,,facts ,,stranger ,,than ,,fiction ,,the ,,wonders ,,of ,,prayer3 ,a ,,record ,,of ,,well ,,authenticated ,,and ,,wonderful ,,answers ,,to ,,prayer4 ,,as ,,narrated ,,by3 ,,george ,,muller1 ,w4,w4 ,,patten1 ,d4,d41 ,d4,l4 ,,moody1 ,,chas4 ,,cullis1 ,c4,h4 ,,spurgeon1 ,s4,i4 ,,prime1 ,d4,d41 ,,bishop ,,simpson1 ,e4 ,,krummacher1 ,,newman ,,hall1 ,d4,d41 ,,martin ,,luther1 ,,bishop ,t4 ,,bowman1 ,,john ,,knox1 ,,chas4 ,g4 ,,finney1 ,,abraham ,,lincoln1 ,,and ,,hosts ,,of ,,others4 ,,new ,,edition4 ,,revised ,,by ,d4,w4 ,,whittle4 #ahhe 99 99 99 99 99 ,,introduction ,,to ,,first ,,edition4 ,the incidents which are published in this volume1 are vouched for upon the strongest proofs of authenticity possible to obtain1 and are either of circumstances known amid my own experience1 or connected with the lives of my correspondents and their friends4 ,they are the thankful record and tribute to the power of persevering faith4 ,nothing has been published concerning which there is the least shadow of doubt4 ,all have been carefully investigated4 ,every case has been one of real prayer1 and the results that have come1 came only in answer to the prayer of faith1 and were not possible to obtain without it4 ,they demonstrate to a wonderful degree1 the immediate practical ways of the ,lord with his children in this world1 that ,he is far nearer and more intimate with their plans and pursuits than it is possible for them to realize4 ,neither have we depended upon the relation of facts of a few1 to convince the world of the real power of faith1 but have added concurrent testimony of incidents actually known in the experience of such eminent clergymen as ,charles ,spurgeon1 ,newman ,hall1 ,martin ,luther1 ,w4 ,huntington1 ,dr4 ,waterbury1 ,george ,muller1 ,dr4 ,cullis1 ,dr4 ,patton1 ,dr4 ,adams1 ,dr4 ,prime1 ,bishop ,simpson1 and many others4 ,also we have added some incidents known and investigated and found absolutely true1 by the editors of the following journals1 who add their unquestioning belief in the power of prayer3 ,the ,christian1 ,the ,evangelist1 ,the ,observer1 ,the ,congregationalist1 ,the ,advance1 ,the ,illustrated ,christian ,weekly1 ,the ,american ,messenger1 ,the ,witness4 ,likewise we have been greatly assisted by some of our ,home ,missionaries1 who1 from their daily experiences with the poor and suffering1 have been eye-witnesses to remarkable experiences and the wonderful help of the ,lord in answering their prayers4 ,these testimonies here recorded must be accepted as true4 ,they demonstrate that answers to prayer are not occasional1 and therefore remarkable that they do occur1 but are of constant occurrence4 ,there may be many minds who1 having carried no trial to the ,lord1 have never been brought into intimate acquaintances of the ways in which the ,lord tries the faith of his children1 nor led to see and observe his wonderful control over human wills and circumstances4 ,the power of the ,lord is learned only by those who in deep trouble have faithfully sought ,him and seen his ways of deliverance4 ,none can ever understand the full power of prayer until they have learned the lesson of trust4 ,it is only when for the first time in the ,christian's own life of faith1 it realizes the hand of ,god in his personal dealings with him1 how near ,he is1 or how clearly he feels the presence of that tremendous overruling ,spirit which ,turneth the heart whithersoever ,he will4 ,the actual existence of our ,god is therefore proved1 not alone from ,history1 nor from the ,bible alone1 nor from current natural or religious feeling and beliefs1 nor from the testimony of old witnesses several thousand years old1 but from the actual incidents of present prayer1 and the literal answer4 ,daily faith and trust and prayer have made the ,christian deeply acquainted with ,him and his ways1 and humbly dependent upon his care and love and help1 in the events of life4 ,no one ever faithfully trusted the ,lord in vain4 ,circumstances so clouded that it has been impossible for men to control1 have1 through believing prayer1 been so made to change1 that through them has been revealed living evidences of the presence of ,the ,ever ,living ,god4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,discerning ,,prayer4 ,,introductory4 ,,by ,d4,w4 ,,whittle4 ,to recognize ,god's existence is to necessitate prayer to ,him1 by all intelligent creatures1 or1 a consciously living in sin and under condemnation of conscience1 because they do not pray to ,him4 ,it would be horrible to admit the existence of a ,supreme ,being1 with power and wisdom to create1 and believe that the creatures he thought of consequence and importance enough to bring into existence1 are not of enough consequence for him to pay any attention to in the troubles and trials consequent upon that existence4 ,surely such a statement is an impeachment of both the wisdom and goodness of ,god4 ,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 pray1 for there is no ,god to pray to1 for to deny prayer1 is practical atheism4 ,so in the very constitution of man's being there is the highest reasonableness in prayer4 ,and1 if the position of man in his relation to the earth he inhabits is recognized and understood1 there is no unreasonableness in a ,god-fearing man looking to ,god for help and deliverance under any and all circumstances1 in all the vicissitudes of life4 ,the earth was made for man4 ,one has said there is nothing great in the world but man2 and there is nothing great in man but his soul4 ,with this in view1 how absurd to talk about fixed laws and unchangeable order1 in a way to keep man in his trouble from ,god4 ,it is all the twaddle of the conceit of man setting himself up to judge and limit his maker4 ,to whom then will ye liken ,me1 or shall ,i be equal8 saith the ,holy ,one4 ,the ,creator is greater than his creation2 the law giver is supreme over all law4 ,he created the earth that it might be inhabited by man1 and ,he governs the earth in subordination to the interests1 the eternal and spiritual welfare of the race of immortal beings that are here being prepared for glory and immortality4 ,laws1 indeed1 are fixed in their operation and results as subserving the highest good in the training and the disciplining of the race1 giving them hope in their labor and sure expectation of fruit from their toil4 ,but as set in operation for man's good1 so1 in an exigency that may make necessary their suspension1 to secure his deliverance from peril and bring man back to the recognition of the personal ,god1 as above1 law1 is it unreasonable to believe that ,god has power thus to suspend or overrule his own arrangements8 ,a wise father will govern his children by rules as securing their best good4 ,but he will retain in his power the suspending of those rules when special occasions arise1 when the object for which they exist can be better secured by their suspension4 ,shall not the living ,god have the same right8 ,so much as to the reflections suggested by the dogmas of natural religion4 ,they sustain in reason our faith in prayer4 ,the basis1 however1 of our faith rests upon the unchanging and unchangeable revelation of ,god1 and not upon man's philosophy4 ,jesus taught his disciples to pray1 saying1 ,our ,father which art in ,heaven4 ,as ,christians1 this is our authority for prayer4 ,in the words1 ,,our ,,father1 our ,blessed ,lord has given us the substance of all that can be said1 as to the privilege of prayer1 what to pray for1 and how to pray4 ,there can be no loftier exercise of soul ever given to created intelligence than to come into conscious contact with the living ,god1 and be able to say ,my ,father4 ,and surely1 as my ,father1 with a loving father's heart1 it must be his desire that ,i should tell him all my needs1 all my sorrows1 all my desires4 ,and1 so his word commands1 ,be careful for nothing1 but in everything1 by prayer and supplication1 with thanksgiving1 let your requests be made known unto ,god4 7,phil1 iv41 #f47 ,under this verse there is positively no exception of any request that may not be made known unto ,god4 ,so there is true faith and right ,christian philosophy in the remark1 if a pin was needful to my happiness and ,i could not find one ,i would pray to ,god for it4 ,the mistake of ,christians is in not praying over little things4 ,the hairs of your head are all numbered4 ,consult ,god about everything4 ,expect ,his counsel1 ,his guidance1 ,his care1 ,his provision1 ,his deliverance1 ,his blessing1 in everything4 ,does not the expression1 ,our daily bread1 mean just this8 ,can there be any true life of faith that does not include this8 ,whatever will serve to help ,god's children to a better understanding of the blessed privileges of prayer1 and prove to them the reality of ,god's answering prayer in the cares1 trials and troubles of daily life1 will approve itself to all thoughtful minds as a blessing to them and an honor to ,god4 ,it is the purpose of this volume to do this4 ,we are more helped by testimony to facts than by theories and doctrines4 ,when we have illustrations before our eyes of ,god's care for his children1 and ,his response to their faith1 even in the minutest things1 we understand the meaning of ,his promises and the reality of ,his providences4 ,the writer had many thoughts in this line suggested to him by an incident1 with which he was connected1 in the life of ,george ,muller4 ,it was my happiness to cross the ,atlantic in the company of this dear brother on the steamship ,sardinian1 from ,quebec to ,liverpool1 in ,june1 #ahhj4 ,i met ,mr4 ,muller in the express office the morning of sailing1 about half an hour before the tender was to take the passengers to the ship4 ,he asked of the agent if a deck chair had arrived for him from ,new ,york4 ,he was answered1 ,no1 and told that it could not possibly come in time for the steamer4 ,i had with me a chair ,i had just purchased and told ,mr4 ,muller of the place near by1 where ,i had obtained it1 and suggested that as but a few moments remained he had better buy one at once4 ,his reply was1 ,no1 my brother1 ,our ,heavenly ,father will send the chair from ,new ,york4 ,it is one used by ,mrs4 ,muller1 as we came over1 and left in ,new ,york when we landed4 ,i wrote ten days ago to a brother who promised to see it forwarded here last week4 ,he has not been prompt as ,i would have desired1 but ,i am sure ,our ,heavenly ,father will send the chair4 ,mrs4 ,muller is very sick upon the sea1 and has particularly desired to have this same chair1 and not finding it here yesterday when we arrived1 as we expected1 we have made special prayer that ,our ,heavenly ,father would be pleased to provide it for us1 and we will trust ,him to do so4 ,as this dear man of ,god went peacefully on board the tender1 running the risk of ,mrs4 ,muller making the voyage without a chair1 when for a couple of dollars she could have been provided for1 ,i confess ,i feared ,mr4 ,muller was carrying his faith principles too far and not acting wisely4 ,i was kept at the express office ten minutes after ,mr4 ,muller left4 ,just as ,i started to hurry to the wharf a team drove up the street1 and on top of a load just arrived from ,new ,york1 was ,mr4 ,muller's chair6 ,it was sent at once to the tender and placed in my hands to take to ,mr4 ,muller 7the ,lord having a lesson for me7 just as the boat was leaving the dock4 ,i found ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,muller in a retired spot on one side of the tender and handed him the chair4 ,he took it with the happy1 pleased expression of a child who has just received a kindness deeply appreciated1 and reverently removing his hat and folding his hands over it1 he thanked his ,heavenly ,father for sending the chair4 ,in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto ,god4 ,casting all your care upon ,him1 for ,he careth for you4 ,so the word of ,god teaches us as ,his children 7inviting us to pray1 commanding us to pray1 and teaching us how to pray71 that there is a divine reality in prayer4 ,experience abundantly corroborates the teaching4 ,every truly converted man knows from this experience that ,god answers prayer4 ,he has verified the promise4 ,call unto me1 and ,i will answer thee1 and shew thee great and mighty things1 which thou knowest not4 7,jer4 xxxiii41 #h47 ,his life is a life of prayer1 and grows more and more to be a life of almost unconscious dependence upon ,god1 as he becomes fixed in the habit of prayer4 ,this1 and it is the purpose of ,god1 is the result secured by prayer4 ,with this in view1 it will not be so much what we expect to get by praying1 as a consciousness of coming into closer relations to ,god1 the giver of all1 in our prayers1 that will give us true joy4 ,often ,god's children are driven to the throne of grace by some desperate need of help and definite supply of an absolute want1 and1 as they cry to ,god and plead their case with tears before him1 he so manifests his presence to them and so fills them with a consciousness of his love and power1 that the burden is gone and without the want being supplied that drove them to ,god1 they rejoice in ,god himself and care not for the deprivation4 ,this was ,paul's experience when he went thus to ,god about the thorn1 and came away without the specific relief he had prayed for1 but with such a blessing as a result of his drawing near to ,god1 that he little cared whether the thorn remained or not--or1 rather1 rejoiced that it was not removed2 that it might be used to keep him near to ,god1 whose love so filled his soul4 ,a widow once told the writer of the turning point in her ,christian life1 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 presence1 and casting all her burdens upon ,him4 ,she was driven to seek ,god by great need4 ,her husband's death left her destitute1 with little children to provide for1 and few friends from whom to look for continuous aid4 ,winter drew on1 and1 one day1 her little boy came in shivering with cold and asked if he could not have a fur cap1 as his straw hat was very cold and none of the boys at school wore straw hats4 ,she was without a cent in the world4 ,she gave a hopeful answer to the boy and sent him out to play1 and then went to her bedroom and knelt and wept in utter desolation of heart before ,god1 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 boy4 ,while she prayed the peace of ,god filled her soul4 ,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 away1 and she went out of her room1 rejoicing in the ,lord and singing his praise4 ,she had no burden about the cap1 and was quite content for ,god to send it or not as it pleased ,him2 and1 in the afternoon1 when a neighbor called1 occupied with the ,lord and his wonderful love1 the thought of the cap had gone from her mind4 ,when the neighbor rose to depart1 she said1 ,you know my little boy died last fall4 ,just before he died ,i bought him a fur cap3 he only wore it two or three times4 ,after his death ,i put away all his things and thought ,i could never part with any of them4 ,but1 this morning1 as ,i went to the drawer to look them over1 ,i felt that ,i should give you this cap for your little boy4 ,will you take it of me8 ,as she took the cap and told her neighbor of the morning trial1 prayer and blessing1 two souls were filled with the sense of the reality of prayer and the love of ,god for his children4 ,my little boy1 said the widow1 wore that cap for three winters4 ,and often1 when sorely tried by my circumstances1 has ,god lifted the burden from my heart1 by my just looking at it1 and remembering the blessing that came with it4 ,experiences like this ,god gives to all his children1 not for the purpose of leading them to look to ,him for supplying their physical necessities1 as an end1 but to make ,himself known to them1 and to secure their confidence and love1 for this is life eternal1 that they might know ,thee1 the only true ,god and ,jesus ,christ1 whom ,thou hast sent4 7,jno4 xvii1 #h47 ,the use of prayer is to bring us into communion with ,god1 for the growth of the spiritual life1 that is ours by faith in ,christ ,jesus4 ,to leave it upon any lower plane than this1 is to rob it of its highest functions and to paralyze it of lasting power for good in any direction4 ,the promises of ,god are conditioned upon our being in this state of heart toward ,god4 ,if ye abide in me and my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will1 and it shall be done unto you4 7,jno4 xv41 #g47 ,abiding in ,christ1 our will will be ,his will1 as to desiring that which will most advance the divine life and promote confidence in ,god1 and all our desires for material blessings will be subordinated to this motive4 ,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 concerns4 ,we cannot tell what is for our highest spiritual good4 ,the saving of our property or the taking it away4 ,the recovery from sickness or the continuance of it2 the restoration of the health of our loved one1 or his departing to be with ,christ2 the removing the thorn or the permitting it to remain4 ,in everything it is indeed our blessed privilege to let our requests be make known unto ,god1 but1 praise his name1 he has not passed over to us the awful responsibility of the assurance that in everything the requests we make known will be granted4 ,he has reserved the decision1 where we should rejoice to leave it1 to his infinite wisdom and his infinite love4 ,there is a danger to be carefully guarded against in the reading of this book and in the consideration of the precious truth4 ,the incidents it relates bring before the mind1 of the unlimited resources and the unquenchable love of ,god1 that are made available to believing prayer4 ,that danger has been suggested by what has been said1 that the highest use of prayer is to bring the soul nearer to ,god1 and not the making of it a mere matter of convenience to escape physical ills or supply physical necessities4 ,that which is born of the flesh is flesh and continues flesh until the end4 ,have no confidence in the flesh is always a much needed exhortation4 ,now1 unquestionably1 the desires of the natural heart may and do deceive us1 and often lead as to believe that our fervent earnest prayer for temporal blessing is led of the ,spirit1 when the mind of the ,spirit is1 that we will be made more humble1 more ,christ-like and more useful by being denied than by being granted4 ,again1 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 do1 and that we are commanded to do as a means to secure needed good4 ,he who has said pray always1 has also said1 ,be ambitious to be quiet and to do your own business1 and to work with your hands1 even as we charged you2 that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without1 and may have need of nothing4 7#a ,thess41 iv41 #aa1 #ab2 ,r4,v47 ,how often the flesh has led men to read 7,phil1 iv41 #ai73 ,my ,god shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by ,christ ,jesus1 in a spirit entirely opposed to this exhortation4 ,they have ceased to labor with their hands1 and1 without warrant in the providences of ,god and the judgment of brethren1 have turned from doing their own business1 expecting the ,lord to pay their debts and provide for their necessities4 ,the quotations of ,scripture made by our ,lord to ,satan1 ,thou shalt not tempt the ,lord1 thy ,god1 is surely applicable in all such cases4 ,the spirit of a sound mind 7see #b ,tim4 i41 #g7 will surely recognize this4 ,so in all things1 that which ,god has given me intelligence and power to do1 in avoiding evil or securing good1 ,i am under direct command from him to do1 always depending upon ,his blessing to secure the needed result4 ,a true faith in ,god will be made manifest by careful obedience to known commands4 ,an intelligent faith can never allow dependence upon means used to take the place of dependence upon the living ,god1 who alone makes them efficacious4 ,it must result in presumptions faith1 if obedience is neglected1 and the results only promised to obedience are expected4 ,that ,god can give blessing1 without the use of the ordinary means1 on man's part1 there is no question4 ,that he has done so is a matter of record4 ,yet we should remember that there were but two miraculous draughts of fishes1 and only twice did our ,lord make bread without the use of seed-time1 harvest1 grinding and baking4 ,the rule of ,christ in his earthly ministry was1 most certainly1 to receive the supply of his physical wants from ,his ,heavenly ,father1 in the use of means to secure the results offered in the ordinary operation of the laws of ,god4 ,he went into the corn-field at autumn and visited the olive tree for sustenance as did other men4 ,and the question for his disciples is not what ,god can do1 and not what he has done 7that he may be known as ,god over all creation1 blessed for evermore7 in the suspension of natural laws1 but what has he revealed to us as his will during the time of the present dispensation of the church on this earth1 as to his children using means for the avoidance of evil and securing of good1 or depending entirely upon miraculous interference in answer to the prayer of faith for all need without reference to use of means4 ,does the prayer1 ,give us this day our daily bread1 mean that we are to do nothing to secure our bread1 lest we show no faith in ,god1 and simply wait in idleness for ,god to repeat the miracle of sending it by a raven8 or1 does it mean that with thankful hearts to ,god for the ability he has given us to work1 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 earth1 and return with devout recognition that ,he is the ,creator1 ,upholder and ,giver of all1 bringing our sheaves with us4 ,when seed-time and harvest fail and death is on the land1 when corn fails in ,egypt and there is no bread1 when we have obeyed him and sought to toil with our hands and no man has given unto us1 then we will expect his interposition and will have faith that he who has fed us by use of means1 will supply us without means1 and that ,he alone is the living ,god4 ,it is noticeable that the prophet ,elisha1 whose prayers ,god heard in the multiplication of the twenty loaves during the dearth at ,gilgal1 was made ,elijah's successor when following his twelve yoke of oxen at the plough in the field1 diligently using means to obtain bread1 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 sod1 and in every seed that he dropped into the fertile earth1 and thought it grand to be a fellow worker with ,god in the husbandry of the earth and not one to be fed in idleness1 neglecting the toil appointed to man1 and losing the blessing that is promised in the word of ,god1 in the discipline and the knowledge of ,god in the operations of ,his laws1 that comes in a greater or less degree to all of earth's honest toilers4 ,it is the opinion of many of ,god's children that as the present dispensation draws to its close1 there will be among the spiritually minded and consecrated ones of the church1 a reproduction of the gifts of ,pentecost for a last testimony to the world before ,christ comes in glory4 ,there is much ,scripture that might be quoted to sustain this opinion4 ,god grant in ,his grace and mercy that it may be so4 ,but neither the church or the world have any claim upon ,god for it4 ,the church has abused grace and the world has despised mercy4 ,all the promises as to miracles wrought for a testimony as to the truth of ,christ's resurrection1 have been fulfilled4 ,if ,christ were to come to-day1 the world would be without excuse in having rejected him1 and could not plead that signs and wonders had been abundantly wrought in ,his name in the establishing of ,his church upon the earth4 ,the question of our ,lord in ,luke xviii41 #h1 ,when the son of man cometh shall he find faith on the earth8 suggests to many minds that there may not be vouchsafed during the time immediately preceding his manifestations1 any marked interference by ,god in the way of miracles or signs among his children1 but that their faith in ,him as the unseen ,god1 and their trust in the truth and verify of ,his word1 will be brought forth to the praise and glory of ,god and their joy1 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 faith4 ,coupled with this thought let it ever be borne in mind by the believer that the testimony of ,god's word as to miracles1 signs and wonders wrought by ,satanic agency in the church1 during the last day1 is clear and unmistakable1 and warnings abound as to our danger from them4 ,the ,spirit saith expressly that in later times some shall fall away from the faith1 giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils4 #a ,tim4 iv41 #a4 ,but know this1 that in the last days grievous times shall come4 ,evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse1 deceiving and being deceived4 #b ,tim4 iii41 #a and #ac4 ,satan himself is transformed into an angel of light4 ,therefore it is no great thing if his ministers be transformed as the ministers of righteousness4 #b ,cor4 xi41 #ad4 ,and then shall that wicked be revealed4 ,even him whose coming is after the working of ,satan1 with all power1 and signs1 and lying wonders2 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish1 because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved4 #b ,thess4 ii41 #h to #aj4 ,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 ,god4 ,the doctrine and the man must be judged by the written word of ,god4 ,if there is ought in the doctrine that denies that ,jesus is the ,son of ,god1 that derogates in the slightest degree from the merit of ,his atonement on the cross for our sins1 or that takes the eye off from ,him as the risen and coming ,lord1 the alone object of our faith and hope1 or that dishonors in any way ,god's holy word1 taking from or adding to it1 then the more signs and wonders and manifestations of mysterious power that there may be connected with it1 then the more certainly we may know that it is of ,satan and not of ,god4 ,and if1 in the man who exhibits signs and wonders1 there is a spirit contrary to the spirit of ,christ1 in his seeking honor from man1 and using his power to establish a claim to such honor1 speaking of himself as some great one1 and not walking in humility as a sinner saved from hell and kept day by day by the power of ,god through faith in ,christ1 ,and if the purpose of his signs be to establish revelations he is receiving in any form apart from the written word1 then1 though his signs be as marvelous as those of the magicians in ,egypt1 or ,simon ,magnus in ,samaria1 he is1 like them1 a minister of ,satan and not a minister of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the age abounds in doctrines and men of this kind4 ,the life of faith lays the soul open to assaults of the ,devil by their agency4 ,beloved try the spirits whether they be of ,god4 ,let us not waver in our faith in ,god's overruling providence1 and in the reality of ,his interposition in answer to prayer for the deliverance and help of his people under any and all circumstances4 ,in everything1 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving1 let our requests be made known unto ,god1 but let our first request be that we be kept in a sound mind obedient to the word1 and let all of our requests close with the utterance1 from a sincere heart1 of the words1 ,thy will be done4 ,if this be the attitude of our hearts our prayers shall be abundantly and graciously answered1 and ,god shall guide us from the wiles of the ,evil ,one for the sake of ,his dear ,son ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 through whose precious blood we have all grace and all blessing4 ,amen4 ,,lake ,,view1 ,july #bdth1 #ahhe4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a ,,man ,,can ,,receive ,,nothing ,,except ,,it ,,be ,,given ,,him ,,from ,,heaven4 ,,john #c3 #bg4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,his ,,covenant4 ,know1 that the ,lord1 thy ,god he is ,god1 the faithful ,god1 which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him1 and keep his commandments1 to a thousand generations4 ,my ,covenant will ,i not break1 nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips4 ,i will not suffer my faithfulness to fail4 ,i have spoken it1 ,i will also bring it to pass2 ,i have purposed it1 ,i will also do it4 ,he is faithful that promised4 ,i will make an everlasting covenant with you1 even the sure mercies of ,david4 ,once have ,i sworn by my holiness that ,i will not lie unto ,david4 ,god is not a man1 that he should lie2 hath he said and shall he not do it8 hath he spoken and shall he not make it good8 ,forever1 ,o ,lord1 thy word is settled in ,heaven2 thy faithfulness is unto all generations1 thy word is true from the beginning4 ,thy faithfulness is unto all generations4 ,the word of our ,god shall stand forever4 ,so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth2 it shall not return unto me void1 but it shall accomplish that which ,i please1 and it shall prosper in the things whereto ,i sent it4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,answers ,,to ,,prayer ,a ,,wonderful ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer ,,and ,,proof ,,of ,,the ,,existence ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,a trustful ,christian1 whose heart had been deeply touched with thoughts of religion1 was one day thinking and pondering and wishing that he might be more truly convinced of the actual existence of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if1 thought he1 there is a ,holy ,spirit1 a ,superior ,mind and ,will1 ,i reverently and sincerely wish that ,i may be convinced of it beyond all doubt2 that ,i may indeed know ,god is a living reality and daily guide and mighty among the plans and ways of men4 ,though having all the needed mental1 historic and heart belief and trust in ,god--still there was desired that special satisfaction which can only come by personal evidence4 ,with reverent feeling one morning1 he asked the ,lord humbly1 in ,prayer1 ,what can thy servant1 do for thee this day8 ,teach him1 that he may gladly minister to any one in thy name4 ,in the course of the day there came to him the thought of the revival services then proceeding in ,brooklyn1 and feeling a cordial sympathy1 he sat down and wrote a letter to ,mr4 ,moody1 with these words3 ,i know not how you are supported1 or anything of your needs2 but ,i feel like helping you in your good work4 ,enclosed find check for #be2 take it and use it if you need it for yourself2 if not1 then do some good with it4 ,the circumstance was almost forgotten1 when the day after there came this wonderful reply from ,mr4 ,moody3 ,your letter came to hand in the ,,same ,,mail1 at the ,,same ,,instant of ,,time1 with a letter from a brother in distress ,,wanting ,,the ,,same ,,amount4 ,and now you have made him happy1 and my heart glad1 and the ,lord will bless you for it4 ,d4,l4 ,,moody4 ,had there been a direct revelation from heaven1 it could not have been more astounding than this1 to the heart of that ,christian4 ,his own prayer was answered1 as to his search for the evidences of the ,holy ,spirit1 but oh1 how wonderfully6 ,none but a ,superior1 ,higher1 ,overruling ,spirit1 could have known the thoughts and desires of each heart4 ,nothing but an ,omnipotent hand of ,power and ,wisdom could have brought these two letters together at that identical instant of time4 ,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 for4 ,this was a wonderful conjuncture of time1 desire and amount1 and could never have happened by any chance operation of ,nature or the natural heart and will4 ,strangest of all1 neither of the parties had ever met1 known or corresponded with each other before4 ,neither did ,mr4 ,moody know of the desire of the one1 nor the necessity of the other1 until in the act of opening the two letters side by side4 ,in the one envelope was the prayer2 in the other the answer4 ,that check1 those letters1 with all signatures and endorsements and those persons are this day living and can testify to the authenticity of the circumstance4 ,,the ,,prayer ,,of ,,faith4 ,the family of ,mr4 ,james ,r4 ,jordan has resided in ,lake ,view1 ,chicago1 since the spring of #ahga4 ,they are members of ,lincoln ,park ,congregational ,church4 ,the father1 ,mr4 ,james ,r4 ,jordan1 died in ,october1 #ahhb1 aged eighty-four years4 ,through a long series of financial trials1 sorrows1 afflictions by death and pressing cares1 this family learned to depend on ,god for their daily prosperity2 and the cures wrought in them1 according to ,god's ,word1 are only a small portion of the remarkable answers to prayer with which their history is filled4 ,it is an instructive fact for ,christian meditation1 that when the exercise of intelligent faith was necessary to their cures1 the faith was there ready for exercise4 ,they had not to begin1 as1 alas6 so many do1 at the very foundation1 and find out first1 what faith is1 and next1 how to exercise it4 ,they had learned long before what faith is and what faith is not2 that faith is trustful obedience to the ,word of ,god2 that it is not a determination to have one's own way1 nor to expect the immediate gratification of a desire1 simply because the desire has been made known to ,god4 ,they knew that faith obediently accepts ,god's commands and promises1 expects to comply with the conditions of those commands and promises1 and1 so complying1 expects to receive the results of such obedience at such times and in such ways as ,god appoints2 all of which truths they found1 and all of which may be found in the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,thus living in the hopes of the ,gospel1 realizing as much that their home is in heaven as that their rest is not here1 they have1 through the years1 performed the daily duties of their pilgrimage4 ,the writer has known them for thirteen years1 and gratefully testifies that their faith has strengthened her's1 and that their cheerful hope in the ,lord has been a strong consolation to many who were in trouble4 ,after the sudden death of the youngest son of the family1 in #ahhj1 the care of the family devolved entirely upon the two daughters1 ,mrs4 ,h4,j4 ,furlong and ,miss ,addie ,s4 ,jordan4 ,in ,april1 #ahgf1 ,mrs4 ,jordan fell and badly fractured her hip4 ,she was then seventy-seven years old4 ,on account of her age she could not well be etherized1 nor endure the repeated necessary resetting of the bones1 and consequently they grew together irregularly4 ,her hip-joint was stiff1 so that she was never able to walk without the support of a cane or crutch4 ,for eight years she could not leave her own little yard1 nor climb into a carriage1 nor walk without support4 ,through this misfortune her afflictions grew worse4 ,in ,january1 #ahhd1 she fell and broke one bone and dislocated another in the left wrist4 ,notwithstanding all that medical help could do1 the shock brought on a severe sickness1 and when1 after eight weeks1 she left her bed to move around feebly1 she had almost lost her sight and hearing1 her hand was useless1 and her mind greatly impaired4 ,on her birthday1 ,june #aj1 #ahhd1 when she was eighty-five years old1 she greatly mourned that she had outlived her usefulness2 that she could no longer feed herself1 nor read her ,bible1 nor remember the desirable subjects for her prayers1 and she hoped that she should not linger here long in such a helpless and useless condition4 ,during the latter part of this time the two daughters were sick1 ,mrs4 ,furlong with paralysis and ,miss ,jordan with consumption4 ,in the latter part of #ahhb ,miss ,jordan1 then in feeble health1 was needed at home to attend the father's last sickness1 and ,mrs4 ,furlong was left to conduct their business alone4 ',the extraordinary exertion brought on paralysis4 ,it began in her right arm1 which became so insensible that the strongest ammonia produced no sensation or apparent effect4 ,gradually her whole right side lost power1 her foot dragged1 and though she did manage to move about1 she was comparatively helpless4 ,physicians spoke not hopefully2 and protracted rest was recommended as a possible relief4 ,she planned to take electric treatment1 though not very hopeful about the result4 ,she failed once to meet her physician1 and while planning the second time to take the treatment1 and considering ,christ's miracles of healing1 and the ,bible's promises to the sick1 and having a feeling that possibly she might be doing wrong in not relying entirely on the ,lord1 who had hitherto so much helped them1 she delayed a little1 and failed again to meet the appointment4 ,it was a ,saturday evening in ,january1 #ahhc4 ,she went home and sat down that evening alone1 in the dining-room1 depressed4 ,the enfeebled family--the aged crippled mother1 the sick sister and her own young son--had retired4 ,as she thought the subject through1 she became convinced that it was not good to spend time and money in the way proposed4 ,instantly the words ,,the ,,saviour filled her soul with indescribable hope1 and as she thought of ,his miracles1 and how the same ,jesus1 on earth1 healed paralyzed ones1 the hope grew that ,he would heal her4 ,with the well hand she stretched out her paralyzed hand on the table and said3 ,dear ,lord1 will you heal me8 ,like an electric shock the life began to move in her arm1 and the continued sensation was as though something that1 previously1 had not moved was set in motion4 ,the feeling passed up to the head1 and down the body to the foot4 ,she was healed6 and she was grateful6 ,she did not speak of her experience to the family1 but retired4 ,she rose early the next morning1 and awoke her son1--a prayerful1 dutiful young man1--and said to him1 ,i'm going to church1 to-day4 ,he replied1 ,then ,i'll get up and go with you1 expecting that she must ride4 ,her soul was solemnly full that day of the felt presence of the ,holy ,spirit1 and she did not like to talk4 ,her son watched her movements1 astonished4 ,she went to the church1 took a class again in ,sunday ,school1 and2 in going back and forth to church that day and evening1 walked about sixty blocks without weariness4 ,we are not permitted1 here1 to draw aside the curtain1 to dwell upon the surprises and the grateful joy of that ever-to-be-remembered1 sacred day4 ,a few days after this healing1 she1 with a consciousness that she was running a risk1 lifted a heavy weight1 and a numbness returned4 ,she confessed the sin to the ,lord1 and asked ,him that1 when she had been sufficiently chastened1 ,he would take the trouble away4 ,gradually1 within two days1 it disappeared1 and has never returned4 ,at the time when ,mrs4 ,furlong was healed1 in answer to prayer1 ,miss4 ,jordan's case was considered hopeless4 ,her lungs had been diseased since #ahgf4 ,in ,november1 #ahgi1 her physician had decided that tubercles had formed in the left lung1 and that the right lung was much congested and hardened4 ,in #ahhb she had many hemorrhages1 and gradually grew worse1 so that she could not use her left arm or shoulder without producing hemorrhage4 ,mrs4 ,furlong1 soon after her own healing1 received a comforting assurance from the ,lord that her sister would be healed2 but ,miss ,jordan1 herself1 had not that assurance4 ,at this time she took little or no medicines1 the physicians and the family having no confidence in their curative effect2 but1 on the #ast of ,january1 #ahhd1 she had so many chills and hemorrhages1 that they sent for the family physician to aid in checking1 if possible1 the severe attack4 ,during this apparently rapid descent deathward1 ,mrs4 ,furlong continued to repeat to the family and to the physicians that the ,lord would heal her sister4 ,miss ,jordan was one day so low that she could just be aroused to take her medicine4 ,as ,mrs4 ,furlong went to give it1 ,miss ,jordan said to her1 ,do you want to throw that medicine away8 ,mrs4 ,furlong said ,yes1 and threw it away4 ,six hours of united waiting upon the ,lord followed4 ,they were hours of pain4 ,from nine in the morning till three in the afternoon she suffered indescribable pain4 ,a few minutes after three1 the pain left her1 and with a bright look she said1 ,i believe ,i'm better4 ,she wanted to rise and dress1 but ,mrs4 ,furlong advised her to rest through the night4 ,she said she had not1 in five years1 been so free from weariness and pain4 ,the aged mother was sick in bed with that broken wrist1 and ,mrs4 ,furlong feared that her sister's improved condition would shock and perplex her4 ,miss ,jordan lay on the lounge the most of the time for two days4 ,one of her expressions was1 ,it's perfect bliss to lie here free from pain4 ,her breathing became perfectly natural1 and very soon the great hollow place in the upper part of the chest1 over the left lung1 filled out4 ,shortly before her healing she only weighed eighty pounds2 but a few months after her weight had increased to one hundred and twenty pounds4 ,she progressed in health rapidly1 and on the second ,sunday after the healing came she attended church4 ,the feeble mother was most sensitively anxious lest her daughter should pursue some unwarrantable course which should lead to relapse4 ,miss ,jordan's health steadily improved1 but it was several months before a cough entirely left her4 ,you may be sure that doubters made the most of that cough6 ,but it left her6 ,at one time she brought on a slight relapse by giving lessons in crayon drawing4 ,she came to the conclusion that the ,lord had other work for her to do3 and at this writing1 ,september1 #ahhe1 having prayerfully and watchfully followed the leadings of the ,lord1 is a missionary among the freedmen of the ,south1 and is strong in health and in faith1 giving glory to ,god4 ,one of the aged mother's perplexities was that the ,lord should want her to live on in such a helpless and useless condition1 while her daughters1 who might be so useful1 must die2 but oh1 how successful she had by precept and example taught those daughters that ,he hath done all things well6 ,how patiently she suffered whatever she thought was the ,lord's will6 ,how sweet was her constant thanksgiving6 ,said a pious ,christian neighbor1 whose poor health restricted her attendance at church1 ,when ,i'm hungry for a blessing ,i go down to see old lady ,jordan4 ,after eight painful weeks1 she so far recovered from the sickness consequent on the broken and dislocated wrist as to move around feebly1 but sight and hearing were almost gone4 ,her leg was stiff1 her hand stiff1 her wrist deformed1 and her mind greatly impaired4 ,miss ,jordan became very hopeful1 and received strong assurance1 in answer to prayer1 that her mother might be healed4 ,mrs4 ,furlong received no assurance whatever in her mother's case4 ,there was a great deal of talking and praying about it1 in the family1 and finally ,mrs4 ,jordan humbly claimed the ,lord's help1 beseeching ,him that since ,he had recorded that ,he would make the blind to see1 the lame to walk1 and the deaf to hear1 if it was ,his will ,he would heal her4 ,this was the night of ,june #afth1 #ahhd4 ,in the morning ,miss ,jordan was so hopeful that she rose early1 and attentively listened to the movements in her mother's room4 ,she called the little family's attention to them1 saying1 ,just listen to her2 and as1 holding on by the banister1 the aged mother came with her accustomed slow movements down to the dining room1 ,miss ,jordan said1 to them1 ,now1 watch her4 ,according to the long habit of eight years1 she began to reach out for her cane1 unconscious that she had been walking around her room with new freedom4 ,miss ,jordan went toward her and said1 ,mother1 do you want your cane8 and1 wondering1 the old lady walked freely into the dining room4 ,they gathered around her1 and said1 ,are you not healed1 mother8 and she began to think she was1 and sat down in her chair by the table4 ,could she move her hand8 ,the doubled-up thumb1 and straight1 stiff finger1 were perfectly free and as limber as ever1 and the stiff wrist joint moved with perfect freedom6 ,she heard as well as anybody6 ,could she see8 ,she went up-stairs to her ,bible1 whose blurred1 dim pages she had thought closed to her forever1 and she could read as well as ever1 and without glasses6 ,she could thread the finest needle4 ,could she kneel and thank the ,lord8 ,she had not knelt for eight years4 ,yes1 she could kneel as well as when she served the ,lord in her youth6 ,christian reader1 stop here and think what a joyful family that was that ,june morning4 ,that aged saint1 of a little more than #he years1 was in good health again6 ,and her two daughters had been snatched from the jaws of death6 ,what a triumph of blessed memories to leave in legacy to that young1 hopeful1 ,christian son1 who1 in childhood1 had himself repeatedly proved that the ,lord hears and answers prayer6 ,mrs4 ,jordan has never used cane or crutch since that morning4 ,she has frequently walked five blocks1 to go to her church2 and1 a few weeks after her healing1 she one day walked the distance of about fifteen blocks4 ,she has walked for hours in ,lincoln ,park1 among the plants and flowers1 and she goes up and down stairs1 and wherever she likes1 as well as anyone4 ,she has the use of her faculties1 and an altogether comfortable use of her sight1 though that is not so acute as at first4 ,her earliest joy was that she was permitted to see that the ,lord had some purpose in sparing her so long4 ,dear ,christian reader1 shall the wonderful manifestation of that purpose strengthen your faith8 ,it helps me4 ,is anything too hard for the ,lord8 ,no good thing will ,he withhold from them that walk uprightly4 ,if ye then1 being evil1 know how to give good gifts unto your children1 how much more shall your ,father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask ,him4 ,if we live by the ,spirit1 let us also walk by the ,spirit4 ,in the hopes of the ,gospel1 ,miss ,e4 ,dryer4 #aej ,madison ,st41 ,chicago4 ,,almost ,a ,,bankrupt4 ,a prominent ,christian had just entered a merchant's counting-room1 when the head man of the place said to him1 ,let us kneel and ask ,god to help me through1 for without his help1 ,i shall be a bankrupt before the setting of the sun4 ,so they knelt and prayed4 ,that man went through the pressure1 and did not become a bankrupt4 ,,he ,,could ,,not ,,flee ,,from ,,the ,,power ,,of ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,a clergyman of distinction gives this instance of the worthlessness of all attempts to flee from the ,power of the ,spirit4 ,i looked out of my window one morning1 while it was yet dark1 and saw a lady standing at my gate1 leaning against a post1 and evidently weeping bitterly4 ,i knew her4 ,she was a member of the church1 and was an earnest1 consistent ,christian4 ,she was married to one of the most bitter ,universalists ,i ever knew4 ,i stepped down the steps to her1 and asked1 ',what is the matter8' ,she replied1 ',oh1 my poor husband6 ,i had so hoped and prayed that he might be converted in this revival6 and now he has rode away1 and says that he will not come back till this religious flurry is over4 ,what shall ,i do to bear up under this8' ,i said1 ',it is near the time for prayer4 ,we will go and lay his case before the ,lord1 and make special request that ,god will bring him back again under the power of the ,spirit4 ,the ,lord can bring him home1 and ,i believe ,he will do it4 ,we must pray for him4' ,she dried her tears in a moment1 and seemed to seize hold of this 'strong hope1' as we walked to the place of prayer4 ,we found the room crowded4 ,it fell to my lot to lead the meeting4 ,at the opening1 ,i stated the case of this ,universalist husband1 who had undertaken to run away from the influence of the ,spirit1 by fleeing into the country4 ,i said that we must all pray that the ,holy ,spirit may follow him1 overtake him1 and bring him back again1 show him his sins1 and lead him to ,jesus4 ,the meeting took up the case with great earnestness1 and ,i could not but feel that prayer would in some way be answered4 ,but can you imagine our surprise when1 at our evening prayer meeting1 this same ,universalist came in8 ,after standing a few minutes1 till the opportunity offered1 he said3 ',i went away on horseback this morning1 and told my wife ,i was going into the country to stay till this flurry was over4 ,i rode right over the hills1 back from the river1 into the country1 till ,i had got eighteen miles away4 ,there1 on the top of a hill1 ,i was stopped as ,paul was1 and just as suddenly1 and made to feel what a horrible sinner ,i am4 ,i am one of the worst sinners that ever lived4 ,i have lost my ,universalism1 and ,i know ,i must be born again1 or ,i can never see the kingdom of ,heaven4 ,oh1 pray for me that ,i may be converted2 nothing else will do for me4' ,he took his seat amid the tears and sobs of the whole assembly4 ,the hour was full of prayer for that man's conversion4 ,this strong and intelligent man1 once one of the bitterest ,universalists ,i ever knew1 is now an elder in a ,presbyterian church1 and one of the most joyous1 happy1 energetic men of ,god you will meet in many a day4 ,he believes he was 'converted on the spot in that prayer meeting4' ,,life ,,brought ,,back ,,again ,,in ,,the ,,midst ,,of ,,death4 ,the following instance1 when death itself was made to give back the life it claimed1 is personally known to us to be true3 ,a mother1 in this city1 sent a request for prayer to the ,fulton street prayer-meeting1 asking the ,lord for the recovery of her daughter1 who was sinking rapidly1 and who she felt was almost dying4 ,her husband1 an eminent physician1 and others1 also1 the most skilled physicians of the city1 gave up the case as hopeless4 ,the mother felt that now none but ,god could or would help2 that in the ,fulton street prayer-meeting were sympathizing friends1 and to it sent her request4 ,she came to the meeting herself1 to join in their prayers and testify her faith4 ,the moments of the meeting passed on4 ,one request after another was read1 but hers was not touched4 ,she was sadly disappointed4 ,her child was so weak and almost dying1 it could not live the day through1 perhaps4 ,the time was within a few minutes1 less than three1 of the close of the meeting4 ,she1 at last1 with faltering steps and palpitating heart1 pressed her way to the desk and asked if her request was there4 ,upon search1 it was found that it had been overlooked4 ,too late1 said the leader1 to read it to-day4 ,see1 the clock is at its last moment2 but it shall be read first thing at #ab o'clock1 to-morrow1 and special prayer shall be offered immediately4 ,with what heavy heart the mother went away1 back to the chamber of the dying one1 none can ever know4 ,all night the waiting ones watched1 with their ceaseless attentions and silent prayers4 ,a few minutes before #ab o'clock the body sank1 the eyes closed1 pallor came over the features1 the spirit seemed gone1 and all was still2 not a breath1 not a motion--death had come4 ,the mother had taken her watch1 hung it on the pillow of the bed1 and with streaming eyes1 yet ceaseless prayer1 they watched the slow finger move to #ab o'clock4 ,at precisely twelve1 all joined in prayer1 lifting their hearts to ,god4 ,at fifteen minutes past twelve1 the daughter opened her eyes1 saying1 ,mother1 ,i feel better1 then sank into sleep1 breathing steadily2 after three hours awoke to consciousness and sat up in bed1 and before night was able to walk the floor of her chamber4 ,prayer brought that life back1 even when death had taken it4 ,at the very moment when that precious prayer was offered in the meeting1 the ,lord came and touched the dying one1 and gave it new life4 ,the mother's faith and prayer was honored1 and the ,lord remembered his promise1 ,if ye believe1 ye shall see the glory of ,god4 ,the same ,lord who raised ,lazarus and bade him come forth1 also came and bade this precious life come back again to earth4 ,,saved ,,from ,,the ,,hands ,,of ,a ,,desperado4 ,the following circumstance is communicated to us by a ,united ,states ,surgeon3 ,after the close of the ,mexican war1 and in the year #ahdi1 a train was sent out from ,san ,antonio to establish military posts on the upper ,rio ,grande1 particularly at ,el ,paso4 ,i was surgeon of the quartermaster's department1 numbering about four hundred men4 ,while the train was making up1 the cholera prevailed in camp1 for about six weeks1 at first with terrible severity4 ,on the #ast of ,june it had so far subsided that we took up the line of march4 ,after about four days out from ,san ,antonio1 the health of the men became very good1 and continued so through the whole route1 with the exception of occasional cases of prostration from heat1 and slight fevers1 the ,summer being unusually hot4 ,one evening in ,july1 after coming into camp1 ,i received a call to see a man who had been taken sick on the march4 ,i found him lying under his wagon4 ,the wagon was loaded with bacon1 in bulk about two tons4 ,the heat with the pressure had caused it to drip freely4 ,i asked him to come from under the wagon1 that ,i might examine his case and prescribe1 for him4 ,this he refused to do2 but demanded that ,i should crawl under the wagon to him1 which ,i1 of course1 would not consent to do4 ,no persuasion could induce him to change his position in the least4 ,becoming satisfied that he was not much1 if at all sick1 ,i left him4 ,his profanity1 threats and imprecations were fearful4 ,perhaps it would be well to give a short sketch of his life for the three years previous1 as ,i learned it from men who knew him1 and had been with him for considerable portion of that period4 ,he went to ,mexico1 at the beginning of the war1 a soldier in the regular army4 ,when his term of service expired1 he was discharged1 and sought employment in the quartermaster's department1 as a teamster4 ,he had the reputation of being a thief1 a robber and an assassin4 ,in a few months he was ignominiously discharged from the service1 and1 at the close of the war1 he came to ,texas1 and sought and obtained employment as teamster in the train then organizing for ,el ,paso4 ,but1 to return to my narrative4 ,on the morning after the occurrence at the wagon1 a teamster came to me and said1 in a hasty and abrupt manner1 ',doctor1 ,mc will kill you to-day or to-night4 ,he is full of rage1 and muttering terrible threats4 ,he was out very early this morning and emptied his six-shooter1 and came in and reloaded it and put it in first-rate order4' ,i said1 ',mc1 what's up now8' ,he replied1 ',i will kill that d----d old doctor to-day or to-night2' and he will do it4 ,i have known him make threats before1 and have never known him fail to execute them4 ,but ,i must go2 he must not know that ,i have seen you4' ,knowing the man1 ,i realized the danger1 and felt that ,i was powerless1 either to resist or avoid it4 ,i retired within my tent and closed it up4 ,i prostrated myself before ,him who is able to save4 ,i prayed for deliverance from the hands of the cruel and blood-thirsty man1 and that ,i might not be left in the power of him who was my enemy without cause4 ,i submitted my cause into the hands of ,him who doeth all things well1 and prayed for entire submission to his will4 ,my anxiety subsided2 my fear was removed1 and ,i commenced the duties of the day with usual cheerfulness4 ,soon after this1 the camp broke and we were on the march4 ,i fell back with the officers of the rear guard1 and the excitement of the morning was soon forgotten4 ,about #aj o'clock1 a courier came back in haste1 for me to see a man who had been thrown from his mule and crushed under the wheels of his wagon4 ,he did not know who the man was--he was about half or three-quarters of a mile ahead4 ,the thought then occurred to me1 ,i shall probably have to pass ,mc's team4 ,i will ride square up with the courier1 and keep him between myself and the train4 ,when we came to the spot ,i inquired who the man was1 for he was so mutilated ,i could not recognize him4 ,it was ,mc4 ,god was there4 ,awe and terror took hold upon me4 ,i was dumb with amazement4 ,mc had dismounted and walked some fifty rods by the side of his team4 ,attempting to remount1 his mule whirled and pitched1 and he was thrown upon his back1 and his team with fourteen others instantly stampeded4 ,both the fore and hind wheels on the near side of his wagon1 passed directly over his face1 and crushed every bone in his head4 ,it was a fearful sight2 not a feature of the human face could be discerned4 ,the stampeded teams were flying wildly over the prairie1 in spite of every effort of the teamsters to control them4 ,i directed the head of the corpse to be inserted in some new1 thick sacks1 in such a way as to prevent the oozing of blood1 and that it be wrapped in his blanket and taken to the next camp for burial4 ,when the stampeded teams came in1 it was found that no other person was injured1 nor any damage done4 ,the philosopher may tell us of the reign of law2 of the coincidence of circumstances2 of the action of natural causes2 but1 to the ,christian1 the fact still remains--prayer was answered4 ,god heareth his people when they cry unto ,him4 ,,the ,,prayer ,,of ,a ,,missionary ,,in ,,mexico ,,answered4--,,saved ,,from ,,banditti4 ,in the ,spring of #ahgb1 ,i was1 with my wife and child1 in the city of ,cadereita1 ,mexico1 where we had been laboring as missionaries1 but felt it was our duty to return to the ,states for a little season1 and had been asking ,god to open up the way for us4 ,at length1 about the middle of ,march1 the opportunity appeared to be given1 the means being provided2 but the country was in a state of revolution 7a no uncommon thing there71 and1 consequently1 there were no stages running out of the country1 so we had to take conveyance in ,mexican carts4 ,therefore1 we engaged two men1 with their carts2 one in which we might ride and carry a mattress1 which should serve as a bed at night1 and the other1 to carry the baggage and provisions for ourselves and the horses1 as our way was mostly through an uncultivated country4 ,we knew that ,general ,cortinas1 with his troops1 was somewhere between us and ,texas1 as the ,state we were in was one of those in rebellion4 ,the blood-thirsty character of ,general ,cortinas is well known on the frontier1 there being no less than seventeen indictments against him for murder in the ,state of ,texas4 ,he is regarded as having a special hatred against ,americans1 and the ,mexicans1 themselves1 stand in terror of him4 ,our friends and brethren in ,cadereita tried hard to deter us from going1 as most likely we would fall into the hands of ,general ,cortinas2 in which event1 they said1 the very utmost we could expect would be to escape with our lives1 being left destitute of everything1 in a wilderness road2 but1 as ,god had seemed to open up the way1 providing the means1 we determined to go forward1 trusting that ,he also would protect us in the way4 ,therefore1 having completed our arrangements1 we started for ,matamoras1 some three hundred miles distant1 on the #aith of ,march1 the wives of the two men accompanying their husbands1 making our party six adults and one child2 the brethren in ,cadereita promising to pray daily for our safety4 ,the third morning1 after commending ourselves1 as usual1 into the care of our covenant-keeping ,god1 we started on our journey4 ,some two hours later1 we espied the troops of ,general ,cortinas1 about two miles distant1 marching toward us4 ,we again all looked to ,god for protection1 and prayed that1 as he shut the mouths of the lions1 that they should not hurt his servant ,daniel1 so ,he would now restrain the evil passions of men1 that they might not hurt nor injure us--then we went on till we met the advance guard1 who commanded us to halt and wait till the ,general came up4 ,after nearly half an hour1 ,general ,cortinas1 with his escort1 rode up to where we were waiting for him4 ,after the ordinary salutation1 he asked3 7de adonde vienen y adonde van87 ',from whence have you come1 and where are you going8'--to which we replied properly2 then he asked3 ',what is the news from ,nueva ,leon8' 7the ,state we left7--to which we replied as faithfully as we could4 ,then ,i asked him1 ',is the road safe between us and ,matamoras8' ,he replied3 ',perfectly2 you can go on without any fear1 and as safely as you would in your own country4' ,then1 bidding us 'good morning1' he rode on1 not even inquiring about or examining any of our baggage4 ,when we arrived in ,brownsville1 ,texas1 and told of how gentlemanly ,general ,cortinas had treated us1 all pronounced it wonderful1 and said1 ',we could not have believed ,general ,cortinas capable of such kindness to ,americans so in his power4 ,it was truly a miracle4' ,we believed that it was ,god who restrained the naturally vicious passions of the man1 in direct answer to prayer4 ,,an ,,infidel',s ,,life ,,spared ,a ,,few ,,days4 ,during the ,summer of #ahfb1 ,i became acquainted with a ,mr4 ,a----1 who professed infidelity1 and who was1 ,i think1 as near an atheist as any ,i ever met4 ,i held several conversations with him on the subject of religion1 but could not seem to make any impression on his mind1 and1 when a point was pressed strongly1 he would become angry4 ,in the ,fall1 he was taken ill1 and seemed to go into a rapid decline4 ,i1 with others1 sought kindly and prayerfully to turn his mind to his need of a ,saviour1 but only met with rebuffs4 ,as ,i saw that his end was drawing near1 one day ,i pressed the importance of preparing to meet ,god1 when he became angry and said ,i need not trouble myself any more about his soul1 as there was no ,god1 the ,bible was a fable1 and when we die that is the last of us1 and was unwilling that ,i should pray with him4 ,i left him1 feeling very sad4 ,some four weeks after1 on ,new ,year's morning1 ,i awoke with the impression that ,i should go and see ,mr4 ,a----1 and ,i could not get rid of that impression2 so1 about nine o'clock1 ,i went to see him1 and1 as ,i approached the house1 ,i saw the two doctors1 who had been holding a consultation1 leaving4 ,when ,i rang the bell1 his sister-in-law opened the door for me1 and exclaimed1 ',oh6 ,i am so glad you have come2 ,john is dying4 ,the doctors say he cannot possibly live above two hours1 and probably not one4' ,when ,i went up to his room1 he sat bolstered up in a chair1 and appeared to have fallen into a doze4 ,i sat down1 about five feet from him1 and when1 in about two minutes1 he opened his eyes and saw me1 he started up1 with agony pictured on his face and in the tones of his voice1 exclaimed1 ',o6 ,mr4 ,p----1 ,i am not prepared to die2 there is a ,god2 the ,bible is true6 ,o1 pray for me6 pray ,god to spare me a few days1 till ,i shall know ,i am saved4' ,these words were uttered with the intensest emotion1 while his whole physical frame quivered through the intense agony of his soul4 ,i replied in effect1 that ,jesus was a great ,saviour1 able and willing to save all who would come unto ,him1 even at the eleventh hour1 as ,he did the thief on the cross4 ,when ,i was about to pray with him1 he again entreated me to pray especially that ,god would spare him a few days1 till he might have the evidences of his salvation4 ,in prayer1 ,i seemed to have great assurance of his salvation1 and asked ,god to give us the evidence of his salvation1 by granting him a few days more in this world4 ,several others joined in praying ,god to spare him a few days1 till he should give evidence of being saved4 ,i called again in the evening2 he seemed even stronger than in the morning1 and his mind was seeking the truth4 ,the next day1 as ,i entered1 his face expressed the fact that peace and joy had taken the place of fear and anxiety4 ,he was spared some five days1 giving very clear evidence that he had passed from death to life4 ,his case was a great mystery to the doctors4 ,they could not understand how he lived so long2 but his friends1 who had been praying for him1 all believed it was in direct answer to prayer4 ,,remarkable ,,preservation ,,from ,,brain ,,difficulties4 ,a few weeks ago1 a man who had once been a member of my church1 but had fallen from his steadfastness through strong drink1 fell from a ladder1 striking his head on the corner of a stone1 which made a dent in the skull of over two and one-half inches in length1 and three-fourths of an inch in width1 and half an inch in depth4 ,this happened on ,friday afternoon4 ,at our prayer-meeting1 in the evening1 most earnest prayers were offered in his behalf2 the brethren prayed that ,god would restore him his senses and spare him a few days1 that he might repent of his back-sliding and be saved4 ,the surgeons raised the skull1 and his senses were restored2 his mind seemed clear4 ,this continued over a week1 when it was evident that there was still some pressure on the brain4 ,the surgeons removed the skull1 and found three pieces driven down into the brain4 ,they expressed1 from the first1 no hope of his recovery2 but wondered much at the clearness of his mind1 which continued for over two weeks4 ,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 ,god1 which we trust he did4 ,,little ,,george',s ,,prayer4 ,a clergyman writes us these incidents3 ,i knew a poor family whose son ,george1 four or five years old1 was accustomed to pray4 ,they lived five or six miles from neighbors1 and1 at times1 were quite destitute4 ,one day1 as little ,george observed his mother weeping over their destitution1 he said1 ,why1 mother1 don't cry any2 we shall not starve2 ,god will send us something to eat1 ,i know ,he will4 ,i've just been praying1 and asked ,him to4 ,the little fellow just as much believed ,god would send them food1 as if he had asked a reliable neighbor and obtained his promise to supply their wants4 ,in a day or two after this1 some friends living at a distance and knowing they were poor1 took them the welcome surprise of a wagon-load of substantial material for food and other comforts4 ,the little boy grew up to be a ,christian minister1 and1 about a year ago1 on inquiry1 his uncle told me he had been at the head of an institution of learning in the ,south-west4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,a ,,horse4 ,my horse died1 and1 after traveling through the snow-drifts to my appointments1 till ,i was lame1 half sick1 and unfit for service--as ,i had not means to purchase a horse1 ,i thought of quitting the work and going to teaching1 and laid the matter before ,god1 in prayer2 soon after which1 some person at a distance1 who heard that ,i had lost my horse1 without my saying a word about it1 raised the means by which ,i procured another4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,a ,,wife4 ,when ,i believed it would be well for me to seek a companion for life1 ,i asked of ,god direction in making a wise choice1 and that1 in a matter of so much importance to me and others1 ,i might meet with success or hindrance1 as my heavenly ,father knew best4 ,he led me to a choice and marriage1 which ,i have not since regretted4 ,,church ,,troubles ,,quelled4 ,i might mention a dozen instances in which church troubles were gathering1 and trials between members appeared certain1 when all my tactics failed1 and the wisdom of brethren was of no avail2 my last resort was to ask ,god to send help and deliver from the threatened evil--and in ways that no one could foresee1 complete deliverance came4 ,a ,,minister',s ,,supplies ,,fall ,,short4 ,when very much in need of funds to procure supplies for a coming ,winter1 all expedients failed2 then ,i asked ,god for assistance1 when1 unexpectedly1 a friend in ,california sent me a little package of gold dust1 which ,i sold1 at once1 for #acj4 ,this came when it was needed1 and it did us good4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,a ,,servant4 ,some time after1 we failed to find anything like suitable help in the house1 which we greatly needed4 ,before starting out one morning1 in secret ,i prayed to ,god to direct me as ,i went on my uncertain business1 and prayed as ,i called at different places1 and soon found a colored girl sixteen years old wanting a place1 who came and proved to be the best help we ever had1 before or since4 ,for seven years and a half she lived in the family1 taught two of our children to read2 was glad1 from choice1 to move with us to different places1 till she left to be married1 fell sick and passed away4 ,a dozen other times when driven in straits1 in answer to prayer ,god has enabled us to procure necessary help1 which was difficult to obtain4 ,in #ahgd1 while on my way to see my mother in ,pennsylvania--who had just been paralyzed1 and died the next week--,i was suddenly paralyzed in my left arm1 by which1 ,i have since been helpless and useless4 ,after coming here to live1 being in want of a man to lift me in and out of bed1 dress me1 etc41 for which we inquired of people1 and prayed to ,god to send us the needed help4 ,we had not means to hire and pay any person to do such work1 even if he could be found4 ,soon the right one came1 in the person of a young ,german1 who was tramping through the country in search of employment and food2 was ready and glad to do any work for a living4 ,for pay that satisfied him and us1 he staid in the family over a year1 working out doors and in2 could be trusted to do business with money1 and return every cent correctly4 ,after being with us over a year1 when we needed him no longer1 he obtained a situation in a good family1 where he is now living4 ,in many instances1 ,i have prayed to be healed of special sickness1 always using what remedies ,i thought best1 yet asking the divine blessing on their use4 ,,healing4 ,for over three years1 ,i was troubled with frequent raising of blood from my right lung1 which physicians failed to cure4 ,of this ,i prayed to be relieved2 after which1 the soreness healed1 and for several years it has ceased to trouble me4 ,,that #ah4ge4 ,a man who had led a very wicked life1 was converted and hopefully saved4 ,previous to this time1 a debt of #ah4ge had not given him the slightest thought4 ,after receiving a new heart1 he distinctly heard ,god's command1 ,pay what thou owest2 so called on his creditor1 and urged him to send to his house and get a bureau1 table and looking-glass1 which he desired him to sell and pay himself the sum due him2 but1 not wishing to deprive his debtor of such necessary articles1 refused1 saying he would wait till he could pay4 ,the #ahth of ,november was set1 and1 as the day approached1 the prospect was no brighter2 and when the night of the #agth came around1 he spent it in prayer that ,god would deliver him1 and rose from his knees at daybreak1 with the full assurance that ,he knoweth how to deliver4 ,on passing down a street the next morning1 on his way to business1 a man who kept a large store was standing in the door-way1 and called to him to stop a minute4 ,wondering what could be the nature of the call1 he retraced his steps1 to hear this astonishing news3 ,for three days ,i have been impressed with the idea that ,i must give you #ah4ge1 and for three days have been trying to ascertain why ,i must give you this amount1 for ,i do not owe any man a penny4 ,i cannot get rid of the thought1 and if you value my peace of mind1 ,i beg you take the money6 ,seeing1 instantly1 the hand of ,god in it1 he told the story to the astonished storekeeper1 then left to pay his debt with the money so strangely given4 ,his creditor1 surprised to see him so promptly on time1 questioned him as to the manner of obtaining it1 thinking1 perhaps1 he had made a great sacrifice to do so4 ,on being told just how it was given him1 said1 ,i won't take it2 keep it4 ,if ,god is as near to people as that1 ,i don't want it2 it seems as if it had come directly from his ,almighty hand4 ,the result was the conversion of both the storekeeper and creditor1 to whom the incident came as the undoubted evidence of ,god's presence among them4 ,,god ,,sent ,,the ,,bag ,,of ,,flour4 ,in about the year #ahcj1 in ,central ,new ,york1 there was a time of great scarcity of provisions4 ,grain was very high1 and difficult to be obtained at any price2 and1 of course1 families of limited means were very much straitened4 ,in one family1 the wife and mother of six children1 a ,godly woman1 worked at her trade 7tailoress7 to the extent of her ability1 and prayed earnestly that ,god would deliver them from pressing want4 ,husband and children all knew of their need1 and of the fervent prayers of the wife and mother for their supply2 but no one knew by what means the supply was to come4 ,every day1 as their scanty means were being consumed1 the prospect grew darker4 ,on the farm was a large quantity of pine timber4 ,four miles from there1 in the next town1 lived a man who needed some shingles2 and1 casting about him to see where he should obtain a supply1 thought he would go and purchase a pine tree1 and himself and man go into the woods and work it up into shingles4 ,as he was about starting1 the thought occurred to him1 ,perhaps they may be in want of wheat flour--a bag cannot come amiss in this time of scarcity4 ,so1 putting two bushels in a bag1 he proceeded to the next town1 entered the house1 and made known his errand1 saying1 ,i have brought along two bushels of flour towards paying for the tree1 thinking you might be in want of it in this time of scarcity1 and ,i knew you live six or seven miles from the mill1 and have no horse4 ,that is in answer to prayer1 said the noble woman2 and the husband believed it1 though not a praying man4 ,when1 at night1 the oldest son came in1 the mother said to him1 ,god has answered our prayers1 and sent a bag of flour4 ,it is believed that1 while this was not miraculous1 it was as directly the interposition of ,god1 as feeding ,elijah by the ravens2 and it was in direct answer to prayer for that special blessing4 ,,incidents ,,from ,,the ,,experience ,,of ,a ,,city ,,missionary4--,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,supper ,,answered4 ,an educated1 accomplished lady1 reduced to the very lowest round of poverty's ladder1 whom we shall call ,mrs4 ,x----1 bears unfailing testimony to ,god's hearing and answering the prayer of faith4 ,the daughter came up-stairs one day to announce the utter emptiness of the larder4 ,there was not even a piece of dry bread1 nor a drawing of tea2 not a potato1 nor a bean2 and ,charles1 poor fellow1 will come home from his work at six1 tired and so hungry2 what shall we do1 mother8 ,the ,lord will send us something1 before he comes1 said ,mrs4 ,x----4 ,so1 for three hours more the daughter waited4 ,mother1 it is five o'clock1 and the ,lord has not sent us anything4 ,he will1 my dear1 before half-past six2 and the widow went in an adjoining room1 to ask that her daughter might not feel it vain to call upon ,god4 ,in fifteen minutes1 the door-bell rang violently1 and a gentleman1 valise in hand1 said1 ,mrs4 ,x----1 ,i left the room which ,i hired of you one year ago1 in a great hurry1 you will remember2 and ,i owed you five dollars4 ,i have not been in the city since1 and am rushing out of it again--jumped off the car just to give you this money4 ,good-bye4 ,,relief ,,from ,a ,,creditor',s ,,demands4 ,at another time1 being sorely pressed by a heartless creditor1 and almost beside herself1 she concluded to walk out and get free from the insupportable burden1 by change of air and scene for two or three hours4 ,passing the house of a friend1 just returned from ,europe1 she called for a few moments1 and was presented with a small and peculiar plant1 brought from ,wales4 ,all the way