A friend wrote to Maennedorf, +describing the case, and asking prayer on her behalf; and only a +fortnight later, the same friend communicated the happy news of her +recovery. After a fit of unusual severity, she fell into a deep sleep, +from which she awoke in her right mind; more than that, she learned to +believe in the _Lord Jesus_, and rejoiced in His love." + +"A patient in this institution, who arrived unconverted, and was thought +to be in a dying state, heard the good news of Salvation, and was +enabled to rejoice in the Lord, through simple trust in Him; and from +that moment she began to rapidly recover from her disorder, and soon +became strong enough to nurse another patient." + +Another remarkable case was that of a young girl who, in consequence of +the breaking off of a marriage engagement, manifested decided symptoms +of insanity. She not only recovered from her malady, but found the +Saviour. + + +THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT. + + +Prayer was asked for a young lady who was wholly blind. A letter +received soon after brought this joyful news: + +"In answer to your prayer for our niece, I must thankfully tell you, her +eyes are so much better that the Doctor this morning told her to thank +God for having saved her from the most dangerous kind of cataract. + +"While examining her eyes, the Doctor, who is a Jew, took up a book +lying near, and opening it told her to try and read, which she was able +to do with ease. It was a hymn book, and the first words on which her +eyes fell were these: + + 'Christ Jesus, glorious King of Light, + Great Conqueror, David's heir, + Come now and give my blind eyes sight, + O Saviour, hear my prayer!' + +"'That will do,' said the Doctor, 'you are much better.' + +"I for my part hastened to my chamber, and shutting the door fell on my +knees with a cry of joyful praise." + +Threats were made by many of the villagers that they would burn up the +house for this institution, saying all manner of unreasonable things. +"You can not prevent this by prayer," said one writer, "we have taken an +oath to do it." Mr. Zeller remained quiet, taking no notice of these +threats, but quietly trusted in the Lord. Though other anonymous letters +came frequently, yet the threats were never carried out. + +It will he seen from this that, blessed as was the work of faith, still +the spirit of persecution was permitted by the Lord only to make his own +children rely more confidently on Him, and that he might fulfill more +positively his promise, "_No evil shall befall thee, no harm come nigh +thy dwelling_." + + +THE BANK OF FAITH. GOD THE GUARDIAN OF THE POOR. + + +Perhaps the providence of God in supplying the wants of the poor never +was more closely watched and better described than has been done by the +late William Huntington, formerly a minister in London, England, who, in +a book with the quaint title of the "Bank of Faith," tells how, in his +course of life, day by day the Lord guarded him, helped him, and +provided for every need, even the most trifling. It is a precious record +of faith and full of true encouragement. He answers as follows this +question: "_Should we fray for temporal blessings?_" + +"Some have affirmed that we have no warrant to pray for temporal +blessings, but, blessed be God, he has given us '_the promise of the +life that now is, and of that which is to come_.' Yea, the promise of +all things pertaining to life and Godliness, and whatever God has +promised we may warrantably pray for. + +"Those that came to our Saviour in the days of his flesh, prayed chiefly +for temporal mercies. The blind prayed for sight, the lepers for a cure, +the lame far the use of their limbs, and the deaf for the use of their +ears, and surely had they prayed unwarrantably, their prayers would not +have been so miraculously answered. + +"Elijah prayed for a temporal mercy when he prayed for rain, and it is +clear that God answered him. Elisha works a miracle to produce a +temporal mercy when he healed the barren plains of Jericho." + +Is my reader a poor Christian? Take it patiently. God maketh the poor as +well as the rich. Envy not the rich. Riches are often seen to be a +canker-worm at the root of a good man's comfort, a snare in his life, an +iron pillar at the back of his pride. A gar prayed to be fed with food +convenient for him, and you may pray for the same, and what God gives +you in answer to your prayer you will be thankful for. + +That state is surely best which keeps you dependent on God and thankful +to Him, and so you shall find it to the end. _Go on, poor Christian, +trusting in the providence of God_. + + +THE LIFE OF HIS CHILD SAVED. + + +"My eldest daughter now living fell sick at about five or six months +old, and was wasted to a skeleton. She had a doctor to attend her, but +she got worse and worse. It seemed as if God intended to bereave us of +her, for he brought her even to death's door. + +"My wife and I have sat up with her night after night, watching the +cradle, expecting every breath to be her last, for two or three weeks +together. At last I asked the Doctor if he thought there was any hope of +her life. He answered, no, he would not flatter me. _She would surely +die_. + +"This distressed me beyond measure, and as he told me to do no more for +her, I left my room, went to my garden in the evening, and, in my little +tool house, wrestled hard with God in prayer for the life of the child. + +"I went home satisfied that God had heard me; _and in three days the +child was as well as she is now_, and ate as heartily. This effectually +convinced me that all things were possible with God." + + +GOD SENT SUPPLIES. + + +"When I had been three weeks out of employment, I found a new place, and +after pawning all my best clothes to pay expenses, when the cart set us +down at the new home on Monday morning, I had the total sum of _ten +pence half-penny left,_ to provide for myself, my wife and child, till +the ensuing Saturday night. + +"Though I was thus poor, yet I knew God had made me rich in faith. We +went on our knees beseeching the Almighty to send relief, as he in his +wisdom thought proper. + +"The next evening my landlord's daughter, and son-in-law, came up to see +their mother, and brought some baked meat, which they had just taken out +of their oven, and brought for me and my wife to sup along with them. + +"These poor people knew nothing of us, nor of our God. The next day in +the evening they did the same, and kept sending victuals and garden +stuff to us all the week long." + + +THE GOD WHO SUPPLIED ELIJAH BY A RAVEN SUPPLIED ME WITH FISH. + + +One of the most beautiful instances ever known, which almost identically +repeats the Bible over again, especially in the instance of Elijah as he +was fed in an unseen way by the hand of God, is given in the life of Mr. +Huntington. He was wholly unable to provide for his family, and could +depend only on God. + +"As I went over a bridge, I cast my eye on the right-hand side, and +there lay a _very large eel_ on the mud by the river side, apparently +dead. I caught hold of it and soon found it was only asleep. With +difficulty I got it safe out of the mud upon the grass, and then carried +it home. My little one was very fond of it, and it richly supplied all +her wants that day. But at night I was informed the eel was all gone, so +the next day afforded me the same distress and trouble as the preceding +day had done. + +"The next morning, as I entered the garden gate, I saw a _partridge_ lie +dead on the walk. I took it up and found it warm; so I carried it home, +and it richly supplied the table of our little one that day. + +"Again the next day still found me unprovided, and brought forth fresh +work for faith and prayer. However, the morrow took thought for the +things of itself, for when I came to take the scythe in my hand to mow +the short grass, I looked into the pond, and there I saw three very +large carp lying on the water apparently sick. When the master came I +told him of it. He went and looked and said they were dead, and told me +I might have them if I would, for they were not in season. However, they +came in due season to me. _And I found, morning after morning, there lay +two or three of these fish at a time, dead, just as I wanted them, till +I believe there was not one live fish remaining, six inches long, in the +pond, which was near three hundred feet in length._ + +"I could not help weeping, admiring the goodness of God. As I studied +the Bible, I clearly perceived that the most eminent saints of the Bible +were brought into _low_ circumstances, as Jacob, David, Moses, Joseph, +Job and Jeremiah, and all the apostles, in order that the hand of +providence might be watched." + + +GOD TAKES AWAY THE SNOW. + + +"In the Winter the Lord sent a very deep snow, which lay a considerable +time on the ground. We were brought into great straits, as our wheat was +now of no use to us, and we could obtain no wood, the landlady saying +that as the snow was likely to last some time, she must keep what little +she had left, and could sell us no more. + +"There was before us the fear of great suffering with the cold. I begged +of God that he might _that night take away the snow_, and send us +something to burn, that our little one might not perish with the cold, +_and the next morning the snow was all gone_." + + +SIGHT RESTORED. + + +"A violent humor came into my eyes, and for some months I was in danger +of losing my sight. Both myself and my second daughter had it more or +less for several years. + +"In answer to prayer, God healed her eyes and mine too, so that our +sight was perfectly recovered." + + +PRAYING FOR TEA. + + +"As the life of faith consists in bearing the cross of Christ, we must +not expect to be long without trials. Providence soon frowned on me +again, and I got behindhand, as usual. + +"This happened at a time when my wife was about delivery of child, and +we were destitute of those necessaries of life which are needful at such +times. The nurse came: we told her there was no tea in the house. My +wife replied, '_Set the kettle on, even if there is not_.' + +"The nurse said, '_You have no tea, nor can you get any_.' My wife +replied, '_Set on the kettle_.' She did so, and before it boiled, a +woman (with whom at that time we had no acquaintance) came to the door, +and told the nurse that she had brought some tea as a present for my +wife." + + +THE LORD PAID HIS DEBT. + + +"It was the time of my returning from the north country. I observed that +there were some small debts to be discharged. But the hand of God was +fast closed; this continued for some time: and for all that time, I +watched and observed narrowly. + +"At this time there was a special debt due of twenty pounds. This sum +hung long. I looked different ways, and chalked out different roads for +the Almighty to walk in; but his paths were in the deep waters, and his +footsteps were not known; no raven came, neither in the morning, nor in +the evening. + +"There was a gentlewoman at my house on a visit, and I asked her if she +had got the sum of twenty pounds in her pocket, telling her at the same +time how much I wanted it. She told me she had not; if she had, I should +have it. A few hours after, the same woman was coming into my study, but +she found it locked, and knocked at the door; I let her in, and she +said, 'I am sorry I disturbed you.' I replied, 'You do not disturb me; I +have been begging a favor of God, and I had just done when you knocked; +and that favor I have now got in faith, and shall shortly have in hand, +and you will see it.'" + +"The afternoon of the same day, two gentlemen out of the city came to +see me; and after a few hours of conversation, they left me, and to my +great surprise, each of them at parting put a letter into my hand, +which, when they were gone, _I opened, and found a ten pound note in +each_. I immediately sent for the woman up-stairs, and let her read the +letters, and then sent the money to pay the debt." + +It is impossible to give in this page any large portion of the life of +Mr. Huntington, who was rich in faith, and upon whom God showered +abundant answers to prayer. But, like all of us, he, too, suffered +extremely in all the necessities of life, yet ever looked to God above +for help. Of his experience, he says in his own words, after having for +years thoroughly tested the promises and faithfulness of God: + +"_A succession of crosses was always followed with perpetual blessings, +for as sure as adversity led the van, so sure prosperity brought up the +rear_. + +"_Never, no never, did the Holy Spirit withhold his prevalent +intercession from, me in times of trouble, nor did my God ever turn a +deaf ear to my prayer, or fail to deliver me_." + +"_Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him +out of them all_." + + * * * * * + + + + +THE FAITH OF LITTLE CHILDREN. + + +HOW GOD HONORS THEIR TRUST, AND ANSWERS THEIR PRAYERS. + + +GOD KEEPS HOLD OF THE OTHER HAND. + + +A little boy with his mother was returning from a visit; the night was +very dark, and little could be seen ahead. She led her little boy, by +the hand, who trustingly walked by her side. He had only just begun to +learn and remember the stories of the Bible, and he believed and trusted +everything he heard. After walking for sometime in the darkness, very +silently, he burst out with, + +"Mamma, I'm not afraid." + +"Why, what makes you feel so." + +"_Because, mamma, God keeps hold of the other hand_." + +This is the beautiful lesson older ones, too, must learn, the simple, +childlike confidence in God, which gives no fear, no alarm. + +The skeptic can never accuse little children of the same theories, +philosophies, imaginations and beliefs which are characteristic of older +heads. The child knows nothing of such books of reason, science or +religion. Many a child who could not read has asked of God and his +prayer has been answered; and when the whole world witnesses a little +child, who in its innocence has been told that God lives, that God loves +him, that God can do everything and will surely hear his prayer, and +then in its care and grief, kneels before the God it trusts, offers its +little prayer, _and the prayer is answered_, let none of maturer minds +ever presume to doubt. The faith of little children is typical of the +very simplest faith wherewith any human being must approach its Creator. +The child never questions, never doubts; but in its simplicity asks, and +God honors the trust. The following incident illustrates the point, +_that not one thing is ere too small for God to consider, or a soul to +bring to him in prayer_. + + +A CHILD WHOSE LIFE WAS SAVED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER--BY HIS OWN PRAYER THE +LIFE OF HIS SISTER IS SAVED. + + +One of the most beautiful incidents ever known relating to the faith of +children, and the reward of their trust, is contained in the following +circumstance, personally known to the editor of this book, who was a +participant in the facts. + +The only child of a young married couple, living in this city, their +pride, their hope and joy, and the darling of the whole family, was +seized with severe sickness, grew rapidly worse. The grandfather, who +was a skilled physician, was constantly present, ministering in every +way, by every means, but nothing was of any avail. No medicine could +cure, and the child seemed ready to die. No one could think of relief or +knew where to find it. The grandfather, at last, proposed to lay the +case before God, and ask the prayers of His people in the child's +behalf. The mother was only too glad to ask other prayers with her own, +to bring relief. The father, who had hitherto never seriously thought of +religion, was in intense anxiety and despair. Here was his first, his +only child about to be taken away from him, and then came the thought, +is it possible his family life was not to be blessed; his child was in +distress, no human effort was available. At last, he too joined in the +prayer of his wife and father, and bowing before the Great Unknown, +unseen God, he poured out his heart in prayer, saying, "_Lord, if thou +wilt spare my child, wilt give him life, and thus show to me thy power +and will to save, I will never doubt again, and will give thee my +heart"_ + +A request for prayer was written and sent to the pastor, Dr. William +Adams, of the Madison Square Church. It arrived after church service had +begun; the sexton was unwilling to carry it to the pulpit, as it was +against the rule, but when told he _must, as a life was in great +danger_, he consented, and delivered it to the pastor. + +The messenger waited breathlessly, and when in silence the doctor +specifically mentioned the case before him, and asked the Lord to heal +and spare the little one, and comfort the hearts of all, and make it a +witness of his love and power, the messenger accidentally looked at the +clock, and it marked just _quarter to eleven_, A.M. + +When prayer was finished he returned home. Arriving at home, he was +astonished to find the child better, its whole condition had changed, +the medicine had taken hold, and the doctor now said everything was so +hopeful the child would surely recover, and it did. But mark the +unparalleled singularity of the scene. The father asked the messenger +the _time_ when the prayer was offered. He replied, "At a _quarter to +eleven."_ The father in astonishment said, "_At that very moment_ the +disease changed, and the doctor said he was better." + +The father, who had thus been proving the Lord with this test of prayer +and its identity of time in his answer, was so overwhelmingly convinced +of the real power of prayer, and thereby of the real existence of God, +and that a Christian life was one of facts as well as beliefs, now +finding that the Lord had indeed kept His own promise, he, too, kept his +promise and gave his heart to the Lord, and became henceforth, a +professing Christian. + +But there were more wonderful things yet to happen--a period of five +years passed. Other children were added to the family, and one day, the +youngest, a sweet, beautiful girl, was taken suddenly ill with +convulsions. The sickness for days tasked the strength of the mother, +and the skill of the doctor, but no care, ingenuity, or knowledge could +overcome the disease or subdue the pain. The little girl's fits were +severe and distressing, and there were but short intervals between, just +time to come out of one and with a gasp, pass into another still more +terrible. In its occasional moments of reason, it would look piteously +as if mutely appealing, and then the next convulsion would take it and +seem to leave it just at death's door. + +All attendants were worn with care, the doctor fairly lived in the house +and forsook all his other business. The clergyman came and comforted the +anxious hearts with words of sympathy and prayer; but her _little +brother Merrill_, (whose own life we have just related,) tender-hearted, +a mere child, scarce seven years of age, who had known of the Lord, and +who believed that He was everywhere and could do everything, was +intensely grieved at "Mamie's" distress, and came at last to his mother +and asked if he could go and "_make a prayer to God for Sissy_." The +mother said, "Go." The little boy went back into his room, and kneeling +humbly by the side of his bed, as he did at his night and morning +prayers, uttered this request: + +_"O God, please to bless little sister, she is very sick. Please stop +her fits so she won't have any more. For Jesus' sake, amen."_ + +He came back, told his mamma what he said, and added: "_Mamma, I don't +think she will have any more_." + +Now mark how the Lord honored this simple faith of the little child. +_From that very moment the fits left her. They never returned; and the +child soon entirely recovered_. + +Notice the full beauty and instruction of these two incidents: _Little +Merrill's life was saved in answer to prayer; was the means of his +father's salvation, and when he in turn had grown to an age when he +could learn of God, his own prayer was the means of saving his own +sister's life_. + +Notice, too, that all earthly available means were used to save each +child, but to no effect. Physicians and parents considered the case +hopeless, and then committed it to the decision of God. + +Notice, too, that when little Merrill was so sick, that the mother and +doctor both prayed, yet it was not until his father had also prayed that +the answer came. God meant to honor the faith of the first two, but was +_waiting for the prayer of the third_ ere he granted the request. That +child's sickness was one of the purposes of God. Notice in the second +case, that while father, mother, doctor, the clergyman, and others of +the house were all trusting in prayer, yet the Lord _was waiting for the +prayer of the little brother_, ere he sent the blessing of relief. Such +an incident draws its own conclusion. _Never cease in prayer for +anything which is to God's honor and glory. Use all the possible means +to help God. Where human means are of no avail, commit it to God and +wait in humble resignation. Ask others to pray, too, for the same +object_, that when the answer comes, God may be glorified before the +sight of others as well as your own. When so many are waiting to see if +_God_ will honor his promises, depend upon it, _God will be found +faithful to all his word_. + + +TRUSTING IN GOD'S PROMISES. + + +"It was a fierce, wild night in March, and the blustering wind was +blowing, accompanied by the sharp, sleety snow. It was very desolate +without, but still more desolate within the home I am going to describe +to you. The room was large and almost bare, and the wind whistled +through the cracks in the most dismal manner. In one corner of the room +stood an old-fashioned bedstead upon which a woman lay, her emaciated +form showing her to be in the last stage of consumption. A low fire +burned in the large fire-place, and before it a little girl was +kneeling. She had a small testament, and was trying by the dim +fire-light to read a chapter, as was her custom, before going to bed. A +faint voice called to her from the bed, 'Nellie, my daughter, read the +14th chapter of St. John for your Mother.' 'Yes, Mother,' was the reply, +and after turning the leaves a few moments, the child began. All that +long Winter day that poor mother had been tortured with pain and +remorse. She was poor, very poor, and she knew she must die and leave +her child to the mercies of the world. Her husband had died several +years before. Since then she had struggled on, as best she could, till +now she had almost grown to doubt God's promises to the helpless. 'In my +Father's house are many mansions.' 'I go to prepare a place for you.' +Here the little reader paused, and crept to her mother's side. She lay +motionless, with closed eyes, while great hot tears were stealing down +her wasted cheeks. 'Mother, He has a place almost ready for you, hasn't +He.' 'Yes, my child, and I am going very soon, but _He_ will watch over +you, Nellie, when Mother has gone to her last home.' + +"The weeks went slowly by to the suffering invalid; but when the violets +were blooming, they made a grave upon the hillside, and laid the weary +body down to rest, but the spirit had gone to the home which Christ +himself had gone to prepare. + +"Years passed away. It was sunny May. The little church of Grenville was +crowded. I noticed in one of the seats a lady plainly but neatly +attired. There was nothing remarkable in the face with its mournful +brown eyes, and decided looking mouth and chin. I ransacked my memory to +find who the lady was. Suddenly a vision of the poor widow came. This, +then, was the little girl, little Nellie Mason. 'We will read a part of +the 14th chapter of St. John,' the minister said. 'In my Father's house +are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you.' The slow, +deliberate tones recalled me from my reverie, and I looked at Nellie. +Her head was bowed, but I could see the tears flowing like rain." + + +THE FAITH OF A LITTLE CHILD. + + +An incident most beautiful was told in the Fulton Street prayer meeting +by a converted Jew. + +"Journeying in the cars, I was attracted by two little girls, Jewesses. +I asked them if they loved Jesus. To my surprise, they said they did. I +found that their mother was in a seat near by. She had attended some of +the gospel meetings for Jews, and was interested in them. She said her +husband had not been to church or synagogue for eleven years, and she +did not know his views on religion. Her two little girls had attended a +Methodist Sunday school, and there learned of Jesus. A day or so after, +the mother was taken very sick, and remedies failing, the eldest child, +a little over eight years old, said: 'O Mamma, if you will let me pray +to Jesus for you, He can take away your pains and give you sleep.' She +knelt with her sister and prayed in simple words to Jesus to heal her +mother, telling Him that He had so promised to hear prayer. Shortly +after, the mother, after long hours of restlessness and suffering, fell +into a deep sleep and awoke relieved of pain and much refreshed. She +heard from her daughter's lips the story of her faith in Jesus and love +for Him, and then sent for me, begging me to pray for her. I am glad to +tell you that she is now a converted woman, a believer in the Lord Jesus +Christ." + + +THE WANDERER FOUND. + + +A mother sent a request for prayer to the Fulton Street prayer-meeting, +that she might hear from him who had long ago left home, and wandered +far away. She had been praying very earnestly for him, and soon she +wrote that she had just heard from him, and heard too that he had become +a Christian and learned to trust in Him. + + +ARE YOU THERE. + + +A mother, one morning, gave her two little ones books and toys to amuse +them while she went up-stairs to attend to something. A half hour passed +quietly away, and then one of the little ones went to the foot of the +stairs, and in a timid voice called out, "Mamma, are you there?" + +"Yes, darling." + +"All right," said the little one, and-went on with her play. By-and-by +the question was repeated, "Mamma, are you there?" + +"Yes, darling." + +"All right," said the child again, and once more went on with her play. +And this is just the way we should feel towards Jesus. He has gone +up-stairs, to the right hand of God, to attend to some things for us. He +has left us down in this lower room of this world to be occupied here +for a while. But to keep us from being worried by fear or care, He +speaks to us from His word, as that mother spoke to her little ones. He +says to us, "Fear not; I am with thee. I will never leave thee, nor +forsake thee." "The Lord will provide." + +And so we see how certain it is that God does provide relief in trouble +for those who love and serve Him. + + +GOD KNOWS THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL. + + +"Mother, I think God always hears when we scrape the bottom of the +barrel," said a little boy to his mother one day. His mother was poor. +They often used up their last stick of wood and their last bit of bread +before they could tell where the next supply was to come from. But they +had so often been provided for in unexpected ways, just when they were +most in need, that the little boy thought _God always heard when they +scraped the bottom of the barrel_. This was only that little fellow's +way of saying what Abraham said when he called the name of the place +where God had delivered him, "Jehovah-Jireh." + + +GOD'S CARE FOR LITTLE CHILDREN IN LITTLE WANTS. + + +"I was early taught that God cares for His children, even to regard +their _little_ daily wants. An illustration of my implicit confidence, +which I do not remember ever to have been betrayed, occurred when I was +about ten years of age. I was accustomed to give five cents each Sabbath +at the Sunday School collection for foreign missions. This money was not +given me directly by my parents; but I was allowed to go on an errand, +or to do some little piece of work for a neighbor and thus earn it, +outside of the performance of the duties that naturally fell to my lot +at home. At one time, when I was attending school about a mile from +home, my time out of school was taken up by my walk to and from it and +the chores which necessarily fall to a farmer's boy, so that for some +months I had no opportunity of earning anything. One Sabbath morning, I +dropped my last silver piece into the collection, with a prayer--which I +always offered at such a time--that God would bless it to the heathen, +that some one might be led to Him by it. + +"I went home that day with a child's anxiety, feeling that I could not +bear the thought of giving nothing for the heathen on next Sabbath, and +yet not seeing how I could possibly obtain it. That night I asked my +Heavenly Father to provide the money for me. The anxiety was all gone; +for I felt that God would answer. Next morning, when almost at the +school-house, I found a handkerchief in the road, in the corner of which +was securely tied a silver quarter and a silver dime. Instantly my +thoughts flew to the next Sabbath, and to the prayer I had offered. O, +yes! I thought, God has more than answered my prayer; instead of giving +me just enough for next Sabbath, He has given me enough, for seven +Sabbaths. + +Then the thought came, somebody lost it; yes, it was my duty to find the +owner, which I did not expect would be difficult, although it was in +town. So I cheerfully gave it up, thinking that 'the Lord will provide' +in some other way. I took it directly to my teacher, and asked her to +find the owner. She made faithful inquiry, but no one was found to claim +it. Who can question this being an answer to prayer, when we think of +the numerous _chances_ against its occurring just as it did." + + +A CHILD'S PRAYER FOR PAPA. + + +A drunkard, who had run through his property, returned one night to his +unfurnished house. He entered his empty hall. Anguish was gnawing at his +heart-strings, and language was inadequate to express his agony as he +entered his wife's apartment, and there beheld the victims of his +appetite, his loving wife and a darling child. Morose and sullen, he +seated himself without saying a word; he could not speak; he could not +look up then. The mother said to the little angel at her side, "Come, my +child, it is time to go to bed;" and that little baby, as she was wont, +knelt by her mother's lap and gazing wistfully into the face of her +suffering parent, like a piece of chiseled statuary, slowly repeated her +nightly orison. When she had finished, the child (but four years of age) +said to her mother, "Dear Mother, may I not offer up one more prayer?" +"Yes, yes, my sweet pet, pray;" and she lifted up her tiny hands, closed +her eyes, and prayed: "O God! spare, oh! spare my dear papa!" That +prayer was lifted with electric rapidity to the throne of God. It was +heard on high--it was heard on earth. The responsive "Amen!" burst from +the father's lips, and his heart of stone became a heart of flesh. Wife +and child were both clasped to his bosom, and in penitence he said: "My +child, you have saved your father from the grave of a drunkard. I'll +sign the pledge!" + + +A LITTLE QUAKER BOY'S PRAYER RIGHT OUT IN MEETING. + + +A little Quaker boy, about six years old, after sitting, like the rest +of the congregation, in silence, all being afraid to speak first, as he +thought, got up on the seat, and, folding his arms over his breast, +murmured in a clear, sweet voice, just loud enough to be distinctly +heard on the front seat, "I do wish the Lord would make us all gooder, +and gooder, and gooder, till there is no bad left." + + +WHAT THE LITTLE CHILDREN MAY DO. + + +At family prayer, little Mary, one evening when all was silent, looked +anxiously in the face of her back-sliding father, who had ceased to pray +in his family, and said to him with quivering lips, "Pa, is God dead?" + +"No, my child--why do you ask that?" + +"Why, Pa, you never talk to him now as you used to do," she replied. + +These words haunted the father until he was mercifully reclaimed. + + +THE UNBELIEVING FATHER LED TO GO TO CHURCH. + + +An unbelieving father came home one evening and asked where his little +girl was. "She has gone to bed," said his wife. "I'll just go and give +her one kiss," said the father, for he loved his little daughter dearly. +As he stood at the door of her bedroom, he heard some one praying. It +was his little Jane, and he heard her say, "Do, God Almighty, please +lead daddy to hear Mr. Stowell preach." + +She had often asked him to go, and he had always said, "No, no, my +child." After listening to her prayer, he determined, the next time she +asked him, to accompany her, which he did, and heard a sermon which took +his attention and pricked his conscience. On leaving the church, he +clasped the hand of his little girl in his, and said, "Jane, thy God +shall be my God, and thy minister shall be my minister." And the man +became a true follower of the Lord. + + +A CHILD'S PRAYER FOR RELIEF + + +An interesting little daughter of a professor in Danville, Kentucky, in +the Summer of 1876, in eating a watermelon, got one of the seeds lodged +in her windpipe. The effort was made to remove it, but proved +ineffectual, and it was thought that the child would have to be taken to +one of the large cities to have an operation performed by a skillful +surgeon. To this she was decidedly opposed, and pleaded with her mamma +to tell her if there was no other way of relief. Finally, in order to +quiet her childish fears, her Christian mother told her to ask God to +help her. + +The little one went into an adjoining room and offered her prayer to God +to help her. Shortly thereafter she came running to her mamma with the +seed in her hand, and her beautiful and intelligent face lighted up with +joy. In response to the eager inquiry of the mother, the little one said +that she had asked God to help her, and while she was praying she was +taken with a severe cough, in which she threw up the seed. + + +GOD'S CARE OVER HIS PEOPLE--THE PRAYING WIDOW + + +A young widow with two children was living in the city of Berlin. She +was a Christian woman, and trusted in Jehovah-Jireh to take care of her. +One evening she had to be away for a while. During her absence a man +entered her house for the purpose of robbing her. But "the Lord who +provides" protected her from this danger in a very singular way. On +returning to her home she found a note lying on her table, which read as +follows: + +"Madam, I came here with the intention of robbing you, but the sight of +this little room, with the religious pictures hanging around in it, and +those two sweet-looking children quietly sleeping in their little bed, +have touched my heart. I cannot take anything of yours. The small amount +of money lying on your desk I leave untouched, and I take the liberty of +adding fifty dollars besides." The Bible tells us that "the hearts of +men are in the hands of God. and he turneth them as the rivers of waters +are turned." He turned the heart of this robber from his wicked purpose, +and in this way he protected the widow who trusted in him. + + +GOD SAVED A FAMILY MERCIFULLY. + + +One morning a Christian farmer, in Rhode Island, put two bushels of rye +in his wagon and started to the mill to get it ground. On his way to the +mill he had to drive over a bridge that had no railings to the sides of +it. When he reached the middle of this bridge his horse, a quiet, gentle +creature, began all at once to back. In spite of all the farmer could +do, he kept on backing till the hinder wheels went over the side of the +bridge, and the bag of grain was tipped out and fell into the stream. +Then the horse stood still. Some men came to help the farmer. The wagon +was lifted back and the bag of grain was fished up from the water. Of +course it could not be taken to the mill in that state. So the farmer +had to take it home and dry it. He had prayed that morning that God +would protect and help him through the day, and he wondered what this +accident had happened for. He found out, however, before long. On +spreading out the grain to dry he noticed a great many small pieces of +glass mixed up with it. If this had been ground up with the grain into +the flour it would have caused the death of himself and his family. But +Jehovah-Jireh was on that bridge. He made the horse back and throw the +grain into the water to save the family from the danger that threatened +them. + + +A CHILD'S FAITH IN THE LORD'S PRAYER. + + +About the 30th of July, 1864, the beautiful village of Chambersburgh was +invaded and pillaged by the Confederate army. A superintendent of a +Sabbath school, formerly resident in the South, but who had been obliged +to flee to the North because of his known faithfulness to the national +government, was residing there, knowing that if discovered by the +Confederate soldiers, he would be in great peril of life, property and +every indignity,--in the gray dawn of that memorable day, with his wife +and two little girls, again on foot, he fled to the chain of mountains +lying north-west of the doomed village. + +After remaining out for some days and nights, with no shelter but such +as was afforded by the friendly boughs of large forest trees, and +without food, they became nearly famished. At last, the head of the +family, unable to endure the agony of beholding his wife and children +starving to death before his face, and he not able to render the needed +relief, withdrew to a place by himself, that he might not witness the +sad death of his loved ones. With his back against a large oak, he had +been seated only a short time, when his eldest little daughter, not +quite ten years old, came to him and exclaimed: + +"_Father, father, I have found such a precious text in my little +Testament, which I brought to the mountain with me, for very joy I could +not stop to read it to mother, but hastened to you with it. Please +listen while I read_." To which he said: + +"Yes, my child, read it. There is comfort to be found in the Scriptures. +We will not long be together on earth, and there could be no better way +of spending our last mortal hours." To which she replied: + +"O, father, I believe that we will not die at this time; that we will +not be permitted to starve; that God will surely send us relief; but do +let me read." Then opening her dear little volume, at the ninth verse of +the sixth chapter of Matthew, she read as follows: + +"'_Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom +come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our +daily bread.' O, father, to think that our dear Saviour Himself taught +His disciples to pray for their daily bread. These are His own words. It +is not possible, therefore, that He will allow any person to starve, +who, in His own appointed language, asks Him for food. Will He not, dear +father, hear our prayers for bread_?" + +At once and forever the scales fell from the eyes of that parent. With +tears streaming down his cheeks, he clasped his child to his bosom, and +earnestly repeated the Lord's Prayer. _He had scarcely finished it when +a small dog ran to where he and his daughter were upon their knees, and +barked so fiercely as to attract to the spot its owner, a wealthy +Pennsylvania farmer,_ who was upon the mountain in search of cattle that +he had lost for several days. The kind-hearted tiller of the soil +immediately piloted the suffering family to his own comfortable home, +and properly provided for their wants. + + +A CHILD PRESERVED FROM WOLVES. + + +A little girl only nine years old, named Sutherland, living at +Platteville, Col., was recently saved from death by ferocious forest +wolves as follows: The child went with her father on a cold afternoon to +the woods to find the cattle, and was told to follow the calves home, +while the father continued his search for the cows. She did so, but the +calves misled her, and very soon she became conscious that she was lost. +Night came on, and with it the cold of November and the dreaded wolves. +With a strange calmness she continued on her uncertain way. The next +day, Sunday, at 10 A.M., she reached, in her wanderings, the house of +John Beebe, near a place called Evans, having traveled constantly +eighteen hours, and a distance of not less than twenty-five miles. _All +night the wolves growled around her, but harmed her not_; neither was +she in the least frightened by them. All know that in ordinary cases +fierce packs of blood-thirsty wolves would devour a man, and even a +horse. But this little one was invincible in her trusting, simple faith. +The narrative states: "She said that the wolves kept close to her heels +and snapped at her feet; but her mother told her that if she was _good_ +the Lord would _always_ take care of her; so she asked the Lord to take +care of her, and she knew the wolves would not hurt her, _because God +wouldn't let them_!" The child was hunted for by a great number of +people, and being found was restored shortly to her parents in perfect +health and soundness. + + +JESUS CURED ME. + + +In the family of a missionary pastor in Kansas, was a daughter of twelve +years of age, seriously afflicted with chronic rheumatism. For three +years she suffered, until the leg was shrunken, stiff at the knee, +shorter by some two inches than, the other, and the hip joint was being +gradually drawn from its socket. The child read of Mrs. Miller's cure by +prayer, originally published in _The Advance_, and wondered why she +could not also be cured by the same means. She repeated to her mother +some of the promised answers to prayer, and asked: "Don't Jesus mean +what he says, and isn't it just as true now as then?" The mother +endeavored to divert her attention by representing the affliction as a +blessing. The physician also called and left another prescription, and +encouraged the child to hope for benefit from it. The child could not, +however, be diverted from the thought that Jesus could and would heal +her. After the doctor's departure she said: "_Mamma, I cannot have that +plaster put on."_ + +"Why, dear." + +"_Because, mother, Jesus is going to cure me, and he must have all the +glory. Dr. ---- doesn't believe in God; if we put the plaster on, he +will say it was that which helped me; and it must be all Jesus_." So +earnest was she, that her mother at length placed the package, just as +she had received it, on a shelf, and said no more about it. + +The little girl and her mother were alone that day, the father being +absent from home. When the household duties were done she called her +mother to her. + +"Mother, will you pray now to Jesus to cure me_? I have got the faith; I +know he will if you will ask him_." The mother, overcome, yielded to her +daughter's request, and commenced praying. She was blest with unusual +consciousness of the presence of God, and became insensible of all +outward surroundings, pleading for the child. She remained in this state +of intercession for more than an hour, when she was aroused by her +daughter, who with her hand on the mother's shoulder was joyfully +exclaiming, "_Mother, dear mother, wake up! Don't you see Jesus has +cured me? O, I am well! I am all well!" and she danced about the room, +literally healed._ + +One week from that day, the girl was seen by the writer in the +"_Advance,"_ who says she was _out sliding on the ice with her +companions_. From that day to this she has had no further trouble; _the +limb is full, round and perfect_; there is _no difference between it and +the other_. + +To every question asked she replies, with the overflowing gratitude of a +loving heart, "Jesus cured me!" + + +THE LITTLE BOY WHO WANTED HIS SISTER TO READ THE BIBLE. + + +Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, of London, tells of the excellent faith of a little +boy in one of the schools of Edinburgh, who had attended a +prayer-meeting, and at the last said to his teacher who conducted it: + +"Teacher, I wish my sister could be got to read the Bible; she never +reads it." + +"Why, Johnny, should your sister read the Bible?" + +"Because if she once read it I am sure it would do her good, and she +would he converted and saved." + +"Do you think so, Johnny?" + +"Yes, I do, sir; and I wish the next time there was a prayer-meeting you +would ask the people to pray for my sister, that she may begin to read +the Bible." + +"Well, well, it shall be done, John." + +So the teacher gave out that a little boy was anxious that prayer should +be offered that his sister might read the Bible. John was observed to +get up and go out. The teacher thought it very rude of the boy to +disturb the people in a crowded room, and so the next day, when the lad +came, he said: + +"John, I thought it very rude of you to get up in the prayer-meeting and +go out. You ought not to have done so." + +"O, sir," said the boy, "I did not mean to be rude; _but I thought I +should like to go home and see my sister reading her Bible for the first +time_." + +_True to his faith, when he reached his home, he found the little girl +reading her Bible_. + + +NETTIE'S DAILY BREAD. + + +A little girl in a wretched attic, whose sick mother had no bread, knelt +down by the bedside, and said slowly: "Give us this day our daily +bread." Then she went into the street and began to wonder where God kept +his bread. She turned around the corner and saw a large, well-filled +baker's shop. + +"This," thought Nettie, "is the place." So she entered confidently, and +said to the big baker, "I've come for it." + +"Come for what?" + +"My daily bread," she said, pointing to the tempting loaves. "I'll take +two, if you please--one for mother and one for me." + +"All right," said the baker, putting them into a bag, and giving them to +his little customer, who started at once into the street. + +"Stop, you little rogue!" he said, roughly; "where is your money?" + +"I haven't any," she said simply. + +"Haven't any!" he repeated, angrily; "you little thief, what brought you +here, then?" + +The hard words frightened the little girl, who, bursting into tears, +said: "Mother is sick, and I am so hungry. In my prayers I said, 'Give +us this day our daily bread,' and then I thought _God meant me to fetch +it, and so I came_." + +The rough, but kind-hearted baker was softened by the child's simple +tale, and instead of chiding her or visiting threats of punishment, as +is usually the case, he said: "_You poor, dear girl; here, take this to +your mother_," and he filled a large basketful and gave it to her. + + +THE BROTHER'S PRAYER. + + +A physician, who for many years practiced his profession in the State of +California, was called once to see the child of Mr. Doak, of Calveras +County, living on the road between San Andreas and Stockton, and not far +from the mining town of Campo Seco, or Dry Camp. He says: The patient +was a little girl about ten years of age, bright and intelligent and one +of twins, the other being a boy, equally bright and well-disposed. The +primary symptoms had indicated inflammation of the stomach, which the +attending physician had hopelessly combated, and finally, when by +metastasis it attacked the brain, with other unfavorable symptoms, he +was inclined to abandon the case in despair. + +It was at this juncture I was called in. The symptoms were exceedingly +unfavorable, and my own opinion coincided with my professional +brother's. However, we determined to go to work. A day and night of +incessant watching, and the state of the patient caused us both to feel +the case hopeless, and we only continued our attendance at the earnest +solicitation of the child's mother. The anxious, care-worn and restless +sorrow of the little brother, his deep grief as he saw his sister given +over to the power of the King of Terrors, had attracted our attention. +He would creep up to the bedside of his sister silently, with pale and +tearful face, controlling his emotion with great effort, and then steal +away again and weep bitterly. With a vague, indefinite idea of +comforting the little fellow, I took him to my knee, and was about to +utter some platitude, when the little fellow, looking me in the face, +his own the very picture of grief, burst out with-- + +"Oh, Doctor, must sister die?" + +"Yes," I replied, "but,"-- + +Before I could go farther he again interrupted me: "Oh, Doctor, is there +nothing, nothing that will save her? Can nobody, nobody save my sister?" + +For an instant the teachings of a tender and pious mother flashed over +my mind. They had been long neglected, were almost forgotten. +California, in those days, was not well calculated to fasten more deeply +on the mind home teachings. There were very few whose religious training +survived the ordeal, and for a long time I had hardly thought of prayer. +But the question brought out with the vividness of a flash of lightning, +and as suddenly, all that had been obscured by my course of life, and, +hardly knowing what I did, I spoke to him of the power that might reside +in prayer. I said, God had promised to answer prayer. I dared not allow +the skeptical doubt, that came to my own mind, meet the ear of that +innocent boy, and told him, more as my mother had often told me than +with any thought of impressing a serious subject on his mind, "_That the +prayers of little boys, even, God would hear_." I left that night with +some simple directions, that were given more to satisfy the mother than +from having the slightest hope of eventual recovery, promising to return +next day. + +In the morning, as I rode to the door, the little boy was playing round +with a bright and cheerful countenance, and looked so happy that +involuntarily I asked: + +"Is your sister better?" + +"Oh, no, Doctor," he replied, "but she is going to get well." + +"How do you know," I asked. + +"_Because I prayed to God_" said he, "and _he told me she would."_ + +"How did he tell you?" + +The little fellow looked at me for an instant, and reverently placing +his hand on the region of his heart, said: + +"_He told me in my heart_." + +Going to the room where my patient was lying, I found no change +whatever, but in spite of my own convictions there had sprung up a hope +within me. The medical gentleman with whom I was in consultation came to +the room, and as he did, _a thought of a very simple remedy_ I had seen +used by an old negro woman, in a very dissimilar case, _occurred to my +mind._ It became so _persistently present_ that I mentioned it to my +brother practitioner. He looked surprised, but merely remarked. "It can +do no harm." I applied it. In two hours we both felt the case was out of +danger. + +The second day after that, as we rode from the house, my friend asked me +how I came to think, of so simple a remedy. + +"_I think it was that boy's prayer_," I replied. + +"Why, Doctor! you are not so superstitious as to connect that boy's +prayers with his sister's recovery," said he. + +"Yes, I do," I replied; "for the life of me I cannot help thinking his +prayers were more powerful than our remedies." + + +LIGHT GIVEN TO A BLIND CHILD. + + +"A missionary visiting one of the mission schools of Brooklyn, was +introduced to a remarkable child. He was brought into the school from +the highways and hedges, and young as he was, he had been taught of God. +One day he was playing with powder, and putting his mouth to the match +to blow it, it exploded, and the whole charge went into his face and +eyes. He became totally blind, and the physician gave but little hope of +recovery. But the little sufferer was patient and calm, and even +hopeful; sitting through the dark days meditating on what he had learned +at the mission Sabbath-school, and repeating passages of Scripture and +many a beautiful hymn. + +"One evening after the physician had spoken discouragingly, and his +parents, as he perceived, were in deep distress, he was absorbed on his +knees in a corner of the room in earnest prayer. His voice, though +subdued almost to a whisper, was indicative of intense feeling. His +parents inquired what he had been praying so earnestly for. Why, said +he, that _Jesus Christ would open my eyes. The doctor says he can't, and +so I thought I would ask the Savior to do it for me. God honored his +faith. In a few days his sight came to him; and the prayer was answered. +He can now see clearly_." + + +ASKING THE LORD TO HELP HIM IN HIS LESSONS. + + +"A little boy was at school, he was diligent, and determined to succeed, +but found that parsing was rather hard. + +"One day he went to his mamma for a little help in analyzing some +sentences. She told him the proper manner of doing it, and he followed +her directions; but he was much troubled that he could not understand +the whys and wherefores himself. + +"His mamma told him it was rather hard for him then, but that after he +had studied a little longer, it would be quite easy. + +"Johnnie went into another room to study alone, but after a little came +back, his face perfectly radiant with joy. He said: 'O mamma, I want to +begin again. I asked Jesus to help me, and now I think I see just how it +is. He always helps us when we ask him;' and with unspeakable delight he +with his mamma went over his lesson again." + + +GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. + + +"The _American Messenger_ tells the story of Johnny Hall, a poor boy. +His mother worked hard for their daily bread. 'Please give me something +to eat; I am very hungry,' he said one evening. His mother let the work +upon which she was sewing fall from her knee, and drew Johnny toward +her. Her tears fell fast as she said: 'Mamma is very poor, and cannot +give you any supper to-night.' 'Never mind, mamma; I shall soon be +asleep, and then I sha'n't feel hungry. But you will sit and sew, and be +so hungry and cold. Poor mamma,' he said, and kissed her many times to +comfort her. + +"'Now, Johnny, you may say your prayers;' for dearly as his mother loved +him, she could ill afford to lose a moment from her work. He repeated +'Our Father' with her until they came to the petition, 'Give us this day +our daily bread.' The earnestness, almost agony, with which the mother +uttered these words, impressed Johnny strongly. He said them over again: +'_Give us this day our daily bread_.' Then opening his blue eyes, he +fixed them on his mother, and said: 'We shall never be hungry any more. +God is _our Father_, and he _will_ hear us.' The prayer was finished and +Johnny laid to rest. The mother sewed with renewed energy. Her heart was +sustained by the simple faith of her child. Many were the gracious +promises which came to her remembrance. Although tired and hungry, still +it was with a light heart she sank to rest. + +"Early in the morning a gentleman called on his way to business. He +wished Johnny's mother to come to his home to take charge of his two +motherless boys. She immediately accepted the offer. They were thus +provided with all the comforts of a good home. Johnny is a man now, but +he has never forgotten the time when he prayed so earnestly for his +daily bread. + +"_God will hear prayer_ is his firm belief. In many ways has he had the +faith of his childhood confirmed. He looks to God as his Father with the +same trust now as then. + + +GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF ME. + + +"When the yellow fever raged in New Orleans, the pestilence visited a +Christian household, and the father died. Then the mother was suddenly +seized, and knowing that she must die, she gathered the four children +around her bed, the oldest being only about ten years of age, and said +to them that God was about to take her home to heaven. She urged them to +have no fears, and assured them that the kind, heavenly Father who had +so long provided for them would surely come and take care of them. The +children, with almost breaking hearts, believed what the dying mother +had told them. + +"She was buried. The three youngest soon followed her, although they +received every necessary attention from friends during their sickness. +The oldest, a boy, was also seized by the pestilence, and in an +unguarded moment, under the influence of delirium, wandered from his +sick-bed out into the suburbs of the city, and lying down in the tall +grass by the roadside, looked steadfastly up, murmuring, incoherently at +times, 'Mother said God would come and take care of me--would come and +take care of me!' A gentleman happening to pass at the time, and hearing +the unusual sounds, went where the lad was lying, and rousing him, asked +him what he was doing there. Said the little fellow in reply: '_Father +died; mother died; little brother and sisters died. But just before +mother went away into heaven, she told us to have no fear, for God would +come and take care of us, and I am now waiting for him to come down and +take me. I know he will come, for mother said so, and she always told us +the truth_.' + +"'Well,' said the gentleman, whose kindliest sympathies were stirred by +the little fellow's sad condition and his implicit confidence in his +sainted mother's pious instructions, '_God has sent me, my son, to take +care of you_.' So he had him carried to his home, and kindly nursed and +cared for by his own family. He recovered, and to-day is one of the most +useful Christian young men in the far West, where he has fixed his +home." + + +LAURA HEALED. + + +"A Christian teacher, connected with a Southern Orphan Asylum, writes +_The Christian_, that often when the children were sick, and most of +them came to me more or less diseased, I cried to the Lord for help, and +He who 'bore our infirmities, and carried our sicknesses,' healed them. +Oh it is so good to trust in the Lord! How much better to rely on Him +'in whom we live, and move, and have our being,' than to put confidence +in man, even in the most skillful physician. To confirm and strengthen +the faith of the doubting, I send you the following account of the +healing of one of our orphans. + +"Laura was one of a large orphan family, living on Port Royal Island, +S.C. When her mother died, she went to live with a colored woman who +made her work very hard, 'tote' wood and water, hoe cotton and corn, do +all manner of drudgery, rise at daybreak, and live on scanty food. Laura +suffered from want, exposure and abuse. The freed-women of the +plantation looked with pity into her eyes, and desired her to run away. +But she replied, 'Aunt Dora will run after me, and when she done cotch +me, she'll stripe me well with the lash; she done tell so already.' + +"One morning, however, when Laura went to the creek for crabs, a good +aunty followed her, and throwing a shawl over the poor child's rags, +said, 'Now, Laura, put foot for Beaufort fast as ever you can, and when +you get there, inquire where Mrs. Mather lives: go straight to her; she +has a good home for jes sich poor creeters as you be.' Laura obeyed, +hastened to Beaufort, seven miles distant, found my home, was made +welcome, and her miserable rags exchanged for good clean clothes. In the +morning, I said, 'Laura, did you sleep well last night?' She replied, +'O, missis, my heart too full of joy to sleep. Me lay awake all night, +thinking how happy me is in dis nice, clean bed, all to myself. Me never +sleep in a bed before, missis.' + +"Laura, then about thirteen years old, came to me with a hard cough, and +pain in her side. I put on flannels, gave her a generous diet, and +hoped, that with rest and cheerful surroundings, she would soon rally as +other children had, who came to me in a similar broken-down condition. +Still the cough and pain continued. I dosed her with various +restoratives, such as flax-seed, and slippery elm, etc., but all were of +no avail. She steadily grew worse. Every week I could see she declined. +Her appetite failed; night sweats came on; and she was so weak that most +of the day she lay in bed. The children, all of whom loved Laura, she +was so patient and gentle, whispered one to another, 'Laura is gwine to +die; dere is def in her eye." + +"One evening in mid-winter, the poor child's short breath, fluttering +pulse, and cold, clammy sweat alarmed me, and I felt sure that unless +the dear Lord interposed in her behalf, her time with us was very short. +I lingered by her bed till near midnight in prayer for her recovery. I +could not give her up. Again in my own room I poured out my soul in +prayer for the child, and then slept. About two o'clock, I suddenly +awoke, and heard what seemed a voice saying to me, '_Go to Laura; I can +heal her now; the conditions are right; you are both calm and +trustful_.' + +"I arose quickly, hastened to her room and said to her, 'Laura, do you +want to get well?' 