home she was asking the ,lord to release her from this relentless creditor1 and all the way home a man1 without her knowledge1 was following her4 ,arrived at her own stoop1 he suddenly confronted her1 bowed1 apologized for the liberty1 but said he had not had a sight of that dear old plant since he left home2 and if she would sell it to him1 he would gladly give her ten dollars for it4 ,as that was half the sum for which she was persecuted1 and would probably relieve her from annoyance until she could raise the balance1 she accepted the offer4 ,,two ,,hundred ,,dollars ,,needed ,,and ,,given ,,at ,,the ,,last ,,moment4 ,at the time of her husband's death1 there were two hundred dollars due an institute1 for board and tuition of their two little boys4 ,his death was the flood-gate opened1 which let in a successive torrent of perplexities1 losses1 dilemmas1 delays1 law-suits1 etc4 ,she had not been able to pay that bill2 the principal was importunate1 persevering1 bitter1 and1 at last1 abusive4 ,she cried to the ,lord for a week1 day and night1 almost without ceasing4 ,then1 a gentleman whom she had taken to her own house and carefully nursed through a dangerous illness1 three years before1 called to say good-bye4 ,he was on his way to a ,bremen steamer1 and all other adieus were said1 all his baggage on board1 except the valise in his hand4 ,might her boy ride down to the wharf and see him off8 ,of course she was glad to consent4 ,when her son returned he brought back a letter1 which opened1 she found to contain two hundred dollars and the words1 ',not that money can ever express my gratitude1 but the enclosed may be useful for gas-bills or some other little household matter4' ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,repaid ,a ,,generous ,,gift4 ,some gentlemen1 urged to contribute to a most worthy cause1 said1 ',go first to ,mr4 ,z4--whatever he gives1 we will4' ,mr4 ,z41 upon application1 concluded to make his neighbors do something worth while1 and1 as he was expecting a thousand dollars in a very few days1 subscribed the whole of that4 ,upon the arrival of the vessel which was to pay his subscription1 he found the difference in exchange between certain countries1 had swelled his thousand dollars to twenty-two hundred4 ,,the ,,astonished ,,giver4 ,a gentleman1 not marching in the ranks of 'cheerful givers1' was urged to bestow five dollars toward the ',fresh ,air ,fund4' ',he could not2 business wretched2 poor enough himself1' and all the well known line of excuses4 ,the friend assured him1 if the ,lord did not more than make it up to him1 before the end of the week1 he himself would return the money4 ,to those terms he agreed1 quite sure he should call on ,saturday and get back the #e4 ,but1 the very next morning1 he ran to the office of his friend to say that an old debt1 given up long ago1 and for which he would have taken one hundred dollars any moment1 was paid him about an hour after the friend left his store4 ,so astonished was he1 that he even doubted the check1 which was for five thousand dollars1 and sent it to the bank to test its genuineness before he would give a receipt for it6 ,,all ,,saved4 ,in a dismal basement1 ,a4 found a very interesting ,american family4 ,the father1 in the last stage of consumption2 a little girl of ten years1 an invalid from infancy4 ,the mother and two daughters1 both under fifteen1 were out all day at work1 trying to keep even such a wretched shelter1 and a little coarse food1 as daily supplies4 ,the three together could not make over four dollars a week4 ,the only person to wait on the two sick ones during the day1 was a little boy four years of age1 who1 when the missionary entered1 was reclining upon the bed4 ,but he started up1 put more coal on the fire1 and brought a drink of water1 first to his sister1 then his father2 without any bidding1 and with the consideration of a grown person4 ,on ,a4's next visit1 a few days after1 he found the mother at home1 grief-stricken4 ,her eldest daughter had been taken ill the day previous4 ,he gave her all the money he had1 prayed with them1 and sent at once a kind1 assiduous physician4 ,in a few weeks the daughter died1 but not without a good hope in ,christ2 and was buried at the expense of the few kind friends whom ,a4 had sent to see the family4 ,the dying daughter exhorted her dying father to seek his soul's eternal welfare1 and not boast1 as heretofore1 of his life-long morality4 ,her conversations led him to see his danger out of ,christ1 and1 in a little while after his daughter's departure1 he followed4 ,the mother had not before had a sure ,christian hope2 but1 amidst such influences1 her heart was soon opened to admit the truth4 ,not long after her bereavement she began having a cottage prayer-meeting in her room1 and united with an evangelical church4 ,she immediately became anxious for the conversion of her two boys1 who were away1 and urged the missionary to write them4 ,he did so1 frequently1 and his heaven-directed appeals led one of the boys very soon to ,christ4 ,soon after1 he died2 the brother returned home with consumption4 ,he took great pleasure in the little prayer-meetings1 and in three months cheerfully and exultantly exchanged this world of suffering for the one where father1 brother and sister awaited him4 ,worn out with anxiety1 care1 hard work and poor health1 the mother followed2 leaving the invalid girl and youngest boy2 who are watched over1 not only by their ,friend in heaven1 but friends on earth4 ,the eldest surviving daughter is an esteemed and consistent member of a church of ,christ4 ,,the ,,lord ,,woke ,,me ,,up ,,in ,,time ,,to ,,save ,,my ,,clothes4 ,in the very top of a four-story building1 used only for various manufacturing purposes1 lived an old man and daughter4 ,they lived literally by faith in ,christ1 from day to day2 one hour at a time4 ,at his voice1 followed ,him1 whether into darkness or light4 ,neither took a step but as they held his hand4 ,a lady calling one day1 said1 ,oh6 ,jennie1 ,i thought of your large wash hanging on the roof1 last night1 when the drenching rain came2 and ,i was so sorry to think you would have your hard work all over again6 ,oh6 no ma'am4 ,the ,lord woke me up out of a sound sleep1 just as the first few drops fell6 ,i hastened up and brought them all down nice and dry1 and had only got to the foot of the stairs with the last armful1 when it poured down4 ,now that was the ,lord1 ma'am1 for there was not a single noise of any kind to waken me1 and ,i was sound asleep6 ,,the ,,lord ,,takes ,,away ,,the ,,custom ,,of ,a ,,liquor ,,saloon4 ,at one time1 the landlord rented the ground floor to a liquor seller4 ,the loafers going in and out1 especially on ,sunday1 were a great grief to ,jennie and her saintly old father4 ,they concluded to take it to the ,lord together1 and1 said the old man1 ,he will be sure to attend to it2 ,i have been young1 and now am old1 and ,i have never known ,him fail me--,he never does4 ,in three weeks after1 the dram-seller closed his place for want of patronage4 ,,help ,,in ,,time ,,of ,,need4 ,a poor1 humble ,christian woman had a claim on some property in a neighboring ,state4 ,it was in law1 and she was summoned to attend court at a certain time4 ,having scarcely money enough for her daily bread1 she was obliged to borrow the means to take her there1 and pay some cheap board while awaiting the conclusion of the trial4 ,she was positively assured by the lawyers1 that she would receive several hundred dollars4 ,she was detained five weeks1 instead of one1 as she expected1 and then the suit was postponed till ,fall4 ,she was in agony of mind2 in a strange place--owing for board and washing1 and no money to take her to her home4 ,having spent a whole night pacing the floor and calling on the ,lord to redeem his promises1 she felt the fresh air would do her good1 and sadly took her way down a side street4 ,she had gone but three blocks when she found a diamond ring4 ,being accustomed to the ownership of diamonds in her younger days1 she knew very nearly its value2 took it home1 watched the principal papers1 and the same evening saw a reward of seventy-five dollars offered for it4 ,we can imagine that joy lent wings to her feet1 and thanksgiving filled her whole heart4 ,the sum was sufficient to pay her bills1 bring her back and return a portion of the borrowed money4 ,,cast ,,out ,,into ,,the ,,street1 ,,yet ,,not ,,forsaken4 ,a piteous wail was heard on the street one day1 and a poor ,scotchman crossed over to see the trouble4 ,a widow and three children sat on their few articles of household furniture4 ,put in the street1 when they could no longer find five dollars for the rent of the kennel in which1 for six months1 they had not lived1 but existed4 ,he had just received five dollars for a piece of work1 and was hurrying home with it to his sick wife1 crippled mother and two children4 ,he thought of the piece of meat--a long untasted luxury--he meant to buy2 of the tea his mother so much craved1 and hesitated4 ,could he give these up8 ,but the streaming eyes of the children1 and the mute despair on the face of the mother1 took down the scale4 ,he ran several blocks and found an empty basement2 hired it for four dollars2 enlisted the sympathy and help of a colored boy to carry the furniture2 put up the stove1 bought a bundle of wood1 pail of coal1 and some provisions with the other dollar2 held a little prayer-meeting on the spot1 and left with the benedictions of the distressed ones filling his ears4 ,the recital of his adventure obliterated for the time all sense of their own desires1 and they thanked ,god together that their loss had been the widow's gain4 ,the next morning1 while taking their frugal meal1 a tea dealer1 for whom this man had frequently put up shelves1 came to say he was short-handed1 and if the ,scotchman was not very busy1 he would give him a regular position in his establishment1 at a better salary than he could hope to earn4 ,meanwhile1 hearing his wife was sick1 he had brought her a couple pounds prime tea1 and it occurred to him that venison steaks were a little out of the ordinary run of meat1 and1 as he had a quantity at home1 he brought a couple4 ,thus the ,lord answered the prayer of the poor1 and repaid the generous giver who sacrificed his money for the ,lord4 ,a ,,persecutor ,,punished ,,by ,,the ,,lord4 ,a most devout1 hard-working and poorly paid man1 was the object of constant persecution by a cross-grained1 ugly1 infidel neighbor4 ,for three years the thing went on1 till the ,christian thought he must remove from the place4 ,he could not do it without breaking up his humble home1 for which he had worked night and day4 ,he and his wife were in deep distress2 told their plans to the ,lord2 asked ,him to direct them to another home1 and then went to a newspaper office to advertise their little place for sale4 ,the editor was out1 and they preferred to see him--would return home and call again to-morrow4 ,the next morning the infidel was found dead in his bed1 from a stroke of apoplexy4 ,,how ,,god ,,answered ,,my ,,prayer ,,for #ij4 ,suffice it1 then1 ,i was in debt4 ,i was owing the large sum 7large for a poor home missionary7 of #ij4jj4 ,expecting soon to be called upon for the payment of it1 and not seeing any way to meet it1 ,i went to the ,lord with it4 ,early in life ,i had made this resolution3 that no man whom ,i was owing should ever ask me for money1 and ,i not pay him2 but now1 ,i could see no way out2 and if1 as ,i expected1 it should be demanded1 ,i was not in a condition to meet it4 ,such was my condition when1 on a certain day1 the demand came4 ,i took the letter from the office at noon4 ,what now was to be done8 ,again ,i took the case to the ,lord1 and asked ,him to help me pay it1 so that my word need not fail1 or his cause suffer reproach4 ,i first determined to pay a part2 but1 as no letter could be sent out that day1 ,i awaited the results of the day following4 ,from the northern mail1 which first arrived1 ,i took a letter containing an unexpected draft of #ej to my wife1 from parties whom we did not know1 and had never seen1 nor they us4 ,within twenty minutes more ,i was presented with a surprise of #dj1 from a people where ,i had preached for the six months past4 ,here was my #ij1 and1 before the mail went out1 ,i had my letter written and in the mail4 ,both were as unexpected as if they had come from heaven direct4 ,,from ,,wealth1 ,,to ,,poverty4 ,a lady of superior culture and refinement1 fell from opulence to extreme poverty1 within four years4 ,no less ready when at the bottom of fortune's ladder1 than at the top1 to do good as she had opportunity1 she paid another poor woman's way to a neighboring ,state1 where employment awaited her1 and did it literally with her last dollar-and a-half6 ,supposing herself the possessor of a ten cent note1 over and above the twelve shillings1 she went with her somewhat feeble protege over ,jersey city ferry1 and saw her safely in the cars4 ,starting back1 she was dismayed to find no ten cents in her pocket-book1 and1 all too late1 remembered having paid it for a quart of milk that morning2 the sole breakfast of herself and daughter4 ,night was approaching--what to do she did not know4 ,she had a plain1 worn1 old gold ring on her finger2 she took it off1 offered it to the ferry-master1 who would not take it1 though she told him she found her money gone and would redeem it next day4 ,she went back in the ladies' room and told it to the ,lord1 beseeching his assistance4 ,just then1 a girl passing1 jostled against her and knocked down her parasol4 ,she picked it up1 happened to turn it upside down1 and out rolled a five-cent nickel6 ,the ,lord1 then1 hears prayer for even five cents to provide for the comfort and need of those whom ,he loves4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,fifty ,,dollars4 ,a clergyman writes ,the ,christian as follows3 ,the ,winter of #ahgb ,i spent in missionary work1 carrying the glad tidings of the kingdom of ,god into new fields in the 'regions beyond4' ,with my devoted wife1 ,i labored ardently for the salvation of men 'from the wrath to come4' ,we were full of comfort to be thus engaged1 though without pledge from man for support1 or promised salary for preaching4 ,in spite of our rigid economy1 ,i had contracted some debts for the necessaries of life4 ,i have since learned to go without what the ,lord does not provide means to pay for at once4 ,i needed the money to pay the debts1 and felt impressed to pray for fifty dollars4 ,i said to my wife3 ',i am going to pray for fifty dollars4' ',well1' said she1 ',i will join you2' and we bowed before ,god and told ,him our needs1 and unitedly asked ,him for fifty dollars2 so that we might not bring ourselves or the truth we preached1 into reproach1 by being unable to pay debts4 ,we were agreed in asking1 and thus claiming the promise3 ',if two of you shall agree as touching anything that they shall ask1 it shall be done for them of my ,father which is in heaven4' 7,matt1 xviii4 #ai74 ,we had the assurance that money would come2 but from whence we did not know1 nor care1 for we knew the 'silver and gold' are the ,lord's1 as well as the 'cattle upon a thousand hills1' and he could easily cause some one to give or send us the money4 ,we felt full of peace2 for we knew it was for ,god's glory to answer that prayer4 ,no one outside of the family knew we were praying for money4 ,we did not go around among our friends and tell them we were praying for fifty dollars1 in hopes that they would take it upon themselves to answer the prayer4 ,we told none but the ,god whom we serve4 ,some little time passed1 and no money came1 but we did not lose our faith or assurance4 ,one morning1 at family prayer1 ,i was led out to pray that we might see the ,lord's working in our behalf that day1 and ,i rose from my knees with perfect confidence that our hearts would be made to rejoice in ,god that day4 ,when ,i came in to my dinner ,i asked my wife if any one had brought our mail from the post-office4 ,she said1 ',yes1 there are some papers on your table4' ',what6' said ,i1 with surprise1 'no letters8' ,i saw a peculiar expression on her countenance1 and ,i asked no more questions1 but sat down to the dinner table and turned over my plate1 and there saw a letter she had put beneath it2 and as soon as ,i saw the hand-writing ,i felt1 there is money in this1 though1 of all sources1 this was from the one least expected4 ,i opened the letter1 and there was a draft for fifty dollars1 'a gift to aid in preaching the ,gospel4' ,if ,i ever recognized the hand of ,god in anything1 ,i did in this2 and if there was ever a time of devout thanksgiving to ,god1 and a humbling of self before ,him in my house1 it was that day4 ,since then1 it has been easier to trust in ,him than before4 ,he has said1 ',i will never leave thee nor forsake thee4' ,he has also said1 through his apostles1 ',be careful for nothing2 but in everything1 by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving1 let your requests be made known unto ,god4' ,,concurrent ,,testimony ,,of ,,the ,,value ,,of ,,prayer4 ,a request was published by the ,illustrated ,christian ,weekly1 asking that all who could report positive facts as direct results of prayer1 and thus1 tend to show that ,god does answer prayer1 should communicate them4 ,very many were communicated1 regarding all trials and troubles of the heart1 and daily temporal or spiritual life4 ,no one can question they are authentic to the highest degree2 they should silence the skeptic1 and convince the worldly of the presence of the mysterious power and wonderful ,spirit of ,god1 which tempers the hearts and lives of men and controls them as ,he wills4 ,a ,,worldly ,,man ,,surrenders4 ,a clergyman says1 ,i was very anxious for the building of a mission chapel to accommodate a flourishing mission-school that had been organized under my pastorate4 ,knowing that a certain physician of the city was possessed of abundant means and had a praying ,christian mother1 though he had long since given up going to church1 ,i resolved to call upon him4 ,before starting from my study ,i knelt down and asked ,god to prosper me in my appeal4 ,upon going out of my parsonage the physician was in the act of passing in his carriage4 ,i hailed him1 explained to him my desire1 and the result was not only a contribution of money as large as the largest1 but a gift of a lot for the chapel worth several hundred dollars4 ,a ,,servant',s ,,prayer ,,for ,a ,,good ,,home4 ,i was brought up religiously as a servant in a family in ,connecticut1 and from twelve years of age until twenty-three1 knew no other home4 ,the old couple died1 and ,i lived with their children1 but they were so different that ,i became very unhappy and hardly knew what to do or which way to turn4 ,i had no relatives and knew nothing of any world save the little one in which ,i had all my life moved1 and ,i was terribly afraid to try any other4 ,i could only offer my constant prayer for help1 and it was answered so much beyond my highest hope1 and so kind were ,god's dealings with me that ,i was taken1 almost without an effort of my own1 into a warm1 loving heart1 and such a happy home1 and all so easily and smoothly that to me it seems like a miracle2 and never can ,i forget while ,i live1 nor cease to believe that truly ',he is the hearer and answerer of prayer4' ,,before ,,they ,,call ,i ,,will ,,answer4--,a ,,pastor ,,prays ,,for ,,decision ,,as ,,to ,,good ,,choices4 ,the writer was once in great trouble to know what was duty4 ,urged by ministers and laymen in high standing to undertake a work not exactly in the line of the ministry1 he hesitated4 ,god's displeasure was feared1 lest in doing what was desired 'sin might lie at his door4' ,to refuse the wish of good and wise men might be resisting ,god's call4 ,in this trial of conscience he sought in fasting and special prayer the guidance of his ,heavenly ,father4 ,while so doing the above promise came very distinctly to his mind4 ,he brought it to ,god as his own promise1 and pleaded1 if it could be graciously done1 that ,he would literally fulfill it to the suppliant4 ,in the very act of thus pleading1 he heard a rap on the door4 ,opening it1 there stood his mother-in-law4 ,she said1 ',two gentlemen are in the parlor waiting for you4' ,i went down1 and the interview revealed the exact fulfillment both of the promise and the prophecy4 ,the ,lord answered my prayer two days before ,i called on ,him4 ,one of the two came from ,new ,york to my home in a ,western city to inquire about the very thing which was troubling me4 ,he was to me an entire stranger1 never having heard of him until ,i saw him4 ,having consulted his friend1 the ,rev4 ,m4,w4 ,jacobus1 ,d4,d41 they together came to call on me about the matter at the very moment ,i was pleading with ,god that ,he would mercifully1 'while yet speaking1 hear me4' ,now could ,tyndall and his followers desire a more literal1 a more exact fulfillment of this prophecy and promise as proof of its inspiration1 and of prayer as ,god's ordinance than that prayer for such fulfillment of these words actually before the prayer was made1 and while the petitioner was 'yet speaking8' ,it will be noticed that the best judgment of good men advise one course1 but trust in ,god for superior wisdom brought the case to answer in a totally different manner1 by means of an unknown person1 a total stranger1 who neither knew him nor his desire4 ,the circumstance should convince the world4 ,a ,,family ,,pray ,,for ,a ,,good ,,servant4 ,about three years since my family comfort was very much disturbed by failure to obtain a good housemaid4 ,and1 having been accustomed to wait upon ,god for right direction in my temporal as well as spiritual affairs1 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 home4 ,my steps were led to a boarding-house on ,greenwich street1 and on inquiring for a ,german or ,swede girl ,i was told they had a nice ,swede just landed4 ,i talked to her through an interpreter and was satisfied from what she said1 as well as from her countenance1 that she was the one ,i was searching for4 ,she came to my home and proved1 in two years' service1 almost faultless4 ,in conversation one day1 a short time after she came to our home1 she said she had had several places offered her that morning before ,i came1 but she did not like them2 but as soon as she saw me1 felt that she could go with me--she was a ,christian1 member of the ,lutheran church and wanted a ,christian home4 ,her desire was granted and my prayer was answered4 ,a ,,recovery ,,from ,a ,,death-,,bed4 ,some forty years ago1 in a rural parish in ,new ,england1 a young man lay apparently on his death-bed with a putrid fever4 ,his aunt1 in whose family he was staying1 was a woman who had long lived in habitual intercourse with the unseen world through prayer4 ,one afternoon1 when it seemed to those around him that the sick one must die1 she went away alone to speak with ,god4 ,with intense earnestness she pleaded for the young man's life4 ,and1 being deeply interested in the portion of our country then beginning to be settled1 she asked also that he might become a home missionary at the ,west4 ,there were various circumstances which made this latter request1 as well as the other1 seem very unlikely to be fulfilled4 ,and yet it was4 ,the young man recovered1 pursued a collegiate and theological course1 and still lives and labors as a most devoted and useful ,christian pioneer4 ,more than once he has been a member of the ,general ,assembly of the ,presbyterian ,church1 and his name is familiar to many4 ,a ,,poor ,,student ,,prays ,,for ,,money4 ,i was a poor student in a ,manual ,labor ,institute at the ,west4 ,the month of ,february was our regular ,winter vacation4 ,we were privileged to keep our rooms and have board at one dollar a week4 ,but ,i had absolutely no money4 ,i was six hundred miles from my friends1 and they were unable to furnish me with funds4 ,i had no books for the new term1 though these were a necessity if ,i went on with my class1 and there was no work about the ,institution1 nor that ,i know of in the neighborhood at that season4 ,my case seemed an exceedingly bad one2 and ,i had no idea from where any help could come4 ,so ,i went to my room in the third story1 locked my door and carried my case to the ,lord4 ,it was a long1 earnest1 tearful cry for help from ,him who alone seemed able to give it4 ,my prayer was answered4 ,when ,i had been there ,i do not know how long1 ,i heard footsteps in the empty hall1 and in a moment a knock at my door4 ,i wiped my eyes1 and put myself into presentable shape as soon as ,i could1 and opened the door4 ,a lad stood there who said3 ',a man wants to see you at the front door4' ,down the stairs ,i went1 wondering who could want me and what he could want me for4 ,in the front yard was a man on a restless horse1 who at once said3 ',we want you to teach our school for a month4 ,the boys have driven out the female teacher4 ,we want you to take them in hand1 and we'll give you fifteen dollars and your board4' ,i said1 ',all right1 ,i'll be down there to-morrow morning4' ,and then ,i went back to my room to thank ,god for hearing my prayer4 ,i ,,can',t ,,stop ,,to ,,pray4 ,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 leg4 ',i can't stop now to pray1' said the deacon 7who was picking and barreling his early apples for the city market71 'but you can go down into the cellar and get some corned beef1 salt pork1 potatoes1 and butter--that's the best ,i can do4' ,,remarkable ,,healing ,,of ,a ,,child4 ,a clergyman writes that during the ministration of his labors at ,battle ,greek1 ,mich41 there were several remarkable manifestations of divine power--especially in the case of a little girl1 the daughter of a ,mr4 ,smith1 a child of about six years4 ,in ,september last1 she was taken very sick with spinal fever4 ,she became much reduced1 extremely nervous and helpless1 excepting to move her hands4 ,physicians gave up the case as a hopeless one1 deciding that should she live1 her condition would be that of helplessness1 a burden to herself and to her parents4 ,but our gracious ,god had better things in store for that afflicted family4 ,it was on a ,sabbath afternoon1 at the very hour when the crowded congregation in our house of worship were in prayer for the influences of the divine ,spirit1 that a holy1 solemn influence came into the dwelling of ,brother ,smith1 as if an angel had come to touch the child with healing power4 ,the mother could not leave the bedside of her suffering child to attend the meeting1 and she says that a sudden change came over her feelings1 and it appeared to her that an angel had come into the house1 and had shed a holy influence in every part of it4 ,it was at that moment that the hitherto helpless child drew herself up in a sitting posture1 and next rose upon her feet4 ,she rapidly recovered to her usual habits of taking food and sleeping1 and now takes the exercise of the most robust children of her age4 ,,god ,,paid ,,the ,,rent4--,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,a poor ,christian family were in distress4 ,the husband1 during a long and painful sickness1 had borne his trials for months with cheerful ,christian resignation2 but1 on this day1 said a ,city ,missionary1 ,i found them1 for the first time1 in tears4 ,the cause ,i soon learned was the want of means to pay the rent of their little home1 which would come due on the following ,monday1 and must be paid then1 or they would have to leave and go they knew not where4 ,the amount needed1 fifteen dollars1 and the amount in hand but fifty cents2 the future all dark1 and no hope of recovery from sickness1 and no hope of being able to meet their expenses--it might be of a long sickness and want--what could ,i do for them8 ,if theirs had been the only case of like wants that day1 ,i no doubt could have gone to a few friends and have collected the amount4 ,but that would not do them the good ,i felt they needed4 ,but ,i felt sure of a better way to get it1 and lead them to trust in the ,lord1 and glorify ,god and not man4 ,on the wall1 at the foot of the sick man's bed1 ,i had hung1 but a short time previous1 one of those precious silent comforters1 a scroll of ,scripture texts1 printed in large type1 and a different prayer for every day in the month4 ,on the page before us for that day1 after calling their attention to it1 ,i read the following words3 ',and all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing1 ye shall receive4' ,matt4 #ba3bb4 ',again ,i say unto you1 that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask1 it shall be done for them4 ,matt4 #ah3i2 remarking1 ',are not those precious promises8 ,your fears1 dear brother and sister1 are that you will not be able to pay the rent on ,monday1 and may be turned out into the street1 unless you get the means to pay the rent2 are they not8' ',that is so1' said they4 ',there are two ways3 one1 to try to get some one to lend you the amount until you can pay1 if the landlord will not wait2 another1 to go and beg for it4' ,i have learned a better way1 and wish ,i could lead you to do the same4 ,do as ,david did4 ,have you ever gone to the ,lord as directed above1 and found in ,him1 as ,david did1 a very present help in time of trouble8 ,would not your faith and confidence in ,god's word and in his kind1 overruling providence be more strengthened1 if1 in going to ,him now and making known your present troubles and wants1 ,he should in a way1 without your making known your wants to any other person1 on ,monday enable you to pay all8' ,the answer was1 ',we should4' ,after prayer and encouragement to do so1 ,i left them1 with the promise to call the following ,tuesday4 ,doing so1 ,i was met at the door by the wife with a countenance full of joy4 ',oh1 brother1 we could not wait until you came1 to tell you the wonderful answer to our prayer4 ,on ,monday1 the very day that we had to pay the rent1 one gentleman came and handed my husband five dollars1 and early in the morning ,mrs4 ,f---- called and handed me ten dollars1 making in all just fifteen dollars1 the amount we needed2 was it not wonderful8 ,oh1 how good the ,lord is6' ,the same week another called and gave them an order for fifty dollars more1 so that they were able to pay up all their debts1 and the sudden joy soon led to a speedy restoration to health1 and the husband is now one of the most active ,christian workers and teachers in a mission school1 and the wife and daughter are also trying to do all they can to lead others to trust in ,jesus4 ,,he ,,forgetteth ,,not ,,the ,,cry ,,of ,,the ,,humble4 ,a ,city home missionary has told us of the case of a poor colored family1 the husband nearly one hundred years old1 totally incapacitated for work1 and confined to his room by sickness nearly twelve years4 ,although very often in straitened circumstances1 the ,lord has never left them to want for any good they needed1 having1 in a truly wonderful manner supplied their wants1 in answer to prayer4 ,the wife1 having for a long time been kept from the enjoyment of church privileges by close confinement1 she had been sorely tempted to doubt her acceptance in ,christ1 and was in great darkness for days2 but one day1 in reading the following words1 found in the fifteenth chapter of ,john1 ,if ye abide in me1 and my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you1 she was led to go to ,god in prayer1 and to ask1 if not wrong in his sight1 to grant her a request1 that she might know that her prayer was answered1 and that she was abiding in ,him4 ,the request was that1 as they were in trouble for the rent coming due the next day1 and still in need of three dollars1 that the ,lord would send them a friend in a stranger1 some one that they had never seen before1 and that he would put it into the heart of that stranger to give them three dollars1 and then they would not be tempted to believe1 as they had sometimes before1 that it would have been sent by a friend even if they had not prayed4 ,but1 said she1 ,i knows if a stranger comes1 none but the ,lord could send1 then ,i would know the ,lord heard my prayer1 and ,i was truly the ,lord's4 ,so ,i watch for the answer for you knows1 brother1 when we prays1 the ,lord says we must believe we shall receive what we ask of ,him1 and then ,he will give it4 ,so ,i watch and listen for the knock at the door1 and do you believe me1 brother1 about three o'clock in the afternoon1 ,i hears a knock and opens the door1 and a strange lady was there1 one ,i never saw before1 and asked me if ,mrs4 ,h---- lived here2 and said she had been looking for us before1 but could not find us2 'when1 to-day ,i felt ,i must try again1 and ,i am so glad ,i have found you4 ,i heard of you through a friend who has known you a long time4' ,she spoke many kind words1 and when she took my hand to say good-by1 she left a little roll of notes1 and when she is gone ,i count it1 and it was just three dollars4 ,i is been so happy ever since4 ,i loves to tell how good the ,lord has been to us2 every time ,i does so ,i feels so happy4 ,,incidents ,,in ,,the ,,life ,,of ,,an ,,invalid4--,,how ,,god ,,cares ,,and ,,comforts ,,in ,,small ,,things4 ,the following incidents are from the life of an invalid1 personally known to the editor of this book1 and can be depended upon as authentic in every particular4 ,they illustrate most beautifully the blessed way in which the ,savior's everlasting arms are around1 strengthening1 and ,his presence comforting ,his weak and helpless ones1 in all their little as well as great trials of life4 ,the ways in which he sent relief1 and the many hundred promises which he has given2 will encourage other ,christian hearts to trust the same ,omnipotent1 ever ,helping ,friend4 ,,giving ,,her ,,last ,,money ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ',the first money the ,lord gives me ,i will send to you1' were the last words ,i said to my old father1 as ,i stood waiting for the train to bear me to distant friends4 ,so the weeks passed on1 but ,i remembered my promise and waited patiently for the ,lord to enable me to fulfill that promise4 ,i had two dollars1 but thought ,i must not give it away until more came4 ,but this feeling did not last long2 something seemed to tell me the ,lord would not send me any until that was gone4 ,one day ,i received a letter from a friend containing this sentence3 ',i have not had three cents in five weeks4' ,my whole nature responded in a moment4 ,i put part of my money into a letter for him1 the rest into a letter for my father4 ,now ,i felt clear4 ,then ,i told the ,lord all about it4 ,a week passed1 and #e came to me from my mother to pay my return fare4 ,a few days longer1 and another #e came from a lady friend1 so ,i was provided for4 ,i needed a certain article of clothing1 and one night made all arrangements to get it next day4 ,morning came1 and ,i went to the ,bible for my orders for the day2 my eyes rested on these words3 ',be content with what ye have4' ,this seemed so strange1 because the ,lord knew ,i needed the dress2 ,i was obliged to stay out of society on this account4 ',but the ,lord knows best1' ,i thought1 and gave up all idea of getting it4 ,nor did it trouble me further4 ,i gave it all into his hands1 feeling ,he knew best4 ,and afterwards it was made clear to my own heart ,i had not trusted in vain4 ',commit all thy ways unto the ,lord1 for ,he careth for thee4' ,,money ,,wanted ,,to ,,pay ,,railroad ,,fare4 ,once1 on a visit1 ,i left the company below1 and went up stairs for an hour's quiet and prayer4 ,i was to return the coming week and ,i had only just enough to pay my fare4 ,for several days ,i had been anxious how ,i was to get some money4 ,this afternoon ,i had to pray very earnestly1 because the need was great4 ,an hour passed2 ,i felt weary and unrefreshed1 when a voice clear and near said unto me3 ',trust in the ,lord and do good1 and verily thou shalt be fed4' ,it was not a human voice1 for no one was near me1 but ,i started and looked around1 almost expecting to see an angel visitant4 ,i saw nothing1 but the sun shone brighter outside1 and the room seemed brighter than before4 ,and why should it not8 ,the ,lord had been there with words of cheer and comfort for his little child4 ,i arose and went below1 where ,i found other company had called1 and ,i was introduced to the lady and her husband1 whom ,i had met five years before4 ,a pleasant chat and they left1 after giving me an invitation to visit them4 ,at the door1 as ,i learned from my friend who attended them1 ,mrs4 ,n---- said3 ',i should like to give ,miss ,b---- something1' and handed my friend a five dollar bill for me4 ,i was more than surprised4 ,i cannot tell you the emotions of my heart4 ,while ,i was yet asking1 even1 the messenger had brought my answer4 ,i could yet hear the soft sound of the voice up-stairs1 and the soothing influence of the unseen presence still lingered round me4 ,how quickly our needs flow on the wings of prayer into the very presence of our ,friend and ,master4 ,,prayer ,,saves ,,the ,,life ,,of ,a ,,little ,,child4 ,a year ago this ,summer1 my sister's little baby1 only five months old1 was taken very ill with that distressing complaint which often proves so fatal1 and takes so many sweet little ones out of loving hearts and homes4 ,i loved baby ,ernest1 but never so well as when he lay so sick he could not know it4 ,we all loved him1 and everything was done that could be thought of to ease the little sufferer all those long1 close1 hot days4 ,day after day1 for four long weeks1 we tenderly cared for him4 ,sometimes his mother would watch his every breath1 fearing each would be the last4 ,one ,sunday he lay just where we put him1 so quiet and still1 with the sweet baby face so white and calm1 we thought we should lose him soon1 the little hands and feet were so cold4 ,all through his illness1 ,i kept asking the ,lord to let his parents keep the tender bud he had sent them4 ,we could not let him die1 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 go4 ,well1 ,ernnie passed over the fearful day and became a happy1 well boy4 ,he was saved4 ,no physician saved him4 ,our tender care did not save him4 ,prayer saved our ,ernnie4 ,precious baby6 ,he is such a jolly1 happy boy now1 filling every heart and the whole house with his sunshine4 ,how ,i love the little fellow4 ,when ,i am here at his home1 he always comes to ,auntie for love and tenderness4 ,when ,i am resting on the lounge1 he comes every few moments to kiss me1 giving and receiving real heart-love4 ,we know ,god only lends these little treasures to their human friends4 ,but oh1 they bring so much love with them1 it is hard to give them up4 ,,the ,,lost ,,thimble4 ,one day ,i lost my silver thimble1 a gift from my mother when ,i was a young girl4 ,i prized it very highly4 ,i looked everywhere1 long and faithfully4 ,the tears would come1 at the best1 it had been so long a constant companion4 ,i gave up the search after a while1 thinking some one had taken it1 or a child had lost it--any way1 it was gone4 ,feeling sad over it1 ,i sat down to console myself1 and the thought came--pray about it2 so ,i did1 and while ,i knelt there something whispered1 ',look on the bed1' so plainly that ,i arose and went into my sister's sleeping-room where ,i had turned the spread aside1 and there nestled1 in a fold of the quilt1 my thimble4 ,i involuntarily said1 ',thank ,god6' out of the depths of my glad heart4 ,i had lain down a moment on this bed with baby ,ernest1 early in the morning1 and the thimble had fallen out of my pocket4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for #be4 ,god moves in a mysterious way ,his wonders to perform4 ,i had a present of twenty-five dollars once1 which was a direct answer to earnest1 pleading prayer4 ,i was entirely out of money for months--,i could not earn a dollar4 ,i had those who might have assisted me1 but they did not4 ,i could have borrowed1 but ,i might never be able to return it2 ,i knew not what to do4 ,one evening1 thinking it all over1 scanning the dark cloud with anxious eyes1 ,i said1 ',if the ,lord cannot help me1 no one else can2 ,i will ask ,him4' ,and so ,i did1 bringing all the previous promises before ,him1 pleading my unworthiness1 but my great need2 asking first for ten dollars2 then1 as ,i grew more earnest1 ,i asked for twenty-five1 feeling almost frightened as the words came from my lips4 ,sometimes the thought would intrude1 ',how can you ask for any given sum--how do you expect it will come8' so ,i said1 one day1 to the ,lord1 ',any sum you choose2 you know best2 ,i will be content4' ,several weeks passed1 and a sweet feeling of rest and assurance came1 that1 whatever came of it1 would be all for the best4 ,but1 by-and-by1 when the anxious pleading feeling was all gone1 one morning came a letter from one ,i had never seen1 with #be--;just what ,i had asked for4 ,i cannot tell you just how ,i felt2 ,i only know ,i held the check long in my hand1 scarcely realizing it could be for me4 ,,praying ,,for ,,others4 ,my sister's husband wished to raise a certain sum of interest money by a given time1 but could see no way2 was very much troubled about it2 said he knew no one to whom he could apply4 ,i told him to pray for it4 ,he answered1 ',god won't hear the prayer of the wicked2 suppose you ask him yourself4' ,i did ask ,him1 earnestly and faithfully1 and it was even given me the idea who my brother could ask to loan it him4 ,i spoke of the man to him--said ,i thought he might get it2 so he called on him one evening1 and the way was made plain for my brother to introduce the subject2 and when he came home that night1 he brought with him the three hundred dollars4 ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,friends4 ,i will hold thee by thy right hand1 saying unto thee1 fear not1 ,i will help thee4 ,once ,i held in my hand an open letter1 containing an invitation to visit friends ,i had never seen4 ,my heart bounded with pleasure at thought of the journey1 and the pleasant visit to follow2 but1 on second thought1 it almost stood still--where could ,i get money and proper clothing8 ,several weeks passed in thought4 ,i could see no way1 and so ,i wrote my friends ,i could not come at present2 but1 in my heart1 ,i could not give it up4 ,my parents were visiting in the far ,west1 and ,i had no one to advise me2 so1 up in my little room1 night after night1 ,i made it a point to tell the ,lord about it2 and soon it seemed as easy and right as though ,i were talking to a friend4 ,one day1 my brother-in-law said he would pay my expenses to and fro4 ,i thanked him1 and took fresh courage1 and still kept on praying4 ,then the same good brother gave me money for a dress2 then a friend furnished other articles1 and soon1 ,i was en route for the quaint old city by the sea4 ,every step was accomplished by the simple way of prayer2 and1 when ,i slept1 late that night1 in a cosy room at the ,methodist parsonage in ,n4,b41 ,i could look back over the last few weeks1 and thank ,god for the power of prayer4 ,but the best of it all was the lesson ,i had learned--one which ,i shall never forget1 while memory holds her magic power--to carry everything to ,god in prayer2 to trust him in every matter1 however small2 and this is the whole secret of the power that lies in prayer4 ,i found another lady visitor at my friend's and we were to share the same bed4 ,this was a little trial2 ,i had to ask the ,lord to give me patience--and ,he did4 ,one night1 ,i was very restless and nervous2 ,i could not sleep4 ,i knew ,i was disturbing my friend--soon she said1 ',annie1 ,i am going to ask the ,lord to come and put you to sleep4 ,now1 lay still1 and in five minutes you will be all right'4 ,i did so1 also breathing the words1 ',give me sleep1 dear ,saviour4' ,the room seemed to be full of a soft1 soothing influence1 and ,i fell asleep4 ,once only in the night ,i awoke1 but soon went asleep4 ,when ,i awoke in the morning1 rested and refreshed1 ,tillie1 who was dressing near me1 looked up with her pleasant smile and said1 ',annie1 how wonderful it was4 ,you were asleep in less than five minutes4 ,it seemed as though ,jesus stood close by your side2 ,i could almost see ,him1 ,i felt so clearly ,his presence4 ,he is here now1 ,annie2 can't you feel ,him near8 ,he was very good to you last night4' ,yes1 indeed1 ,i felt the influence of ,his presence1 and1 all day1 whenever ,i entered the room1 ,i felt it1 and it seemed as though ,i must tread softly1 it was so like holy ground4 ,this feeling lasted through my stay1 and1 last ,winter1 while again visiting the home of my friends1 it all came back to me again4 ,this beautiful influence has ever kept with me1 and ,i never close my eyes in sleep until ,i say1 ',oh1 ,lord1 breathe upon me the sweet spirit of sleep4' ,however weary1 sick or nervous ,i may be1 ,i feel that the soothing power will come2 and1 with my hand in ,his1 ,i rest peacefully1 at last4 ,,praying ,,for ,a ,,new ,,hat4 ,whatsoever thing ye ask in ,my name-- ,for a long while ,i had been without money1 and my need was very great4 ,i wanted a new hat so much2 and the question arose in my mind1 ',what am ,i going to do about it8' ,as ,i had no human arm to depend on for anything1 of course there was only one way for me to do--ask the ,lord for money to get me a hat4 ,with me1 to think is to act1 and so ,i told the ,lord all about it1 asking1 if it was ,his will1 to send me1 in ,his own way1 money for the article ,i needed4 ,day after day passed1 and ,i felt almost discouraged4 ,one day1 a letter came from a lady friend ,i had never seen1 enclosing one dollar4 ,i bought my hat--neither could ,i have used that dollar for another purpose4 ,soon after this1 my physician ordered something for me4 ,i had no money to get it1 but said ,i would get it soon as ,i could4 ,three weeks passed1 and no money came4 ,then ,i asked the ,lord for enough to get my medicine4 ,another letter came from an old nurse1 with a gift of one dollar4 ,i had my medicine4 ,time after time1 ,i have not had wherewith to send my letters1 and1 as ,i have a large correspondence1 it often is a real trouble4 ,the only way ,i have to do is to pray for it1 and always1 in some way1 it comes2 not in my way--not just as soon as ,i ask for it--but in ,his own way1 ,he always provides4 ,i have learned to trust and not be afraid1 even though the clouds hang heavy1 and ,i see no ray of light1 the promise is there1 and for me1 ',i will never leave thee1 or forsake thee4' ,i am so entirely dependent on ,him for everything that sometimes1 in little matters1 my faith will1 for a brief season1 droop4 ,sometimes ,i have to plead and plead over again some particular promises2 but these times of waiting on ,him only strengthen me for future conflicts4 ',wait on the ,lord1 and he shall renew thy strength1' comes in beautifully on such occasions4 ,no human being to help me2 no one but ,god4 ,sometimes1 when ,i sit alone1 such a flood of feelings come over me1 ,i well nigh sink4 ,loneliness1 homesickness1 and the great want in every human heart of sympathy and love1 leave me1 for a moment1 without hope or faith2 but1 when the heart is weakest1 and the need greatest1 the loving ,saviour is nearest4 ',like as a mother comforteth her child1 so does ,he comfort me2' and then1 soothed by his power and love1 how the aching heart rests 'by the still waters1 and in the green pastures4' ,there is nothing but prayer for the helpless sinner2 nothing else will bring us into loving companionship with the ,lord4 ,we may go to ,him always1 with every trial1 need or sorrow4 ,he is ever waiting--ever ready to hear and answer4 ,,praying ,,for ,a ,,sewing ,,machine4 ,one day a lady friend said to me3 ',would you like some nice sewing1 easy to do8' ,i answered1 ',yes4' ',have you a sewing machine8' ',i have not1 but am praying for one4' ',that is right2 so you believe you will have it by praying for it8' ,i replied3 ',if the ,lord thinks ,i need it1 ,he will send it4' ,i had learned to use my sister's1 but ,i wanted one of my own1 to use just when ,i felt like it4 ,so the thought kept in my heart1 ',why can't ,i pray for one8' ,and yet it seemed foolish to go in prayer to ,god for such a simple thing1 but ,i had not then learned that all things1 with ,him1 meant every wish and want of the human heart4 ,but there was no other way4 ,he must send my machine1 or ,i could have none4 ,i prayed very earnestly4 ,after a few weeks of waiting1 one golden winter morning it came--my beautiful machine--just what ,i wanted4 ,this seemed so wonderful to me1 that it seemed to bring me into nearer companionship with the ,lord1 and ever after1 whatever ,i needed1 ,i went directly to ,him for4 ,a ministerial friend once asked me what it was ,i had covered up on the stand4 ,i told him it was my piano1 taking the cover aside and showing him at once how my beautiful sewing machine worked4 ',what tune do you play oftenest8' he asked4 ',rock of ,ages is its favorite one1 and ,i never sew without singing it4' ,,money ,,for ,,postage4 ,one day ,i opened my port-monnaie to get change for some little needful1 when ,i found ,i had but ten cents4 ,i used five of it4 ,as visions of six or seven letters and many little things ,i needed came up before me1 ,i said aloud3 ',the ,lord will have to send me some money pretty soon4' ,i think once through the day ,i prayed for some money1 but felt no uneasiness about it4 ,that evening a lady friend called to say good-by for the winter1 and as she left gave me fifty cents for postage4 ,while ,i was calling ,he answered me4 ,about a week before this1 ,i thought ,i would ask the ,lord for #e for my physician4 ,he had come so faithfully1 day after day1 without ever expecting one dollar1 because ,i had told him freely my circumstances4 ,but ,i felt ,i must give him something for a gift at least4 ,so ,i asked for five dollars4 ,day after day passed away1 and ,i thought perhaps the ,lord did not want me to have it4 ,but still ,i prayed1 asking it for ,his will1 not mine4 ,one morning a letter came from a very dear friend1 containing a check for the amount for which ,i had prayed1 and a little beside4 ,it seemed such a signal answer to my prayer1 that ,i could scarcely speak1 and in my heart a glad prayer of thanksgiving went up to ,him1 who had told me to ask and ,i should receive4 ,a friend1 to whom ,i told this1 said3 ',now you need this money yourself2 ,i would not give it to the doctor now--wait awhile4' ',but1' ,i replied1 ',i dare not do it4 ,i need it1 ,i know1 but ,i asked ,god for it for my doctor1 and ,i must give it4' ,and here let me say1 when we ask ,god for money1 it is sacred1 and must be spent only to please ,him4 ,,praying ,,for ,a ,,bible4 ,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 rested4 ,while dressing for the day1 ,i glance at the open page1 or sometimes turning over the leaves4 ,but my old ,bible was poor print and small1 and it troubled me for a long while4 ,so ,i thought ,i would ask the ,lord to send me a new one4 ,i told ,him all about it4 ,one day1 this ,summer1 the postman brought me a package of magazines and a letter4 ,i began to undo the package1 eager to scan their welcome pages4 ,my sister laughingly said she would read my letter1 and suiting the action to the word1 opened the envelope4 ,i really did not mind what she was doing1 until she said3 ',why there is some money here1 but no letter4' ,so she handed me the half sheet of paper1 with the money folded inside4 ,i looked it over1 and there were only these words in pencil3 ',for a ,bible1 and three dollars4' ,we looked at each other2 ,i could not say a word1 until she said1 ',what does it all mean8 ',i answered1 ',the ,lord sent it1 ,i know2 where could it come from8' ,it was wonderful--wonderful because ,i could not remember as ,i ever told any one that ,i was praying for a ,bible4 ,a ,,spring ,,mattress4 ,last ,summer1 when ,i bought my bedstead1 ,i did not have money to get either springs or a mattress1 so ,i fixed up a clean1 straw bed1 and covered it nicely with a thick comfortable4 ,it was pretty hard--,i did not rest well4 ,so1 one sleepless night1 ,i said aloud1 ',i will just ask the ,lord to send me a set of springs4' ,i kept on day by day4 ,when ,i felt the severe pain which denoted illness1 ,i thought of my hard bed and prayed more earnest4 ,one day my physician spoke of my hard bed4 ,i told him ,i was going to have a better one2 ,i was praying for some springs4 ,and so ,i kept on4 ,one day1 a lady friend said something about my bed4 ,i did not say much4 ,somehow ,i felt ,i must not2 ,i wanted to have it all the ,lord's doings1 if ,i ever had any4 ,one day my sister said a man was at the door1 who wanted to fit a set of springs to my bed4 ,why1 ,i can't tell how ,i felt2 even after ,god had answered my simple prayers1 and honored my faith so many times1 ,i was astonished at this4 ,but she helped me up1 and the bed was fitted with nice1 new springs4 ,and they were mine4 ,the man could not tell anything about them4 ,my sister says1 ',annie1 did you order them8' ,i said1 ',no4' ',don't you know who sent them8' ,i said1 ',no4' ',did you ask ,mrs4 ,w---- to order them8' ,i said1 ',i did not2 ,i would lay here six years before ,i would do it4 ,no1 somebody had a hand in it1 but the ,lord sent them1 because ,i prayed for them all the time4' ,a friend was present when my physician called4 ,i told him about the new springs4 ,his kind face lit up grandly at this new evidence that ,god did answer humble1 faithful prayer1 and he turned to my friend with the words3 ',i am glad they were just what she has been praying for4' ,i do not think he had anything to do about them4 ,but these springs are only another proof of his love and power1 in touching the hearts of his children to help others4 ,and they have their reward4 ,soon after this1 a lady sent me a white spread for my bed4 ,surely1 ,god is good to his little ones4 ,,the ,,healing ,,of ,,mary ,,theobald4 ,the following incident is related by her pastor1 at ,woburn1 ,mass41 who1 for three and a half years1 was well acquainted with her physical condition1 and who testified1 in ,the ,congregationalist1 that no medicine1 or physician's aid or advice1 was of any avail3 ,from the first of my acquaintance to the last1 she had an unswerving confidence in her recovery4 ,many times has she said to me3 ',i believe that ,i shall be well4 ,jesus will raise me up4 ,i shall hear you preach some day4' ,but1 in common with the friends who were watching her case1 and with the physicians who had exhausted their skill upon her in vain1 ,i had little or no hope for her4 ,it seemed to me that her life was to be one of suffering2 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 become4 ,a few days ago1 ,i received from her lips the following statement of the origin and progress of her sickness3 ',my first sickness occurred when ,i was about sixteen years old4 ,this illness lasted for a year4 ,indeed1 ,i was never well again4 ,that sickness left me with a bad humor1 which1 for two years1 kept me covered with boils4 ,when the boils disappeared1 the trouble was internal4 ,physicians feared a cancer4 ,for ten years1 ,i was sick1 more or less--sometimes able to work1 sometimes utterly prostrate4 ',my second severe illness began in the ,autumn of #ahga4 ,i had been failing for two years4 ,then ,i was obliged to give up4 ,i was on the bed five months4 ,from this illness ,i never recovered so as to labor or walk abroad4 ,when not confined to my bed1 ,i have been on the lounge1 as you have known me4 ,no one can ever know the suffering which these years have brought me4' ,my acquaintance with her began in the ,spring of #ahgc4 ,several times since ,i have known her1 she has been carried so low that we have thought her release near at hand2 and1 indeed1 the general tendency has been downwards4 ,i recently asked an intelligent physician1 who had attended her for a year or more1 to give me the facts in her case4 ,he replied3 ',she is diseased throughout4 ,her system is thoroughly soured4 ,it responds to nothing4 ,almost every function is abnormal4 ,there is no help for her in medicine4' ,other physicians had tried their skill with the same result4 ,it was generally admitted by doctors1 friends and family1 that nothing more could be done for her4 ,while all saw only suffering and an early death in store for her1 yet she confidently expected to be well1 and her faith never waned4 ,it was her custom to spend a few weeks each year in the family of one of the sisters in the church4 ,at her last visit1 it was evident to this lady that ,mary was not so well as in former years4 ,one day1 when conversation turned upon this topic1 she felt constrained to express her fears4 ,but ,mary was hopeful4 ,a proposition was made1 and arrangements were perfected to visit ,doctor ,cullis1 to secure the benefit of his prayers4 ,but her feebleness was so great that the plan was abandoned4 ',if1' said ,mrs4 ,f41 'faith is to cure you1 why go to ,doctor ,cullis1 or to any one8 ,let us go to ,god ourselves2 and1 ,mary1 if you have faith that ,god can and will cure you sometime1 why not believe that ,he will cure you now8' ,she felt herself cast on ,god alone4 ,all hope of human help was at an end4 ,she had thought it1 hitherto1 enough patiently to wait ,his time4 ,she saw that1 after all1 she must not dishonor ,god by limiting ,his power4 ,again her ,bible opened to the familiar passages1 'the prayer of faith shall save the sick2' 'according to your faith be it unto you4' ,she felt that the time for testing her faith had come4 ,she would dishonor the ,lord no longer4 ,requesting the prayers of the family that ,god would now grant healing and restoration1 she tottered to her couch1 and1 asking that in the morning she might be well1 calmly closed her eyes in the assurance that it would be so4 ,and according to her faith1 so it was4 ,she came forth in the morning without a remnant of the pain which had filled a decade of years with agony4 ,that ,sabbath was to her1 indeed1 'a high day4' ,a week later the frequent prophecy that she should hear me preach was fulfilled4 ,not a vestige of suffering remained4 ,so far as that is concerned1 there was not a hint left that she had been an invalid for almost a score of years4 ,she immediately took her place in the family as a well person4 ,two days after1 ,i saw her4 ,she came to meet me with a step light and strong1 and with a face written all over with thankfulness and joy4 ,since that time all the abandoned duties of active life have been resumed4 ,when last ,i saw her1 she was in bounding health and spirits1 declaring that she could not remember when she had felt so happy and well4 ,that night--one of the coldest of the winter1 the roads at their iciest--she walked more than half a mile to and from the prayer-meeting4 ,it is difficult for those who are not conversant with the case to believe it1 yet there is no illusion in it4 ,that she went to sleep a suffering1 feeble1 shattered woman1 and1 awoke free from pain1 and that she has been gaining in strength ever since1 are facts that cannot be doubted4 ,,how ,,prayer ,,helped ,,him ,,to ,,keep ,,the ,,pledge4 ,in a rural district1 in the ,north of ,england1 lived a shoe-maker who had signed the temperance pledge often1 but never had strength to keep it4 ,after a while1 he was able to keep it1 and reformed entirely4 ,a friend was curious to learn how he had been able1 at last1 to win the victory1 and went to see him4 ,well1 ,william1 how are you8 ,oh1 pretty well4 ,i had only eighteen pence and an old hen when ,i signed1 and a few old scores2 but now ,i have about ten pounds in the bank1 and my wife and ,i have lived through the summer without getting into debt4 ,but as ,i am only thirty weeks old yet 7so he styled himself71 ,i cannot be so strong yet1 my friend4 ,how is it you never signed before8 ,i did sign2 but ,i keep it different now to what ,i did before1 friend4 ,how is this8 ,why1 ,i gae doon on my knees and pray4 ,here was the real strength of prayer4 ,his own resolves were of no value2 but when he called on ,god to help1 then came new strength1 and he was kept by restraining grace4 ,the bitter experience of those who pledge and pledge over and over again1 and never gain the victory1 at last must come to either of two ends--their utter destruction1 or else to call on ,god in prayer1 to help them keep the pledge manfully1 and make them steadfast in their resolutions4 ,,one ,,who ,,refused ,,the ,,holy ,,spirit4 ,the following incident is related by ,d4,l4 ,moody1 the ,evangelist1 which contains a warning1 how the ,holy ,spirit avenges itself to those who refuse its admonitions4 ,it is a remarkable instance of the control of an overruling ,god1 who alone knew that man's mind1 and which alone could bring that text so often to his memory3 ,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 weeping2 ,i asked him what he was weeping about1 and he told me a very strange story4 ,when he left home his mother gave him the text3 ',seek ye first the ,kingdom of ,god and ,his righteousness1 and all these things will be added unto you4' ,he was ambitious to get rich1 and thought when he had got comfortable1 that was the time to give his attention to religion4 ,he went from village to village1 and got nothing to do4 ,sunday came1 and he went into the village church4 ,what was his great surprise to hear the minister preach from that text4 ,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 himself1 and thought he would like to get out4 ,for days be could not get that text and sermon out of his mind4 ,he went on still1 from village to village1 and at last he went into another church after weeks had rolled away4 ,he went for some ,sundays to the church1 and it wasn't a great while before the minister gave out this very text4 ,he thought surely it was ,god calling him then1 and he said1 coolly and deliberately1 he would not seek the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,he went on in this way1 and in the course of a few months1 to his great surprise1 he heard the third sermon from the third minister on the same text4 ,he tried to stifle it1 but it followed him4 ,at last he made up his mind he would not go to church any more4 ,when he came back to ,northfield1 after years1 his mother had died1 but the text kept coming to him over and over1 and he said1 ',i will not become a ,christian2' and said he to me1 ',moody1 my heart is as hard as that stone4' ,it was all ,greek to me1 because ,i was not a ,christian myself at the time4 ,after my conversion1 in ,boston1 he was about the first man ,i thought of4 ,when ,i got back and asked my mother about him1 she told me he was gone out of his mind1 and to every one who went to the asylum to see him he pointed his finger and said3 ',seek ye first the ,kingdom1 of ,god and ,his ,righteousness4' ,when ,i went back to my native village1 after that1 ,i was told he was still out of his mind1 but at home4 ,i went to see him1 and asked him did he know me4 ,he was rocking backwards and forwards in his rocking chair1 and he gave me that vacant stare and pointed to me as he said1 ',young man1 seek first the ,kingdom of ,god and ,his ,righteousness4' ,when1 last month1 ,i laid down my younger brother in his grave1 ,i could not help but think of that man lying but a few yards away4 ,may every man and woman here be wise for eternity and seek now the ,kingdom of ,god and ,his ,righteousness1 is my prayer4 ,,the ,,praying ,,shoe-,,maker4 ,a correspondent of ,the ,american ,messenger relates this instance of a poor man in the village where he lived1 who1 with a family of young children and a wife in very feeble health1 found it extremely difficult to obtain a livelihood4 ,he was at length compelled to work by the week for a shoe-dealer in the city1 four miles from the village1 returning to his family every ,saturday evening1 and leaving home early on ,monday morning4 ,he usually brought home the avails of his week's labor in provisions for the use of his family during the following week2 but on one cold and stormy night1 in the depth of winter1 he went towards his humble dwelling with empty hands1 but a full heart4 ,his employer had declared himself unable to pay him a penny that night1 and the shoe-maker1 too honest to incur a debt without knowing that he should be able to cancel it1 bent his weary steps homeward1 trusting that ,he who hears the ravens when they cry1 would fill the mouths of his little family4 ,he knew that he should find a warm house and loving hearts to receive him1 but he knew1 too1 that a disappointment awaited them which would make at least one heart ache4 ,when he entered his cottage1 cold and wet with the rain1 he saw a bright fire1 brighter faces1 and a table neatly spread for the anticipated repast4 ,the tea-kettle was sending forth its cloud of steam1 all ready for the cup which cheers1 but not inebriates1 and a pitcher of milk1 which had been sent in by a kind neighbor1 was waiting for the bread so anxiously expected by the children4 ,the sad father confessed his poverty1 and his wife in tears begged him to make some effort to procure food for them before the ,sabbath4 ,he replied1 ,let us ask ,god to give us our daily bread4 ,prayer avails with ,god when we ask for temporal good1 as well as when we implore spiritual blessings4 ,the sorrowing group knelt around the family altar1 and while the father was entreating fervently for the mercies they so much needed1 a gentle knocking at the door was heard4 ,when the prayer was ended the door was opened1 and there stood a woman in the peltings of the storm1 who had never been at that door before1 though she lived only a short distance from it4 ,she had a napkin in her hand1 which contained a large loaf of bread2 and half apologizing for offering it1 said she had unintentionally made a larger batch of bread than usual that day1 and though she hardly knew why1 she thought it might be acceptable there4 ,after expressing their sincere gratitude to the woman1 the devout shoe-maker and his wife gave thanks to ,god with overflowing hearts4 ,while the little flock were appeasing their hunger with the nice new bread and milk1 the father repaired to the house where ,i was an inmate1 and told his artless tale with streaming eyes1 and it is unnecessary to say1 that he returned to his home that night with a basket heavily laden1 and a heart full of gratitude to a prayer-answering ,god4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,controls ,,even ,,the ,,locomotive ,,and ,,the ,,railroad ,,train4 ,a remarkable instance of how the ,lord controlled circumstances for the detention of one train1 and speeded the arrival of the other1 in answer to the prayer of a poor widow1 who was in anxiety and distress1 is thus known to the editor of ,the ,watchman and ,reflector3 ,not long ago an engineer brought his train to a stand at a little ,massachusetts village1 where the passengers have five minutes for lunch4 ,a lady came along the platform and said3 ',the conductor tells me the train at the junction in ,p---- leaves fifteen minutes before our arrival4 ,it is ,saturday night1 that is the last train4 ,i have a very sick child in the car1 and no money for a hotel1 and none for a private conveyance for the long1 long journey into the country4 ,what shall ,i do8' ',well1' said the engineer1 ',i wish ,i could tell you4' ',would it be possible for you to hurry a little8' said the anxious1 tearful mother4 ',no1 madam1 ,i have the time-table1 and the rules say ,i must run by it4' ,she turned sorrowfully away1 leaving the bronzed face of the engineer wet with tears4 ,presently she returned and said1 ',are you a ,christian8' ',i trust ,i am1' was the reply4 ',will you pray with me that the ,lord may1 in some way1 delay the train at the junction8' ',why1 yes1 ,i will pray with you1 but ,i have not much faith4' ,just then1 the conductor cried1 ',all aboard4' ,the poor woman hurried back to her deformed and sick child1 and away went the train1 climbing the grade4 ',somehow1' says the engineer1 'everything worked to a charm4 ,as ,i prayed1 ,i couldn't help letting my engine out just a little4 ,we hardly stopped at the first station1 people got on and off with wonderful alacrity1 the conductor's lantern was in the air in half a minute1 and then away again4 ,once over the summit1 it was dreadful easy to give her a little more1 and then a little more1 as ,i prayed1 till she seemed to shoot through the air like an arrow4 ,somehow ,i couldn't hold her1 knowing ,i had the road1 and so we dashed up to the junction six minutes ahead of time4' ,there stood the train1 and the conductor with his lantern on his arm4 ',well1' said he1 'will you tell me what ,i am waiting here for8 ,somehow ,i felt ,i must wait your coming to-night1 but ,i don't know why4' ',i guess1' said the brother conductor1 'it is for this woman1 with her sick and deformed child1 dreadfully anxious to get home this ,saturday night4' ,but the man on the engine and the grateful mother think they can tell why the train waited4 ,god held it to answer their prayers4 ,think of this wonderful improbability according to natural circumstances4 ,these trains never connected with each other1 nor were intended to4 ,there was no message sent ahead to stop4 ,there was not the slightest business reason for waiting1 yet the second conductor1 on arrival of the first1 asks this question1 ,what am ,i waiting for1 and the answer of the first is more singular1 ,i don't know4 ,,another ,,instance ,,of ,,superhuman ,,control ,,of ,,the ,,locomotive1 ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,an exact parallel instance to the foregoing is given in the experience of a correspondent of ,the ,christian1 which occurred in the latter part of ,november1 #ahfd1 while traveling with her aged father and two small girls3 ,we started from ,new ,hampshire on ,thursday morning1 expecting to have ample time to get through to ,indiana before ,saturday night2 but1 after we crossed the ,st4 ,lawrence ,river1 the next day1 ,i think1 there was a smash-up on a freight train1 which hindered our train about two hours4 ,i began to feel anxious1 as ,i knew our limited means would not permit us to stop long on the way4 ,after the cars had started again1 ,i inquired of the conductor what time we should get to ,toledo1 fearing we should not reach there in time for the down train4 ,he said it would be impossible to gain the time4 ,soon they changed conductors1 and ,i made a similar inquiry1 getting about the same answer4 ,still ,i hoped1 till we reached the ,detroit ,river4 ,here ,i found that1 though they had put on all the steam they dared to1 they were almost an hour behind time1 so ,i should have to stay over till ,sunday night4 ,after getting seated in the cars on the other side1 ,i ventured to ask the conductor if we should get to ,toledo in time for the down train4 ,he readily said1 ',no1 madam1 impossible6 ,if we put on all the steam1 we dare to1 we shall be more than half an hour behind time4 ,if we were on some trains we might hope they would wait2 but on this1 never6 ,he is the most exact conductor you ever saw4 ,he was never known to wait a second1 say nothing about a minute1 beyond the time4' ,i then inquired if we could not stay at the depot4 ,he said1 ,no2 we should all freeze to death1 for the fire is out till ,sunday evening4 ,a gentleman sitting in front of us said he would show us a good hotel near by1 as he was acquainted there4 ,i thanked him1 but sunk back on my seat4 ,covering my eyes with my hand1 and raising my heart to ,god1 ,i said1 ',o1 ,god1 if thou art my ,father1 and ,i am thy child1 put it into the heart of that conductor to wait till we get there4' ,soon ,i became calm1 and fell asleep1 not realizing that ,god would answer my poor prayer2 but1 when we reached ,toledo1 to the astonishment of us all1 there stood the conductor1 wanting to know the reason why he had to wait1 when our conductor told him there was a lady with her crippled father and two little daughters1 who were going down on that train4 ,soon as all were out of the car1 both conductors came with their lanterns and gave their aid in helping my father to the other train1 where they had reserved seats by keeping the door locked4 ,all was hurry and confusion to me1 as ,i had my eye on father1 fearing he might fall1 it being very slippery1 when the baggage-master said1 ',your checks1 madam6' ,i handed them to him1 and rushed into the car2 but1 before ,i got seated1 the car started1 and ,i had no checks for my baggage4 ,again my heart cried out1 ',o1 ,thou that hearest prayer1 take care of my baggage6' believing ,he could do that as well as make the conductor wait4 ,in a few moments the conductor came to me with a face radiant with smiles1 saying1 ',madam1 ,i waited a whole half hour for you1--a thing ,i never did before since ,i was a conductor1 so much as to wait one minute after my time4' ,he said1 ',i know it was your father that ,i was waiting for1 because there was nothing else on the train for which ,i could have waited4' ,i exclaimed1 in a half suppressed tone1 ',praise the ,lord6' ,i could not help it2 it gushed out4 ,then he said1 ',at the very moment all were on board1 and ,i was ready to start1 such a feeling came over me as ,i never had in my life before4 ,i could not start4 ,something kept saying to me1 you must wait1 for there is something pending on that train you must wait for4 ,i waited1 and here you are1 all safe4' ,again my heart said1 ,praise the ,lord6 and he started to leave me1 when ,i said1 ',but there is one thing4' ',what is it8' was his quick reply4 ',i gave the baggage-master my checks1 and have none in return4' ',what were the numbers8' ,i told him4 ',i have them1' he said1 handing them to me1 'but your baggage will not be there till ,monday morning4 ,we had no time to put it on1 we had waited so long4' ,,another ,,wonderful ,,record ,,of #be4 ,a ,christian minister1 living in ,northern ,indiana1 was in want1 and knelt in prayer again and again before his ,father in heaven4 ,his quarterly allowance had been withheld1 and want stared him in the face4 ,constrained by urgent need1 and shut up to ,god for help1 he pleaded repeatedly for a supply of his temporal wants4 ,now see how extraordinary was the plan of the ,lord to send relief4 ,in one of the lovely homes of ,massachusetts1 while the snow was falling and the winds were howling without1 a lady sat on one side of the cheerful fire1 knitting a little stocking for her oldest grandson1 and her husband1 opposite to her1 was reading aloud a missionary paper1 when the following passage arrested the attention of the lady and fastened itself in her memory4 ',in consequence of failure to obtain my salary when due1 ,i have been so oppressed with care and want1 as to make it painfully difficult to perform my duties as a minister4 ,there is very little prospect1 seemingly1 of improvement in this respect for some time to come4 ,what ,i say of my own painfully inadequate support1 is substantially true of nearly all your missionaries in this ,state4 ,you1 of course1 cannot be blamed for this4 ,you are but the almoners of the churches1 and can be expected to appropriate only what they furnish4 ,this1 however1 the ,master will charge to somebody as a grievous fault2 for it is not ,his will that his ministers should labor unrequited4' ,this extract was without name or date4 ,it was simply headed 'from a missionary in ,northern ,indiana4' ,scores of readers probably gave it only a passing glance4 ,not so the lady who sat knitting by the fire and heard her