'O, yes, missis, me wants to get well.' 'Do you +believe Jesus can cure you?' She replied, 'I know he can if he will.' +'Well, Laura,' I said, 'Jesus has just waked me out of a sound sleep, +and told me to go and tell you that he _will cure you now_. Do you +believe he will, Laura?' 'Yes, missis, me _do believe_,' she replied +earnestly. She then repeated this prayer. 'O, Jesus, do please to make +me well; let me live a long time, and be a good and useful woman.' + +"The burden had rolled off my heart; I returned to my room and slept +sweetly. In the morning, Tamar, Laura's attendant, met me at the door, +exclaiming joyfully, 'O, I'se so glad! Laura is a heap better, Missis. +She wake me up long time before day and begged me to get her something +to eat, she so hungry.' + +"From that night Laura rapidly recovered. Her cough abated, her appetite +was restored, her night sweats ceased, and in less than a month she was +strong and well." + + +A LITTLE SLAVE'S FAITH. + + +A missionary in India, passing one day through the school room, observed +a little boy engaged in prayer, and overheard him say, "O, Lord Jesus, I +thank thee for sending big ship into my country and wicked men to steal +me and bring me here, that I might hear about Thee and love Thee. And +now, Lord Jesus, I have one great favor to ask Thee. Please to send +wicked men with another big ship, and let them catch my father and my +mother, and bring them to this country, that they may hear the +missionaries preach and love Thee." + +The missionary in a few days after saw him standing on the sea-shore, +looking very intently as the ships came in. "What are you looking at, +Tom?" "I am looking to see if Jesus Christ answers prayer." + +For two years he was to be seen day after day watching the arrival of +every ship. One day, as the missionary was viewing him, he observed him +capering about and exhibiting the liveliest joy. + +"Well, Tom, what gives you so much joy?" "_O, Jesus Christ answer +prayer. Father and mother come in that ship_," which was actually the +case. + + +A GOOD REASON FOR PRAYING. + + +A little girl about four years of age being asked, "Why do you pray to +God?" replied: "Because I know He hears me, and I love to pray to Him." + +"But how do you know He hears you?" + +Putting her little hand to her heart, she said, "I know He does, because +there is something _here_ that tells me so." + + +MY HEART TALKED. + + +A child six years old, in a Sunday school, said: "When we kneel down in +the school-room to pray, it seems as if my heart talked." + + +WHY, SIR, I BEGGED. + + +A little boy, one of the Sunday school children in Jamaica, called upon +the missionary and stated that he had lately been very ill, and in his +sickness often wished his minister had been present to pray with him. + +"But, Thomas," said the missionary, "I hope you prayed." "Oh, yes, sir." +"Did you repeat the collect I taught you?" "I prayed." "Well, but how +did you pray?" "Why, sir, I begged." + + +A LITTLE CHILD'S PRAYER FOR HEALING. + + +A very little child, who had but recently learned to talk, and the +daughter of a Home missionary, had been for weeks troubled with a severe +cough, which was very severe in its weakness upon her. At last her +father said to her, "Daughter, ask Jesus, the good Lord, to heal you." + +Putting up her little hands as she lay in bed, she said, "_Dear Jesus, +will oo please to cure me, and do please tell papa what to give me_." + +The father, who was listening, thought several times of "_syrup of +ipecac_" but did not connect it immediately with the prayer. At last the +thought came so often before him, that he felt, "Well, it will do no +harm, perhaps this is what the Lord wants me to give her." He procured +it, administered it, and in three hours the little child's cough had +wholly ceased, and she was playing on the floor with the other children. +A most singular feature is the fact that the same medicine was +administered at other times and had no effect in relief. + + * * * * * + + + + +THE BLESSEDNESS OF GIVING + + +"_Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in +time of trouble_." + +"_Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all +thine increase, so shalt thy barns be filled with plenty_." + +"_There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that +withholdeth more than is meet, but it lendeth to poverty_." + +"_The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be +watered also himself_." + +"_He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which +he hath given will He pay him again."_ + +"_Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry +himself, but shall not be heard_." + +"_He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his +bread to the poor_." + +"_He that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat_." + +"_He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that hideth his +eye shall have many a curse_." + +"_Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shall find it after many +days_." + +"_If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted +soul, the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in +drought, and make fat thy bones. And thou shall be like a watered +garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not_." + +"_He which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully_." + +"_Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not +grudgingly, nor of necessity, for_ + +GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER. + + * * * * * + + +HOW THE LORD BLESSES THOSE "WHO GIVE LIBERALLY TO HIS CAUSE. + + +A disciple of the Lord Jesus, poor in this world's goods, but rich in +faith, became greatly perplexed in regard to the meaning of the +forty-second verse of the fifth chapter of Matthew. The words are: "Give +to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee turn not +thou away." After a season of prolonged mental inquiry, as to whether +the language was to be regarded as literal or not, she suddenly paused +and exclaimed: "It is easy enough to find out; test it and see." + +It was Saturday. Her money, all but two dollars, had been expended in +providing for the Sabbath. The amount left, which was absolutely needed +for the following Monday, she put in her pocket, and went out. + +On the street, a friend, whose husband had been for some time out of +business, met her and stated their distresses, and asked if she could +lend them _two dollars to last over the Sabbath_. + +She was surprised. The test had come sooner than she expected, but, +without hesitation, the money was "_lent to the Lord,"_ and the now +penniless believer went home to wait and see. + +Now mark the result. Monday came, and with it the needs to be supplied. +While pondering what course to pursue, a knock was heard, and, on +opening the door, a lady, with a bundle in her hand, inquired if she +could do a little work for her. Replying in the affirmative, and naming +the price, the lady took from her pocket-book two dollars, and handed it +to her, saying: "It is more than you ask, but you might as well have +it." "I was never more astonished," said this true disciple, "and +literally shouted for joy. I had tested and proved that the promises of +God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Glory to God. I have never doubted +since; and though often in straits, I have always been delivered." + +Would it not be well for Christians to "test" where they cannot +understand? "Ye are my friends," said the blessed Lord, "if ye do +whatsoever I command you." Obedience will solve difficulties that +reasoning cannot unravel. Try and see. + + +DIVIDING WITH GOD. + + +A merchant, in answer to inquiries, refers back to a period when, he +says, "In consecrating my life anew to God, aware of the ensnaring +influences of riches, and the necessity of deciding on a plan of charity +before wealth should bias my judgment, I adopted the following system: + +"I decided to balance my accounts as nearly as I could, every month; and +reserving such a portion of profits as might appear adequate to cover +probable losses, to lay aside, by entry on a benevolent account, +one-tenth of the remaining profits, great or small, as a fund for +benevolent expenditure, supporting myself and family on the remaining +nine-tenths. I further determined, that when at any time my net profits, +that is, profits from which clerk-hire and store expenses had been +deducted, should exceed $500 in a month, I would give twelve and a half +per cent.; if over $700, fifteen per cent.; if over $900, seventeen and +a half per cent.; if over $1,100, twenty per cent.; if over $1,300, +twenty-two and a half per cent.; thus increasing the proportion of the +whole as God should prosper, until at $1,500, I should give twenty-five +per cent., or $375 a month. As capital was of the utmost importance to +my success in business, I decided not to increase the foregoing scale +until I had acquired a certain capital, after which I would give +one-quarter of all net profits, great or small; and on the acquisition +of another certain amount of capital, I decided to give half; and on +acquiring what I determined would be a full sufficiency of capital, then +to give the whole of my net profits. + +"It is now several years since I adopted this plan, and under it I have +acquired a handsome capital, and have been prospered beyond my most +sanguine expectations. Although constantly giving, I have never yet +touched the bottom of my fund, and have been repeatedly astonished to +find what large drafts it would bear. True, during some months I have +encountered a salutary trial of faith, when this rule has led me to lay +by the tenth, while the remainder proved inadequate to my support; but +the tide has soon turned, and with gratitude I have recognized a +heavenly hand more than making good all past deficiencies." + + +PROSPERITY AND LIBERALITY. + + +A London correspondent of the _Western Christian Advocate_, writing some +years ago of raising a fund for the extinction of debts on chapels, +gives the following incident: + +"A gentleman named Wilkes, who was promised a subscription of one +thousand guineas to this fund, has a history so remarkable as to be +worth relating across the Atlantic. Seven years ago he was a journeyman +mechanic. Having invented and patented some kind of a crank or spindle +used in the cotton manufacture, and needing capital to start himself in +the business of making them, he made it a matter of earnest prayer that +he might be directed to some one able and willing to assist him. In a +singular and unexpected manner he fell in with an elderly Quaker, a +perfect stranger, who accosted him with the strange inquiry: 'Friend, I +should like to know if a little money would be of any service to thee.' +Having satisfied himself as to Wilkes' genius and honesty, the Quaker at +once advanced him the required amount. The praying mechanic started in +business on his own account, and everything he has touched of late +appeared to prosper. + +"Hearing of a field in Ireland offered for sale, in which was a deserted +mine, he went over to see it; bought the field for a small sum, +recommenced working the mine, and it now turns out to yield abundance of +excellent copper. For the year 1852, he promised to give the Missionary +Society a _guinea a day_; but such abundance has poured in upon him +during the year, that he felt that to be below his duty, and has, +therefore, enlarged his subscription for the present year seven-fold. He +is actually giving to that noble cause seven guineas daily, or upwards +of $10,500 a year, during this year, 1853; in addition to which he has +just given one thousand guineas to the fund above referred to." "It is +pleasing to add," says the writer, "that this remarkable man retains the +utmost simplicity." + +Would that liberality and prosperity might ever go hand in hand. Often, +as wealth increases liberality is starved out, and the rich give far +less than the poor in proportion to their means and ability. + + +THE DEACON'S SINGING SCHOOL. + + +"I am going out to see if I can start a singing school," said a good +man, as he stood buttoning up his overcoat, and muffling up his ears, +one bitterly cold Winter night. + +"A singing school," said his wife, "how will you do that?" + +"I have heard of a widow around the corner a block or two who is in +suffering circumstances. She has five little children, and two of them +down sick, and has neither fire nor food. So Bennie Hope, the office boy +tells me. I thought I would just step around and look into the case." + +"Go, by all means," said his wife, "and lose no time. If they are in +such need we can give some relief. But I cannot see what all this has to +do with starting a singing school. But never mind, you need not stop to +tell me now; go quickly and do all you can for the poor woman." + +So out into the piercing cold of the wintry night went the husband, +while the wife turned to the fireside and her sleeping babes, who, in +their warm cribs, with the glow of health upon their cheeks, showed that +they knew nothing of cold or pinching want. With a thankful spirit she +thought of her blessings, as she sat down to her little pile of mending. +Very busily and quietly she worked, puzzling all the time over what her +husband could have meant by starting a singing school. A singing school +and the widow--how queer! What possible connection could they have? + +At last she grew tired of the puzzling thought, and said to herself, "I +won't bother myself thinking about it any more. He will tell me all +about it when he comes home. I only hope we may be able to help the poor +widow and make her 'poor heart sing for joy.' There," she exclaimed, +"can that be what he meant? The widow's heart singing for joy! Wouldn't +that be a singing school? It must be; it is just like John. How funny +that I should find it out!" and she laughed merrily at her lucky guess. +Taking up her work again, she stitched away with a happy smile on her +face, as she thought over again her husband's words, and followed him in +imagination in his kind ministrations. By-and-by two shining tears +dropped down, tears of pure joy, drawn from the deep wells of her love +for her husband, of whom she thought she never felt so fond before. At +the first sound of footsteps she sprang to open the door. + +"Oh, John! did you start the singing school?" + +"I reckon I did," said the husband, as soon as he could loose his +wrappings; "but I want you to hunt up some flannels and things to help +to keep it up." + +"Oh, yes! I will; I know now what you mean. I have thought it all out. +Making the widow's 'heart sing for joy' is your singing school. (Job. +xxix:13.) What a precious work, John! 'Pure religion and undefiled is to +visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.' My own heart has +been singing for joy all the evening because of your work, and I do not +mean to let you do it alone. I want to draw out some of this wonderful +music." + + +IT PAYS TO GIVE TO THE LORD. + + +"A clergyman states, that soon after he dedicated himself to the service +of Christ, he resolved, as Jacob did, 'Of all that thou shalt give me, I +will surely give a tenth unto thee.' Of the first $500 he earned, he +gave $130, and in such a way that it incited a wealthy friend to give +several hundreds more, including a donation of $100 to this clergyman +himself. For four years, the clergyman says, 'My expenses were small, my +habits economical, and the only _luxury_ in which I indulged was the +luxury of giving. In the two first of these years I was permitted to +give $500.' 'On a review of my ministry of about sixteen years,' he +adds, 'I find God has graciously permitted me to give to the cause of my +Redeemer nearly $1,200, by which amount about forty life memberships +have been created in various evangelical societies. During all these +years God has prospered me; has given me almost uninterrupted health; +has surrounded me with sweet domestic ties; and my congregation, by +means in part perhaps of a steady example, have given _more in these +sixteen years_ than in all their long previous history." + + +ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BENEFICENCE. + + +"A liberal donor, in enclosing $100 to a sister institution, but +strictly withholding his name, says, 'When I began business, it was with +the intention and hope to become rich. A year afterward I became, as I +trust, a Christian, and about the same time met with 'Cobb's +Resolutions,' which I adopted. Some four or five years later, I read +'Normand Smith's Memoir,' and also Wesley's 'Sermon on the use of +Money,' which led me to devote all my gains to benevolent uses, +reserving to myself $5,000 while I remained unmarried, part of which I +have bequeathed to relatives, and the remainder to benevolent societies. +Up to this time--about sixteen years--by the grace of God--nothing +else--I have given about $24,500 to benevolent purposes, and lent about +$500 to those in need, which has not been returned; making in all about +$25,000." + + +COMMENDABLE EXAMPLES. + + +The Methodist Missionary Society mention one of their donors who, for +twenty years, has used the power given him of getting wealth, for his +Lord, in which time he has been enabled to appropriate to benevolent +purposes _more than thirty thousand dollars_, while operating with a +capital of but five thousand dollars. Another business man of that +denomination in Boston, during fifteen years, has appropriated +_thirty-nine thousand dollars_. + + +SYSTEM IN GIVING. + + +A correspondent of the American Tract Society says, "It was their +publications which induced me to appropriate statedly one-tenth of my +income to the cause of the Lord. After acting upon that scale nearly two +years, and finding that although _my donations greatly exceeded those of +former years_, my affairs were not thereby involved in any +embarrassment; but that, on the contrary, with increasing contributions +to the leading objects of Christian benevolence and to general charity, +came an _increased store and enlarging resources_, I concluded, with a +heart throbbing with grateful emotions to my Creator, in view of his +great love and kindness toward me, that I would increase the +proportion." + + +LENDING TO THE LORD. + + +"A poor man, some of whose family were sick, lived near Deacon Murray, +(referred to in the tract, 'Worth of a Dollar,') and occasionally called +at his house for a supply of milk. One morning he came while the family +were at breakfast. Mrs. Murray rose to wait upon him, but the deacon +said to her, 'Wait till after breakfast.' She did so, and meanwhile the +deacon made some inquiries of the man about his family and +circumstances. + +"After family worship the deacon invited him to go out to the barn with +him. When they got into the yard, the deacon, pointing to one of the +cows, exclaimed, 'There, take that cow, and drive her home.' The man +thanked him heartily for the cow, and started for home; but the deacon +was observed to stand in the attitude of deep thought until the man had +gone some rods. He then looked up, and called out, 'Hey, bring that cow +back.' The man looked around, and the deacon added, 'Let that cow come +back, and you come back too.' He did so; and when he came into the yard +again, the deacon said, 'There, now, take your pick out of the cows; _I +a'n't going to lend to the Lord the poorest cow I've got_.'" + + +A STEWARD OF HIS LORD'S BOUNTY. + + +An aged benevolent friend in a western city, states some interesting +facts respecting his own experience in giving systematically as the Lord +prospered him. He says, "Our country and professors of religion in it +have become 'rich and increased in goods,' but I fear that a due +proportion is not returned to the Giver of every good. + +"I commenced business in 1809 with $600, and united with the 'Northern +Missionary Society No. 2,' which met monthly for prayer, and required +the payment of two dollars a year from each member. That year I married, +and the next united with the Christian church. No definite system of +giving 'as the Lord had prospered' me, was fully made until the close of +the year 1841. The previous fourteen years had been assiduously devoted +to the interests of Sabbath-schools and the temperance enterprise, when +I found both my physical and pecuniary energies diminished, the latter +being less than $30,000. + +"After days and nights of close examination into my affairs, with +meditation and prayer, I promised the Lord of all, I would try at the +close of every year to see what was the value of my property, and the +one-quarter of the increase I would return to him in such way as my +judgment, aided by his word and providence, might direct. + +"For more than fifteen years I have lived up to this resolve, and though +most of the time I have been unable to attend to active business, the +investments I have made have more than quadrupled the value of my +property, and in that time enabled me to return to Him 'from whom all +blessings flow,' $11,739.61." + + +THE FIVE-DOLLAR GOLD PIECE. + + +"'A friend,' says a venerable clergyman, Rev. Mr. H----, 'at a time when +gold was scarce, made me a present of a five-dollar gold piece. I +resolved not to spend it, and for a long time carried it in my pocket as +a token of friendship. In riding about the country, I one day fell in +with an acquaintance, who presented a subscription-book for the erection +of a church in a destitute place. + +"'I can do nothing for you, Mr. B----,' said I; 'my heart is in this +good undertaking, but my pocket is entirely empty; having no money, you +must excuse me.' + +"'Oh, certainly,' said he; 'all right, sir. We know you always give when +it is in your power.' + +"We parted; and after I had proceeded some distance, I bethought me of +the piece of gold in my vest pocket. 'What,' said I to myself, 'I told +that man I had no money, when I had by me all the time this gold +pocket-piece. This was an untruth, and I have done wrong.' I kept +reproaching myself in this way until I stopped, and took from my pocket +the five-dollar piece. + +"'Of what use,' said I, 'is this piece of money, stowed away so nicely +in my pocket?' I made up my mind to turn back, and rode as fast as I +could until I overtook Mr. B----, to whom I gave the coin, and resumed +my journey. + +"A few days after, I stopped at the house of a lady, who treated me very +hospitably, for which I could make no return, except in thanks and +Christian counsel. When I took leave, she slipped into my vest pocket a +little folded paper, which she told me to give to my wife. I supposed it +was some trifle for the children, and thought no more of it until I +reached home. I handed it to my wife, who opened it, and to my +astonishment _it was a five-dollar gold piece, the identical +pocket-piece I had parted with but a few days before_. I knew it was the +same, for I had made a mark upon it; how this had been brought about was +a mystery, but that the hand of the Lord was in it I could not doubt. +'See,' said I to my wife; 'I thought I _gave_ that money, but I only +_lent_ it; how soon has the Lord returned it! Never again will I doubt +his word.' + +"I afterward learned that Mr. B---- had paid over the coin to the +husband of the lady at whose house I staid, along with some other money, +in payment for lumber, and he had given it to his wife. + +"Take my advice, and when appealed to for aid, fear not to give of your +poverty; depend upon it the Lord will not let you lose by it, if you +wish to do good. If you wish to prosper, 'Give, and it shall be given +unto you; for with the same measure that ye mete, it shall be measured +to you again.' 'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in +the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.'" + + +A NEW YEAR'S INCIDENT. + + +"One New Year's day I was going out to visit some of my poorer +neighbors, and thought I would take a sovereign to a certain widow who +had seen days of competence and comfort. I went to look in my drawer, +and was so sorry to find I had but one sovereign left in my bank for the +poor, and my allowance would not be due for two or three weeks. I had +nearly closed the drawer upon the solitary sovereign, when this passage +of Scripture flashed so vividly into my mind, 'The Lord is able to give +thee much more than this,' (2 Chron. xxv: 9.) that I again opened the +drawer, took the money, and entered the carriage which was waiting for +me. When I arrived at Mrs. A.'s, and with many good wishes for the New +Year, offered her the sovereign, I shall never forget her face of +surprised joy. The tears ran down her cheeks while she took my hands and +said, 'May the God of the widow and fatherless bless you; we had not one +penny in the house, nor a morsel of bread; it is he who has heard my +prayers, and sent you again and again to supply my need.' You who pray +for and visit the poor, and enjoy the blessedness of relieving their +temporal wants and of speaking to them of Jesus, you will understand the +gladness of heart with which I returned home. + +"In the country we had only one post daily; so when evening came on, and +it was nearly ten o'clock, I was not a little surprised at receiving a +letter. When I opened it, how my heart beat for joy when I read these +words from a comparative stranger: 'You will have many poor just now to +claim your pity and your help, may I beg you to dispense the enclosed +five pounds as you see fit? and I have ordered a box of soap to be sent +to you for the same purpose.' These boxes of soap are worth four pounds. +Thus did our gracious God send nine times as much as I gave for his +sake, before that day had closed." + + +FENEBERG'S LOAN TO THE LORD. + + +"A poor man with an empty purse came one day to Michael Feneberg, the +godly pastor of Seeg, in Bavaria, and begged three crowns, that he might +finish his journey. It was all the money Feneberg had, but as he +besought him so earnestly in the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus he +gave it. Immediately after, he found himself in great outward need, and +seeing no way of relief he prayed, saying, 'Lord, I lent Thee three +crowns; Thou hast not yet returned them, and Thou knowest how I need +them. Lord, I pray Thee, give them back.' The same day a messenger +brought a money-letter, which Gossner, his assistant, reached over to +Feneberg, saying, 'Here, father, is what you expended.' The letter +contained two hundred thalers, or about one hundred and fifty dollars, +which the poor traveler had begged from a rich man for the vicar; and +the childlike old man, in joyful amazement, cried out, 'Ah, dear Lord, +one dare ask nothing of Thee, for straightway Thou makest one feel so +much ashamed!'" + + +COMPOUND INTEREST. + + +_The Christian_ tells of a minister in Ohio, who in 1860 was engaged to +statedly supply a congregation who were in arrears for a whole year's +salary to their former pastor, and were only able to promise their +'supply' five dollars a Sunday till the old debt should be paid. At the +close of the year, only about two-thirds of this amount had been paid. +So it was not strange that their 'supply' soon found himself in arrears +for many things. That year the cost of his periodicals alone had +amounted to sixteen dollars. This he could not pay, and as none of them +could be stopped without payment of arrearages; the debt must continue +to increase. + +On New Year's day the minister was called to marry a couple, and gave +the fee, five dollars, to his wife saying, "I want you to get yourself a +dress with this." There was a kind of material much worn then, which she +had very much admired, a dress of which would cost four dollars. So she +went to the Mission periodical to find the address of the Mission +Secretary, thinking to send the extra dollar there. But as she glanced +over its pages and noticed the trials and straits of the missionaries, +and the embarrassment of the Board that year, her heart was touched and +she felt that they needed the money more than she did the dress, and +instead of the one she concluded to send the five dollars. + +She went to her husband and read her letter to him. "O," said he, "I'm +afraid we are too poor to give so much." With a little feeling of +disappointment she said, "Well, give me the change and I will send what +I had intended at first." "No," said he, "you have given it, and I dare +not take it back." + +And so with a prayer that God would accept and bless the gift she signed +her letter, "A Friend of Missions," thinking, as no one would know the +author, that was the last she would hear about it in this world. + +The ladies of that congregation were accustomed to meet weekly at the +parsonage to sew for those in need. The next week a lady who was +visiting in the place came with her friends, and as she entered the +parlor she tossed a bundle into the lap of the minister's wife, saying, +"Mrs. ----, here is a present for you." + +The present was a dress pattern of the same kind of material she had +intended to purchase. And as she thought to herself, "God has given me +this in place of what I have given," she was reminded of the words, +"Give, and it shall be given to you." But that was not the end. + +A short time afterwards she received a letter from the Secretary of the +Board of Missions, enclosing a printed copy of her own letter, and +asking if she were the author of it; and added, "If so, a large-hearted +man in New York has authorized me to send you twenty-five dollars, with +a special request that you purchase a dress worth five dollars, and give +the rest to your husband and children." There was her five dollars back, +with four times as much more added to it. + + +THE BROWN TOWEL. + + +The editor of _The Christian Woman_ tells the story of a poor woman who, +in her anxiety to give to the Lord, could find nothing but a poor brown +towel. + +"They must be very poor who have _nothing_ to give," said Mrs. Jarvis, +as she deposited a pair of beautiful English blankets in a box that was +being filled by the ladies of the church to be sent to the poor. + +"And now, ladies, as you are nearly through, I would like to tell you an +incident in my history; I was once very poor." + +"You once very poor?" said a lady. + +"Yes; I was once _very poor_. There came to our village a missionary to +deliver a lecture. I felt very desirous to go; but having no decent +apparel to wear, I was often deprived of going to church, although I was +a member. + +"I waited until it was late, and then slipped in and took a seat behind +the door. + +"I listened with streaming eyes to the missionary's account of the +destitution and darkness in heathen lands. Poor as I was, I felt it to +be a great privilege to live in a Christian land and to be able to read +my Bible. + +"It was proposed by our pastor that the congregation should fill a box +and send it out with the missionary on his return. + +"O," thought I, "how I would like to send something." "When I returned +home my poor children were still sleeping soundly, and my disconsolate +husband waiting my return, for he had been out of employment some time. +After he had gone to bed I went to looking over my clothes, but I could +find nothing that was suitable that I could possibly spare; then I began +looking over the children's things, but could find nothing that the poor +dears could be deprived of; so I went to bed with a heavy heart, and lay +a long time thinking of the destitution of the poor heathen, and how +much better off I was. + +"I got to thinking over my little stock again. There was nothing I could +put into the box except two brown towels. + +"Next day I got my towels, pieced out the best one, and when it was +almost dark, put on my bonnet, went to the church, slipped my towel into +the box, and came away thinking that the Lord knew I had done what I +could. + +"And now, ladies, let me tell you it was not long after that till my +husband got into a good situation; and prosperity has followed us ever +since. So I date back my prosperity to this incident of the brown +towel." + +Her story was done, and, as her carriage was waiting at the door, she +took her departure, leaving us all mute with surprise that one so rich +and generous had been trained to give amid poverty. + + +GIVING BLESSED. + + +A merchant of St. Petersburg, at his own cost, supported several native +missionaries in India, and gave liberally to the cause of Christ at +home. On being asked how he could afford to do it, he replied: + +"Before my conversion, when I served the world and self, I did it on a +grand scale, and at the most lavish expense. And when God by his grace +called me out of darkness, I resolved that Christ and his cause should +have more than I had ever spent for the world. And as to giving _so +much_, it is God who enables me to do it; for, at my conversion, I +solemnly promised that I would give to his cause a fixed proportion of +all that my business brought in to me; and every year since I made that +promise, it has brought me in about double what it did the year before, +so that I easily can, as I do, double my gifts for his service." + +And so good old John Bunyan tells us, + + "A man there was, some called him mad, + The more he gave, the more he had." + +And there are truth and instruction in the inscription on the Italian +tombstone, "What I gave away, I saved; what I spent, I used; what I +kept, I lost." "Giving to the Lord," says another, "is but transporting +our goods to a higher floor." And, says Dr. Barrow, "In defiance of all +the torture and malice and might of the world, the _liberal_ man will +ever be rich; for God's providence is his estate; God's wisdom and +power, his defense; God's love and favor, his reward; and God's word, +his security." + +Richard Baxter says, "I never prospered more in my small estate than +when I gave most. My rule has been, _first_, to contrive to need, +myself, as little as may be, to lay out none on _need-nots,_ but to live +frugally on a little; _second_, to serve God in any place, upon that +competency which he allowed me: to myself, that what I had myself might +be as good a work for common good, as that which I gave to others; and +_third_, to do all the good I could with all the rest, preferring the: +most public and durable object, and the nearest. And the more I have +practiced this, the more I have had to do it with; and when I gave +almost all, more came in, I scarce knew how, at least unexpected. But +when by improvidence I have cast myself into necessities of using more +upon myself or upon things in themselves of less importance, I have +prospered much less than when I did otherwise. And when I had contented +myself to devote a stock I had gotten to charitable uses _after my +death_, instead of laying it out at present, in all probability, _that_ +is like to be lost; whereas, when I took the present opportunity, and +trusted God for the time to come, I wanted nothing and lost nothing." + +These are a few of many evidences, that where we give from right +motives, we are never the poorer, but the richer for doing it. "The +liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth, shall be watered +also, himself." + + +LENDING TO THE LORD. + + +As a series of religious meetings was held in a Baptist church in ----, +and the hearts of God's people were greatly encouraged, the church was +consumed by fire. It was proposed to continue the meetings in the +Congregational church, but the workmen were coming the next morning to +demolish and rebuild it. It was then proposed to hire the workmen to +delay, that the people might assemble for three days more, but nothing +was done; when the Congregational pastor walking his study, and thinking +that some souls might be gathered in, went to the workmen, and handed +them $10 from his own pocket, which he could ill afford; the meetings +were continued, and a number of souls hopefully converted to God. The +day following, as he passed the house, the man to whom he paid the $10 +called to him, and constrained him to receive back the whole amount, +saying it was of no value compared with the saving of a soul. + + +THE LIBERAL FARMER. + + +A farmer in one of the retired mountain towns of Massachusetts, began +business in 1818, with six hundred dollars in debt. He began with the +determination to pay the debt in six years, in equal installments, and +to give all his net income if any remained above those installments. The +income of the first year, however, was expended in purchasing stock and +other necessaries for his farm. + +In the six next years he paid off the debt, and having abandoned the +intention of ever being any richer, he has ever since given his entire +income, after supporting his family and thoroughly educating his six +children. + +During all this period he has lived with the strictest economy, and +everything pertaining to his house, table, dress and equipage has been +in the most simple style; and though he has twice been a member of the +State Senate, he conscientiously retains this simplicity in his mode of +life. The farm is rocky and remote from the village, and his whole +property, real and personal, would not exceed in value three thousand +dollars. Yet sometimes he has been enabled to give from $200 to $300 a +year. + + +EXPERIENCE OF A SADDLER. + + +Normand Smith, a saddler of Hartford, Conn., after practicing for years +an elevated system of benevolence, bequeathed in charity the sum of +$30,000. + +An anonymous writer says of himself, that he commenced business and +prosecuted it in the usual way till he lost $900, which was all he was +worth, and found himself in debt $1,100. + +Being led by his trials to take God's word as his guide in business as +well as in heart and religion, he determined to give his earnings +liberally unto the Lord. + +The first year he gave $12. For eighteen years the amount increased by +about 25 per cent., and the last year he gave $850, and he says he did +it easier than during the first year he paid the $12. Besides, though +with nothing but his hands to depend on when he began this course, he +paid the whole debt of $1,100 with interest, though it took him nine +years to do it. + + +JACOB NOT BLESSED UNTIL HE BECAME A LIBERAL GIVER. + + +Jacob went out from his father's house "with his staff," a poor man. But +at Bethel he vowed to give to God the _tenth_ of all that God should +bestow on him. Commencing thus, God blessed him, and in twenty years he +returned with great riches. + + +THE LORD'S INSURANCE MONEY. + + +A tradesman in New York had pledged to give to the Lord a certain +portion of his business receipts as fast as they were collected. He +called this _The Lord's insurance money_, for, said he, "so long as I +give so long will the Lord help me and bless me, and in some way he will +give me the means to give, so it is no money lost. Rather it is a +blessing to my heart to keep it open in gratitude, a blessing to dispose +of it to gladden other hearts, and the surest way to keep the Lord's +favor with me." + +The results of his experience were blessed indeed, as he said, "I never +realized before how closely the Lord is connected with all my interests, +and how he helps me in all my business plans. Things happen constantly +which show me constantly that some one who knows more than I is +benefiting me--protecting me. Bad debts have been paid which I did not +expect. Errand boys, just getting into sly and bad habits, have been +discovered ere their thefts had proceeded far. As I needed competent +help in my business, it has come just as it was wanted. When customers +were failing, somehow their debts to me were paid, although they failed +to pay others. A severe fire came to my office and apparently seemed to +have swept all my valuables away. But it was stopped at just the right +moment, and not one thing valuable was lost. The insurance companies +paid me enough to replace every damage, and the office was renewed +better than before. The Lord sends me business enough to pay for my +debts, yet others are dull. _I cannot tell why it is, except that I +always pray for my business, and ask the Lord to bless it for the good +of others_, and that the means which come from it may be used for his +cause. When I stop giving, business stops coming. When I stop praying +specially for it, perplexities arise. As long as I pray for it, it all +moves easily, and I have no care or trouble. The Lord is my Banker, my +Helper, my Insurer, my Deliverer, my Patron, and my Blessed Savior of +temporal things as well as spiritual." + + +GIVE AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN. + + +"'Cheerful giving,' writes an aged minister, 'is what enriches the giver +and brings down a blessing from above. A poor clergyman attended one of +Zion's festivals in a distant city. The railroad company supplied him +with a return ticket, and though many of his brethren would secure +treasures from the book-stores, but a solitary twenty-five cent scrip +was in his possession, and he would need that to pay for refreshment on +his way home. It was the last day of the feast. Mention, again and +again, was made of the widow's mite, or poor men's gifts, and, as the +boxes were passed, he felt sad that, in his deep poverty, he could not +cast in a single penny. As the assembly was dismissed, it was announced +that collectors would stand at the door to gather up the _fragments_ +which ought to be in the Lord's treasury. With slow steps this good man +passed down and put that last money he possessed into the waiting box. + +"In a few moments, a gentleman of the city invited him to his, table to +dine, with quite a number of the dignitaries of the church. During the +repast, the host was called from the table for a little time. At the +conclusion of a pleasant entertainment, the poor minister was taken one +side and an envelope put into his hands, with this remark: 'I was called +from the table by a man who has long owed me a small debt, which I +thought was lost a long time since, and I cannot think what it was paid +to-day for, except that I might give it to you.' The envelope contained +twenty-five dollars. When the books are opened, that rich steward will +see how his money was used, and thank God, who put it into his heart to +dispose of it thus." + + +"LENDING TO THE LORD." + + +"A physician who is not a professor of religion, in a neighboring city, +has for many years exhibited an unshaken faith in that declaration. He +told me that he has made many experiments on it, and the Lord has +fulfilled his words, 'That which he hath given will He pay him again,' +in every case. One of his 'experiments' came under my observation. + +"It was a bleak and chilling day in the Winter of 1847-8. The doctor was +going his rounds and met a poor colored boy in the street. He was nearly +frozen to death. He accosted the doctor, and asked him most piteously +for a little money, stating, at the same time, that his master, an old +Quaker, had excluded him from the house, and compelled him to remain in +the barn; he could stand it no longer, and desired to go home--twenty +miles up the river. The doctor now had the materials for another test of +the promise. 'You shall not suffer if I can help you,' was his cheering +reply to the boy. He requested him to call at his office, and went to a +neighboring hotel and told the landlord to keep the boy until farther +orders. Late in the evening the boy again appeared at the office, and +stated that the landlord had said, 'We don't keep darkies over night.' +The doctor immediately started out in search of new quarters, and, after +some difficulty, found a colored woman who was willing to keep the boy +for a few days. In a short time the river, which had been closed with +ice, was open. The doctor paid the bills, gave the boy a dollar, and +bade him God speed. That is what he calls lending to the Lord. Now for +the payment. When he called at the house of the colored person to pay +the bill, he 'accidentally' met an old lady, who scrutinized him +closely, and at length said, 'A'n't you Doctor B----?' 'Yes,' was the +reply; 'but who are you?' 'No matter about my name; I owe you four +dollars, which you have long since forgotten, and which I did not intend +to pay you till I saw what you have done to that poor boy. The Lord +bless you for your kindness. Next week you shall have your money.' She +came according to her promise and offered the money, but the doctor was +unwilling to take it, as he had no charge on his books. She forced it on +him. He afterwards simply remarked, 'My meeting that woman was not a +mere _accident_; the Lord always fulfills his promise. I generally get +my capital back, with compound interest.'" + + +THE PRAYING SHOE-MAKER. + + +A shoe-maker being asked how he contrived to give so much, replied that +it was easily done by obeying St. Paul's precept in I Cor. 16: 2: "Upon +the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as +God hath prospered him." "I earn," said he, "one day with another, about +a dollar a day, and I can without inconvenience to myself or family lay +by five cents of this sum for charitable purposes; the amount is thirty +cents a week. My wife takes in sewing and washing, and earns something +like two dollars a week, and she lays by ten cents of that. My children +each of them earn a shilling or two, and are glad to contribute their +penny; so that altogether we _lay by us in store_ forty cents a week. +And if we have been unusually prospered, we contribute something more. +The weekly amount is deposited every Sunday morning in a box kept for +that purpose, and reserved for future use. Thus, by these small +earnings, we have learned that it is more blessed to give than to +receive. The yearly amount saved in this way is about _twenty-five +dollars_; and I distribute this among the various benevolent societies, +according to the best of my judgment." + + +THE HISTORY AND BUSINESS SUCCESSES OF LIBERAL GIVERS. + + +Mr. Nathaniel R. Cobb, a merchant connected with the Baptist church in +Boston, in 1821, at the age of twenty-three, drew up and subscribed the +following covenant, to which he faithfully adhered till on his death-bed +he praised God that by acting according to it he had given in charity +more than $40,000. + +"By the grace of God, I will never be worth more than $50,000. + +"By the grace of God, I will give one fourth of the net profits of my +business to charitable and religious uses. + +"If I am ever worth $20,000, I will give one-half of my net profits; and +if I am ever worth $30,000, I will give three-fourths; and the whole, +after $50,000. So help me God, or give to a more faithful steward, and +set me aside. + + "N.R. COBB." + + +FAITH IN GOD'S LIBERALITY. + + +A clergyman, himself an exponent of God's bountiful dealings with men, +was called upon in test of his own principles of giving to the Lord. + +Preaching, in the morning, a sermon on Foreign Missions, an unusually +large contribution was taken up. In the afternoon, he listened to +another sermon, by a brother, on Home Missions, and the subject became +so important that he was led closely to agitate the question how much he +should himself give to the cause. "I was, indeed, in a great strait +between charity and necessity. I felt desirous to contribute; but, there +I was, on a journey, and I had given so much in the morning that I +really feared I had no more money than would bear my expenses. + +"The collection was taken; I gave my last dollar, and trusted in the +Lord to provide. I proceeded on my journey, stopping to see a friend for +whom I had collected forty dollars. I was now one hundred and forty +miles from home, and how my expenses were to be met, I could not +imagine. But, judge my surprise, when, on presenting the money to my +friend, he took a hundred dollars, and, adding it to the forty, placed +the whole of it in my hand, saying he would make me a present of it. + +"Gratitude and joy swelled my bosom; my mind at once remembered my +sacrifice of the day before, and now I had realized the literal +fulfillment of the promise, 'Give, and it shall be given unto you; good +measure, pressed down and running over, shall men give into your +bosom.'" + + +HE GAVE HIS LAST $5 TO THE LORD. + + +A missionary agent thus relates this incident in the life of a poor +physician: + +"I preached a missionary sermon in the town of -----, and a physician +subscribed and paid five dollars. A gentleman standing by told me that +the five dollars was all he had, or was worth; that he had lost his +property and paid up his debts, and moved into town to commence +practicing, with no other resources than that five-dollar bill. He and +his wife were obliged to board out, as he was not able to keep house. + +"I resolved, at once, that I would keep watch of that man, and see what +the Lord would do with him. About a year after this interview, I visited +the place again, and found the physician keeping house in good style. + +"During the Summer, while the cholera raged in the country, by a series +of events, guided, as he believes, by the providence of God, most of the +practice was thrown into his hands, and he had taken more than $2,500." + + * * * * * + + +BELIEVE NOTHING OF YOUR GOD BUT WHAT IS MOST NOBLE AND GENEROUS.--PRES. +EDWARDS. + + * * * * * + +MORE THINGS ARE WROUGHT BY PRAYER THAN THE WORLD DREAMS OF.--TENNYSON. + + * * * * * + + + +PRAYERS ANSWERED + + +IN BUSINESS AND SOCIAL ANXIETIES. + + +HELP IN PAYING A MORTGAGE. + + +A business man in New York had several large amounts due for payment. An +unprecedented series of calls from tradesmen wishing their bills paid +sooner than customary, drained his means, and he was satisfied from the +situation that his means would not be sufficient to pay them all. His +business receipts, at this juncture, fell to one-half what they had +usually been. A loan was due at the bank; a mortgage on his property, as +well as large notes. He could do no more than ask the Lord constantly in +prayer, to either send supplies of business, or open ways of relief. +Committing his cares all to the Lord, he endeavored to throw off his +burden and with diligence in trade do what was possible for protection. + +He was greatly surprised when the bank loan fell due to learn that a +trifling payment would be acceptable, and the rest extended at his +convenience. This was remarkable, as the security had depreciated +somewhat, and the loan had been then extended longer than usual. + +The holder of the mortgage did not call as usual for his interest. In +great surprise the tradesman dropped a note, saying he would meet his +demand, but if not all the mortgage was needed, its extension would +benefit the use of the capital in his business. To his surprise, he +received a reply that the mortgage would be extended one-half until the +next interest day, and the rest might be paid now if it could be spared. +_This was just the money which the tradesman could spare_, and was +intending to propose, but refrained from mentioning it. + +A sudden opportunity in business arose which enabled him to see how to +use the rest of the money he had on hand, as capital, whereby he could +clear within three months the remainder of the mortgage before it became +due. + +Thus the Lord in answer to prayer, relieved his necessities, eased his +creditors, gave him knowledge and intelligence of profitable ways of +trade, and helped him freely according to his faith. + +Thus business needs prayer, as well as the interests of the home, the +church and the soul. When the means derived in business is used to bless +the Lord's poor, "_The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble_." + + +A REMARKABLE PRAYER AND ITS ANSWER. + + +A lady, who had led for many years a life of faith, caring for orphans +and invalids, was led one day in thought to wish that she might devote +all her money to the work of the Lord, and use it specially for one +branch of his service which few had ever entered. She possessed only a +thousand dollars; and not knowing whether the thought was her own and +therefore rash, or whether it came from the Lord, she asked the Lord in +prayer, that if the thought was from _Him_ "it might be continually +before me; if it were not, that I might cease to think of the matter." + +"It was kept before me as a privilege, to help me realize a greater +personal nearness to God as my Father. It was a very important matter, +and fearing a mistake, I requested a sign. I asked God, if he wished me +to give the money, (which we held at His disposal,) that _He_ would send +me _one dollar,_ (no more, no less,) from some individual with whom I +had no acquaintance. About three weeks after my request, I attended a +prayer-meeting, where about a dozen ladies were gathered. After the +meeting, an elderly lady I had never seen before, put something in my +hand saying, '_You will not be offended, dear, will you?_' When I looked +at the money, I found that it _was just one dollar_, my token. I +exclaimed, mentally, dear Lord, do not let me ever doubt thee again. I +afterwards asked the lady why she gave me the dollar. She said, 'Before +I went to the prayer-meeting, I felt that I ought to take a dollar with +me, and when I saw you, I felt that you were the one I should give it +to.'" + +"Nearly five years have passed since then, when I gave all, and my purse +has never been empty. I have been constantly occupied in work of love, +and my Father has sweetly cared for me in every respect." + +This lady in her faith work has had under her constant care as many as +twenty-two helpless invalids, of utter poverty, yet prayer has always +brought them needed supplies, and the Lord has kept them. + + +RECOVERY FROM INSANITY. + + +A most remarkable case of recovery from insanity is given by President +William M. Brooks, of Tabor College, Iowa. + +"A young lady of my acquaintance, of a finished education, lost her +reason in the Winter of 1871-2, and in August, 1872, was placed in the +institution for the insane, at Mt. Pleasant, Ia. No encouragement was +given of her recovery, and a year later, when her father visited her, in +June, 1873, she appeared so badly, that he said it would be a relief to +know that she was dead. Soon after, Mrs. H., the wife of a Baptist +minister, who had long known and loved her, being shut up for days in a +dark room, because of inflamed eyes, felt drawn out in special prayer in +her behalf, and finally sent for the father and told him of her +exercises, and of the assurance gained that his daughter would be fully +restored. + +"In a few days, came news of a sudden change for the better, and in a +little over two months she returned home well, and is now teaching with +all her powers in full vigor. + +"The acting superintendent of the hospital, who is not a professed +Christian, and who knew nothing of the prayers referred to, said that +when the change occurred there was not a case among the five hundred +inmates of which he had less hope, and that it was the most remarkable +case of recovery which he had known during the eight years of his +connection with the hospital." + + +SEEKING DIRECTION IN BUSINESS. + + +A lady clerk employed in an apparently successful business was offered +an opportunity in a new business, which, though much smaller and less +successful than the first, yet had rich promise in it for the future. +The salary promised was the same in either case. In doubt, she often +waited upon the Lord, and asked to be guided,--a whisper in her heart +kept saying, "Go," "Go." Constant praying kept it growing stronger and +stronger,--at last she decided to go, feeling it was the decision of the +Lord. She accepted the new position, was pleased, and often declared she +never desired to return. The old business in less than three years +decreased so that half of the employees were discharged; the rest had +their salaries reduced. The new business doubled in its extent, and her +salary was increased one-fifth. + + +SEEKING GUIDANCE OF THE LORD. + + +A school teacher, without family or a special home, in New York City, +asked the Lord for direction in finding a home, and prayed often that +the way might be made so plain, she might acknowledge His hand, and +understand His direction. + +Soon it transpired, in taking lunch at a restaurant kept by a man and +his wife, that they advised her to choose a certain family hotel. She +did so, and found in time more friends and acquaintances, and a +pleasanter home than she ever possessed before. + +She also gained new scholars to her school. Sufficient to pay for her +living. + +Was she not fully answered? "_They that seek the Lord shall not want any +good thing_." + + +SAVED FROM CHOLERA. + + +The Rev. J.B. Waterbury relates several incidents which prove the power +of Prayer. + +"In the year 1832 he was compelled by pulmonary symptoms, to leave his +field of ministerial labor in one of the eastern cities, and travel +south, hoping that a milder climate might be favorable. + +"He had not proceeded far, before the cholera, that fearful scourge, +made its appearance in the States, and obliged him to rejoin his family +in the city of Brooklyn. + +"Whilst many were dying around him, _his health_ continued to improve; +so that with the disappearance of the epidemic he found himself +sufficiently restored to venture, if Providence should open the door, to +resume his ministerial work. + +"But where should he go? The future, to human view, was shrouded in +uncertainty. In so important a matter, affecting his usefulness and +happiness, there was nothing left, but to give himself to prayer. His +faith in that promise, 'In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will +direct thy Paths,' led him to pray without ceasing, 'Lord, what wilt +thou have me to do.'" + +On a certain day, when the burden lay heavily upon his heart, he retired +as usual, to implore light and guidance. He read on that occasion, the +chapter of Acts where, by divine direction, Cornelius the Centurion sent +messengers to Peter at Joppa, to come to him with the Gospel. The +apostle, meanwhile; is instructed by a vision to go to Cornelius. + +The case was so applicable to the circumstances that the writer was led +to cry mightily to God for light to be shed also upon _his_ path. + +While thus praying the door-bell rang, and the servant announced two men +who wished to see me. + +This was somewhat startling. After introducing themselves, they remarked +that they had come on a very important errand, viz: to ask my services +for a vacant church in which they were officers. + +"But how is this," I inquired, "How did you know of _me_?" + +They did not until that very day. But inquiring at the Bible House in +Nassau street if any of the officers of that Society knew of a minister +who could be recommended to fill their pulpit, now vacant for some +months. + +Dr. B., the Secretary, answered, "Yes, I know a young minister in +Brooklyn, whom I can recommend, provided his health, which has been +delicate, is adequate." + +So the messenger came inadvertently over to B----, and I was called from +my knees to receive their invitation. I promptly responded, "Yes, I will +go?" for what was I that I could withstand God. A successful and happy +ministry of fourteen years, attests the good results of that decision. + + +THE AID OF THE LORD IN BUSINESS AND SOCIAL PROSPERITY. THE WONDERFUL +DELIVERANCE OF DANIEL LOEST. + + +John Daniel Loest, a celebrated German tradesman of Berlin, Germany, +was, by the aid of the Lord, so prospered in his worldly circumstances, +that by steady industry, he raised himself to rank with the most +respectable tradesmen of Berlin, where he kept a well-frequented fringe +and trimming shop. + +He was always benevolent, willing to help others, and both fervent in +spirit and constant in prayer, asking the help of the Lord in the +minutest details of his business. + +Yet there once occurred in his experience a season of severest trial, +which