husband read it4 ,the words sank into her mind1 and dwelt in her thoughts4 ,the clause1 ',this1 however1 the ,master will charge to somebody as a grievous fault1' especially seemed to follow her wherever she went4 ,the case1 she said1 haunted her4 ,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 minister4 ,impelled by an unseen1 but1 as she believes1 a divine presence and power1 after asking counsel and guidance of the ,lord1 she took twenty- five dollars which were at her own disposal1 and requested her husband to give it to the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,h------ for the writer of the above communication1 if he could devise any way to obtain the writer's address4 ,doctor ,h------ is a prompt man1 who does not let gold destined to such an end rest in his pocket4 ,familiar with the various organizations of the benevolent societies1 and only too happy to have an agency in supplying the wants of a laborer in ,christ's vineyard1 he soon started the money on its appointed errand4 ,early in ,april1 the lady in her rural home had the happiness of receiving the following note1 of which we omit nothing1 save the names of persons and places3 ',,dear ,,madam4--,i have just received a draft for twenty-five dollars1 as a special donation from you4 ,this ,i do with profound gratitude to you for this unselfish and ,christ-like deed1 and to ,him who put it into your heart to do it4 ,how you1 a lady a thousand miles away1 could know that ,i was1 and had been for some time1 urged by unusual need to pray for succor and worldly support with unwonted fervency1 is a matter of more than curious inquiry4 ,it is an answer to my prayer1 for the ,lord employs the instrumentality of his children to answer prayer1 and1 when it is necessary1 he moves them to it4 ,this is not the first nor second time that ,i have been laid under special obligation by ,christian sympathy and timely aid4 ,may ,he who said1 ,he that giveth a cup of cold water to a disciple1 in the name of a disciple1 shall not lose his reward1 repay you a thousand-fold for this favor4' ,does not this little incident illustrate the power of prayer8 ,the man of ,god1 weary and heavy-laden1 in his closet in ,indiana1 spread his case before the ,lord4 ,a disciple in ,eastern ,massachusetts1 a thousand miles away from the spot where the prayer was offered1 who did not know anything about him or his need1 is touched with his wants1 and moved to send him immediate aid4 ,,mr4 ,,spurgeon',s ,,cow4 ,my grandfather was a very poor minister1 and kept a cow1 which was a very great help in the support of his children--he had ten of them2--and the cow took the staggers and died4 ',what will you do now8' said my grandmother4 ',i cannot tell what we shall do now1' said he1 'but ,i know what ,god will do3 ,god will provide for us4 ,we must have milk for the children4' ,the next morning1 there came #bj to him4 ,he had never made application to the fund for the relief of ministers2 but1 on that day1 there were #e left when they had divided the money1 and one said1 ',there is poor ,mr4 ,spurgeon down in ,essex1 suppose we send it to him4' ,the chairman--a ,mr4 ,morley of his day--said1 ',we had better make it #aj1 and ,i'll give #e4' ,another #e was offered by another member1 if a like amount could be raised1 to make it up to #bj2 which was done4 ,they knew nothing about my grandfather's cow2 but ,god did1 you see2 and there was the new cow for him4 ,and those gentlemen in ,london were not aware of the importance of the service which they had rendered4 ,,charles ,,spurgeon4 ,,trust ,,in ,,the ,,lord4 ,a poor negro woman1 after the death of her husband1 had no means of support for herself and two little children1 except the labor of her own hands2 yet she found means out of her deep poverty to give something for the promotion of the cause of her ,redeemer1 and would never fail to pay1 on the very day it became due1 her regular subscription to the church of which she was a member4 ,in a hard ,winter she had found great difficulty in supplying the pressing needs of her little family2 yet the few pence for religious purposes had been regularly put by4 ,as one season for the contribution came round1 she had only a little corn1 a single salt herring1 and a five-cent piece remaining of her little store4 ,yet she did not waver2 she ground the corn1 prepared her children's supper1 and then1 with a light heart and cheerful countenance1 set out to meeting1 where she gave joyfully the five cents1 the last she had in the world4 ,returning from the church1 she passed the house of a lady to whom1 a long time before1 she had sold a piece of pork1 so long indeed that she had entirely forgotten the circumstance4 ,but1 seeing her this morning1 the lady called her in1 apologized for having been so tardy in the settlement1 and then inquired how much it was4 ,old ,sukey did not know1 and the lady1 determined to be on the safe side1 gave her two dollars1 besides directing her housekeeper to put up a basket of flour1 sugar1 coffee1 and other luxuries for her use4 ,poor ,sukey returned home with a joyful heart1 saying1 as she displayed her treasures1 ,see1 my children1 the ,lord is a good paymaster1 giving us 'a hundred-fold even in this present life1 and in the world to come life everlasting4' ,,exactly ,,eighty ,,dollars4--,,they ,,are ,,safe ,,that ,,trust ,,in ,,thee4 ,a clergyman somewhat advanced in years recently related to a correspondent of ,the ,messenger an incident in his own life1 which well illustrates the provident care of our heavenly ,father over his children4 ,his first church was at ,v----1 and1 though he labored diligently1 working with his own hands for his support1 he became eighty dollars in debt4 ,it was a grievous burden1 and all his efforts to remove it proved unavailing4 ,one day1 when he felt especially cast down1 he retired to pray over the matter1 and on his knees he besought the ,lord to aid1 as he despaired of help from any other source4 ,he felt strengthened and hopeful when he left his closet1 and entered his church on ,sabbath morning with a lighter heart than usual4 ,as he passed the door a young lady met him1 and placed in his hand fifty dollars1 saying that twenty was to go for the ,sabbath-school library1 and the remaining thirty was for himself4 ,he was so surprised that he scarcely trusted his senses1 and asked her not less than three times1 that he might not be mistaken4 ,as he preached that day1 ,god seemed 'a very present help4' ,at the close of the service1 a young man1 noted for his free-hearted1 impulsive character1 stepped up and requested that he would perform a marriage ceremony for him the next week4 ,he did so1 and received for his services a bill1 which he placed in his pocket1 and1 on looking at it afterwards1 found it fifty dollars1 thus making up exactly the eighty he had prayed the ,lord to send him4 ,we too often forget that ,god is as willing to listen to our temporal wants as to our spiritual1 and that no good thing will ,he withhold from them that walk uprightly4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,four ,,dollars4 ,a ,home ,missionary from ,brooklyn called one day upon an editor to gather some tracts for distribution which he had published4 ,the editor became interested in the story of his visits among the poor1 and though at first not specially moved to give money at that time1 yet toward the last1 putting his hand into his pocket he pulled out all the bills there were there1 #d1 and gave them to the missionary with these words3 ,there is something which may come useful4 ,the gift was all forgotten until a few days afterward the missionary returned and said to the editor1 ,after ,i left you ,i received a letter from a poor lady who had been owing money for rent for several months1 which she could not possibly pay4 ,that very morning the landlord came and said that if she could only raise #d he would excuse the rest2 but she did not have the #d4 ,i did not know where to get it4 ,i happened to drop in to see you2 did not tell you anything of the need1 and asked for nothing2 yet you gave me the exact #d to answer that poor woman's prayer4 ,an infinite ,creator and ,god had brought these circumstances together in this exact way4 ,neither the editor nor missionary had ever met before4 ,the missionary did not know that the lady was in distress4 ,who was it that sent the landlord to the lady and fixed that amount of #d in his mind8 ,who was it that sent the home missionary to the office of a person he had never seen or known8 ,who was it that knew of the #d waiting in that pocket and prompted that hand to take it out and give it away8 ,who was it that led that missionary to obtain and send relief just as she was praying for that special amount8 ,was it chance or science8 ,no1 ,no4 ,it was the will of a loving ,god4 ,,aunt ,,sally',s ,,faith4 ',aunt ,sally1' says the ,american ,messenger1 was a devout1 working1 trustful ,christian4 ,her husband was a cripple1 almost helpless1 an unbeliever1 and to some extent an opposer of religion4 ,they lived alone4 ,the severity of a northern winter was upon them1 and in spite of her best exertions their stock of fuel was scarcely a day's supply4 ',what can be done8' was the anxious inquiry of the unbelieving husband as they were rising from their bed4 ',the ,lord will provide1' was ',aunt ,sally's' cheerful reply4 ',i know you always say so1 and so it has always proved1' was the answer of her unbelieving companion2 'but ,i see no way in which we can be provided for now4' ',nor do ,i1' said ',aunt ,sally4' ',but help will come4 ,god will not desert us4' ,that winter's morning had not passed when their son1 who had been a soldier in the ,mexican war1 entered the door4 ,it had been long since they had heard from him1 and they feared he was not alive4 ,the sun went down upon an abundant supply of fuel1 cut in the forest by the strong arms of the soldier-boy1 and drawn to the door by means of his procuring4 ,the unbelieving husband and father declared he would never be distrustful again4 ,,god ,,careth ,,for ,,you4 ,nearly forty years ago ,i was given up by the doctors for a dying man from consumption4 ,i had a wife and five children dependent on me1 and for many months was unable to provide for them by my own labors4 ,all our earthly resources were gone1 and one ,sabbath morning1 when breakfast was over1 we were entirely destitute2 there was no meal in the barrel nor oil in the cruse4 ,in family worship ,i read the fortieth chapter of ,isaiah4 ,i think up to that time ,i had never found the word of ,god so sweet and precious4 ,i had very near access in prayer1 and was enabled to lay my burden at the ,saviour's feet4 ,i closed with the ,lord's ,prayer2 it seemed made on purpose for me4 ,i think the petition1 ',give us this day our daily bread1' was offered in faith4 ,within an hour there was a rap at the door4 ,when ,i opened it a young man stood there who had come three miles to bring us bread1 sugar1 and money4 ,he apologized for coming on the ,sabbath morning1 but said an aunt of his was at their house the evening before1 and felt so anxious about us she could not go away till he promised her he would come and bring us those things4 ,a ,,prayer ,,not ,,answered4 ,many years ago1 a man then recently married1 settled in my native town4 ,it was then quite new1 destitute of religious privileges1 and given to all manner of wickedness4 ,there was no ,sabbath1 and no sanctuary4 ,the man was pious4 ,the thought of bringing up a family in such a place distressed him4 ,he wished to remove2 and he used to retire daily to a little grove1 and pray that ,god would send some one to buy his farm4 ,this prayer was not answered4 ,better things were in store4 ,a neighbor was taken sick4 ,he visited and conversed with him4 ,in the midst of the conversation1 one sitting by interrupted him and said1 ',sir1 if what you say is true1 ,i am lost4' ,this gave new interest to the occasion4 ,prayer was offered1 the ,spirit was found out1 and many were converted4 ,a prayer-meeting was started2 other revivals followed2 in due time a church was organized1 a house of worship built1 and a pastor settled1 mainly through the instrumentality of that one man2 and he trained up his family there1 and lived to see most of them members of the church of ,christ4 ,do not despair1 ,god will either answer your exact prayer1 or do something better for you2 ,he knows what is for your best good4 ,,trust ,,in ,,the ,,lord4 ,a pious woman1 who was reduced to extreme poverty and deserted by her intemperate husband1 was taken sick1 and lay several days without physical power to provide food for her two little children4 ,she had directed them where to find the little that was remaining in the house1 and they had eaten it all4 ,still she lay sick1 with no means of obtaining more1 as night closed upon the hungry household4 ,the children soon forgot their hunger in sleep2 but not so the mother4 ,she saw no help for them but in ,god1 and she spent the night-watches in spreading before him their necessities4 ,as the morning approached her confidence in ,god increased1 and that passage from his word rested with peculiar sweetness upon her mind1 ',trust in the ,lord and do good2 so shalt thou dwell in the land1 and verily thou shalt be fed4' ,morning came4 ,the starving children managed by her direction to build them a little fire1 and almost before they had commenced telling their mother of their hunger1 a stranger came in4 ,she introduced herself as ,mrs4 ,j41 saying she had known for some time that there was a new family in the neighborhood1 and intended to call and make their acquaintance1 but had been prevented4 ,during the last night she had been so troubled and disturbed about it1 that she thought she would run in early1 lest she should again be prevented1 and see if there was any way in which she could be of service to them4 ,the mother in bed1 with her head bound to mitigate its pain1 revealed the story of her sufferings1 and the good lady soon learned their entire destitution4 ,they were immediately made comfortable2 and all will be glad to know that it was the beginning of better days to that deserted wife and mother4 ,,the ,,necessity ,,of ,,asking ,,god',s ,,blessing ,,every ,,day1 ,,upon ,,your ,,daily ,,work4 ,,every ,,work1 ,,however ,,good1 ,,needs ,,special1 ,,specific1 ,,daily ,,prayer ,,for ,,its ,,prosperity4 ,a colporteur in the ,wabash valley became quite discouraged and was almost ready to give up his work1 on account of the smallness of his sales4 ,on every side1 his ears were filled with complaints of 'hard times2' the wheat crop had partially failed two years in succession--the ,california emigration1 and railroad and plank-road speculations had almost drained the country of money4 ,frequently he would be told1 that if he could come after harvest they would buy his books1 but that it was impossible to do so then4 ,his sales were daily decreasing1 and he became more and more disheartened1 until one night1 after a laborious day's effort1 he found that he had only sold twenty-five cents' worth6 ,he felt that he could not go on in this way any longer4 ,he was wasting his strength and time1 and the money of the ,society4 ,on examination of the state of his heart1 he found that it had1 gradually and almost unconsciously1 grown cold and departed far from ,christ4 ,he felt that he had not prayed as he ought to have done1 especially he had neglected each morning1 and on his approach to each dwelling1 to pray that then and there ,god would guide him1 and own and bless his efforts to sell books4 ,he saw that probably here was at least a part of the cause why his sales had become so small4 ,early the next morning1 before any of the family were up1 he arose and retired to the adjoining woods1 where he had a long and precious season of communion with ,god4 ,there he anew dedicated himself and his all to the service of ,christ4 ,there1 as under the eye of the ,master1 he reviewed the time he had labored as a colporteur1 and prayed for forgiveness for the past and grace for the future4 ,there he told the ,saviour all about his work1 and asked him to go with him that day1 preparing the way and enabling him to succeed in the work on which he had entered4 ,the result was what might have been expected4 ,he went forth a new man2 his heart was interested more deeply in the truths which he was circulating--they were more precious than ever to his own soul1 and he could recommend his books1 as he failed to do when his heart was cold and prayerless4 ,that first day he sold more books than during the whole week before4 ,in one instance1 he sold several dollars' worth in a family where1 as he was afterwards told by pious men in the neighborhood1 the father was most bitterly opposed to everything connected with true religion4 ,god had prepared that man's heart1 so that he was ready to purchase quite a library for his family4 ,and in many families that met him that day with the usual salutation1 'no money1' he succeeded in disposing of more than one volume by sale4 ,as he went from family to family1 lifting up his heart in prayer to ,god for success in the particular object of his visit1 ,god heard his prayers and owned his efforts4 ,and so1 he assured me1 it had been since2 whenever he had been prayerful--prayerful for this particular object1 and then had diligently and faithfully done his best1 he had invariably succeeded in doing even more than he expected4 ,,prayer ,,found ,,the ,,remedy ,,for ,,the ,,disease4 ,a correspondent of ,the ,illustrated ,christian ,weekly1 states that a mother of her acquaintance had a child taken alarmingly ill4 ,she sent for the physician4 ,the child was in convulsions4 ,the doctor began at once vigorously to apply the customary remedies--cold water to the head1 warm applications to the feet1 chafing of the hands and limbs4 ,all was in vain4 ,the body lost nothing of its dreadful rigidity4 ,death seemed close at hand1 and absolutely inevitable4 ,at length he left the child1 and sat down by the window1 looking out4 ,he seemed1 to the agonized mother1 to have abandoned her darling4 ,for herself1 she could do nothing but pray2 and even her prayer was but an inarticulate and unvoiced cry for help4 ,suddenly the physician started from his seat4 ',send and see if there be any jimson weed in the yard1' he cried4 ,his order was obeyed2 the poisonous weed was found4 ,the remedies were instantly changed4 ,enough of the seeds of this deadly weed were brought away by the medicine to have killed a man4 ,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 mind4 ,among them was the one case which suggested the real1 but before hidden1 cause of the protracted and dreadful convulsions4 ,and the child was saved4 ,now1 is there anything inconsistent or unphilosophical in the belief that1 at that critical moment1 a loving ,god1 answering the mother's ,helpless cry1 flashed on the mind of the physician the thought that saved the child8 ,is it any objection to that faith to say1 the age of miracles is past8 ,if the mother1 may call in a second physician1 to suggest the cause and the cure1 may she not call on ,god8 ,what the doctor can do for a fellow-practitioner1 cannot the ,great ,physician do8 ,though the doctor had often tried and thought1 yet it was not till the last prayer and call on ,god1 brought the remedy to his mind4 ,,prayer ,,instantaneously ,,answered ,,for ,,conversion4 ,on the evening of the fifty-first daily prayer-meeting in ,augusta1 ,ga41 a large gathering assembled in the ,st4 ,john's ,m4,e4 ,church1 at which ,dr4 ,irvine presided1 and some very touching communications were read4 ,one was from a widowed mother1 asking thanksgiving for the salvation of her youngest daughter1 recently from a boarding-school in ,new ,york city1 where she had finished her education4 ,some weeks ago she had sought the prayers of the daily prayer-meeting for the conversion of her precious child1 who was spending a few weeks with some friends seventy miles from ,augusta4 ,prayers were offered accordingly1 but without intimation of any change4 ,the loving mother sent in a second application or prayer to ,dr4 ,irvine1 to be read on a recent ,monday morning2 all this without her daughter's knowledge4 ,on ,tuesday the mother received a letter from her daughter1 dated two o'clock on ,sabbath1 informing her that on that day1 and at that hour1 she had resolved to give her heart to ,christ1 intending to ask admission to the church at the next communion4 ,strange to say1 at the very moment when the faithful mother was writing her application for prayers for that child1 she was announcing her own conversion4 ,what a verification of the blessed promise3 ,before they call ,i will answer2 and while they are yet speaking ,i will hear4 ,,help ,,for ,,the ,,shipwrecked4 ,admiral ,sir ,thomas ,williams1 a straight-forward and excellent man1 was in command of a ship crossing the ,atlantic ,ocean4 ,his course brought him in sight of the ,island of ,ascension1 at that time uninhabited1 and never visited by any ship1 except for the purpose of collecting turtles1 which abound on the coast4 ,the island was barely descried on the horizon1 and was not to be noticed at all2 but as ,sir ,thomas looked at it1 he was seized by an unaccountable desire to steer toward it4 ,he felt how strange such a wish would appear to his crew1 and tried to disregard it2 but in vain4 ,his desire became more and more urgent and distressing1 and foreseeing that it would soon be more difficult to gratify it1 he told his lieutenant to prepare to put about ship and steer for ,ascension4 ,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 allowed4 ,but these arguments seemed1 to increase ,captain ,williams' anxiety1 and the ship was steered toward the uninteresting little island4 ,all eyes and spy-glasses were now fixed upon it1 and soon something was perceived on the shore4 ,it is white--it is a flag--it must be a signal6 ,and when they neared the shore1 it was ascertained that sixteen men1 wrecked on the coast many days before1 and suffering the extremity of hunger1 had set up a signal1 though almost without hope of relief4 ,what made the captain steer his ship in the very opposite direction to what he and his crew wanted to go1 but the superhuman ,spirit of ,god4 ,,samuel ,,harris',s ,,lawsuit1 ,,and ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,settled ,,it ,,for ,,him4 ,when ,samuel ,harris1 of ,virginia1 began to preach1 his soul was so absorbed in the work1 that he neglected to attend to the duties of this life4 ,finding1 upon a time1 that it was absolutely necessary that he should provide more grain for his family than he had raised upon his own farm1 he called upon a man who owed him a debt1 and told him he would be glad to receive the money4 ,the man replied3 ',i have no money by me1 and cannot oblige you4' ,harris said2 ',i want the money to purchase wheat for my family2 and as you have raised a good crop of wheat1 ,i will take that of you instead of money1 at a current price4' ,the man answered3 ',i have other uses for my wheat1 and cannot let you have it4' ',how then1' said ,harris1 'do you intend to pay me8' ',i never intend to pay you until you sue me1' replied the debtor1 'and therefore you may begin your suit as soon as you please4' ,mr4 ,harris left him1 meditating4 ,said he to himself1 ',what shall ,i do8 ,must ,i leave preaching1 and attend to a vexatious lawsuit8 ,perhaps a thousand souls may perish in the meantime1 for want of hearing of ,jesus6 ,no2 ,i will not4 ,well1 what will you do for yourself8 ,why1 this will ,i do2 ,i will sue him at the ,court of ,heaven4' ,having resolved what he would do1 he turned aside into a wood1 and on his knees laid the matter before the ,lord4 ,mr4 ,harris felt such an evidence of ,divine favor1--he felt1 to use his own expressive language1 that ,jesus would become bondsman for the man1 and see that he was paid if he went on preaching4 ,mr4 ,harris arose from prayer1 resolved to hold the man no longer a debtor1 since ,jesus had assumed the payment4 ,he therefore wrote a receipt in full of all accounts against the man1 and dating it in the woods1 where he had prayed1 signed it with his own name4 ,going the next day by the man's house1 on his way to meeting1 he gave the receipt to a servant1 directing him to give it to his master4 ,on his return from meeting1 the man hailed him1 and demanded what he meant by the receipt he had sent him in the morning4 ,mr4 ,harris replied3 ',i mean just as ,i wrote4' ',but you know1 sir1' answered the debtor1 ',i have never paid you4' ',true1' said ,mr4 ,harris1 'and ,i know you said that you never would unless ,i sued you4 ,but1 sir1 ,i sued you at the ,court of ,heaven1 and ,jesus entered bail for you1 and has agreed to pay me2 ,i have therefore given you a discharge6' ',but ,i insist upon it1' said the man2 'matters shall not be left so4' ',i am well satisfied1' answered ,harris4 ',jesus will not fail me4 ,i leave you to settle the account with him at another day4 ,farewell4' ,this operated so effectually on the man's conscience1 that in a few days he came and paid the debt4 ,a ,,wagon-,,load ,,of ,,food4 ,a young minister and his wife were sent on to their first charge in ,vermont about the year #ahdf4 ,on the circuit were few members1 and most of these were in poor circumstances4 ,after a few months the minister and his wife found themselves getting short of provisions4 ,finally their last food had been cooked1 and where to look for a new supply was a question which demanded immediate attention4 ,the morning meal was eaten1 not without anxious feelings2 but this young servant of the ,most ,high had laid his all upon the altar1 and his wife also possessed much of the spirit of self-sacrifice2 and they could not think the ,saviour who had said to those he had called and sent out to preach in his name3 ',lo6 ,i am with you always1' would desert them among strangers4 ,after uniting in family prayer he sought a sanctuary in an old barn1 and there committed their case to ,god2--his wife met her ,savior in her closet and poured out her heart before him there4 ,that morning a young married farmer1 a mile or two away1 was going with a number of hands to his mowing-field4 ,but as he afterward told the minister1 he was obliged to stop short4 ,he told his hired help to go on1 but he must go back--he must go and carry provisions to the minister's house4 ,he returned to the house1 and telling his wife how he felt1 asked her help in putting up the things he must carry4 ,he harnessed his horse into his wagon2 put up a bushel of potatoes1 meat1 flour1 sugar1 butter1 etc4 ,he was not a professor of religion4 ,the minister's wife told me there was a good wagon-load4 ,he drove it to the house1 and found that his gifts were most thankfully received4 ,this account was received from the minister himself1--,david ,p4--1 who died in ,chelsea1 ,mass41 in ,dec4 #ahge1 and subsequently from his wife1--and communicated to a correspondent of ',the ,christian4' ,,god',s ,,raven4 ,a lady who lived on the north side of ,london1 set out one day to see a poor sick friend1 living in ,drury ,lane1 and took with her a basket provided with tea1 butter1 and food4 ,the day was fine and clear when she started2 but as she drew near ,islington a thick fog came on1 and somewhat frightened her1 as she was deaf1 and feared it might be dangerous in the streets if she could not see4 ,thicker and darker the fog became2 they lighted the lamps1 and the omnibus went at a walking pace4 ,she might have got into another omnibus and returned2 but a strong feeling which she could not explain made her go on4 ,when they reached the ,strand they could see nothing4 ,at last the omnibus stopped1 and the conductor guided her to the foot-path4 ,as she was groping her way along1 the fog cleared up1 just at the entrance to ,drury ,lane1 and even the blue sky was seen4 ,she now easily found the narrow court1 rang the number #e bell1 and climbed to the fifth story4 ,she knocked at the door1 and a little girl opened it4 ',how is grandmother8' ',come in1 ,mrs4 ,a----1' answered the grandmother4 ',how did you get here8 ,we have been in thick darkness all day4' ,the room was exceedingly neat1 and the kettle stood boiling on a small clear fire4 ,everything was in perfect order2 on the table stood a little tea-tray ready for use4 ,the sick woman was in bed1 and her daughter sat working in a corner of the room4 ',i see you are ready for tea1' said the lady2 ',i have brought something more to place upon the table4' ,with clasped hands the woman breathed a few words of thanksgiving first1 and then said1 ',o1 ,mrs4 ,a----1 you are indeed ,god's raven1 sent by him to bring us food to-day1 for we have not tasted any yet4 ,i felt sure he would care for us4' ',but you have the kettle ready for tea8' ',yes1 ma'am1' said the daughter2 'mother would have me set it on the fire2 and when ,i said1 ',what is the use of doing so8 you know we have nothing in the house1' she still would have it1 and said1 ',my child1 ,god will provide4 ,thirty years he has already provided for me1 through all my pain and helplessness1 and he will not leave me to starve at last3 he will send us help1 though we do not yet see how4' ,in this expectation mother has been waiting all day1 quite sure that some one would come and supply our need4 ,but we did not think of the possibility of your coming from such a distance on such a day4 ,indeed1 it must be ,god who sent you to us4' ',the righteous cry1 and the ,lord heareth1 and delivereth them out of all their troubles4' ,,how ,,the ,,stolen ,,sleigh ,,was ,,returned ,,by ,a ,,thief4 ,the widow of a minister of the ,gospel sends to ,the ,christian the following instance illustrating ,god's faithfulness in hearing and answering prayer3 ,about the year #ahbi1 my husband1 who died ,january #b;d1 #ahed1 lent his sleigh and harness to a man calling himself ,john ,cotton1 to go some twenty miles and be gone three days4 ,cotton was quite a stranger among us1 having been in our place but six weeks4 ,during that time he had boarded with my husband's brother1 working for him a part of the time1 and the rest of the time selling wooden clocks1 of which he had bought a number4 ,three days passed1 but he did not return4 ,the fourth went by1 and we began to think he had absconded4 ,on inquiry1 ,mr4 ,p4 found that the clocks had been purchased on credit1 and all sold for watches or money2 that ,cotton owed sixty dollars toward his horse1 and had borrowed of the brother with whom he boarded1 horse-blanket1 whip1 and mittens4 ,now it seemed sure that he was a rogue1 but what could be done8 ,pursuit was useless after such a lapse of time4 ,my husband felt his loss severely1 for we had little property then1 and what we had was the product of hard labor4 ,but he was a ,christian1 and1 ,i believe1 always made his business a subject of prayer4 ,about three weeks passed away4 ,one evening1 having been out longer than usual1 he came in1 and1 with his characteristic calmness1 said3 ',i shall not worry any more about my sleigh and harness1 ,i think ,i shall get them again4' ',why do you think so8' ,his answer was3 ',i have been praying to ,god to arrest ,cotton's conscience1 so that he will be obliged to leave them where ,i can get them1 and ,i believe he will do it4' ,from this time1 which was ,wednesday evening1 he seemed at rest on the subject4 ,the next ,tuesday morning1 as he stepped into the post-office1 a letter was handed him from ,littleton1 ,n4,h4 ,it was written by the keeper of a public house1 and read thus3 ',mr4 ,p4--,sir1 ,mr4 ,john ,cotton has left your sleigh and harness here1 and you can have them by calling for them4 ,yours1 etc41 ,j--,n ,n----,n4' ,he returned home with the letter1 and started for ,l----2 went there the same day1 some forty miles2 found sleigh and harness safe1 with no encumbrance4 ,the landlord informed him that1 a few nights before1 at twelve o'clock1 a man calling himself ,john ,cotton came to his house1 calling for horse-baiting and supper2 would not stay till morning1 but wished to leave the sleigh and harness for ,mr4 ,s4--- ,p4--- of ,marshfield1 ,vt4 ,he said he could not write himself2 and requested the landlord to write for him1 saying he took them on a poor debt for ,mr4 ,p41 in one of the towns below6 ,he started off at two o'clock at night1 on horseback1 with an old pair of saddle-bags and a horse blanket1 on a saddle with one stirrup and no crupper1 on one of the coldest nights of that or any other year4 ,he took the road leading through the ,notch in the mountains1 left nothing for either of those he owed1 and we have never since heard from him4 ,,none ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,children ,,left ,,desolate4 ,the ,christian ,era tells of a ,dutch preacher who held a meeting one evening in a strange city4 ,while he was preaching1 and enforcing upon the hearts of his hearers the doctrine of the ,cross1 a police officer came into the room and forbade him to go on4 ,he even commanded him to leave the city4 ,as he was a stranger in the place1 and the night was dark1 he wandered around the city gates4 ,he was not1 however1 without consolation2 for he remembered ,him who had said1 ',lo1 ,i am with you always4 ,i will fear no evil1 for thou art with me2 thy rod and thy staff1 they comfort me4' ,he had long been in the school of ,christ1 and had learned to watch for the slightest intimations of ,his will4 ,while he was thus wandering around1 suddenly he saw a light in the distance4 ',see1' he said to himself1 'perhaps the ,lord has provided me a shelter there1' and1 in the simplicity of faith1 he directed his steps thither4 ,on arriving1 he heard a voice in the house2 and1 as he drew nearer1 he discovered that a man was praying4 ,joyful1 he hoped1 that he had found here the home of a brother4 ,he stood still for a moment1 and heard these words1 poured forth from an earnest heart3 ',lord ,jesus1 one of thy persecuted servants may1 perhaps1 be wandering1 at this moment1 in a strange place of which he knows nothing4 ,o1 may he find my home1 that he may receive here food and lodging4' ,the preacher1 having heard these words1 glided into the house1 as soon as the speaker said1 ',amen4' ,both fell on their knees1 and together thanked the ,lord1 who is a hearer of prayer1 and who never leaves nor forsakes ,his servants4 ,,the ,,new ,,coat ,,that ,,fitted ,,exactly4 ,a few years since1 a young preacher in the ,state of ,massachusetts1 who was laboring in a field which yielded no great pecuniary returns1 had laid aside the sum of fifteen dollars from his scanty income1 with which to purchase himself a coat1 of which he stood in need4 ,before he had time to obtain it1 there was presented to him a certain charitable object which seemed to demand a portion of his little store4 ,after some consideration as to whether it was his duty to give as much as the ten dollars1 which first presented itself to his mind as the proper sum to bestow1 he concluded to follow his convictions1 and thus assist one who was more needy than himself1 and trust in the ,lord to provide the coat4 ,within two or three days afterwards1 he was visiting at the house of his mother1 in another town1 and she1 as mothers will1 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 one1 and she made some remarks about its worn appearance1 saying1 ',it seems to me you need a new coat4' ',i know it1' he replied1 'and ,i shall get me one as soon as ,i get the means4' ,she said1 ',there is a coat up stairs which your brother had made for him not over two weeks ago1 which he never has worn but once1 because it was made too small1 and he said that you might have it1 if you wanted it4' ,the coat was accordingly brought down and tried on1 and it fitted exactly4 ,the young man gladly accepted the coat1 wondering a little at the wisdom of the ,lord in clothing him at the expense of his brother1 who was not particularly interested in the ,lord's work1 and who was so much larger than he was1 that nothing short of the wisdom of ,providence could have made a coat that was measured for one of them ever to fit the other4 ,this was the return that ,god made to him for his sacrifice to the ,lord4 ,never withhold from the ,lord4 ,,praying ,,to ,,stop ,,the ,,wind ,,and ,,the ,,sailing ,,of ,a ,,vessel4 ,the late aged and venerable ,rev4 ,dr4 ,cleaveland1 of ,boston1 relates the following incident3 ,in a revival of religion in the church of which he was pastor1 he was visited one morning by a member of his church1 a widow1 whose only son was a sailor4 ,with a voice trembling with emotion1 she said1 ',doctor ,cleaveland1 ,i have called to entreat you to join me in praying that the wind may change4' ,he looked at her in silent amazement4 ',yes1' she exclaimed1 earnestly1 'my son has gone on board his vessel2 they sail to-night1 unless the wind changes4' ',well1 madam1' replied the doctor1 ',i will pray that your son may be converted on this voyage2 but to pray that ,god would alter the laws of ,his universe on his account1 ,i fear is presumptuous4' ',doctor1' she replied1 'my heart tells me differently4 ,god's ,spirit is here4 ,souls are being converted here4 ,you have a meeting this evening1 and1 if the wind would change1 ,john would stay and go to it2 and1 ,i believe1 if he went he would be converted4 ,now1 if you cannot join me1 ,i must pray alone1 for he must stay4' ',i will pray for his conversion1' said the doctor4 ,on his way to the meeting1 he glanced at the weather-vane1 and1 to his surprise1 the wind had changed1 and it was blowing landward4 ,on entering his crowded vestry1 he soon observed ,john1 sitting upon the front seat4 ,the young man seemed to drink in every word1 rose to be prayed for1 and attended the inquiry meeting4 ,when he sailed from port1 the mother's prayers had been answered2 he went a ,christian4 ,the pastor had learned a lesson he never forgot4 ,the ,lord had said1 ',o1 woman1 great is thy faith2 be it unto thee1 even as thou wilt4' ,god answered that prayer because the mother was seeking to advance ,his own kingdom4 ,god always hears a prayer that will in any way bring a soul to the ,lord4 ,,insanity ,,cured ,,and ,,suicide ,,prevented4 ,augusta ,moore1 writes ,the ,christian1 of a young lady called home by the illness of her widowed mother1 who died before she could reach her4 ,this alone was a terrible shock to the delicate daughter1 who1 having been reared in luxury1 was ill-fitted for firm endurance of calamity4 ,but1 when it became known that a relative1 in whom she had placed confidence1 had managed1 in ways that need not be explained1 to defraud her out of her inheritance1 her mind gave way and she became insane4 ,for years1 her distressed husband strove in every way to restore her reason1 but she seemed rather to become worse1 and showed signs of intentions to commit suicide2 and her family and friends lived in a wretched state of apprehension4 ,in spite of the most faithful watchfulness1 she twice succeeded in securing the means for self-destruction1 but something prevented her from accomplishing her design4 ,at last1 it occurred to a friend to present this woman's case in the prayer-meeting1 to the ,lord1 and earnest prayer was offered for her restoration4 ,no immediate result appeared2 but the friends persevered4 ,during the ,winter1 a revival of religion occurred in the town where she dwelt1 and1 with much difficulty1 the insane woman1 who declared that she was utterly and finally forsaken by ,god1 was prevailed upon to attend the meetings4 ,they began immediately to have a good effect upon her4 ,she could sleep better2 she grew more cheerful1 and1 in a short time1 her reason returned to her4 ,a happier1 or more grateful woman than she now is1 no mortal eyes ever beheld1 and she affords one more instance of the ,lord's willingness to hear and answer fervent prayer4 ,,answers ,,to ,,prayer4 ,dr4 ,newman ,hall1 minister of ,surrey ,chapel1 ,london1 gives the following instances of answers to prayer from his own experience3 ,the writer's brother1 when superintendent of a ,sunday ,school1 felt a strong impulse1 one ,saturday evening1 to call on a member of his ,bible-class1 whom he had never visited before1 and to inquire if he was in any need4 ,he found him very ill4 ,though the mother and sister seemed in comfortable circumstances1 he felt constrained to inquire if he could aid them in any way4 ,they burst into tears1 and said that the young man had been asking for food which they had no power to supply1 and that1 on ,monday1 some of their goods were to be taken in default of the payment of rates4 ,when he knocked at the door they were on their knees in prayer for help to be sent them4 ,by the aid of a few friends1 the difficulty was at once met--but the timely succor was felt to be the divine response to prayer4 ,with that brother1 the writer was once climbing the ,cima di ,jazzi1 one of the mountains in the chain of ,monte ,rosa4 ,when nearly at the top1 they entered a dense fog4 ,presently1 the guides faced right about1 and grounded their axes on the frozen snow-slope4 ,the brother--seeing the slope still beyond1 and not knowing it was merely the cornice1 overhanging a precipice of several thousand feet--rushed onward4 ,the writer will never forget their cry of agonized warning4 ,his brother stood a moment on the very summit1 and then1 the snow yielding1 began to fall through4 ,one of the guides1 at great risk1 rushed after him and seized him by the coat4 ,this tore away1 leaving only three inches of cloth1 by which he was dragged back4 ,it seemed impossible to be nearer death1 and yet escape4 ,on his return home1 an invalid member of his congregation told him that she had been much in prayer for his safety1 and mentioned a special time when she particularly was earnest1 as if imploring deliverance from some great peril4 ,the times corresponded6 ,was not that prayer instrumental in preserving that life8 ,,bishop ,,simpson',s ,,recovery4 ,bishop ,bowman gives the following instance from his own experience3 ,in the ,fall of #aheh1 whilst visiting ,indiana1 ,i was at an annual conference where ,bishop ,janes presided4 ,we received a telegram that ,bishop ,simpson was dying4 ,said ,bishop ,janes1 ',let us spend a few moment's in earnest prayer for the recovery of ,bishop ,simpson4' ,we kneeled to pray4 ,william ,taylor1 the great ,california street preacher1 was called to pray1 and such a prayer ,i never heard since4 ,the impression seized upon me irresistibly1 ,bishop ,simpson will not die4 ,i rose from my knees perfectly quiet4 ,said ,i1 ',bishop ,simpson will not die4' ',why do you think so8' ,because ,i have had an irresistible impression made upon my mind during this prayer4' ,another said1 ',i have the same impression4' ,we passed it along from bench to bench1 until we found that a very large proportion of the conference had the same impression4 ,i made a minute of the time of day1 and when ,i next saw ,simpson1 he was attending to his daily labor4 ,i inquired of the ,bishop1 ',how did you recover from your sickness8' ,he replied1 ',i cannot tell4' ',what did your physician say8' ',he said it was a miracle4' ,i then said to the ,bishop1 ',give me the time and circumstances under which the change occurred4' ,he fixed upon the day1 and the very hour1 making allowance for the distance--a thousand miles away--that the preachers were engaged in prayer at this conference4 ,the physician left his room and said to his wife1 ',it is useless to do anything further2 the ,bishop must die4' ,in about an hour1 he returned and started back1 inquiring1 ',what have you done8' ',nothing1' was the reply4 ',he is recovering rapidly1' said the physician2 'a change has occurred in the disease within the last hour beyond anything ,i have ever seen2 the crisis is past1 and the ,bishop will recover4' ,and he did4 ,the doctor was puzzled2 it was beyond all the course and probabilities of nature and the laws of science4 ,what was it that made those ministers so sure--what was it that made the patient recover1 at the exact hour that they prayed8 ,there is only one answer1 ,the ever living ,power of a ,superior ,spirit which rules the world4 ,,the ,,seven ,,letters4 ,the following incident is given by ,the ,presbyterian1 on the authority of a private letter from ,paris3 ,at a ,bible reunion1 held at the house of an ,english ,congregationalist minister1 where several colporteurs1 teachers and others meet for devotional reading and conversation1 a brief anecdote was related by a clergyman living in ,la ,force1 who established there an institution for epileptics1 where he has now three hundred1 supported entirely on the principle of faith1 like ,muller's orphanage4 ,at one time1 he found himself in debt to the amount of five hundred pounds4 ,after a sleepless1 anxious night1 he found1 on his table1 seven letters4 ,opening five1 he found them to be all applications1 some of them most painful in their details1 for the admission of new inmates4 ,his excited mind could not bear it4 ,without opening the other two letters he threw them to his wife4 ',put them into the fire1' he said1 and turned to seek relief in the open air4 ',john1' said a sweet voice1 'this won't do4 ,come back4' ,so he did1 taking up the sixth letter1 which proved to be from a stranger1 enclosing a check for three hundred pounds4 ,the other envelope gave him just what was needed1 just that and no more4 ,he thanked ,god1 and took courage4 ,will he ever again hear the sweet1 sad voice1 ',wherefore didst thou doubt8' ,,the ,,lord ,,did ,,not ,,forget ,,the ,,potatoes4 ,a correspondent of ,arthur's ,magazine tells of a poor woman who had been washing for us1 who said3 ',seems as if the ,lord took very direct ways to reach people's feelings sometimes4 ,now1 ,i was astonished once in my life4 ,i lived away out ,west1 on the prairie1 ,i and my four children1 and ,i couldn't get much work to do1 and our little stock of provisions kept getting lower and lower4 ,one night1 we sat hovering over our fire1 and ,i was gloomy enough4 ,there was about a pint of corn-meal in the house1 and that was all4 ,i said1 ',well1 children1 may be the ,lord will provide something4' ',i do hope it will be a good mess of potatoes1' said cheery little ,nell2 'seems to me ,i never was so hungry for taters before4' ,after they were all asleep1 ,i lay there tossing over my hard bed1 and wondering what ,i would do next4 ,all at once1 the sweetest peace and rest came over me1 and ,i sank into such a good sleep4 ,next morning1 ,i was planning that ,i would make the tinfull of meal into mush1 and fry it in a greasy frying-pan1 in which our last meat had been fried4 ,as ,i opened the door to go down to the brook to wash1 ,i saw something new4 ,there1 on the bench1 beside the door1 stood two wooden pails and a sack4 ,one pail was full of meat1 the other full of potatoes1 and the sack filled with flour4 ,i brought my hands together in my joy1 and just hurrahed for the children to come4 ,little dears6 ,they didn't think of trousers and frocks then1 but came out all of a flutter1 like a flock of quails4 ,their joy was supreme4 ,they knew the ,lord had sent some1 of his angels with the sack and pails4 ,oh1 it was such a precious gift6 ,i washed the empty pails1 and put the empty sack in one of them1 and1 at night1 ,i stood them on the bench where ,i had found them1 and1 the next morning1 they were gone4 ,i tried and tried to find out who had befriended us1 but ,i never could4 ,the ,lord never seemed so far off after that time1' said the poor woman1 looking down with tearful eyes4 ,,the ,,prayer ,,in ,,the ,,woods4 ,a friend relates the following incident1 as received from the lips of a poor afflicted1 crippled orphan boy1 whose own experience is a practical illustration of the words3 ,when my father and my mother forsake me1 then the ,lord will take me up4 ,ps4 xxvii #aj4 ,out of many instances of answered prayer ,i will tell the following one3 ,in ,august1 #ahgd1 ,i wished to go to ,lowell1 a distance of some thirty miles1 or more4 ,i had no money1 and did not know how to get there4 ,i asked the station-agent and the conductor1 but each refused1 saying it would not be consistent with their duty4 ,knowing of no human help1 ,i left the depot and went into the woods1 some ways from the station1 where ,i could be alone1 and tell that ,friend who is able to provide1 and who is rich unto all that call upon ,him4 ,i knelt down beside the stump of a tree and prayed1 and told the ,lord all about it1 and asked ,him either to give me money1 or provide some way that ,i could go where ,i desired4 ,i felt that the ,lord heard and answered me1 and filled my soul with praise and joy4 ,the language of my heart was1 ',bless the ,lord4' ,as ,i turned and was going out of the woods1 ,i heard a voice saying1 ',halloo4' ,as ,i had seen no one1 and knew not that any human being was near1 ,i was surprised at this greeting4 ',halloo6' said the stranger1' ,i never heard such a prayer in my life4 ,why did you go and pray8' ,i told him that ,i felt heavy1 burdened1 and ,i took the burden to the ,lord4 ,he said1 ',i heard you pray--you want money1 do you8 ,the ,lord has opened the way2 here is five dollars4 ,it is the best way to go to the ,lord1 and trust ,him to open the way4 ,go and use the money4' ,i thanked him1 and ,i thanked the ,lord1 and went oh my way rejoicing in ,him whose promise is1' ,my ,god shall supply all your needs1' and who himself had heard and answered my request4 ,,the ,,lord ,,can ,,do ,,it4 ,in one of the mountainous towns--says ,the ,christian--in the north- western part of ,connecticut1 there lived1 some time since1 an aged couple who had seen some eighty years of earthly pilgrimage1 and who1 in their declining days1 enjoyed the care of a son and daughter1 who resided with them at their home4 ,in process of time1 the son became sick1 and drew nigh the gates of death4 ,the doctor pronounced him incurable1 saying that one lung was consumed1 and that he could live but a short time4 ,the fear of her brother's death1 and the thoughts of being left alone to bear the responsibility of the aged parents' care1 burdened the sister's heart exceedingly1 and led her to cry mightily to the ,lord1 to interpose for his recovery1 and spare him still to them2 and her importunate supplications ascended to ,god1 until the answer came to her heart as a sacred whisper1--',i have heard thy cry1 and have come down to deliver thee4' ,comforted by this sweet assurance1 she rejoiced exceedingly1 knowing that what our ,heavenly ,father promises he is abundantly able to perform1 and that ,he will fulfill his word1 though heaven and earth shall pass away4 ,but her faith was destined to be tried1 and1 on the very day after she had obtained the assurance of her brother's recovery1 in came some one1 saying1 ',the doctor says ,s---- can live but a little time4' ,for an instant1 these words were like a dagger to the sister's heart1 but she still held fast her confidence1 and replied3 ',if men can't cure him1 the ,lord can4' ,from that very moment1 the brother began to amend4 ,on the next day1 when the physician came1 he looked at him1 commenced examining his symptoms1 and exclaimed in astonishment3 ',what have you been doing8 ,you are evidently better1 and ,i don't know but you will get up1 after all4' ,his recovery was so rapid1 that in two weeks' time he was out about his customary duties on the farm2 and that in weather so damp and foggy that it would have kept some stronger men in-doors4 ,but he was well2 the prayer of faith was answered1 and it had saved the sick4 ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer ,,in ,,all ,,the ,,little ,,temporal ,,anxieties ,,of ,,life ,the question having been asked1 ,does ,god answer ,prayer1 in even all the little anxieties and cares of daily life4 ,the ,illustrated ,christian ,weekly1 called in #ahgf1 for testimonies of the surety of ,god in fulfilling his promise1 and giving answer in little things as well as great things4 ,many1 even good ,christians have believed that they should not pray for anything for themselves1 but only for those things which were to be used for ,god's work4 ,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 comfort1 and expect the ,lord to grant them4 ,in truth the ,lord has commanded all his disciples1 ,ask and receive1 that your joy may be full4 ,anything that ye shall ask in my name1 ,i will do it4 ,,bread ,,to ,,the ,,hungry4 ,god was pleased to deprive me totally of my hearing in early boyhood4 ,by the late war ,i lost all of my earthly possessions4 ,i have a wife and family totally dependent on me for a support4 ,a man employed to attend to my little manufacturing business as manager1 by imprudent management1 deprived me of every earthly dependence for a support4 ,i had no refuge but ,god4 ,this feeling was intense beyond expression--,god was my only hope4 ,i laid my case before him4 ,then this came to me1 ',seek first the kingdom of ,god and his righteousness1 and all these things shall be added unto you4' ',now1' ,i said1 ',i am deeply conscious that ,i and my wife seek and desire the kingdom of ,god above all things2 ,god then will give us temporal help4' ,then a feeling came over me1 a feeling of waiting upon ,god4 ,it was sweet waiting4 ,i was at rest4 ,i had thought frequently if ,i could get two hundred dollars ,i could start my little business again4 ,while thus trusting1 and waiting1 and praying1 a package was handed to me by the express-agent containing #bjj from a stranger in a distant county1 against whom ,i held an old note dated #ahef2 and for many years ,i had forgotten the note1 and would have taken twenty-five cents for it any time4 ,the man was bankrupt1 and did not fear the ,lord1 nor know anything of my situation in life4 ,he was under no legal obligation to pay the note4 ,,no ,,ifs4 ,a number of years ago ,i went ,west to better my condition4444 ,after a little time ,i went into business of my own1 had but little capital1 and my good name to be punctual in paying for what ,i bought on credit was of great importance to me4 ,i had promised to pay on a certain day a note of about #fj4 ,i thought ,i was sure to get the money1 but was disappointed2 ,i went to the ,lord for help1 not knowing how he could send me the money1 but convinced that he was able to do it4 ,at about noon the same day a man inquired for me4 ,i knew him by sight2 he had the name of being a hard man1 took all the interest he could get1 and never put any money out without security4 ,he had not the note1 but he asked me if ,i wanted to hire any money2 if so he had sixty dollars he would like to let me have4 ,the man took my note and never did ask for any security4 ,at another time1 being away from home some #b1jjj miles1 was at the house of an uncle2 same evening ,i received a letter from my wife that the children were very sick and but little hope of recovery4 ,the letter had been written for over a week4 ,i communicated the contents of the letter to my aunt2 went up in my room and prayed the ,lord to be their physician4 ,i felt so sure that my prayer would be answered that ,i could not help singing2 when they heard me they thought what a cold-hearted man ,i must be to sing if the children were dying at home4 ,but from1 that day the children did get better1 and in a short time were out of danger4 ,in my younger years ,i had a good many ifs1 but those are all gone2 ,i know that the ,lord has the means at his command to answer all my prayers if ,i come believing1 asking in the name of ,christ4 ,,the ,,horse ,,is ,,his4 ,the writer was preaching ,sundays at a little country church1 about #gj miles by rail from the institution where he attended4 ,he went ,saturday1 returning on ,monday4 ,one ,saturday the train ran off the track4 ,all day long they worked at the wreck4 ,at last1 finding it too late to make connection with the other railroad1 he took the down train back to the institution4 ,what should be done8 ,a promise to preach forty miles across the country had been made4 ,there was also an appointment six miles beyond for an afternoon service4 ,it was now night4 ,to drive across the country was the only way open1 or stay at home4 ,two disappointed congregations the result in the latter case4 ,but the roads were heavy from recent rains4 ',twill be so late that none can direct4 ,friends said1 ',stay2 you can't go forty miles across1 to you1 an unknown country4' ,but the writer felt it duty to go4 ,hiring a horse noted for endurance1 at nine o'clock at night--dark1 threatening--he set out4 ,as he headed the horse in the direction of the village--for he could find none who could tell him the exact road--he prayed3 ',o ,god1 starting out to preach thy word to-morrow1 direct the way--guide this horse4' ,the night wore on2 as cross-roads came1 dropping the lines over the dashboard1 the same prayer was offered4 ,when the horse chose a road1 the driver urged him on4 ,as day began to break1 emerging from some wood in an unfrequented road1 they entered the village they sought4 ,the sermon that morning was from the text1 ',son1 go work to-day in my vineyard4' ,the largest congregation of the ,summer had gathered4 ,it will not do to say that the horse knew the road4 ,returning in broad daylight the next day1 though directed and directed again1 we lost the way and went seven miles out of our course4 ,a scientist might laugh at this way of driving1 or at asking ,god to guide in such trivial matters4 ,but we shall still believe that ,god led the horse and blessed us in our attempt to serve him4 ,,all ,,our ,,needs4 ,about eight years ago1 while a ,student in college1 ,i became embarrassed for want of funds4 ,debts began to accumulate4 ,anticipating money from usual sources1 promises had been made to pay at a certain date4 ,the time to make these payments approached4 ,the anticipated money did not come4 ,a student in debt is most dependent and hopeless4 ,in great distress1 locking the study-door1 ,i sat down to think4 ,first came visions of an auction sale of a few books and scanty furniture2 then of notes and protests2 finally the promises of ,god came into mind4 ,i knew he had promised to supply my wants4 ',all things whatsoever ye have need of1' came home in great power4 ,i am needy1 ,i have given up business1 all1 to preach the gospel4 ,i remember as 'twere yesterday the feelings1 the struggles1 of that hour4 ,with all earnestness ,i asked for help in my hour of distress4 ,at last ,i felt confident that the aid needed would come in time1 ,saturday2 this was ,monday4 ,i thanked ,god for the answer-- and being questioned by a needy creditor of that afternoon1 assured him that his money would be ready4 ,tuesday1 ,wednesday1 ,thursday passed--no sign1 but faith said ,god will not fail4 ,friday morning--heart beat fast as ,i went to the post-office--it seemed as if through its agency the help would come4 ,nothing4 ,but it must be here to-day4 ,returning from the office ,friday evening1 wondering how ,god would send deliverance1 ,i saw on my table a long official envelope4 ,a classmate preceding me at the office had brought it4 ,a letter from a gentleman in ,wall street whom ,i have never seen4 ,on ,monday1 he casually asked of a tea-broker1 an acquaintance1 if he knew of any one in ,h----4 ,the broker mentioned1 after a little thought1 my name4 ,the letter contained a request for service of a peculiar sort1 connected with some legal matters1 contained money and promise of more4 ,over three times the sum ,i asked ,god for was finally given4 ,more than enough for a term's expenses4 ,i never mentioned the matter of my need at that time to a human being1 nor spoke of the prayer4 ,i have always thanked ,god for that1 and am sure he provides for me in accordance with his promise4 ,,he ,,healeth ,,the ,,sick4 ,the wife of ,deacon ,w4 was sinking rapidly with pneumonia4 ,friends gave up all hope of her recovery1 and even the hopeful physician felt that he was hoping against hope4 ,in his despair the husband bore the case directly to ,god2 he sought the prayers of his minister and of the church2 and he asked all ,christians to pray that the mother of his little children might be spared4 ,she lingered between life and death for several days1 when unexpectedly to many1 she began to gain strength1 and in due season was about again4 ,this was several years ago1 and she has been an active worker in the church and ,sunday-school ever since4 ,a ,,powerful ,,dream4 ,my father1 a minister of the gospel1 was prostrated by sickness4 ,a large family of little ones was dependent upon him for support4 ,funds ran low4 ,one evening my mother remarked that she had broken the last dollar4 ,my father lay awake most of the night1 praying to his ,god for help in this emergency4 ,that same night a man in a parish not many miles distant was much impressed by a dream4 ,he dreamed that a minister who preached in his church not long before1 was sick and in want4 ,he knew neither his name nor his place of residence4 ,he arose at the first dawn of day1 and going to his own pastor inquired the name and address of the stranger who had recently preached for them4 ,these obtained1 he mounted his horse1 and knocked at our door just as my mother drew up the window-shades4 ,she answered the knock1 when1 without a word1 a stranger placed an envelope in her hand and immediately rode away4 ,the envelope contained a ten-dollar bill1 which we all believed was the ,lord's answer to our father's prayer4 ,afterwards these facts were disclosed by the pastor to him whom the ,lord chose to disperse his bounty4 ,,ask ,,and ,,ye ,,shall ,,receive4 ,in #ahgd1 through ,providence1 ,i became sore pressed to provide for myself and family2 two of my children had just begun to learn to read4 ,i was desirous to procure for them the ',n4---1' 7a children's journal17 but ,i could not see how ,i was to pay for it and meet other obligations4 ,so ,i carried it to our ,father in heaven1 asking if it was best and according to his will my children should get the ',n4---4' ,in about ten days afterward ,i received a note from a lady friend1 with whom ,i or none of our family had had any communication for weeks1 and in that note she advised us that her little daughter1 the same age as our second1 had sent as a ,christmas gift a subscription for the ',n4---1' to be sent to our ,mary's address4 ',if ye abide in me1 and my words in you1 ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you4' ,,casting ,,all ,,your ,,care ,,on ,,him4 ,once1 soon after the death of my husband and the loss of all his large property1 ,i had a bill of fifty dollars to pay1 and was notified two weeks beforehand that not a day's grace would be given4 ,besides what ,i was earning by my pen1 ,i had due me1 in a neighboring city1 just the amount ,i should need--the income on my only remaining piece of real estate2 and1 as my tenant was always prompt1 ,i wrote to him where to send me the money1 and gave the subject no farther thought4 ,but1 when the time for his response was already past1 and ,i heard nothing from my debts1 and but a few days to the time of my own need yet remained1 ,i felt anxious and sought divine direction as to the course ,i ought to pursue4 ,rising from my knees1 ,i took up my ,bible1 and the very first words my eyes rested upon1 were these3 ',casting all your care upon ,him1 for he careth for you4' ,all anxiety from that hour left me2 but ,i felt impelled to apply to a certain editor for the payment of twenty dollars he owed me1 and ,i felt sure the other thirty would come from somewhere4 ,so the days passed until the morning of the day upon which ,i should be called on for the fifty dollars1 and still ,i had not a single dollar on hand to meet the claim4 ,at ten o'clock my creditor came1 but half an hour before him the postman had put into my hand a letter containing a check for fifty dollars1 the exact amount ,i needed4 ,it had come from the editor to whom ,i had applied for twenty dollars1 and lo6 he had sent me fifty4 ,the thirty advanced he said ,i could give him credit for on my next ,,ms4 ,he did not know my need1 but ,god did1 and thus ,he had answered my prayer4 ,,in ,,everything ,,make ,,known ,,your ,,wants4 ,six years ago1 on the low country of ,south ,carolina1 a friend asked me to go with him to a camp-meeting4 ,i was delighted with the idea1 for1 in my estimation1 a good camp-meeting comes nearer heaven than any other place on earth4 ,just three days before we were to go1 an unexpected circumstance connected with his business1 made it impossible for him to leave4 ,it was with real heartfelt sorrow ,i heard of it4 ,the day before we were to have started1 as ,i saw another member of the family1 who was going with a friend1 packing her trunk1 it seemed to me ,i could not bear it4 ,i carried my trouble to my dear heavenly ,father1 begging him to send me a way to go4 ,i rose from my knees with the sweet assurance in my heart my prayer was heard--packed my trunk and waited patiently4 ,when night came and the men came home1 in the place of the expected buggy came a small spring-wagon1 and a seat for me4 ,what may seem more remarkable1 the change between buggy and spring-wagon was made ten miles away1 while ,i was praying4 ,i believe ,i enjoyed the meeting more for the feeling of thankfulness that pervaded my whole being while there4 ,,the ,,great ,,physician4 ,nearly five years ago1 after a decline of almost two years1 ,i was brought very near to the grave4 ,medical aid availed nothing4 ,i was fearfully emaciated1 and my death was daily expected4 ,a devoted mother and a sister1 who had watched over me tenderly during my long illness1 were completely exhausted4 ,i determined to apply to the ,great ,physician1 as directed in ,james #e3ad4 ,as ,i united with others in prayer1 unconsciously ,i uttered these words1 ',i shall yet praise ,thee in the great congregation4' ,all present felt assured that it was the will of ,god to restore me to health4 ,appearances were against me2 for some time ,i could sleep but very little1 and there was no perceptible gain4 ,but trusting in the sure promise1 the next ,sabbath ,i rode a short distance to church1 and1 as ,i thus ventured out little by little1 my strength gradually returned4 ,a few months later1 my mother1 who through disease had been in a state of despair for some years1 was enabled again to hope in ,god's mercy4 ,,shall ,,save ,,the ,,sick4 ,i was desperately ill4 ,my physicians had done all in their power1 without success--and yet ,i lived6 ,for my father's sake1 the hearts of hundreds waited the issue1 and prayed for me6 ,for his sake1 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 street4 ,there was a death-like stillness without and within4 ,the physicians sat with folded hands and wept1 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 ,saviour6 ',it cannot be1' he said1 ',i will wrestle with my ,god until ,he hears me6' ,sunday came4 ,in almost every church a special prayer was offered for my recovery4 ,after morning service1 a band of devoted women met1 and offered fervent prayers that ,god would spare my life4 ,evening came--the weary doctors went home1 leaving the last sacred moments to my parents4 ,early next morning they came again1 and exclaimed1 as they entered the room1 ',she is better6 ,prayer has saved her6' ,i still live1 'a spared monument of ,god's mercy4' ,,all-,,sufficient ,,for ,,all ,,need4 ,i am a mother of seven children4 ,by the help of our ,father in heaven1 we have all of us gone regularly to church and ,sunday-school4 ,we are poor2 and at length the time came we were not clothed so we could comfortably go to church4 ,i earnestly asked our ,father to show me1 within a week1 which was right for us to do3 to go in debt for clothes1 or stay at home4 ,within that week1 ,i received a large package of ready-made clothing4 ,the clothing came from a source ,i never thought of receiving anything from4 ,a ,,very ,,present ,,help ,,in ,,trouble4 ,at one time1 during a season of adversity1 there was urgent occasion for a certain sum beyond the income of the family1 and there was no way of borrowing it4 ,i took the matter to the ,lord in prayer1 asking ,him1 if the money were really needed1 as it appeared to be1 to send it1 and1 if it were not1 to remove the distressing circumstances4 ,the answer came in a sum five times the amount asked for1 and in a manner totally unexpected4 99 99 99 99 99 ,at another time1 the mother of the family was very ill1 and1 when apparently near death1 the physicians had ordered a remedy which was to be constantly employed1 as her life1 so far as they could judge1 depended on its use4 ,one night1 her symptoms became so alarming as to compel the writer 7who had charge of the nursing7 to use this remedy more freely than ever1 and1 about midnight the supply was exhausted4 ,there was no possibility of obtaining any more before morning1 and the rest of that night1 while attending to the other directions of the doctors1 ,i spent in one earnest1 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 necessary4 ,in ,his great mercy1 ,he granted the prayer1 the dangerous symptoms did not increase during the seven or eight hours that intervened before the remedy could be procured4 ,one proof that it was a special mercy1 is found in the fact that there was no other such standing still of the disease1 either before this or afterward4 ,and the doctors were astonished when they saw that the disease had made no progress1 under conditions that rendered that progress inevitable in the usual law of cause and effect4 ,and when1 on her final recovery1 ,doctor ,parker told her that she owed her life to the good care ,i had taken of her1 my thoughts went back to the long hours of that night of anguish1 and ,i said1 ',it was the ,lord that took care of her4' ',i meant your care1 under ,providence1' was the reply4 ,,he ,,shall ,,direct ,,thy ,,paths ,i am a teacher by profession1 and1 a few years ago1 ,i found myself placed in a school whose every surrounding was utterly repugnant to my tastes1 and to all my ideas of right and wrong and what good teaching should be4 ,at first1 ,i kept hoping that things would grow better1 and that ,i should1 at least1 be able to have some influence on the modes of teaching2 but ,i soon found that everything connected with the establishment was directed by the iron will of an unscrupulous and tyrannical woman1 whose laws were as irrevocable as those of the ,medes and ,persians4 ,i at once decided ,i could not stay there long1 but ,i had no other position in view1 and it was not easy to secure one in the middle of the term4 ,as usual1 ,i made it a subject of prayer1 and the result was that1 in a short time1 ,i was most unexpectedly1 and without the least solicitation on my part1 offered a much better position1 in every respect1 which1 of course1 ,i was only too thankful to accept4 ,that is only one instance1 out of thousands ,i could name1 where ,god has heard and answered my prayers1 and ,i believe ,he will do so to the end4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,is ,,constantly ,,caring ,,for ,,his ,,trusting ,,poor4 ,a city missionary recently found1 in this city on the streets1 a refined ,englishwoman with her children1 who had been turned out of her home for non-payment of rent4 ,with the aid of a few friends he installed her in a new domicile1 and procured work for her4 ,from time to time he visited her1 and rejoiced with her that ,god had sent him to her in the hour of extremity4 ,at length1 pressure of business kept him away for some time1 until1 one evening1 he started out to look up a few dollars owing him1 in order to procure some delicacies for a sick wife4 ,one dollar was all he could procure1 and with that in his pocket he was returning homeward1 when he became so impressed with the idea that he should visit the ,englishwoman that he turned aside and did so4 ,he found her in tears1 and asking the cause1 heard the sorrowful tale of no work1 no food in the house for to-morrow1 which was ,sunday4 ,he was in doubt whether to give her the dollar and suffer his sick wife to go without something palatable1 but in a moment1 ,blessed is he that considereth the poor2 the ,lord will deliver him in time of trouble1 presented itself to his mind1 and--the dollar dried the widow's tears4 ,upon reaching his home he found a lady had called on his wife and brought with her three or four kinds of jellies1 fruit1 home-made biscuit1 various relishing things2 three times more than the dollar would have purchased4 ,the same gentleman1 while calling on a poor family one day1 discovered a little house in the rear1 which he visited1 finding a neat1 cleanly room1 occupied by an old lady1 crippled with rheumatism4 ,he found she had no one in the world but a sister1 a monthly nurse1 to care for her4 ,when first setting out on his tour that morning1 the missionary had fifty cents given him by a gentleman1 who expressed the hope that it might do some good during the day4 ,although a number of visits had been made1 he had not felt called upon to bestow it until then1 nor could he tell why he should want to put it in the old lady's hand at parting1 but he did so4 ,she was too much overcome by her emotions to speak1 but she took his hand and led him to a little table1 on which lay a ,bible1 opened at the passage1 ,whatsoever ye shall ask the ,father in my name1 ,he will give it you4 ,she said1 ,please tell me if any one sent you here8 ,no4 ,did you ever hear that ,i lived here8 ,i did not4 ,then the ,lord sent you in answer to my prayer this morning4 ,for the first time in my life1 ,i am without food4 ,my sister was to have come home yesterday1 but has not4 ,i was just asking the ,lord to provide for me when you knocked at the door4 ,such scenes as these amply repay our missionaries for all the toils and weariness1 all the anxieties and perplexities of the work4 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,bread4 ,washington ,allston1 who stood at the head of ,american artists a half century ago1 was1 at one time1 so reduced by poverty1 that he locked his studio1 in ,london1 one day1 threw himself on his knees and prayed for a loaf of bread for himself and wife4 ,while thus engaged1 a knock was heard at the door1 which the artist hastened to open4 ,a stranger inquired for ,mr4 ,allston1 and was anxious to know who was the fortunate purchaser of the painting of the ',angel ,uriel1' which had won the prize at the exhibition of the ,royal ,academy4 ,he was told that it was not sold4 ',where is it to be found8' ',in this very room1' said ,allston1 producing a painting from a corner and wiping off the dust4 ',it is for sale1 but its value has not been adequately appreciated1 and ,i would not part with it4' ',what is its price8' ',i have done affixing any nominal sum4 ,i have always so far exceeded any offers1 ,i leave it to you to name the price4' ',will four hundred pounds be an adequate recompense8' ',it is more than ,i ever asked for it4' ',then the painting is mine1' said the stranger1 who introduced himself as the ,marquis of ,stafford1 and1 from that time1 became one of ,mr4 ,allston's warmest friends and patrons4 ,,the ,,daughter',s ,,prayer4 ,the late ,doctor ,krummacher1 chaplain to the king of ,prussia1 in referring to faith and prayer1 writes as follows3 ,a little incident occurs to me which ,i can hardly withhold1 on account of its simplicity and beauty4 ,the mother of a little girl1 only four years of age1 had been1 for some time1 most dangerously ill4 ,the physician had given her up4 ,when the little girl heard this1 she went into an adjoining room1 knelt down1 and said3 ',dear ,lord ,jesus1 ,o make my mother well again4' ,after she had thus prayed1 she said1 as though in ,god's name1 