demanded his utmost trust and unflinching confidence in God. He +seemed almost forsaken, and circumstances almost impossible to overcome. +But his deliverance so astonished him that he was lost in wonder at the +mysterious way in which the Lord helped his business and sent him all +that he needed. + +By means of acquaintances of high social character, whom he fully +trusted as good Christians, never supposing there could be any degree of +hypocrisy, he became security for a Christian lady of good property to +the amount of _six hundred thalers_. The attorney assured him that there +was not a shadow of a risk in going security for her, as her property +would be more than ample to cover any claim. + +Months elapsed, and the circumstance forgotten, when Mr. Loest was most +unpleasantly reminded by receiving an order from the Court to pay in on +the following Tuesday the _six hundred thalers_ for which he had become +security, under the penalty of execution. + +He now discovered that he had been designedly mystified, and there was +no escape. The six hundred thalers must be paid before the next Tuesday. +He had just accepted a bill for _three hundred thalers_, to be paid for +on the ensuing Saturday. And in his first thoughts of his perplexity, he +hoped to get out of his dilemma by hurrying to a rich friend to obtain a +loan. On his way to his friend's home, he stumbled on another +acquaintance who had lent him _four hundred_ thalers on a mere note of +hand, and he saluted him with the news that he must try for repayment of +that sum on the following Friday, as he required it to pay for a parcel +of goods which would arrive that day. + +"You shall have it," said Loest, as he hurried on to his friend. The +friend was at home, but before Loest could speak his errand, he is +addressed thus: "It is lucky you came, my friend, for I was just going +to send for you, to request you to make provision to pay me back the +_five hundred thalers you owe me_, for I must needs have it on Wednesday +to pay off a mortgage on my house, which has just been called up." "_You +shall have it_," replied Loest, calmly, yet his heart became heavier +every moment. + +Suddenly it occurred to him that the widow of a friend just dead was +possessed of large means, and she might be inclined to help him. But +alas, disappointment thickened fast upon him. Loest owed the deceased +friend five hundred thalers for note, and three hundred thalers for +goods just delivered. As he entered the room of the widow, she handed +him an order from the court of trustees, under which he was bound to pay +up _the five hundred thalers on Thursday_, and, continued the lady, +before the poor man had time to utter a word, "I would earnestly entreat +you to pay the other three hundred thalers early on Saturday to me, for +there are accounts constantly pouring in on me, and the funeral +expenses," here her voice faltered. "It shall be cared for," said Loest, +and he withdrew, not having had opportunity to utter one word as to the +business that took him thither. He had failed at every turn; not one +thing was for him, all seemed against him. But though the waves surged, +and rose, and oppressed, yet they did not overwhelm his hope; the more +the discouragements, the greater became his faith that all things were +appointed for his good, and thought he could not guess, yet even the +trial would result by God's own working hand, to the honor and glory of +his great name. + +Yet here was his situation. _Six hundred thalers to be paid on Tuesday, +five hundred on Wednesday, five hundred on Thursday, four hundred on +Friday, three hundred Saturday morning, and three hundred on Saturday +afternoon; in all, two thousand six hundred thalers_. It was already the +Saturday just previous, and his purse contained _only four thalers_. +There was only one prospect left, and he went to a rich money lender, +and in response to his request for relief in money difficulties, was met +with this reply of irony and sarcasm from one who loved to indulge his +enmity to the Christian faith. "_You in money difficulties, or any +difficulties, Mr. Loest! I cannot believe it; it is altogether +impossible! you are at all times and in all places boasting that you +have such a rich and loving Master! Why don't you apply to him now_." +And the unseen face could not conceal his pleasure at this opportunity +of testing a Christian. + +Loest turned away; hard as the random taunt and remark of his opponent +was, yet it recalled him to a sense of his duty, and his forgetfulness +of the fact that he had not hitherto asked of God for special help in +this circumstance. With cheerful steps he hurried home, and in long and +imploring prayer, asked for help and forgiveness in this, his neglect of +trust in one so rich and generous. He was refreshed and comforted, and +the Sunday was one of peace and sweetness. He knew and felt assured, +"_That the Lord would provide_." + +The eventful week opened, and on Monday he arose with a cheerful thought +in his heart; ere he had had full time to dress, he noticed with great +surprise, that both his sister and the assistant in the store, seemed, +notwithstanding the earliness of the hour, to have full as much as they +could do in serving customers and making up parcels, and he at once +hastened into the shop to give them assistance, and thus it continued +all day. _Never, in all his experience_, could Loest remember such a +ceaseless stream of customers as poured, on that memorable Monday, into +his rather out-of-the-way shop. Cooking dinner was out of the question; +neither masters nor maid had time for that; coffee and bread, taken by +each in turn, served instead of the accustomed meal, and still the +customers came and went; still three pairs of hands were in requisition +to satisfy their wants. + +Nor was it for new purchasers alone, that money came in. More than one +long outstanding account, accompanied by excuses for delayed payment, +and assurances that it had not been possible to settle it sooner, +enlarged the contents of the till; and the honest-hearted debtor, on +whom this unwonted stream of money flowed in, was tempted every minute +to call out, "_It is the Lord_." + +At length night came, when Loest and his literally worn out assistants, +after having poured out their hearts in thankful adoration in family +prayer, sat down to the first meal they had that day enjoyed in common. +When it was over, the brother and sister set themselves to count over +the money which had that day been taken. Each hundred thalers was set by +itself, and the result showed _six hundred and three thalers, fourteen +silver groschen_. + +This was sufficient to pay the first debt due the next day, and leave +but ten shillings and eight pence over, a trifle less than they +commenced the day with. Loest was lost in wonder and grateful emotion at +this gracious testimony of how faithfully his Lord could minister to him +in his earthly necessities. + +"How countless must be the host of his ministering servants, seen or +unseen, since He can employ some hundreds of them, and send them to buy +of Daniel Loest to-day, or pay him that bill which thou owest. What a +wondrous God is ours, who in the government of this great universe, does +not overlook my mean affairs, nor forget His gracious promise, 'Call +upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee.'" + +Tuesday was a repetition of Monday's splendid business, and brought in +the five hundred thalers which he needed the next morning to pay off the +mortgage of his friend's house, due that day. + +Wednesday's sales gave him five hundred more thalers, which he was +obliged to have ready to pay on Thursday morning into the court of +trustees. + +Thursday's sales brought him four hundred thalers, just the amount he +had given promise to pay the next day for goods delivered. + +And Friday's sales gave him just three hundred thalers with which to +honor the widow's demand on Saturday, to pay funeral and contingent +expenses. + +During these days of wonderful business and deliverances, after each +indebtedness was discharged, there still was not left cash in hand a sum +exceeding three to five dollars. + +On Saturday morning, after he had sent the three hundred thalers to the +widow, he had left precisely two thalers and twenty silver groschen (six +shillings eight pence sterling), the smallest balance he had yet had; +and what seemed most alarming, the rush to the shop seemed to be +entirely over; for while during the five days past, he had had scarcely +time to draw his breath from hurry and bustle, he was now left in +undisturbed possession of his place. Not a single customer appeared. The +wants of the vicinity seemed to have come to an end, for not a child +even entered to fetch a pennyworth of thread, or a few ells of tape. +This utter cessation of trade was as unusual and out of the accustomed +shop business, as the extra rush had been. + +At five o'clock on Saturday, was due the debt of three hundred thalers +to his scoffing and tantalizing money lender. Three o'clock came, and +still there was but six shillings eight pence in the till. Where was his +money to come from? But Loest sat still, and "_possessed his soul in +patience_" for he knew the Lord would choose the best time, and he +desired to be found waiting and watching for the Lord's coming. The +trial was severe. It seemed hopeless, and if it should happen that, the +creditor came and went away unsatisfied, his commercial character would +be injured, his credit shaken, and his reputation severely suffer. That +last hour ran slowly on. At a _quarter to four_, almost the last few +moments of painful suspense, a little old woman came in, and asking for +Mr. Loest, said to him half in a whisper, "I live here close by, quite +alone, in a cellar, and I have had a few thalers paid me, and now I want +to beg of you to be so good as to keep them for me. I have not slept +over night since I had them; it is a great charge for a lone woman like +me." + +Loest was only too glad to accept the money, and offered interest, which +she declined. She hurried back, brought in her money, counted it out on +his table, and there _were just three hundred thalers_, six rouleaux of +fifty thalers each. + +_She had scarcely left the house, with her receipt in her pocket, ere +the clerk of the creditor with his demand in his hand, rushed into +Loest's presence. He received his three hundred thalers, and both parted +speechless with amazement_. + +Loest was lost in wonder at the marvelous way and exactness of time in +which the Lord delivered him, while the creditor was astonished thus to +find Loest's Mighty Friend had not failed him in his hour of need. + +Thus in one short week, from a beginning of less than five thalers, God +had so exactly supplied his business needs that he had paid all his +obligations of two thousand six hundred thalers, saved him from failure, +saved his honor and good name, and now all was peace. + +The history of Loest and other providences which helped him in his +business, are still further given more at length in a little book, "_The +Believing Tradesman_," from the records of the Religious Tract Society +of Berlin. + +This sketch illustrates the necessity of looking to God daily for help, +and strength, and success, and deliverance in our business occupations +as well as the concerns of our soul, and must effectively prove that +those who use their business and the means from it to honor the good +works of the Lord on earth, will be blessed on earth with the favor of +the Lord. It teaches the sublime lesson that _money and prosperity are +gifts from the Lord_, and must be considered as such, acknowledged with +thankfulness, and used to please the Giver. + +Whenever the Christian learns to love the gift more than the Giver, the +Lord takes it often away to remind him of his need of dependence upon +_Him_. But whenever the Christian loves the _Giver_ because of His +gifts, and spends his means again to please his Heavenly Father, he +becomes the Father's steward, and his lap is filled with bountiful +blessings, such as one finds by true experience, "_The Lord is my +Shepherd, I shall not want_." + + +SPURGEON'S PRAYER FOR MONEY. + + +Charles Spurgeon relates this incident connected with his ministry: +"When the college, of which I am President, had been commenced, for a +year or so all my means stayed; my purse was dried up, and I had no +other means of carrying it on. In this very house, one Sunday evening, I +had paid away all I had for the support of my young men for the +ministry. There is a dear friend now sitting behind me who knows the +truth of what I am saying. I said to him, '_There is nothing left, +whatever_.' He said, 'You _have a good banker, sir_.' 'Yes,' I said, +'and I should like to draw upon him now, for I have nothing.' 'Well,' +said he, 'how do you know, have you prayed about it?' 'Yes, I have.' +'Well, then leave it with Him; have you opened your letters?' 'No, I do +not open my letters on Sundays.' 'Well,' said he, 'open them for once.' +I did so, and in the first one I opened there was a banker's letter to +this effect: 'Dear Sir, we beg to inform you that a lady, totally +unknown to us, has left with us two hundred pounds for you to use in the +education of young men.' Such a sum has never come since, and it never +came before; and I have no more idea than the dead in their graves how +it came then, nor from whom it came, but to me it seemed that it came +directly from God." + + +THE PRAYER OF LATIMER. + + +The prayers of the martyr, Latimer, were very remarkable for their +faith. There were three principal matters for which he prayed: + +1. That God would give him grace to stand to his doctrine until death. + +2. That God would of His mercy restore His gospel to England once again, +repeating and insisting on these words "once again," as though he had +seen God before him, and spoken to Him face to face. + +3. That God would preserve Elizabeth; with many tears, desiring God to +make her a comfort to this comfortless realm of England. All these +requests were most fully and graciously answered. + + +A MOTHER'S PRAYERS ANSWERED. + + +A Christian evangelist, whose work has been most singularly blessed, +related this incident, how once in the days of his folly and sin, while +as yet his course of life ran counter to the fondest wishes and prayers +of his mother's heart, he one day asked her the strange question, +whether she really believed that he ever would be converted to God. And +her answer, inexpressibly touching and instructive, as being the answer +of _assured faith_, which could see as yet no signs of the coming of +what it so anxiously sought, was, + +"Yes, I believe that you will one day be as eminent as a Christian, and +an instrument for good, as you have been eminent in sin, and an +instrument for evil." + +In later years the evangelist looked back with admiration to the faith +of his mother, and thanked the Lord for His gracious answer to her +prayers. + + +HOW THE LORD RESCUED HIM. + + +A wonderful incident is told by Dr. S.I. Prime among his many facts +relating to prayer, as published in _The Observer_ and "_The Power of +Prayer_." + +"A young man held a good position in a large publishing house in this +city. He was about thirty years old, a married man, and happy in all the +relations of life. The missionary of the church knew him through years +of comfort and prosperity. Years passed away, and there came a dark +place in his life. Intemperance, of the most depraved kind, made his +career most dreadful. He disappeared, and was not heard from for some +time. He separated himself from his family, and from all good. + +"He was met in Boston one day by an old friend, after long years, who +noticed a marked difference in his appearance. He approached him, +grasped him by the hand and said: + +"'I am a changed man. I one day got up in the morning, after a night of +wakefulness, and thinking over what a wretch I had become, and how +wretched I had made my poor wife and children, I resolved to go to the +barn, and there all alone, to pray that God would take away utterly +forever my accursed thirst for rum, and to pray till I felt answered +that my prayer was heard. I went down on my knees, and on them I stayed +until I had asked God many times to take away all my appetite for rum +and tobacco, and everything else which was displeasing to Him, and make +me a new creature in Christ Jesus--a holy, devoted Christian man, for +the sake of Him who died for sinners. I told God that I could not be +denied; I could not get up from my knees till I was forgiven and the +curse was forever removed. I was in earnest in my prayer. + +"'I was on my knees two hours, short hours, as they seemed to me; two +blessed hours, for I arose from my knees assured that all of the +dreadful past was forgiven, and my sins blotted out forever. Oh! I tell +you, God hears prayer. God has made me a happy man. I left all my +appetite in the old barn. In that old barn, I was born again. Not one +twinge of the old appetite has ever been felt since then.'" + + +JESUS KEEPS ME FROM DRINKING. + + +A young man arose in the Fulton Street prayer-meeting one day, and +detailed his struggles and triumphs with his appetites. He was a perfect +drunkard, helpless, poor; his friends' best efforts to reclaim' him were +of no avail. The most solemn vows that he had ever taken, still were +unable to hold him up. At last he gave himself up for lost. There seemed +no hope for him, and in his despair he wandered away to the ocean shore. +He met a young man who showed him a good many favors, and to whom he +offered a drink from his flask of liquor. + +"'No,' said he, 'I never drink intoxicating drink, and I ask the Lord +Jesus to help me never to touch it.' + +"I looked at him with surprise, and inquired, 'Are you a Christian?' + +"'Yes, I trust I am,' he answered. + +"'_And does Jesus keep you from drinking intoxicating liquor?'_ + +"'_He does, and I never wish to touch it_.' + +"That short answer set me to thinking. In it was revealed a new power. I +went home that night and said to myself, as I went, '_How do I know but +Christ would keep one from drinking if I would ask him_?' + +"When I got to my room, I thought over my whole case, and then I knelt +down and told Jesus what a poor, miserable wretch I was; how I had +struggled against my appetite, and had always been overcome by it. I +told Him if he would take the appetite away I would give myself up to +Him to be his forever, and I would forever love and serve Him. I told +Him that I felt assured that He could help me, and that He would. + +"Now I stand here, and I tell you all most solemnly, _that Jesus took me +at my word_. He did take away my appetite then and there, so that, from +that sacred moment of casting myself on his help, I have not tasted a +drop of liquor, nor _desired_ to taste it. _The old appetite is gone_. + +"The last two weeks have been rich experience of Divine goodness and +grace." + + +MR. MOODY'S FAITH, IN PRAYER. A REMARKABLE ANSWER. + + +Mr. Moody, on his return from England, while conducting a prayer-meeting +in Northfield, Mass., gave this illustration of the power of prayer to +subdue the most unlikely cases of sin and unbelief: + +"There is not a heart so hard that God cannot touch it. While in +Edinburgh, a man was pointed out to me by a friend who said, 'Moody, +that man is chairman of the Edinburgh infidel club.' So I went and sat +down beside him, and said, 'Well, my friend, I am glad to see you at +this meeting. Are you not concerned about your welfare?' He said that he +did not believe in a hereafter. I said, 'Well, you just get down on your +knees and let me pray for you.' + +"'_I don't believe in prayer_.' + +"I tried unsuccessfully to get the man down on his knees, and finally +knelt down beside him and prayed for him. Well, he made a good deal of +sport over it, and I met him again many times in Edinburgh after that. A +year ago last month, while in the north of Scotland, I met the man +again. Placing my hand on his shoulder, I asked, '_Hasn't God answered +the prayer_?' + +"He replied, 'There is no God. I am just the same as I always have been. +If you believe in a God, and in answer to prayer, do as I told you. Try +your hand on me.' + +"'Well,' I said, 'God's time will come; there are a great many praying +for you; and I have faith to believe you are going to be blessed.' + +"Six months ago I was in Liverpool; and there I got a letter from the +leading barrister of Edinburgh, telling me that my friend, the infidel, +had come to Christ, and that of his club of thirty men _seventeen_ had +followed his example. + +"How it happened he could not say, but whereas he was once blind, now he +could see. God has answered the prayer. '_I didn't know how it was to be +answered_,' said Mr. Moody, '_but I believed it would be and it was +done. What we want to do is to come boldly to God_.'" + + +THE WONDERS OF A SINGLE PRAYER. + + +The Rev. Dr. Edwin F. Hatfield, of New York City, well known and eminent +among the clergymen of the Presbyterian church, is personally acquainted +with the following instance of a remarkable case in answer to prayer. +From the mother of the daughter he obtained this statement, which has +been published by Dr. Patton, of Chicago, in his volume, "On Prayer." + +"My daughter was for fourteen months afflicted with hip disease. It was +brought on by a fall, and a consequent dislocation, when she was eight +years of age. + +"Her right side was paralyzed, and she had an abscess. I placed her in a +hospital, under the care of good nurses, and the very best medical +advice. + +"Everything possible was done for her, but all to no avail; she grew +worse instead of better, and the doctors directed me, as there was no +hope for her, to take her home to die. + +"But I did not cease to hope. I did as the doctors directed, but +continued to pray the prayer of faith for her recovery for two weeks. +One morning, at the end of this period, we were conversing together +about the wonderful cures wrought by the Savior, when on earth, and +particularly that of the man at the pool of Bethesda. + +"In the midst of our conversation, my daughter rose to obtain a drink of +water, when she exclaimed, '_Mother, I can walk.'_ 'Thanks be to God!' +said I, 'Come, and let me see you!' + +"Her crutches, the only means by which she could move about, before, +were now useless. Upon examination, I found that the abscess had +entirely disappeared, and that the paralyzed limb was restored whole, +like the other. + +"She was again dangerously ill, five months afterward. I prayed for her +recovery one night, before retiring, and the next morning she arose, +perfectly cured." + +She is now twenty-one years of age, and during all this intervening time +has been free from any trouble of this kind. To-day she is as well as +any one, working and running about without the slightest trouble." + + +THE TAVERN KEEPER OVERCOME. + + +Rev. Charles G. Finney relates, in his "Spirit of Prayer," of an +acquaintance of his whose faith and importunity in prayer and the answer +were very remarkable: + +"In a town in the northern part of the State of New York, where there +was a revival, there was a certain individual, who was a most violent +and outrageous opposer. He kept a tavern, and used to delight in +swearing at a desperate rate, whenever there were Christians within +hearing, on purpose to hurt their feelings. He was so bad, that one man +said he believed he should have to sell his place or give it away, and +move out of town, for he could not live near a man that swore so. + +"This good man of faith and prayer that I have spoken of, was passing +through the town and heard the case, and was very much grieved and +distressed for the individual. He took him on his praying list. The case +weighed on his mind when he was asleep, and when he was awake. He kept +thinking about him, and praying for him, for days; and the first we knew +of it, this ungodly man came into a meeting, and got up and confessed +his sins, and poured out his soul. His barroom immediately became the +place where they held prayer-meetings." + + +VICTORIES OVER BAD HABITS, TOBACCO, OPIUM, ETC. + + +The Rev. W.H. Boole, a city missionary in New York City, has been +witness in his ministries, of many cases of complete deliverance from +bad habits, and appetites, solely by believing prayer. Many are +contained in a little tract written by him, "The Wonder of Grace." He +gives a few of these incidents: + +"One is an officer in a church in New York, who had used tobacco for +forty years, making during that time many efforts to abandon the +practice, but always failing because of the resultant inward growing. +But he was brought to an act of specific faith in Jesus, to save him +from the appetite, and now, after several years, he testifies, 'From +that hour all desire left me, and I have ever since hated, what I once +so fondly loved.'" + +"Another is of a prominent church member in Brooklyn, N.Y., who had used +tobacco for thirty years, and could not endure to be without a cigar in +his mouth, and sometimes even rose and smoked in the night; after many +failures to overcome the habit, one night when alone, he cast himself on +his Savior for just this victory; and from that hour was delivered from +the desire as well as from the outward act, and now wonders that he ever +loved the filthy practice." + +"A certain old lady, who lived near Westbrook, Conn., aged seventy, was +a confirmed opium eater, and used daily, an amount sufficient to kill +twenty persons. She was led to see that the habit was a _sin_; and as +such, she abandoned it, with specific application to Christ to save her +from it. She was heard, and lived for two years afterward, free from any +desire for that drug." + +"A similar case was that of a carpenter, in Brooklyn, N.Y., who, from +taking morphine to allay the pain of a fractured leg, fell into its +habitual use, till he almost lived upon it for several years after his +recovery. He once swallowed, in the presence of several physicians, a +dose which it was calculated would destroy the lives of two hundred +ordinary men. Not long since, he was made to look at this as a sin, and +tried to break off the habit, abstaining, with an alarming reaction, +till five physicians declared that death would ensue, if he did not +resume it. This he did for a year; but then on a certain Sunday evening, +broke off again, casting himself by faith on Christ, from which moment +the desire left him, and has never returned, and he has experienced no +reaction or other ill effect, but has greatly improved in health." + + +MRS. WHITNEY'S CURE IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. + + +Mrs. C.S. Whitney of Hartford, Conn., a lady well known for her +Christian work among the poor, thus gives in a letter to Dr. Patton, her +personal testimony of the efficacy of prayer: + +"Three years ago, I was healed of a bodily disease. I had been troubled +from my birth with canker, and at times suffered greatly. I had +consulted some of the best physicians in the land, and had been treated +by the most skillful. My case was said to be incurable. When I learned +to trust Christ for everything, I applied to Him for healing. My husband +joined with me in this prayer for three weeks; but all the time I was +growing worse. I then prayed for entire submission. About the first of +October, 1872, my stomach, throat and mouth were so cankered, I could +scarcely eat anything. One day, I took up the little book entitled, +'Dorothea Trudel;' and while reading, I seemed to hear a voice saying +unto me, _'All things are possible unto him that believeth.' 'According +to thy faith be it unto thee.'_ I claimed the faith, and immediately +asked God to heal me, and in His own way. While yet on my knees, it +seemed very clear to me that I should go to Boston, and ask Doctor +Cullis to pray with me. I obeyed that leading, and made preparations to +go the day following. Just as I was ready to start for the depot, I +realized that I was cured. An entire change was wrought in my system, +and my soul was filled with joy and gratitude." + + +PRESIDENT FINNEY'S PRAYER FOR RAIN. + + +The following incident of the prayer of President Finney for rain, and +its immediate answer, is furnished by Professor Cowles, the intimate +friend of President Finney: + +"Somewhat more than twenty years ago, the village of Oberlin and its +adjacent country along the lake shore, suffered severely through the hot +season from a total failure of rain, for nearly three months. Clouds +that seemed to promise rain were repelled from the heated dry atmosphere +over the land, and attracted by the more moist atmosphere over the lake, +to pour out their waters there. On one such occasion, the clouds had +gathered dark, low, and heavy over the lakes, and lay there with no +particular indication of rising. President Finney walked out with his +eye on these clouds. I give the sequel in his own words, as they fell +from his lips, less than three months since: + +"'In this walk I met Ralph, who turned sharply upon me. 'Mr. Finney, I +should like to know what you mean in preaching that God is always wise +and always good, when you see him pouring out that great rain upon the +lake, where it can do no good, and leaving us to suffer so terribly for +the want of that wasted water?' + +"'His words cut me to the heart; I turned, and ran home to my closet, +fell on my knees, and told the Lord what Ralph had been saying about +Him; and besought Him, for the honor of His great name, to confound this +caviler, and show forth the glory of His power and the greatness of His +love. I pleaded with Him that He had encouraged His people to pray for +rain, and that now the time seemed to have come for Him to show His +power in this thing, and His faithfulness as a hearer of prayer. + +"'Before I rose from my knees, there was a sound of a rushing, mighty +wind. I looked out, and lo! the heavens were black; that cloud was +rolling up, and soon the rain fell in torrents, two full hours.' + +"The writer, (Professor Cowles,) himself remembers how that cloud lay +over the lake; how it drove him, also, to his closet; and that soon and +signally the prayers of that hour came back to us in mighty rain." + + +LUTHER'S MIGHTY PRAYER AND PROPHECY. + + +At one time in the life of Luther, there was a critical moment in the +affairs of the Reformation. Bitter persecution prevailed with +extraordinary power, and threatened every one. They were the dark days +when faith could only cling. There were but few friends to the +reformers, and these were of little strength. Their enemies were every +where strong, proud, arrogant. But Luther relied on his God, and at this +moment, with his favorite hymn in his heart, "_A strong fortress is our +God,_" he went to the Lord in prayer, and prayed that omnipotence would +come to the help of their weakness. Long he wrestled alone with God in +his closet, till like Jacob he prevailed. Then he went into the room, +where his family had assembled, with joyous heart and shining face, and +raising both hands, and lifting his eyes heavenward, exclaimed, "_We +have overcome, we have overcome_." + +This was astonishing, as there was not the slightest of news which had +yet been heard to give them hope of relief. But immediately after that, +the welcome tidings came that _the Emperor, Charles V., had issued his +Proclamation of "Religious Toleration in Germany_." In Luther's prayer +was fulfilled the remarkable promise of Proverbs, 21: I. "_The king's +heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water; he turneth it +whithersoever he will_." + + +JOHN KNOX AND HIS PROPHETICAL PRAYER. + + +"John Knox was famous for his earnest prayers. Queen Mary said that she +feared his prayers more than she did all the armies of Europe. One +night, in the days of his bitterest persecution, while he and his +friends were praying together, Knox spoke out, and declared _that +deliverance has come_. He could not tell how. _Immediately the_ news +came that _Queen Mary was dead_." + + +MELANCTHON'S LIFE SAVED FROM DEATH IN ANSWER TO LUTHER'S PRAYER. + + +The most powerful tribute to the efficacy of prayer, was the answer to +Luther's prayer which the Lord sent. A messenger was sent to Luther that +Melancthon was dying. He found him presenting the usual premonitory +symptoms of death. Melancthon roused, looked in the face of Luther, and +said, "O Luther, is this you? Why don't you let me depart in peace." +"_We can't spare you yet, Philip_," was the reply, and turning around, +he threw himself upon his knees, and wrestled with God for his recovery +for upwards of an hour. He went from his knees to the bed, and took his +friend by the hand; again he said, "Dear Luther, why don't you let me +depart in peace?" "No, no, Philip; we can not spare you yet," was the +reply. He then ordered some soup, and when pressed to take it, +Melancthon declined, again saying, "Dear Luther, why will you not let me +go home and be at rest." "We can not spare you yet, Philip," was the +reply. He then added, "Philip, take this soup, or I will excommunicate +you." He took the soup, regained his wonted health, and labored for +years afterwards in the cause of the Reformation; and when Luther +returned home he said to his wife with joy, "God gave me my brother +Melancthon back in direct answer to prayer." + +In this incident is given this extraordinary statement that while death +has really seized a man, who too wished to die, and did not want to live +longer on the earth, yet his life was given back to him again in answer +to the prayer of faith of another. + + +THE WONDERFUL POWER OF FAITH AND TRUST IN THE LORD TO DELIVER WHOLLY +FROM BAD HABITS. + + +A victim of licentiousness and sensuousness, who often, amid his sinful +pleasures, had the memory of Christian parents before him, felt his was +indeed a life of shame. But the downward steps had destroyed his will, +his self-control, his manliness, his virtue. He had no power to resist, +all was wickedness, irresolution, constant yielding. In vain he hung +back, and tried to save himself from the cursed appetite; at last he +realized that in a few weeks' time he must go to the grave; strength +could not stand such a waste of life. "What a miserable life. What +wicked ways, what wicked thoughts; how I wish I was pure; O, that I +might get free; I do not love this sin any more, I don't want it, but I +can't stop it. O, I wish I could be a Christian, and wholly free." + +Such were his constant thoughts. In mercy, the Lord who had been reading +his thoughts, sent him a great reverse in business, and in agony of +heart, he knew not where to turn but to the Lord, and pray for relief. +His prayer, too, asked to be emancipated from his wickedness, and his +strength and health restored. "_Lord, save me and I will_ be thine +forever. I am lost unless thou wilt come and save." + +By gradual degrees, in the absorption of his thoughts over other +distresses, his mind was diverted from his usual ways and thoughts of +sinful living; gradually the habits of lust grew less and less strong, +and finally ceased altogether. But the body still remained under +excessive weakness. But faith that the Lord who had saved others, could +save him too, led him to pray, not only for the destruction of the +habit, but entire recovery from its evil effects. His perseverance was +persistent, and met with a _triumphant reward_. After a long; time, he +felt himself wholly healed. New strength, new life, came back to him. +"It seems as if my life had been put back again ten years, and I was +young again." "I never have any more wicked thoughts or imaginations, +while I was once full of them. Since I learned to seek the Lord and love +his Bible, I have never had such peace, or purity. I love the name and +tender mercies of my God." If in a few months, prayer saved that man's +life, and so wholly changed it from a foul blot to a thing of purity, +what can it not do again. _No sin can ever be conquered until in +humility either saint or sinner_ gets down upon his knees, and implores +the love and power of the Lord in _never ceasing prayer_, to wholly +emancipate him from the control of the evil habit. _The Lord will surely +hear it_. He can as truly deliver the body from the most persistent and +enchaining habit, as he can wholly convert the mind and heart. The +result is not always instantaneous; more often gradual, but _always +sure_ if the sufferer _always prays_. + +It is simple enough for the sinning one to believe that the _Lord can_, +and seeking the Bible _for the Lord's own promise that he, will; to +cling to it and never surrender_. + +The sin may be repeated when you can not resist it, and do not desire +for it, but take all pains to avoid; still pray though you often fail; +still try, still trust the Lord to loose your chains and remove your +desire, and deliverance is sure to come at last. + + +RECOVERY FROM PARALYSIS. + + +"Between two and three years ago, the writer was struck down by +paralysis, disabling entirely the limbs of the left side. In this +apparently helpless state, I employed a man to take care of me, and felt +that unless God should interpose, I must be a continuous burden on my +friends. My kind physician gave me no hope of _entire recovery_. + +"In this state I made my prayer to God continually, that he would so far +restore my strength as to enable me to take care of myself. + +"This prayer he was pleased to answer, for in eight weeks I dismissed my +attendant, finding myself able to take care of myself. I now walk more +than half a mile each day, and attend to all the associations of home +life. I record with thankfulness this restoration of my disabled frame +in answer to prayer." + + +THE STOLEN BONDS RETURNED. + + +The _New York Observer_ relates a remarkable instance of the return of +stolen property, which in its extraordinary way can be accounted for +only by the control of a Supreme Will, and all in answer to prayer. + +"On February 16, 1877, United States and railroad bonds and mortgages to +the amount of $160,000, belonging to Edgar H. Richards, were stolen from +the banking house of James G. King's Sons, of this city. No clue +whatever to the robbers could be obtained. Several parties were arrested +on suspicion, but nothing could be proved, and the mystery remained +unsolved. + +"Mr. Richards, being a member of one of our most prominent churches, +made it a subject of constant prayer, that the Lord would wholly prevent +the thieves from any use of the property and cause it to be returned to +him. When asked if he was ever incredulous, he said, 'No, I have never +lost my faith in recovering this property. I believe in prayer, and I +have made it from the first a subject of prayer, and it will be +answered.' + +"Meanwhile some curious influences must have been at work among the +thieves, for they acted in an extraordinary manner as follows: + +"One day last week a stranger, well dressed, modest looking, +gentlemanly, walked into the office of Elliott F. Shepard, Esq., one of +Messrs. King's counsel, and tendered his services for the recovery of +the property, asserting he knew nothing about the robbery, nor the +thieves, but that he could get the treasure. He was told that a reward +would be paid for the capture of the thieves, but he earnestly protested +that it was entirely out of his power to obtain any clue to the person +or whereabouts of the thief; and no inquiries ever disclosed that this +was not a perfectly true statement. Indeed, it proved that he had been +selected as an agent to do this work, and that there were at least five +or six connecting intermediaries between him and the robbers, each +exercising that virtue which is called honor among thieves, and which on +this occasion proved a wall of adamant to every attempt to pierce it or +break it down. + +"True to his word the stranger caused the delivery at Mr. Shepard's +office, at the appointed hour to a second, of an ordinary pasteboard +bandbox, wrapped in newspaper, by the hands of a little boy. He had come +in a pelting rain-storm, and part of the newspaper had become torn, and +disclosed the blue, unsuspected hat box. The boy knew nothing about it, +except that a gentleman had given him a dime in the street to bring the +box. + +"Mr. Richards being present, opened the bandbox, examined and checked +off the contents with one of Messrs. King's head clerks, and found every +single item of his missing securities, stocks, bonds, mortgages, +accounts, bank books, wills, everything. A most remarkable thing! The +parties could hardly believe their eyes." + + +MR. MOODY'S ANSWERS TO PRAYERS. + + +Mr. D.L. Moody, the Evangelist, when a boy, was possessed of an unusual +amount of muscular strength and animal spirits, and a strong will that +knew little of impossibility or submission. When only six years old, +being wistful to do something to help his mother, he was set to drive +the cows of a neighboring farmer to and from their mountain pasture. On +one occasion, a heavy fence fell upon him from which he could not +extricate himself. After trying his utmost and crying as loud as he +could for help, but in vain, the thought struck him that God would help +him if he asked him. In his own simple language he prayed to his +mother's God for help, and made another effort, and succeeded in getting +free. This, his first answer to prayer, made a vivid impression on his +heart, which gave a decided turn to his opening life. + + +NO FLOUR IN THE HOUSE--IN THE DAYS OF FAMINE, HIS SOUL SHALL BE +SATISFIED. + + +Mr. Moody's domestic life has always been a happy one, but in the early +days of his marriage, he was very poor, and his faith was often put to +the severest tests. + +One day, on leaving home in his missionary work and labors of love, he +remarked to his wife, "I have no money, and the house is without +supplies. It looks dark; is it possible that the Lord has had enough of +me in this mission work, and is going to send me back again to sell +boots and shoes." But he prayed. In a day or two, a Stranger sent him +two checks of $50 each--one for himself, and one for his school. + +On another occasion his wife informed him that they had no flour for the +day's use, and asked him to order some on his way. Having no money in +his possession, he was perplexed how to proceed to raise the required +amount; but meeting a person in whose spiritual welfare he was +concerned, he forgot all about such sublunary considerations as money +and flour, and went heart and soul into the Lord's work before him. + +On his return home at night, he felt somewhat nervous about his +reception on account of his not having sent the flour, but to his joyful +surprise, he found that on his arrival the table was spread with a +bountiful repast. + +It seems that a friend of his was powerfully impressed that morning, and +without seeing the family or knowing anything about their need, had +packed up a barrel of flour and sent it. + +Others of his friends, who were interested in his work, and felt +confidence in his work, _unknown to him_, selected a new house, and +furnished it throughout with every facility for convenience and comfort, +and when all was completed invited him and his family to it, and made +him a present of the loan of his house, and all its contents. + +Thus the _Great Helper_ remembered him and answered his daily prayer, +"Give us this day our daily bread." + + +PERSEVERING PRAYER. + + +At one of the prayer-meetings at the Brooklyn tabernacle, Mr. Moody +closed by narrating an instance of persevering prayer by a Christian +wife for an infidel husband. She resolved to pray for him at noon for +eighteen months, and at the expiration of that time, her knocking not +having been responded to, she exclaimed, "_Lord, I will pray for him, +every day, and at all hours, as long as life lasts_." + +That day the Lord heard her knock, and gave her the desire of her heart, +in the conversion of her husband. When the Lord saw her faith would not +give up, he sent the answer immediately. + + +NOAH'S PRAYER.--HE DID NOT GET DISCOURAGED. + + +The life of faith and the necessity of uncompromising hold on the +promise's, expecting their fulfillment, is admirably explained in the +illustration of Noah's prayer. One day Mr. Moody was much discouraged, +and it was as dark a Sabbath as ever he had, and a friend suggested to +him to study the life of Noah. + +"I got out my Bible, and the thought came over me, 'Here is a man who +labored and talked a hundred years, and didn't succeed; didn't get a +convert notwithstanding all his efforts, all his prayers, but he didn't +get discouraged.' + +"But he took God at his word; he worked right on; he prayed right on; +and he waited God's time. And, my friends, from that time, I have never +been discouraged. Whenever I think of him, it lifts me up out of the +darkness into the light. Don't get discouraged." + +The lesson of Noah's life is briefly this: He never converted a soul +outside of his own family. That was the work God gave him to do, and he +prayed and waited and worked, and never gave up, and he was saved and +all his family with him. + +So every Christian must recognize that his field is not far off, but +right around him, in his house, among his friends, working, praying, +waiting, but never getting discouraged. The Lord will never fail those +who "_abide in Him_." + + +SAMUEL HICK'S PRAYER FOR RAIN. + + +Samuel Hick was one of the men of "_mighty faith_" in the Lord, and as a +preacher among the Methodists of England. He was of great eminence for +his happy spirit, remarkable trust, powerful and practical preaching, +and unbounded liberality. Among the many incidents connected with his +life of faith, we quote a few to illustrate with what simplicity he +expected always an answer to his prayer, and was not satisfied until he +got it: + +In the course of a Summer of excessive drought a few years back, when +the grain suffered greatly, and many of the cattle, especially in +Lincolnshire, died. Samuel Hick was much affected. He visited +Knaresborough, at which place he preached on the Lord's day. + +Remaining in the town and neighborhood over the Sabbath, he appeared +extremely restless in the house in which he resided, during the whole of +Monday. He spoke but little--was full of thought, now praying, now +walking about the room, next sitting in a crouching posture--then +suddenly starting up and going to the door, turning his eyes toward +heaven, as if looking for some celestial phenomenon, when he would +return again, groan in spirit, and resume his seat. The family, being +impressed with his movements, asked him whether there was anything the +matter with him or whether he expected any person, as the occasion of +his going to the door so frequently. + +"Bless you Bairns," was his reply, "do you not recollect that I was +praying for rain last night in the pulpit, and what will the infidel at +Knaresborough think if it do not come; if my Lord should fail me, and +not stand by me." But it must have time; it can not be here yet; it has +to come from the sea. Neither can it be seen at first. The prophet only +saw a bit of cloud like a man's hand. By and by it spread along the sky. +I am looking for an answer to my prayer, but it must have time. + +He continued in the same unsettled state, occasionally going out, and +looking with intensity on the pure azure over his head; for _a more +unclouded sky was rarely ever seen_. Contrary to all external signs of +rain, and contrary to the expectations of all, except himself, the sky +became overcast toward evening, and the clouds dropped the fullness of a +shower upon the earth. His very soul seemed to drink in the falling +drops. The family grouped around him, like children around their father, +while he gave out his favorite hymn, "_I'll praise my Maker while I've +breath_;" "and after singing it with a countenance all a-glow, through +the sunshine of heaven upon his soul, he knelt down and prayed. All were +overpowered; it was a season of refreshing from the presence of the +Lord. + +His biographer says of him: "Samuel had no weather glass upon which to +look except the Bible, in which he was taught to believe, and expect +_that_ for which he prayed; nothing on which he could depend but God, +and _his faith_ was set in God for _rain_." + + +PRAYING FOR THE WIND TO COME. + + +A remarkable incident, showing how God makes the winds to obey him in +obedience to the prayer of his righteous ones, and the expectations of +their faith, occurred also in Samuel Hick's life, which is really an +astonishing proof of God's supernatural power. + +A church gathering was to take place at Micklefleld, and Samuel had +promised two loads of corn for their use. The day fixed drew near, but +there was no flour in the house, and the wind-mills, in consequence of a +long calm, stretched out their arms in vain to catch the rising breezes. +In the midst of this death-like quiet, Samuel carried his corn to the +mill nearest his own residence, and requested the miller to unfurl his +sails. The miller objected, stating that there was "no wind." Samuel, on +the other hand, continued to urge his request, saying, "_I will go and +pray while you spread the cloth._" More with a view of gratifying the +applicant than of any faith he had, the man stretched his canvas. _No +sooner had he done this than, to his utter astonishment, a fine breeze +sprung up, the fans whirled around, the corn was converted into meal, +and Samuel returned with his burden rejoicing,_ and had everything in +readiness for the festival. + +In the mean time, a neighbor who had seen the fan in vigorous motion, +took also some corn to be ground; but the wind had dropped, and the +miller remarked to him, "You must send for Sammy Hick to pray for the +wind to blow again." + + +SNAILS IN THE ARK. + + +To many who with despondency protest that they have not faith enough, +get along so slow, are too weak, &c, the following sharp retort of Hick +will prove a bright lining to their dark cloud of failing, and lead them +to plod on in prayer. + +"To a gentleman laboring under great nervous depression, whom he had +visited, and who was moving along the streets as though he was +apprehensive that every step would shake his system in pieces, he was +rendered singularly useful. They met, and Samuel, having a deeper +interest in the soul than the body, asked: 'Well, how are you getting on +your way to Heaven.'" + +The poor invalid, in a dejected, half desponding tone, replied, "But +slowly I fear," intimating that he was creeping along only at a poor +pace. + +"Why bless you Bairn," returned Samuel, "_there were snails in the +ark_." + +The reply was so earnest, so unexpected, and met the dispirited man so +immediately on his own ground, that the temptation broke away, and he +was out of his depression. + +It was a resurrection to his feelings, inferring that if the snail +reached the ark and was saved, he too, "faint yet pursuing," might gain +admission into heaven. + + +HE GAVE ALL THE MONEY HE HAD. + + +At one time he attended a missionary meeting near Harrowgate. "We had a +blessed meeting," said Samuel, "I was very happy and gave all the money +I had in my pocket." After the meeting was concluded, he mounted his +horse to return home. No one had offered to pay his expenses--he had not +a farthing in his pocket. Advanced in life--a slow rider, and not a very +sprightly horse--in the night--alone--twenty miles from home. Think of +the lonesomeness; the time for the tempter to come and lead him to +distrust in his Lord. But he struggled; the trial was short and the +victory complete, for, said he, "Devil, I never stuck fast yet." + +Just as he entered Harewood, a gentleman took his horse by the bridle, +asked him where he had been, talked with him long, and to whom Samuel's +talk was a wonderful consolation. Said Sammy: + +"I have not wanted for any good thing, and could always pray with Job, +'The Lord gave and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the +Lord.'" + +The gentleman asked, "Can you read?" + +"Yes," returned Samuel. + +"Then," replied the gentleman, holding a piece of paper in his hand, +which was rendered visible by the glimmering light of the stars, + +"There is a five pound note for you. You love God and his cause, and I +believe you will never want." + +And Sammy said, "I cried for joy. This was a fair salvation from the +Lord. When I got home, I told my wife. She burst into tears, and we +praised the Lord together," and he added: "You see, we never give to the +Lord but He gives in return." + + +"THE LORD WILL PROVIDE." + + +A poor but pious widow in Boston, in her eighty-seventh year, said to a +friend, "When I was left a widow with three little children, I was +brought into such extremity that they were crying for bread, and I had +nothing for them to eat. As I arose on a Sabbath morning, I knew not +what to do but to ask my heavenly Father to feed my little ones, and +commit myself and them to his care. + +"I then went out to the well to get a pail of water, and saw on the +ground a six cent piece, which I took up; and learning that it did not +belong to any of those who lived in the same house with me, I thought I +might take it to feed my famishing children. Though it was a Sabbath +morning, I felt that it would be right to go to a baker who lived in the +neighborhood, tell him our circumstances, and buy bread with the money +Providence had thus cast in my way. The baker not only did this, but the +Lord opened his heart to add a bountiful supply; and from that hour to +the present, which is nearly fifty years, I have never doubted that _God +would take care of his children_." + + +ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S FAITH IN PRAYER. + + +When President Lincoln left his home in Springfield, Ill., February 11, +1861, on his way to Washington, he made the following farewell address +to his friends and neighbors: "My friends, no one not in my position can +appreciate the sadness I feel at this parting. To this people I owe all +I am. Here I have lived more than a quarter of a century; here my +children were born, and here one of them lies buried. I know not how +soon I shall see you again. A duty devolves upon me which is perhaps +greater than that which has devolved upon any other man since the days +of Washington. He would never have succeeded except for the aid of +Divine Providence, upon which he at all times relied. I feel that I +cannot succeed without the same Divine aid which sustained him, and on +the same Almighty Being I place my reliance for support; and I hope you, +my friends, will all pray that I may receive that Divine assistance, +without which I cannot succeed, but with which success is certain. +Again, I bid you all an affectionate farewell." That simple but earnest +request sent an electric thrill through every Christian heart, and +without doubt, in response to it, more prayer was offered for him +throughout his administration, than for any one who ever before occupied +the Presidential chair. + +At a Sabbath-school convention in Massachusetts, a speaker stated that a +friend of his, during an interview with Mr. Lincoln, asked him if he +loved Jesus. The President buried his face in his handkerchief and wept. +He then said, "When I left home to take this chair of state, I requested +my countrymen to pray for me. I was not then a Christian. When my son +died--the severest trial of my life--I was not a Christian. But when I +went to Gettysburg, and looked upon the graves of our dead heroes who +had fallen in defense, of their country, I then and there consecrated +myself to Christ. _I do love Jesus."_ Rev. Mr. Adams, of Philadelphia, +stated in his Thanksgiving sermon that, having an appointment to meet +the President at 5 o'clock in the morning, he went a quarter of an hour +before the time. While waiting for the hour, he heard a voice in the +next room as if in grave conversation, and asked the servant, "Who is +talking in the next room?" "It is the President, sir." "Is anybody with +him?" "No, sir; he is reading the Bible." "Is that his habit so early in +the morning?" "Yes, sir. He spends every morning, from 4 o'clock to 5, +in reading the Scriptures and praying." + +_It was the Lord who Guided the mind of Mr. Lincoln in his extraordinary +act of the Emancipation of the Slaves of America._ The Lord had prepared +it, and chose him as the means whereby to accomplish it. + +_Were not his Prayers and efforts specially blessed by the Lord in +wisdom, for the guidance of our Nation_? + + +EXTRAORDINARY CARE OF THE LORD IN ANSWER TO PRAYER. + + +"The scenes of the riots in New York, at the time of our civil war, are +of national celebrity; but few, however, know that one of the most +atrocious acts of cruelty attempted to be perpetrated by the +malefactors, and which utterly failed of its purpose, _came solely in +answer to prayer_. On the first day of the mob, however, several +thousand men, _women and children_, armed with clubs and brickbats, +suddenly appeared at the door of the Colored Orphan Asylum, and effected +an entrance by breaking down the front door with an axe. The building +was soon fired in ten or fifteen places, and the work of destruction was +accomplished in twenty minutes. + +"There were at the time two hundred and twenty-three children in the +building with their attendants and teachers. The matron having assembled +all the children after the first alarm, one of the teachers thus +addressed them: 'Children, do you believe that Almighty God can deliver +you from a mob?' The reply was promptly made in the affirmative. 'Then,' +said she, 'I wish you now to pray silently to God to protect you from +this mob. I believe that he is able and will do it. Pray earnestly to +him, and when I give the signal, go in order, without noise, to the +dining-room.' At this every head was instantly bowed in prayer, such +prayer as is not frequently offered, the silent, earnest supplication of +terrified and persecuted little children. When, at the sound of the +bell, their heads were raised, the teacher said the tears were +streaming, but not a sound, not even a sob, was to be heard. They then +quietly went down stairs and through the halls, and she remarked that +'to her dying day she should never forget the scene;' the few moments of +eloquent silence, the streaming noiseless tears, the funereal march +through the halls, the yells and the horrible sounds which were nearer +and nearer approaching. _Not one of these helpless innocents was injured +in the least_; but in spite of the threats and the blood-thirstiness of +the rioters, through whom they were obliged to pass, all were removed +unmolested to a place of safety." + + +A REMARKABLE DECISION BY A JURY. + + +"In one of our northern cities, a trial at law took place between a +Christian and an infidel. The latter had sued the former for a heavy +sum, falsely alleging his promise to pay it for some stocks which he +claimed to have sold him. The Christian admitted AN OFFER of the stock, +but protested that so far from promising the sum demanded, he had +steadily refused to make any trade whatever with the plaintiff. Each of +the parties to the suit had a friend who fully corroborated their +assertions. Thus the case went before the jury for decision. + +"The charge of the judge was stern and significant. 'It was a grave and +most painful task which devolved upon him to instruct the jurors that +one of the parties before them must be guilty of deliberate and willful +perjury. Their statements were wholly irreconcilable with each other; +nay more, were diametrically opposite; and that either were innocently +mistaken in their assertions was impossible. + +"'Your verdict, gentlemen,' he said in conclusion, 'must decide upon +which side this awful and heaven-daring iniquity belongs. The God of +truth help you to find the truth, that the innocent suffer not.' + +"It was late in the day when the judge's charge was given, and the +finding of the jury was to be rendered in the morning. The plaintiff +went carelessly from the court arm in arm with the wicked associate whom +he had bribed to swear falsely on his behalf. The defendant and his +friend walked away together in painful silence. When the Christian +reached his home, he told his family of the judge's solemn charge and of +the grave responsibility which rested upon the jurors. 