with as deep a voice as she could3 ',yes1 my dear child1 ,i will do it gladly6' ,this was the little girl's amen4 ,she rose up1 joyfully ran to her mother's bed1 and said3 ',mother1 you will get well6' ,and she recovered1 and is in health to this day4 ,is it1 then1 always permitted for me to pray thus unconditionally respecting temporal concerns8 ,no2 thou must not venture to do so1 if1 whilst you ask1 you doubt4 ,but shouldst thou ever be inclined by ,god's ,spirit to pray thus1 without doubt or scruple1 in a filial temper1 and with simplicity of heart1 resting on the true foundation1 and in genuine faith1 then pray thus by all means6 ,none dare censure thee2 ,god will accept thee4 ,,the ,,lord ,,will ,,provide4 ,a city missionary1 one ,saturday night1 was going home with a basket of provisions on his arm4 ,meeting a policeman1 he asked him if there had any families moved in the bounds of his beat during the week4 ,he answered1 ',yes1' and1 pointing to a building up an alley1 said1 'a woman and some children are living there now4' ,the missionary went to the house1 rapped at the door1 and was admitted4 ,the woman was sitting by a small light1 sewing4 ,in the corner of the room1 were two little girls1 apparently from nine to twelve years of age1 playing4 ,the missionary said1 ',madam1 ,i am here to see if you will allow your girls to attend ,sunday-school to-morrow morning4' ',i would1 sir2 but what you see on them is all the clothing they have1 and you would not wish them to go as they are now4' ',the ,lord will provide1 madam4 ,have you no money8' ',not yet1 but ,i have committed my case into the hands of the ,lord4' ',have you anything to eat8' ',nothing1 sir6' ',what will you do for breakfast8' ',o1 sir1 ,i once had a husband2 he provided when he could4 ,these children had a father2 he supplied their wants2 but he is dead now4 ,yet my ,maker1 even ,god1 is my husband1 and ,he has promised to be a father to the fatherless4 ,we have committed all to ,him1 have called upon ,him in this our day of trouble4 ,i am trusting in ,god to take care of a poor widow and her children in a strange place1 and ,i know ,he will provide4' ',thank ,god for such faith1' said the missionary2 and1 handing her the basket1 said 'here is your breakfast1 and you shall have the clothing for your children4' ,with tears streaming down her face1 she replied3 ',oh1 thank ,god for his faithfulness6 ,he heareth and answereth prayer4 ,may ,he bless you6' ,and1 said our dear brother to us1 ',i felt the promise was sure1 for she was blessed in receiving1 ,i was more so in giving4' ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,a ,,load ,,of ,,wood4 ,here is an illustration of the way in which ,god sends relief in trouble4 ,the story is told by the ,christian woman to whom it happened1 in her own language3 ,about the month of ,january1 #ahfc1 ,i was living in ,connecticut1 alone with two little boys1 one of them four years old1 and the other about a year and a half old4 ,my husband was away in the service of his country4 ,when the coldest weather came1 ,i was nearly out of wood4 ,i went down into the village1 one day1 to try and get some1 but tried in vain2 so many men were away in the army that help was scarce4 ,very little wood was brought into market1 and those living on the main street1 got all that came1 while those who lived outside the village could get none4 ,i tried to buy a quarter of a cord from two or three merchants1 but could not get any4 ,one of them told me he could not get what he wanted for his own family4 ,another said he wasn't willing to yoke up his team for so small a quantity2 but1 as ,i only had a dollar and seventy-five cents1 ,i could not buy any more1 and so ,i was obliged to go home without any4 ,i went back to my little ones1 feeling very sad4 ,but while ,i sat there1 almost ready to cry1 the words of ,abraham came into my mind1 ',jehovah- ,jireh1 the ,lord will provide4' ,then ,i went up to my chamber4 ,there ,i knelt down and told ,god of my trouble1 and asked him to help me and send the relief that we needed4 ,then ,i went to the window and waited1 looking down the street1 expecting to see the wood coming4 ,after waiting a while1 without seeing any come1 my faith began to fail4 ,i said to myself1 ',the ,lord did provide for ,abraham1 but ,he won't provide for me4' ,our last stick of wood was put in the stove4 ,it was too cold to keep the children in the house without fire4 ,i got the children's clothes out1 and thought ,i would take them to the house of a kind neighbor1 where ,i knew they could stay till we got some wood4 ,but1 just as ,i was going out with the children1 in passing by the window1 ,i saw the top of a great load of wood coming up the road towards our little house4 ,can that be for us8 ,i asked myself4 ,presently ,i saw the wagon turn off the road and come up towards our door4 ,then ,i was puzzled to know how to pay for it4 ,a dollar and seventy-five cents ,i knew would only go a little way towards paying for all that wood4 ,the oxen came slowly on1 dragging the load to our door4 ,i asked the man if there wasn't same mistake about it4 ',no1 ma'am1' said he1 'there's no mistake4' ',i did not order it1 and ,i cannot pay for it1' was my reply4 ',never mind1 ma'am1' said he1 'a friend ordered it1 and it is all paid for4' ,then he unhitched the oxen from the wagon1 and gave them some hay to eat4 ,when this was done1 he asked for a saw and ax1 and never stopped till the whole load was cut and split and piled away in the woodshed4 ,this was more than ,i could stand4 ,my feelings overcame me1 and ,i sat down and cried like a child4 ,but these were not bitter tears of sorrow4 ,they were tears of joy and gladness1 of gratitude and thankfulness4 ,i felt ashamed of myself for doubting ,god's word1 and ,i prayed that ,i might never do so again4 ,what pleasure ,i had in using that wood6 ,every stick of it1 as ,i took it up1 seemed to have a voice with which to say ',jehovah-,jireh4' ,as ,abraham stood on the top of ,mount ,moriah he could say1 ',the ,lord will provide4' ,but every day1 as ,i went into our woodshed1 ,i could point to that blessed pile of wood sent from heaven1 and say1 ',the ,lord does provide4' ,a ,,refractory ,,man ,,compelled ,,to ,,pay ,a ,,debt4 ,a refractory man who owed a small debt of about #dc1 refused to pay it all1 but offered to do so if ten dollars was taken off4 ,his creditor1 feeling that it was just1 declined to abate the amount4 ,for more than a year the creditor waited1 after having no attention paid to his correspondence or1 claim by the debtor1 who exhibited unmistakable obstinacy and want of courtesy4 ,at last it was put into the hands of a lawyer4 ,the lawyer1 too1 was fairly provoked at the faithlessness of the debtor in his promises or his attention to the subject2 thus matters dragged wearily for months1 yet exercised leniency in pressing the claim4 ,the creditor1 whose forbearance had now reached the extremity of endurance1 at last was led to take it to the ,lord in prayer2 saying he would willingly forgive the whole debt if in anything he was wrong1 but if the ,lord thought it was right1 hoped that his debtor might be compelled to pay the amount he so obstinately withheld4 ,to the astonishment of all1 a letter received from the lawyer four days after1 informed him that his debtor had called and paid the claim in full with interest to date4 ,in doing so1 he said he paid it under protest1 thus showing he was compelled by something he could not resist to pay it all4 ,a ,,hurricane ,,passes ,,around ,a ,,ship4 ,a ,sea ,captain relates to the editor of the ,christian1 a remarkable incident1 whereby in one of his voyages his ship was unaccountably held still1 and thereby saved from sailing directly into the midst of a terrible hurricane3--,we sailed from the ,kennebec on the first of ,october1 #ahgf4 ,there had been several severe gales1 and some of my friends thought it hardly safe to go1 but after considerable prayer ,i concluded it was right to undertake the voyage4 ,on the #aith of ,october we were about one hundred and fifty miles west of the ,bahamas1 and we encountered very disagreeable weather4 ,for five or six days we seemed held by shifting currents1 or some unknown power1 in about the same place4 ,we would think we had sailed thirty or forty miles1 when on taking our observations we would find we were within three or four miles of our position the day before4 ,this circumstance occurring repeatedly proved a trial to my faith1 and ,i said within my heart1 ',lord1 why are we so hindered1 and kept in this position8' ,day after day we were held as if by an unseen force1 until at length a change took place1 and we went on our way4 ,reaching our port they inquired1 ',where have you been through the gale8' ',what gale8' we asked4 ',we have seen no gale4' ,we then learned that a terrible hurricane had swept through that region1 and that all was desolation4 ,we afterwards learned that this hurricane had swept around us1 and had almost formed a circle around the place occupied by us during the storm4 ,a hundred miles in one direction all was wreck and ruin1 fifty miles in the opposite direction all was desolation2 and while that storm was raging in all its fury1 we were held in perfect safety1 in quiet waters1 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 storm1 and sent us to the bottom of the sea4 ,we were anxious to sail on1 but some unseen power held us where we were1 and we escaped4 ,the ,captain was a prayerful man1 trusting in his ,lord1 though his faith was tried1 and he thought the ,lord was not helping him4 ,yet the ,lord was keeping his promise to him1 ,the beloved of the ,lord shall dwell in safety by him1 and the ,lord shall cover him all the day long4 ,,recovery ,,from ,,spinal ,,disease4 ,miss ,m---- is the daughter of a respectable farmer1 an elder in a ,presbyterian church in ,western ,pennsylvania4 ,when a young girl her spine was injured while nursing her aged and helpless grandmother1 and she has been a great sufferer for many years4 ,for eleven years she has not been able to attend church nor to go from home1 and for a long time was unable to leave her chamber or her bed4 ,two years ago she was so ill that hopes of her recovery were abandoned1 her mind was thought to be seriously1 even hopelessly impaired4 ,her physician acknowledged that her disease baffled his skill4 ,a few months ago1 being near her residence and hearing that her health was better1 ,i called on her1 and to my surprise1 found her able to sew1 walk about1 and even go down stairs4 ,she informed me that she suffered so intensely from the remedies used for her cure1 and constantly grew worse1 that she determined to do nothing more2 it seemed like fighting against ,god2 she would put herself into ,his hands to do with her as ,he pleased4 ,then it seemed to her that the ,saviour came to her and said1 ',m----1 what aileth thee8' ,she told ,him all her case1 and ,he soothed and comforted her4 ,from that time she began to improve2 the paroxysms of pain grew less1 and disappeared2 her nervousness was relieved1 she could sleep1 her mind was full of peace4 ,she said1 ',i am not cured1 and do not expect to be well1 but ,i can bear what ,i have to suffer1 and am willing to depart whenever it is the ,lord's will to take me away to himself4' ,,prayer ,,for ,a ,,pair ,,of ,,boots4 ,in the ,fall of #aheh1 ,h----1 a student in the ,theological ,seminary at ,princeton1 ,n4,j41 was in great need of a new pair of boots4 ,his toes were sticking out of his old ones1 and he had no money to purchase new ones4 ,all the money he could command was barely enough to pay his fare to his home1 where be had promised a dear friend to be present on the approaching communion ,sabbath4 ,h---- was a man of great faith1 and was accustomed to carry all his wants to ,god in prayer4 ,to ,god he carried the present emergency1 and earnestly importuned ,him1 that ,he would send him a pair of boots1 and that ,he would do it before the approaching ,sabbath4 ,he was persuaded that ,god heard1 and would answer his petition1 yet his faith was sorely tried4 ,saturday morning came and still there was no answer2 he resolved1 however1 to go to his home1 fully persuaded that ,god would in good time grant his request4 ,he took the morning train at the ,princeton depot1 and reached home about eleven o'clock4 ,it was a hard trial for him to go to ,preparatory ,lecture with his boots in the condition they were in2 yet at two o'clock he went1 still praying that ,god would send him a new pair of boots4 ,during the service1 a merchant in the town took a seat in the same pew with him1 and at the close of the service1 without a word being spoken on the subject1 the merchant1 after shaking hands with ,h---- and inquiring of his welfare1 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 find1 and1 said the merchant1 have them charged to me4 ,it was1 as1 ,h---- said to me on his return to the seminary1 a direct answer to prayer4 ,indeed1 it might be said of ,h---- that he went through college and seminary on prayer4 ,he laid all his plans before ,god1 pleaded his promises1 and never was disappointed4 ,,under ,,garments ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,among the students in the ,theological ,seminary at ,princeton1 ,n4,j41 in #ahfj1 was my intimate friend ,l----4 ,he was at the time poorly clad1 but was a devoted ,christian1 and is at present a successful foreign missionary4 ,one day when on the ,seminary campus1 ,i heard two of the students very thoughtlessly criticising the exceeding shabbiness of ,l----'s wearing apparel1 his short pants1 old shoes1 and socks with no heels in them4 ,at almost every step ,l---- took when playing ball1 his bare heels could be seen4 ,that day1 after evening prayers1 ,i took ,l---- by the arm1 for a walk to ,orthodox point1 a tree about a mile distant from the ,seminary4 ,during our walk1 ,i gently told him of the criticisms ,i had heard1 and learned more fully than ,i had ever done of his destitution of wearing apparel1 especially of under garments4 ,i offered him a share of mine1 or the loan of money1 so as to meet his present wants1 but this he declined to receive1 saying1 that he would take it to the ,lord in prayer1 and that ,god would in good time supply all his wants4 ,i1 too1 bore his case to the throne of grace4 ,the next day after this1 on going into his room1 he laid before me an empty envelope1 and a five dollar bill1 and asked me the question1 ,did you throw that envelope with that bill in it1 through that ventilator8 ,i assured him that ,i did not4 ,well1 said he1 when ,i came in from recitation a short time ago1 ,i found this envelope on the floor and that five dollar bill in it4 ,it has evidently been thrown in through the ventilator4 ,we both recognized ,god's hand in the provision made and mentally gave thanks to our ,heavenly ,father4 ,soon after this1 a missionary box was sent to the ,seminary1 and my friend was therefrom well supplied with under garments4 ,frequently afterward did he say to me1 in substance1 ,prayer is the key to ,god's treasury4 ,trust in ,him and the ,lord will provide4 ,,unexpected ,,relief4 ,henry ,badgerow was a man about seventy years of age at the time of the incident1 and a resident of ,steuben county1 ,state of ,new ,york4 ,this was in the year about ,a4,d4 #ahcj-ca4 ,he had been for many years an invalid-- so much so that he couldn't walk--the result of a horse running away with him4 ,in a forest1 isolated from neighbors1 the old man resided alone with an aged wife4 ,they were quite poor1 and wholly dependent upon the labor of a son who worked away from home for others4 ,this son was at length taken sick with a fever1 and unable to minister to his parents' wants4 ,this was in mid-winter1 when storms were frequent and the snows deep and lasting4 ,one evening when the storm was at its highest1 this old couple found themselves without a particle of food in the house4 ,matters were desperate with them4 ,they could see but starvation staring them in the face4 ,they resolved upon prayer1 having a firm trust in their ,heavenly ,father1 whom for many years they had been humbly serving4 ,they did not retire1 but continued in fervent prayer that ,god would send them food4 ,about two and a half miles distant lived a young married man in comfortable circumstances1 by the name of ,joseph ,clason 7the author of the story74 ,he was not at this time a ,christian1 although it was not long after this he was converted1 and has since lived an eminently active and godly life4 ,about #ab o'clock on the night of the snow storm above mentioned1 young ,clason awoke4 ,his first thoughts were of old ,mr4 ,badgerow and his condition in that storm4 ,his mind became so impressed with the thought of him1 and so wrought upon that he could not again go to sleep1 although trying so to do4 ,at length he awakened his wife1 told her that he was in trouble about ,mr4 ,b41 for fear he and his wife were starving4 ,she replied that if he would get right up and make a light1 she would prepare something1 and that he had better take it right down4 ,young ,c4 did so1 taking with him a pail of provisions4 ,after a jaunt through the storm and snow in the dead hour of night1 he reached the old man's cabin4 ,there he found a light burning4 ,he knocked2 the door was opened by the wife4 ,the old man was fervently praying2 but when he saw young ,c4 with the pail of provisions1 he held up both hands and said1 ,now ,i know that ,god heareth prayer4 ,not one mouthful have we in the house to eat4 ,i know that ,god sent you here4 ,young ,c4 staid with the old couple until daylight4 ,the conversation revealed that about midnight the old man perceiving that a storm had arisen1 and that unless relief came1 which was not likely1 they would starve1 resolved to appeal to his ,heavenly ,father1 saying that ,god who sent the ravens to feed ,elijah would feed him if he went to him in faith1 and now ,god had heard his prayer1 and he blessed ,god that he could do so in all trouble and trial4 ,the old man having asked ,c4 how he came to visit them1 he replied he didn't know1 but supposed ,god had sent him1 as he had awoke and couldn't again sleep on account of thought of him4 ,the incident made a serious and lasting impression on young ,c's mind4 ,in the morning1 as ,c4 was returning home1 he came by his father's house2 his mother1 espying his pail1 wished to know where he had been4 ,he replied1 ,to feed the hungry4 ,his father spreading the incident1 the neighbors all turned out and brought in enough provision to last them during several weeks1 the old man being greatly loved and respected by his community1 on account of his sterling ,christian life and character4 ,mr4 ,joseph ,clason is still living1 now seventy-five years of age1 in ,bazine1 ,ness county1 ,kansas4 ,,that ,,beautiful ,,christmas ,,gift4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,used ,,it4 ,a lady and gentleman were walking up ,madison avenue1 ,new ,york ,city1 from church1 when incidentally the lady said1 ,we are trying to get up ,christmas decorations and entertainment for our ,mission ,school4 ,well1 put my name down for anything you like1 and then came into his mind a certain sum to give4 ,a day passed on1 it seemed forgotten2 but a note from the lady reminded him of his promise1 and he responded1 giving the exact sum originally thought of1 #be4 ,notice1 now1 the most singular disposition of it1 which1 by the hand of ,providence1 was made to go on its circuitous way to meet those who needed it most4 ,the next ,sabbath1 the lady and gentleman again meeting each other1 she said1 ,your gift was too large4 ,i cannot take so much from you4 ,i shall give you back part4 ,but ,i won't take it4 ,well1 you must4 ,i can't keep it4 ,it resulted in the lady taking #ae from her muff and forcing it back into the gentleman's hand4 ,the gentleman felt badly4 ,i intended this for the ,lord1 and now it is refused4 ,it is the first time ,i ever heard that money ever given to a ,sunday school was not wanted4 ,i meant the whole for the4 ,lord4 ,if she don't want it and wont keep it1 ,i will give the rest away4 ,it does not belong to me4 ,before night he had enclosed it in a letter and sent it out of the city to an invalid as a ,christmas present4 ,he had occasion not long after to visit the invalid1 and was fairly astonished at the extraordinary circumstances connected with its use2 and this is his story1 told in his letter to the lady who returned the #ae4 ,the sequel to the #ae is far more beautiful and wonderful than anything ,i have ever known4 ,this invalid had been praying for some money for a needed article of dress to protect her from cold4 ,the #ae came the very next morning in answer to her prayer4 ,but it was more than enough4 ,as a consistent ,christian1 having asked the ,lord only for enough to meet but one need1 she felt as if the rest belonged to the ,lord and must be used for ,him4 ,so in wondering how to use it1 she thought of a poor woman who needed a new calico dress1 and at once bought it and gave it to her4 ,she had but #e left4 ,a dear friend was in distress2 his horse and carriage had been seized for failure to pay the livery bill of their keeping2 he could not collect any money of the debts due him1 to pay his bill1 and had nothing4 ,his wife and children were in ,new ,britain1 and here he was1 no means to get there4 ,the little ,christian invalid sent him her #e1 the last money she had1 not knowing where her next was to come from1 with these words3 ,the ,lord has sent you this1 and though he offered to return1 or use only part1 she said1 ,no1 the ,lord meant this for you4 ,you must keep it1 ,i will not take it back4 ,now see how beautifully all these incidents have been made to work for the good of many1 by the managing hand of ,providence4 ,my original gift of #be to you was more than enough4 ,you did not need it all for your ,sunday-school1 and the ,lord made you force back the #ae upon me4 ,i could not keep it1 because ,i felt1 it belonged to the ,lord4 ,so ,i sent it to the little invalid4 ,she1 too1 had only needed a part1 and used only what she asked the ,lord for1 and then she1 in her turn1 gave the rest away4 ,the most wonderful part of it is1 that the money you gave back to me1 and ,i gave to the ,lord1 was three-fifths of the amount you received1 and the money the little invalid gave away to the ,lord was also three-fifths the amount she received4 ,the money which you kept for your use was just two-fifths1 and the money that the invalid kept for her own use was just two-fifths also4 ,the very next day after she had given her money away1 a lady called and gave her some money1 which was precisely the same amount which the poor woman's calico dress had cost1 7though she knew nothing of the circumstances71 and in return for the #e which she gave her friend in distress1 and refused to take back1 the ,lord remembered her and gave her a good home4 ,,the ,,widow',s ,,wood ,,and ,,flour4--,,the ,,unbelieving ,,ones ,,made ,,speechless4 ,the following instance is known to ,the ,christian as true1 and to a remarkable degree indicates how thoroughly ,god knows our minutest needs1 and how effectively ,he makes those who ever reproach his name ashamed of their unbelief4 ,a friend and relative of the one who was 'a widow indeed1' one who trusted in ,god1 and continued in supplications and prayers day and night1 was once brought into circumstances of peculiar straitness and trial4 ,she had two daughters who exerted themselves with their needles to earn a livelihood2 and at that time they were so busily engaged in trying to finish some work that had long been on their hands1 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 storm1 with food and fuel almost exhausted1 at a distance from neighbors1 and without any means of procuring needful sustenance4 ,the daughters began to be alarmed1 and were full of anxiety at the dismal prospect1 but the good old mother said1 ',don't worry1 girls1 the ,lord will provide2 we have enough for to-day1 and to-morrow may be pleasant1' and in this hope the girls settled down again to their labor4 ,another morning came1 and with it no sunshine1 but wind and snow in abundance4 ,the storm still raged1 but no one came near the house1 and all was dark and dismal without4 ,noon came1 and the last morsel of food was eaten1 the wind was almost gone1 and there were no tokens of any relief for their necessities4 ,the girls became much distressed1 and talked anxiously of their condition1 but the good mother said1 ',don't worry1 the ,lord will provide4' ,but they had heard that story the day before1 and they1 knew not the strong foundation upon which that mother's trust was builded1 and could not share the confidence she felt4 ',if we get anything to-day the ,lord will have to bring it himself1 for nobody else can get here if they try1' said one of the daughters1 impatiently1 but the mother said1 ',don't worry4' ,and so they sat down again to their sewing1 the daughters to muse upon their necessitous condition1 and the mother to roll her burden on the ,everlasting ,arms4 ,now mark the way in which the ,lord came to their rescue1 and just at this moment of extremity1 put it into the heart of one of his children to go and carry relief4 ,human ,nature at such a time would never have ventured out in such a storm1 but waited for a pleasant day4 ,but ,divine ,wisdom and power made him carry just what was needed1 in the face of adverse circumstances1 and just at the time it was needed4 ,mr4 ,m4 sat at his fireside1 about a mile away1 surrounded by every bounty and comfort needed to cheer his heart1 with his only daughter sitting by his side4 ,for a long time not a word had been spoken1 and he had seemed lost in silent meditation1 till at length he said1 ',mary1 ,i want you to go and order the cattle yoked1 and then get me a bag4 ,i must go and carry some wood and flour to sister ,c4' ',why1 ,father1 it is impossible for you to go4 ,there is no track1 and it is all of a mile up there4 ,you would almost perish4' ,the old man sat in silence a few moments and said1 ',mary1 ,i must go4' ,she knew her father too well to suppose that words would detain him1 and so complied with his wishes4 ,while she held the bag for him1 she felt perhaps a little uneasiness to see the flour so liberally disposed of1 and said1 ',i wish you would remember that ,i want to give a poor woman some flour1 if it ever clears off4' ,the old man understood the intimation and said1 ',mary1 give all you feel it duty to1 and when the ,lord says stop1 ,i will do so4' ,soon all things were ready1 and the patient oxen took their way to the widow's home1 wallowing through the drifted snow1 and dragging the sled with its load of wood and flour4 ,about four o'clock in the afternoon1 the mother had arisen from her work to fix the fire1 and1 looking out of the window1 she saw the oxen at the door1 and she knew that the ,lord had heard her cry4 ,she said not a word--why should she8 ,she was not surprised6--but1 presently1 a heavy step at the threshold caused the daughters to look up with astonishment1 as ,mr4 ,m4 strode unceremoniously into the room1 saying1 ',the ,lord told me1 ,sister ,c1 that you wanted some wood and flour4' ',he told you the truth1' said the widow1 'and ,i will praise ,him forever4' ',what think you now girls8' she continued1 as she turned in solemn joy to her unbelieving daughters4 ,they were speechless2 not a word escaped their lips2 but they pondered that new revelation of the providential mercy of the ,lord1 until it made upon their minds an impression never to be effaced4 ,from that hour they learned to trust in ,him who cares for ,his needy in the hour of distress1 and who1 from ,his boundless stores1 supplies the wants of those who trust in ,him4 ,a ,,pair ,,of ,,shoes4--,,the ,,lord',s ,,rebuke ,,to ,,those ,,who ,,didn',t ,,believe4 ,the following incident occurred in ,connecticut3 ,in an humble cottage two sisters were watching over and caring for a much-loved brother1 who1 for many long months had been upon a bed of sickness4 ,at length1 the younger of them began to be discouraged4 ,she was dependent1 for her clothing1 upon her labor2 her shoes were worn out1 and how should she get another pair1 unless she could leave the sick bed and go away from home and work and earn some money4 ,well1 said the mother1 ,i know you need a pair of shoes1 but don't worry1 the ,lord will provide4 ,do you think that ,,the ,,lord will come down from heaven and buy me a pair of shoes8 said the younger sister1 with an expression of discouragement and vexation on her countenance4 ,no1 said the mother1 but perhaps he will put it into somebody's heart to buy you a pair4 ,perhaps ,he will1 but ,i don't believe it1 said the discouraged girl4 ,well1 said the other sister1 who was a little more hopeful1 you won't get them any quicker by fretting1 so you might as well be quiet4 ,then the subject dropped and the day passed as usual4 ,as the shades of evening were gathering1 a brother who lived at some distance1 and who knew nothing of their previous conversation1 called to inquire after their prosperity4 ,after the customary salutations he said1 ,you have been sick here a long time1 and ,i thought ,i would come round and see if ,i could not do something for you2 thought perhaps by this time the girls needed something4 ,then turning to the younger sister1 he said1 ,how is it1 aren't your shoes worn out8 ,she dropped her eyes1 blushed deeply1 and1 perhaps1 a little conscience-smitten1 answered not a word4 ,nothing was said of the previous conversation1 though it was not forgotten by those who heard it4 ,the brother soon saw for himself enough to satisfy him1 and said no more1 but went away4 ,the next day two pairs of shoes were sent around to her1 and with them came to her heart a lesson which she never forgot4 ,she lived many years after that1 but was never heard to murmur in that way again1 and often said that the two pairs of shoes taught her to wait1 hope and trust1 and thereby learn implicit confidence in ,him who sendeth all blessings4 ,the last time she alluded to the occurrence1 she said1 ,i was speechless then1 but1 by the grace of ,god1 ,i will not be in the world to come4 ,,the ,,lame ,,healed4 ,rev4 ,charles ,g4 ,finney1 during his life-time1 was familiar with the circumstances connected with the remarkable healing of a sick lady in ,oberlin1 ,o41 the wife of ,rev4 ,r4,d4 ,miller1 and these facts were vouched for as unquestionably authentic4 ,mr4 ,finney says3 ,mrs4 ,miller is the wife of a ,congregational minister1 and a lady of unquestionably veracity4 ,however the fact of her healing is to be accounted for1 her story is no doubt worthy of entire confidence1 as we have known her for years as a lame1 suffering invalid1 and now see her in our midst in sound health4 ,this instantaneous restoration will be accounted for by different persons in different ways4 ,mrs4 ,miller and those who were present regard the healing as supernatural and a direct answer to prayer4 ,the facts must speak for themselves4 ,why should not the sick be healed in answer to the prayer of faith8 ,unbelief can discredit them1 but faith sees nothing incredible in such facts as are stated by ,mrs4 ,miller4 ,mrs4 ,miller's own statement is as follows1 and it is fully endorsed by the most reliable citizens and members of the ,first church at ,oberlin3 ,from my parents ,i inherited a constitution subject to a chronic form of rheumatism4 ,in early life ,i was attacked with rheumatic weaknesses and pains1 which affected my whole system4 ,for nearly forty years ,i was subject to more or less suffering from this cause1 sometimes unable to attend meeting for months at a time4 ,for seven years1 until the last three months1 ,i have been unable to get about without the aid of crutch or staff1 generally both4 ,i have used many liniments and remedies1 but with no permanently good result4 ,i have been a ,christian from early life1 but last ,spring1 in our revival1 ,i received a spiritual refreshing from the ,lord1 which gave a new impulse to my faith4 ,since then my religion has been a new life to me4 ,last ,summer1 several of us ,christian sisters were in the habit of spending short seasons of prayer together1 that the ,lord would send us a pastor4 ,some of our number had read the narrative of ,dorothea ,trudel1 and had spoken to me on the subject of healing in answer to prayer4 ,my faith had not then risen to this elevation4 ,i had in fact accepted what ,i supposed to be the will of ,god1 and made up my mind to be a lame and suffering invalid the rest of my life4 ,i had long since ceased to use remedies for the restoration of my health1 and had not even thought of praying in regard to it1 for ,i regarded it as the will of ,god that ,i should suffer in silent submission4 ,notwithstanding what had been said to me1 ,i remained in this opinion and in this attitude until the #bfth of ,september1 #ahgb1 when several ladies met at our house1 by appointment1 for a prayer-meeting4 ,i had been growing worse for some time1 and was at that time unable to get out to attend a meeting4 ,i was suffering much pain that afternoon2 indeed1 ,i was hardly able to be out of my bed4 ,up to this time none of the sisters who had conversed with me about the subject of healing by faith1 had been able to tell me anything from their own experience4 ,that afternoon1 one lady was present who could speak to me from her own experience of being healed in answer to the prayer of faith4 ,she related several striking instances in which her prayers had been answered in the removal of divers forms of disease to which she was subject4 ,she also repeated a number of passages of ,scripture1 which clearly justified the expectation of being healed in answer to the prayer of faith4 ,she also said that ,jesus had shown her that he was just as ready to heal diseases now as he was when on earth2 that such healing was expressly promised in ,scripture1 in answer to the prayer of faith1 and that it was nowhere taken back4 ,these facts1 reasonings1 and passages of ,scripture1 made a deep impression on my mind1 and1 for the first time1 ,i found myself able to believe that ,jesus would heal me in answer to prayer4 ,she asked me if ,i could join my faith with hers and ask for present healing4 ,i told her ,i felt that ,i could4 ,we then knelt1 and called upon the ,lord4 ,she offered a mighty prayer to ,god1 and ,i followed4 ,while she was leading in prayer ,i felt a quickening in my whole being1 whereupon my pain subsided1 and when we rose from prayer ,i felt that a great change had come over me1 that ,i was cured4 ,i found that ,i could walk without my staff or crutch1 or any assistance from any one4 ,since then my pains have never returned2 ,i have more than my youthful vigor2 ,i walk with more ease and rapidity than ,i ever did in my life1 and ,i never felt so fresh and young as ,i now do1 at the age of fifty-two4 ,now1 the hundred and third psalm is my psalm1 and my youth is more than renewed1 like the eagle's4 ,i cannot express the constant joy of my heart for the wonderful healing of my soul and body4 ,i feel as if ,i was every whit made whole4 ,the testimony of eye-witnesses to this healing is as follows3 ,we were all present at the time of the healing1 and know the facts to be true4 ,we are all ,christians1 and have no interest in deceiving anybody1 and would by no means dishonor ,god by stating more than the exact truth4 ,since the healing1 ,mrs4 ,miller is still with us1 and in excellent health4 ,neither the severe cold of last ,winter1 nor the extreme heat of this ,summer1 has at all injured her health4 ,from our first acquaintance with her1 she has been so lame as to be unable to walk1 except by the aid of crutches4 ,since which time she has been able to walk without help1 and appears perfectly well4 ,her husband1 also adding his testimony1 says3 ,she has been unable to walk without crutches for a series of years4 ,a long time ago1 we tried many remedies and physicians1 with no lasting good results1 and were expecting she would remain an invalid4 ,of late1 she had applied no remedy1 nor taken any medicine4 ,at the time of her cure1 she was much worse than for a long while before1 being in great pain continually1 until the moment she fully believed1 and1 in an instant1 she was restored to perfect soundness4 ,from that moment to this she has not felt a particle of her former complaint4 ,she can now walk for miles as fast as ,i wish to1 without feeling very much fatigue1 does all her own housework1 and attends seven meetings during the week4 ,in short1 she is stronger1 and seems as young and spry1 as when we were married1 thirty-two years ago4 ,the work of the dear ,savior in her cure seems to be perfect1 and she is an astonishment to all who knew her before and see her now4 ,to ,his name be all the praise4 ,another lady1 the same week my wife was healed1 a member of the ,first ,congregational ,church1 confined to her bed with a complicated disease1 was prayed for1 and restored at once to soundness4 ,,the ,,wonderful ,,cure ,,of ,,mrs4 ,,sherman4 ,although there are so many cases of healing in answer to prayer1 yet the incident of the healing of ,mrs4 ,sherman is so minute1 and resulted in such a radical change of the physical constitution1 that it is necessary to relate it in full detail4 ,it is too well proven to admit the possibility of a doubt4 ,mrs4 ,ellen ,sherman is the wife of ,rev4 ,moses ,sherman1 and1 at the time of this occurrence1 in #ahgc1 they were residents of ,piermont1 ,n4,h4 ,she had been an invalid for many years4 ,in the ,winter after she was fifteen1 she fell on the ice and hurt her left knee1 so that it became weak and easy to slip out of joint4 ,six years after1 she fell again on the same knee1 so twisting it and injuring the ligaments that it became partially stiff1 and1 the physician said1 incurable4 ,the next ,summer1 by very fast walking1 one day1 she brought on special weakness1 which no physician was able to cure4 ,from that moment she was subject to severe neuralgia1 sick-headaches1 at least monthly1 and sometimes even weekly4 ,in ,december1 #ahei1 while stepping out of doors1 she slipped1 by reason of her stiff joint1 and fell1 striking near the base of the spine1 directly across the sharp edge of the stone step4 ,this caused such a sickness that she was obliged to leave the school she was attending4 ,three years after 7in ,january1 #ahfb71 she fell at the top of a stairway1 striking just as before1 and sliding all the way down to the foot4 ,this nearly paralyzed the spinal cord1 and caused deep and permanent spinal disease4 ,after this she was up and down for many years1 attended by various physicians1 yet nothing bettered1 but1 rather1 growing worse4 ,it may be said1 for short1 that every organ of the lower body became chronically diseased1 and that the headaches increased in violence4 ,in ,september1 #ahgb1 through a severe cold1 she took her bed1 where she lay1 except when lifted from it1 till the night of ,august #bg1 #ahgc4 ,she was unable to walk a step1 or even stand4 ,she could sit up only a short time without great distress4 ,the best medical skill that could be procured gave only temporary relief4 ,the spine grew worse in spite of every appliance1 and the nervous sensitiveness and prostration were increasing4 ,during the two or three weeks immediately preceding her cure she was especially helpless1 two persons being required to lift her off and on the bed4 ,on the ,monday before1 one of her severest neuralgia sick-headaches came on4 ,during ,wednesday she began to be relieved1 but was still so sick that when1 in the evening1 she tried to have her clothes changed1 she could only endure the change of her night-dress4 ,it will be seen from this her utter physical helplessness1 and not the slightest hope of any amelioration4 ,during the night of ,august #bgth1 she enjoyed a blessed time of communion with her ,lord1 giving herself1 in all her helplessness1 wholly to ,him to do as he wills4 ,with feelings beyond all expression1 she felt the nearness of her mighty ,savior1 and the sense of receiving a new and most delicious pulsation of new life4 ,at last1 though she had been bed-ridden for twelve months1 and incapable of any bodily assistance1 she felt an uncontrollable impulse to throw off the clothes of the bed with her left arm1 and sprang out of bed upon her feet1 and started to walk across the room4 ,her husband's first thought was that she was crazed1 and would fall to the floor1 and he sprang towards her to help her4 ,but she put up her hands against him1 saying with great energy1 ',don't you touch me6 ,don't you touch me6' and went walking back and forth across the room speaking rapidly1 and declaring the work which ,jesus had been working upon her4 ,her husband1 quickly saw that she was in her right mind1 and had been healed by the ,lord1 and his soul was filled with unutterable emotion4 ,one of the women of the household was called1 also their son1 twelve years old1 and together they thanked ,god for the great and blessed wonder he had wrought4 ,in the morning1 after a sleep of several hours1 she further examined herself to see if entirely healed1 and found both knees perfectly well2 and though for sixteen years she had not been able to use either1 now she lifted the left foot and put it upon the right knee1 thus proving the completeness of her restoration4 ,at the end of two years from her healing1 inquiry having been made as to how thorough had been the work1 ,mrs4 ,sherman gave full and abundant evidence4 ',i cannot remember a ,summer when ,i have been so healthy and strong1 and able to work hard4 ,i am a constant wonder to myself1 and to others1 and have been for the two years past4 ,the cure exceeded my highest expectations at the time ,i was cured4 ,i did not look forward to such a state of vigor and strength4 ,no words can express my joy and gratitude for all this4' ,the parents of ,mrs4 ,sherman also testify of the wonderful change physically which occurred with the cure4 ,before1 her appetite was always disordered1 but on the very morning of the healing it was wholly changed1 and her food1 which distressed her formerly1 she ate with a relish and without any pain following2 and she so continues4 ,for years before a natural action of the bowels was rare4 ,from that day since1 an unnatural one is equally rare4 ,for fifteen years1 with few exceptions1 she had had severe neuralgic sick headaches monthly or oftener4 ,from that time she has been natural and without pain1 with no return of the headaches1 except a comparatively slight one once1 from overdoing and a cold taken through carelessness4 ,there was also at that time an immediate and radical change in the action of the kidneys1 which had become a source of great trouble before4 ,moreover the knee which had been partially stiff for so many years was made entirely well4 ,in fine1 her body1 which had been so full of pain1 became at once free from pain1 and full of health4 ,the week after she was healed she went fifty miles to attend a camp-meeting1 riding five miles in a carriage1 the rest by cars4 ,a near neighbor said1 ',she will come back worse than ever4' ,though the weather was especially bad1 she came back better than when she went4 ,these are but few out of many expressions respecting her extraordinary recovery1 which fully satisfy the believing ,christian that the ,great ,physician is with us now1 healing the lame1 and curing the sick4 ,it is faith only1 unyielding1 which the ,lord requires ere he gives his richest blessing4 ,the unbelieving one simply sees in it something strange1 which he can not understand1 but the faith-keeping ,christian knows it is the sign of his ,precious ,lord1 in whom he trusts and abides forever4 ,,dr4 ,,newman ,,hall',s ,,testimonies ,,to ,,the ,,value ,,of ,,prayer4 ,dr4 ,newman ,hall1 of ,london1 in his wide experience has met with many incidents of answered prayer1 and thus relates several3 ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,thirty ,,pounds4 ,on a recent evangelizing visit to ,newport1 one of its citizens said to me1 ',in yonder house dwell a man and wife1 who recently needed a sum of #cj to meet some payment the next morning4 ,having failed in their efforts to collect it1 they earnestly prayed ,god to provide it4 ,the store was being closed for the night when a sea-captain knocked at the door and asked for some seamen's clothes4 ,the gas was relighted1 and various articles were selected2 the purchaser then asked for the account1 and the money was paid--a little more than #cj4 ,the man and his wife thanked their ,heavenly ,father for sending it in this way in answer to prayer4' ,,recovery ,,from ,,dangerous ,,illness4 ,dr4 ,newman ,hall was once visiting1 on his dying bed1 ,john ,cranfield1 son of the great originator of ragged schools1 under the ministry of ,rowland ,hill4 ,we were conversing on prayer4 ,he said1 ',a remarkable instance occurred in connection with my father4 ,the former organist of ,surry ,chapel1 ,mr4 ,howard1 was dangerously ill4 ,he was greatly beloved1 and his friends met for special prayer that ,god would spare his life4 ,my father on that occasion was remarkably earnest in asking that the life of his friend might be lengthened1 as in the case of ,hezekiah4 ,the next day he began to recover2 and during fifteen years was a blessing to his friends and the church4' ,a ,,sunday ,,school ,,teacher ,,in ,,distress4 ,my brother1 says ,dr4 ,hall1 told me that when superintendent of a ,sunday school he felt a strong impulse1 one ,saturday evening1 to call at the home of one of his teachers whom he had never visited before4 ,he found his mother and sisters in such evident distress that he inquired the cause4 ,with much reluctance they explained that1 being unable to pay their taxes1 their goods were to be taken on the coming ,monday1 and they had been asking special help from ,god to save them from a disaster which they felt would be a dishonor to religion4 ,by the aid of a few friends the difficulty was at once met1 but the timely succor was regarded as the divine answer to their prayer4 ,,rescued ,,in ,,peril4 ,with my brother ,i was once climbing the ,cirrha di ,jazze1 one of the mountains in the chain of ,mount ,rosa4 ,when nearly at the top1 we entered a dense fog4 ,presently our guides faced right about and grounded their axes on the frozen snowed slope4 ,my brother1 seeing the slope still beyond1 and not knowing it was merely the cornice overhanging a precipice of several thousand feet1 rushed onward4 ,i shall never forget their cry of agonized warning4 ,he stood a moment on the very summit1 and then1 the snow yielding1 he began to fall through4 ,one of the guides1 at great risk1 had rushed after him1 and seizing him by the coat1 drew him down to a place of safety4 ,no one could be nearer death and yet escape4 ,on his return home1 an invalid member of his congregation told him that she had been much in prayer for his safety1 and mentioned a special time when she was particularly earnest1 as if imploring deliverance from some great peril4 ,the times corresponded4 ,his life was saved in answer to her prayer4 ,a ,,physical ,,impediment ,,removed4 ,a clergyman1 of great scholarship and genius1 has told me of a remarkable answer to prayer1 authenticated by three missionaries known to himself1 who are personally acquainted with the facts4 ,a ,prussian1 the master of a hotel in ,india1 was anxious to relinquish his large income1 and labor as a missionary among the ,santil tribes4 ,objection was made to him on account of an impediment in his speech which would render him1 in speaking a foreign language1 incapable of being understood4 ,believing in the efficacy of prayer1 he called together his friends1 specially to ask that his impediment might be removed4 ,the next morning1 he presented himself again at the ,mission ,house--the impediment had gone6 ,he was accepted1 relinquished his business1 and is now preaching the gospel to the ,santils in their own tongue4 ,,restoration ,,from ,,death4 ,my father1 the author of the ,sinner's ,friend1 narrates in his autobiography a circumstance which he often used to speak of with great emotion4 ,my mother was very ill1 and apparently dying4 ,the ,doctor said that now1 if at all1 the children might be brought for her to look at them once more4 ,one by one we were brought to the bedside1 and her hand was placed on our heads4 ,then my father bade her farewell1 and she lay motionless as if soon to breathe her last4 ,he then said to himself1 ',there is yet one promise ,i have not pleaded1 ,if ye ask anything in my name ,i will do it4 ,he stepped aside1 and in an agony of soul exclaimed1 ',o1 ,lord1 for the honor of thy dear ,son1 give me the life of my wife6' ,he could say no more1 and sank down exhausted4 ,just then the nurse called him to the bedside saying1 ',she has opened her mouth again as if for food4' ,nourishment was given1 and from that time she began to recover4 ,the doctor said it was miraculous4 ,my father said it was ,god1 who had heard his prayer4 ,,the ,,help ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,,in ,,little ,,things4 ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,patton1 of ,chicago1 in receiving many letters from clergymen1 received one from ,mr4 ,f41 a pastor in ,massachusetts4 ,in it he speaks of his unsuccessful search for a valuable knife1 prized as a present from a friend1 which he had lost on a hillside covered with laurels4 ,he paused in prayer1 asked to be guided1 commenced his search1 and was almost immediately successful thereafter4 ,the same letter also mentions the case of a friend in a responsible position under the government1 whose accounts failed to balance by reason of an error1 which1 after long search1 he could not detect4 ,in great distress he betook himself to prayer1 and then opening his books1 on the very first page1 which he happened to glance at1 and at the top of the column1 he saw instantly the looked for error1 standing out so plainly that he wondered he had not seen it before4 ,the writer also speaks of a rubber shoe being lost and promptly found after mention in prayer4 ,these may seem little matters1 but they are the privileges of the righteous to ask anything of ,him who careth for them4 ,a ,,boy',s ,,faith ,,in ,,prayer ,in a letter to ,dr4 ,w4,w4 ,patton1 by ,mr4 ,t4,i4 ,goodwin1 ,m4,d41 of ,staten ,island1 he describes a little incident which happened to him when only thirteen years old4 ,he lost a choice penknife while collecting and driving several cows from a pasture covered with grass two inches high4 ,having read ,huntington's ,book of ,faith1 he thought of prayer1 and in childlike trust he knelt under a tree1 outside the bars1 and prayed for his lost treasure2 for he was a farmer's boy1 and his spending money amounted to only about fifty cents a year4 ',i rose up1 cast my eyes down on the ground1 and without planning my course or making any estimate of probabilities1 walked across the meadow centrally to near its farther edge1 saw the penknife down in the grass directly before me1 and picked it up all as readily as ,i could have done had any one stood there pointing to the exact place4 ,had ,i gone ten feet to the right or left ,i could not have seen the knife1 for the grass was too high4' ,a ,,prayer ,,for ,,five ,,dollars4 ,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 street4 ,in the evening the missionary called and gave him the money4 ,for a moment the good man stood amazed and speechless4 ,then taking down a little journal he turned to the record made in his diary of that morning1 and showed it to the missionary4 ,spent two and a half hours in earnest prayer for five dollars4 ,and now here it is1 said the man1 with a heart overflowing with gratitude4 ,the ,lord has sent it4 ,both giver and receiver had their faith strengthened by the incident4 ,,go ,,to ,,the ,,post-,,office4 ,a correspondent of ,the ,guiding ,hand relates this incident3 ,in the year #ah--1 having a brother living in the city of ,r41 ,i went to see him4 ,going to the store where he had been at work1 ,i found that the firm had suspended1 and that he was thrown out of employment1 and had broken up housekeeping1 but could not ascertain where he was1 only that he was boarding somewhere out in the suburbs of the city4 ,i searched for him all day1 but in vain4 ,it was absolutely necessary that ,i should find him4 ,what ,,more to do ,i knew not1 except to pray4 ,finally1 ,i was impressed to write a line and drop it into the post-office1 and ,i obeyed the impression1 telling him1 if he got it1 to meet me at a stated place1 the next morning1 at ten o'clock4 ,i prayed earnestly that the ,lord would cause him to go to the post-office1 so that he might get my letter4 ,i felt full of peace1 and at rest about the matter4 ,the next morning1 at ten o'clock1 ,i went to the place appointed for him to meet me1 and he soon came in4 ,this incident might seem one of ordinary or chance occurrence1 but for the following unusual circumstances3 ,as they were returning to their home1 his brother said3 ',there is something very strange about my going to the post-office this morning--,i had my arrangements all made to go with a party1 this morning early1 to the bay1 fishing2 but1 when ,i awoke1 ,i had such an impression to go down to the post-office1 that ,i had to forgo the pleasure of going to the bay1 and went to the post-office and found your letter4' ,i replied1 ',it was the ,lord that impressed you in answer to my prayer1 for ,i have prayed earnestly for the ,lord to send you to the office this morning1' and1 although but young in years and religion1 ,i gave ,god the praise for his guidance and ,his grace4 ,,the ,,widow',s ,,tree ,not many years ago a violent storm1 with wind and thunder1 spread devastation all through the valley of ,yellow ,creek1 ,georgia4 ,for a mile in width1 trees were uprooted1 barns and fences were prostrated1 and all the lands were desolated4 ,right in the center of the tornado stood a small cabin4 ,its sole occupants were an aged widow and her only son4 ,the terrible wind struck a large tree in front of her humble dwelling1 twisting and dashing it about4 ,if it fell it would lay her home in ruins4 ,desolation1 death itself1 might follow4 ,the storm howled and raged4 ,the great trees fell in all directions4 ,when it seemed her tree must also fall and there was no remedy1 she knelt in fervent supplication to ,him who gathereth the wind in his fists1 that he would spare that tree4 ,her prayer was heard4 ,the tree was spared1 and was the only one left within a considerable distance of the widow's cabin4 ,,the ,,lord ,,paid ,,his ,,interest4 ,a most curious answer to prayer occurred in the experience of a home missionary in ,brooklyn4 ,it illustrates how ,god1 in his trials of faith to see if ,his people do really cling to the promises1 compels them to march right into the scene of danger1 and into the mouth of the cannon1 that apparently is open specially to shoot them down4 ,the interest on the mortgage of his property was due in a few days4 ,its amount was #cjj4 ,he did not have the money--did not know where to obtain it4 ,with anxious heart during the day1 he kept up his faith and courage by thinking of the ,lord's promises1 and1 the last night before the eventful day1 was spent in prayer1 until the assurance came that all was well4 ,often he pleaded1 often he reminded the ,lord that1 as his life was ,his1 to save him from reproach1 and not let his trust in the ,lord suffer dishonor before others4 ,the last moment came--no money--no relief4 ,with sinking heart he went to the holder of the mortgage to announce his utter inability to meet his demand4 ,while there1 just at the last moment1 when he was about to leave1 the gentleman said1 ,by the way1 here is an envelope ,i was told to give you4 ,the missionary opened it1 and out came six fifty dollar bills1 just the three hundred dollars prayed for4 ,the ,lord met and delivered him in the very jaws of the enemy4 ,,will ,,the ,,lord ,,deliver ,,from ,,bad ,,habits ,,of ,,tobacco1 ,,rum1 ,,liquor1 ,,licentiousness1 ,,etc41 ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,this question having been asked by a clergyman of ,brooklyn1 ,rev4 ,s4,h4 ,platt1 he received a large number of communications1 which evidently prove that the ,lord is willing and does1 either instantaneously or gradually in answer to prayer1 deliver and take away wholly the bad habits and appetites of those who are willing to forsake their sinful ways and cleave only to ,him4 ,the ,lord's salvation cleanses and delivers the body as well as the soul4 ,we quote a few extracts from his correspondence1 which is but a small portion out of many published in his volume1 ,the ,power of ,grace4 ,,cured ,,of ,,tobacco ,,appetite4 ,a little more than a year has elapsed since ,i left off the use of tobacco4 ,this further time has more fully developed the thoroughness of the case spoken of and the completeness of the victory over an evil habit4 ,i am filled with wonder1 for ,i expected a terrible fight with an appetite1 strengthened by an indulgence of about thirty-five years1 but the enemy has not shown his head4 ,not only has the desire for smoking been effectually squelched1 but a perfect hatred of smoking has been developed on account of the offensiveness of the odor of tobacco4 ,i frequently cross the street1 or change my seat in a car to escape the puff of smoke1 or the fetid breath of a smoker4 ',thanks be unto ,god who giveth us the victory4' ,,bad ,,habits ,,wholly ,,overcome4 ,a physician of extended practice was converted and reclaimed while ,i had charge of the place in which he lived4 ,he had acquired the habit of using large quantities of whiskey and brandy1 and withal more or less given to licentiousness4 ,since that time he has been steadily advancing in morals and moral power1 till he now preaches the gospel as a local preacher1 side by side with the best of the district4 ,,was ,,it ,,instantaneous8 ,yes1 as respects tobacco2 he became convicted of its sinfulness by a voice saying1 ',that is not the way to glorify ,god3 stop1 and stop now4' ,and from that moment he says he has never used it1 neither does he in any way like the smell1 or even the sight of tobacco4 ,,the ,,lord ,,delivers ,,from ,,bodily ,,sins4 ,i had used tobacco from my childhood1 and the love and use thereof grew upon me4 ,i became convicted of its sinfulness1 went to ,god and said1 ',destroy the appetite1 and give me power over it4 ,save me that ,i may glorify thee as a ,god of power for our present sins1 and ,i will glorify thee ever more4' ,i wrote out the contract and signed it1 and from that blessed afternoon have no recollection of ever desiring it even4 ,,another ,,deliverance4 ,tobacco was a great trouble to me2 and ,i had tried a number of times to leave it off1 but could not do so4 ,one night as ,i was retiring to rest1 ,i thought ,i would kneel by my bed and ask ,him1 who never refuses to answer prayer1 to take from me the desire for tobacco1 and from that moment it has been impossible for me to use it4 ,,not ,,your ,,own ,,strength ,,can ,,break ,,the ,,habit4 ,i smoked tobacco excessively for fifteen years1 commencing when ,i was about twenty years old4 ,i often strove to break off from the use of it2 indeed ,i determined time and again to desist from it1 sometimes abstaining for a few months or weeks1 once for twelve months1 but the desire never left me1 and whenever ,i tasted it ,i was sure to take to it again4 ,i sometimes vowed whilst upon my knees in prayer1 to abstain from it and never touch it again1 but ,i always attempted to do this in my own strength2 hence ,i failed1 being overcome by the almost irresistible influences it had upon my appetite1 so long accustomed to the use4 ,one ,sunday morning1 ,i retired to a secluded place1 got down upon my knees1 and asked the ,lord to help me quit it1 determining then and there that ,i would1 ,god being my helper1 never touch the accursed thing again by any kind of use in the way of consumption1 and from that day to this1 ,i have never had any desire to smoke or chew tobacco1 or to use it in any way2 ,i lifted my heart to ,god1 imploring his assistance in abstaining from it4 ,i have now been clear of the desire of it for nearly twenty-three years4 ,a ,,double ,,cure4 ,at the age of twelve years ,i commenced to use tobacco1 and continued to use it1 both smoking and chewing1 till five years ago1 when in answer to prayer the appetite was instantly removed4 ,the circumstances were as follows3 ,i had tried many ways to leave off the use of tobacco1 but the appetite was so strong that ,i could not withstand it4 ,at one time ,i left it off for a month1 but not a day passed but ,i craved it1 and when ,i did begin again it tasted as good as ever4 ,i found that tobacco was injuring my health4 ,my nervous system was much deranged4 ,for more than a year before ,i left it off there was scarcely a night but ,i lay for two or three hours1 before ,i could go to sleep4 ,i resolved a great many times ,i would leave off1 but always failed4 ,i had also acquired the habit of drinking1 and became a confirmed drunkard4 ,i knew the habits were killing me1 but ,i was powerless to stop4 ,one evening a prayer-meeting was appointed at my house4 ,the minister in his remarks spoke about habits1 and said that religion would cure all bad habits1 such as tobacco1 c41 and that by prayer ,god would remove all evil appetites4 ,i thought but little about it that night2 was very careless and trifling about it4 ,the next morning ,i took out my tobacco to take a chew1 and thought of what the minister had said the night before4 ,it was a new idea to me4 ,i put the tobacco in my pocket again1 and said1 ',i'll try it4' ,i was alone in my barn2 ,i kneeled down and asked ,god to remove the appetite from me4 ,it was done4 ,i was cured4 ,i felt it4 ,i knew it then4 ,i have never had a desire for it since4 ,there has been no hankering for it or for strong drink since4 ,my sins were all forgiven1 and ,i was made a new man all over1 inside and outside4 ,when ,i go into company where they are smoking1 ,i have no desire for it at all1 neither have ,i for drinking1 any more than if ,i had never had those habits4 ,my nervous difficulty was also instantly cured4 ,no more trouble about sleeping1 and ,i know that ,jesus can heal and remove and destroy all evil habits4 ,a ,,special ,,word ,,to ,,all ,,seeking ,,to ,,escape ,,evil ,,ways4 ,should these words meet the eye of any one so troubled over any evil way or bad habit from whose bondage he would gladly escape1 let me say to you these words of good cheer3 ,the ,lord can save you1 the ,lord can deliver you1 the ,lord can wholly heal you4 ,he can take away your appetite and cleanse you thoroughly4 ,he has done it for many others4 ,he can do it for you4 ,realize that your own strength can not do it4 ,forget not that it is only in answer to your own prayer4 ,those who want this good gift must pray for it4 ,deliverance may be instantaneous or gradual1 but do not cease your prayer4 ,seek in the ,bible for those promises which show that he can deliver from all evil1 and plead them and then trust in ,him and his strength to fulfill them4 ,forget not also to ask others to pray for you1 and remember that the answer is sure to come if you add to your prayer these true thoughts of your heart1 ',deliver me and ,i give myself to thee forever4' ,if you expect so great a gift from the ,lord1 he asks of you1 ',what are you willing to do for me8' ,,help ,,at ,,the ,,very ,,last ,,moment4 ,,faith ,,rewarded4 ,a clergyman in the ,state of ,new ,york1 through the influence of a disaffected member1 was unfairly and precipitately deprived of his pulpit1 which involved a large family in necessity4 ,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 breakfast4 ,his wife1 full of grief with her children1 retired to her bed4 ,the minister chose to sit up and employ his dark hours in prayer1 and reading the promises of ,god4 ,some secret hope of supply pervaded his breast1 but when1 whence1 or by whom1 he knew not4 ,he retired to rest1 and in the morning appeared with his family1 and offered family prayer4 ,it being the depth of ,winter1 and a little fire on the hearth1 he desired his wife to hang on the kettle1 and spread the cloth upon the table4 ,the kettle boiled1 the children cried for bread2 the afflicted father1 standing before the fire1 felt those deep emotions of heart over his helplessness and impending starvation which those reared in affluence never know4 ,while in this painful state some one knocked at the door1 entered1 and delivered a letter into the minister's hand4 ,when the gentleman was gone the letter was opened1 and to the minister's astonishment it contained a few bank bills1 with a desire for acceptance4 ,so manifest an answer to prayer from ,divine ,goodness could not but be received with gratitude and joy1 and fulfills to the very letter these promises3 ,verily thou shalt be fed4 ,psalm #cg3c4 ,i will never leave thee nor forsake thee4 ,heb4 #ac3e4 ,to ascertain how this occurrence came to take place1 this remarkable coincidence of relief at the identical moment of time when there was the last appeal to ,god1 the incident was communicated to the editor of a religious journal4 ,having an intimacy with the gentleman said to be the one whose hand had offered the seasonable relief1 he determined the next time he made him a visit to introduce the subject1 and1 if possible1 to know the reason that induced the generous action4 ,the story was told with a modest blush which evinced the tenderness of his heart4 ,on interrogation1 he said he had frequently heard that minister4 ,on a certain morning he was disposed for a walk2 thought in the severity of the winter season a trifle might be of service1 as fuel was high2 felt a kind of necessity to enclose the money in a letter2 went to the house1 found the family1 delivered the paper and retired1 but knew not the extreme necessity of the minister and his family1 either at that time nor till this very moment when his friend introduced the subject4 ,thus it is seen none but ,god knew the want or moved the hand that gave the supply1 and brought them to meet at the right time4 ,,spinal ,,disease ,,cured4 ,there was a little girl in this place that had the cerebro-spinal-meningitis2 several had died with this disease1 and the physician had given her up to die4 ,the weekly prayer-meeting met in town that night1 and her parents wrote a note and sent it by their little son1 requesting prayer that their little daughter might live and not die1 signed with the names of both parents4 ,from that time she began to recover1 and to-day she is a bright little girl1 with full use of every faculty1 and not deformed as most persons are from this terrible disease4 ,i cannot view it in any other light than a direct answer to prayer4 ,,an ,,old ,,man',s ,,prayer4 ,i feel also like mentioning another instance4 ,i knew an old father in ,israel1 a minister of the gospel1 who once in speaking with a brother minister1 after a revival of religion in which five of his grandchildren had professed their faith in ,christ1 among others with whom he had labored2 said if he could only live to see his one remaining granddaughter brought into the fold1 and the two ,presbyterian churches1 then1 called the ,old and ,new school1 united1 he could say1 like ,simeon of old1 ',lord1 now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace1 for mine eyes have seen thy salvation4' ,about three years after1 the two ,presbyteries met near this place in ,germantown1 ,mo41 and he seemed as if he could not contain himself till the time came for the meeting1 so anxious was he for this great desire of his heart to be fulfilled4 ,on the day of meeting he took sick and could not be present at any of the sessions1 but many of his brethren were with him1 among whom was this one he had been conversing with4 ,the sessions lasted three days1 and upon the last evening his wishes were gratified1 the two ,presbyteries merged into one1 singing ',blest be the tie that binds2' and his youngest granddaughter united with the church1 and after the meeting adjourned this brother came to watch with the aged servant of ,god4 ,he was permitted to convey the glad news to him1 and see a heavenly smile light up his countenance as he passed away with his earnest prayer gratified4 ,,the ,,mysterious ,,leadings ,,of ,,providence4 ,the following incidents are contributed to the book by a prominent clergyman3 ,a period1 ever memorable in the life of the writer1 occurred in the ,autumn of #ahcb1 while attending a protracted meeting of more than ordinary interest and power1 held under the auspices of the ,baptist church in the city of ,schenectady1 under the then pastoral charge of ,rev4 ,abraham ,d4 ,gillette1 this being his first settlement4 ,it was in one of the meetings that the ,holy ,spirit impressed my mind of its sinfulness and the need of a ,savior1 not only to cleanse my soul of sin and sinful stains1 but to save me4 ,these impressions caused me to humble myself at the feet of sovereign mercy2 and in the midst of my pleadings1 ,god answered my prayer1 and opened to me new views1 views of the heavenly kingdom1 which so electrified my soul1 that with a full heart ,i could say1 ',blessed be the ,lord who has shown me marvelous works in this lonely place beneath the star-lit sky4' ,this great change was1 and is1 to me the most wonderful interposition of ,god in my behalf in answer to prayer4 ,this answer to prayer the promised result of faith in ,him4 ,again1 in the year #ahcf1 the writer in the year mentioned was employed by a transportation company1 in the city of ,troy1 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 company4 ,association with the boatmen was painful to my religious nature1 compelled1 as ,i was1 to hear all manner of offensive talk4 ,the latter led me to indulge a wish that ,i might free myself from such company1 in order to form associations with persons of my own religious turn of mind4 ,but ,god willed otherwise1 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 ,schenectady4 ,it was on the occasion alluded to that most of the time was occupied in prayer1 and the burden of my prayer was 'that ,god would open up a way for me wherein ,i could find more congenial company1 where in fact my religious feelings would not meet with the trials incident to my present associations4' ,but ,he who knew my needs better1 came to my relief in words seemingly distinct enough to be heard4 ,this was the answer3 ',i have placed you just where ,i want you4' ,instantly my prayer for a change of location or separation from my business and its connections ceased1 and since1 instead of looking for easy positions1 wherein the principles of the faith which is in me may be undisturbed1 ,i deem it suited to my growth in grace and increase in devotion to my ,master's cause1 to covet the association of men whose only tendency is to evil continually4 ,i have found by experience in the latter direction1 that although many tongues are loose in the habit of profanity1 ,i am roused more and more by grace to impart words of counsel4 ,i know that efforts at consistency in ,christian conduct and converse will stop the mouth of profaners of the name of our ,redeemer1 ,god4 ,another instance of the presence of ,god with his children is clearly manifest in the following sketch of a meeting of two brethren1 of whom the writer was one1 held in the conference room of the ,first ,baptist church in ,troy1 ,n4,y41 of which church he was a member4 ,the meeting alluded to occurred in the early spring of #ahdj or '#da4 ,we were accustomed to meet almost every day for the purpose of arranging the ,sunday school library1 but would occupy a portion of the time1 usually at noon1 in prayer for such persons or objects as were presented to the mind4 ,on the particular occasion we propose to mention1 it was mutually agreed that we pray for one of the brethren1 whose gifts were of a high order1 and his usefulness hindered by a lack of spirituality4 ,we mutually bowed in prayer for this brother1 and while thus engaged the door of the room was opened1 and a person entered and knelt between us1 but who he was1 or the purpose of his visit we knew not until we had ended our prayer1 at which time the person spoke and requested us to continue praying for him4 ,at the conclusion of the service1 the question was mooted how he came there4 ,his reply was in substance as follows3 ,when standing on a stoop on the corner of ,fourth and ,congress streets1 cogitating which way ,i should go1 ,i was impressed by a voice within which directed my course to the ,conference ,room4 ,i debated with the impression1 taking the position that it being noon no meeting was then in progress4 ,still the impression remained1 and could not be removed4 ,noticing this1 ,i gave way to the voice and here ,i am4 ,neither of the three thus brought together could doubt for a moment that our prayer for this brother was answered4 ,his joy was great in view of being thus called from his delinquency to share in the fullness of his ,savior's love4 ,another instance in the experience of the writer very clearly shows the power and worth of prayer4 ,about the year #ahdj1 in the ,autumn thereof1 he experienced a lack of vital1 spiritual energy4 ,this had been of months' continuance1 but to his joy1 culminated after retiring to rest4 ,after this manner1 before sleep overcame him1 he was impressed to present his case before the mercy-seat4 ,to do so he arose from his bed1 retired to a quiet part of his home and bowed in prayer1 seeking to occupy the entire night if need be in prayer for the bestowal of the ,holy ,spirit1 and the consequent revival influences of other days4 ,this season of prayer was of short continuance2 but not by reason of disrelish for the exercise1 but because my prayer was answered and a complete breaking away of the previous hindrances to my spiritual enjoyment4 ,since the event alluded to1 now more than thirty-six years1 ,i have not been afflicted by doubts1 and counsel brethren and sisters not to allow themselves to be made unhappy by this evil to our spiritual progress4 ,,life ,,spared ,,for ,,two ,,weeks4 ,on the #hth of ,january1 last1 ,i was called upon to visit a dying man in ,jersey ,city1 whom the doctors had said could not live but a few hours4 ,i found him in severe bodily sufferings and a terrible agony of mind4 ,he had lived a moral and upright life in the eyes of the world1 but careless and neglectful of all religious duties1 and now with eternity before him he felt his life a failure and his imperative need of help4 ,in his agony he would cry out1 ',lord1 help me1' and perhaps the next moment blaspheme the name of ,god4 ,i sought to show him his great sin in having so long neglected ,god and his salvation1 and at the same time assured him that ,jesus was a great ,savior1 'able to save to the uttermost all who would come unto ,him4' ,i went from his bedside to the union prayer-meeting1 held in our city during the week of prayer1 where ,i presented his case and asked the brethren to pray that ,god would save this poor man even at the eleventh hour1 and spare him to give good evidence of his conversion4 ,his case seemed to reach the hearts of all present1 and most earnest prayers were offered in his behalf2 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 world4 ,in answer to prayer he was spared nearly two weeks1 and for some six or seven days before his death1 gave much clearer evidence of being truly converted than could have been expected of one in his condition4 ,a ,,missionary',s ,,experience ,,in ,,mexico4 ,while laboring with my wife as a missionary in ,northern ,mexico1 we supported ourselves for nearly four years by teaching and such other ways as the ,lord opened up to us4 ,but our schools being decidedly ,protestant1 and ,i preaching regularly1 the opposition from ,romanists was very strong2 this1 together with the extreme poverty of the people1 made our income very small4 ,frequently the opposition would rise to that pitch that only the children of the poorest would be permitted to come1 but we never turned these away1 though they could pay no tuition1 trusting that ,god would provide for us in some other way4 ,early in the year #ahfi1 we were much exercised to know the will of the ,lord concerning us1 whether he would have us continue or not4 ,we brought our case before the ,lord and prayed him to make known his will and provide for our necessary wants4 ,in about three weeks we received a check for eighty dollars1 sent us1 as we felt1 truly by the ,lord in answer to our prayer through a friend in ,new ,york1 who knew nothing of our circumstances or prayer4 ,in ,august the same year1 our condition became such that it seemed as if in a few days we would be wholly without the necessaries of life4 ,we laid our case before the ,lord1 and as he did not appear to open up any way for us to leave the field1 we went forward with our work as faithfully as we knew how1 believing that the ,lord would provide in his own time and way1 when one evening1 just after family worship1 a rap came to the door4 ,i opened it1 there came in quite a company of persons1 all bearing something1 and just exactly the things we needed most1 and to the amount of over fifty dollars' worth1 and about a sixth of it was1 as we learned1 given by ,romanists who had opposed us very strongly all the time we had been there4 ,truly the ,lord answers prayer and turns the hearts of men to do his will4 ,,the ,,greatest ,,of ,,physicians4 ,miss ,x4 of ,brooklyn1 had suffered long and severely from a distressing tumor4 ,one physician after another had plied his skill1 but to no purpose2 even the celebrated ,doctor ,simms of ,new ,york1 corroborated their verdict1 that there was no help for her but in the knife4 ,she finally consented to that terrific method1 but was in no condition of strength to bear the operation4 ,it was decided to postpone it till the #bb;d of ,june4 ,twelve doctors were invited to be present4 ,meanwhile a diet nurse sent from ,new ,york1 remained with her1 to prepare her system for the ordeal4 ,three days preceding the one appointed for the operation1 she was attacked by severe nausea1 which lasted two days1 and so weakened her that again the doctors were all notified by the attending one1 that a further postponement was imperative1 and a certain date fixed in ,november4 ,all this time her own prayers were unceasing1 those of her friends added to her own2 and many a remembrance in the ,fulton ,street meeting1 cheered and encouraged her4 ,by ,november1 the tumor had totally disappeared6 ,that was two years ago4 ,she is still well1 strong2 able to walk three miles any time4 ,she is as certain that the whole cure was performed by the ,lord in answer to all those fervent prayers1 as she is certain she lives and moves4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,paid ,,back ,,the #e4 ,mr4 ,h41 missionary1 was appealed to by a poor man who seemed almost distracted4 ,he had a wife and five children2 one of them ill2 had been sick himself for three months1 and owed rent for the whole of that time4 ,the landlord had served him with a writ of ejectment1 and he could get no other tenement1 unless he could pay five dollars on the rent4 ,he had applied to a well-known society in ,brooklyn2 but they were entirely out of funds and gave him a note to the missionary1 hoping he might have or find the desired help4 ,but missionaries' pockets are more often depleted1 than those of benevolent organizations1 and the one in question was fain to take the applicant to a friend1 whom we shall call ,q4 ,the poor man told his story1 asked the five dollars only as a loan1 and1 having an order for the painting of two signs1 said he should be paid for them when done1 and could return the loan the next ,saturday1 one week from that time4 ,mr4 ,q4 saw1 at once1 that the utter destitution of the family1 and the need of everything1 would prevent the man returning the money1 however much he might wish to1 and so refused to lend it4 ,the case was urged1 but without avail2 and the missionary sent the man away1 promising to see him again that night or on ,monday4 ,after his departure1 the following conversation passed between the gentlemen3 ,q4--,now1 ,h41 ,i don't take any stock in that man4 ,can you not see that his paying that money back1 is a simple impossibility8 ,h4--,well1 perhaps so2 but the question with me in such cases1 is this3 ,what is duty8 ,admit that he cannot pay it1 or even that he will not try2 is it not better to relieve his desperate need1 than to have him perhaps turn criminal and prey upon society8 ,he must leave the house he is in2 he cannot get another without the money1 and he is desperate2 feels that five dollars he must have1 by fair means or foul4 ,moreover1 think of his wife and children1 leaving him out of the question4 ,now let us open this little ,bible1 and see what meets our eye first4 ,q4--,oh1 pshaw6 ,you know ,i do not believe in that kind of thing6 ,do you go to the ,bible for everything8 ,h4--,why not8 ,can we have any better guide8 ,q4--,oh6 well1 ,i don't work that way4 ,now about that man and his money4 ,i will toss up a penny with you1 whether ,i lend or not4 ,h4--,no you won't6 ,you know ,i don't believe in chance1 but in the ,lord4 ,and would you sooner rest your decision on a gambler's test1 than on ,god's promise8 ,now just let us open the book4 ,q4--,well2 what do you see8 ,h4--',the wicked borroweth1 and payeth not again2 but the righteous sheweth mercy1 and lendeth4' #cgth ,psalm1 #bast verse4 ,as there was no hunting up of passages1 nor leaves turned down to open easily1 the coincidence was impressive1 as well as amusing1 and ,h41 following it up1 said1 ,lend him the money1 and if he does not pay you next ,saturday night1 ,i will4 ,it was so agreed upon1 and1 when the man called on the missionary on ,monday morning1 he was sent to ,q4 for the relief4 ,the week passed on1 as they all pass1 weighted and freighted with human ills2 some capable of alleviation1 some not2 but of the former1 a full share had come under the notice and care of the missionary1 and ,saturday found him stepping into the ,fulton street prayer-meeting1 ,n4,y41 for fresh encouragement and benediction on his labors4 ,at its close1 a gentleman said to him1 ,mr4 ,h41 ,i have known you by sight for years2 know your work2 but have never given you anything2 and ,i promised myself the next time ,i saw you1 ,i would do so4 ,have you any special need of five dollars now8 ,if so1 and you will step to the bank with me1 you shall have it4 ,instantly it flashed through the mind of ,h4 that this was the day when1 either the borrower or he1 must pay his friend4 ,it may be supposed that he went to the bank with alacrity4 ,going back to ,b4 and meeting the friend1 he learned that neither man nor money had appeared1 and at once tendered the five dollars1 telling the story of the ,lord's care in the matter4 ,q4 was so interested in this manner of obtaining supplies1 that he refused to take the money1 and instructed ,h4 to use it in the ,lord's work4 ,,praying ,,for ,,money ,,for ,a ,,journey4 ,a lady1 ,miss ,e41 residing in ,new ,bedford1 received a letter telling of the serious illness of her mother1 in ,new ,york4 ,sick herself1 from unremitted care of an invalid during eight years1 poor as ,elijah when his only grocers were the ravens1 too old for new ambitions1 too well acquainted with the gray mists of life to hope for many rifts through which the sunshine might enter1 she had no sum of money at all approaching the cost of the trip between the two places4 ,he shall cover thee with his feathers1 and under his wings shalt thou trust1 is a text bound over her daily life1 as a phylactery was bound between the eyes of an ancient ,hebrew4 ,she lives literally1 only one day at a time1 and walks literally by faith and not by sight4 ,so then as ever1 the ,lord was her committee of ways and means2 but for three days the answer was delayed4 ,then1 an old lady called to express her indebtedness for ,miss ,e4's services three years before1 and ask her acceptance of ten dollars therefor1 no sort of equivalent for days and days of writing and searching law papers1 but only a little token that the service was not forgotten4 ,there was the answer to her prayer2 there the redemption of the pledge3 ,as the mountains are round about ,jerusalem1 so the ,lord is round about his people from henceforth1 even forever4 ,,employment ,,found4 ,a man and wife were out of employment1 and in very great trouble4 ,mr4 ,h4 7missionary7 had added his efforts to theirs1 and sedulously sought among the families he knew1 for positions for them4 ,after two weeks' fruitless endeavor1 he said to the man1 ,well1 ,john1 let us go into the ,fulton street meeting and leave it with the ,lord4 ,they did so2 the request was read and remembered4 ,the very next day1 ,mr4 ,h4 received a note from one of the families to whom he had already applied1 and without success1 requesting him to send the man and wife of whom he had spoken4 ,very joyfully he did so1 and they were both engaged6 ,mr4 ,h4 considered it a very marked answer to prayer1 inasmuch as it was quite difficult to find a family who wanted a man as well as woman servant2 and that particular family was1 of all others1 the least likely to make such an arrangement6 ,a ,,barrel ,,of ,,flour4 ,for the ,faith ,home for ,incurables ,mr4 ,h4 received1 one day1 five dollars4 ,a barrel of flour was terribly needed4 ,he went to a large house in ,new ,york1 hoping the ,lord would incline the proprietor to sell him a barrel for that sum4 ,he felt too poor1 was not willing2 and with a heavy heart1 ,mr4 ,h4 returned1 asking the ,lord what next he should do4 ,he called at the store of a friend1 where the following conversation took place4 ,well1 did you get the flour8 ,i did not2 they feel too poor1 and ,i am terribly disappointed4 ,it is almost dark now2 ,i have lost my time going over there1 and at this hour1 the flour merchants here are closed4 ,well1 ,mr4 ---- called here1 and ,i told him you were in1 and on what errand you had gone to ,new ,york4 ,he said he would send a barrel to my store if ,i would send it up to the ,home2 and ,i did so1 about an hour ago4 ,,wonderful ,,ways ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,,in ,,guiding ,,his ,,people4 ,our missionaries move amidst the reality of scenes which religious fiction vainly strives to equal4 ,remarkable proofs of genuine and vivid piety1 triumphs of patience and grace1 lifting their possessors above the most painful and distressing circumstances1 are met with in all their explorations1 and more than repay them for toil or privation4 ,,wonderful ,,conversion ,,of ,a ,,roman ,,catholic4 ,a frame dwelling in an alley1 two rooms on the first floor1 in the smaller one a bed-ridden old colored man1 who had fought the battle of life for ninety years1 fifteen of them on his bed1 with eyes so dimmed by age that he could not even read2 and a wife who was eye1 ear and solace to him1 are the salient points of our first picture4 ,they were both earnest1 exultant ,christians1 around whom the angels of ,god encamped day and night4 ,the wife was brought up in the ,west ,indies1 as a ,catholic1 but her ideas of religion consisted mostly in counting beads on a rosary4 ,after coming to ,brooklyn1 she became a servant in the family of a well-known naval officer1 and was always a favorite on account of her vivacity4 ,one day1 a young painter who was working there1 and proved to be one of the ,christians whose light shines for all in the house1 spoke to her1 and invited her to a prayer-meeting in a ,protestant chapel4 ,she refused1 laughing2 but the painter's assurance next day1 that she had been prayed for in that meeting1 made her restless1 uneasy and sick4 ,in a few days1 she was confined to her bed and pronounced by some doctors1 a victim to consumption4 ,one1 more sagacious than the rest1 said her trouble was of the mind1 not the body1 and a minister would be better than a doctor4 ,it proved to be the case2 she was soon led into a glimmering hope1 though feeling that she literally carried a burden on her back4 ,starting out1 one night1 to look for a place of worship1 she turned her feet to a ,methodist meeting from whence the sound of singing had reached her4 ,in the prayer and exhortation1 however1 there were words which revealed to her the secret of faith and salvation4 ,she felt the burden loosen and fall from her shoulders1 so sensibly1 that involuntarily1 she turned and looked for it on the floor4 ,in a few moments she began to realize the freedom she had gained1 and started to her feet in joy and wonder4 ,her work then began in her own home1 and through her prayers of faith1 five members of the ,commodore's own family and an ,irish ,catholic servant girl1 were brought to ,christ1 the living way4 ,for years her faith was proved by her works2 her daily example in the household1 her watchings and waitings by the bedside of her helpless husband--poverty1 sickness1 perplexities of every sort1 but made her hope the brighter1 her hold the firmer4 ,with no dependence for their daily bread but the benefactions of one and another person1 sometimes entire strangers1 they never knew what it was to suffer actual want1 nor did ,frances ever believe that her friend would forget her4 ,,remarkable ,,preservation ,,of ,,life ,,from ,,lightning ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,i was riding on top of the ,boulder ,pass of the ,rocky ,mountains1 in the summer of #ahgf1 when a sudden storm of rain1 wind1 and furious tempest came up4 ,there was no shelter from rocks1 no trees or buildings to be seen--a lonely1 wind-swept summit4 ,i knew that the lightning on those high elevations was fearful in intensity4 ,i was appalled at the prospect before me1 but feeling that ,god had promised to care for his children-- ,no evil shall befall thee or come nigh thy dwelling--,i composed myself1 and though on horseback1 with the rain beating in torrents1 ,i offered simple prayer to ,god that he would save me from the rain and stop it4 ,but ,no1 it came harder than ever2 then ,i prayed that ,i might be protected from all danger1 for ,i trusted in ,him6 ,i rode on and on for miles1 chilly1 cold1 wet through1 the clouds hanging low and the lightning flashing above me1 around me1 striking near me1 constant flashes1 peals of thunder2 but ,i was not terrified4 ,god must keep me4 ,twice ,i was distinctly struck with the electric flash1 detached portions or sparks from the electric cloud1 directly in the center of the forehead1 but it had no more force than just to close my eyes1 shake my head a little1 obscure my sight a moment1 and then it was all over1 and ,i was clearer1 cooler1 calmer1 happier1 and more self-possessed than ever before4 ,i attribute my protection from peril entirely to prayer1 and the fierceness of the tempest and the proximity of danger were permitted by the ,lord to try my trust4 ,those portions which struck me1 if in ordinary times had been given me from an electric battery in a school-room1 a shock with sparks only one-hundredth the size1 would have killed me4 ,i can thus say with thanks1 faith was then made perfect in danger1 and the ,lord was faithful in hearing his child's cry1 and delivered him4 ,,god ,,never ,,failed ,,her4 ,an aged colored woman1 lived that life of faith which shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day4 ,born a slave1 on ,long ,island1 she was never taught to read1 never enjoyed any social privileges2 but the ,god of the widow of ,sarepta1 who had neither store-house nor barn1 was her ,god1 and brought her out of the house of spiritual bondage4 ,she outlived all her early associations2 all her children and grandchildren1 husband and brother passed on before1 leaving her alone in poverty and sickness4 ,yet she sat in her little hut1 a cheerful1 happy ,christian2 a living witness for ,god as a covenant-keeper4 ,doubting1 despondent souls were always glad to visit her1 to listen to her simple words of wisdom and gather strength from her invincible trust4 ,roman ,catholic neighbors persecuted and even threatened her2 but in reply to a missionary who remarked that it must be very trying and somewhat dangerous1 she said1 ,don't you know the ,lord has a hook in the jaws of the wicked1 so they shan't hurt us if we belong to him8 ,jesus is always with me2 so ,i'm never alone and never afraid4 ,,his ,,mother',s ,,prayer4 ,a poor sailor1 leading a most profligate and abandoned life1 whose praying mother followed him like a shadow into and out of his drinking saloons and gambling houses1 at last absented himself from home1 whenever he was in port4 ,her burden1 finally1 seemed too great to bear1 and she resolved to make a stronger effort than ever before1 to cast it upon the ,lord4 ,as she knelt1 with her heart well-nigh bursting with this desire1 she felt a powerful conviction that1 at last1 she was answered4 ,for several years the son went on in his wicked career1 and the mother sorrowed that it was so1 but her soul was no longer laden with fear2 she felt the assurance of his conversion1 sooner or later4 ,again1 for several years1 she never heard of him1 and thought him dead2 then she ceased praying for him1 and was steadfast in the faith of meeting him in heaven4 ,but sight was to be given her1 as a reward for faith4 ,he returned1 at last1 only thirty years of age1 but broken down in health1 and worn out by dissipation and hardship4 ,still unconverted1 but1 to satisfy his mother1 he consented to remain in the room during a visit of the missionary of that district2 a man with sufficient tact not to make his efforts obnoxious4 ,he did not tell the young man he was a sinner and must flee from the wrath to come2 he merely presented the love of ,jesus2 the love that saved to the very uttermost2 that waited more patiently than any earthly friend1 and forgave more royally4 ,at first1 he listened indifferently1 but1 at last1 burst into tears1 saying1 ,i thought ,i was so bad ,he didn't want anything to do with me4 ,a long conversation1 and others at intervals followed1 and1 before his death1 which occurred several months after1 his mother's heart was gladdened by the account of his change1 and the knowledge that1 in farthest lands1 his thoughts were back with her4 ,the deeper he went in sin1 the more unsatisfactory and abhorrent it became1 and he would have turned1 long before1 to the ,lord1 had he believed there was the least hope for him4 ,when he closed his eyes to earth1 a few friends enabled his mother to give him respectable burial1 in the same grave where1 years before1 his father was laid4 ,,the ,,heart ,,of ,,stone ,,relents4 ,another consumptive in the neighborhood1 was thoroughly an infidel4 ,mr4 ,a4 visited the house three times a week1 and1 at last1 succeeded in overcoming his objections to a weekly prayer-meeting in his house4 ,in his hearing1 earnest supplication was always made for him1 and1 at the end of four months1 the heart of stone relented4 ,he had not1 at first1 the courage to appropriate the promises to himself2 but one morning very early he sent for the missionary to reveal the news that he felt all his sins forgiven1 and had ,christ in him1 the hope of glory4 four months more he lived to hear witness continually to ,god's amazing mercy1 and then joyfully expired1 declaring himself saved by grace alone4 ,a ,,discouraged ,,one ,,revived4 ,mr4 ,c----1 walking home one ,saturday afternoon1 fell into a discouraged train of thought because he appeared to have done so little for the ,master that whole week4 ,at that moment a young man took him by the hand saying--,you do not know me1 but ,i know you4 ,a few weeks ago ,i was on the high road to destruction1 but now through your instrumentality ,i am in the narrow path which leads to everlasting life4 ,i attended your prayer-meeting one evening in company with a friend of mine4 ,you spoke with great earnestness1 and after we sang the last hymn you remarked1 ',how can ,i bless whom ,god has cursed8 ,for he declares1 ,if any man love not the ,lord1 he shall be accursed4' ,i cannot describe my sensations4 ,for several days ,i could find no peace1 but when at last my faith rested on ,jesus1 ,i found that peace which flows like a river2 and now1 like ,moses1 ,i have chosen rather to suffer affliction with the children of ,god than to enjoy the pleasures of sin1 for ,i know if ,i have to face any trouble on account of my religion1 ,i can look forward to a glorious reward4 ,,the ,,prisoner ,,loosed4 ,on the third floor of a tenement house1 a missionary1 ,mr4 ,b41 found a comely1 intelligent young ,english woman in great distress4 ,her heart seemed wrung by grief4 ,a few kind words of sympathy drew from her the story of her woe4 ,she came to this country with her husband and three young children4 ,he was employed as book-keeper in a large mercantile house2 but soon became addicted to drink1 and the story is ever the same2 loss of position1 poverty1 disgrace1 suffering and recklessness4 ,on the day of the missionary's visit1 he was in a prison cell1 committed as a vagrant and common drunkard4 ,the wife was bitterly weeping in her cheerless home1 and the children around her fretting with hunger4 ,mr4 ,b4 was so touched he could scarcely find words with which to console her1 but turned to ,isaiah and read1 ,for thy maker is thy husband2 the ,lord of ,hosts is his name4 ,for a small moment have ,i forsaken thee1 but with great mercies will ,i gather thee4 ,after his prayer1 she felt calmer1 and entreated him to come the next week1 on the day her husband would be released4 ,he complied2 found a prepossessing and cultivated man2 and upon telling him how earnestly his wife and himself had prayed for him1 was rejoiced to learn that in that lonesome cell the ,spirit of ,god had visited him1 filled him with a sincere wish to reform the future and redeem the past4 ,the missionary called again and again1 and witnessed the strong determination of the young man to fight against his pernicious habit4 ,he was soon employed again in a large house1 became a regular attendant at the ,lord's house1 and began to pray both publicly and privately for help from on high4 ,only a few months1 and both husband and wife united with a church and became teachers in the ,sabbath school4 ,their own home1 once laid waste1 again blossomed like the rose4 ,,praying ,,for ,,tea4 ,on a top floor in a street of tenements lives a colored woman one hundred and ten years old6 ,her son1 a man over seventy1 lost his wife1 a neat1 active ,christian woman1 very suddenly1 and his aged mother was plunged in despairing grief4 ,why1 why was ,i left1 old and rheumatic and useless1 and ,mary1 a smart1 busy1 capable woman taken away without a minute's warning8 was her continual cry4 ,but the son was left desolate1 and the two rooms were to be kept clean1 the meals provided before he left for his work in the morning1 and after his work at night2 there was no one else to do it1 and love for him called out new effort4 ,with cane in one hand she treads the rooms back and forth1 performing the household duties4 ,eyes undimmed1 faculties unimpaired1 she does what she can4 ,upon receiving a call a few months after the death of her daughter-in-law1 she said--,you've brought me a whole pound of that nice tea6 ,well1 honey1 ,i asked the ,lord for some good tea last night1 and ,i knowed well enough it would be along some time to-day1 cos ,he never keeps me waiting long4 ,i found out why he took ,mary instead of me2 old as ,i was1 ,i wasn't half so fit to go1 and he was so full of mercy he let me stay long enough to see it6 ,you know1 honey1 ,i've got no one to talk over old times with4 ,there ain't none of 'em left that ,i was young with1 and not many ,i was old with2 but ,i'm never lonesome1 for ,i'm too busy thinking of all the ,lord's watching and waiting for me4 ,i'm dreadful little use1 but my son couldn't get along very well without me1 and then ,i tell you ,i'm so busy thinking1 ,i ain't got any time to be lazy or lonesome4 ,good many little things we want1 too1 and ,i have to be runnin' to the ,lord for 'em4 ,do they come every time1 auntie81 ,every single time1 honey6 ,he never fails1 no matter who else does4 ,he knows ,i don't ask for no nonsense2 only for the things we really need1 and he has promised them all the time4 ,but1 are there not times1 auntie1 for instance1 when your son is sick1 when you cannot see where rent and food is coming from8 ,don't want to see1 honey6 ,what's the use seein'8 ,believin's the thing6 ,believin's better than money4 ,and so1 all the revolving months1 this relic of the last century walks by faith in the unseen4 ,,giving ,,her ,,last ,,dollar ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,a poor woman1 sitting in a little church1 heard the minister make an urgent appeal for money enough to pay a debt of two hundred dollars1 contracted by the church the previous ,winter4 ,she had one dollar in her pocket2 half drew it out2 thought of the improbability of having any more for several days2 put it back4 ,thought again1 ,trust in the ,lord for more2 drew it wholly out1 and deposited it in the basket4 ,the next morning1 a lady called to settle a bill of two dollars1 so long unpaid that it was1 long before1 set down among the losses4 ,,the ,,danish ,,girl',s ,,blessing4 ,a very poor ,danish girl1 broken down in health1 utterly unable longer to labor for her own support1 was provided with the means1 and urged to go to ,denmark1 as her friend felt sure there was some good in store for her there1 meaning1 more definitely1 the restoration of her health4 ,she could not be induced until1 thoroughly satisfied by several tokens that it was the ,lord's will1 and then she consented4 ,a devout1 humble ,christian missionary became acquainted with her soon after her arrival1 and1 being struck with the beauty of holiness in every action and conversation of her life1 asked her to marry him1 that he might have the constant satisfaction of rendering her life comfortable1 and finding his own encouragement in her unfailing faith4 ,his letters are full of his saintly wife1 and her signally blessed efforts in winning people to put their trust where it need fear no betrayal4 ,,the ,,swedish ,,girl ,,blessed4 ,a ,christian ,swedish girl1 who had1 for three years1 done the washing of a certain family1 had so interested them by her care of an aged father1 and gained their esteem by her humble piety1 that1 wishing to go to ,europe for six months1 they offered her two rooms in their house for that time1 that she might not only save the labor necessary to pay her rent1 but1 also1 take charge of their effects4 ,the offer was gladly accepted1 and recognized as a token especially from the ,lord4 ,in times when the father was yet able to work a little1 they had economized to a degree that resulted in saving twenty dollars4 ,it was laid by for three months' rent1 when he should be no longer able to earn it4 ,that time had come2 as yet the money had not been touched2 but ,satan sent a wicked woman to hire the next room1 and1 while the father was asleep1 and his poor daughter at church1 she stole it4 ,their grief was great1 but they reminded the ,lord how hardly it was earned1 and how faithful lie had always been to ,his promises4 ,it can be easily understood with what emphasis this unexpected offer came to them4 ,,saved ,,from ,,drowning4 ,a poor ,german woman rushed frantically through the street and into the house of a countrywoman1 very little better off than herself1 declaring she would drown herself that very night if no one would give her work4 ,a family on the same floor gave her the use of a very small1 bare room for one week1 free of charge2 after that1 it would be eighty cents per week rent4 ,her countrywoman shared with her1 such as she had for the evening and the morning1 and after the breakfast1 sent for a good1 ever-ready missionary to talk and pray her into a better frame of mind4 ,he did so1 but confirmed and rested her faith on substantial works4 ,he procured employment for her before the sun set2 enough to pay the rent and get a little common food4 ,then obtained coal sufficient to last a couple of months2 and so1 leading her little by little into light and hope1 drew her into regular attendance at the ,mission chapel in her neighborhood4 ,,the ,,widow ,,in ,,want4 ,a home missionary in ,brooklyn1 who has an enviable reputation for his entire consecration to the work of helping the poor1 one day when engaged in his benevolent works1 entered a restaurant1 kept by a ,christian friend1 a man of like spirit with himself1 who1 in the course of conversation1 related to him the following circumstances1 illustrative of the power of prayer4 ,he had1 on a certain day1 cleared a large sum1 part of which consisted of ,mexican dollars4 ,returning home in high spirits1 he felt as if he could go to sleep sweetly on this silver pillow4 ,but a thought suddenly intruded1 which gave a new turn to his feelings4 ,it related to a poor woman in his neighborhood1 the widow of a very dear friend of his1 whom he knew to be in want4 ,shall ,i take all this money to myself8 thought he4 ,does not the ,providence who gave it to me say1 ,no6 ,give some of it to the widow of your friend4 ,with this impression he retired1 as was his habit1 quite early1 but he could not sleep4 ,the thought of the needy widow haunted him4 ,i will go to-morrow1 said he to himself1 and see what ,i can do for her4 ,but this good intention proved no opiate to his disturbed mind4 ,possibly she or ,i may not live to see to-morrow4 ,something seemed to say go now4 ,he tossed from side to side1 but could not sleep4 ,go now kept ringing in his ear4 ,so at length the restless man had to dress himself and go4 ,at this late hour1 not far from eleven1 he sallied forth to find the widow4 ,seeing a dim light in the upper story where she resided1 and following its lead1 he crept softly along on the stairway1 until he reached the room from which a low sound issued4 ,the door was slightly ajar2 through which he could hear the voice of prayer1 scarcely audible1 but deeply earnest4 ,he dared hardly stir1 lest he should disturb the praying widow4 ,but he came on an errand1 and he must accomplish it4 ,but how8 ,recollecting at the moment1 that he had in his pocket a few of the ,mexican dollars1 he gently pushed at the door1 and it opened just wide enough for his purpose4 ,so taking each piece of money between his fingers1 he rolled it in along the carpet1 and withdrew as noiselessly as he had ascended4 ,returning to his home1 he fell asleep and slept soundly1 as well he might1 after this act4 ,the widow at length arose from her knees1 and was struck on seeing the shining money lying about her floor4 ,where had these pieces of silver come from8 ,here was a mystery she could not solve4 ,but she knew it was from the ,lord1 and that he had answered her prayer4 ,so with tears of gratitude1 she gave thanks to ,him1 whose is the silver and the gold4 ,shortly after this event1 she attended prayer-meeting1 where she felt constrained to make known this wonderful interposition in answer to prayer4 ,the ,christians present were as much astonished as herself4 ,the silence which ensued was broken by a brother of that church1 who rose and said1 ,what this good woman has told you1 is strictly true4 ,these dollars came from the ,lord4 ,they came in answer to her prayer4 ,he then detailed the circumstances before related4 ,god deputed me to carry this money1 and providentially ,i am here to night to testify to the fact that ,god hears and answers prayer4 ,it seems1 from a subsequent statement1 that this widow1 owed a certain sum1 that she was obliged to pay immediately1 and having nothing in hand1 she was pleading1 that night1 that her ,heavenly ,father would send her the needed amount4 ,,the ,,sewing ,,girl ,,relieved ,,just ,,in ,,time4 ,a sick ,scotch girl was found lying on a narrow bed in a close1 uncomfortable room1 her sobs audible to the missionary1 when half-way up the stairs4 ,her story was short4 ,when about1 she earned three dollars and a half a week1 at a business that was killing her4 ,of that1 she paid three dollars for her board2 leaving but the half-dollar for clothing or incidentals4 ,but now--she had been lying there two weeks2 six dollars were due for board1 and still she was unable to rise1 and1 when she did1 how could she ever pay the back indebtedness8 ,the woman with whom she lived1 was too poor herself to give her the lost time1 and1 moreover1 was one of the class whom struggle and battle hardens4 ,the missionary came just in time to quell the poor girl's fears1 and paid her debts2 mind and body were set at rest1 and1 one or two ,christian ladies being made acquainted with the case1 attended to the comforts which hastened her recovery2 and1 when once more pursuing her avocation1 her mither's ,god seemed very near1 not as one afar off4 ,,praying ,,for ,a ,,home4 ,a young ,southern girl1 who had lost a position through five months' sickness1 and found herself1 at last1 in the street and penniless1 turned her steps to a daily prayer-meeting4 ,she said her earliest impressions from her mother were1 that the ,lord never failed those who really put their trust in ,him4 ,she had sought work for food and shelter1 though destitute of sufficient covering to keep her from trembling with cold1 and1 so far1 sought in vain2 but she was sure it was waiting for her somewhere1 and she thought perhaps ,god's people could tell her where4 ,she was right4 ,a sweet-faced lady1 who had listened1 said she wanted some young girl who might help her a little when she left for her summer residence1 and she had been waiting to find a child of pious parents4 ,bessie went home with her from that very meeting1 and1 in two weeks1 came back1 with bright eyes and warm1 good clothing1 to say good-by to the ladies who had spoken to her so kindly1 and1 in whose midst1 she had found a second mother4 ,they were to leave town the next day1 and she asked permission to come to the meeting once more and tell what the ,lord had done for her4 ,,how ,,much ,,good ,,two ,,dollars ,,did4 ,a lady sent two dollars to a brave-hearted sister--who1 by faith alone1 and not by money1 had gathered some sick and poor about her1 and lived only by prayer--and a note of apology and half-contempt that it was such a miserable pittance4 ,she received1 in reply1 the following little financial statement3 ,my ,dear ,friend3--,remember the five loaves and two fishes1 and listen to the message of your two dollars4 ,this is the way ,i expended it3 ,corned beef14 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #j #hj ,chop and egg for sick aunty14 4 4 4 4 4 #ac ,sweet potatoes1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #be ,white potatoes1 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #aj ,cabbage and bread14 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #cj ,tea1 milk and sugar14 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 #cj ----- #a #hh ,the balance bought the coal with which it was cooked1 and fifteen people were fed6 ,,saved ,,from ,,starvation4 ,on the second floor of a rear house lived a lady well known once as among the foremost members of a wealthy church4 ,the first blow of adversity opened a wide passage for a succession of disasters4 ,she passed through the whole sliding scale1 until the missionary found her in the poor1 dilapidated tenement where1 for two days and nights1 she had lain in bed to keep warm2 or as nearly so as her scanty covering would admit4 ,it was ,saturday1 and the only food she had to keep her alive until ,monday1 was two soda biscuits6 ,she had sold everything comfortable in the way of furniture2 all her clothing but one respectable suit for the street1 and the only thing remaining1 that pointed to the history of better days1 was a pair of gold eye-glasses1 given her by her dying mother4 ,within a few months her dire necessity had often pointed to the glasses2 but she could not see without them1 nor could she sell the gold frames unless she had means to have the glass set in commoner ones4 ,moreover1 the harpies who feed and thrive on the miseries of the poor1 would in no case have given her more than twenty-five cents for them2 and the short respite derived from that amount would not have compensated for the sacrifice4 ,she had looked at them that morning2 felt that starve she must and would1 but that souvenir of her mother should never leave her4 ,she went back to bed and prayed fervently that the ,lord would show her some way of escape1 or take her that day to himself4 ,she slept an hour or two1 and then awakened1 strong in the conviction that he would show her some way before night1 and though it was six o'clock ,p4,m41 before the missionary called1 no doubt had arisen to trouble her mind2 and as soon as he entered and introduced himself1 she said--,you are a messenger from the ,lord1 sir2 ,i have been expecting you4 ,,god ,,with ,,us4 ,an old woman was taking home' some sewing the night before1 and passing through a narrow and dark street1 was knocked down by a runaway horse4 ,taken up senseless and unknown1 she was carried into the house of a kind family who sent for a physician4 ,it was not till next morning that she recovered consciousness1 and was able to give her address4 ,a messenger was at once dispatched to her husband1 who was supposed to be wild with terror4 ,he was truly thankful to hear from human lips of her whereabouts2 but said he knew she was not dead1 and he would see her in the morning2 for the ,lord had been with him all night and assured him of it4 ,he had also kept the fire from going out2 and now that she would be brought home in a few hours1 he was ready to trust his ,father1 as he had been through the night4 ,his hourly friend was ,immanuel1 ,god with us2 not ,god somewhere or other in infinite space4 ,a ,,vessel ,,saved4 ,a vessel was six months making the passage from ,liverpool to ,bermuda ,island4 ,fogs enveloped it2 winds sent it hither and thither2 captain and mate lost their reckoning1 lost their senses2 and when1 added to the rest1 the vessel sprung a leak1 gave up in despair4 ,crew and passengers were finally reduced to a few drops of water and one potato a day1 and they merely waited death from starvation or drowning4 ,all but one6 ,one man2 a minister1 whose faith and belief in their final escape burned but brighter and brighter1 as the others sank in the gloom of silent despair4 ,a few days before they made the land1 the leakage suddenly ceased2 no one could account for it2 but a week after their arrival1 when the vessel had been condemned by the authorities as unsea-worthy1 it was proposed to turn it bottom upward and see what stopped the leak4 ,god seemed to have performed a miracle for them1 when it was discovered that that end of the vessel was entirely covered with barnacles6 ,a ,,remarkable ,,prayer ,,concerning ,a ,,remarkable ,,text4 ,a clergyman1 accustomed to preach regularly in his journey through ,fleming ,circuit1 ,kentucky1 was preparing on one ,saturday for the labors of the next day4 ,he was then staying at the residence of a family named ,bowers1 from which he was to journey the next day five miles to preach at #aa ,a4,m41 at a church called ,mt4 ,olivet4 ,on this ,saturday1 as he relates the incident1 as soon and as privately as practicable1 ,i pored over the ,bible in quest of a suitable subject for the next day at ,mount ,olivet1 and strange to tell6 not one passage in the whole ,book1 that afternoon and night1 could ,i fix upon1 as1 in my estimation1 suitable for the next day4 ,there was one passage1 7two or three clauses of which ,i had by some means got fixed in my memory71 that early that afternoon appeared in my mind as though each word was written in ,,capital ,,letters4 ,i turned to the whole passage as soon as ,i could find it2 ,heb4 #f3 #d-f2 and read1 ,for it is impossible for those who were once enlightened1 etc41 etc4 ,i had previously studied that whole subject1 as recorded in the original1 and as disposed of by learned ,commentators of different creeds4 ,i had settled in my own mind the import of the passage4 ,but it seemed unsuitable for me1 not then three years old in the ministry1 to attempt the settlement of a theological question1 about which the best and most learned of modern days had differed4 ,i therefore tried to dismiss it from my mind1 and to find some passage more suitable for the coming morrow4 ,but my constant effort proved unsuccessful2 and the said passage in ,hebrews often recurred to my mind4 ,thus passed my time till ,i had to go to bed1 resolving to attempt an early settlement of the growing difficulty next morning4 ,but the morning studies produced no change in the unsettled state of the question1 what shall ,i preach from to-day8 ,thus matters remained until ,i reached ,mount ,olivet1 and had to begin service without a text4 ,but ,i concluded if a suitable text did not occur while singing1 praying and reading some ,scripture lesson1 rather than have no text1 ,i would take ,heb4 #f3 #d-f4 ,and1 cornered in this dilemma1 so ,i did1 and used it as well as ,i could4 ,i then passed around the circuit as usual1 and the fourth ,saturday thereafter1 ,i arrived again at ,brother ,bowers'1 preached1 met the class1 etc4 ,then1 when all the class had left the room except their own family1 ,brother and ,sister ,bowers said to me1 each manifesting intense feeling and interest1 ,have you heard of the strange thing that happened when you were here four weeks ago8 ,said ,i1 ,no6 what was it8 ,they said1 ,did you see a man sitting in the house while you was preaching to-day8 describing his dress1 looks1 etc4 ,i answered1 ,yes4 ,said they1 ,did you see a woman sitting over there1 describing her8 ,i said1 ,yea4 ,said they1 ,they are husband and wife--their name is--7,i have long since forgotten the name7--they are good members of the ,presbyterian church1 their children are members of our class1 as you have called their names every time you have examined us4 ,the man and his wife were here and heard you four weeks ago--they know our rules1 and when those not of our church were dismissed1 they left their children with us1 as usual1 and their parents started home4 ,and1 as they themselves tell us and others1 as they went along1 said the woman to her husband1 ',does not ,mr4 ,akers preach to-morrow at ,mount ,olivet8' ,and he answered1 ',i believe he does4' ,said she1 ',well1 if ,i thought he would take a certain text ,i would like very much to go and hear him4' ,said her husband1 ',what text8' ,and she repeated the whole passage in ,hebrews #f3d-f4 ,said her husband1 ',well1 ,i reckon he will take some subject that will be interesting1 and if you say so we will not go to our own church to-morrow1 we will go to ,mount ,olivet4' ,she answered1 ',agreed1 and ,i do pray the ,lord that he may take that text4' ,and she says1 she continued to pray all that evening and next morning1 until sitting in the church at ,mount ,olivet1 she heard you read out the said text1 when she knew the ,lord had answered her prayer1 and she could scarcely help from loud crying of thanks to ,god4 ,i then told ,brother and ,sister ,bowers my troubles about that text1 as above stated4 ,the ,lord answers prayer4 ,,how ,,she ,,learned ,,to ,,love ,,the ,,bible4 ,the ,rev4 ,frederick ,g4 ,clark thus writes of an answer to prayer1 from one who wanted to love the ,bible more3 ,twenty-seven years ago1 in the congregation of my first charge1 was a lady whose love for the ,bible was something remarkable4 ,in the confidence of a pastoral visit1 she told me of her joy in the divine word1 and also recited the incidents of her experience in this regard4 ,she had formerly read her ,bible as so many do--a chapter now1 and a halfchapter then1 without much interest or profit4 ,she was1 even then1 most interested in religious things4 ,but her chief sources of spiritual strength were in such writings as those of ,baxter1 ,payson and ,robert ,phillips4 ,it was her custom to read the ,bible from duty1 and then turn to these uninspired volumes for the kindling of a higher devotion4 ,for a good while this satisfied her2 but1 at length1 she came to feel grieved about it4 ,she thought it a dishonor to ,god's word that any book should be as interesting to her as the ,bible4 ,she tried to change this1 but1 at first1 with little success4 ,the ,bible was still duty--,baxter was pleasure and spiritual elevation4 ,at length1 she could bear it no longer2 so she took the case to ,god1 with strong crying4 ,she told her ,heavenly ,father how grieved she was that any book should rival the ,bible in her affections4 ,she asked this one thing--and she renewed her prayer every day--that her first delight might be in reading the word of ,god4 ,i think it was some time before she felt that her request was granted4 ,but1 at length1 the answer to her prayer was complete and marvelous4 ,a strange light came over the sacred page4 ,a fascination held her to her ,bible4 ,she discovered a depth1 a meaning1 a curiosity1 a charm1 which were all new and most wonderful4 ,sometimes1 when she had finished reading her ,bible for the night1 and had closed the book and had moved towards her bed1 she would go back again and enjoy the luxury of a few more verses4 ,,the ,,blind ,,restored ,,to ,,sight4 ,at the age of twenty years1 a lady in ,winchester1 ,iowa1 began to lose her health1 and in a short time was confined to her bed4 ,and she writes3--,in addition to this ,i lost the use of my eyes1 and was blind and helpless1 a greater portion of my time for five years4 ,i enjoyed the blessing of prayer and trust some six months before feeling a liberty to pray for the healing of my body2 fearing ,i should desire it without due submission to ,god's will4 ,it was with fear and trembling that ,i first made known this request4 ,though my pleadings in this direction were earnest1 and often agonizing1 yet ,i could say with a fervor as never before1 ',not my will1 but thine be done4' ,about the end of ,november1 or early in ,december1 #ahgc1 ,i realized that my faith was perfect1 that ,i was ready now to be healed1 that my faith was momentarily waiting on ,god1 resting without a doubt on the promises4 ,from this time forward my faith remained fixed with but one exception4 ,during the time between ,december1 #ahgc1 and ,july1 #ahgd1 ,i was healed to such an extent that ,i could walk some1 and see more or less every day1 though sometimes with only one of my eyes4 ,a portion of this time ,i felt as though in a furnace of fire2 but amid the flames ,i realized the presence of the ,son of ,god1 who said1 'have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction4' ,this for a time seemed an answer to my petition1 and so thought it my life-work to suffer2 for a while my faith became inactive1 and ,i almost ceased praying for my health4 ,though ,i felt submissive1 yet somehow ,i was soon crying1 and that most instinctively1 ',thou ,son of ,david1 have mercy on me4' ,after this1 my faith did not waver4 ,oh1 the lesson of patience ,i learned in thus waiting on ,god's good time4 ,and with what comfort could ,i present my body an offering to ,him1 realizing that as soon as at all possible with ,his will1 ,i should be healed2 ,i had an assurance of this1 but did not know whether it would be during life1 or accomplished only at death4 ,in this manner ,i waited before ,god until the morning of the #bith of ,july1 when1 without ecstasy of joy1 or extra illumination1 came a sense of the presence of ,jesus1 and a presentation of this gift1 accompanied with these words3 ',here is the gift for which you have been praying2 are you willing to receive it8' ,i at first felt the incoming of the ,divine power at the parts diseased1 steadily driving out the same1 until death was swallowed up in victory4 ,i at once arose from my bed1 and proceeded to work about the house1 to the great astonishment of my friends1 some of whom thought me wild2 but ,i continued my work1 assuring them that ,jesus had healed me4 ,realizing the scrutiny and doubt with which ,i was observed1 ,i said to my father1 ',what do you think8' ,he replied1 ',it is supernatural power2 no one can deny it4' ,my healing took place on ,wednesday2 on ,saturday was persuaded to lie down1 which ,i did1 but found the bed was no place for me2 thought of ,peter's wife's mother1 who 'arose and ministered to them2 knew that to her1 strength1 as well as health1 was instantly given1 as in the case of the palsied man1 who rose1 took up his bed1 and departed4 ,i returned to my work1 backing my experience with those in ,god's word1 and since then have not lain down during the day time4 ,my friends could not realize the completeness of the cure1 until ,i read a full hour1 and that by lamp-light1 and until asked to desist1 the first opportunity after being healed4 ,a week from this time1 ,i discharged the hired girl1 taking charge of the household work1 which ,i have continued with perfect ease4 ,about four weeks after my healing1 had occasion to walk four miles1 which ,i did with little or no weariness4 ,let me add to the praise of ,god1 that ,i have no disease whatever4 ,am able to do more hard work with less weariness1 than at any other period in my life1 and faith in the ,lord is the balm that made me whole4 ,,the ,,widow',s ,,shoes4 ,a poor woman--a widow with an invalid son--a member of the church1 could not attend church1 or the neighborhood prayer-meetings1 for the want of shoes4 ,she asked the ,lord for the shoes4 ,that very day the village school-master called in to see her son4 ,meanwhile he noticed that the boy's mother had very poor shoes4 ,he said nothing1 but felt impressed1 and inwardly resolved to purchase the poor woman a pair of shoes forthwith4 ,he accordingly hired a horse1 rode two miles on horseback to a shoe-store1 bought the shoes1 and requested them sent to the widow's cottage without delay4 ,they proved a perfect fit2 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 shoes4 ,the young school-master1 who1 ,i suspect1 was my informant himself1 now a venerable1 white-haired man1 heard the poor woman's testimony2 and his pillow that night was wet with tears of gratitude and joy because ,god had used him thus to bless the poor widow1 and to answer her prayers4 ,a ,,remarkable ,,dream4 ,the late ,dr4 ,whitehead was accustomed to repeat with pleasure' the following fact3 ,in the year #agfd1 he was stationed as an itinerant preacher in ,cornwall4 ,he had to preach one evening in a little village where there was a small ,methodist ,society4 ,the friend1 said he1 at whose house we preached1 had at that time a daughter1 who lived with one of our people about ten miles off4 ,his wife was gone to attend her daughter1 who was dangerously ill of a fever2 and her husband had that day received a message from her1 informing him that his child's life was despaired of4 ,he earnestly and with tears desired ,mr4 ,whitehead to recommend his daughter to ,god in prayer1 both before and after preaching4 ,he did so in the most warm and affectionate manner4 ,late that evening1 or very early next morning1 while the young woman's mother was sitting by her daughter's bedside 7who had been in a strong delirium for several days71 she opened her eyes and hastily addressed her mother thus3 ',o mother6 ,i have been dreaming that ,i saw a man lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven1 and fervently praying to ,god for my recovery6 ,the ,lord has heard his prayers1 and my fever is gone2 and what is far better1 the ,lord has spoken peace to my soul1 and sealed ,his pardoning love on my heart4 ,i know it1 ,i feel it1 my dear mother2 and ,his ,spirit bears witness with my spirit1 that ,i am a child of ,god1 and an heir of glory4' ,her mother1 thinking that she was still in delirium1 desired her to compose herself1 and remain quiet4 ,the daughter replied1 ',my dear mother1 ,i am in no delirium now2 ,i am perfectly in my senses2 do help me to rise1 that upon my bended knees ,i may praise ,god4' ,her mother did so1 and they both praised ,god with joyful hearts1 and from that hour the young woman recovered so fast1 that she was soon able to attend to the affairs of the family where she lived4 ,she had never seen ,mr4 ,whitehead1 previous to this remarkable time2 but some weeks after1 she saw him1 and the moment she beheld his face1 she fainted away4 ,as soon as she came to herself1 she said1 ',sir1 you are the person ,i saw in my dream1 when ,i was ill in a violent fever2 and ,i beheld you lift up your hands and eyes to heaven1 and most fervently pray for my recovery and conversion to ,god4 ,the ,lord1 in mercy1 heard your prayers1 and answered them to the healing of my wounded spirit1 and to the restoration of my body4 ,i have walked in the light of ,his countenance from that time to the present1 and ,i trust ,i shall do so as long as ,i live4' ,how remarkably does this circumstance illustrate the words of ,st4 ,james1 ',the prayer of faith shall save the sick1 and the ,lord shall raise him up1 and if he have committed sins1 they shall be forgiven him6' ,,you ,,must ,,not ,,go4 ,a remarkable instance of deep impression occasionally made by the ,holy ,spirit on the mind of the ,rev4 ,william ,bramwell during prayer1 occurred in ,liverpool4 ,a pious young woman1 a member of ,society1 wished to go to her friends1 then living in ,jamaica4 ,she took her passage1 had her luggage taken on board1 and expected to sail on the following day4 ,having the greatest respect for ,mr4 ,bramwell1 she waited upon him1 to take leave and request an interest in his prayers4 ,before parting1 they knelt down1 and he recommended her to the care of ,god4 ,after he had been engaged in prayer some time1 he suddenly paused1 and thus addressed her1 ,my dear sister1 you must not go to-morrow4 ,god has just told me you must not go4 ,she was surprised1 but he was positive1 and prevailed upon her to postpone her voyage1 and assisted her to remove her luggage out of the vessel4 ,the ship sailed1 and in about six weeks intelligence arrived that the vessel was lost1 and all on board had perished4 ,,evil ,,averted4 ,a correspondent of the ,guide to ,holiness says3 ,we remember a poor woman who had had a life of sore vicissitude which she bore with remarkable ,christian cheerfulness2 and after a time of the suspension of trial1 a bad prospect came in sight4 ,she resorted to a friend to whom she confidingly related the threatening evil1 and at parting said1 ',oh pray for us4' ,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 heart1 and a consciousness of the past sufferings of that woman--and as the friend rose from prayer1 the answer was given that the evil was averted1 and a new change would come to that afflicted one4 ,that very day a strange deliverance and opening appeared which set that family at rest from their peculiar trials for the rest of life4 ,,how ,a ,,poor ,,little ,,cripple ,,converted ,a ,,village4 ,mr4 ,d4,l4 ,moody relates the instance of a poor little cripple1 whose prayers were answered to the conversion of fifty-six people4 ,i once knew a little cripple who lay upon her death bed4 ,she had given herself to ,god1 and was distressed only because she could not labor for ,him actively among the lost4 ,her clergyman visited her1 and hearing her complaint1 told her from her sick bed she could pray2 to pray for those she wished to see turning to ,god4 ,he told her to write the names down1 and then to pray earnestly2 he went away and thought of the subject no more4 ,soon a feeling of religious interest sprang up in the village1 and the churches were crowded nightly4 ,the little cripple heard of the progress of the revival1 and inquired anxiously for the names of the saved4 ,a few weeks later she died1 and among a roll of papers that was found under her little pillow1 was one bearing the names of fifty-six persons1 every one of whom had in the revival been converted4 ,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 her4 ,,please ,,god1 ,,give ,,us ,a ,,home4 ,mr4 ,moody tells of a beautiful answer to the faith of a little child4 ,i remember a child that lived with her parents in a small village4 ,one day the news came that her father had joined the army 7it was the beginning of our war71 and a few days after1 the landlord came to demand the rent4 ,the mother told him she hadn't got it1 and that her husband had gone into the army4 ,he was a hard-hearted wretch1 and he stormed1 and said that they must leave the house2 he wasn't going to have people who couldn't pay the rent4 ,after he was gone1 the mother threw herself into the armchair1 and began to weep bitterly4 ,her little girl1 whom she taught to pray in faith1 7but it is more difficult to practice than to preach17 came up to her1 and said1 ',what makes you cry1 mamma1 ,i will pray to ,god to give us a little home1 and won't ,he8' ,what could the mother say8 ,so the little child went into the next room and began to pray4 ,the door was open1 and the mother could hear every word4 ',o1 ,god1 you have come and taken away father1 and mamma has got no money1 and the landlord will turn us out because we can't pay1 and we will have to sit on the door-step1 and mamma will catch cold4 ,give us a little home4' ,then she waited as if for an answer1 and then added1 ',won't you1 please1 ,god8' ,she came out of that room quite happy1 expecting a home to be given them4 ,the mother felt reproved4 ,god heard the prayer of that little one1 for he touched the heart of the cruel landlord1 and she has never paid any rent since4 ,god give us the faith of that little child1 that we may likewise expect an answer1 nothing wavering4 ,,of ,,course ,,he ,,will4 ,mr4 ,moody also gives the story of a little child whose father and mother had died1 and she was taken into another family4 ,the first night she asked if she could pray1 as she used to do4 ,they said1 ,oh1 yes6 ,so she knelt down1 and prayed as her mother taught her1 and when that was ended she added a little prayer of her own3 ,oh1 ,god1 make these people as kind to me as father and mother were4 ,then she paused1 and looked up1 as if expecting an answer1 and added1 ,of course he will4 ,how sweetly simple was that little one's faith2 she expected ,god to do1 and she got her request4 ,,striking ,,answer4 ,the following incidents are specially contributed to these pages by ,rev4 ,j4,s4 ,bass1 a ,home ,missionary of ,brooklyn1 ,n4,y43 ,while living in ,canada1 my eldest daughter1 then a girl of ten years of age1 rather delicate and of feeble health1 had a severe attack of chorea1 ,st4 ,vitus's dance4 ,to those who have had any experience in this distressing complaint1 nothing need be said of the deep affliction of the household at the sight of our loved one1 as all her muscles appeared to be affected1 the face distorted with protrusion of the tongue1 and the continuous involuntary motions by jerks of her limbs4 ,the ablest medical advice and assistance were employed1 and all that the sympathy of friends and the skill of physicians could do were of no avail4 ,she grew worse rather than better1 and death was looked to as a happy release to the sufferings of the child1 and the anguish of the parents2 as the medical men had given as their opinion that the mind of the child would become diseased1 and if her life were lengthened1 it would be an enfeebled body united to an idiotic mind4 ,but ,god was better to us than our most sanguine hopes far better to us than our fears4 ,in our trouble we thought on ,god1 and asked his help4 ,we knew we had the prayers of some of ,god's chosen ones4 ,on a certain ,sunday morning ,i left my home to fill an appointment in the ,wesleyan chapel in the village of ,cooksville1 two miles distant4 ,i left with a heavy heart4 ,my child was distressing to look upon1 my wife and her sister were worn out with watching and fatigue4 ,it was only from a sense of duty that ,i left my home that morning4 ,during the sermon ,god refreshed and encouraged my heart still to trust in him4 ,after the service1 many of the congregation tarried to inquire of my daughter's condition1 among them an aged saint1 ,sister ,wilson1 widow of a ,wesleyan preacher1 and ,sister ,galbraith1 wife of the class-leader4 ,mother ,wilson encouraged me to 'hope in ,god1' saying 'the sisters of the church have decided to spend to-morrow morning together in supplication and prayer for you and your family1 and that ,god would cure ,ruth4' ,monday morning came4 ,ruth had passed a restless night4 ,weak and emaciated1 her head was held that a tea-spoonful of water should be given her4 ,my duties called me away 7immediately after breakfast7 to a neighbor's2 about noon1 a messenger came1 in great haste1 to call me home4 ,on entering the sick-chamber1 ,i noticed the trundle-bed empty1 and my little girl1 with smiling face1 sitting in a chair at the window1 7say eight feet from the bed47 ,i learned from the child that1 while on the bed1 the thought came to her that1 if she could only get her feet on the floor1 the ,lord would help her to sit up4 ,by an effort1 she succeeded1 moving herself to the edge of the bed1 put her legs over the side until her feet touched the floor1 and sat up4 ,she then thought1 if she tried1 the ,lord would help her to stand up1 and then to walk2 all of which she accomplished1 without any human aid1 she being left in the room alone4 ,the same afternoon she was in the yard playing with her brothers1 quickly gained flesh1 recovered strength1 with intellect clear and bright2 she lived to the age of twenty-two1 never again afflicted with this disease1 or anything like it4 ,at the age of twenty-two1 ripe for heaven1 it pleased ,god to take her to himself4 ,the sisters1 led by ,mother ,wilson1 waited on ,god in prayer1 and ,god fulfilled that day the promise--,isaiah #fe3bd3 ',and it shall come to pass1 that before they call1 ,i will answer2 and while they are yet speaking1 ,i will hear4' ,a ,,remarkable ,,case4 ,on the afternoon of ,monday1 ,august #bj1 #ahfi1 ,i was sent for to visit ,mrs4 ,m41 who was reported to be very sick4 ,arriving at the house1 ,i was told that ,mrs4 ,m41 after a hard day's work1 had retired to rest ,saturday night in her usual state of health1 that immediately after getting in bed she had fallen asleep and had not awoke up to this time1 7#f o'clock ,monday evening17 that three physicians had been in attendance for #cj hours1 that all their efforts to arouse her were without avail4 ,in the chamber1 ,mrs4 ,m4 lay in the bed apparently in a troubled sleep1 she was a woman of medium size1 about #ej years of age1 the mother of a large family2 around her bed stood her husband1 four sons and a daughter1 and relatives1 about twelve persons in all4 ,the husband and sons were irreligious1 but awed in the presence of this affliction4 ,i felt1 as perhaps ,i never felt before1 my ignorance1 my helplessness1 and the necessity of entire dependence on ,god for guidance and inspiration1 that prayer should be made in accordance with his will4 ,i knelt at the bedside and held the woman's hand in mine1 lifted up my heart to ,god and prayed1 ,if it be thy will and for thy glory1 and for the good of this family1 grant that this woman may once more open her eyes to look upon her children1 once more open her lips in counsel and holy admonition4 ,while thus praying1 as ,i believe1 inspired by the ,spirit of ,god1 and with faith in ,jesus ,christ1 ,i was conscious of a movement around me1 and opening my eyes1 ,i saw ,mrs4 ,m4 sitting up in bed4 ,some of the persons in the room were weeping1 others laughing2 the sons came nearer the bed1 and asked1 ,mother1 do you know me8 do you know me8 ,she called each by name1 and beckoned to her daughter1 held her by the hand4 ,i1 poor faithless one1 was wondering what does this mean8 ,one of the sons took me by the hand saying1 ,oh6 ,mr4 ,bass1 ,god heard and answered that prayer4 ,i sung the hymn1 ,there is a fountain filled with blood1 ,mrs4 ,m4 singing to the close1 and then1 apparently exhausted1 sank back on the pillow1 speechless and unconscious4 ,the physicians were sent for1 came1 wondered1 speculated1 administered medicine1 blistered the calves of the legs1 and cupped the back of the neck1 but to no purpose4 ,she remained in speechless unconsciousness till the next afternoon1 when1 while prayer was being made1 she again opened her eyes1 sat up and conversed with her children and friends4 ,in a few days she resumed her household duties1 enjoying a good degree of health and strength1 and faithfully serving ,god and her generation until it pleased ,god to call her home to the rest prepared for the people of ,god1 three years after the incident1 the subject of this paper4 ,a ,,little ,,girl',s ,,beautiful ,,faith4 ,a little ,german girl1 who had never hitherto known the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 was led to attend a ,mission school4 ,it was the custom at the school1 before the little ones received their dinner1 to lift their hands and thank ,god for their food4 ,when in course of time she spent her days at home1 and her father's family were gathered around their own table1 this little girl said3 ,pa1 we must hold up our hand's and thank ,god before we eat4 ,that's the way we do at the ,mission4 ,so winning was the little one in her ways1 the parents yielded at once4 ,at another time her father was sick and unable to work1 and the little girl said1 ,pa1 ,i'm going to pray that you may get well and go to work to-morrow morning4 ,at four o'clock in the morning she awoke and called out1 ,pa1 don't you feel better4 ,the father said1 ,yes1 ,i am better1 and he went to his work in the morning1 although weak and obliged to rest by the way4 ,there came a time once when he could not get work1 and there was no food in the house for dinner4 ,this little girl knelt down and asked ,god to send them their dinner1 and when she rose from her knees1 she said1 ,now we must wait till the whistle blows1 till #ab o'clock4 ,at twelve o'clock the whistle blew1 and the little girl said1 ,get the table ready1 it is coming1 and just then in came a neighbor with soup for their dinner4 ,,the ,,lord ,,helps ,,to ,,pay ,,debts4 ,the author of this incident is known to the editor of ,remarkable ,providences1 and speaking of it says3 ,god never gave me exactly what ,i wanted4 ,he always gave me more4 ,when ,i married ,i was a working man2 ,i had not much money to spare4 ,in about three months after my marriage1 ,i fell ill1 and my illness continued for more than nine months4 ,at that period ,i was in great distress4 ,i owed a sum of money and had no means to pay it4 ,it must be paid on a certain day1 or ,i must go to jail4 ,i had no food for myself or wife2 and in this distress ,i went up to my room1 and took my ,bible4 ,i got down on my knees and opened it1 laid my fingers on several of the promises1 and claimed them as mine4 ,i said1 ',lord1 this is thine own word of promise2 ,i claim thy promises4' ,i endeavored to lay hold of them by faith4 ,i wrestled with ,god for sometime in this way4 ,i got up off my knees1 and walked about some time4 ,i then went to bed1 and took my ,bible1 and opened it on these words3 ',call upon me in the day of trouble1 and ,i will deliver thee1 and thou shalt glorify me4' ,i said1 'it is enough1 ,lord4' ,i knew deliverance would come1 and ,i praised ,god with my whole heart4 ,whilst in this frame of mind ,i heard a knock at the door4 ,i went and opened it and a man handed me a letter4 ,i turned to look at the letter1 and when ,i looked up again1 the man was gone4 ,the letter contained the sum ,i wanted1 and five shillings over4 ,it is now eighteen years ago4 ,i never knew who sent it4 ,god only knows4 ,thus ,god delivered me out of all my distress4 ,to ,him be all the praise4 ,,praying ,,for ,a ,,lost ,,pocket-,,book4 ,a contributor to ,the ,christian writes as follows3 ,a few months since ,i lost my pocket-book1 containing money and papers of a large amount--more than ,i felt able to lose--and which ,i should feel the loss of1 as ,i was owing at that time about the same amount4 ,on the day of my loss1 ,i had been from home about a mile and a half1 and it was about #i o'clock in the evening1 when ,i returned4 ,and it was not till then that ,i ascertained my loss4 ,my health was very poor1 and the prospect of regaining the lost pocket-book was quite uncertain2 it was so dark that ,i thought it would be impossible for me to find it4 ,consequently ,i determined to remain awake during the night1 and at #c o'clock in the morning search for it1 and if possible1 find it before any one should pass over the road4 ,the seeming impossibility of finding it1 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 prayer1 fully trusting that in some way ,god would so direct that ,i should come in possession of it4 ,if so1 ,i determined to give him #be of it4 ,as soon as ,i had formed this purpose1 all that unpleasant feeling left me1 and ,i did not admit a single doubt but ,i should get it4 ,accordingly1 at #c o'clock in the morning ,i made a thorough search1 but could not find it4 ,yet my faith in ,god's guiding hand did not fail me1 and ,i believed that my trust would be realized4 ,while ,i was thus thinking of the certainty of the fulfillment of the promises of the ,gospel to the believer1 ,i was called on by a gentleman1 a leading business man of the place1 who came to know if ,i had lost anything4 ,i told him ,i had lost my pocket-book4 ,he wanted to know how much it contained4 ,i told him4 ,he said his son had occasion to pass early on that morning1 and had found it in the road1 and that in all probability ,i should otherwise have lost it1 as two men passed by immediately after it was found4 ,thus ,god found it and returned it to me4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,lives ,,of ,,faith ,,and ,,trust ,,an ,,extraordinary ,,life ,,of ,,faith ,,and ,,trust4 ,for many centimes there has not been a more remarkable testimony of unfaltering trust in the faithfulness of ,god in supplying human wants1 than is found in the life and labor of ,george ,muller and his ,orphan ,home1 in ,bristol1 ,england4 ,his record is one of humility1 yet one of daily dependence upon the providence and the knowledge of ,god to supply his daily wants4 ,it has been one of extraordinary trial2 yet never1 for a single hour1 has ,god forsaken him4 ,beginning1 in #ahcd1 with absolutely nothing2 giving himself1 his earthly all and his family to the ,lord1 and asking the ,lord's pleasure and blessing upon his work of philanthropy1 he has never1 for once1 appealed to any individual for aid1 for assistance1 for loans2 but has relied wholly in prayer to the ,lord--coming with each day's cares and necessities--and the ,lord has ever supplied4 ,he has never borrowed1 never been in debt2 living only upon what the ,lord has sent--yet in the forty-third year of his life of faith and trust--he has been able1 through the voluntary contributions which the ,lord has prompted the hearts of the people to give1 to accomplish these wonderful results3 ,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 support4 ,every dollar of which has been asked for in believing prayer from the ,lord4 ,the record is the most astounding in the faith of the ,christian religion1 and the power and providence of ,god to answer prayer1 that modern times can show4 ,the orphans' homes have been visited again and again by ,christian clergymen of all denominations1 to feel the positive satisfaction and certainty that all this were indeed the work of prayer1 and they have been abundantly convinced4 ,the spectacle is indeed a standing miracle4 ,a man sheltering1 feeding1 clothing1 educating1 and mailing comfortable and happy1 hundreds of poor orphan children1 with no funds of his own1 and no possible means of sustenance1 save that which ,god sent him in answer to prayer4 ,an eminent clergyman who for five years had been constantly hearing of this work of faith1 and could hardly believe in its possibility1 at last visited ,mr4 ,muller's home for the purpose of thorough investigation1 exposing it1 if it were under false pretenses or mistaken ways of securing public sympathy1 or else with utmost critical search1 desired to become convinced it was indeed supported only by true prayer4 ,he had reserved for himself1 as he says1 a wide margin for deductions and disappointment1 but after his search1 as ,i left ,bristol1 ,i exclaimed with the queen of ,sheba1 ',the half had not been told me4' ,here ,i saw1 indeed1 seven hundred orphan children fed and provided for1 by the hand of ,god1 in answer to prayer1 as literally and truly as ,elijah was fed by ravens with meat which the ,lord provided4 ,mr4 ,muller himself has said in regard to their manner of living3 ,greater and more manifest nearness of the ,lord's presence ,i have never had1 than when after breakfast1 there were no means for dinner1 and then the ,lord provided the dinner for more than one hundred persons2 and when after dinner1 there were no means for the tea2 and yet the ,lord provided the tea2 and all this without one single human being having been informed about our need4 ,thus it will be seen his life is one of daily trial and trust1 and he says1 ,our desire therefore1 is1 not that we may be without trials of faith1 but that the ,lord graciously would be pleased to support us in the trial1 that we may not dishonor him by distrust4 ,the question having been asked of him1 ,such a way of living must lead the mind continually to think whence food1 clothes1 etc41 are to come1 with no benefit for spiritual exercise1 he replies3 ,our minds are very little tried about the necessaries of life2 just because the care respecting them is laid upon our ,father1 who1 because we are his children1 not only allows us to do so1 but will have us to do so4 ,it must also be remembered that even if our minds were much tried about our supplies1 yet because we look to the ,lord alone for all these things1 we should be brought by our sense of need1 into the presence of our ,father for the supply of it1 and that is a blessing1 and satisfying to the soul4 ,this humble statement from the experience of one who has tried and proven the ,lord in little things1 as well as large1 conveys to the ,christian that world of practical instruction which is contained in the precepts of the ,bible1 viz3 to encourage all to cast their cares on ,god2 and teaches them the lessons of their dependence upon ,him for their daily supplies4 ,the meaning of the ,lord's blessing upon the work of ,mr4 ,muller1 is to make it a standing example and illustration to be adopted in every ,christian home4 ,how ,god supplies our needs1 how he rewards faith1 how he cares for those who trust in ,him4 ,how he can as well take care of his children to-day as he did in the days of the ,prophets1 and how surely he fulfills his promise1 even when the trial brings us to the extremities of circumstances seemingly impossible4 ,mr4 ,muller's experience is remarkable1 not because the ,lord has made his an exceptional case for the bestowal of blessings1 but because of the remarkable1 unwavering and persevering application of his faith1 by the man himself4 ,his faith began with small degrees1 and small hopes4 ,it was painfully tried4 ,but it clung hopefully1 and never failed to gain a triumph4 ,each trial only increased its tenacity1 and brought him greater humility1 for it opened his own heart to a sense of his own powerlessness1 and this faith has grown with work and trial1 till its strength is beyond all precedent4 ,the lessons which the ,lord wishes each one to take from it1 is this3 ,be your faith little or weak1 never give it up2 apply my promises to all your needs1 and expect their fulfillment4 ,little things are as sacred as great things4 ,in the journal kept by ,mr4 ,muller during his many years of experience1 he has preserved many incidents of answer to prayer in small matters1 of which we quote the following from his book4 ,the ,power of ,faith and ,prayer4 #a4 ,one of the orphan boys needed to be apprenticed4 ,i knew of no suitable believing master who would take an indoor apprentice4 ,i gave myself to prayer1 and brought the matter daily before the ,lord4 ,at last1 though ,i had to pray about the matter from ,may #ba to ,september1 the ,lord granted my request1 and ,i found a suitable place for him4 #b4 ,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 suffering1 and after three days the ,lord granted my request4 #c4 ,i asked the ,lord daily in his mercy to keep a sister in the ,lord from insanity1 who was then apparently on the border of it4 ,i have now to record his praise1 after nearly four years have passed away1 that the ,lord has kept her from it4 #d4 ,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 ,lord4 ,repeatedly ,i fell on my knees with his wife1 and asked the ,lord for his conversion1 when she came to me in the deepest distress of soul1 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 sake4 ,and now the awful persecutor is converted4 #e4 ,it pleased the ,lord to try my faith in a way in which before1 it had not been tried4 ,my beloved daughter was taken ill on ,june #bj4 ,this illness1 at first a low fever1 turned to typhus1 and ,july #c there seemed no hope of her recovery4 ,now was the trial of faith1 but faith triumphed4 ,my wife and ,i were enabled to give her up into the hands of the ,lord4 ,he sustained us both exceedingly4 ,she continued very ill till about ,july #bj1 when restoration began4 ,on ,august #ah1 she was so far restored that she could be removed to ,clevedon for change of air4 ,it was then #ei days since she was taken ill4 #f4 ,the heating apparatus of our ,orphan ,home unexpectedly gave out4 ,it was the commencement of ,winter4 ,to repair the leak was a questionable matter4 ,to put in a new boiler would in all probability take many weeks4 ,workmen were sent for to make repairs4 ,but on the day fixed for repairs a bleak north wind set in4 ,now came cold weather1 the fire must be put out1 the repairs could not be put off4 ,gladly would ,i have paid one hundred pounds if thereby the difficulty could have been overcome1 and the children not be exposed to suffer for many days from living in cold rooms4 ,at last ,i determined on falling entirely into the hands of ,god1 who is very merciful and of tender compassion4 ,i now asked the ,lord for two things1 viz43 ,that ,he would be pleased to change the north wind into a south wind1 and that he would give the workmen a mind to work4 ,well1 the memorable day came4 ,the evening before1 the bleak north wind blew still2 but on the ,wednesday the south wind blew exactly as ,i had prayed4 ,the weather was so mild that no fire was needed4 ,about half-past eight in the evening1 the principal of the firm whence the boiler-makers came1 arrived to see how the work was going on1 and whether he could in any way speed the matter4 ,the principal went with me to see his men2 to the foreman of whom he said3 ,the men will work late this evening1 and come very early again to-morrow4 ,we would rather1 said the leader1 work all night4 ,then remembered ,i the second part of my prayer1 that ,god would give the men a mind to work4 ,by morning the repair was accomplished1 the leak was stopped1 and in thirty hours the fire was again in the boiler2 and all the time the south wind blew so mildly that there was not the least need of a fire4 #g4 ,in the year #ahfe1 the scarlet fever broke out in several of the ,orphan ,homes4 ,in one of which were four hundred girls1 and in the other four hundred and fifty4 ,it appeared among the infants4 ,the cases increased more and more4 ,but we betook ourselves to ,god in prayer4 ,day by day we called upon ,him regarding this trial1 and generally two or three times a day4 ,at last1 when the infirmary rooms were filled1 and some other rooms that could be spared for the occasion1 to keep the sick children from the rest1 and when we had no other rooms to spare1 at least not without inconvenience1 it pleased the ,lord to answer our prayers1 and in mercy stay the disease4 ,the disease was very general in the town of ,bristol1 and many children died in consequence4 ,but not one in the ,orphan ,home died4 ,all recovered4 ,at another date1 the whooping-cough also broke out among the four hundred and fifty girls of our ,home1 and though many were dying in the towns of the same disease1 yet all in the ,orphan ,home recovered except one little girl who had very weak lungs1 a constitutional tendency to consumption4 #h4 ,in the early part of one ,summer1 it was found that we had several boys ready to be apprenticed1 but there were no applications made by masters for apprentices4 ,this was no small difficulty1 as the master must be also willing to receive the apprentice into his own family4 ,we again gave ourselves to prayer1 instead of advertising4 ,some weeks passed1 but the difficulty remained4 ,we continued in prayer1 and then one application was made for an apprentice1 and from the time we first began1 we have been able to find places for eighteen boys4 ,,the ,,consumptive',s ,,home4 ,in the ,united ,states there is a ,parallel ,record to ,george ,mailer's ,life of ,faith and ,trust1 found in the history of the ,consumptive's ,home of ,boston1 ,mass4 ,it was established twelve years since by ,doctor ,cullis1 who in the ardor of his faith and trust gave himself to the work of the ,lord1 by ministering in ,jesus' ,name1 to the poor consumptives who were unable to provide for themselves4 ,doctor ,cullis is a man of humility1 and devoted to his life work1 and has been most abundantly blessed by the ,lord in his field4 ,to the honor and glory of our ,heavenly ,father1 he has never been forsaken by ,him4 ,the ,institution began twelve years ago1 in small quarters4 ,now it embraces a very large gathering of useful enterprises3 ,a ,consumptive's ,home1 ,children's ,home1 ,grove ,hall ,church1 ,tract ,repository1 a ,training ,college1 and a ,cancer ,home4 ,the means provided have all been sent by the ,lord1 who has prompted the hearts of good people to send to it their voluntary contributions4 ,there is no financial fund1 endowment1 or pecuniary provision whatever existing for the support of the ,home4 ,no individuals have made any agreement for its support2 there is no trade or occupation used or connected with it1 whereby to obtain any remuneration4 ,there has never been any appeal to man for assistance1 no subscriptions ever taken1 no contributions solicited1 either publicly or privately2 there are no agencies or connections to receive funds from any religious society for procuring charitable relief4 ,the supplies for the carrying on of this work1 during these twelve years1 have been wholly in answer to believing prayer1 to the ,lord4 ,they have fulfilled faithfully the ,lord's commands1 ,cast all your cares on ,him1 for he careth for you4 ,they have also pleaded in faith1 without a doubt1 ,anything ye shall ask the ,father in my name1 ,i will do it4 ,and they have asked and received1 and the ,provider has never yet failed them4 ,during the twelve years' time there has been sent to the ,consumptive's ,home1 without any solicitation whatever1 but in answer to believing prayer and faith and trust in ,god's providence1 a sum no less than three hundred and sixty thousand dollars1 and over fifteen hundred patients have been gratuitously cared for4 ,no one has been urged1 asked1 or even hinted to contribute to it4 ,each morning1 noon and night prayer has been offered to send means to provide for their daily wants1 and the ,great ,shepherd has sent the supplies4 ,during these twelve years1 the experiences of ,doctor ,cullis1 the founder1 have been most remarkable in the frequent answers to prayer in minute details of life1 and especially in healing4 ,there are so many such cases1 that there is no possible room to doubt4 ,there have often been moments1 yes1 days of distress and intense trial1 when1 with not a single penny on hand1 it seemed as if failure had come2 but faith could not let the promise go1 neither was it possible for them to believe that ,he who could do so much1 would forsake so good a work1 which was undertaken only in obedience to the guidance and direction of the ,lord2 and ,god has always brought deliverance1 and honored them and brought glory to his own name4 ,in the daily history of these struggles and trials and triumphs of faith1 are found many surprising incidents1 a few of which we relate4 ,a ,,bad ,,debt ,,paid4 ,to-day a bill was paid of #ca1 which ,i had given up as good for nothing4 ,a long time ago ,i gave it to the ,lord in prayer1 and promised ,him if it was ever canceled that it should be ,his4 ,,help ,,in ,,need4 ,the sums received for several days had been small4 ,one day as the ,doctor was in prayer for his needs1 he received a note from a lady asking him to call at her house1 naming the day and the hour4 ,at the time appointed he called1 and found the lady sick in consumption1 near to death4 ,she said she had some money which she wished to dispose of before her death4 ,she placed in his hand a five hundred dollar note4 ,it was her last gift4 ,she had received it from the hand of the ,lord1 and she returned it to ,him again4 ,,praying ,,for ,,stoves4 ,this afternoon1 knowing the necessity of stoves for some of the upper rooms1 as the weather is quite cool1 ,i went to the ,lord1 in prayer1 and told him of our need1 praying ,him in one way to supply us4 ,i then went down town to a friend1 to look at stoves and inquire the price1 when he said1 'that's all right1 ,i shall not charge anything1' and said he would see that they were put up4 ,this man knew nothing of our great need2 he had never visited the ,home1 knew but little about it1 and not a word did he know of the state of my purse4 ,the ,lord inclined the man's heart to give the stoves4 ,,praying ,,for ,a ,,furnace4 ,i am earnestly praying for the means to purchase a furnace1 for we cannot receive patients into the new ,home until it can be warmed4 ,i am looking to the ,lord1 and ,he will help4 ,seven days later4 ,a gentleman has this day ordered a furnace to be put in1 with fourteen tons of coal at his expense4 ,i will here say that his attention was not called to our need1 but he asked how the house was to be warmed2 he then learned of our want1 and ordered as above4 ,truly1 ',whosoever believeth in ,him shall not be confounded4' ,,the ,,lord',s ,,return ,,for ,,giving ,,unto ,,the ,,poor4 ,this afternoon a poor woman1 whose history ,i have known for some time1 and who has a sick husband over eighty years of age1 called on me1 stating that she had only a ten-cent loaf of bread for herself and her husband to eat since ,wednesday1 and to-day is ,saturday4 ,notwithstanding my own need1 ,i felt that ,i could not withhold from one in greater straits than myself1 so in ,christ's name1 ,i gave her enough to procure necessary food for a few days4 ,the ,lord did not forget it1 but this evening has returned the amount with bountiful interest4 ,for the turn ,i gave ,him1 ,he has sent me #dj4 ',there is that scattereth yet increaseth4' ,a ,,watch ,,given ,,to ,,the ,,lord--,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,returns ,a ,,better ,,one4 ,last year1 during a season of great need1 ,i sold my watch2 yesterday1 the ,lord returned it by a gift of a much better one from a friend1 who had purchased it abroad1 knowing nothing of my need1 thus proving1 ',he that soweth bountifully1 shall reap also bountifully4' ,,the ,,lord ,,gave ,,double ,,what ,,was ,,asked ,,for4 ,this morning and noon ,i called upon the ,lord in prayer for the means to pay a bill of #ajj4 ,by three ,p4,m41 a check was sent me of #bjj4 ,,blessings ,,amid ,,calamities4 ,the roof of one of our houses having caught fire from a spark from a neighbor's chimney1 it was mostly destroyed2 some of the furniture1 and the whole home badly damaged by water4 ,all hearts thanked the ,lord the circumstances were no worse4 ,in the midst of our calamity1 blessings surrounded us4 ,an unknown donor sends in #bj tons of coal4 ,for weeks ,i have been praying for the means to purchase our ,winter fuel1 and now the ,lord has inclined the heart of an unknown friend to supply our need4 ,a ,,remarkable ,,promise4 ,at one period in the history of the ,consumptive's ,home1 a sum of three thousand dollars placed in the safe1 and reserved to be used for payment on the purchase of a new building was stolen1 and there was not left a single dollar2 every penny was gone4 ,nothing daunted1 again going to the ,lord1 and pleading the ,lord's own promise1 ,if ye abide in me1 and my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you4 ,the request was made in prayer for the three thousand dollars1 and the promise of the amount was definitely made to be paid out a certain day4 ,the day came4 ,before it had arrived1 the ,lord had sent the three thousand dollars with unusual contributions1 and both the promises of the ,lord and that of his children were kept4 ,the ordinary business man would have said it was foolishness for a poor man1 with not a penny in the world1 all his means stolen from him1 to positively promise on a certain day the next month1 to pay so large a sum1 exactly the same as was stolen4 ,the skeptic would have said1 ,all foolish to plead before an unseen ,god1 and ask for such a sum4 ,you will never get it4 ,why didn't your ,god prevent your money from being stolen4 ,if your ,bible is true1 he ought to have protected you from loss4 ,the answer to all these is thus3 ,the ,doctor did trust in the promise of an unseen ,god1 whom he had tested in the past many hundred times1 and who had always been faithful in keeping his promises1 and his faith knew that his ,god would not suffer his own work to fail nor suffer reproach4 ,still further to silence the skeptic1 let it be said that after the robbery became known1 the sympathy for the institution became so much greater1 that the contributions voluntarily sent in consequence thereof replaced the three thousand dollars within thirty days1 and produced far more in excess1 to go towards other needs4 ,thus an adversity became a blessing4 ,the ,lord uses sorrow to produce good4 ,a ,,woman ,,delivered ,,from ,,the ,,habit ,,of ,,drinking4 ,i visited a family for whom ,i have felt a deep interest for weeks past4 ,the father had been out of employment some time1 and they have lacked food and clothing4 ,much of their trouble has been caused by the intemperance of the mother4 ,her husband has borne long and patiently with her1 and although she would for a long time leave off drinking1 it was only to fall again still lower4 ,while furnishing them with clothing1 and assisting them in other ways1 ,i besought the mother to give her heart to ,jesus1 knowing that he could keep her from falling4 ,she became1 a constant attendant at our meetings4 ,says ,jesus has taken her love for drink all away4 ,one of her little ones1 who is just beginning to talk1 said the other day1 ,mamma1 you don't drink now4 ,they are a happy family1 and their home is greatly changed4 ,,prayer ,,for ,,purchasers4 ,when removal to the new ,home was determined upon1 there still remained five of the old buildings on hand to be disposed of4 ,this too was taken to the ,lord in prayer that he might send purchasers4 ,one building was sold in ,october1 and the remaining four in ,november4 ,when it is considered that a portion was property usually very difficult of sale1 and that no advertisement of it had been made1 no other means than prayer resorted to1 it must be convincing to all that there must be one who knoweth all things1 who hears and helps in financial as well as in spiritual necessities4 ,,asking ,,for ,,large ,,gifts4 ,upon the #bfth of ,september the record of the ,home was as follows3 ,there is due on the first of next month1 #b1dej interest on our property1 and we are now within four days of the time1 with not a dollar towards it4 ,for several days ,i have been asking that amount of the ,lord4 ,now here was a man depending wholly upon chance gifts for the livelihood of several hundred people1 with a debt of over two thousand dollars to pay in four days4 ,his occupation and work were such that no one could even possibly think of making any loans1 as there was no security4 ,neither was it the principle or the practice of the ,home ever to solicit a dollar4 ,what was to be done8 ,it was taken to the ,lord in prayer1 and all waited the result4 ,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 persons8 ,that evening a letter from the probate office at ,exeter1 ,n4 ,h41 was received by ,dr4 ,cullis1 informing them of the death of a citizen of ,portsmouth1 with a bequest to the ,home of five thousand dollars4 ,the ,lord answered their prayer the same day and sent double what was asked for4 ,a ,,severe ,,tumor ,,healed4 ,during the year #ahgb1 there was under the professional care of ,dr4 ,cullis1 at the ,consumptive's ,home1 a ,christian lady with a tumor which confined her almost continuously to her bed in severe suffering4 ,all remedies were unavailing1 and the only human hope was the knife2 but feeling in my own heart the power of the promise1 ,i one morning sat down by her bedside1 and taking up the ,bible1 ,i read aloud1 ,god's promise to his believing children4 ,and the prayer of faith shall save the sick1 and the ,lord shall raise him up3 and if he have committed sins1 they shall be forgiven him4 ,i then asked her if she would trust the ,lord to remove this tumor and restore her to health and to her missionary work4 ,she replied1 ,i am willing to trust the ,lord for it4 ,i then knelt and anointed her with oil in the name of the ,lord1 asking ,him to fulfill his own word4 ,soon after ,i left she got up and walked three miles4 ,from that time the tumor rapidly lessened until all trace of it at length disappeared4 ,,faith ,,cured ,,her4 ,this incident was related by the lady herself in a public meeting in ,boston1 where it was heard by the sorrowing wife of an afflicted husband1 whose statement is as follows3 ,i was first confined to my house with a violent cold4 ,i lost my voice completely1 suffered with pain in my lungs and expectorated almost constantly4 ,i grew worse every day1 and in a week called in a physician4 ,on examination he found my lungs diseased4 ,i also had fever4 ,with all his care my cough grew worse1 and night sweats set in2 a few weeks later my wife was told by the ,doctor that my lungs were badly ulcerated1 and that my case being hopeless1 it was not worth while for him to attend longer2 also that she must ,,not be surprised if ,i should pass away suddenly4 ,i then tried some highly recommended medicine1 which seemed only to increase my disease4 ,when ,i became so weak as to be nearly helpless1 ,dr4 ,cullis was called in4 ,he sounded my lungs and gave the same verdict1 saying my only hope for recovery was in the ,lord4 ,diarrhea also set in1 and my feet began to swell4 ,this statement will show his perfect helplessness4 ,after the return of his wife from the above meeting1 he read over and over the precious promises of ,god1 and became more and more convinced of the power of faith4 ,believing that ,he is faithful that promised he sent for ,dr4 ,cullis to come and pray with him4 ,dr4 ,c4 prayed1 anointed me with oil1 and in the name of the ,lord ,jesus1 commanded me to be healed4 ,instantly my whole being was thrilled with an unknown power1 from the top of my head to the soles of my feet4 ,from the moment ,i believed1 the work was done4 ,my lungs1 so long diseased1 breathed with new vigor1 and ,i returned thanks to ,god for the results of faith4 ,since that memorable night ,i have taken no medicine1 and my health has been constantly improving1 so that ,i am feeling better now than ,i did before my sickness4 ,two years after he was seen by ,dr4 ,cullis1 and continued in perfect health1 and engaged in active business4 ,,cured ,,of ,,cancer4 ,a lady came to the ,consumptive's ,home with a cancer in the cheek1 which had attained the size of a filbert4 ,it had a very red and angry appearance4 ,after prayer for her healing she went into the country1 when some one remarked1 ',e4 thinks that faith will cure her1 but that is something that will have to be burned out or cut out4' ,her friends tried to induce the use of various applications1 all of which she firmly refused4 ,she returned home in eight weeks1 entirely cured4 ,her friends acknowledged1 ',faith did do good after all4' ,,cured ,,of ,,neuralgia4 ,a lady of ,east ,cambridge writes1 ,for nineteen years ,i have been afflicted with neuralgia2 added to this1 of late years a combination of diseases has rendered life an intolerable burden1 and baffled the skill of every physician to whom ,i have applied4 ,by the prayer of faith ,i have been healed1 both body and soul1 and made to rejoice continually4 ,i can now say ,i am entirely well1 and engaged in arduous work--often among the sick1 losing whole nights of rest4 ,,cured ,,of ,,spine ,,disease4 ,dr4 ,cullis thus speaks of a signal answer to his prayer4 ,while at the home of ,l4,r4 in ,england1 ,i was asked to pray with his daughter1 who had spinal curvature4 ,subsequently ,l4,r4 writes1 ',we4 are full of thankfulness and praise about ,e4 ,she is quite well and strong1 and does everything like her sisters4 ,she has such perfect faith that the ,lord had healed her1 that she at once put away the board and said she should never lie upon it again1 and on the following ,sunday she walked four miles in a hot sun1 and sat for two hours on a bench without a back4 ,as far as we can judge1 she is quite well in every respect4 ,for fifteen months before she had been a constant cause of anxiety to us--never walked or attended to study4' ,,an ,,injured ,,leg ,,restored ,,to ,,proper ,,length4 ,some months ago a young lady called1 requesting to be prayed for4 ,she simply told me that some years ago she was run over and her hip badly injured4 ,i asked her if she could trust the ,lord for healing4 ,she replied1 ',yes4' ,i prayed1 with her1 and she went home4 ,i learned after a day or two1 that she was perfectly cured1 and obtained from her these facts3 ,some six years before1 she was run over by a hack1 and her hip so injured that she was confined to her bed for six months4 ,she then got up with a permanent lameness1 one limb being shorter than the other4 ,in two or three instances since1 she has been confined to her bed for three months at a time4 ,she now walks perfectly1 both limbs being of the same length4 ,she says of herself1 ',i can leap and run as well as any other person1 and my heart overruns with praise and thanksgiving to ,god4' ,a ,,lost ,,voice ,,regained4 ,some nine months since a lady showed signs of indisposition1 and soon was attacked by a cough4 ,change of air was prescribed1 but after a lapse of some weeks she returned to her home1 in no way improved4 ,physicians were consulted1 her lungs found to be much irritated and pulse low4 ,soon all appetite left her1 a hoarseness succeeded1 resulting in entire loss of voice4 ,there was little desire to eat1 as everything taken into the stomach caused great distress4 ,months succeeded2 nothing could be gained from medical treatment4 ,i felt that ,i must trust all to ,god4 ,i seemed to feel that ,god would heal me4 ,i read in his ,bible1 ',the prayer of faith shall save the sick4' ,i accepted it at once1 ,i felt sure that it was for me4 ,i was led to visit ,boston and see ,doctor ,cullis4 ,i stated all the circumstances of my illness1 and was asked if ,i could trust ,god to heal me8 ,i replied1 ',yes1 ,i am sure the ,lord is able and willing4' ',we knelt in prayer2 in a moment1 as it were1 my4 voice came to me1 ,i was able to talk with ease1 and from that time nothing that ,i have eaten has given me any distress4 ,the ,lord's promises are sure1 and ,he has filled my soul with joy and praise4' ,in speaking of the many cases of cures in answer to prayer1 ,doctor ,cullis says3 ,i have noticed that in some cases the cure has been instantaneous2 others ,i have prayed with two or three times1 or even more4 ,my explanation is1 as far as ,i have been able to observe1 that there has been oftentimes a question or lack of faith on the part of the patient2 for some seem to come1 not in faith1 but as a matter of experiment4 ,god's word says it is the prayer of faith that shall save the sick4 ,from this it will be noticed that the faith is that of the patient1 and the more strongly it is fixed on ,god and the promise1 the surer the answer4 ,it is but justice to say1 that in no case has there ever been the thought or the assumption1 by ,doctor ,cullis himself1 of having any divinely conferred power to heal all that come to him1 or for whom he may pray4 ,no such power would ever be given to any human creature by our ,lord4 ,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 own4 ,each must wait upon ,god1 and must have faith without a doubt1 and perfect willingness to trust all to ,him1 and continue to expect the blessing4 ,it should be noticed1 also1 that all who have come pleading the prayer of faith1 and asking the ,lord for relief1 have either then1 or before1 pledged themselves to the service of the ,lord1 and have desired the good gifts they seek1 that they may more efficiently work for ,his own honor and glory1 and the good of others4 ,when such a desire for healing is united with the desire and the promise to work in future for the ,lord1 ,his own kingdom and glory1 the ,lord is pleased with it1 and ,his promise is made sure to those who come in faith4 ,it is needless to say that those who come for prayer1 with the desire only for experiment1 and also those who are withholding their lives or pledges of devotion to ,him1 need never expect an answer4 ,,cured ,,of ,,st4 ,,vitas' ,,dance4 ,very early in childhood1 ,i was seized with a nervous trouble1 something like ,st4 ,vitus' ,dance4 ,as ,i grew older it did not pass off1 but settled into a disease of the muscles4 ,it became a terrible affliction4 ,it was usually under my control1 but ,i could not endure protracted work of any kind1 or unusual fatigue2 ,i had consulted1 in various cities1 the best physicians1 but they pronounced it incurable4 ,all that could be done was to be careful of overwork and excitement4 ,it must have been twenty-five years since ,i was first taken4 ,doctor ,cullis asked me if ,i could give my body to the ,lord to be healed2 ,i felt that ,i could truly say ',yes4' ,he then1 in a simple manner1 prayed that the ,lord would restore strength of nerve and muscle4 ,i went home1 touched and improved by the comforting words4 ,at the end of the week ,i was startled at the recollection that ,i had felt hardly anything of my trouble4 ,my nerves began to feel as if they were held with a grasp of iron4 ,the muscles refused to move as before at every inclination4 ,for two weeks this painful tension lasted4 ,then ,i felt a gradual relaxation1 and found that ,i was strong like other people4 ,i tested myself in the severest way--walked1 wrote and lifted--after each exertion ,i could enjoy perfect rest4 ,the mystery of the miracles was explained to me4 ,this power of ,god manifested in the past1 is manifest to us still4 ,faith can grasp and use it4 ,close beside us stands a living ,christ4 ,,hip ,,disease ,,cured4 ,a lady from ,brooklyn1 ,n4,y41 came to the ,consumptive's ,home for prayer cure4 ,she had a diseased hip1 and had used crutches for twenty years4 ,often the hip joint would slip from its socket1 so that it was impossible for her to walk without crutches4 ,she now writes1 ',my lameness was incurable1 and ,god interposed in my behalf1 in answer to your prayer4 ,i have been able to walk for five months without the crutches ,i have used for over twenty years4' ,a ,,bad ,,debt ,,paid4 ,a correspondent of ,doctor ,cullis1 who was unable to collect a debt from a refractory and worthless debtor1 promised to give it to the ,lord1 if it was ever paid4 ,the following is his letter3 ,perhaps you remember that the writer1 some months ago1 asked you to pray that some money which had been due him a long time1 and which to all human appearance was never to be paid1 might by ,god's interposition be paid in full4 ,enclosed1 find the full amount1 #be1 which was paid a few days since4 ,all glory to ,him1 who never1 never fails4 ,,consumption ,,instantly ,,healed4 ,at a meeting in the ,chapel of the ,consumptive's ,home1 held ,march #g1 #ahgf1 public prayer was offered for a young man in ,florida1 who was apparently gone in consumption2 an interested friend had previously written him that prayer would be offered for him at that time4 ,not long after she received letters from him1 stating that at that same hour he too had joined in supplication1 and was instantly healed4 ,he says that while before the ,lord1 pleading his promise1 his voice and strength were taken away for a time4 ,then he began to praise the ,lord1 and to feel1 'tis done1' and it was done1 and tells of the wonderful change1 his ability to talk and sing1 with no difficulty whatever4 ,,cured ,,of ,,catarrh4 ,i have been afflicted with catarrh for over twenty years4 ,i had consulted many physicians and used many remedies--all failed to help me4 ,in the ,spring of #ahgd1 ,i grew so much worse that life became a burden2 ,i suffered from dizziness and great prostration2 ,i was urged to go to you for faith cure4 ,this was no new thing to me2 ,i believed in it1 yet found it difficult to exercise faith for myself4 ,my daughter went to see you1 as ,i was then unable to go4 ,i looked to ,god1 and believed from that very moment4 ,my whole soul and body seemed thrilled1 and ,i began to gain strength immediately4 ,in a few days ,i was able to go to your ,home4 ,you prayed simply that ,god would take all disease from me4 ,i have been entirely well from that time2 not only cured of catarrh1 but tumors on my limbs were entirely removed4 ,i desire to give ,god the praise2 ,i bless him that ,he does forgive our transgressions and heal our diseases4 ,these instances are only a very few out of many1 that have occurred1 too numerous for repetition here4 ,it must be admitted1 that ,god has most signally blessed the faith of the inmates of the ,consumptive's ,home1 answered their prayer for others4 ,in nearly all the cases of healing which have occurred1 the sufferers have failed in all other means1 and in their extremity have depended wholly in faith in ,god4 ,in speaking of them1 ,doctor ,cullis says3 ,we do not give these instances of the healing of the body1 dear friends of ,jesus1 as in any degree paramount to the healing of the soul2 but that as the dear children of ,god1 we may claim all our privileges1 and enjoy the knowledge of our fullness of possession in ,him who declares all things are1 yours4 ,shall we in any manner1 of smallest or largest import1 limit the love and power of ,god1 who deigneth out of the highest heaven to declare1 ,the ,lord thinketh upon me4 ,as an earthly parent separates no part of the well-being of his child from his watchful care1 so doth our ,heavenly ,father not only forgive all our iniquities1 but healeth all our diseases4 ,let us not confine faith operation to the saving of the soul1 while ,god's word is full of previous promise for the saving1 keeping1 and healing of the body4 ,for ,i will restore health unto thee1 and ,i will heal thee of thy wounds1 saith the ,lord4 ,a ,,mother',s ,,faith--,,the ,,life ,,of ,,beate ,,paulus4 ,in a sketch of the life of ,beate ,paulus1 the wife of a ,german minister who lived on the borders of the ,black ,forest1 are several incidents which illustrate the power of living faith1 and the providence of a prayer-hearing ,god4 ,though destitute of wealth1 she much desired to educate her children1 and five of her six boys were placed in school1 while she struggled1 and prayed1 and toiled1--not only in the house1 but out of doors1--to provide for their necessities4 ,on one occasion1 writes one of her children1 shortly before harvest1 the fields stood thick with corn1 and our mother had already calculated that their produce would suffice to meet all claims for the year4 ,she was standing at the window casting the matter over in her mind1 with great satisfaction1 when her attention was suddenly caught by some heavy1 black clouds with white borders1 drifting at a great rate across the ,summer sky4 ',it is a hail-storm6' she exclaimed in dismay1 and quickly throwing up the window1 she leaned out4 ,her eyes rested upon a frightful mass of wild storm-clouds1 covering the western horizon1 and approaching with rapid fury4 ',o ,god6' she cried1 'there comes an awful tempest1 and what is to become of my corn8' ,the black masses rolled nearer and nearer1 while the ominous rushing movement that precedes a storm1 began to rock the sultry air1 and the dreaded hail-stones fell with violence4 ,half beside herself with anxiety about those fields lying at the eastern end of the valley1 she now lifted her hands heavenward1 and wringing them in terror1 cried3 ',dear ,father in heaven1 what art thou doing8 ,thou knowest ,i cannot manage to pay for my boys at school1 without the produce of those fields6 ,oh6 turn ,thy hand1 and do not let the hail blast my hopes6' ,scarcely1 however1 had these words crossed her lips when she started1 for it seemed to her as if a voice had whispered in her ear1' ,is my arm shortened that it cannot help thee in other ways8' ,abashed1 she shrank into a quiet corner1 and there entreated ,god to forgive her want of faith4 ,in the meantime the storm passed4 ,and now various neighbors hurried in1 proclaiming that the whole valley lay thickly covered with hail-stones1 down to the very edge of the parsonage fields1 but the latter had been quite spared4 ,the storm had reached their border1 and then suddenly taking another direction into the next valley4 ,moreover1 that the whole village was in amazement1 declaring that ,god had wrought a miracle for the sake of our mother1 whom he loved4 ,she listened1 silently adoring the goodness of the ,lord1 and vowing that henceforth her confidence should be only in ,him4 ,at another time she found herself unable to pay the expenses of the children's schooling1 and the repeated demands for money were rendered more grievous by the reproaches of her husband1 who charged her with attempting impossibilities1 and told her that her self-will would involve them in disgrace4 ,she1 however1 professed her unwavering confidence that the ,lord would soon interpose for their relief1 while his answer was3 ,we shall see2 time will show4 ,in the midst of these trying circumstances1 as her husband was one day sitting in his study1 absorbed in meditation1 the postman brought three letters from different towns where the boys were at school1 each declaring that unless the dues were promptly settled1 the lads would be dismissed4 ,the father read the letters with growing excitement1 and spreading them out upon the table before his wife as she entered the room1 exclaimed3 ,there1 look at them1 and pay our debt with your faith6 ,i have no money1 nor can ,i tell where to go for any4 ,seizing the papers1 she rapidly glanced through them1 with a very grave face1 but then answered firmly1 ',it is all right2 the business shall be settled4 ,for ,he who says1 ,the gold and silver is mine1 will find it an easy thing to provide these sums4' ,saying which she hastily left the room4 ,our father readily supposed she intended making her way to a certain rich friend who had helped us before4 ,he was mistaken1 for this time her steps turned in a different direction4 ,we had in the parsonage an upper loft1 shut off by a trap-door from the lower one1 and over this door it was that she now knelt down1 and began to deal with ,him in whose strength she had undertaken the work of her children's education4 ,she spread before ,him those letters from the study table1 and told ,him of her husband's half scoffing taunt4 ,she also reminded ,him how her life had been redeemed from the very gates of death1 for the children's sake1 and then declared that she could not believe that ,he meant to forsake her at this juncture2 she was willing to be the second whom ,he might forsake1 but she was determined not to be the first4 ,in the meanwhile1 her husband waited down stairs1 and night came on2 but she did not appear4 ,supper was ready1 and yet she stayed in the loft4 ,then the eldest girl1 her namesake ,beate1 ran up to call her2 but the answer was1 ',take your supper without me1 it is not time for me to eat4' ,late in the evening1 the little messenger was again dispatched1 but returned with the reply3 ',go to bed2 the time has not come for me to rest4' ,a third time1 at breakfast next morning1 the girl called her mother4 ',leave me alone1' she said2 ',i do not need breakfast2 when ,i am ready ,i shall come4' ,thus the hours sped on1 and down stairs her husband and the children began to feel frightened1 not daring1 however1 to disturb her any more4 ,at last the door opened1 and she entered1 her face beaming with a wonderful light4 ,the little daughter thought that something extraordinary must have happened2 and running to her mother with open arms1 asked eagerly3 ',what is it8 ,did an angel from heaven bring the money8' ',no1 my child1' was the smiling answer1 'but now ,i am sure that it will come4' ,she had hardly spoken1 when a maid in peasant costume entered1 saying3 ',the master of the ,linden ,inn sends to ask whether the ,frau ,pastorin can spare time to see him8' ',ah1 ,i know what he wants1' answered our mother4 ',my best regards1 and ,i will come at once4' ,whereupon she started1 and mine host1 looking out of his window1 saw her from afar1 and came forward to welcome her with the words3 ',o ,madame1 how glad ,i am you have come6' ,then leading her into his back parlor he said2 ',i cannot tell how it is1 but the whole of this last night ,i could not sleep for thinking of you4 ,for some time ,i have had several hundred gulden lying in that chest1 and all night long ,i was haunted by the thought that you needed this money1 and that ,i ought to give it to you4 ,if that be the case1 there it is--take it2 and do not trouble about repaying me4 ,should you be able to make it up again1 well and good--if not1 never mind4' ,on this my mother said3 ',yes1 ,i do most certainly need it1 my kind friend2 for all last night ,i too was awake1 crying to ,god for help4 ,yesterday there came three letters1 telling us that all our boys would he dismissed unless the money for their board is cleared at once4' ',is it really so8' exclaimed the innkeeper1 who was a noble-hearted and spiritual ,christian man4 ',how strange and wonderful6 ,now ,i am doubly glad ,i asked you to come6' ,then opening the chest1 he produced three weighty packets1 and handed them to her with a prayer that ,god's blessing might rest upon the gift4 ,she accepted it with the simple words3 ',may ,god make good to you this service of ,christian sympathy2 for you have acted as the steward of ,one who has promised not even to leave the giving of a cup of cold water unrewarded4' ,husband and children were eagerly awaiting her at home1 and those three dismal letters still lay open on the table1 when the mother1 who had quitted that study in such deep emotion the day before1 stepped up to her husband1 radiant with joy4 ,on each letter1 she laid a roll of money and then cried3 ',look1 there it is6 ,and now believe that faith in ,god is no empty madness6' ,,the ,,persecutor',s ,,fate4 ,dr4 ,eugenio ,kincaid1 the ,burman missionary1 states1 that among the first converts in ,ava were two men who had held respectable offices about the palace4 ,some time after they had been baptized1 a neighbor determined to report them to government1 and drew up a paper setting forth that these two men had forsaken the customs and religion of their fathers1 were worshiping the foreigner's ,god1 and went every ,sunday to the teacher's house2 with other similar charges4 ,he presented the paper to the neighbors of the two disciples1 taking their names as witnesses1 and saving that he should go and present the accusation on the next day4 ,the two ,christians heard of it1 and went to ,mr4 ,kincaid in great alarm1 to consult as to what they should do4 ,they said if they were accused to government1 the mildest sentence they could expect would be imprisonment for life at hard labor1 and perhaps they would be killed4 ,kincaid told them that they could not flee from ,ava1 if they would2 that he saw nothing he could do for them1 and all that they could do was to trust in ,god to protect them1 and deliver them from the power of their enemies4 ,they also prayed1 and soon left ,kincaid1 saying that they felt more calm1 and could leave the matter with ,god4 ,that night the persecutor was attacked by a dreadful disease in the bowels1 which so distressed him that he roared like a madman2 and his friends1 which is too often the case with the heathen1 left him to suffer and die alone4 ,the two ,christians whom he would have ruined then went and took care of him till he died1 two or three days after his attack4 ,the whole affair was well known in the neighborhood1 and from that time not a dog dared move his tongue against the ,christians of ,ava4 ,is there no evidence in this of a special providence1 and that ,god listens to the prayers of persecuted and distressed children8 ,,the ,,captain ,,and ,,the ,,quadrant4 ,a godly man1 the master of an ,american ship1 during one voyage found his ship bemisted for days1 and he became rather anxious respecting her safety4 ,he went down to his cabin and prayed4 ,the thought struck him1 if he had with confidence committed his soul to ,god1 he might certainly commit his ship to ,him2 and so1 accordingly1 he gave all into the hands of ,god1 and felt at perfect peace2 but still he prayed1 that if ,he would be pleased to give a cloudless sky at twelve o'clock1 he should like to take an observation to ascertain their real position1 and whether they were on the right course4 ,he came on deck at eleven o'clock1 with the quadrant under his coat4 ,as it was thick drizzling1 the men looked at him with amazement4 ,he went to his cabin1 prayed1 and came up4 ,there seemed still to be no hope4 ,again he went down and prayed1 and again he appeared on deck with his quadrant in his hand4 ,it was now ten minutes to twelve o'clock1 and still there was no appearance of a change2 but he stood on the deck1 waiting upon the ,lord1 when1 in a few minutes1 the mist seemed to be folded up and rolled away as by an omnipotent and invisible hand2 the sun shown clearly from the blue vault of heaven1 and there stood the man of prayer with the quadrant in his hand1 but so awe-struck did he feel1 and so dreadful was that place1 that he could scarcely take advantage of the answer to his prayer4 ,he1 however1 succeeded1 although with trembling hands1 and found1 to his comfort1 that all was well4 ,but no sooner had he finished taking the observation than the mist rolled back over the heavens1 and it began to drizzle as before4 ,this story of prayer was received from the lips of the good ,captain ,crossby1 who was so useful in the ,ardrossan awakening2 and he himself was the man who prayed and waited upon his ,god with the quadrant in his hand4 ,,the ,,faith ,,of ,,dorothea ,,trudel4 ,the life of ,dorothea ,trudel has afforded some remarkable instances of answer to prayer2 during the years #ahej to #ahfj1 at the ,swiss village of ,mnnedorf1 near the ,lake of ,zurich1 and that of ,molltingen1 were seen and witnessed1 cases of cure in response to unyielding faith in the promises of the ,lord4 ,dorothea ,trudel was a worker in flowers1 and in time came to have many workers under her1 and when she was about thirty-seven years of age1 four or five of her workers fell sick4 ,the sickness resisted all treatment1 grew worse1 appeared to be hopeless4 ,she was a deep1 earnest ,christian1 and while diligent and unselfish as a nun1 yet her anxiety for her work people drew her to earnest prayer and study of the ,scriptures for relief4 ,like a sudden light1 she says1 the well known prayer of the ,epistle of ,james1 #e3 #ad1 #ae1 flashed upon her4 ,if medical skill was unavailing1 was there not prayer8 ,and could not the same ,lord who chose to heal through medicines1 also heal without them8 ,was he necessarily restricted to the one means8 ,there was a time when his healing power went forth directly2 might it not be put forth directly still8 ,agitated by these questions1 she sought help in prayer1 and then kneeling by the bedside of these sick people1 she prayed for them4 ,they recovered2 and the thought that at first had startled her1 became now the settled conviction of her life4 ,her reputation spread2 others who were sick1 came to her for relief1 but she sought only the recovery of the patients by prayer alone4 ,many recovered4 ,her doors were besieged1 and at last she consented to receive invalids at her home1 from compassion4 ,by degrees her own house grew into three1 and at last it became in fact a hospital4 ,she lived a life of humility1 and perfect simplicity1 yet strength of faith1 and at her death her work was1 and still is1 carried on by ,mr4 ,zeller1 who also has had marvelous successes in answer to prayer4 ,,remarkable ,,cures4 ,there have been gathered together in her biography1 well authenticated cases of answer to prayer1 when the patient was considered wholly incapable of help from medical skill4 ,there was one of a stiff knee1 that had been1 treated in vain by the best physicians in ,france1 ,germany and ,switzerland2 one of an elderly man who could not walk1 and had been given up by his physicians1 but who soon dispensed with his crutches2 a man came with a burned foot1 and the surgeons said it was a case of 'either amputation or death' and he also was cured2 one of the leading physicians of ,wurtemburg1 testifies to the cure of a hopeless patient of his own2 another remained six weeks1 and says he saw all kinds of sicknesses healed2 cancers and fevers have been treated with success2 epilepsy and insanity more frequently than any other form of disease4 ,neither is the life and experience of ,dorothea ,trudel an exceptional one4 ,pastor ,blumenhart of ,wurtemberg1 has had his home crowded for years with patients1 and cures occur constantly4 ,the mother of ,dorothea ,trudel was an eminently pious woman1 and it was her custom1 when any of her children were ill1 to bring them in prayer before the feet of the ,heavenly ,physician1 as ,dorothea herself says3 ',our mother had no cure except prayer1 and though at that time we did not understand1 yet since then we have found it out1 that it was the healing hand of the ,saviour alone1 that helped and restored us4' ,,cured ,,of ,,the ,,small-,,pox4 ,even when ,i had the small-pox1 and became blind1 no doctor was sent for1 and no one was told of it4 ,our father was not at home 7he1 father1 most unfortunately1 was not a religious person72 and when our mother asked him to come1 telling him how ill ,i was1 he would not believe it1 and preferred to remain with his friends4 ,our mother1 however1 was not in the least vexed or excited2 she prayed for him1 for all of us1 especially for her sick child1 and before my father came home1 my eyes were re-opened4 ,,cured ,,of ,,severe ,,fits4 ,once again1 one of my brothers had a fit brought on through fright4 ,it was a most violent and painful attack1 and we were greatly alarmed4 ,this time1 also1 our father was out2 and our mother said to us1 ,i know this fearful illness1 my children2 it is one of the heaviest trials which could have1 occurred1 but ,jesus1 who cured that lunatic boy1 can heal our child4 ,do not speak of the attack to any one2 we will go only to ,jesus about it2 and then she prayed with us4 ,not long after1 a second fit came on1 and again our father was taking his pleasure at the public house4 ,this time mother told him what had happened in his absence2 but he laughed at it1 and said1 ',i don't believe it2 you were frightened at the child having bad dreams4' ,his wife replied1 ',for the sake of your unbelief1 ,i hope that the child will have another attack whilst you are at home1 so that you may witness it yourself1 then you will believe2 ,i pray ,god1 however1 that this may be the last time4' ,it came to pass about a week after1 that another most dreadful fit came on2 the boy foamed violently1 and threw himself about in fearful convulsions2 on this occasion the father was present1 and he was convinced of the nature of the attack1 and alarmed at what he saw4 ,but the mother's prayer was heard1 for the disease never showed itself again for thirty-four years1 while both parents lived4 ,,buying ,a ,,cow4 ,our father going away abroad1 he sold one of our two cows1 and took the proceeds with him4 7,he1 the father1 was a reckless spendthrift1 idle1 and fond of the public inn47 ,a rich neighbor directly offered to loan us money enough to buy another2 this kind proposal we gratefully accepted4 ,although we did not understand much about bargains of this kind1 yet the cow we purchased served us so remarkably1 that we were obliged to acknowledge whence the blessing came4 ,in ,summer we could sell fourteen measures of milk2 in ,winter1 twelve to the dairyman1 so that the borrowed money was speedily paid4 ,at the same time the cow performed the farm work required of it1 with such strength and quickness1 we were astonished4 ,when our father1 on his return1 heard us speaking with pleasure of this animal1 he became so enraged with the poor thing1 that he was determined to sell it1 and actually offered it at half its value4 ,the faithless children were in a continual fright4 ,when any one came near the house1 we thought that we were assuredly going to lose our cow4 ,but mother exhorted us not to be so fearful2 for1 said she1 ',if your father could do always as he likes1 none of you would be alive now2 but ,god will never let him go any farther than he sees to be for our good4 ,believe me1 ,god1 who has given us this cow1 will keep it for us as long as we need it4' ,and so it turned out1 for the cow never left us whilst our mother was alive2 and when we were all provided for1 a purchaser came1 who paid a high price for the creature1 having heard of its wonderful powers from the man to whom we sold the milk for so many years2 but no sooner was the animal taken to its new home1 than the wonder ceased1 and this cow became no better than any other4 ,a ,,lady ,,cured1 ,,who ,,had ,,been ,,rejected ,,from ,,an ,,asylum4 ,madam ,m----1 the mother of twelve children1 had been quite shattered in mind by the death of her husband1 and had been actually sent away uncured from an asylum4 ,she came to ,dorothea's home1 was blessed in remembrance in her prayers1 and after seven weeks went away perfectly cured4 ,she acknowledged the ,lord was indeed her helper1 and she has remained well to this day4 ,,the ,,soul ,,cured ,,as ,,well ,,as ,,the ,,body4 ,on many occasions she experienced wonderful help from ,god1 who1 while performing marvels for the body1 which is the least important part1 accomplishes what is far greater1 even the salvation of souls4 ,among others1 one named ,b4 ,t----1 went to her1 who had been suffering for six months from a disease of his bones1 and had been for a lengthened period in a ,swiss hospital1 under medical treatment4 ,at length he1 by the advice of ,christian friends1 sought for relief from his malady at ,dorothea's house4 ,his care began in the first week of his visit1 and in a few weeks he was completely recovered4 ,on one occasion a young artisan came1 in whom cancer had made such progress as to render any approach to him almost unbearable4 ,at the ,bible lessons1 this once frivolous man1 now an earnest inquirer1 learned where the improvement must begin2 and from the day that he confessed his sins against ,god and man1 the disease abated4 ,some time afterwards he acknowledged one sin he had hitherto concealed1 and then he speedily recovered his bodily health1 and returned to his home cured in spirit also4 ,a lady in ,s---- had so injured her knee by a fall1 that for weeks she lay in the greatest agony4 ,the doctors declared that dropsy would supervene2 but the ,heavenly ,physician fulfilled those promises which will abide until the end of the world2 and by prayer1 and the laying on of ,dorothea's hand1 the knee was cured in twenty-four hours1 and the swelling vanished4 ,,prayer1 ,,not ,,mesmerism4 ,several people have maintained that her work was one of mesmerism2 and when once she was asked to visit an out patient1 she earnestly implored the ,lord not to heal this invalid through her means if she employed mesmerism2 but if not1 to permit recovery4 ,the woman was cured in a short time1 though ,dorothea had never entered her house1 and had1 therefore1 no opportunity of placing herself in a mesmeric relation to this patient4 ,,help ,,in ,,pecuniary ,,affairs4 ,in pecuniary affairs1 also1 the ,lord was their helper4 ,many times something had to be paid1 and they had no means wherewith to meet the claims4 ,once1 ,god actually sent aid by means of an enemy1 who offered money2 another time1 three thousand francs came from ,holland1 just as they were needed1 and also unexpected on a third occasion they were about to borrow money to pay for bread1 when two hundred and fifty francs arrived4 ,,the ,,faith ,,life ,,of ,,mr4 ,,zeller4 ,after the death of ,dorothea ,trudel1 the work at ,mnnedorf1 instituted by her1 has been furthered and carried on by ,mr4 ,samuel ,zeller1 who had been her associate4 ,he has published two reports1 which contain many instances of answers to prayer1 showing that the ,lord still gave blessed results1 and rewarded their faithful trust4 ,no disease is found to be more obstinate than epilepsy1 yet several instances are recorded of patients being restored to perfect health4 ,persons afflicted with mental disorder and convulsions are frequently brought to ,mnnedorf1 and many return cured or benefited4 ,on one occasion1 a lady who had been afflicted with constant headache for five years1 found her disorder removed speedily under the influence of prayer4 ,in other cases the passion for strong drink was taken away2 fever more or less disappeared2 and the subjects of various kinds of chronic diseases1 even some apparently far gone in consumption1 have found their strength return to them under the same influence4 ,unhappy victims of spiritualist delusions have found deliverance at the mercy-seat2 and there1 too1 many in the bondage of sin have rejoiced in a present ,saviour4 ,one patient afflicted with convulsions1 who came several years successively without being cured1 at last confessed that she possessed a book of 'charms' in which she put some degree of1 faith1 and she had recommended them to others4 ,she was led to see the folly and sin of such things1 and soon after the book was burned she was restored to health4 ,many cases have occurred where the suffering patient was utterly unable to come to ,mnnedorf1 but prayer has been offered there in their behalf1 and the answers have been as frequent as with the cases which have come under the same roof4 ,a brother living at ,r---- was seized with a violent fever1 and appeared to be at death's door4 ,intelligence having been sent to ,mnnedorf1 united prayer was made in his behalf2 and very soon afterwards a telegraphic message announced that he was recovering4 ,on this occasion the promise was remembered with joy1' ,before they call ,i will answer4' ,perhaps one of the most striking cases of blessing recorded is that of a lady1 who was subject to fits of insanity so violent that they threatened her life1 and who was so far conscious of her miserable condition1 that happening to go into a meeting where she heard ,god's word1 she requested to be prayed for4 ,a friend wrote to ,mnnedorf1 describing the case1 and asking prayer on her behalf2 and only a fortnight later1 the same friend communicated the happy news of her recovery4 ,after a fit of unusual severity1 she fell into a deep sleep1 from which she awoke in her right mind2 more than that1 she learned to believe in the ,lord ,jesus1 and rejoiced in ,his love4 ,a patient in this institution1 who arrived unconverted1 and was thought to be in a dying state1 heard the good news of ,salvation1 and was enabled to rejoice in the ,lord1 through simple trust in ,him2 and from that moment she began to rapidly recover from her disorder1 and soon became strong enough to nurse another patient4 ,another remarkable case was that of a young girl who1 in consequence of the breaking off of a marriage engagement1 manifested decided symptoms of insanity4 ,she not only recovered from her malady1 but found the ,saviour4 ,,the ,,blind ,,restored ,,to ,,sight4 ,prayer was asked for a young lady who was wholly blind4 ,a letter received soon after brought this joyful news3 ,in answer to your prayer for our niece1 ,i must thankfully tell you1 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 cataract4 ,while examining her eyes1 the ,doctor1 who is a ,jew1 took up a book lying near1 and opening it told her to try and read1 which she was able to do with ease4 ,it was a hymn book1 and the first words on which her eyes fell were these3 ',christ ,jesus1 glorious ,king of ,light1 ,great ,conqueror1 ,david's heir1 ,come now and give my blind eyes sight1 ,o ,saviour1 hear my prayer6' ',that will do1' said the ,doctor1 'you are much better4' ,i for my part hastened to my chamber1 and shutting the door fell on my knees with a cry of joyful praise4 ,threats were made by many of the villagers that they would burn up the house for this institution1 saying all manner of unreasonable things4 ,you can not prevent this by prayer1 said one writer1 we have taken an oath to do it4 ,mr4 ,zeller remained quiet1 taking no notice of these threats1 but quietly trusted in the ,lord4 ,though other anonymous letters came frequently1 yet the threats were never carried out4 ,it will he seen from this that1 blessed as was the work of faith1 still the spirit of persecution was permitted by the ,lord only to make his own children rely more confidently on ,him1 and that he might fulfill more positively his promise1 ,no evil shall befall thee1 no harm come nigh thy dwelling4 ,,the ,,bank ,,of ,,faith4 ,,god ,,the ,,guardian ,,of ,,the ,,poor4 ,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 ,huntington1 formerly a minister in ,london1 ,england1 who1 in a book with the quaint title of the ,bank of ,faith1 tells how1 in his course of life1 day by day the ,lord guarded him1 helped him1 and provided for every need1 even the most trifling4 ,it is a precious record of faith and full of true encouragement4 ,he answers as follows this question3 ,should we fray for temporal blessings8 ,some have affirmed that we have no warrant to pray for temporal blessings1 but1 blessed be ,god1 he has given us 'the promise of the life that now is1 and of that which is to come4' ,yea1 the promise of all things pertaining to life and ,godliness1 and whatever ,god has promised we may warrantably pray for4 ,those that came to our ,saviour in the days of his flesh1 prayed chiefly for temporal mercies4 ,the blind prayed for sight1 the lepers for a cure1 the lame far the use of their limbs1 and the deaf for the use of their ears1 and surely had they prayed unwarrantably1 their prayers would not have been so miraculously answered4 ,elijah prayed for a temporal mercy when he prayed for rain1 and it is clear that ,god answered him4 ,elisha works a miracle to produce a temporal mercy when he healed the barren plains of ,jericho4 ,is my reader a poor ,christian8 ,take it patiently4 ,god maketh the poor as well as the rich4 ,envy not the rich4 ,riches are often seen to be a canker-worm at the root of a good man's comfort1 a snare in his life1 an iron pillar at the back of his pride4 ,a gar prayed to be fed with food convenient for him1 and you may pray for the same1 and what ,god gives you in answer to your prayer you will be thankful for4 ,that state is surely best which keeps you dependent on ,god and thankful to ,him1 and so you shall find it to the end4 ,go on1 poor ,christian1 trusting in the providence of ,god4 ,,the ,,life ,,of ,,his ,,child ,,saved4 ,my eldest daughter now living fell sick at about five or six months old1 and was wasted to a skeleton4 ,she had a doctor to attend her1 but she got worse and worse4 ,it seemed as if ,god intended to bereave us of her1 for he brought her even to death's door4 ,my wife and ,i have sat up with her night after night1 watching the cradle1 expecting every breath to be her last1 for two or three weeks together4 ,at last ,i asked the ,doctor if he thought there was any hope of her life4 ,he answered1 no1 he would not flatter me4 ,she would surely die4 ,this distressed me beyond measure1 and as he told me to do no more for her1 ,i left my room1 went to my garden in the evening1 and1 in my little tool house1 wrestled hard with ,god in prayer for the life of the child4 ,i went home satisfied that ,god had heard me2 and in three days the child was as well as she is now1 and ate as heartily4 ,this effectually convinced me that all things were possible with ,god4 ,,god ,,sent ,,supplies4 ,when ,i had been three weeks out of employment1 ,i found a new place1 and after pawning all my best clothes to pay expenses1 when the cart set us down at the new home on ,monday morning1 ,i had the total sum of ten pence half-penny left1 to provide for myself1 my wife and child1 till the ensuing ,saturday night4 ,though ,i was thus poor1 yet ,i knew ,god had made me rich in faith4 ,we went on our knees beseeching the ,almighty to send relief1 as he in his wisdom thought proper4 ,the next evening my landlord's daughter1 and son-in-law1 came up to see their mother1 and brought some baked meat1 which they had just taken out of their oven1 and brought for me and my wife to sup along with them4 ,these poor people knew nothing of us1 nor of our ,god4 ,the next day in the evening they did the same1 and kept sending victuals and garden stuff to us all the week long4 ,,the ,,god ,,who ,,supplied ,,elijah ,,by ,a ,,raven ,,supplied ,,me ,,with ,,fish4 ,one of the most beautiful instances ever known1 which almost identically repeats the ,bible over again1 especially in the instance of ,elijah as he was fed in an unseen way by the hand of ,god1 is given in the life of ,mr4 ,huntington4 ,he was wholly unable to provide for his family1 and could depend only on ,god4 ,as ,i went over a bridge1 ,i cast my eye on the right-hand side1 and there lay a very large eel on the mud by the river side1 apparently dead4 ,i caught hold of it and soon found it was only asleep4 ,with difficulty ,i got it safe out of the mud upon the grass1 and then carried it home4 ,my little one was very fond of it1 and it richly supplied all her wants that day4 ,but at night ,i was informed the eel was all gone1 so the next day afforded me the same distress and trouble as the preceding day had done4 ,the next morning1 as ,i entered the garden gate1 ,i saw a partridge lie dead on the walk4 ,i took it up and found it warm2 so ,i carried it home1 and it richly supplied the table of our little one that day4 ,again the next day still found me unprovided1 and brought forth fresh work for faith and prayer4 ,however1 the morrow took thought for the things of itself1 for when ,i came to take the scythe in my hand to mow the short grass1 ,i looked into the pond1 and there ,i saw three very large carp lying on the water apparently sick4 ,when the master came ,i told him of it4 ,he went and looked and said they were dead1 and told me ,i might have them if ,i would1 for they were not in season4 ,however1 they came in due season to me4 ,and ,i found1 morning after morning1 there lay two or three of these fish at a time1 dead1 just as ,i wanted them1 till ,i believe there was not one live fish remaining1 six inches long1 in the pond1 which was near three hundred feet in length4 ,i could not help weeping1 admiring the goodness of ,god4 ,as ,i studied the ,bible1 ,i clearly perceived that the most eminent saints of the ,bible were brought into low circumstances1 as ,jacob1 ,david1 ,moses1 ,joseph1 ,job and ,jeremiah1 and all the apostles1 in order that the hand of providence might be watched4 ,,god ,,takes ,,away ,,the ,,snow4 ,in the ,winter the ,lord sent a very deep snow1 which lay a considerable time on the ground4 ,we were brought into great straits1 as our wheat was now of no use to us1 and we could obtain no wood1 the landlady saying that as the snow was likely to last some time1 she must keep what little she had left1 and could sell us no more4 ,there was before us the fear of great suffering with the cold4 ,i begged of ,god that he might that night take away the snow1 and send us something to burn1 that our little one might not perish with the cold1 and the next morning the snow was all gone4 ,,sight ,,restored4 ,a violent humor came into my eyes1 and for some months ,i was in danger of losing my sight4 ,both myself and my second daughter had it more or less for several years4 ,in answer to prayer1 ,god healed her eyes and mine too1 so that our sight was perfectly recovered4 ,,praying ,,for ,,tea4 ,as the life of faith consists in bearing the cross of ,christ1 we must not expect to be long without trials4 ,providence soon frowned on me again1 and ,i got behindhand1 as usual4 ,this happened at a time when my wife was about delivery of child1 and we were destitute of those necessaries of life which are needful at such times4 ,the nurse came3 we told her there was no tea in the house4 ,my wife replied1 ',set the kettle on1 even if there is not4' ,the nurse said1 ',you have no tea1 nor can you get any4' ,my wife replied1 ',set on the kettle4' ,she did so1 and before it boiled1 a woman 7with whom at that time we had no acquaintance7 came to the door1 and told the nurse that she had brought some tea as a present for my wife4 ,,the ,,lord ,,paid ,,his ,,debt4 ,it was the time of my returning from the north country4 ,i observed that there were some small debts to be discharged4 ,but the hand of ,god was fast closed2 this continued for some time3 and for all that time1 ,i watched and observed narrowly4 ,at this time there was a special debt due of twenty pounds4 ,this sum hung long4 ,i looked different ways1 and chalked out different roads for the ,almighty to walk in2 but his paths were in the deep waters1 and his footsteps were not known2 no raven came1 neither in the morning1 nor in the evening4 ,there was a gentlewoman at my house on a visit1 and ,i asked her if she had got the sum of twenty pounds in her pocket1 telling her at the same time how much ,i wanted it4 ,she told me she had not2 if she had1 ,i should have it4 ,a few hours after1 the same woman was coming into my study1 but she found it locked1 and knocked at the door2 ,i let her in1 and she said1 ',i am sorry ,i disturbed you4' ,i replied1 ',you do not disturb me2 ,i have been begging a favor of ,god1 and ,i had just done when you knocked2 and that favor ,i have now got in faith1 and shall shortly have in hand1 and you will see it4' ,the afternoon of the same day1 two gentlemen out of the city came to see me2 and after a few hours of conversation1 they left me1 and to my great surprise1 each of them at parting put a letter into my hand1 which1 when they were gone1 ,i opened1 and found a ten pound note in each4 ,i immediately sent for the woman up-stairs1 and let her read the letters1 and then sent the money to pay the debt4 ,it is impossible to give in this page any large portion of the life of ,mr4 ,huntington1 who was rich in faith1 and upon whom ,god showered abundant answers to prayer4 ,but1 like all of us1 he1 too1 suffered extremely in all the necessities of life1 yet ever looked to ,god above for help4 ,of his experience1 he says in his own words1 after having for years thoroughly tested the promises and faithfulness of ,god3 ,a succession of crosses was always followed with perpetual blessings1 for as sure as adversity led the van1 so sure prosperity brought up the rear4 ,never1 no never1 did the ,holy ,spirit withhold his prevalent intercession from1 me in times of trouble1 nor did my ,god ever turn a deaf ear to my prayer1 or fail to deliver me4 ,many are the afflictions of the righteous1 but the ,lord delivereth him out of them all4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,faith ,,of ,,little ,,children4 ,,how ,,god ,,honors ,,their ,,trust1 ,,and ,,answers ,,their ,,prayers4 ,,god ,,keeps ,,hold ,,of ,,the ,,other ,,hand4 ,a little boy with his mother was returning from a visit2 the night was very dark1 and little could be seen ahead4 ,she led her little boy1 by the hand1 who trustingly walked by her side4 ,he had only just begun to learn and remember the stories of the ,bible1 and he believed and trusted everything he heard4 ,after walking for sometime in the darkness1 very silently1 he burst out with1 ,mamma1 ,i'm not afraid4 ,why1 what makes you feel so4 ,because1 mamma1 ,god keeps hold of the other hand4 ,this is the beautiful lesson older ones1 too1 must learn1 the simple1 childlike confidence in ,god1 which gives no fear1 no alarm4 ,the skeptic can never accuse little children of the same theories1 philosophies1 imaginations and beliefs which are characteristic of older heads4 ,the child knows nothing of such books of reason1 science or religion4 ,many a child who could not read has asked of ,god and his prayer has been answered2 and when the whole world witnesses a little child1 who in its innocence has been told that ,god lives1 that ,god loves him1 that ,god can do everything and will surely hear his prayer1 and then in its care and grief1 kneels before the ,god it trusts1 offers its little prayer1 and the prayer is answered1 let none of maturer minds ever presume to doubt4 ,the faith of little children is typical of the very simplest faith wherewith any human being must approach its ,creator4 ,the child never questions1 never doubts2 but in its simplicity asks1 and ,god honors the trust4 ,the following incident illustrates the point1 that not one thing is ere too small for ,god to consider1 or a soul to bring to him in prayer4 ,a ,,child ,,whose ,,life ,,was ,,saved ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer--,,by ,,his ,,own ,,prayer ,,the ,,life ,,of ,,his ,,sister ,,is ,,saved4 ,one of the most beautiful incidents ever known relating to the faith of children1 and the reward of their trust1 is contained in the following circumstance1 personally known to the editor of this book1 who was a participant in the facts4 ,the only child of a young married couple1 living in this city1 their pride1 their hope and joy1 and the darling of the whole family1 was seized with severe sickness1 grew rapidly worse4 ,the grandfather1 who was a skilled physician1 was constantly present1 ministering in every way1 by every means1 but nothing was of any avail4 ,no medicine could cure1 and the child seemed ready to die4 ,no one could think of relief or knew where to find it4 ,the grandfather1 at last1 proposed to lay the case before ,god1 and ask the prayers of ,his people in the child's behalf4 ,the mother was only too glad to ask other prayers with her own1 to bring relief4 ,the father1 who had hitherto never seriously thought of religion1 was in intense anxiety and despair4 ,here was his first1 his only child about to be taken away from him1 and then came the thought1 is it possible his family life was not to be blessed2 his child was in distress1 no human effort was available4 ,at last1 he too joined in the prayer of his wife and father1 and bowing before the ,great ,unknown1 unseen ,god1 he poured out his heart in prayer1 saying1 ,lord1 if thou wilt spare my child1 wilt give him life1 and thus show to me thy power and will to save1 ,i will never doubt again1 and will give thee my heart ,a request for prayer was written and sent to the pastor1 ,dr4 ,william ,adams1 of the ,madison ,square ,church4 ,it arrived after church service had begun2 the sexton was unwilling to carry it to the pulpit1 as it was against the rule1 but when told he must1 as a life was in great danger1 he consented1 and delivered it to the pastor4 ,the messenger waited breathlessly1 and when in silence the doctor specifically mentioned the case before him1 and asked the ,lord to heal and spare the little one1 and comfort the hearts of all1 and make it a witness of his love and power1 the messenger accidentally looked at the clock1 and it marked just quarter to eleven1 ,a4,m4 ,when prayer was finished he returned home4 ,arriving at home1 he was astonished to find the child better1 its whole condition had changed1 the medicine had taken hold1 and the doctor now said everything was so hopeful the child would surely recover1 and it did4 ,but mark the unparalleled singularity of the scene4 ,the father asked the messenger the time when the prayer was offered4 ,he replied1 ,at a quarter to eleven4 ,the father in astonishment said1 ,at that very moment the disease changed1 and the doctor said he was better4 ,the father1 who had thus been proving the ,lord with this test of prayer and its identity of time in his answer1 was so overwhelmingly convinced of the real power of prayer1 and thereby of the real existence of ,god1 and that a ,christian life was one of facts as well as beliefs1 now finding that the ,lord had indeed kept ,his own promise1 he1 too1 kept his promise and gave his heart to the ,lord1 and became henceforth1 a professing ,christian4 ,but there were more wonderful things yet to happen--a period of five years passed4 ,other children were added to the family1 and one day1 the youngest1 a sweet1 beautiful girl1 was taken suddenly ill with convulsions4 ,the sickness for days tasked the strength of the mother1 and the skill of the doctor1 but no care1 ingenuity1 or knowledge could overcome the disease or subdue the pain4 ,the little girl's fits were severe and distressing1 and there were but short intervals between1 just time to come out of one and with a gasp1 pass into another still more terrible4 ,in its occasional moments of reason1 it would look piteously as if mutely appealing1 and then the next convulsion would take it and seem to leave it just at death's door4 ,all attendants were worn with care1 the doctor fairly lived in the house and forsook all his other business4 ,the clergyman came and comforted the anxious hearts with words of sympathy and prayer2 but her little brother ,merrill1 7whose own life we have just related17 tender-hearted1 a mere child1 scarce seven years of age1 who had known of the ,lord1 and who believed that ,he was everywhere and could do everything1 was intensely grieved at ,mamie's distress1 and came at last to his mother and asked if he could go and make a prayer to ,god for ,sissy4 ,the mother said1 ,go4 ,the little boy went back into his room1 and kneeling humbly by the side of his bed1 as he did at his night and morning prayers1 uttered this request3 ,o ,god1 please to bless little sister1 she is very sick4 ,please stop her fits so she won't have any more4 ,for ,jesus' sake1 amen4 ,he came back1 told his mamma what he said1 and added3 ,mamma1 ,i don't think she will have any more4 ,now mark how the ,lord honored this simple faith of the little child4 ,from that very moment the fits left her4 ,they never returned2 and the child soon entirely recovered4 ,notice the full beauty and instruction of these two incidents3 ,little ,merrill's life was saved in answer to prayer2 was the means of his father's salvation1 and when he in turn had grown to an age when he could learn of ,god1 his own prayer was the means of saving his own sister's life4 ,notice1 too1 that all earthly available means were used to save each child1 but to no effect4 ,physicians and parents considered the case hopeless1 and then committed it to the decision of ,god4 ,notice1 too1 that when little ,merrill was so sick1 that the mother and doctor both prayed1 yet it was not until his father had also prayed that the answer came4 ,god meant to honor the faith of the first two1 but was waiting for the prayer of the third ere he granted the request4 ,that child's sickness was one of the purposes of ,god4 ,notice in the second case1 that while father1 mother1 doctor1 the clergyman1 and others of the house were all trusting in prayer1 yet the ,lord was waiting for the prayer of the little brother1 ere he sent the blessing of relief4 ,such an incident draws its own conclusion4 ,never cease in prayer for anything which is to ,god's honor and glory4 ,use all the possible means to help ,god4 ,where human means are of no avail1 commit it to ,god and wait in humble resignation4 ,ask others to pray1 too1 for the same object1 that when the answer comes1 ,god may be glorified before the sight of others as well as your own4 ,when so many are waiting to see if ,god will honor his promises1 depend upon it1 ,god will be found faithful to all his word4 ,,trusting ,,in ,,god',s ,,promises4 ,it was a fierce1 wild night in ,march1 and the blustering wind was blowing1 accompanied by the sharp1 sleety snow4 ,it was very desolate without1 but still more desolate within the home ,i am going to describe to you4 ,the room was large and almost bare1 and the wind whistled through the cracks in the most dismal manner4 ,in one corner of the room stood an old-fashioned bedstead upon which a woman lay1 her emaciated form showing her to be in the last stage of consumption4 ,a low fire burned in the large fire-place1 and before it a little girl was kneeling4 ,she had a small testament1 and was trying by the dim fire-light to read a chapter1 as was her custom1 before going to bed4 ,a faint voice called to her from the bed1 ',nellie1 my daughter1 read the #adth chapter of ,st4 ,john for your ,mother4' ',yes1 ,mother1' was the reply1 and after turning the leaves a few moments1 the child began4 ,all that long ,winter day that poor mother had been tortured with pain and remorse4 ,she was poor1 very poor1 and she knew she must die and leave her child to the mercies of the world4 ,her husband had died several years before4 ,since then she had struggled on1 as best she could1 till now she had almost grown to doubt ,god's promises to the helpless4 ',in my ,father's house are many mansions4' ',i go to prepare a place for you4' ,here the little reader paused1 and crept to her mother's side4 ,she lay motionless1 with closed eyes1 while great hot tears were stealing down her wasted cheeks4 ',mother1 ,he has a place almost ready for you1 hasn't ,he4' ',yes1 my child1 and ,i am going very soon1 but ,he will watch over you1 ,nellie1 when ,mother has gone to her last home4' ,the weeks went slowly by to the suffering invalid2 but when the violets were blooming1 they made a grave upon the hillside1 and laid the weary body down to rest1 but the spirit had gone to the home which ,christ himself had gone to prepare4 ,years passed away4 ,it was sunny ,may4 ,the little church of ,grenville was crowded4 ,i noticed in one of the seats a lady plainly but neatly attired4 ,there was nothing remarkable in the face with its mournful brown eyes1 and decided looking mouth and chin4 ,i ransacked my memory to find who the lady was4 ,suddenly a vision of the poor widow came4 ,this1 then1 was the little girl1 little ,nellie ,mason4 ',we will read a part of the #adth chapter of ,st4 ,john1' the minister said4 ',in my ,father's house are many mansions2 ,i go to prepare a place for you4' ,the slow1 deliberate tones recalled me from my reverie1 and ,i looked at ,nellie4 ,her head was bowed1 but ,i could see the tears flowing like rain4 ,,the ,,faith ,,of ,a ,,little ,,child4 ,an incident most beautiful was told in the ,fulton ,street prayer meeting by a converted ,jew4 ,journeying in the cars1 ,i was attracted by two little girls1 ,jewesses4 ,i asked them if they loved ,jesus4 ,to my surprise1 they said they did4 ,i found that their mother was in a seat near by4 ,she had attended some of the gospel meetings for ,jews1 and was interested in them4 ,she said her husband had not been to church or synagogue for eleven years1 and she did not know his views on religion4 ,her two little girls had attended a ,methodist ,sunday school1 and there learned of ,jesus4 ,a day or so after1 the mother was taken very sick1 and remedies failing1 the eldest child1 a little over eight years old1 said3 ',o ,mamma1 if you will let me pray to ,jesus for you1 ,he can take away your pains and give you sleep4' ,she knelt with her sister and prayed in simple words to ,jesus to heal her mother1 telling ,him that ,he had so promised to hear prayer4 ,shortly after1 the mother1 after long hours of restlessness and suffering1 fell into a deep sleep and awoke relieved of pain and much refreshed4 ,she heard from her daughter's lips the story of her faith in ,jesus and love for ,him1 and then sent for me1 begging me to pray for her4 ,i am glad to tell you that she is now a converted woman1 a believer in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,,the ,,wanderer ,,found4 ,a mother sent a request for prayer to the ,fulton ,street prayer-meeting1 that she might hear from him who had long ago left home1 and wandered far away4 ,she had been praying very earnestly for him1 and soon she wrote that she had just heard from him1 and heard too that he had become a ,christian and learned to trust in ,him4 ,,are ,,you ,,there4 ,a mother1 one morning1 gave her two little ones books and toys to amuse them while she went up-stairs to attend to something4 ,a half hour passed quietly away1 and then one of the little ones went to the foot of the stairs1 and in a timid voice called out1 ,mamma1 are you there8 ,yes1 darling4 ,all right1 said the little one1 and-went on with her play4 ,by-and-by the question was repeated1 ,mamma1 are you there8 ,yes1 darling4 ,all right1 said the child again1 and once more went on with her play4 ,and this is just the way we should feel towards ,jesus4 ,he has gone up-stairs1 to the right hand of ,god1 to attend to some things for us4 ,he has left us down in this lower room of this world to be occupied here for a while4 ,but to keep us from being worried by fear or care1 ,he speaks to us from ,his word1 as that mother spoke to her little ones4 ,he says to us1 ,fear not2 ,i am with thee4 ,i will never leave thee1 nor forsake thee4 ,the ,lord will provide4 ,and so we see how certain it is that ,god does provide relief in trouble for those who love and serve ,him4 ,,god ,,knows ,,the ,,bottom ,,of ,,the ,,barrel4 ,mother1 ,i think ,god always hears when we scrape the bottom of the barrel1 said a little boy to his mother one day4 ,his mother was poor4 ,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 from4 ,but they had so often been provided for in unexpected ways1 just when they were most in need1 that the little boy thought ,god always heard when they scraped the bottom of the barrel4 ,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 him1 ,jehovah-,jireh4 ,,god',s ,,care ,,for ,,little ,,children ,,in ,,little ,,wants4 ,i was early taught that ,god cares for ,his children1 even to regard their little daily wants4 ,an illustration of my implicit confidence1 which ,i do not remember ever to have been betrayed1 occurred when ,i was about ten years of age4 ,i was accustomed to give five cents each ,sabbath at the ,sunday ,school collection for foreign missions4 ,this money was not given me directly by my parents2 but ,i was allowed to go on an errand1 or to do some little piece of work for a neighbor and thus earn it1 outside of the performance of the duties that naturally fell to my lot at home4 ,at one time1 when ,i was attending school about a mile from home1 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 boy1 so that for some months ,i had no opportunity of earning anything4 ,one ,sabbath morning1 ,i dropped my last silver piece into the collection1 with a prayer--which ,i always offered at such a time--that ,god would bless it to the heathen1 that some one might be led to ,him by it4 ,i went home that day with a child's anxiety1 feeling that ,i could not bear the thought of giving nothing for the heathen on next ,sabbath1 and yet not seeing how ,i could possibly obtain it4 ,that night ,i asked my ,heavenly ,father to provide the money for me4 ,the anxiety was all gone2 for ,i felt that ,god would answer4 ,next morning1 when almost at the school-house1 ,i found a handkerchief in the road1 in the corner of which was securely tied a silver quarter and a silver dime4 ,instantly my thoughts flew to the next ,sabbath1 and to the prayer ,i had offered4 ,o1 yes6 ,i thought1 ,god has more than answered my prayer2 instead of giving me just enough for next ,sabbath1 ,he has given me enough1 for seven ,sabbaths4 ,then the thought came1 somebody lost it2 yes1 it was my duty to find the owner1 which ,i did not expect would be difficult1 although it was in town4 ,so ,i cheerfully gave it up1 thinking that 'the ,lord will provide' in some other way4 ,i took it directly to my teacher1 and asked her to find the owner4 ,she made faithful inquiry1 but no one was found to claim it4 ,who can question this being an answer to prayer1 when we think of the numerous chances against its occurring just as it did4 ,a ,,child',s ,,prayer ,,for ,,papa4 ,a drunkard1 who had run through his property1 returned one night to his unfurnished house4 ,he entered his empty hall4 ,anguish was gnawing at his heart-strings1 and language was inadequate to express his agony as he entered his wife's apartment1 and there beheld the victims of his appetite1 his loving wife and a darling child4 ,morose and sullen1 he seated himself without saying a word2 he could not speak2 he could not look up then4 ,the mother said to the little angel at her side1 ,come1 my child1 it is time to go to bed2 and that little baby1 as she was wont1 knelt by her mother's lap and gazing wistfully into the face of her suffering parent1 like a piece of chiseled statuary1 slowly repeated her nightly orison4 ,when she had finished1 the child 7but four years of age7 said to her mother1 ,dear ,mother1 may ,i not offer up one more prayer8 ,yes1 yes1 my sweet pet1 pray2 and she lifted up her tiny hands1 closed her eyes1 and prayed3 ,o ,god6 spare1 oh6 spare my dear papa6 ,that prayer was lifted with electric rapidity to the throne of ,god4 ,it was heard on high--it was heard on earth4 ,the responsive ,amen6 burst from the father's lips1 and his heart of stone became a heart of flesh4 ,wife and child were both clasped to his bosom1 and in penitence he said3 ,my child1 you have saved your father from the grave of a drunkard4 ,i'll sign the pledge6 ,a ,,little ,,quaker ,,boy',s ,,prayer ,,right ,,out ,,in ,,meeting4 ,a little ,quaker boy1 about six years old1 after sitting1 like the rest of the congregation1 in silence1 all being afraid to speak first1 as he thought1 got up on the seat1 and1 folding his arms over his breast1 murmured in a clear1 sweet voice1 just loud enough to be distinctly heard on the front seat1 ,i do wish the ,lord would make us all gooder1 and gooder1 and gooder1 till there is no bad left4 ,,what ,,the ,,little ,,children ,,may ,,do4 ,at family prayer1 little ,mary1 one evening when all was silent1 looked anxiously in the face of her back-sliding father1 who had ceased to pray in his family1 and said to him with quivering lips1 ,pa1 is ,god dead8 ,no1 my child--why do you ask that8 ,why1 ,pa1 you never talk to him now as you used to do1 she replied4 ,these words haunted the father until he was mercifully reclaimed4 ,,the ,,unbelieving ,,father ,,led ,,to ,,go ,,to ,,church4 ,an unbelieving father came home one evening and asked where his little girl was4 ,she has gone to bed1 said his wife4 ,i'll just go and give her one kiss1 said the father1 for he loved his little daughter dearly4 ,as he stood at the door of her bedroom1 he heard some one praying4 ,it was his little ,jane1 and he heard her say1 ,do1 ,god ,almighty1 please lead daddy to hear ,mr4 ,stowell preach4 ,she had often asked him to go1 and he had always said1 ,no1 no1 my child4 ,after listening to her prayer1 he determined1 the next time she asked him1 to accompany her1 which he did1 and heard a sermon which took his attention and pricked his conscience4 ,on leaving the church1 he clasped the hand of his little girl in his1 and said1 ,jane1 thy ,god shall be my ,god1 and thy minister shall be my minister4 ,and the man became a true follower of the ,lord4 ,a ,,child',s ,,prayer ,,for ,,relief ,an interesting little daughter of a professor in ,danville1 ,kentucky1 in the ,summer of #ahgf1 in eating a watermelon1 got one of the seeds lodged in her windpipe4 ,the effort was made to remove it1 but proved ineffectual1 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 surgeon4 ,to this she was decidedly opposed1 and pleaded with her mamma to tell her if there was no other way of relief4 ,finally1 in order to quiet her childish fears1 her ,christian mother told her to ask ,god to help her4 ,the little one went into an adjoining room and offered her prayer to ,god to help her4 ,shortly thereafter she came running to her mamma with the seed in her hand1 and her beautiful and intelligent face lighted up with joy4 ,in response to the eager inquiry of the mother1 the little one said that she had asked ,god to help her1 and while she was praying she was taken with a severe cough1 in which she threw up the seed4 ,,god',s ,,care ,,over ,,his ,,people--,,the ,,praying ,,widow ,a young widow with two children was living in the city of ,berlin4 ,she was a ,christian woman1 and trusted in ,jehovah-,jireh to take care of her4 ,one evening she had to be away for a while4 ,during her absence a man entered her house for the purpose of robbing her4 ,but the ,lord who provides protected her from this danger in a very singular way4 ,on returning to her home she found a note lying on her table1 which read as follows3 ,madam1 ,i came here with the intention of robbing you1 but the sight of this little room1 with the religious pictures hanging around in it1 and those two sweet-looking children quietly sleeping in their little bed1 have touched my heart4 ,i cannot take anything of yours4 ,the small amount of money lying on your desk ,i leave untouched1 and ,i take the liberty of adding fifty dollars besides4 ,the ,bible tells us that the hearts of men are in the hands of ,god4 and he turneth them as the rivers of waters are turned4 ,he turned the heart of this robber from his wicked purpose1 and in this way he protected the widow who trusted in him4 ,,god ,,saved ,a ,,family ,,mercifully4 ,one morning a ,christian farmer1 in ,rhode ,island1 put two bushels of rye in his wagon and started to the mill to get it ground4 ,on his way to the mill he had to drive over a bridge that had no railings to the sides of it4 ,when he reached the middle of this bridge his horse1 a quiet1 gentle creature1 began all at once to back4 ,in spite of all the farmer could do1 he kept on backing till the hinder wheels went over the side of the bridge1 and the bag of grain was tipped out and fell into the stream4 ,then the horse stood still4 ,some men came to help the farmer4 ,the wagon was lifted back and the bag of grain was fished up from the water4 ,of course it could not be taken to the mill in that state4 ,so the farmer had to take it home and dry it4 ,he had prayed that morning that ,god would protect and help him through the day1 and he wondered what this accident had happened for4 ,he found out1 however1 before long4 ,on spreading out the grain to dry he noticed a great many small pieces of glass mixed up with it4 ,if this had been ground up with the grain into the flour it would have caused the death of himself and his family4 ,but ,jehovah-,jireh was on that bridge4 ,he made the horse back and throw the grain into the water to save the family from the danger that threatened them4 ,a ,,child',s ,,faith ,,in ,,the ,,lord',s ,,prayer4 ,about the #cjth of ,july1 #ahfd1 the beautiful village of ,chambersburgh was invaded and pillaged by the ,confederate army4 ,a superintendent of a ,sabbath school1 formerly resident in the ,south1 but who had been obliged to flee to the ,north because of his known faithfulness to the national government1 was residing there1 knowing that if discovered by the ,confederate soldiers1 he would be in great peril of life1 property and every indignity1--in the gray dawn of that memorable day1 with his wife and two little girls1 again on foot1 he fled to the chain of mountains lying north-west of the doomed village4 ,after remaining out for some days and nights1 with no shelter but such as was afforded by the friendly boughs of large forest trees1 and without food1 they became nearly famished4 ,at last1 the head of the family1 unable to endure the agony of beholding his wife and children starving to death before his face1 and he not able to render the needed relief1 withdrew to a place by himself1 that he might not witness the sad death of his loved ones4 ,with his back against a large oak1 he had been seated only a short time1 when his eldest little daughter1 not quite ten years old1 came to him and exclaimed3 ,father1 father1 ,i have found such a precious text in my little ,testament1 which ,i brought to the mountain with me1 for very joy ,i could not stop to read it to mother1 but hastened to you with it4 ,please listen while ,i read4 ,to which he said3 ,yes1 my child1 read it4 ,there is comfort to be found in the ,scriptures4 ,we will not long be together on earth1 and there could be no better way of spending our last mortal hours4 ,to which she replied3 ,o1 father1 ,i believe that we will not die at this time2 that we will not be permitted to starve2 that ,god will surely send us relief2 but do let me read4 ,then opening her dear little volume1 at the ninth verse of the sixth chapter of ,matthew1 she read as follows3 ',our ,father1 which art in heaven1 hallowed be ,thy name2 ,thy kingdom come2 ,thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven2 give us this day our daily bread4' ,o1 father1 to think that our dear ,saviour ,himself taught ,his disciples to pray for their daily bread4 ,these are ,his own words4 ,it is not possible1 therefore1 that ,he will allow any person to starve1 who1 in ,his own appointed language1 asks ,him for food4 ,will ,he not1 dear father1 hear our prayers for bread8 ,at once and forever the scales fell from the eyes of that parent4 ,with tears streaming down his cheeks1 he clasped his child to his bosom1 and earnestly repeated the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,he had scarcely finished it when a small dog ran to where he and his daughter were upon their knees1 and barked so fiercely as to attract to the spot its owner1 a wealthy ,pennsylvania farmer1 who was upon the mountain in search of cattle that he had lost for several days4 ,the kind-hearted tiller of the soil immediately piloted the suffering family to his own comfortable home1 and properly provided for their wants4 ,a ,,child ,,preserved ,,from ,,wolves4 ,a little girl only nine years old1 named ,sutherland1 living at ,platteville1 ,col41 was recently saved from death by ferocious forest wolves as follows3 ,the child went with her father on a cold afternoon to the woods to find the cattle1 and was told to follow the calves home1 while the father continued his search for the cows4 ,she did so1 but the calves misled her1 and very soon she became conscious that she was lost4 ,night came on1 and with it the cold of ,november and the dreaded wolves4 ,with a strange calmness she continued on her uncertain way4 ,the next day1 ,sunday1 at #aj ,a4,m41 she reached1 in her wanderings1 the house of ,john ,beebe1 near a place called ,evans1 having traveled constantly eighteen hours1 and a distance of not less than twenty-five miles4 ,all night the wolves growled around her1 but harmed her not2 neither was she in the least frightened by them4 ,all know that in ordinary cases fierce packs of blood-thirsty wolves would devour a man1 and even a horse4 ,but this little one was invincible in her trusting1 simple faith4 ,the narrative states3 ,she said that the wolves kept close to her heels and snapped at her feet2 but her mother told her that if she was good the ,lord would always take care of her2 so she asked the ,lord to take care of her1 and she knew the wolves would not hurt her1 because ,god wouldn't let them6 ,the child was hunted for by a great number of people1 and being found was restored shortly to her parents in perfect health and soundness4 ,,jesus ,,cured ,,me4 ,in the family of a missionary pastor in ,kansas1 was a daughter of twelve years of age1 seriously afflicted with chronic rheumatism4 ,for three years she suffered1 until the leg was shrunken1 stiff at the knee1 shorter by some two inches than1 the other1 and the hip joint was being gradually drawn from its socket4 ,the child read of ,mrs4 ,miller's cure by prayer1 originally published in ,the ,advance1 and wondered why she could not also be cured by the same means4 ,she repeated to her mother some of the promised answers to prayer1 and asked3 ,don't ,jesus mean what he says1 and isn't it just as true now as then8 ,the mother endeavored to divert her attention by representing the affliction as a blessing4 ,the physician also called and left another prescription1 and encouraged the child to hope for benefit from it4 ,the child could not1 however1 be diverted from the thought that ,jesus could and would heal her4 ,after the doctor's departure she said3 ,mamma1 ,i cannot have that plaster put on4 ,why1 dear4 ,because1 mother1 ,jesus is going to cure me1 and he must have all the glory4 ,dr4 ---- doesn't believe in ,god2 if we put the plaster on1 he will say it was that which helped me2 and it must be all ,jesus4 ,so earnest was she1 that her mother at length placed the package1 just as she had received it1 on a shelf1 and said no more about it4 ,the little girl and her mother were alone that day1 the father being absent from home4 ,when the household duties were done she called her mother to her4 ,mother1 will you pray now to ,jesus to cure me8 ,i have got the faith2 ,i know he will if you will ask him4 ,the mother1 overcome1 yielded to her daughter's request1 and commenced praying4 ,she was blest with unusual consciousness of the presence of ,god1 and became insensible of all outward surroundings1 pleading for the child4 ,she remained in this state of intercession for more than an hour1 when she was aroused by her daughter1 who with her hand on the mother's shoulder was joyfully exclaiming1 ,mother1 dear mother1 wake up6 ,don't you see ,jesus has cured me8 ,o1 ,i am well6 ,i am all well6 and she danced about the room1 literally healed4 ,one week from that day1 the girl was seen by the writer in the ,advance1 who says she was out sliding on the ice with her companions4 ,from that day to this she has had no further trouble2 the limb is full1 round and perfect2 there is no difference between it and the other4 ,to every question asked she replies1 with the overflowing gratitude of a loving heart1 ,jesus cured me6 ,,the ,,little ,,boy ,,who ,,wanted ,,his ,,sister ,,to ,,read ,,the ,,bible4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,spurgeon1 of ,london1 tells of the excellent faith of a little boy in one of the schools of ,edinburgh1 who had attended a prayer-meeting1 and at the last said to his teacher who conducted it3 ,teacher1 ,i wish my sister could be got to read the ,bible2 she never reads it4 ,why1 ,johnny1 should your sister read the ,bible8 ,because if she once read it ,i am sure it would do her good1 and she would he converted and saved4 ,do you think so1 ,johnny8 ,yes1 ,i do1 sir2 and ,i wish the next time there was a prayer-meeting you would ask the people to pray for my sister1 that she may begin to read the ,bible4 ,well1 well1 it shall be done1 ,john4 ,so the teacher gave out that a little boy was anxious that prayer should be offered that his sister might read the ,bible4 ,john was observed to get up and go out4 ,the teacher thought it very rude of the boy to disturb the people in a crowded room1 and so the next day1 when the lad came1 he said3 ,john1 ,i thought it very rude of you to get up in the prayer-meeting and go out4 ,you ought not to have done so4 ,o1 sir1 said the boy1 ,i did not mean to be rude2 but ,i thought ,i should like to go home and see my sister reading her ,bible for the first time4 ,true to his faith1 when he reached his home1 he found the little girl reading her ,bible4 ,,nettie',s ,,daily ,,bread4 ,a little girl in a wretched attic1 whose sick mother had no bread1 knelt down by the bedside1 and said slowly3 ,give us this day our daily bread4 ,then she went into the street and began to wonder where ,god kept his bread4 ,she turned around the corner and saw a large1 well-filled baker's shop4 ,this1 thought ,nettie1 is the place4 ,so she entered confidently1 and said to the big baker1 ,i've come for it4 ,come for what8 ,my daily bread1 she said1 pointing to the tempting loaves4 ,i'll take two1 if you please--one for mother and one for me4 ,all right1 said the baker1 putting them into a bag1 and giving them to his little customer1 who started at once into the street4 ,stop1 you little rogue6 he said1 roughly2 where is your money8 ,i haven't any1 she said simply4 ,haven't any6 he repeated1 angrily2 you little thief1 what brought you here1 then8 ,the hard words frightened the little girl1 who1 bursting into tears1 said3 ,mother is sick1 and ,i am so hungry4 ,in my prayers ,i said1 ',give us this day our daily bread1' and then ,i thought ,god meant me to fetch it1 and so ,i came4 ,the rough1 but kind-hearted baker was softened by the child's simple tale1 and instead of chiding her or visiting threats of punishment1 as is usually the case1 he said3 ,you poor1 dear girl2 here1 take this to your mother1 and he filled a large basketful and gave it to her4 ,,the ,,brother',s ,,prayer4 ,a physician1 who for many years practiced his profession in the ,state of ,california1 was called once to see the child of ,mr4 ,doak1 of ,calveras ,county1 living on the road between ,san ,andreas and ,stockton1 and not far from the mining town of ,campo ,seco1 or ,dry ,camp4 ,he says3 ,the patient was a little girl about ten years of age1 bright and intelligent and one of twins1 the other being a boy1 equally bright and well-disposed4 ,the primary symptoms had indicated inflammation of the stomach1 which the attending physician had hopelessly combated1 and finally1 when by metastasis it attacked the brain1 with other unfavorable symptoms1 he was inclined to abandon the case in despair4 ,it was at this juncture ,i was called in4 ,the symptoms were exceedingly unfavorable1 and my own opinion coincided with my professional brother's4 ,however1 we determined to go to work4 ,a day and night of incessant watching1 and the state of the patient caused us both to feel the case hopeless1 and we only continued our attendance at the earnest solicitation of the child's mother4 ,the anxious1 care-worn and restless sorrow of the little brother1 his deep grief as he saw his sister given over to the power of the ,king of ,terrors1 had attracted our attention4 ,he would creep up to the bedside of his sister silently1 with pale and tearful face1 controlling his emotion with great effort1 and then steal away again and weep bitterly4 ,with a vague1 indefinite idea of comforting the little fellow1 ,i took him to my knee1 and was about to utter some platitude1 when the little fellow1 looking me in the face1 his own the very picture of grief1 burst out with-- ,oh1 ,doctor1 must sister die8 ,yes1 ,i replied1 but1-- ,before ,i could go farther he again interrupted me3 ,oh1 ,doctor1 is there nothing1 nothing that will save her8 ,can nobody1 nobody save my sister8 ,for an instant the teachings of a tender and pious mother flashed over my mind4 ,they had been long neglected1 were almost forgotten4 ,california1 in those days1 was not well calculated to fasten more deeply on the mind home teachings4 ,there were very few whose religious training survived the ordeal1 and for a long time ,i had hardly thought of prayer4 ,but the question brought out with the vividness of a flash of lightning1 and as suddenly1 all that had been obscured by my course of life1 and1 hardly knowing what ,i did1 ,i spoke to him of the power that might reside in prayer4 ,i said1 ,god had promised to answer prayer4 ,i dared not allow the skeptical doubt1 that came to my own mind1 meet the ear of that innocent boy1 and told him1 more as my mother had often told me than with any thought of impressing a serious subject on his mind1 ,that the prayers of little boys1 even1 ,god would hear4 ,i left that night with some simple directions1 that were given more to satisfy the mother than from having the slightest hope of eventual recovery1 promising to return next day4 ,in the morning1 as ,i rode to the door1 the little boy was playing round with a bright and cheerful countenance1 and looked so happy that involuntarily ,i asked3 ,is your sister better8 ,oh1 no1 ,doctor1 he replied1 but she is going to get well4 ,how do you know1 ,i asked4 ,because ,i prayed to ,god said he1 and he told me she would4 ,how did he tell you8 ,the little fellow looked at me for an instant1 and reverently placing his hand on the region of his heart1 said3 ,he told me in my heart4 ,going to the room where my patient was lying1 ,i found no change whatever1 but in spite of my own convictions there had sprung up a hope within me4 ,the medical gentleman with whom ,i was in consultation came to the room1 and as he did1 a thought of a very simple remedy ,i had seen used by an old negro woman1 in a very dissimilar case1 occurred to my mind4 ,it became so persistently present that ,i mentioned it to my brother practitioner4 ,he looked surprised1 but merely remarked4 ,it can do no harm4 ,i applied it4 ,in two hours we both felt the case was out of danger4 ,the second day after that1 as we rode from the house1 my friend asked me how ,i came to think1 of so simple a remedy4 ,i think it was that boy's prayer1 ,i replied4 ,why1 ,doctor6 you are not so superstitious as to connect that boy's prayers with his sister's recovery1 said he4 ,yes1 ,i do1 ,i replied2 for the life of me ,i cannot help thinking his prayers were more powerful than our remedies4 ,,light ,,given ,,to ,a ,,blind ,,child4 ,a missionary visiting one of the mission schools of ,brooklyn1 was introduced to a remarkable child4 ,he was brought into the school from the highways and hedges1 and young as he was1 he had been taught of ,god4 ,one day he was playing with powder1 and putting his mouth to the match to blow it1 it exploded1 and the whole charge went into his face and eyes4 ,he became totally blind1 and the physician gave but little hope of recovery4 ,but the little sufferer was patient and calm1 and even hopeful2 sitting through the dark days meditating on what he had learned at the mission ,sabbath-school1 and repeating passages of ,scripture and many a beautiful hymn4 ,one evening after the physician had spoken discouragingly1 and his parents1 as he perceived1 were in deep distress1 he was absorbed on his knees in a corner of the room in earnest prayer4 ,his voice1 though subdued almost to a whisper1 was indicative of intense feeling4 ,his parents inquired what he had been praying so earnestly for4 ,why1 said he1 that ,jesus ,christ would open my eyes4 ,the doctor says he can't1 and so ,i thought ,i would ask the ,savior to do it for me4 ,god honored his faith4 ,in a few days his sight came to him2 and the prayer was answered4 ,he can now see clearly4 ,,asking ,,the ,,lord ,,to ,,help ,,him ,,in ,,his ,,lessons4 ,a little boy was at school1 he was diligent1 and determined to succeed1 but found that parsing was rather hard4 ,one day he went to his mamma for a little help in analyzing some sentences4 ,she told him the proper manner of doing it1 and he followed her directions2 but he was much troubled that he could not understand the whys and wherefores himself4 ,his mamma told him it was rather hard for him then1 but that after he had studied a little longer1 it would be quite easy4 ,johnnie went into another room to study alone1 but after a little came back1 his face perfectly radiant with joy4 ,he said3 ',o mamma1 ,i want to begin again4 ,i asked ,jesus to help me1 and now ,i think ,i see just how it is4 ,he always helps us when we ask him2' and with unspeakable delight he with his mamma went over his lesson again4 ,,give ,,us ,,this ,,day ,,our ,,daily ,,bread4 ,the ,american ,messenger tells the story of ,johnny ,hall1 a poor boy4 ,his mother worked hard for their daily bread4 ',please give me something to eat2 ,i am very hungry1' he said one evening4 ,his mother let the work upon which she was sewing fall from her knee1 and drew ,johnny toward her4 ,her tears fell fast as she said3 ',mamma is very poor1 and cannot give you any supper to-night4' ',never mind1 mamma2 ,i shall soon be asleep1 and then ,i sha'n't feel hungry4 ,but you will sit and sew1 and be so hungry and cold4 ,poor mamma1' he said1 and kissed her many times to comfort her4 ',now1 ,johnny1 you may say your prayers2' for dearly as his mother loved him1 she could ill afford to lose a moment from her work4 ,he repeated ',our ,father' with her until they came to the petition1 ',give us this day our daily bread4' ,the earnestness1 almost agony1 with which the mother uttered these words1 impressed ,johnny strongly4 ,he said them over again3 ',give us this day our daily bread4' ,then opening his blue eyes1 he fixed them on his mother1 and said3 ',we shall never be hungry any more4 ,god is our ,father1 and he will hear us4' ,the prayer was finished and ,johnny laid to rest4 ,the mother sewed with renewed energy4 ,her heart was sustained by the simple faith of her child4 ,many were the gracious promises which came to her remembrance4 ,although tired and hungry1 still it was with a light heart she sank to rest4 ,early in the morning a gentleman called on his way to business4 ,he wished ,johnny's mother to come to his home to take charge of his two motherless boys4 ,she immediately accepted the offer4 ,they were thus provided with all the comforts of a good home4 ,johnny is a man now1 but he has never forgotten the time when he prayed so earnestly for his daily bread4 ,god will hear prayer is his firm belief4 ,in many ways has he had the faith of his childhood confirmed4 ,he looks to ,god as his ,father with the same trust now as then4 ,,god ,,will ,,take ,,care ,,of ,,me4 ,when the yellow fever raged in ,new ,orleans1 the pestilence visited a ,christian household1 and the father died4 ,then the mother was suddenly seized1 and knowing that she must die1 she gathered the four children around her bed1 the oldest being only about ten years of age1 and said to them that ,god was about to take her home to heaven4 ,she urged them to have no fears1 and assured them that the kind1 heavenly ,father who had so long provided for them would surely come and take care of them4 ,the children1 with almost breaking hearts1 believed what the dying mother had told them4 ,she was buried4 ,the three youngest soon followed her1 although they received every necessary attention from friends during their sickness4 ,the oldest1 a boy1 was also seized by the pestilence1 and in an unguarded moment1 under the influence of delirium1 wandered from his sick-bed out into the suburbs of the city1 and lying down in the tall grass by the roadside1 looked steadfastly up1 murmuring1 incoherently at times1 ',mother said ,god would come and take care of me--would come and take care of me6' ,a gentleman happening to pass at the time1 and hearing the unusual sounds1 went where the lad was lying1 and rousing him1 asked him what he was doing there4 ,said the little fellow in reply3 ',father died2 mother died2 little brother and sisters died4 ,but just before mother went away into heaven1 she told us to have no fear1 for ,god would come and take care of us1 and ,i am now waiting for him to come down and take me4 ,i know he will come1 for mother said so1 and she always told us the truth4' ',well1' said the gentleman1 whose kindliest sympathies were stirred by the little fellow's sad condition and his implicit confidence in his sainted mother's pious instructions1 ',god has sent me1 my son1 to take care of you4' ,so he had him carried to his home1 and kindly nursed and cared for by his own family4 ,he recovered1 and to-day is one of the most useful ,christian young men in the far ,west1 where he has fixed his home4 ,,laura ,,healed4 ,a ,christian teacher1 connected with a ,southern ,orphan ,asylum1 writes ,the ,christian1 that often when the children were sick1 and most of them came to me more or less diseased1 ,i cried to the ,lord for help1 and ,he who 'bore our infirmities1 and carried our sicknesses1' healed them4 ,oh it is so good to trust in the ,lord6 ,how much better to rely on ,him 'in whom we live1 and move1 and have our being1' than to put confidence in man1 even in the most skillful physician4 ,to confirm and strengthen the faith of the doubting1 ,i send you the following account of the healing of one of our orphans4 ,laura was one of a large orphan family1 living on ,port ,royal ,island1 ,s4,c4 ,when her mother died1 she went to live with a colored woman who made her work very hard1 'tote' wood and water1 hoe cotton and corn1 do all manner of drudgery1 rise at daybreak1 and live on scanty food4 ,laura suffered from want1 exposure and abuse4 ,the freed-women of the plantation looked with pity into her eyes1 and desired her to run away4 ,but she replied1 ',aunt ,dora will run after me1 and when she done cotch me1 she'll stripe me well with the lash2 she done tell so already4' ,one morning1 however1 when ,laura went to the creek for crabs1 a good aunty followed her1 and throwing a shawl over the poor child's rags1 said1 ',now1 ,laura1 put foot for ,beaufort fast as ever you can1 and when you get there1 inquire where ,mrs4 ,mather lives3 go straight to her2 she has a good home for jes sich poor creeters as you be4' ,laura obeyed1 hastened to ,beaufort1 seven miles distant1 found my home1 was made welcome1 and her miserable rags exchanged for good clean clothes4 ,in the morning1 ,i said1 ',laura1 did you sleep well last night8' ,she replied1 ',o1 missis1 my heart too full of joy to sleep4 ,me lay awake all night1 thinking how happy me is in dis nice1 clean bed1 all to myself4 ,me never sleep in a bed before1 missis4' ,laura1 then about thirteen years old1 came to me with a hard cough1 and pain in her side4 ,i put on flannels1 gave her a generous diet1 and hoped1 that with rest and cheerful surroundings1 she would soon rally as other children had1 who came to me in a similar broken-down condition4 ,still the cough and pain continued4 ,i dosed her with various restoratives1 such as flax-seed1 and slippery elm1 etc41 but all were of no avail4 ,she steadily grew worse4 ,every week ,i could see she declined4 ,her appetite failed2 night sweats came on2 and she was so weak that most of the day she lay in bed4 ,the children1 all of whom loved ,laura1 she was so patient and gentle1 whispered one to another1 ',laura is gwine to die2 dere is def in her eye4 ,one evening in mid-winter1 the poor child's short breath1 fluttering pulse1 and cold1 clammy sweat alarmed me1 and ,i felt sure that unless the dear ,lord interposed in her behalf1 her time with us was very short4 ,i lingered by her bed till near midnight in prayer for her recovery4 ,i could not give her up4 ,again in my own room ,i poured out my soul in prayer for the child1 and then slept4 ,about two o'clock1 ,i suddenly awoke1 and heard what seemed a voice saying to me1 ',go to ,laura2 ,i can heal her now2 the conditions are right2 you are both calm and trustful4' ,i arose quickly1 hastened to her room and said to her1 ',laura1 do you want to get well8' ',o1 yes1 missis1 me wants to get well4' ',do you believe ,jesus can cure you8' ,she replied1 ',i know he can if he will4' ',well1 ,laura1' ,i said1 ',jesus has just waked me out of a sound sleep1 and told me to go and tell you that he will cure you now4 ,do you believe he will1 ,laura8' ',yes1 missis1 me do believe1' she replied earnestly4 ,she then repeated this prayer4 ',o1 ,jesus1 do please to make me well2 let me live a long time1 and be a good and useful woman4' ,the burden had rolled off my heart2 ,i returned to my room and slept sweetly4 ,in the morning1 ,tamar1 ,laura's attendant1 met me at the door1 exclaiming joyfully1 ',o1 ,i'se so glad6 ,laura is a heap better1 ,missis4 ,she wake me up long time before day and begged me to get her something to eat1 she so hungry4' ,from that night ,laura rapidly recovered4 ,her cough abated1 her appetite was restored1 her night sweats ceased1 and in less than a month she was strong and well4 ,a ,,little ,,slave',s ,,faith4 ,a missionary in ,india1 passing one day through the school room1 observed a little boy engaged in prayer1 and overheard him say1 ,o1 ,lord ,jesus1 ,i thank thee for sending big ship into my country and wicked men to steal me and bring me here1 that ,i might hear about ,thee and love ,thee4 ,and now1 ,lord ,jesus1 ,i have one great favor to ask ,thee4 ,please to send wicked men with another big ship1 and let them catch my father and my mother1 and bring them to this country1 that they may hear the missionaries preach and love ,thee4 ,the missionary in a few days after saw him standing on the sea-shore1 looking very intently as the ships came in4 ,what are you looking at1 ,tom8 ,i am looking to see if ,jesus ,christ answers prayer4 ,for two years he was to be seen day after day watching the arrival of every ship4 ,one day1 as the missionary was viewing him1 he observed him capering about and exhibiting the liveliest joy4 ,well1 ,tom1 what gives you so much joy8 ,o1 ,jesus ,christ answer prayer4 ,father and mother come in that ship1 which was actually the case4 ,a ,,good ,,reason ,,for ,,praying4 ,a little girl about four years of age being asked1 ,why do you pray to ,god8 replied3 ,because ,i know ,he hears me1 and ,i love to pray to ,him4 ,but how do you know ,he hears you8 ,putting her little hand to her heart1 she said1 ,i know ,he does1 because there is something here that tells me so4 ,,my ,,heart ,,talked4 ,a child six years old1 in a ,sunday school1 said3 ,when we kneel down in the school-room to pray1 it seems as if my heart talked4 ,,why1 ,,sir1 ,i ,,begged4 ,a little boy1 one of the ,sunday school children in ,jamaica1 called upon the missionary and stated that he had lately been very ill1 and in his sickness often wished his minister had been present to pray with him4 ,but1 ,thomas1 said the missionary1 ,i hope you prayed4 ,oh1 yes1 sir4 ,did you repeat the collect ,i taught you8 ,i prayed4 ,well1 but how did you pray8 ,why1 sir1 ,i begged4 ,a ,,little ,,child',s ,,prayer ,,for ,,healing4 ,a very little child1 who had but recently learned to talk1 and the daughter of a ,home missionary1 had been for weeks troubled with a severe cough1 which was very severe in its weakness upon her4 ,at last her father said to her1 ,daughter1 ask ,jesus1 the good ,lord1 to heal you4 ,putting up her little hands as she lay in bed1 she said1 ,dear ,jesus1 will oo please to cure me1 and do please tell papa what to give me4 ,the father1 who was listening1 thought several times of syrup of ipecac but did not connect it immediately with the prayer4 ,at last the thought came so often before him1 that he felt1 ,well1 it will do no harm1 perhaps this is what the ,lord wants me to give her4 ,he procured it1 administered it1 and in three hours the little child's cough had wholly ceased1 and she was playing on the floor with the other children4 ,a most singular feature is the fact that the same medicine was administered at other times and had no effect in relief4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,blessedness ,,of ,,giving ,blessed is he that considereth the poor2 the ,lord will deliver him in time of trouble4 ,honor the ,lord with thy substance1 and with the first fruits of all thine increase1 so shalt thy barns be filled with plenty4 ,there is that scattereth and yet increaseth2 and there is that withholdeth more than is meet1 but it lendeth to poverty4 ,the liberal soul shall be made fat1 and he that watereth shall be watered also himself4 ,he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the ,lord2 and that which he hath given will ,he pay him again4 ,whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor1 he also shall cry himself1 but shall not be heard4 ,he that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed1 for he giveth of his bread to the poor4 ,he that putteth his trust in the ,lord shall be made fat4 ,he that giveth unto the poor shall not lack2 but he that hideth his eye shall have many a curse4 ,cast thy bread upon the waters1 for thou shall find it after many days4 ,if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry1 and satisfy the afflicted soul1 the ,lord shall guide thee continually1 and satisfy thy soul in drought1 and make fat thy bones4 ,and thou shall be like a watered garden1 and like a spring of water1 whose waters fail not4 ,he which soweth bountifully1 shall reap also bountifully4 ,every man according as he purposeth in his heart1 so let him give2 not grudgingly1 nor of necessity1 for ,,god ,,loveth ,a ,,cheerful ,,giver4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,blesses ,,those ,,who ,,give ,,liberally ,,to ,,his ,,cause4 ,a disciple of the ,lord ,jesus1 poor in this world's goods1 but rich in faith1 became greatly perplexed in regard to the meaning of the forty-second verse of the fifth chapter of ,matthew4 ,the words are3 ,give to him that asketh thee2 and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away4 ,after a season of prolonged mental inquiry1 as to whether the language was to be regarded as literal or not1 she suddenly paused and exclaimed3 ,it is easy enough to find out2 test it and see4 ,it was ,saturday4 ,her money1 all but two dollars1 had been expended in providing for the ,sabbath4 ,the amount left1 which was absolutely needed for the following ,monday1 she put in her pocket1 and went out4 ,on the street1 a friend1 whose husband had been for some time out of business1 met her and stated their distresses1 and asked if she could lend them two dollars to last over the ,sabbath4 ,she was surprised4 ,the test had come sooner than she expected1 but1 without hesitation1 the money was lent to the ,lord1 and the now penniless believer went home to wait and see4 ,now mark the result4 ,monday came1 and with it the needs to be supplied4 ,while pondering what course to pursue1 a knock was heard1 and1 on opening the door1 a lady1 with a bundle in her hand1 inquired if she could do a little work for her4 ,replying in the affirmative1 and naming the price1 the lady took from her pocket-book two dollars1 and handed it to her1 saying3 ,it is more than you ask1 but you might as well have it4 ,i was never more astonished1 said this true disciple1 and literally shouted for joy4 ,i had tested and proved that the promises of ,god are yea and amen in ,christ ,jesus4 ,glory to ,god4 ,i have never doubted since2 and though often in straits1 ,i have always been delivered4 ,would it not be well for ,christians to test where they cannot understand8 ,ye are my friends1 said the blessed ,lord1 if ye do whatsoever ,i command you4 ,obedience will solve difficulties that reasoning cannot unravel4 ,try and see4 ,,dividing ,,with ,,god4 ,a merchant1 in answer to inquiries1 refers back to a period when1 he says1 ,in consecrating my life anew to ,god1 aware of the ensnaring influences of riches1 and the necessity of deciding on a plan of charity before wealth should bias my judgment1 ,i adopted the following system3 ,i decided to balance my accounts as nearly as ,i could1 every month2 and reserving such a portion of profits as might appear adequate to cover probable losses1 to lay aside1 by entry on a benevolent account1 one-tenth of the remaining profits1 great or small1 as a fund for benevolent expenditure1 supporting myself and family on the remaining nine-tenths4 ,i further determined1 that when at any time my net profits1 that is1 profits from which clerk-hire and store expenses had been deducted1 should exceed #ejj in a month1 ,i would give twelve and a half per cent42 if over #gjj1 fifteen per cent42 if over #ijj1 seventeen and a half per cent42 if over #a1ajj1 twenty per cent42 if over #a1cjj1 twenty-two and a half per cent42 thus increasing the proportion of the whole as ,god should prosper1 until at #a1ejj1 ,i should give twenty-five per cent41 or #cge a month4 ,as capital was of the utmost importance to my success in business1 ,i decided not to increase the foregoing scale until ,i had acquired a certain capital1 after which ,i would give one-quarter of all net profits1 great or small2 and on the acquisition of another certain amount of capital1 ,i decided to give half2 and on acquiring what ,i determined would be a full sufficiency of capital1 then to give the whole of my net profits4 ,it is now several years since ,i adopted this plan1 and under it ,i have acquired a handsome capital1 and have been prospered beyond my most sanguine expectations4 ,although constantly giving1 ,i have never yet touched the bottom of my fund1 and have been repeatedly astonished to find what large drafts it would bear4 ,true1 during some months ,i have encountered a salutary trial of faith1 when this rule has led me to lay by the tenth1 while the remainder proved inadequate to my support2 but the tide has soon turned1 and with gratitude ,i have recognized a heavenly hand more than making good all past deficiencies4 ,,prosperity ,,and ,,liberality4 ,a ,london correspondent of the ,western ,christian ,advocate1 writing some years ago of raising a fund for the extinction of debts on chapels1 gives the following incident3 ,a gentleman named ,wilkes1 who was promised a subscription of one thousand guineas to this fund1 has a history so remarkable as to be worth relating across the ,atlantic4 ,seven years ago he was a journeyman mechanic4 ,having invented and patented some kind of a crank or spindle used in the cotton manufacture1 and needing capital to start himself in the business of making them1 he made it a matter of earnest prayer that he might be directed to some one able and willing to assist him4 ,in a singular and unexpected manner he fell in with an elderly ,quaker1 a perfect stranger1 who accosted him with the strange inquiry3 ',friend1 ,i should like to know if a little money would be of any service to thee4' ,having satisfied himself as to ,wilkes' genius and honesty1 the ,quaker at once advanced him the required amount4 ,the praying mechanic started in business on his own account1 and everything he has touched of late appeared to prosper4 ,hearing of a field in ,ireland offered for sale1 in which was a deserted mine1 he went over to see it2 bought the field for a small sum1 recommenced working the mine1 and it now turns out to yield abundance of excellent copper4 ,for the year #aheb1 he promised to give the ,missionary ,society a guinea a day2 but such abundance has poured in upon him during the year1 that he felt that to be below his duty1 and has1 therefore1 enlarged his subscription for the present year seven-fold4 ,he is actually giving to that noble cause seven guineas daily1 or upwards of #aj1ejj a year1 during this year1 #ahec2 in addition to which he has just given one thousand guineas to the fund above referred to4 ,it is pleasing to add1 says the writer1 that this remarkable man retains the utmost simplicity4 ,would that liberality and prosperity might ever go hand in hand4 ,often1 as wealth increases liberality is starved out1 and the rich give far less than the poor in proportion to their means and ability4 ,,the ,,deacon',s ,,singing ,,school4 ,i am going out to see if ,i can start a singing school1 said a good man1 as he stood buttoning up his overcoat1 and muffling up his ears1 one bitterly cold ,winter night4 ,a singing school1 said his wife1 how will you do that8 ,i have heard of a widow around the corner a block or two who is in suffering circumstances4 ,she has five little children1 and two of them down sick1 and has neither fire nor food4 ,so ,bennie ,hope1 the office boy tells me4 ,i thought ,i would just step around and look into the case4 ,go1 by all means1 said his wife1 and lose no time4 ,if they are in such need we can give some relief4 ,but ,i cannot see what all this has to do with starting a singing school4 ,but never mind1 you need not stop to tell me now2 go quickly and do all you can for the poor woman4 ,so out into the piercing cold of the wintry night went the husband1 while the wife turned to the fireside and her sleeping babes1 who1 in their warm cribs1 with the glow of health upon their cheeks1 showed that they knew nothing of cold or pinching want4 ,with a thankful spirit she thought of her blessings1 as she sat down to her little pile of mending4 ,very busily and quietly she worked1 puzzling all the time over what her husband could have meant by starting a singing school4 ,a singing school and the widow--how queer6 ,what possible connection could they have8 ,at last she grew tired of the puzzling thought1 and said to herself1 ,i won't bother myself thinking about it any more4 ,he will tell me all about it when he comes home4 ,i only hope we may be able to help the poor widow and make her 'poor heart sing for joy4' ,there1 she exclaimed1 can that be what he meant8 ,the widow's heart singing for joy6 ,wouldn't that be a singing school8 ,it must be2 it is just like ,john4 ,how funny that ,i should find it out6 and she laughed merrily at her lucky guess4 ,taking up her work again1 she stitched away with a happy smile on her face1 as she thought over again her husband's words1 and followed him in imagination in his kind ministrations4 ,by-and-by two shining tears dropped down1 tears of pure joy1 drawn from the deep wells of her love for her husband1 of whom she thought she never felt so fond before4 ,at the first sound of footsteps she sprang to open the door4 ,oh1 ,john6 did you start the singing school8 ,i reckon ,i did1 said the husband1 as soon as he could loose his wrappings2 but ,i want you to hunt up some flannels and things to help to keep it up4 ,oh1 yes6 ,i will2 ,i know now what you mean4 ,i have thought it all out4 ,making the widow's 'heart sing for joy' is your singing school4 7,job4 xxix3#ac47 ,what a precious work1 ,john6 ',pure religion and undefiled is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction4' ,my own heart has been singing for joy all the evening because of your work1 and ,i do not mean to let you do it alone4 ,i want to draw out some of this wonderful music4 ,,it ,,pays ,,to ,,give ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,a clergyman states1 that soon after he dedicated himself to the service of ,christ1 he resolved1 as ,jacob did1 ',of all that thou shalt give me1 ,i will surely give a tenth unto thee4' ,of the first #ejj he earned1 he gave #acj1 and in such a way that it incited a wealthy friend to give several hundreds more1 including a donation of #ajj to this clergyman himself4 ,for four years1 the clergyman says1 ',my expenses were small1 my habits economical1 and the only luxury in which ,i indulged was the luxury of giving4 ,in the two first of these years ,i was permitted to give #ejj4' ',on a review of my ministry of about sixteen years1' he adds1 ',i find ,god has graciously permitted me to give to the cause of my ,redeemer nearly #a1bjj1 by which amount about forty life memberships have been created in various evangelical societies4 ,during all these years ,god has prospered me2 has given me almost uninterrupted health2 has surrounded me with sweet domestic ties2 and my congregation1 by means in part perhaps of a steady example1 have given more in these sixteen years than in all their long previous history4 ,,another ,,example ,,of ,,beneficence4 ,a liberal donor1 in enclosing #ajj to a sister institution1 but strictly withholding his name1 says1 ',when ,i began business1 it was with the intention and hope to become rich4 ,a year afterward ,i became1 as ,i trust1 a ,christian1 and about the same time met with ',cobb's ,resolutions1' which ,i adopted4 ,some four or five years later1 ,i read ',normand ,smith's ,memoir1' and also ,wesley's ',sermon on the use of ,money1' which led me to devote all my gains to benevolent uses1 reserving to myself #e1jjj while ,i remained unmarried1 part of which ,i have bequeathed to relatives1 and the remainder to benevolent societies4 ,up to this time--about sixteen years--by the grace of ,god--nothing else--,i have given about #bd1ejj to benevolent purposes1 and lent about #ejj to those in need1 which has not been returned2 making in all about #be1jjj4 ,,commendable ,,examples4 ,the ,methodist ,missionary ,society mention one of their donors who1 for twenty years1 has used the power given him of getting wealth1 for his ,lord1 in which time he has been enabled to appropriate to benevolent purposes more than thirty thousand dollars1 while operating with a capital of but five thousand dollars4 ,another business man of that denomination in ,boston1 during fifteen years1 has appropriated thirty-nine thousand dollars4 ,,system ,,in ,,giving4 ,a correspondent of the ,american ,tract ,society says1 ,it was their publications which induced me to appropriate statedly one-tenth of my income to the cause of the ,lord4 ,after acting upon that scale nearly two years1 and finding that although my donations greatly exceeded those of former years1 my affairs were not thereby involved in any embarrassment2 but that1 on the contrary1 with increasing contributions to the leading objects of ,christian benevolence and to general charity1 came an increased store and enlarging resources1 ,i concluded1 with a heart throbbing with grateful emotions to my ,creator1 in view of his great love and kindness toward me1 that ,i would increase the proportion4 ,,lending ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,a poor man1 some of whose family were sick1 lived near ,deacon ,murray1 7referred to in the tract1 ',worth of a ,dollar1'7 and occasionally called at his house for a supply of milk4 ,one morning he came while the family were at breakfast4 ,mrs4 ,murray rose to wait upon him1 but the deacon said to her1 ',wait till after breakfast4' ,she did so1 and meanwhile the deacon made some inquiries of the man about his family and circumstances4 ,after family worship the deacon invited him to go out to the barn with him4 ,when they got into the yard1 the deacon1 pointing to one of the cows1 exclaimed1 ',there1 take that cow1 and drive her home4' ,the man thanked him heartily for the cow1 and started for home2 but the deacon was observed to stand in the attitude of deep thought until the man had gone some rods4 ,he then looked up1 and called out1 ',hey1 bring that cow back4' ,the man looked around1 and the deacon added1 ',let that cow come back1 and you come back too4' ,he did so2 and when he came into the yard again1 the deacon said1 ',there1 now1 take your pick out of the cows2 ,i a'n't going to lend to the ,lord the poorest cow ,i've got4' ,a ,,steward ,,of ,,his ,,lord',s ,,bounty4 ,an aged benevolent friend in a western city1 states some interesting facts respecting his own experience in giving systematically as the ,lord prospered him4 ,he says1 ,our country and professors of religion in it have become 'rich and increased in goods1' but ,i fear that a due proportion is not returned to the ,giver of every good4 ,i commenced business in #ahji with #fjj1 and united with the ',northern ,missionary ,society ,no4 #b1' which met monthly for prayer1 and required the payment of two dollars a year from each member4 ,that year ,i married1 and the next united with the ,christian church4 ,no definite system of giving 'as the ,lord had prospered' me1 was fully made until the close of the year #ahda4 ,the previous fourteen years had been assiduously devoted to the interests of ,sabbath-schools and the temperance enterprise1 when ,i found both my physical and pecuniary energies diminished1 the latter being less than #cj1jjj4 ,after days and nights of close examination into my affairs1 with meditation and prayer1 ,i promised the ,lord of all1 ,i would try at the close of every year to see what was the value of my property1 and the one-quarter of the increase ,i would return to him in such way as my judgment1 aided by his word and providence1 might direct4 ,for more than fifteen years ,i have lived up to this resolve1 and though most of the time ,i have been unable to attend to active business1 the investments ,i have made have more than quadrupled the value of my property1 and in that time enabled me to return to ,him 'from whom all blessings flow1' #aa1gci4fa4 ,,the ,,five-,,dollar ,,gold ,,piece4 ',a friend1' says a venerable clergyman1 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,h----1 'at a time when gold was scarce1 made me a present of a five-dollar gold piece4 ,i resolved not to spend it1 and for a long time carried it in my pocket as a token of friendship4 ,in riding about the country1 ,i one day fell in with an acquaintance1 who presented a subscription-book for the erection of a church in a destitute place4 ',i can do nothing for you1 ,mr4 ,b----1' said ,i2 'my heart is in this good undertaking1 but my pocket is entirely empty2 having no money1 you must excuse me4' ',oh1 certainly1' said he2 'all right1 sir4 ,we know you always give when it is in your power4' ,we parted2 and after ,i had proceeded some distance1 ,i bethought me of the piece of gold in my vest pocket4 ',what1' said ,i to myself1 ',i told that man ,i had no money1 when ,i had by me all the time this gold pocket-piece4 ,this was an untruth1 and ,i have done wrong4' ,i kept reproaching myself in this way until ,i stopped1 and took from my pocket the five-dollar piece4 ',of what use1' said ,i1 'is this piece of money1 stowed away so nicely in my pocket8' ,i made up my mind to turn back1 and rode as fast as ,i could until ,i overtook ,mr4 ,b----1 to whom ,i gave the coin1 and resumed my journey4 ,a few days after1 ,i stopped at the house of a lady1 who treated me very hospitably1 for which ,i could make no return1 except in thanks and ,christian counsel4 ,when ,i took leave1 she slipped into my vest pocket a little folded paper1 which she told me to give to my wife4 ,i supposed it was some trifle for the children1 and thought no more of it until ,i reached home4 ,i handed it to my wife1 who opened it1 and to my astonishment it was a five-dollar gold piece1 the identical pocket-piece ,i had parted with but a few days before4 ,i knew it was the same1 for ,i had made a mark upon it2 how this had been brought about was a mystery1 but that the hand of the ,lord was in it ,i could not doubt4 ',see1' said ,i to my wife2 ',i thought ,i gave that money1 but ,i only lent it2 how soon has the ,lord returned it6 ,never again will ,i doubt his word4' ,i afterward learned that ,mr4 ,b---- had paid over the coin to the husband of the lady at whose house ,i staid1 along with some other money1 in payment for lumber1 and he had given it to his wife4 ,take my advice1 and when appealed to for aid1 fear not to give of your poverty2 depend upon it the ,lord will not let you lose by it1 if you wish to do good4 ,if you wish to prosper1 ',give1 and it shall be given unto you2 for with the same measure that ye mete1 it shall be measured to you again4' ',trust in the ,lord1 and do good2 so shalt thou dwell in the land1 and verily thou shalt be fed4' ,a ,,new ,,year',s ,,incident4 ,one ,new ,year's day ,i was going out to visit some of my poorer neighbors1 and thought ,i would take a sovereign to a certain widow who had seen days of competence and comfort4 ,i went to look in my drawer1 and was so sorry to find ,i had but one sovereign left in my bank for the poor1 and my allowance would not be due for two or three weeks4 ,i had nearly closed the drawer upon the solitary sovereign1 when this passage of ,scripture flashed so vividly into my mind1 ',the ,lord is able to give thee much more than this1' 7#b ,chron4 xxv3 #i47 that ,i again opened the drawer1 took the money1 and entered the carriage which was waiting for me4 ,when ,i arrived at ,mrs4 ,a4's1 and with many good wishes for the ,new ,year1 offered her the sovereign1 ,i shall never forget her face of surprised joy4 ,the tears ran down her cheeks while she took my hands and said1 ',may the ,god of the widow and fatherless bless you2 we had not one penny in the house1 nor a morsel of bread2 it is he who has heard my prayers1 and sent you again and again to supply my need4' ,you who pray for and visit the poor1 and enjoy the blessedness of relieving their temporal wants and of speaking to them of ,jesus1 you will understand the gladness of heart with which ,i returned home4 ,in the country we had only one post daily2 so when evening came on1 and it was nearly ten o'clock1 ,i was not a little surprised at receiving a letter4 ,when ,i opened it1 how my heart beat for joy when ,i read these words from a comparative stranger3 ',you will have many poor just now to claim your pity and your help1 may ,i beg you to dispense the enclosed five pounds as you see fit8 and ,i have ordered a box of soap to be sent to you for the same purpose4' ,these boxes of soap are worth four pounds4 ,thus did our gracious ,god send nine times as much as ,i gave for his sake1 before that day had closed4 ,,feneberg',s ,,loan ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,a poor man with an empty purse came one day to ,michael ,feneberg1 the godly pastor of ,seeg1 in ,bavaria1 and begged three crowns1 that he might finish his journey4 ,it was all the money ,feneberg had1 but as he besought him so earnestly in the name of ,jesus1 in the name of ,jesus he gave it4 ,immediately after1 he found himself in great outward need1 and seeing no way of relief he prayed1 saying1 ',lord1 ,i lent ,thee three crowns2 ,thou hast not yet returned them1 and ,thou knowest how ,i need them4 ,lord1 ,i pray ,thee1 give them back4' ,the same day a messenger brought a money-letter1 which ,gossner1 his assistant1 reached over to ,feneberg1 saying1 ',here1 father1 is what you expended4' ,the letter contained two hundred thalers1 or about one hundred and fifty dollars1 which the poor traveler had begged from a rich man for the vicar2 and the childlike old man1 in joyful amazement1 cried out1 ',ah1 dear ,lord1 one dare ask nothing of ,thee1 for straightway ,thou makest one feel so much ashamed6' ,,compound ,,interest4 ,the ,christian tells of a minister in ,ohio1 who in #ahfj was engaged to statedly supply a congregation who were in arrears for a whole year's salary to their former pastor1 and were only able to promise their 'supply' five dollars a ,sunday till the old debt should be paid4 ,at the close of the year1 only about two-thirds of this amount had been paid4 ,so it was not strange that their 'supply' soon found himself in arrears for many things4 ,that year the cost of his periodicals alone had amounted to sixteen dollars4 ,this he could not pay1 and as none of them could be stopped without payment of arrearages2 the debt must continue to increase4 ,on ,new ,year's day the minister was called to marry a couple1 and gave the fee1 five dollars1 to his wife saying1 ,i want you to get yourself a dress with this4 ,there was a kind of material much worn then1 which she had very much admired1 a dress of which would cost four dollars4 ,so she went to the ,mission periodical to find the address of the ,mission ,secretary1 thinking to send the extra dollar there4 ,but as she glanced over its pages and noticed the trials and straits of the missionaries1 and the embarrassment of the ,board that year1 her heart was touched and she felt that they needed the money more than she did the dress1 and instead of the one she concluded to send the five dollars4 ,she went to her husband and read her letter to him4 ,o1 said he1 ,i'm afraid we are too poor to give so much4 ,with a little feeling of disappointment she said1 ,well1 give me the change and ,i will send what ,i had intended at first4 ,no1 said he1 you have given it1 and ,i dare not take it back4 ,and so with a prayer that ,god would accept and bless the gift she signed her letter1 ,a ,friend of ,missions1 thinking1 as no one would know the author1 that was the last she would hear about it in this world4 ,the ladies of that congregation were accustomed to meet weekly at the parsonage to sew for those in need4 ,the next week a lady who was visiting in the place came with her friends1 and as she entered the parlor she tossed a bundle into the lap of the minister's wife1 saying1 ,mrs4 ----1 here is a present for you4 ,the present was a dress pattern of the same kind of material she had intended to purchase4 ,and as she thought to herself1 ,god has given me this in place of what ,i have given1 she was reminded of the words1 ,give1 and it shall be given to you4 ,but that was not the end4 ,a short time afterwards she received a letter from the ,secretary of the ,board of ,missions1 enclosing a printed copy of her own letter1 and asking if she were the author of it2 and added1 ,if so1 a large-hearted man in ,new ,york has authorized me to send you twenty-five dollars1 with a special request that you purchase a dress worth five dollars1 and give the rest to your husband and children4 ,there was her five dollars back1 with four times as much more added to it4 ,,the ,,brown ,,towel4 ,the editor of ,the ,christian ,woman tells the story of a poor woman who1 in her anxiety to give to the ,lord1 could find nothing but a poor brown towel4 ,they must be very poor who have nothing to give1 said ,mrs4 ,jarvis1 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 poor4 ,and now1 ladies1 as you are nearly through1 ,i would like to tell you an incident in my history2 ,i was once very poor4 ,you once very poor8 said a lady4 ,yes2 ,i was once very poor4 ,there came to our village a missionary to deliver a lecture4 ,i felt very desirous to go2 but having no decent apparel to wear1 ,i was often deprived of going to church1 although ,i was a member4 ,i waited until it was late1 and then slipped in and took a seat behind the door4 ,i listened with streaming eyes to the missionary's account of the destitution and darkness in heathen lands4 ,poor as ,i was1 ,i felt it to be a great privilege to live in a ,christian land and to be able to read my ,bible4 ,it was proposed by our pastor that the congregation should fill a box and send it out with the missionary on his return4 ,o1 thought ,i1 how ,i would like to send something4 ,when ,i returned home my poor children were still sleeping soundly1 and my disconsolate husband waiting my return1 for he had been out of employment some time4 ,after he had gone to bed ,i went to looking over my clothes1 but ,i could find nothing that was suitable that ,i could possibly spare2 then ,i began looking over the children's things1 but could find nothing that the poor dears could be deprived of2 so ,i went to bed with a heavy heart1 and lay a long time thinking of the destitution of the poor heathen1 and how much better off ,i was4 ,i got to thinking over my little stock again4 ,there was nothing ,i could put into the box except two brown towels4 ,next day ,i got my towels1 pieced out the best one1 and when it was almost dark1 put on my bonnet1 went to the church1 slipped my towel into the box1 and came away thinking that the ,lord knew ,i had done what ,i could4 ,and now1 ladies1 let me tell you it was not long after that till my husband got into a good situation2 and prosperity has followed us ever since4 ,so ,i date back my prosperity to this incident of the brown towel4 ,her story was done1 and1 as her carriage was waiting at the door1 she took her departure1 leaving us all mute with surprise that one so rich and generous had been trained to give amid poverty4 ,,giving ,,blessed4 ,a merchant of ,st4 ,petersburg1 at his own cost1 supported several native missionaries in ,india1 and gave liberally to the cause of ,christ at home4 ,on being asked how he could afford to do it1 he replied3 ,before my conversion1 when ,i served the world and self1 ,i did it on a grand scale1 and at the most lavish expense4 ,and when ,god by his grace called me out of darkness1 ,i resolved that ,christ and his cause should have more than ,i had ever spent for the world4 ,and as to giving so much1 it is ,god who enables me to do it2 for1 at my conversion1 ,i solemnly promised that ,i would give to his cause a fixed proportion of all that my business brought in to me2 and every year since ,i made that promise1 it has brought me in about double what it did the year before1 so that ,i easily can1 as ,i do1 double my gifts for his service4 ,and so good old ,john ,bunyan tells us1 ,a man there was1 some called him mad1 ,the more he gave1 the more he had4 ,and there are truth and instruction in the inscription on the ,italian tombstone1 ,what ,i gave away1 ,i saved2 what ,i spent1 ,i used2 what ,i kept1 ,i lost4 ,giving to the ,lord1 says another1 is but transporting our goods to a higher floor4 ,and1 says ,dr4 ,barrow1 ,in defiance of all the torture and malice and might of the world1 the liberal man will ever be rich2 for ,god's providence is his estate2 ,god's wisdom and power1 his defense2 ,god's love and favor1 his reward2 and ,god's word1 his security4 ,richard ,baxter says1 ,i never prospered more in my small estate than when ,i gave most4 ,my rule has been1 first1 to contrive to need1 myself1 as little as may be1 to lay out none on need-nots1 but to live frugally on a little2 second1 to serve ,god in any place1 upon that competency which he allowed me3 to myself1 that what ,i had myself might be as good a work for common good1 as that which ,i gave to others2 and third1 to do all the good ,i could with all the rest1 preferring the3 most public and durable object1 and the nearest4 ,and the more ,i have practiced this1 the more ,i have had to do it with2 and when ,i gave almost all1 more came in1 ,i scarce knew how1 at least unexpected4 ,but when by improvidence ,i have cast myself into necessities of using more upon myself or upon things in themselves of less importance1 ,i have prospered much less than when ,i did otherwise4 ,and when ,i had contented myself to devote a stock ,i had gotten to charitable uses after my death1 instead of laying it out at present1 in all probability1 that is like to be lost2 whereas1 when ,i took the present opportunity1 and trusted ,god for the time to come1 ,i wanted nothing and lost nothing4 ,these are a few