'They are to +decide which of us has perjured ourselves on this trial,' he said; 'and +how terrible a thing for me if they should be mistaken in their +judgment. There is so little of any thing tangible for their decision to +rest upon, that it seems to me as if a breath might blow it either way. +They cannot see our hearts, and I feel as if, only God could enable them +to discern the truth. Let us spend the evening in prayer that he may +give them a clear vision.'" + +The twelve jurymen ate their supper in perplexed silence, and were shut +in their room for deliberation and consultation. "I never sat in such a +case before," said the foreman. "The plaintiff and defendant have sworn +point-blank against each other; and how we are to tell which speaks the +truth, I can not see. I should not like to make a mistake in the matter; +it would be a sad affair to convict an innocent man of perjury." Again +there was silence among them, as if each were weighing the case in his +own mind. "_For myself_ I feel as if the truth must be with the +defendant; I am constrained to think that he is an honest man. What say +you, gentlemen?" _Every hand was raised in affirmation of this opinion_. +They were fully persuaded of its truth, and _gave a unanimous verdict +accordingly._ + +Thus the Christian man was rightfully acquitted, and gave thanks to God, +with a new and stronger confidence in the power of prayer. "Call upon me +in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me," +saith the Lord. + + +THAT WONDERFUL $25. ANOTHER EVIDENCE OF THE EVER-PRESENT SPIRIT OF GOD. + + +The following incident is marvelous, as at the time of its occurrence +neither party had ever been known to each other: + +In _New Haven, Conn._, lives a little invalid widow, almost helpless, +with no one upon whom to rely for support, and only indebted to friendly +acquaintances for a temporary home. With no money, no acquaintances, she +had nowhere else to turn to but to the Father of all good. She had +prayed often, and often had answers, but this time, though needing +money, still she received none. The answer was long delayed; she was +almost discouraged. "_Was God at last to fail and forget her? No, it +could not be. Let God be true even if I perish, I shall still cling to +Him. I can not give Him up."_ + +Just at that time a business man in New York, who had been absent on a +long journey for the Summer and had just returned, happened to pick up a +note among many hundred lying on his desk, and noticed that the writer +asked for some trifling favor, saying she was poor, had no means. + +Her circumstances were unknown: he knew nothing but her name. He was +eager to _minister to the little ones of the Lord,_ and felt deeply +impressed in prayer that morning, in asking a blessing on his day's +labors, that he might be able to help the need of some of "his children" +who might then be in want. In his business hours the thought came over +him with the depth of emotion, "WHAT CAN I DO? LORD, THY SERVANT IS +READY." Just at that moment he picked up this note of the little +invalid, who asked the trivial favor, saying it would be such a comfort. +_(No money whatever was asked for in this note_.) + +Suddenly the thought came to him, "_Perhaps this is my very opportunity. +This may be the Lord's little one in need_." But there was nothing in +the letter to indicate she was a Christian. She solicited no money or +pecuniary help. + +Immediately there came to his mind, amid floods of tears, "_Inasmuch as +ye have done it unto the least of these, my children, ye have done it +unto me_." Instantly he understood it as a message from the Lord, and +the intimation of the Holy Spirit. He immediately sat down and wrote a +check for $25, and enclosed it to her, saying, "_I know not your need; +you have not asked me for help, but I send you something which may be +useful. I trust you are a Christian. I shall be happy to learn if it has +done good, and made you happy. Give me no thanks. The Lord's blessing is +enough for me_." + +The letter was sent and forgotten, but a strange presentiment came over +the mind of the writer. "_I am afraid I did not direct that letter +right_." He sent a second postal card, asking if a letter had been +received at her home; if not, to go to her post office and inquire. + +Now notice the wonderful singularity of incident. Here is a man sending +money, _never asked for, to an unknown person, about whom he knew +nothing; then misdirecting his letter_, and then remembering and +_sending another message to go and find where the first had gone to. But +notice the marvelous result_. The little invalid received the postal +card, but not the letter. She sent to the post office, and sure enough +there was the first letter with its misdirection. She was _just in time_ +to save it from being sent to _another woman of the same name living in +another part of the same city_. + +She opened her letter, and with tears of thankfulness perused this +wonderful reply, a marvelous witness to the power of an overruling +Spirit, who had directed everything. + +"My heart is full, that God should so answer my simple prayer. I first +asked him for $10, then $15, _and then for_ $25. I asked him for $25 +several times, and was astonished at my boldness, but the amount was so +fixed in my mind, _I could not ask for anything else_, and then I humbly +trusted it to Him, and from that time I thought, I will not name any +sum; let it be as He knows my need. And how He has honored my simple +faith and trust in these dark days. _Your letter contained exactly the +$25 I prayed for_. I have not had $1.50 to spend this Summer. I have +suffered for everything. But through it all I have felt such perfect +faith in the Lord, that his hand was leading me, even when I could not +see a step before me; and that He should move your heart to help me +seems so wonderful, so good. I am so glad I can thank you now, but ah, +so much "_over there_" where words will express so much more in the +beautiful atmosphere of heaven. Your letter and kind gift was mailed +_the very same day_ that I was praying in great distress and trial. I +knew not but that I should be without even a home. My verse was Psalms +50: 15. O, how I had to pray that day. So day by day I was comforted, +and now to-day the answer has come." + +Here, then, is a portion of the story of a sweet life who trusted God, +not as a God of the past, nor far off, but ever living, ever present, +ever faithful, and believed Him _able, willing_, and that He _would +help_ her in her daily life. She tried her Lord, to prove if his +promises were indeed true, and she clung to them to the very last. No +one knew her need. No one knew what she was praying for. The stranger +did not know anything of her. She had asked money of no one but the +Lord. Hesitant ever, she dared not name any amount of the Lord, but that +ever present Spirit of God guided her heart, made her _fix the amount_, +and then touched the heart of the stranger and fixed the amount also in +his mind, and then, by his own guidance saved the letter from being +lost, and behold! when opened the _prayer of the one and the gift of the +other was the same_. + +What a comfort, what a privilege, then, it is for the true-hearted +Christian thus to feel, "_There is one who careth for us_." + + +WHY HE FAILED. + + +A prominent business man failed in the Spring of 1877. He had been for +years a prominent and consistent member of a Christian church. He had +even supported a church once almost entirely. Nothing was known against +his character, _but he failed; he failed in business_. No one knew the +reason why, but there it was, _failure_. + +At last, in moments of bitter repentance before God, he unbosomed +himself to his pastor, and said, "_Long ago I promised to give the Lord +one-tenth of all the profits I gained from my business, and while I did +so, I was immensely prosperous and successful; never did any one have +any such splendid success,--but I forgot my promise, stopped giving, +thought that I did not need to spend so much, and I began to invest my +means in real estate. When I stopped giving I stopped getting. Now all +is gone. I lost my all because I did not keep my promise to the Lord_." + +This incident is a practical one, telling how utter is the impossibility +of true success, without the aid of the Lord, and how absolutely +necessary it is to our own peace and comfort of mind to religiously +observe one's promises made to God. The Bible only too truly tells of +the end of those who forget Him. + +"_But Jeshurun waxed fat, then he forsook God which made him; and when +the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, and said, 'I will hide my face from +them_.'" + +"_Ye can not prosper; because ye have forsaken the Lord_, He _hath also +forsaken you." "There shall be desolation; because thou hast forgotten +the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy +strength_." + + * * * * * HOW THE LORD + + +CONTROLS THE WINDS AND THE WAVES + + +JOHN EASTER'S PRAYER. + + +In his "Memorials of Methodism in Virginia," Dr. W.W. Bennet relates the +following incidents in the life of John Easter, one of the pioneer +ministers who labored there nearly one hundred years ago: He is +represented as being the most powerful exhortatory preacher of his day. +His faith was transcendent, his appeals irresistible, his prayers like +talking with God face to face. Perhaps no man has ever been more +signally honored of God as an instrument in the conversion of souls. On +one of his circuits eighteen hundred members were added to the church in +a single year. + +Many thrilling scenes under his preaching yet linger among the people in +those counties where he principally labored. A most extraordinary +display of his faith was witnessed in Brunswick. At Merritt's meeting- +house a quarterly meeting was in progress, and so vast was the concourse +of people from many miles around, that the services were conducted in a +beautiful grove near the church. In the midst of the exercises, a heavy +cloud arose, and swept rapidly towards the place of worship. From the +skirts of the grove the rain could be seen coming on across the fields. +The people were in consternation; no house could hold one-third of the +multitude, and they were about to scatter in all directions. Easter rose +in the midst of the confusion--"Brethren," cried he at the top of his +voice, "be still while I call upon God to stay the clouds, till His word +can be preached to perishing sinners." Arrested by his voice and manner, +they stood between hope and fear. He kneeled down and offered a fervent +prayer that God would then stay the rain, that the preaching of His word +might go on, and afterwards send refreshing showers. _While he was +praying, the angry cloud, as it swiftly rolled up to them, was seen to +part asunder in the midst, pass on either side of them, and close again +beyond, leaving a space several hundred yards in circumference perfectly +dry. The next morning a copious rain fell again, and the fields that had +been left dry were well watered_." + + +THE HUSHED TEMPEST. + + +The following circumstance is communicated to _The Christian_ by a +minister of the editor's acquaintance, as a memorial of God's care for +the poor and needy who trust in him: + +It was about the year 1853, and near the middle of a Canadian Winter, we +had a succession of snowfalls, followed by high winds and severe cold. I +was getting ready to haul my Winter's stock of wood, for which I had to +go two miles over a road running north and south, entirely unprotected +from the keen cold west winds that prevail the most of the time in that +part of Canada during the Winter months. + +The procuring of my Winter's supply of wood was no small task for me, +for I had very little to do with, and was unable to endure much fatigue, +or bear the severe cold. I had, however, succeeded in securing the +services of an excellent hand to chop, and help me load, and had also +engaged a horse of one neighbor, and a horse and sled of another, and +was ready on Monday morning to commence my job. Monday morning the roads +were fair, the day promised well, and my man was off at daybreak to the +woods to, have a load ready for me. There had been quite a fall of snow +during the night; not enough to do any harm if it only lay still, but +should the wind rise, as it had after every snow-fall before, it would +make it dreadful for me. Soon as possible I harnessed my team, and +started. I had not gone a quarter of a mile before it became painfully +evident that a repetition of our previous "blows" was impending. The sky +was dark and stormy, the wind rose rapidly, and in every direction +clouds of the newly fallen snow were beginning to ride on the "wings of +the wind," pouring over the fences, and filling the road full! My heart +sank within me. What could I do? At this rate, by next morning the roads +would be impassable, and it was so cold! Besides, if I failed to go on +now, it would be very difficult to get my borrowed team together again, +and impossible to get my man again; and we could as well live without +bread as without wood in a Canadian Winter. + +Every moment the wind increased. In deep distress, I looked upon the +threatening elements, exclaiming over and over, "What shall I do?" I +felt then that there was but one thing that I could do, and that was +just what poor sinking Peter did; and with feelings I imagine something +like his, I looked up to God, and cried out, "O, my God, this is more +than I am able to bear. Lord, help me! The elements are subject to thee; +thou boldest the winds in thy fist. If thou wilt speak the word, there +will be a great calm. O, for Jesus' sake, and for the sake of my little +helpless family, let this snow lie still and give me an opportunity of +accomplishing this necessary labor comfortably!" I do not think it was +above fifteen minutes after I began to call upon the Lord before there +was a visible change. The wind began to subside, the sky grew calm, and +in less than half an hour all was still, and a more pleasant time for +wood-hauling than I had that day, I never saw nor desire to see. Many +others beside me enjoyed the benefit of that "sudden change" of weather, +but to them it was only a "nice spell of weather," a "lucky thing;" +while to me it was full of sweet and encouraging tokens of the +"loving-kindness of the Lord." And now, after so many years, I feel +impelled to give this imperfect narrative, to encourage others in the +day of trouble to call upon the Lord; and also, as a tribute of +gratitude to Him who has "never said to the house of Jacob, seek ye my +face in vain." + + +PRAYING IN FAIR WEATHER. + + +The ways in which God saves those whom he wishes to deliver from death, +are sometimes too wonderful for our understanding. A certain ship was +overtaken in a severe and prolonged storm at sea. She had a noble +Christian man for a captain, and as good a sailor as ever trod the +quarter-deck, and he had under him a good and obedient crew. But they +could not save the ship; she was too badly strained, her leaks were too +great for the pumps, she must go to the bottom. The captain committed +them all to the care of the God in whom he put his trust, and made ready +to take to their boats. Just then a sail was descried, and, by signals +of distress, drawn to their relief. All on board were taken off safely +and put on the ship, soon after which they saw their own ship go down. + +Now comes the peculiar part. The ship was soon overtaken in a dreadful +storm, was cast on her beam ends, and everything seemed to be lost. The +passengers were praying, and many of the old seamen were calling on God +to save them from the great deep. The captain of the ship had done his +best, but could not right the vessel, and all was given up to go down. +The captain, whose ship was lost, then asked if he might take his crew +and try to right the vessel. + +"Take them, and do what you can," was the reply. He called to his men +and told them they must save that ship; he inspired them with +confidence, for they knew he was a true man of God. They executed his +orders with alacrity and care. They cut away the masts, and cleared away +the rigging, and brought all the force they could to right the vessel. +God prospered the efforts--the ship righted; they got the pumps at work, +rigged a sail, and were finally all saved. It seemed as if it was +necessary to put the captain of the first ship and his crew on the +second ship, that they might save it and those on board when the +terrible storm came. + +Now it was particularly noticed in connection with this deliverance, +that the captain of the lost vessel did not make any ado in prayer, or +in calling on God, while the storm was raging; and knowing that he was a +Christian man, they asked him the reason of this. He answered them, +_that he did his praying in fair weather; "and then_" said he, _"when +the storm comes, I work_." He did not distrust God then, any more than +in fair weather; but he knew that God requires man to do all he can to +save himself, and praying might lose him his ship, when his own efforts +must save it. + + +THE RESCUE FROM THE VILLE DU HAVRE, AND THE LOCH EARN. + + +A remarkable illustration of God's mysterious way is found in connection +with the rescue of some of the passengers of the ill-fated French +steamship, Ville du Havre, which was sunk by a collision with the Loch +Earn, November 22, 1873, on her voyage from New York to France. After +the sinking of the Ville du Havre, with some two hundred of her +passengers, the rest were taken up by the Loch Earn, from which most of +them were afterwards transferred to the Trimountain. Others remained on +board the Loch Earn, where in consequence of its disabled condition they +seemed again in imminent danger of being lost. + +On the 11th of December, while Mr. D.L. Moody was conducting a noonday +prayer-meeting in the city of Edinburgh, Rev. Dr. Andrew Thompson read a +letter from a Christian lady, the mother of one of these imperiled +passengers, which contained the following account: + +"After the Trimountain left them, and they had examined their ship, many +a heart failed, and they feared they would never see land again. They +could not navigate the vessel, and were left to the mercy of the winds +and waves, or rather to the care of Him who ruleth wind and waves. Vain +was the help of man. The wind drove them out of the course of ships, +northward. You are aware that two ministers were left on board the Loch +Earn. One, Mr. Cook, a truly godly man, did all he could to encourage +their hearts. Every day, at noon, he gathered them together, and +earnestly, by prayer, strove to lead them to the Savior; and this he +continued to do till they reached England. The day before they were +rescued they knew that very shortly the ship must go down. The wind had +changed, bringing them nearer the track of ships, but they had little +hope of being saved. Mr. Cook told them of his own hope, that death to +him would be eternal life, and he urgently entreated them to put their +trust in 'Him who was mighty to save.' At the same time he told them he +had no doubt they would be rescued, that even then a vessel was speeding +to save them, that God had answered their prayers, that next day as +morning dawned they would see her. That night was one of great anxiety. + +"As morning dawned every eye was strained to see the promised ship. +There truly she was, and the British Queen bore down upon them. You may +think that with thankful hearts they left the Loch Earn. One thing is +remarkable--_the officer in charge on board the British Queen had a most +unaccountable feeling that there was something for him to do,_ and +_three times during the night he changed the course of the vessel, +bearing northward_. He told the watch to keep a sharp lookout for a +ship, and immediately on sighting the Loch Earn bore down upon her. At +first he thought she had been abandoned, as she lay helpless in the +trough of the sea, but soon they saw her signal of distress. It seems to +me a remarkable instance of faith on the one side and a guiding +Providence on the other. After they were taken on board the pilot-boat +that brought them into Plymouth, at noon, when they for the last time +joined together in prayer, Mr. Cook read to them the account of Paul's +shipwreck, showing the similarity of their experience. _'What made that +captain change his course against his will?' but the ever present Spirit +of God"_. + + +THE STORM MADE CALM. + + +At a Sunday morning meeting at Repository Hall, January 25, 1874, a +Christian brother, in illustration of the power and faithfulness of God, +and his willingness to hear and answer prayer, related these facts in +his own experience. An account of them was subsequently published in the +_Christian_: + +"In 1839 I was a sailor on board the brig Pandora, Captain G----, bound +from Savannah to Boston, with a cargo of cotton. When off the coast of +Virginia, some twenty-five miles distant from Chesapeake Bay, we +encountered a heavy gale. Saturday evening, December 21st, the wind blew +gently from the south. On sounding, we found ourselves in thirty fathoms +of water. At midnight the wind veered to the eastward, gradually +increasing until four o'clock Sunday morning, by which time the brig was +under close-reefed topsails and foresail. The wind still increasing, +every stitch of canvas was taken in, and now the vessel lay helpless and +unmanageable in the trough of the sea, not minding her helm at all, +while the wind blew a perfect hurricane. The vessel being very light, +loaded with cotton, made much leeway, and though we had worn ship four +times during the preceding night, hoping, if possible, to weather some +shoals which the captain judged were near, and to make Chesapeake Bay, +where we might have a clear beach before us in case the vessel should +strand, yet at eight o'clock Sunday morning we were in but seventeen +fathoms of water. + +"The gale now increased with fearful violence, waves rising like +mountains, and rain and sleet pouring from the dismal clouds. At ten, +A.M., being then in fifteen fathoms of water, and drifting rapidly +towards the shore, the captain summoned all hands into the cabin to +consult about throwing our deck-load overboard, in order to leave us a +better chance to secure ourselves to the rigging, and thus save our +lives when the vessel should strike, which he judged would be in about +half an hour. Not a gleam of hope appeared, and here our distress was +increased by observing that the captain seemed under the influence of +liquor, to which he had probably resorted in order to stifle his fears +of approaching death. + +"The order was given, and we went to work to throw the cotton over, +while the captain, frightened and despairing, went into the cabin to +drown his fears in drink. Seeing the state of things, and believing that +shipwreck was imminent, I found two of my shipmates who were Christians, +and who had prayed daily with me in the forecastle, and I asked them if +they had any faith in God now, that he would hear our prayers and +deliver us? They both said they had; and I told them to pray, then, that +the Lord might rebuke the winds and calm the waves. + +"With an unspeakable mingling of fear and hope we applied ourselves to +the task of casting the cotton into the sea, at the same time lifting up +earnest and united prayers to God for deliverance from the threatened +destruction, occasionally gliding in close contact with each other, and +speaking words of hope in each other's ears, and feeling, as we toiled, +a blessed confidence that our prayers were not in vain. + +"It did not seem more than five minutes from the time we commenced to +throw the cotton overboard, for we had scarcely tumbled twenty bales +into the sea, when we heard a shout from the quarter deck: + +"'Avast heaving cotton overboard! _The wind is coming out from our lee!_ +Avast there!' + +"It was the captain's voice, bidding us stay our hands; we obeyed, and +looking up we saw him clinging to the rigging, apparently so drunk that +he could hardly stand, _while away over our lee-bow we could see blue +sky and fair weather_, and _it seemed that in less than ten minutes from +the time the hurricane was at its height, the wind had chopped around in +shore, and was gently wafting us away from danger, and out into deep +water again_. + +"There were glad souls on board the Pandora that day, as she swung +around in obedience to the helm, and we laid her course again for our +destined port. And some who before had mocked at prayers and blasphemed +the God we loved, admitted then that God had answered prayer, and that +he had delivered us from death. + +"And I love to repeat the story to the praise of the Lord, who yet lives +to hear, and bless, and save his trusting children." + + +NO FEAR OF THUNDER. + + +Some years ago a camp-meeting was held in Southern Indiana. It rained +nearly all the time of the meeting. Father Haven, a man mighty in +prayer, rose to preach. Just as he announced his text it thundered, and +the congregation seemed to be restless and alarmed. The old hero +instantly said, "Let us engage a moment in prayer." He prayed that God +would allow the storm to pass by and not disturb them. + +After having plead for a few moments he said, "Friends, keep your seats; +it will not rain one drop here to-day." He commenced to preach, and it +thundered again. He repeated his assurance, and thus it continued until +the storm-cloud was almost over the encampment. It divided north and +south, and passed about a quarter of a mile on either side of them, +reunited again and passed on, and not one solitary drop of rain fell on +that encampment. + + +THE PRAYER OF THE PILGRIMS FOR RAIN ANSWERED. + + +It is well known that many of the good men who were driven from England +to America by persecution in the seventeenth century, had to endure +great privations. In the Spring of 1623 they planted more corn than ever +before; but by the time they had done planting, their food was spent. +They daily prayed, "Give us this day our daily bread;" and in some way +or other the prayer was always answered. With a single boat and a net +they caught some fish, and when these failed, they dug in the sand for +shell-fish. In the month of June their hopes of a harvest were nearly +blasted by a drought which withered up their corn and made the grass +look like hay. All expected to perish with hunger. + +In their distress the pilgrims set apart a day of humiliation and +prayer, and continued their worship for eight or nine hours. God heard +their prayers, and answered them in a way which excited universal +admiration. Although the morning of that day was clear, and the weather +very hot and dry during the whole forenoon, yet before night it began to +rain, and gentle showers continued to fall for many days, so that the +ground became thoroughly soaked, and the drooping corn revived. + + +THE ENEMIES OF A GOD FEARING NATION. + + +"An answer to prayer," says Le Clerc, "may be seen by what happened on +the coast of Holland in the year 1672. The Dutch expected an attack from +their enemies by sea, and public prayers were ordered for their +deliverance. It came to pass that when their enemies waited only for the +tide, in order to land, _the tide was retarded, contrary to its usual +course, for twelve hours_, so their enemies were obliged to defer the +attempt to another opportunity; which they never found, _because a +storm, arose afterwards_, and drove them from the coast." + + +CHANGING THE COURSE ONE POINT. + + +Walking across Palace Square in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with an American +ship-master, (says a correspondent of the _Watchman_) he invited me to +accompany him to his hotel. While there he showed me a very large gold +medal he had received from the British government for saving a ship's +company at sea. The circumstances were these: One night at sea, when it +was the captain's "mid-watch,"--the watch from twelve, midnight, till +four o'clock in the morning--just before turning in, he gave the officer +of the watch the ship's course; the direction in which she was to be +steered. While undressing, it was impressed on his mind that he ought to +change the course a point; but he could see no reason for the change, as +the ship was on the right course for the port of her destination. He +turned in and tried to fall asleep, as it was only four hours to his +watch; but the impression that he ought to change the ship's course kept +him awake. In vain he tried to throw off that impression; and yielding +to it, he went on deck and gave the order for the change. On returning +to his berth, he was asleep as soon as his head was on the pillow. The +next day he sighted a ship in distress, and made sail for her. The ship +was in a sinking condition, and he rescued the whole ship's company. +Shortly after, a gale of wind arose and carried the sinking ship to +complete destruction. Had not the American captain changed the course of +his ship that evening, he would not have come in sight of the ship in +distress, and all of the company would have perished. + +_Query_--_What made that Captain arise in the middle of the night and, +contrary to all science, reason and his own will, change the course of +his vessel_, but a _Supreme Being, whose power he could not resist_, and +what made him _exactly_ reach that sinking _ship just in time_. + + * * * * * + + + +THE FULTON ST. PRAYER MEETING. + + +ANSWERS TO PRAYER FROM ITS HISTORY, RECORDS AND CORRESPONDENCE. + + +The following Incidents of Prayer and the remarkable Answers, have been +obtained from the records of the Fulton Street Prayer Meeting in New +York City. They include both facts which have been related by speakers +in their daily meetings, or furnished from the letters of those who have +solicited Prayer and received the Answer to their Faith. + +They are of the utmost diversity of subjects, literally including the +"all things" of the Bible, and temporal as well as spiritual interests. + +Numerous as the incidents are, which we here give, still they cover only +_one-sixtieth_ part of the whole Record of the Blessed Meeting. + +History can never tell of the wonders done in Answer to the Prayers of +these trusting ones; but Faith can rejoice, for here is fulfilled daily +those cheerful Promises of the Lord: "_If ye abide in me and my words +abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." +"Ask and receive, that your joy may be full_." + + +SAVED FROM A LIFE OF DEGRADATION. + + +"Your prayers for my husband have been answered; _on the very day_ I +wished your prayers for him, and _before the hour of prayer had +expired_" he came into the house, and said, '_I am going to do better_.' +He had not been home before for _several weeks_. He was a profane, +hard-drinking man. He has since joined the church. 'All hail the power +of Jesus' name.'" + + +RECOVERY OF AN INVALID. + + +"One year ago, the prayers of this meeting were asked for an invalid who +had years of intense suffering before her, unless soon relieved. Prayers +were offered for her. Now we would like to acknowledge the +loving-kindness and tender mercy of our God, for, since that time, she +has slowly but steadily improved, even under most trying and unfavorable +circumstances, and-has now recovered comparative strength." + + +RELIEF IN BUSINESS. + + +"_None of those who trust in Him shall be made desolate_." + +"Some three weeks ago, I wrote you, stating that _my business had been a +failure_, and asked your prayers that God, in His mercy, would point out +a way for me to _provide for my family._ The clouds grew thicker and +blacker, but the more earnest were my prayers. _Last Saturday the Lord +came to my rescue_, and provided me with the necessities of life, and +to-day I wish you to join with me in thanksgiving to Almighty God for +these favors;--'For He is good; His mercy endureth forever.'" + + +A DAUGHTER SAVED FROM MARRIAGE WITH A CORRUPT MAN. + + +"I pray you give God praise and thanks for His merciful deliverance of +my dear daughter from the _evil influence_ of the man to whom she had +given her love and promise of marriage. THE LORD gave her strength and +courage to break her engagement, in answer to our earnest prayers. Oh, +implore _Him_ to keep that man out of her path, for he is constantly +lying in wait to meet her when she goes out. He wanted her to read bad +books, but told her that they were not wrong. He constantly laid +temptation in alluring forms before her. To HIM alone be the thanks for +this step she has taken." + + +A SKEPTIC OVERPOWERED. + + +"More and more God is pouring out His Spirit, gloriously answering your +prayers and ours. I have been constantly asking your prayers, and +though, for a while, the vision tarried, _yet it has come. The young +man_, from a neighborhood where there was _not one Christian_, and _he +himself scarcely less than a skeptic, is now sitting, in his right mind, +at Jesus' feet."_ + + +SAVED FROM DEATH. + + +"My brother, that lay apparently at the point of death, has been +restored to comparative health." + + +AN INTEMPERATE YOUNG MAN RECLAIMED. + + +"Rejoice with me, and thank God for his gracious answer to prayer. The +intemperate young man for whom I requested prayer some months ago, has +turned away from his cups, and is earnestly striving to overcome his +appetite for strong drink. He is competent to be the means of doing so +much good." + + +THE CONVERSION OF INTIMATE FRIENDS. + + +"Some time since, I sent request for prayer for the conversion of +friends. Since then _three_ have united with the church." + + +RAISED UP FROM DEATH'S DOOR. + + +"Our former pastor was raised up from death's door, in answer to your +prayer. _The doctor gave him up_. He says the Lord alone saved him, in +answer to prayer. Praise His name." + + +THE DESIRE OF THE HEART FULFILLED. + + +"A few weeks since I sent a request for prayer in my behalf, asking you +to pray God very earnestly that He would grant me the desire of my +heart, for which I was praying almost unceasingly. _On the evening of +the same day_ on which I supposed you would receive my request, _the +answer came,_ lifting a great burden from my heart. I send this in +acknowledgment of God's loving-kindness to me, and to encourage' every +burdened, praying one, to _trust Him more_." + + +A POOR OLD SICK LADY RESTORED. + + +"The poor, sick old lady for whom I requested your prayers some time +since, wishes to return thanks to Almighty God, for _restoring her +health_, and _sending friends_. It is wonderful how your and our +requests are answered." + + +A NEW BIRTH. + + +"Give thanks with me. Since I wrote you last, our son has given himself +to Jesus." + + +A CHURCH SAVED FROM STRIFE. + + +"It is with heartfelt gratitude to God that I write you of answer to +your prayer. Last Spring, I asked your prayers in behalf of our church. +It was almost destroyed by a man trying to get into our Conference +without proper papers, and could not. He then broke up a Presbyterian +church, and formed another. He gathered a number of our members with +him, and tried hard to take our parsonage, but did not succeed. Thank +God! though we are few, and have had a hard struggle, we still hold our +property, our circuit has doubled, God is reviving His work, and is now +answering your prayers" + + +REASON RESTORED. + + +"Last March, I requested you to pray for a dear friend in Massachusetts, +who was deprived of her reason through sickness and great trouble. _Give +thanks unto God, she is fully restored."_ + + +"Arise And Walk." + + +"It will be just one year since Jesus came and took me by the hand, and +_I arose from what was supposed to be my death-bed_, and _walked to the +astonishment of all_. I have not claimed the fullness of the promise, +but feel that I may. I prayed God not to heal my body wholly, until I +was more patient under my cross." + + +THE APPETITE FOR STRONG DRINK TAKEN AWAY. + + +"Sometime ago I wrote to you for my husband. He was _a victim to strong +drink_ at that time, but _blessed be God, he has not drank one drop for +five months_." + + +SPIRITUAL STRENGTH. + + +"I feel your prayers; I think I know the day and the hour, for I felt +strengthened with strength in my soul." + + +HEALING OF SOUL AND BODY. + + +"I have reason to rejoice that I have been greatly blessed in answer to +your prayers. Two young lady friends of mine have been enabled to claim +the blessed promise of full salvation, not only to the healing of the +soul, _but the body also_. + +My own experience helped them: On the 16th of January, last, in answer +to constant prayer offered by myself and friends, I arose from what all +thought to be my death-bed, and walked all over the house; also many +miles on the streets during the next few months. I did not claim the +full extent of the promise as I craved only relief from such terrible +pain, as was then my portion to bear. I think God in his goodness would +have granted full restoration to health, as I was so anxious to work for +Him, but I pleaded with Him _not to heal my body_ until my mind had had +the discipline I felt it needed." + + +AN INTEMPERATE HUSBAND SAVED BY PRAYER. + + +"Some three weeks since, I asked you for my intemperate husband, that +you would pray that he might be _willing to be saved. He has been made +willing to give up the intoxicating cup,_ and says he has _not any +desire_ for it. To God be all the praise." + + +RELIGION LOST, RELIGION REGAINED. + + +"I wrote you two months since, asking an interest in your prayers for a +young man that experienced religion a year ago, but failed to confess +Christ by uniting with the church. Your prayers have been answered. Last +night my heart was made to rejoice by seeing him confess Christ, before +the world. He is now happy in the love of Jesus, and will he useful and +active in the church." + + +DRUNKARDS REFORMED. + + +"Return thanks to God for two men signing the pledge, about one month +ago, who have been enabled to keep it through great temptation. _They +were drunkards for over twenty years_. Their reformation was in answer +to a praying mother's prayers, and to the prayers for them at your +meeting." + + +A HOPELESS CASE. + + +"A little less than a year ago, prayers were desired at the Fulton +street prayer-meeting for a man whose case seemed wholly hopeless. +Shortly after he gave up drink, and became a Christian; is now a happy +man, and has a happy family. + +"Please carry this thank offering to God, that he has given us such a +Savior, and such a way to escape from temptation." + + +A HARVEST OF CONVERSIONS. + + +"Last Fall, I wrote you to pray for us. You did pray. The result was a +wonderful increase of spiritual life--_fifty conversions."_ + + +A FAMILY MADE HAPPY. + + +"Two years ago, I wrote asking your prayers for a dear sister, brothers +and nieces. Since then, one brother, about sixty, and my two nieces have +been converted, and are now rejoicing in a Savior's love." + + +THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT + + +"About two years ago we requested your prayers for the Holy Spirit upon +a revival work then in progress in our church." _The Lord answered us_ +by giving us _over four score souls."_ + + +HEARTS MADE GLAD. + + +"We return most hearty thanks for the answer to prayer given. I wrote +more than a year ago last August of our low state. Last Winter twenty +young persons were converted, and continue to work faithfully." + + +GIVEN UP BY MAN, BUT RESCUED BY THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. + + +"The writer was himself raised up by prayer, from the gates of death, +offered by the heart and lips of one who is now a sufferer. _Two of the +most skillful physicians in the land had given me up_." + + +THE STORY OF A WAYWARD LIFE, SAVED BY PRAYER. + + +"In the last fourteen years I have stood beside the deathbeds of eight +who were near and dear to me, and the last words that each spoke to me +as they were leaving the world were, "_Will you not meet me in Heaven_?" +I have been a wayward child. Eight years ago I became addicted to strong +drink. I became a drunkard, which brought my dear old father down to an +untimely grave. I made a promise on his death-bed that I would not drink +any more, and for six long years I kept that promise, but at last I +broke it. I again became a drunkard, which began to tell on my wife. I +promised her that I would not drink, but that promise was broken time +after time. Within this year, in the week of prayer, I attended the +prayer-meetings, asked prayers for me, and on the night following, I +erected the family altar, which had for four years been neglected, and, +thank God, it is there yet. I am now trusting in the promise that _He +will not let his children be tempted beyond what they are able to +endure_." + + +A WONDERFUL CURE. + + +An earnest Christian woman who believed the Lord greater than any +earthly physician, cries, "_O, praise the Lord. He hath delivered me in +six troubles, and in the seventh he hath not forsaken me_." "And the +seventh was the worst. By the help of _eight physicians_, and in answer +to prayer, partly of this meeting, a fearful tumor has been taken from +me weighing twelve pounds, with three gallons of water in the sack. O, +praise the Lord, for He is good, and his mercy endureth forever." + +This case was one of extraordinary risk and apparently impossible +achievement; but the Lord gave faith to try, and skill to win the +victory. No earthly power could have dared the venture. + + +GIVEN UP. + + +"Our pastor, after four months' sickness, preached to us last evening +the most solemn sermon I ever heard, and says he was raised up in answer +to prayer. The physicians gave him up several times, and say they have +never known such an instance of recovery." + + +CHAINS BROKEN AT LAST. + + +"Long months, week by week, I have asked you to pray that my husband +might be saved from the eternal doom of a drunkard. God has mercifully +given him strength to break the fetters that bound him fast." + + +BETTER THAN WE EXPECTED. + + +"We asked your prayers; they have been answered. They were answered more +and better than we had hoped or dreamed they could be." + + +PRAYER ANSWERED FOR EMPLOYMENT. + + +"A foreigner without means and friendless tried in vain for ten months +to succeed in finding some employment. He requested your prayers to God, +and _God answered_. In less than eighteen hours a splendid position was +offered to him. He and his wife give thanks, and pray that they may +devote their lives usefully to the cause of God who has been so good to +them." + + +FOUND EMPLOYMENT. + + +"God has answered our united prayers, and given employment to his +child." + + +AN OLD LADY SAVED FROM LITTLE ANNOYANCES. + + +"Your prayers have been heard and answered in mercy. The old lady has +not been quite so much annoyed. Thank God for some peace for the aged +one, not able to bear what younger people can, that go out into the +world and can find relief. I thank my heavenly Father for his loving- +kindness and tender mercy for those that cry to him in trouble." + + +INSANITY DISPELLED. + + +"I sent a petition months ago, for prayers for an insane husband. Your +prayers have been answered. He has rapidly recovered." + + +RECLAIMED. + + +"I must ask you to return thanks with me that your prayers have been +answered. An intemperate brother has been reclaimed." + + +RESTORED TO HEALTH. + + +"One month since, I requested prayer specially for my own family. My +oldest son, who was then sick, has been restored to his usual health. +'_The prayer of faith hath indeed saved the sick_.'" + + +TEMPTATIONS REMOVED. + + +"Some months ago I asked your prayers for a son in college, amid great +temptations. I desire to give thanks that those temptations have been +removed." + +THE HEART OF A CLERGYMAN TURNED FROM THOUGHTS OF AMBITION. + + +"I sent a request to you for a young man, who was called, and eminently +fitted for the ministry, but was tempted, by ambition, not to listen to +the divine call, and obstacles had hedged his way somewhat. After I +requested your prayers in his behalf, this temptation was removed, and +nearly one hundred persons were converted in the church which was under +his care." + + +A GRATEFUL TRIBUTE. + + +"For a long time I have been the subject of personal affliction, caused +by _two internal tumors_ of the _worst type_. Speedy death seemed +inevitable; yet there was a little hope that a surgical operation might +possibly remove the difficulty and prolong my day. To this hope I clung, +submitted to the operation, and it was a success. To the earnest prayers +of Christian people is due this grateful acknowledgment." + + +WAS A PERFECT SLAVE TO LIQUOR. + + +"Please return _thanks_ to our kind Heavenly Father for this answer to +prayer. All last Winter requests were sent in for a gentleman, a perfect +slave to liquor. Those prayers were answered, and he is attending church +regularly, striving to do what is right to please his Heavenly Master." + + +ALWAYS ANSWERED. + + +"Several times in years past I have asked for the prayers of this +meeting, and always found them answered." + + +CURED OF EPILEPSY. + + +"I wrote you to aid me by your prayers, that my afflicted son, who was +troubled with epilepsy, might be cured. Thanks be to the Heavenly +Father, he is better." + + +ALMOST LOST. + + +"Your prayers and mine for my son have been answered. He was almost +lost, on the downward road of intemperance. He has now reformed." + + +A SITUATION OBTAINED BY PRAYER. + + +"Yesterday I sent a request that God would give me sustaining grace and +abiding faith, and in his own good time give me a situation where I +might be able to support my family. In that very afternoon, I made a +contract of $1,200 a year. Praise the Lord." + + +A BOUNTIFUL BLESSING. + + +"Some time ago I solicited your prayers for a blessing on my services, +and _never, in all my life_ before have I been blessed as since that +time. 'Tis truly wonderful; it has seemed as if I must have become some +one else, and that it could not longer be me speaking with such +boldness, and apparent success. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that +is within me, bless his holy name." + + +SAVED FROM THE COMPANY OF A BAD LOVER. + + +"A week ago I begged you to pray for my daughter, who had given her +heart to an unworthy man, praying that God might guide her to see him as +he is, and turn her love from him. She is a child of God. In answer, God +has caused a rupture between them." + + +AWAY FROM HOME, BUT NOT AWAY FROM GOD. + + +"Some weeks since I sent in a request for prayer for my sons who had +fallen victims to intemperance and vice. My heart rejoices to-day in the +hope that it has. + + +"Two who left home, and had gone to distant cities to seek employment, +have written me to pray that they may be able to forsake sin in all its +forms, and come to Christ and be Christians. One of them was skeptical +when he left home. The one remaining at home has resolved to quit +drinking." + + +GOD ALWAYS ANSWERS BELIEVING PRAYER. + + +"Your prayers asked on several occasions have all been graciously +answered. Return thanks unto the Lord that sendeth mercy." + + +THE HARDEST HEART YIELDS AT LAST. + + +"Several years since your prayers were solicited in behalf of one who +seemed given over to hardness of heart and reprobacy of mind. Since that +time there has been some reform in his life. God only knows how far +those prayers have been answered in restraining grace. Last week he said +to the friend who had solicited your prayers for him, 'I wish you would +ask Fulton Street prayer-meeting to pray again for me. _I believe it did +me good._'" + + +UP FROM THE LOWEST DEPTHS. + + +"One year ago I wrote you respecting prayer for my husband. He has since +been reclaimed from the lowest depths of a drunkard's life, and is now a +member of the Christian church. Thanks be to God, the giver of all +good." + + +SAVED AND HONORED. + + +"Almost three years ago I asked you to pray for a young man that was +wandering from God. Thank God, your and my prayers were answered. He is +now an active Christian, a superintendent of the Sabbath school, and a +most zealous member of the Young Men's Christian Association of this +place." + + +ALMOST PERSUADED. + + +"Some weeks since I requested prayer for a member of this Institution +who was 'almost persuaded' to be a Christian. Thanks to our Father, and +to those who have offered prayer in her behalf, she has been _altogether +persuaded_, and has united with the Lord's people." + + +ANSWERED THE SAME DAY. + + +"You received a letter yesterday. My husband rose for prayers the same +night." + + +OH, HOW PRECIOUS. + + +"I wrote five months since for prayers for myself, and I now write to +say that I have found my Savior very precious to my soul." + + +PRAYING FOR A PASTOR. + + +"Several months ago I wrote asking you to pray for a feeble church in +need of a pastor. Since then I am happy to say that this church has been +blessed and we now have a pastor." + + +A TELEGRAM OF PRAYER. + + +An incident was related at one of the meetings by a clergyman who had +written a telegram asking for prayers. God heard it before it was sent. + +"When we were in Switzerland, my daughter was taken very ill, so that +the doctor despaired of her life. I felt the need of sympathy and help +and prayer, and I made up my mind that I would send a telegraphic +dispatch to this meeting, where I had so often united with you in +prayer. I wrote the dispatch and was prepared to send it, when all at +once there was poured out such a joyful faith and confidence in God on +me as I never felt before in all my life, and I fell on my knees in +devout thanksgiving for the assurance that God gave me that he had heard +and answered our prayers, for we had prayed for that dear daughter's +life. There lay the telegram ready to be sent. There I was waiting and +praying. In less than half an hour my wife came into the room and said, +'There is a change for the better in our daughter,' and the telegram was +never sent, though I believe the writing of it was the prayer that God +answered." + + +HE DID NOT KEEP HIS PROMISE, BUT GOD DID. + + +A remarkable instance of how God keeps his promises and is faithful, and +how man often forgets to keep his, and at last receives deserved +punishment for his thanklessness to God, was recently related in the +Fulton Street prayer-meeting. + +A very urgent case was presented by a friend. He said: "A friend of mine +is seeking Jesus. A little while ago his only child lay near death. He +prayed God to restore her to health, promising to serve the Lord for the +rest of his life if the child's life was spared. His daughter recovered, +but _the man forgot the promise he had made and sought not after God._ +In a very little while the child was suddenly taken sick again, and +almost as suddenly died. The father remembered his vows, and feels that +this is God's solemn warning to him to seek the Savior." + + +A DOUBLE PRAYER ANSWERED. + + +At the Fulton Street prayer-meeting a number of remarkable cases were +related of real answers to prayer for recovery to health, and obtaining +of positions. + +"I must tell you how God has been answering prayer, for his glory and +for your encouragement. Your prayers were asked for a sick wife. She was +thought by the doctors to be beyond recovery, but in response to prayer +God spared her life, and she and her husband returned their heartfelt +thanks to Him. But there was another trouble. The husband had long +needed employment, and was in great pecuniary distress. He had been +praying for help, beseeching the Lord to open up a way for him. But help +did not come, and the cloud seemed darker, and the poor man got +discouraged. Friends begged him to hope on, and not to give up his trust +in that God who, in answer to prayer, had raised his sick wife to +health. He continued to pray, and on the long, dark night, morning at +last dawned. He is now in a good position, and sends a request to +friends to thank God with him for this two-fold goodness of the Lord. + + +HOW THE LORD BLESSED AN OLD ADVERTISEMENT. + + +"I had another acquaintance who was also greatly distressed. With a wife +and family to care for, and all his means gone, and no prospect of +employment, he was in trouble indeed. We induced him to present his case +for prayer here, as it would encourage him to have others pray for him. +Then we inserted an advertisement in one of the daily papers, offering +his services, hoping the Lord would bless the means used and answer +prayer. Day by day passed, but no response came. Some two weeks after +the advertisement was inserted, a merchant picked up _an old paper_, and +noticing the advertisement, showed it to his partner, remarking, 'Why, +this is just the man we need.' Observing the _old date_ on the paper, +his partner said he thought it would be too late to respond; but the +trial was made. The man was requested to call, and proved to be just +what these merchants had been wishing for, and was very quickly engaged. +He feels that the Heavenly Father who cares for the sparrows, +undoubtedly met his need, and that all the circumstances connected with +the case were providential." + + +HATING THE ACCURSED DRINK. + + +A brother rose in the meeting and said, "I believe it is God's will that +I should tell you how He saved me, about two years since. I came into +the meeting when it was held in the old church, and was at the time +under the influence of liquor. The missionary took me into the gallery +and talked with me, and prayed with me, and God heard prayer and saved +me. I became a new man in Christ, and have lost all appetite for drink; +I hate the accursed stuff." + + +A DRUNKARD FOR THIRTY YEARS. + + +Another told a remarkable story of his life: "I was a drunkard for +thirty years, and I tried all kinds of means to get free, but all +failed. I pledged myself over and over again, and swore off many a time. +At last, Jesus met me at the mission meeting, and he saved me. He took +away the appetite for drink from me. I am a different man; I am tempted +in various ways at times, but when tempted I think of Jesus and look to +Him, and He saves me." + + +THE HOPELESS ONE BROUGHT HOME. + + +"A pastor related the incident of the conversion of a man who had +disgraced his family, and all through drink. All the people in the +village where he lived regarded him as a hopeless case. But he was +prayed for, and one night in answer to an appeal to those desiring +Christ to rise, he rose. He soon became a new man, and a steadfast +soldier of the Cross, completely delivered from his hopeless situation, +and all his appetites taken away." + + +"NO MAN CAN PLUCK THEM OUT OF MY FATHER'S HAND." + + +A brother says, "Jesus says this, and I rest just there." "A year ago I +was in Philadelphia. I had resolved not to drink any liquor that day, +but my resolution was soon broken. In the evening as I wandered the +streets, that voice of God, '_Turn ye, turn ye_,' gave me great +uneasiness. Although I tried hard not to go, yet the Spirit was at work +within me, and against my will led me to the meetings of the Young Men's +Christian Association. When the call came for those desiring prayers, I +felt that it was my last call, and I pushed forward and rose. Friends +prayed with me, and that night, as I pleaded for mercy, the burden of my +sin was lifted and I was free. Christ took the appetite for drink away, +and He has kept me ever since, and will keep me to the end, for He says, +'_Fear not, for I have redeemed thee; I have called thee by thy name; +thou art mine_.' Oh! I know He won't let me go." + + +ANSWER TO PRAYER IN TEMPORAL MATTERS. + + +A speaker said at one meeting, "God answers prayer in temporal matters. +In a Western college, at a time when the last morsels of food had been +eaten, and some had to go away from the table empty, four of the number +retired to pray, and before they had ceased praying relief came. +Provisions in large quantities were received, thus verifying the old +promise, 'Before they call I will answer.'" + + +THE LORD PROVED TRUE. + + +"The Lord reigns," another exclaimed, "I have proved that during my long +life! It has looked dark very often, and I have been in difficult +places, but again and again the Lord has brought me through +triumphantly. I have found the promise true." "Trust in the Lord, and do +good, so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed." + + +A LITTLE BOY'S QUESTION. + + +A brother related a touching incident which occurred in Brooklyn. "A +little boy asked his father at the dinner table, '_Papa, why don't you +read the Bible_?' The father was a passionate man, and was about driving +the boy out of his presence, but his anger made the little fellow weep. +That brought tears to the mother's eyes, and then the father followed +suit. The boy's tears moved him, and the question struck his heart; and +father and mother, up to that hour unconverted, were soon on their way +to the prayer-meeting, where they found Jesus." + + +A LITTLE GIRL'S QUESTION. + + +A touching little story, with eternal results in it, was told at one of +the meetings, illustrating that word of God's book, "A little child +shall lead them." "A dress-maker called on a very wealthy lady in a city +not far from New York, and took with her her little girl, five years +old. The lady took a fancy to the child, and showed her over the house. +She expressed great admiration at all she saw, and, particularly +attracted by the carpet, said to the lady: 'Why, I should think Jesus +must come here very often, it is such a nice house, and such a beautiful +carpet--He must come here very often. He comes to our house, and we have +no carpet; I am sure He must come here very often, doesn't He?' The lady +not answering, the child repeated the question, when the reply came, +with deep emotion, "I am afraid not." The child left, but God's message +was delivered. The lady related the incident to her husband in the +evening, and both were led to seek the Savior. + + +GOD CARED FOR ME. + + +At a meeting a young man in broken English, said: "If any man ought to +believe in prayer, I ought to. My friends turned me out of my home, +because I was seeking for Christ. I was too much Christian my landlady +said. I told her I wished I was all Christian. It was seven o'clock in +the evening when she refused to let me come into the house. I went then +to the prayer-meeting in Water Street; we had such a good meeting, that +I quite forgot that I had no place to sleep. The services over, I found +it was raining fast, and I had no place to which to go. I went back into +the room, and kneeling at one of the benches, I begged God to give me a +place to rest. I did not go home my usual way that night, but on the way +I took I met an old friend, and walking with him to his house he begged +me to stay the night, as he did not like to be alone. I staid there that +night, though I had never told him of my condition. What was it but an +answer to prayer. Many a time since has God thus provided for my wants. +O friends, let your heart go out, for Him, then He will never let you +want." + + +THE BLIND CAN SEE. + + +Said another, "I came here yesterday to ask you to pray for my sister. +She has been sick some time, and then she lost her _sight_. I did not +get an opportunity to present my request because so many took part; but +I thought I would just take my sister's case to Jesus, remembering that +'the prayer of faith shall save the sick.' In the afternoon I found her +in sad need of sleep. I told her just to look to Jesus, because it was +written of Him, 'So He giveth His beloved sleep.' We prayed together, +and I left her in a _profound slumber_, 'This morning when I called on +her she could _see me.' Friends, the Lord does answer prayer." + + + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Wonders of Prayer, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WONDERS OF PRAYER *** + +***** This file should be named 11553.txt or 11553.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/1/5/5/11553/ + +Produced by John Hagerson, Kevin Handy and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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