of many evidences1 that where we give from right motives1 we are never the poorer1 but the richer for doing it4 ,the liberal soul shall be made fat1 and he that watereth1 shall be watered also1 himself4 ,,lending ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,as a series of religious meetings was held in a ,baptist church in ----1 and the hearts of ,god's people were greatly encouraged1 the church was consumed by fire4 ,it was proposed to continue the meetings in the ,congregational church1 but the workmen were coming the next morning to demolish and rebuild it4 ,it was then proposed to hire the workmen to delay1 that the people might assemble for three days more1 but nothing was done2 when the ,congregational pastor walking his study1 and thinking that some souls might be gathered in1 went to the workmen1 and handed them #aj from his own pocket1 which he could ill afford2 the meetings were continued1 and a number of souls hopefully converted to ,god4 ,the day following1 as he passed the house1 the man to whom he paid the #aj called to him1 and constrained him to receive back the whole amount1 saying it was of no value compared with the saving of a soul4 ,,the ,,liberal ,,farmer4 ,a farmer in one of the retired mountain towns of ,massachusetts1 began business in #ahah1 with six hundred dollars in debt4 ,he began with the determination to pay the debt in six years1 in equal installments1 and to give all his net income if any remained above those installments4 ,the income of the first year1 however1 was expended in purchasing stock and other necessaries for his farm4 ,in the six next years he paid off the debt1 and having abandoned the intention of ever being any richer1 he has ever since given his entire income1 after supporting his family and thoroughly educating his six children4 ,during all this period he has lived with the strictest economy1 and everything pertaining to his house1 table1 dress and equipage has been in the most simple style2 and though he has twice been a member of the ,state ,senate1 he conscientiously retains this simplicity in his mode of life4 ,the farm is rocky and remote from the village1 and his whole property1 real and personal1 would not exceed in value three thousand dollars4 ,yet sometimes he has been enabled to give from #bjj to #cjj a year4 ,,experience ,,of ,a ,,saddler4 ,normand ,smith1 a saddler of ,hartford1 ,conn41 after practicing for years an elevated system of benevolence1 bequeathed in charity the sum of #cj1jjj4 ,an anonymous writer says of himself1 that he commenced business and prosecuted it in the usual way till he lost #ijj1 which was all he was worth1 and found himself in debt #a1ajj4 ,being led by his trials to take ,god's word as his guide in business as well as in heart and religion1 he determined to give his earnings liberally unto the ,lord4 ,the first year he gave #ab4 ,for eighteen years the amount increased by about #be per cent41 and the last year he gave #hej1 and he says he did it easier than during the first year he paid the #ab4 ,besides1 though with nothing but his hands to depend on when he began this course1 he paid the whole debt of #a1ajj with interest1 though it took him nine years to do it4 ,,jacob ,,not ,,blessed ,,until ,,he ,,became ,a ,,liberal ,,giver4 ,jacob went out from his father's house with his staff1 a poor man4 ,but at ,bethel he vowed to give to ,god the tenth of all that ,god should bestow on him4 ,commencing thus1 ,god blessed him1 and in twenty years he returned with great riches4 ,,the ,,lord',s ,,insurance ,,money4 ,a tradesman in ,new ,york had pledged to give to the ,lord a certain portion of his business receipts as fast as they were collected4 ,he called this ,the ,lord's insurance money1 for1 said he1 so long as ,i give so long will the ,lord help me and bless me1 and in some way he will give me the means to give1 so it is no money lost4 ,rather it is a blessing to my heart to keep it open in gratitude1 a blessing to dispose of it to gladden other hearts1 and the surest way to keep the ,lord's favor with me4 ,the results of his experience were blessed indeed1 as he said1 ,i never realized before how closely the ,lord is connected with all my interests1 and how he helps me in all my business plans4 ,things happen constantly which show me constantly that some one who knows more than ,i is benefiting me--protecting me4 ,bad debts have been paid which ,i did not expect4 ,errand boys1 just getting into sly and bad habits1 have been discovered ere their thefts had proceeded far4 ,as ,i needed competent help in my business1 it has come just as it was wanted4 ,when customers were failing1 somehow their debts to me were paid1 although they failed to pay others4 ,a severe fire came to my office and apparently seemed to have swept all my valuables away4 ,but it was stopped at just the right moment1 and not one thing valuable was lost4 ,the insurance companies paid me enough to replace every damage1 and the office was renewed better than before4 ,the ,lord sends me business enough to pay for my debts1 yet others are dull4 ,i cannot tell why it is1 except that ,i always pray for my business1 and ask the ,lord to bless it for the good of others1 and that the means which come from it may be used for his cause4 ,when ,i stop giving1 business stops coming4 ,when ,i stop praying specially for it1 perplexities arise4 ,as long as ,i pray for it1 it all moves easily1 and ,i have no care or trouble4 ,the ,lord is my ,banker1 my ,helper1 my ,insurer1 my ,deliverer1 my ,patron1 and my ,blessed ,savior of temporal things as well as spiritual4 ,,give ,,and ,,it ,,shall ,,be ,,given4 ',cheerful giving1' writes an aged minister1 'is what enriches the giver and brings down a blessing from above4 ,a poor clergyman attended one of ,zion's festivals in a distant city4 ,the railroad company supplied him with a return ticket1 and though many of his brethren would secure treasures from the book-stores1 but a solitary twenty-five cent scrip was in his possession1 and he would need that to pay for refreshment on his way home4 ,it was the last day of the feast4 ,mention1 again and again1 was made of the widow's mite1 or poor men's gifts1 and1 as the boxes were passed1 he felt sad that1 in his deep poverty1 he could not cast in a single penny4 ,as the assembly was dismissed1 it was announced that collectors would stand at the door to gather up the fragments which ought to be in the ,lord's treasury4 ,with slow steps this good man passed down and put that last money he possessed into the waiting box4 ,in a few moments1 a gentleman of the city invited him to his1 table to dine1 with quite a number of the dignitaries of the church4 ,during the repast1 the host was called from the table for a little time4 ,at the conclusion of a pleasant entertainment1 the poor minister was taken one side and an envelope put into his hands1 with this remark3 ',i was called from the table by a man who has long owed me a small debt1 which ,i thought was lost a long time since1 and ,i cannot think what it was paid to-day for1 except that ,i might give it to you4' ,the envelope contained twenty-five dollars4 ,when the books are opened1 that rich steward will see how his money was used1 and thank ,god1 who put it into his heart to dispose of it thus4 ,,lending ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,a physician who is not a professor of religion1 in a neighboring city1 has for many years exhibited an unshaken faith in that declaration4 ,he told me that he has made many experiments on it1 and the ,lord has fulfilled his words1 ',that which he hath given will ,he pay him again1' in every case4 ,one of his 'experiments' came under my observation4 ,it was a bleak and chilling day in the ,winter of #ahdg-h4 ,the doctor was going his rounds and met a poor colored boy in the street4 ,he was nearly frozen to death4 ,he accosted the doctor1 and asked him most piteously for a little money1 stating1 at the same time1 that his master1 an old ,quaker1 had excluded him from the house1 and compelled him to remain in the barn2 he could stand it no longer1 and desired to go home--twenty miles up the river4 ,the doctor now had the materials for another test of the promise4 ',you shall not suffer if ,i can help you1' was his cheering reply to the boy4 ,he requested him to call at his office1 and went to a neighboring hotel and told the landlord to keep the boy until farther orders4 ,late in the evening the boy again appeared at the office1 and stated that the landlord had said1 ',we don't keep darkies over night4' ,the doctor immediately started out in search of new quarters1 and1 after some difficulty1 found a colored woman who was willing to keep the boy for a few days4 ,in a short time the river1 which had been closed with ice1 was open4 ,the doctor paid the bills1 gave the boy a dollar1 and bade him ,god speed4 ,that is what he calls lending to the ,lord4 ,now for the payment4 ,when he called at the house of the colored person to pay the bill1 he 'accidentally' met an old lady1 who scrutinized him closely1 and at length said1 ',a'n't you ,doctor ,b----8' ',yes1' was the reply2 'but who are you8' ',no matter about my name2 ,i owe you four dollars1 which you have long since forgotten1 and which ,i did not intend to pay you till ,i saw what you have done to that poor boy4 ,the ,lord bless you for your kindness4 ,next week you shall have your money4' ,she came according to her promise and offered the money1 but the doctor was unwilling to take it1 as he had no charge on his books4 ,she forced it on him4 ,he afterwards simply remarked1 ',my meeting that woman was not a mere accident2 the ,lord always fulfills his promise4 ,i generally get my capital back1 with compound interest4' ,,the ,,praying ,,shoe-,,maker4 ,a shoe-maker being asked how he contrived to give so much1 replied that it was easily done by obeying ,st4 ,paul's precept in ,i ,cor4 #af3 #b3 ,upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store1 as ,god hath prospered him4 ,i earn1 said he1 one day with another1 about a dollar a day1 and ,i can without inconvenience to myself or family lay by five cents of this sum for charitable purposes2 the amount is thirty cents a week4 ,my wife takes in sewing and washing1 and earns something like two dollars a week1 and she lays by ten cents of that4 ,my children each of them earn a shilling or two1 and are glad to contribute their penny2 so that altogether we lay by us in store forty cents a week4 ,and if we have been unusually prospered1 we contribute something more4 ,the weekly amount is deposited every ,sunday morning in a box kept for that purpose1 and reserved for future use4 ,thus1 by these small earnings1 we have learned that it is more blessed to give than to receive4 ,the yearly amount saved in this way is about twenty-five dollars2 and ,i distribute this among the various benevolent societies1 according to the best of my judgment4 ,,the ,,history ,,and ,,business ,,successes ,,of ,,liberal ,,givers4 ,mr4 ,nathaniel ,r4 ,cobb1 a merchant connected with the ,baptist church in ,boston1 in #ahba1 at the age of twenty-three1 drew up and subscribed the following covenant1 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 #dj1jjj4 ,by the grace of ,god1 ,i will never be worth more than #ej1jjj4 ,by the grace of ,god1 ,i will give one fourth of the net profits of my business to charitable and religious uses4 ,if ,i am ever worth #bj1jjj1 ,i will give one-half of my net profits2 and if ,i am ever worth #cj1jjj1 ,i will give three-fourths2 and the whole1 after #ej1jjj4 ,so help me ,god1 or give to a more faithful steward1 and set me aside4 ,n4,r4 ,,cobb4 ,,faith ,,in ,,god',s ,,liberality4 ,a clergyman1 himself an exponent of ,god's bountiful dealings with men1 was called upon in test of his own principles of giving to the ,lord4 ,preaching1 in the morning1 a sermon on ,foreign ,missions1 an unusually large contribution was taken up4 ,in the afternoon1 he listened to another sermon1 by a brother1 on ,home ,missions1 and the subject became so important that he was led closely to agitate the question how much he should himself give to the cause4 ,i was1 indeed1 in a great strait between charity and necessity4 ,i felt desirous to contribute2 but1 there ,i was1 on a journey1 and ,i had given so much in the morning that ,i really feared ,i had no more money than would bear my expenses4 ,the collection was taken2 ,i gave my last dollar1 and trusted in the ,lord to provide4 ,i proceeded on my journey1 stopping to see a friend for whom ,i had collected forty dollars4 ,i was now one hundred and forty miles from home1 and how my expenses were to be met1 ,i could not imagine4 ,but1 judge my surprise1 when1 on presenting the money to my friend1 he took a hundred dollars1 and1 adding it to the forty1 placed the whole of it in my hand1 saying he would make me a present of it4 ,gratitude and joy swelled my bosom2 my mind at once remembered my sacrifice of the day before1 and now ,i had realized the literal fulfillment of the promise1 ',give1 and it shall be given unto you2 good measure1 pressed down and running over1 shall men give into your bosom4' ,,he ,,gave ,,his ,,last #e ,,to ,,the ,,lord4 ,a missionary agent thus relates this incident in the life of a poor physician3 ,i preached a missionary sermon in the town of -----1 and a physician subscribed and paid five dollars4 ,a gentleman standing by told me that the five dollars was all he had1 or was worth2 that he had lost his property and paid up his debts1 and moved into town to commence practicing1 with no other resources than that five-dollar bill4 ,he and his wife were obliged to board out1 as he was not able to keep house4 ,i resolved1 at once1 that ,i would keep watch of that man1 and see what the ,lord would do with him4 ,about a year after this interview1 ,i visited the place again1 and found the physician keeping house in good style4 ,during the ,summer1 while the cholera raged in the country1 by a series of events1 guided1 as he believes1 by the providence of ,god1 most of the practice was thrown into his hands1 and he had taken more than #b1ejj4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,believe ,,nothing ,,of ,,your ,,god ,,but ,,what ,,is ,,most ,,noble ,,and ,,generous4--,,pres4 ,,edwards4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,more ,,things ,,are ,,wrought ,,by ,,prayer ,,than ,,the ,,world ,,dreams ,,of4--,,tennyson4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,prayers ,,answered ,,in ,,business ,,and ,,social ,,anxieties4 ,,help ,,in ,,paying ,a ,,mortgage4 ,a business man in ,new ,york had several large amounts due for payment4 ,an unprecedented series of calls from tradesmen wishing their bills paid sooner than customary1 drained his means1 and he was satisfied from the situation that his means would not be sufficient to pay them all4 ,his business receipts1 at this juncture1 fell to one-half what they had usually been4 ,a loan was due at the bank2 a mortgage on his property1 as well as large notes4 ,he could do no more than ask the ,lord constantly in prayer1 to either send supplies of business1 or open ways of relief4 ,committing his cares all to the ,lord1 he endeavored to throw off his burden and with diligence in trade do what was possible for protection4 ,he was greatly surprised when the bank loan fell due to learn that a trifling payment would be acceptable1 and the rest extended at his convenience4 ,this was remarkable1 as the security had depreciated somewhat1 and the loan had been then extended longer than usual4 ,the holder of the mortgage did not call as usual for his interest4 ,in great surprise the tradesman dropped a note1 saying he would meet his demand1 but if not all the mortgage was needed1 its extension would benefit the use of the capital in his business4 ,to his surprise1 he received a reply that the mortgage would be extended one-half until the next interest day1 and the rest might be paid now if it could be spared4 ,this was just the money which the tradesman could spare1 and was intending to propose1 but refrained from mentioning it4 ,a sudden opportunity in business arose which enabled him to see how to use the rest of the money he had on hand1 as capital1 whereby he could clear within three months the remainder of the mortgage before it became due4 ,thus the ,lord in answer to prayer1 relieved his necessities1 eased his creditors1 gave him knowledge and intelligence of profitable ways of trade1 and helped him freely according to his faith4 ,thus business needs prayer1 as well as the interests of the home1 the church and the soul4 ,when the means derived in business is used to bless the ,lord's poor1 ,the ,lord will deliver him in time of trouble4 ,a ,,remarkable ,,prayer ,,and ,,its ,,answer4 ,a lady1 who had led for many years a life of faith1 caring for orphans and invalids1 was led one day in thought to wish that she might devote all her money to the work of the ,lord1 and use it specially for one branch of his service which few had ever entered4 ,she possessed only a thousand dollars2 and not knowing whether the thought was her own and therefore rash1 or whether it came from the ,lord1 she asked the ,lord in prayer1 that if the thought was from ,him it might be continually before me2 if it were not1 that ,i might cease to think of the matter4 ,it was kept before me as a privilege1 to help me realize a greater personal nearness to ,god as my ,father4 ,it was a very important matter1 and fearing a mistake1 ,i requested a sign4 ,i asked ,god1 if he wished me to give the money1 7which we held at ,his disposal17 that ,he would send me one dollar1 7no more1 no less17 from some individual with whom ,i had no acquaintance4 ,about three weeks after my request1 ,i attended a prayer-meeting1 where about a dozen ladies were gathered4 ,after the meeting1 an elderly lady ,i had never seen before1 put something in my hand saying1 ',you will not be offended1 dear1 will you8' ,when ,i looked at the money1 ,i found that it was just one dollar1 my token4 ,i exclaimed1 mentally1 dear ,lord1 do not let me ever doubt thee again4 ,i afterwards asked the lady why she gave me the dollar4 ,she said1 ',before ,i went to the prayer-meeting1 ,i felt that ,i ought to take a dollar with me1 and when ,i saw you1 ,i felt that you were the one ,i should give it to4' ,nearly five years have passed since then1 when ,i gave all1 and my purse has never been empty4 ,i have been constantly occupied in work of love1 and my ,father has sweetly cared for me in every respect4 ,this lady in her faith work has had under her constant care as many as twenty-two helpless invalids1 of utter poverty1 yet prayer has always brought them needed supplies1 and the ,lord has kept them4 ,,recovery ,,from ,,insanity4 ,a most remarkable case of recovery from insanity is given by ,president ,william ,m4 ,brooks1 of ,tabor ,college1 ,iowa4 ,a young lady of my acquaintance1 of a finished education1 lost her reason in the ,winter of #ahga-b1 and in ,august1 #ahgb1 was placed in the institution for the insane1 at ,mt4 ,pleasant1 ,ia4 ,no encouragement was given of her recovery1 and a year later1 when her father visited her1 in ,june1 #ahgc1 she appeared so badly1 that he said it would be a relief to know that she was dead4 ,soon after1 ,mrs4 ,h41 the wife of a ,baptist minister1 who had long known and loved her1 being shut up for days in a dark room1 because of inflamed eyes1 felt drawn out in special prayer in her behalf1 and finally sent for the father and told him of her exercises1 and of the assurance gained that his daughter would be fully restored4 ,in a few days1 came news of a sudden change for the better1 and in a little over two months she returned home well1 and is now teaching with all her powers in full vigor4 ,the acting superintendent of the hospital1 who is not a professed ,christian1 and who knew nothing of the prayers referred to1 said that when the change occurred there was not a case among the five hundred inmates of which he had less hope1 and that it was the most remarkable case of recovery which he had known during the eight years of his connection with the hospital4 ,,seeking ,,direction ,,in ,,business4 ,a lady clerk employed in an apparently successful business was offered an opportunity in a new business1 which1 though much smaller and less successful than the first1 yet had rich promise in it for the future4 ,the salary promised was the same in either case4 ,in doubt1 she often waited upon the ,lord1 and asked to be guided1--a whisper in her heart kept saying1 ,go1 ,go4 ,constant praying kept it growing stronger and stronger1--at last she decided to go1 feeling it was the decision of the ,lord4 ,she accepted the new position1 was pleased1 and often declared she never desired to return4 ,the old business in less than three years decreased so that half of the employees were discharged2 the rest had their salaries reduced4 ,the new business doubled in its extent1 and her salary was increased one-fifth4 ,,seeking ,,guidance ,,of ,,the ,,lord4 ,a school teacher1 without family or a special home1 in ,new ,york ,city1 asked the ,lord for direction in finding a home1 and prayed often that the way might be made so plain1 she might acknowledge ,his hand1 and understand ,his direction4 ,soon it transpired1 in taking lunch at a restaurant kept by a man and his wife1 that they advised her to choose a certain family hotel4 ,she did so1 and found in time more friends and acquaintances1 and a pleasanter home than she ever possessed before4 ,she also gained new scholars to her school4 ,sufficient to pay for her living4 ,was she not fully answered8 ,they that seek the ,lord shall not want any good thing4 ,,saved ,,from ,,cholera4 ,the ,rev4 ,j4,b4 ,waterbury relates several incidents which prove the power of ,prayer4 ,in the year #ahcb he was compelled by pulmonary symptoms1 to leave his field of ministerial labor in one of the eastern cities1 and travel south1 hoping that a milder climate might be favorable4 ,he had not proceeded far1 before the cholera1 that fearful scourge1 made its appearance in the ,states1 and obliged him to rejoin his family in the city of ,brooklyn4 ,whilst many were dying around him1 his health continued to improve2 so that with the disappearance of the epidemic he found himself sufficiently restored to venture1 if ,providence should open the door1 to resume his ministerial work4 ,but where should he go8 ,the future1 to human view1 was shrouded in uncertainty4 ,in so important a matter1 affecting his usefulness and happiness1 there was nothing left1 but to give himself to prayer4 ,his faith in that promise1 ',in all thy ways acknowledge ,him1 and ,he will direct thy ,paths1' led him to pray without ceasing1 ',lord1 what wilt thou have me to do4' ,on a certain day1 when the burden lay heavily upon his heart1 he retired as usual1 to implore light and guidance4 ,he read on that occasion1 the chapter of ,acts where1 by divine direction1 ,cornelius the ,centurion sent messengers to ,peter at ,joppa1 to come to him with the ,gospel4 ,the apostle1 meanwhile2 is instructed by a vision to go to ,cornelius4 ,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 path4 ,while thus praying the door-bell rang1 and the servant announced two men who wished to see me4 ,this was somewhat startling4 ,after introducing themselves1 they remarked that they had come on a very important errand1 viz3 to ask my services for a vacant church in which they were officers4 ,but how is this1 ,i inquired1 ,how did you know of me8 ,they did not until that very day4 ,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 pulpit1 now vacant for some months4 ,dr4 ,b41 the ,secretary1 answered1 ,yes1 ,i know a young minister in ,brooklyn1 whom ,i can recommend1 provided his health1 which has been delicate1 is adequate4 ,so the messenger came inadvertently over to ,b----1 and ,i was called from my knees to receive their invitation4 ,i promptly responded1 ,yes1 ,i will go8 for what was ,i that ,i could withstand ,god4 ,a successful and happy ministry of fourteen years1 attests the good results of that decision4 ,,the ,,aid ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,,in ,,business ,,and ,,social ,,prosperity4 ,,the ,,wonderful ,,deliverance ,,of ,,daniel ,,loest4 ,john ,daniel ,loest1 a celebrated ,german tradesman of ,berlin1 ,germany1 was1 by the aid of the ,lord1 so prospered in his worldly circumstances1 that by steady industry1 he raised himself to rank with the most respectable tradesmen of ,berlin1 where he kept a well-frequented fringe and trimming shop4 ,he was always benevolent1 willing to help others1 and both fervent in spirit and constant in prayer1 asking the help of the ,lord in the minutest details of his business4 ,yet there once occurred in his experience a season of severest trial1 which demanded his utmost trust and unflinching confidence in ,god4 ,he seemed almost forsaken1 and circumstances almost impossible to overcome4 ,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 needed4 ,by means of acquaintances of high social character1 whom he fully trusted as good ,christians1 never supposing there could be any degree of hypocrisy1 he became security for a ,christian lady of good property to the amount of six hundred thalers4 ,the attorney assured him that there was not a shadow of a risk in going security for her1 as her property would be more than ample to cover any claim4 ,months elapsed1 and the circumstance forgotten1 when ,mr4 ,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 security1 under the penalty of execution4 ,he now discovered that he had been designedly mystified1 and there was no escape4 ,the six hundred thalers must be paid before the next ,tuesday4 ,he had just accepted a bill for three hundred thalers1 to be paid for on the ensuing ,saturday4 ,and in his first thoughts of his perplexity1 he hoped to get out of his dilemma by hurrying to a rich friend to obtain a loan4 ,on his way to his friend's home1 he stumbled on another acquaintance who had lent him four hundred thalers on a mere note of hand1 and he saluted him with the news that he must try for repayment of that sum on the following ,friday1 as he required it to pay for a parcel of goods which would arrive that day4 ,you shall have it1 said ,loest1 as he hurried on to his friend4 ,the friend was at home1 but before ,loest could speak his errand1 he is addressed thus3 ,it is lucky you came1 my friend1 for ,i was just going to send for you1 to request you to make provision to pay me back the five hundred thalers you owe me1 for ,i must needs have it on ,wednesday to pay off a mortgage on my house1 which has just been called up4 ,you shall have it1 replied ,loest1 calmly1 yet his heart became heavier every moment4 ,suddenly it occurred to him that the widow of a friend just dead was possessed of large means1 and she might be inclined to help him4 ,but alas1 disappointment thickened fast upon him4 ,loest owed the deceased friend five hundred thalers for note1 and three hundred thalers for goods just delivered4 ,as he entered the room of the widow1 she handed him an order from the court of trustees1 under which he was bound to pay up the five hundred thalers on ,thursday1 and1 continued the lady1 before the poor man had time to utter a word1 ,i would earnestly entreat you to pay the other three hundred thalers early on ,saturday to me1 for there are accounts constantly pouring in on me1 and the funeral expenses1 here her voice faltered4 ,it shall be cared for1 said ,loest1 and he withdrew1 not having had opportunity to utter one word as to the business that took him thither4 ,he had failed at every turn2 not one thing was for him1 all seemed against him4 ,but though the waves surged1 and rose1 and oppressed1 yet they did not overwhelm his hope2 the more the discouragements1 the greater became his faith that all things were appointed for his good1 and thought he could not guess1 yet even the trial would result by ,god's own working hand1 to the honor and glory of his great name4 ,yet here was his situation4 ,six hundred thalers to be paid on ,tuesday1 five hundred on ,wednesday1 five hundred on ,thursday1 four hundred on ,friday1 three hundred ,saturday morning1 and three hundred on ,saturday afternoon2 in all1 two thousand six hundred thalers4 ,it was already the ,saturday just previous1 and his purse contained only four thalers4 ,there was only one prospect left1 and he went to a rich money lender1 and in response to his request for relief in money difficulties1 was met with this reply of irony and sarcasm from one who loved to indulge his enmity to the ,christian faith4 ,you in money difficulties1 or any difficulties1 ,mr4 ,loest6 ,i cannot believe it2 it is altogether impossible6 you are at all times and in all places boasting that you have such a rich and loving ,master6 ,why don't you apply to him now4 ,and the unseen face could not conceal his pleasure at this opportunity of testing a ,christian4 ,loest turned away2 hard as the random taunt and remark of his opponent was1 yet it recalled him to a sense of his duty1 and his forgetfulness of the fact that he had not hitherto asked of ,god for special help in this circumstance4 ,with cheerful steps he hurried home1 and in long and imploring prayer1 asked for help and forgiveness in this1 his neglect of trust in one so rich and generous4 ,he was refreshed and comforted1 and the ,sunday was one of peace and sweetness4 ,he knew and felt assured1 ,that the ,lord would provide4 ,the eventful week opened1 and on ,monday he arose with a cheerful thought in his heart2 ere he had had full time to dress1 he noticed with great surprise1 that both his sister and the assistant in the store1 seemed1 notwithstanding the earliness of the hour1 to have full as much as they could do in serving customers and making up parcels1 and he at once hastened into the shop to give them assistance1 and thus it continued all day4 ,never1 in all his experience1 could ,loest remember such a ceaseless stream of customers as poured1 on that memorable ,monday1 into his rather out-of-the-way shop4 ,cooking dinner was out of the question2 neither masters nor maid had time for that2 coffee and bread1 taken by each in turn1 served instead of the accustomed meal1 and still the customers came and went2 still three pairs of hands were in requisition to satisfy their wants4 ,nor was it for new purchasers alone1 that money came in4 ,more than one long outstanding account1 accompanied by excuses for delayed payment1 and assurances that it had not been possible to settle it sooner1 enlarged the contents of the till2 and the honest-hearted debtor1 on whom this unwonted stream of money flowed in1 was tempted every minute to call out1 ,it is the ,lord4 ,at length night came1 when ,loest and his literally worn out assistants1 after having poured out their hearts in thankful adoration in family prayer1 sat down to the first meal they had that day enjoyed in common4 ,when it was over1 the brother and sister set themselves to count over the money which had that day been taken4 ,each hundred thalers was set by itself1 and the result showed six hundred and three thalers1 fourteen silver groschen4 ,this was sufficient to pay the first debt due the next day1 and leave but ten shillings and eight pence over1 a trifle less than they commenced the day with4 ,loest was lost in wonder and grateful emotion at this gracious testimony of how faithfully his ,lord could minister to him in his earthly necessities4 ,how countless must be the host of his ministering servants1 seen or unseen1 since ,he can employ some hundreds of them1 and send them to buy of ,daniel ,loest to-day1 or pay him that bill which thou owest4 ,what a wondrous ,god is ours1 who in the government of this great universe1 does not overlook my mean affairs1 nor forget ,his gracious promise1 ',call upon me in the day of trouble1 and ,i will deliver thee4' ,tuesday was a repetition of ,monday's splendid business1 and brought in the five hundred thalers which he needed the next morning to pay off the mortgage of his friend's house1 due that day4 ,wednesday's sales gave him five hundred more thalers1 which he was obliged to have ready to pay on ,thursday morning into the court of trustees4 ,thursday's sales brought him four hundred thalers1 just the amount he had given promise to pay the next day for goods delivered4 ,and ,friday's sales gave him just three hundred thalers with which to honor the widow's demand on ,saturday1 to pay funeral and contingent expenses4 ,during these days of wonderful business and deliverances1 after each indebtedness was discharged1 there still was not left cash in hand a sum exceeding three to five dollars4 ,on ,saturday morning1 after he had sent the three hundred thalers to the widow1 he had left precisely two thalers and twenty silver groschen 7six shillings eight pence sterling71 the smallest balance he had yet had2 and what seemed most alarming1 the rush to the shop seemed to be entirely over2 for while during the five days past1 he had had scarcely time to draw his breath from hurry and bustle1 he was now left in undisturbed possession of his place4 ,not a single customer appeared4 ,the wants of the vicinity seemed to have come to an end1 for not a child even entered to fetch a pennyworth of thread1 or a few ells of tape4 ,this utter cessation of trade was as unusual and out of the accustomed shop business1 as the extra rush had been4 ,at five o'clock on ,saturday1 was due the debt of three hundred thalers to his scoffing and tantalizing money lender4 ,three o'clock came1 and still there was but six shillings eight pence in the till4 ,where was his money to come from8 ,but ,loest sat still1 and possessed his soul in patience for he knew the ,lord would choose the best time1 and he desired to be found waiting and watching for the ,lord's coming4 ,the trial was severe4 ,it seemed hopeless1 and if it should happen that1 the creditor came and went away unsatisfied1 his commercial character would be injured1 his credit shaken1 and his reputation severely suffer4 ,that last hour ran slowly on4 ,at a quarter to four1 almost the last few moments of painful suspense1 a little old woman came in1 and asking for ,mr4 ,loest1 said to him half in a whisper1 ,i live here close by1 quite alone1 in a cellar1 and ,i have had a few thalers paid me1 and now ,i want to beg of you to be so good as to keep them for me4 ,i have not slept over night since ,i had them2 it is a great charge for a lone woman like me4 ,loest was only too glad to accept the money1 and offered interest1 which she declined4 ,she hurried back1 brought in her money1 counted it out on his table1 and there were just three hundred thalers1 six rouleaux of fifty thalers each4 ,she had scarcely left the house1 with her receipt in her pocket1 ere the clerk of the creditor with his demand in his hand1 rushed into ,loest's presence4 ,he received his three hundred thalers1 and both parted speechless with amazement4 ,loest was lost in wonder at the marvelous way and exactness of time in which the ,lord delivered him1 while the creditor was astonished thus to find ,loest's ,mighty ,friend had not failed him in his hour of need4 ,thus in one short week1 from a beginning of less than five thalers1 ,god had so exactly supplied his business needs that he had paid all his obligations of two thousand six hundred thalers1 saved him from failure1 saved his honor and good name1 and now all was peace4 ,the history of ,loest and other providences which helped him in his business1 are still further given more at length in a little book1 ,the ,believing ,tradesman1 from the records of the ,religious ,tract ,society of ,berlin4 ,this sketch illustrates the necessity of looking to ,god daily for help1 and strength1 and success1 and deliverance in our business occupations as well as the concerns of our soul1 and must effectively prove that those who use their business and the means from it to honor the good works of the ,lord on earth1 will be blessed on earth with the favor of the ,lord4 ,it teaches the sublime lesson that money and prosperity are gifts from the ,lord1 and must be considered as such1 acknowledged with thankfulness1 and used to please the ,giver4 ,whenever the ,christian learns to love the gift more than the ,giver1 the ,lord takes it often away to remind him of his need of dependence upon ,him4 ,but whenever the ,christian loves the ,giver because of ,his gifts1 and spends his means again to please his ,heavenly ,father1 he becomes the ,father's steward1 and his lap is filled with bountiful blessings1 such as one finds by true experience1 ,the ,lord is my ,shepherd1 ,i shall not want4 ,,spurgeon',s ,,prayer ,,for ,,money4 ,charles ,spurgeon relates this incident connected with his ministry3 ,when the college1 of which ,i am ,president1 had been commenced1 for a year or so all my means stayed2 my purse was dried up1 and ,i had no other means of carrying it on4 ,in this very house1 one ,sunday evening1 ,i had paid away all ,i had for the support of my young men for the ministry4 ,there is a dear friend now sitting behind me who knows the truth of what ,i am saying4 ,i said to him1 ',there is nothing left1 whatever4' ,he said1 ',you have a good banker1 sir4' ',yes1' ,i said1 'and ,i should like to draw upon him now1 for ,i have nothing4' ',well1' said he1 'how do you know1 have you prayed about it8' ',yes1 ,i have4' ',well1 then leave it with ,him2 have you opened your letters8' ',no1 ,i do not open my letters on ,sundays4' ',well1' said he1 'open them for once4' ,i did so1 and in the first one ,i opened there was a banker's letter to this effect3 ',dear ,sir1 we beg to inform you that a lady1 totally unknown to us1 has left with us two hundred pounds for you to use in the education of young men4' ,such a sum has never come since1 and it never came before2 and ,i have no more idea than the dead in their graves how it came then1 nor from whom it came1 but to me it seemed that it came directly from ,god4 ,,the ,,prayer ,,of ,,latimer4 ,the prayers of the martyr1 ,latimer1 were very remarkable for their faith4 ,there were three principal matters for which he prayed3 #a4 ,that ,god would give him grace to stand to his doctrine until death4 #b4 ,that ,god would of ,his mercy restore ,his gospel to ,england once again1 repeating and insisting on these words once again1 as though he had seen ,god before him1 and spoken to ,him face to face4 #c4 ,that ,god would preserve ,elizabeth2 with many tears1 desiring ,god to make her a comfort to this comfortless realm of ,england4 ,all these requests were most fully and graciously answered4 ,a ,,mother',s ,,prayers ,,answered4 ,a ,christian evangelist1 whose work has been most singularly blessed1 related this incident1 how once in the days of his folly and sin1 while as yet his course of life ran counter to the fondest wishes and prayers of his mother's heart1 he one day asked her the strange question1 whether she really believed that he ever would be converted to ,god4 ,and her answer1 inexpressibly touching and instructive1 as being the answer of assured faith1 which could see as yet no signs of the coming of what it so anxiously sought1 was1 ,yes1 ,i believe that you will one day be as eminent as a ,christian1 and an instrument for good1 as you have been eminent in sin1 and an instrument for evil4 ,in later years the evangelist looked back with admiration to the faith of his mother1 and thanked the ,lord for ,his gracious answer to her prayers4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,rescued ,,him4 ,a wonderful incident is told by ,dr4 ,s4,i4 ,prime among his many facts relating to prayer1 as published in ,the ,observer and ,the ,power of ,prayer4 ,a young man held a good position in a large publishing house in this city4 ,he was about thirty years old1 a married man1 and happy in all the relations of life4 ,the missionary of the church knew him through years of comfort and prosperity4 ,years passed away1 and there came a dark place in his life4 ,intemperance1 of the most depraved kind1 made his career most dreadful4 ,he disappeared1 and was not heard from for some time4 ,he separated himself from his family1 and from all good4 ,he was met in ,boston one day by an old friend1 after long years1 who noticed a marked difference in his appearance4 ,he approached him1 grasped him by the hand and said3 ',i am a changed man4 ,i one day got up in the morning1 after a night of wakefulness1 and thinking over what a wretch ,i had become1 and how wretched ,i had made my poor wife and children1 ,i resolved to go to the barn1 and there all alone1 to pray that ,god would take away utterly forever my accursed thirst for rum1 and to pray till ,i felt answered that my prayer was heard4 ,i went down on my knees1 and on them ,i stayed until ,i had asked ,god many times to take away all my appetite for rum and tobacco1 and everything else which was displeasing to ,him1 and make me a new creature in ,christ ,jesus--a holy1 devoted ,christian man1 for the sake of ,him who died for sinners4 ,i told ,god that ,i could not be denied2 ,i could not get up from my knees till ,i was forgiven and the curse was forever removed4 ,i was in earnest in my prayer4 ',i was on my knees two hours1 short hours1 as they seemed to me2 two blessed hours1 for ,i arose from my knees assured that all of the dreadful past was forgiven1 and my sins blotted out forever4 ,oh6 ,i tell you1 ,god hears prayer4 ,god has made me a happy man4 ,i left all my appetite in the old barn4 ,in that old barn1 ,i was born again4 ,not one twinge of the old appetite has ever been felt since then4' ,,jesus ,,keeps ,,me ,,from ,,drinking4 ,a young man arose in the ,fulton ,street prayer-meeting one day1 and detailed his struggles and triumphs with his appetites4 ,he was a perfect drunkard1 helpless1 poor2 his friends' best efforts to reclaim' him were of no avail4 ,the most solemn vows that he had ever taken1 still were unable to hold him up4 ,at last he gave himself up for lost4 ,there seemed no hope for him1 and in his despair he wandered away to the ocean shore4 ,he met a young man who showed him a good many favors1 and to whom he offered a drink from his flask of liquor4 ',no1' said he1 ',i never drink intoxicating drink1 and ,i ask the ,lord ,jesus to help me never to touch it4' ,i looked at him with surprise1 and inquired1 ',are you a ,christian8' ',yes1 ,i trust ,i am1' he answered4 ',and does ,jesus keep you from drinking intoxicating liquor8' ',he does1 and ,i never wish to touch it4' ,that short answer set me to thinking4 ,in it was revealed a new power4 ,i went home that night and said to myself1 as ,i went1 ',how do ,i know but ,christ would keep one from drinking if ,i would ask him8' ,when ,i got to my room1 ,i thought over my whole case1 and then ,i knelt down and told ,jesus what a poor1 miserable wretch ,i was2 how ,i had struggled against my appetite1 and had always been overcome by it4 ,i told ,him if he would take the appetite away ,i would give myself up to ,him to be his forever1 and ,i would forever love and serve ,him4 ,i told ,him that ,i felt assured that ,he could help me1 and that ,he would4 ,now ,i stand here1 and ,i tell you all most solemnly1 that ,jesus took me at my word4 ,he did take away my appetite then and there1 so that1 from that sacred moment of casting myself on his help1 ,i have not tasted a drop of liquor1 nor desired to taste it4 ,the old appetite is gone4 ,the last two weeks have been rich experience of ,divine goodness and grace4 ,,mr4 ,,moody',s ,,faith1 ,,in ,,prayer4 ,a ,,remarkable ,,answer4 ,mr4 ,moody1 on his return from ,england1 while conducting a prayer-meeting in ,northfield1 ,mass41 gave this illustration of the power of prayer to subdue the most unlikely cases of sin and unbelief3 ,there is not a heart so hard that ,god cannot touch it4 ,while in ,edinburgh1 a man was pointed out to me by a friend who said1 ',moody1 that man is chairman of the ,edinburgh infidel club4' ,so ,i went and sat down beside him1 and said1 ',well1 my friend1 ,i am glad to see you at this meeting4 ,are you not concerned about your welfare8' ,he said that he did not believe in a hereafter4 ,i said1 ',well1 you just get down on your knees and let me pray for you4' ',i don't believe in prayer4' ,i tried unsuccessfully to get the man down on his knees1 and finally knelt down beside him and prayed for him4 ,well1 he made a good deal of sport over it1 and ,i met him again many times in ,edinburgh after that4 ,a year ago last month1 while in the north of ,scotland1 ,i met the man again4 ,placing my hand on his shoulder1 ,i asked1 ',hasn't ,god answered the prayer8' ,he replied1 ',there is no ,god4 ,i am just the same as ,i always have been4 ,if you believe in a ,god1 and in answer to prayer1 do as ,i told you4 ,try your hand on me4' ',well1' ,i said1 ',god's time will come2 there are a great many praying for you2 and ,i have faith to believe you are going to be blessed4' ,six months ago ,i was in ,liverpool2 and there ,i got a letter from the leading barrister of ,edinburgh1 telling me that my friend1 the infidel1 had come to ,christ1 and that of his club of thirty men seventeen had followed his example4 ,how it happened he could not say1 but whereas he was once blind1 now he could see4 ,god has answered the prayer4 ',i didn't know how it was to be answered1' said ,mr4 ,moody1 'but ,i believed it would be and it was done4 ,what we want to do is to come boldly to ,god4' ,,the ,,wonders ,,of ,a ,,single ,,prayer4 ,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,edwin ,f4 ,hatfield1 of ,new ,york ,city1 well known and eminent among the clergymen of the ,presbyterian church1 is personally acquainted with the following instance of a remarkable case in answer to prayer4 ,from the mother of the daughter he obtained this statement1 which has been published by ,dr4 ,patton1 of ,chicago1 in his volume1 ,on ,prayer4 ,my daughter was for fourteen months afflicted with hip disease4 ,it was brought on by a fall1 and a consequent dislocation1 when she was eight years of age4 ,her right side was paralyzed1 and she had an abscess4 ,i placed her in a hospital1 under the care of good nurses1 and the very best medical advice4 ,everything possible was done for her1 but all to no avail2 she grew worse instead of better1 and the doctors directed me1 as there was no hope for her1 to take her home to die4 ,but ,i did not cease to hope4 ,i did as the doctors directed1 but continued to pray the prayer of faith for her recovery for two weeks4 ,one morning1 at the end of this period1 we were conversing together about the wonderful cures wrought by the ,savior1 when on earth1 and particularly that of the man at the pool of ,bethesda4 ,in the midst of our conversation1 my daughter rose to obtain a drink of water1 when she exclaimed1 ',mother1 ,i can walk4' ',thanks be to ,god6' said ,i1 ',come1 and let me see you6' ,her crutches1 the only means by which she could move about1 before1 were now useless4 ,upon examination1 ,i found that the abscess had entirely disappeared1 and that the paralyzed limb was restored whole1 like the other4 ,she was again dangerously ill1 five months afterward4 ,i prayed for her recovery one night1 before retiring1 and the next morning she arose1 perfectly cured4 ,she is now twenty-one years of age1 and during all this intervening time has been free from any trouble of this kind4 ,to-day she is as well as any one1 working and running about without the slightest trouble4 ,,the ,,tavern ,,keeper ,,overcome4 ,rev4 ,charles ,g4 ,finney relates1 in his ,spirit of ,prayer1 of an acquaintance of his whose faith and importunity in prayer and the answer were very remarkable3 ,in a town in the northern part of the ,state of ,new ,york1 where there was a revival1 there was a certain individual1 who was a most violent and outrageous opposer4 ,he kept a tavern1 and used to delight in swearing at a desperate rate1 whenever there were ,christians within hearing1 on purpose to hurt their feelings4 ,he was so bad1 that one man said he believed he should have to sell his place or give it away1 and move out of town1 for he could not live near a man that swore so4 ,this good man of faith and prayer that ,i have spoken of1 was passing through the town and heard the case1 and was very much grieved and distressed for the individual4 ,he took him on his praying list4 ,the case weighed on his mind when he was asleep1 and when he was awake4 ,he kept thinking about him1 and praying for him1 for days2 and the first we knew of it1 this ungodly man came into a meeting1 and got up and confessed his sins1 and poured out his soul4 ,his barroom immediately became the place where they held prayer-meetings4 ,,victories ,,over ,,bad ,,habits1 ,,tobacco1 ,,opium1 ,,etc4 ,the ,rev4 ,w4,h4 ,boole1 a city missionary in ,new ,york ,city1 has been witness in his ministries1 of many cases of complete deliverance from bad habits1 and appetites1 solely by believing prayer4 ,many are contained in a little tract written by him1 ,the ,wonder of ,grace4 ,he gives a few of these incidents3 ,one is an officer in a church in ,new ,york1 who had used tobacco for forty years1 making during that time many efforts to abandon the practice1 but always failing because of the resultant inward growing4 ,but he was brought to an act of specific faith in ,jesus1 to save him from the appetite1 and now1 after several years1 he testifies1 ',from that hour all desire left me1 and ,i have ever since hated1 what ,i once so fondly loved4' ,another is of a prominent church member in ,brooklyn1 ,n4,y41 who had used tobacco for thirty years1 and could not endure to be without a cigar in his mouth1 and sometimes even rose and smoked in the night2 after many failures to overcome the habit1 one night when alone1 he cast himself on his ,savior for just this victory2 and from that hour was delivered from the desire as well as from the outward act1 and now wonders that he ever loved the filthy practice4 ,a certain old lady1 who lived near ,westbrook1 ,conn41 aged seventy1 was a confirmed opium eater1 and used daily1 an amount sufficient to kill twenty persons4 ,she was led to see that the habit was a sin2 and as such1 she abandoned it1 with specific application to ,christ to save her from it4 ,she was heard1 and lived for two years afterward1 free from any desire for that drug4 ,a similar case was that of a carpenter1 in ,brooklyn1 ,n4,y41 who1 from taking morphine to allay the pain of a fractured leg1 fell into its habitual use1 till he almost lived upon it for several years after his recovery4 ,he once swallowed1 in the presence of several physicians1 a dose which it was calculated would destroy the lives of two hundred ordinary men4 ,not long since1 he was made to look at this as a sin1 and tried to break off the habit1 abstaining1 with an alarming reaction1 till five physicians declared that death would ensue1 if he did not resume it4 ,this he did for a year2 but then on a certain ,sunday evening1 broke off again1 casting himself by faith on ,christ1 from which moment the desire left him1 and has never returned1 and he has experienced no reaction or other ill effect1 but has greatly improved in health4 ,,mrs4 ,,whitney',s ,,cure ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,mrs4 ,c4,s4 ,whitney of ,hartford1 ,conn41 a lady well known for her ,christian work among the poor1 thus gives in a letter to ,dr4 ,patton1 her personal testimony of the efficacy of prayer3 ,three years ago1 ,i was healed of a bodily disease4 ,i had been troubled from my birth with canker1 and at times suffered greatly4 ,i had consulted some of the best physicians in the land1 and had been treated by the most skillful4 ,my case was said to be incurable4 ,when ,i learned to trust ,christ for everything1 ,i applied to ,him for healing4 ,my husband joined with me in this prayer for three weeks2 but all the time ,i was growing worse4 ,i then prayed for entire submission4 ,about the first of ,october1 #ahgb1 my stomach1 throat and mouth were so cankered1 ,i could scarcely eat anything4 ,one day1 ,i took up the little book entitled1 ',dorothea ,trudel2' and while reading1 ,i seemed to hear a voice saying unto me1 ',all things are possible unto him that believeth4' ',according to thy faith be it unto thee4' ,i claimed the faith1 and immediately asked ,god to heal me1 and in ,his own way4 ,while yet on my knees1 it seemed very clear to me that ,i should go to ,boston1 and ask ,doctor ,cullis to pray with me4 ,i obeyed that leading1 and made preparations to go the day following4 ,just as ,i was ready to start for the depot1 ,i realized that ,i was cured4 ,an entire change was wrought in my system1 and my soul was filled with joy and gratitude4 ,,president ,,finney',s ,,prayer ,,for ,,rain4 ,the following incident of the prayer of ,president ,finney for rain1 and its immediate answer1 is furnished by ,professor ,cowles1 the intimate friend of ,president ,finney3 ,somewhat more than twenty years ago1 the village of ,oberlin and its adjacent country along the lake shore1 suffered severely through the hot season from a total failure of rain1 for nearly three months4 ,clouds that seemed to promise rain were repelled from the heated dry atmosphere over the land1 and attracted by the more moist atmosphere over the lake1 to pour out their waters there4 ,on one such occasion1 the clouds had gathered dark1 low1 and heavy over the lakes1 and lay there with no particular indication of rising4 ,president ,finney walked out with his eye on these clouds4 ,i give the sequel in his own words1 as they fell from his lips1 less than three months since3 ',in this walk ,i met ,ralph1 who turned sharply upon me4 ',mr4 ,finney1 ,i should like to know what you mean in preaching that ,god is always wise and always good1 when you see him pouring out that great rain upon the lake1 where it can do no good1 and leaving us to suffer so terribly for the want of that wasted water8' ',his words cut me to the heart2 ,i turned1 and ran home to my closet1 fell on my knees1 and told the ,lord what ,ralph had been saying about ,him2 and besought ,him1 for the honor of ,his great name1 to confound this caviler1 and show forth the glory of ,his power and the greatness of ,his love4 ,i pleaded with ,him that ,he had encouraged ,his people to pray for rain1 and that now the time seemed to have come for ,him to show ,his power in this thing1 and ,his faithfulness as a hearer of prayer4 ',before ,i rose from my knees1 there was a sound of a rushing1 mighty wind4 ,i looked out1 and lo6 the heavens were black2 that cloud was rolling up1 and soon the rain fell in torrents1 two full hours4' ,the writer1 7,professor ,cowles17 himself remembers how that cloud lay over the lake2 how it drove him1 also1 to his closet2 and that soon and signally the prayers of that hour came back to us in mighty rain4 ,,luther',s ,,mighty ,,prayer ,,and ,,prophecy4 ,at one time in the life of ,luther1 there was a critical moment in the affairs of the ,reformation4 ,bitter persecution prevailed with extraordinary power1 and threatened every one4 ,they were the dark days when faith could only cling4 ,there were but few friends to the reformers1 and these were of little strength4 ,their enemies were every where strong1 proud1 arrogant4 ,but ,luther relied on his ,god1 and at this moment1 with his favorite hymn in his heart1 ,a strong fortress is our ,god1 he went to the ,lord in prayer1 and prayed that omnipotence would come to the help of their weakness4 ,long he wrestled alone with ,god in his closet1 till like ,jacob he prevailed4 ,then he went into the room1 where his family had assembled1 with joyous heart and shining face1 and raising both hands1 and lifting his eyes heavenward1 exclaimed1 ,we have overcome1 we have overcome4 ,this was astonishing1 as there was not the slightest of news which had yet been heard to give them hope of relief4 ,but immediately after that1 the welcome tidings came that the ,emperor1 ,charles ,v41 had issued his ,proclamation of ,religious ,toleration in ,germany4 ,in ,luther's prayer was fulfilled the remarkable promise of ,proverbs1 #ba3 ,i4 ,the king's heart is in the hand of the ,lord1 as the rivers of water2 he turneth it whithersoever he will4 ,,john ,,knox ,,and ,,his ,,prophetical ,,prayer4 ,john ,knox was famous for his earnest prayers4 ,queen ,mary said that she feared his prayers more than she did all the armies of ,europe4 ,one night1 in the days of his bitterest persecution1 while he and his friends were praying together1 ,knox spoke out1 and declared that deliverance has come4 ,he could not tell how4 ,immediately the news came that ,queen ,mary was dead4 ,,melancthon',s ,,life ,,saved ,,from ,,death ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,luther',s ,,prayer4 ,the most powerful tribute to the efficacy of prayer1 was the answer to ,luther's prayer which the ,lord sent4 ,a messenger was sent to ,luther that ,melancthon was dying4 ,he found him presenting the usual premonitory symptoms of death4 ,melancthon roused1 looked in the face of ,luther1 and said1 ,o ,luther1 is this you8 ,why don't you let me depart in peace4 ,we can't spare you yet1 ,philip1 was the reply1 and turning around1 he threw himself upon his knees1 and wrestled with ,god for his recovery for upwards of an hour4 ,he went from his knees to the bed1 and took his friend by the hand2 again he said1 ,dear ,luther1 why don't you let me depart in peace8 ,no1 no1 ,philip2 we can not spare you yet1 was the reply4 ,he then ordered some soup1 and when pressed to take it1 ,melancthon declined1 again saying1 ,dear ,luther1 why will you not let me go home and be at rest4 ,we can not spare you yet1 ,philip1 was the reply4 ,he then added1 ,philip1 take this soup1 or ,i will excommunicate you4 ,he took the soup1 regained his wonted health1 and labored for years afterwards in the cause of the ,reformation2 and when ,luther returned home he said to his wife with joy1 ,god gave me my brother ,melancthon back in direct answer to prayer4 ,in this incident is given this extraordinary statement that while death has really seized a man1 who too wished to die1 and did not want to live longer on the earth1 yet his life was given back to him again in answer to the prayer of faith of another4 ,,the ,,wonderful ,,power ,,of ,,faith ,,and ,,trust ,,in ,,the ,,lord ,,to ,,deliver ,,wholly ,,from ,,bad ,,habits4 ,a victim of licentiousness and sensuousness1 who often1 amid his sinful pleasures1 had the memory of ,christian parents before him1 felt his was indeed a life of shame4 ,but the downward steps had destroyed his will1 his self-control1 his manliness1 his virtue4 ,he had no power to resist1 all was wickedness1 irresolution1 constant yielding4 ,in vain he hung back1 and tried to save himself from the cursed appetite2 at last he realized that in a few weeks' time he must go to the grave2 strength could not stand such a waste of life4 ,what a miserable life4 ,what wicked ways1 what wicked thoughts2 how ,i wish ,i was pure2 ,o1 that ,i might get free2 ,i do not love this sin any more1 ,i don't want it1 but ,i can't stop it4 ,o1 ,i wish ,i could be a ,christian1 and wholly free4 ,such were his constant thoughts4 ,in mercy1 the ,lord who had been reading his thoughts1 sent him a great reverse in business1 and in agony of heart1 he knew not where to turn but to the ,lord1 and pray for relief4 ,his prayer1 too1 asked to be emancipated from his wickedness1 and his strength and health restored4 ,lord1 save me and ,i will be thine forever4 ,i am lost unless thou wilt come and save4 ,by gradual degrees1 in the absorption of his thoughts over other distresses1 his mind was diverted from his usual ways and thoughts of sinful living2 gradually the habits of lust grew less and less strong1 and finally ceased altogether4 ,but the body still remained under excessive weakness4 ,but faith that the ,lord who had saved others1 could save him too1 led him to pray1 not only for the destruction of the habit1 but entire recovery from its evil effects4 ,his perseverance was persistent1 and met with a triumphant reward4 ,after a long2 time1 he felt himself wholly healed4 ,new strength1 new life1 came back to him4 ,it seems as if my life had been put back again ten years1 and ,i was young again4 ,i never have any more wicked thoughts or imaginations1 while ,i was once full of them4 ,since ,i learned to seek the ,lord and love his ,bible1 ,i have never had such peace1 or purity4 ,i love the name and tender mercies of my ,god4 ,if in a few months1 prayer saved that man's life1 and so wholly changed it from a foul blot to a thing of purity1 what can it not do again4 ,no sin can ever be conquered until in humility either saint or sinner gets down upon his knees1 and implores the love and power of the ,lord in never ceasing prayer1 to wholly emancipate him from the control of the evil habit4 ,the ,lord will surely hear it4 ,he can as truly deliver the body from the most persistent and enchaining habit1 as he can wholly convert the mind and heart4 ,the result is not always instantaneous2 more often gradual1 but always sure if the sufferer always prays4 ,it is simple enough for the sinning one to believe that the ,lord can1 and seeking the ,bible for the ,lord's own promise that he1 will2 to cling to it and never surrender4 ,the sin may be repeated when you can not resist it1 and do not desire for it1 but take all pains to avoid2 still pray though you often fail2 still try1 still trust the ,lord to loose your chains and remove your desire1 and deliverance is sure to come at last4 ,,recovery ,,from ,,paralysis4 ,between two and three years ago1 the writer was struck down by paralysis1 disabling entirely the limbs of the left side4 ,in this apparently helpless state1 ,i employed a man to take care of me1 and felt that unless ,god should interpose1 ,i must be a continuous burden on my friends4 ,my kind physician gave me no hope of entire recovery4 ,in this state ,i made my prayer to ,god continually1 that he would so far restore my strength as to enable me to take care of myself4 ,this prayer he was pleased to answer1 for in eight weeks ,i dismissed my attendant1 finding myself able to take care of myself4 ,i now walk more than half a mile each day1 and attend to all the associations of home life4 ,i record with thankfulness this restoration of my disabled frame in answer to prayer4 ,,the ,,stolen ,,bonds ,,returned4 ,the ,new ,york ,observer relates a remarkable instance of the return of stolen property1 which in its extraordinary way can be accounted for only by the control of a ,supreme ,will1 and all in answer to prayer4 ,on ,february #af1 #ahgg1 ,united ,states and railroad bonds and mortgages to the amount of #afj1jjj1 belonging to ,edgar ,h4 ,richards1 were stolen from the banking house of ,james ,g4 ,king's ,sons1 of this city4 ,no clue whatever to the robbers could be obtained4 ,several parties were arrested on suspicion1 but nothing could be proved1 and the mystery remained unsolved4 ,mr4 ,richards1 being a member of one of our most prominent churches1 made it a subject of constant prayer1 that the ,lord would wholly prevent the thieves from any use of the property and cause it to be returned to him4 ,when asked if he was ever incredulous1 he said1 ',no1 ,i have never lost my faith in recovering this property4 ,i believe in prayer1 and ,i have made it from the first a subject of prayer1 and it will be answered4' ,meanwhile some curious influences must have been at work among the thieves1 for they acted in an extraordinary manner as follows3 ,one day last week a stranger1 well dressed1 modest looking1 gentlemanly1 walked into the office of ,elliott ,f4 ,shepard1 ,esq41 one of ,messrs4 ,king's counsel1 and tendered his services for the recovery of the property1 asserting he knew nothing about the robbery1 nor the thieves1 but that he could get the treasure4 ,he was told that a reward would be paid for the capture of the thieves1 but he earnestly protested that it was entirely out of his power to obtain any clue to the person or whereabouts of the thief2 and no inquiries ever disclosed that this was not a perfectly true statement4 ,indeed1 it proved that he had been selected as an agent to do this work1 and that there were at least five or six connecting intermediaries between him and the robbers1 each exercising that virtue which is called honor among thieves1 and which on this occasion proved a wall of adamant to every attempt to pierce it or break it down4 ,true to his word the stranger caused the delivery at ,mr4 ,shepard's office1 at the appointed hour to a second1 of an ordinary pasteboard bandbox1 wrapped in newspaper1 by the hands of a little boy4 ,he had come in a pelting rain-storm1 and part of the newspaper had become torn1 and disclosed the blue1 unsuspected hat box4 ,the boy knew nothing about it1 except that a gentleman had given him a dime in the street to bring the box4 ,mr4 ,richards being present1 opened the bandbox1 examined and checked off the contents with one of ,messrs4 ,king's head clerks1 and found every single item of his missing securities1 stocks1 bonds1 mortgages1 accounts1 bank books1 wills1 everything4 ,a most remarkable thing6 ,the parties could hardly believe their eyes4 ,,mr4 ,,moody',s ,,answers ,,to ,,prayers4 ,mr4 ,d4,l4 ,moody1 the ,evangelist1 when a boy1 was possessed of an unusual amount of muscular strength and animal spirits1 and a strong will that knew little of impossibility or submission4 ,when only six years old1 being wistful to do something to help his mother1 he was set to drive the cows of a neighboring farmer to and from their mountain pasture4 ,on one occasion1 a heavy fence fell upon him from which he could not extricate himself4 ,after trying his utmost and crying as loud as he could for help1 but in vain1 the thought struck him that ,god would help him if he asked him4 ,in his own simple language he prayed to his mother's ,god for help1 and made another effort1 and succeeded in getting free4 ,this1 his first answer to prayer1 made a vivid impression on his heart1 which gave a decided turn to his opening life4 ,,no ,,flour ,,in ,,the ,,house--,,in ,,the ,,days ,,of ,,famine1 ,,his ,,soul ,,shall ,,be ,,satisfied4 ,mr4 ,moody's domestic life has always been a happy one1 but in the early days of his marriage1 he was very poor1 and his faith was often put to the severest tests4 ,one day1 on leaving home in his missionary work and labors of love1 he remarked to his wife1 ,i have no money1 and the house is without supplies4 ,it looks dark2 is it possible that the ,lord has had enough of me in this mission work1 and is going to send me back again to sell boots and shoes4 ,but he prayed4 ,in a day or two1 a ,stranger sent him two checks of #ej each--one for himself1 and one for his school4 ,on another occasion his wife informed him that they had no flour for the day's use1 and asked him to order some on his way4 ,having no money in his possession1 he was perplexed how to proceed to raise the required amount2 but meeting a person in whose spiritual welfare he was concerned1 he forgot all about such sublunary considerations as money and flour1 and went heart and soul into the ,lord's work before him4 ,on his return home at night1 he felt somewhat nervous about his reception on account of his not having sent the flour1 but to his joyful surprise1 he found that on his arrival the table was spread with a bountiful repast4 ,it seems that a friend of his was powerfully impressed that morning1 and without seeing the family or knowing anything about their need1 had packed up a barrel of flour and sent it4 ,others of his friends1 who were interested in his work1 and felt confidence in his work1 unknown to him1 selected a new house1 and furnished it throughout with every facility for convenience and comfort1 and when all was completed invited him and his family to it1 and made him a present of the loan of his house1 and all its contents4 ,thus the ,great ,helper remembered him and answered his daily prayer1 ,give us this day our daily bread4 ,,persevering ,,prayer4 ,at one of the prayer-meetings at the ,brooklyn tabernacle1 ,mr4 ,moody closed by narrating an instance of persevering prayer by a ,christian wife for an infidel husband4 ,she resolved to pray for him at noon for eighteen months1 and at the expiration of that time1 her knocking not having been responded to1 she exclaimed1 ,lord1 ,i will pray for him1 every day1 and at all hours1 as long as life lasts4 ,that day the ,lord heard her knock1 and gave her the desire of her heart1 in the conversion of her husband4 ,when the ,lord saw her faith would not give up1 he sent the answer immediately4 ,,noah',s ,,prayer4--,,he ,,did ,,not ,,get ,,discouraged4 ,the life of faith and the necessity of uncompromising hold on the promise's1 expecting their fulfillment1 is admirably explained in the illustration of ,noah's prayer4 ,one day ,mr4 ,moody was much discouraged1 and it was as dark a ,sabbath as ever he had1 and a friend suggested to him to study the life of ,noah4 ,i got out my ,bible1 and the thought came over me1 ',here is a man who labored and talked a hundred years1 and didn't succeed2 didn't get a convert notwithstanding all his efforts1 all his prayers1 but he didn't get discouraged4' ,but he took ,god at his word2 he worked right on2 he prayed right on2 and he waited ,god's time4 ,and1 my friends1 from that time1 ,i have never been discouraged4 ,whenever ,i think of him1 it lifts me up out of the darkness into the light4 ,don't get discouraged4 ,the lesson of ,noah's life is briefly this3 ,he never converted a soul outside of his own family4 ,that was the work ,god gave him to do1 and he prayed and waited and worked1 and never gave up1 and he was saved and all his family with him4 ,so every ,christian must recognize that his field is not far off1 but right around him1 in his house1 among his friends1 working1 praying1 waiting1 but never getting discouraged4 ,the ,lord will never fail those who abide in ,him4 ,,samuel ,,hick',s ,,prayer ,,for ,,rain4 ,samuel ,hick was one of the men of mighty faith in the ,lord1 and as a preacher among the ,methodists of ,england4 ,he was of great eminence for his happy spirit1 remarkable trust1 powerful and practical preaching1 and unbounded liberality4 ,among the many incidents connected with his life of faith1 we quote a few to illustrate with what simplicity he expected always an answer to his prayer1 and was not satisfied until he got it3 ,in the course of a ,summer of excessive drought a few years back1 when the grain suffered greatly1 and many of the cattle1 especially in ,lincolnshire1 died4 ,samuel ,hick was much affected4 ,he visited ,knaresborough1 at which place he preached on the ,lord's day4 ,remaining in the town and neighborhood over the ,sabbath1 he appeared extremely restless in the house in which he resided1 during the whole of ,monday4 ,he spoke but little--was full of thought1 now praying1 now walking about the room1 next sitting in a crouching posture--then suddenly starting up and going to the door1 turning his eyes toward heaven1 as if looking for some celestial phenomenon1 when he would return again1 groan in spirit1 and resume his seat4 ,the family1 being impressed with his movements1 asked him whether there was anything the matter with him or whether he expected any person1 as the occasion of his going to the door so frequently4 ,bless you ,bairns1 was his reply1 do you not recollect that ,i was praying for rain last night in the pulpit1 and what will the infidel at ,knaresborough think if it do not come2 if my ,lord should fail me1 and not stand by me4 ,but it must have time2 it can not be here yet2 it has to come from the sea4 ,neither can it be seen at first4 ,the prophet only saw a bit of cloud like a man's hand4 ,by and by it spread along the sky4 ,i am looking for an answer to my prayer1 but it must have time4 ,he continued in the same unsettled state1 occasionally going out1 and looking with intensity on the pure azure over his head2 for a more unclouded sky was rarely ever seen4 ,contrary to all external signs of rain1 and contrary to the expectations of all1 except himself1 the sky became overcast toward evening1 and the clouds dropped the fullness of a shower upon the earth4 ,his very soul seemed to drink in the falling drops4 ,the family grouped around him1 like children around their father1 while he gave out his favorite hymn1 ,i'll praise my ,maker while ,i've breath2 and after singing it with a countenance all a-glow1 through the sunshine of heaven upon his soul1 he knelt down and prayed4 ,all were overpowered2 it was a season of refreshing from the presence of the ,lord4 ,his biographer says of him3 ,samuel had no weather glass upon which to look except the ,bible1 in which he was taught to believe1 and expect that for which he prayed2 nothing on which he could depend but ,god1 and his faith was set in ,god for rain4 ,,praying ,,for ,,the ,,wind ,,to ,,come4 ,a remarkable incident1 showing how ,god makes the winds to obey him in obedience to the prayer of his righteous ones1 and the expectations of their faith1 occurred also in ,samuel ,hick's life1 which is really an astonishing proof of ,god's supernatural power4 ,a church gathering was to take place at ,micklefleld1 and ,samuel had promised two loads of corn for their use4 ,the day fixed drew near1 but there was no flour in the house1 and the wind-mills1 in consequence of a long calm1 stretched out their arms in vain to catch the rising breezes4 ,in the midst of this death-like quiet1 ,samuel carried his corn to the mill nearest his own residence1 and requested the miller to unfurl his sails4 ,the miller objected1 stating that there was no wind4 ,samuel1 on the other hand1 continued to urge his request1 saying1 ,i will go and pray while you spread the cloth4 ,more with a view of gratifying the applicant than of any faith he had1 the man stretched his canvas4 ,no sooner had he done this than1 to his utter astonishment1 a fine breeze sprung up1 the fans whirled around1 the corn was converted into meal1 and ,samuel returned with his burden rejoicing1 and had everything in readiness for the festival4 ,in the mean time1 a neighbor who had seen the fan in vigorous motion1 took also some corn to be ground2 but the wind had dropped1 and the miller remarked to him1 ,you must send for ,sammy ,hick to pray for the wind to blow again4 ,,snails ,,in ,,the ,,ark4 ,to many who with despondency protest that they have not faith enough1 get along so slow1 are too weak1 c1 the following sharp retort of ,hick will prove a bright lining to their dark cloud of failing1 and lead them to plod on in prayer4 ,to a gentleman laboring under great nervous depression1 whom he had visited1 and who was moving along the streets as though he was apprehensive that every step would shake his system in pieces1 he was rendered singularly useful4 ,they met1 and ,samuel1 having a deeper interest in the soul than the body1 asked3 ',well1 how are you getting on your way to ,heaven4' ,the poor invalid1 in a dejected1 half desponding tone1 replied1 ,but slowly ,i fear1 intimating that he was creeping along only at a poor pace4 ,why bless you ,bairn1 returned ,samuel1 there were snails in the ark4 ,the reply was so earnest1 so unexpected1 and met the dispirited man so immediately on his own ground1 that the temptation broke away1 and he was out of his depression4 ,it was a resurrection to his feelings1 inferring that if the snail reached the ark and was saved1 he too1 faint yet pursuing1 might gain admission into heaven4 ,,he ,,gave ,,all ,,the ,,money ,,he ,,had4 ,at one time he attended a missionary meeting near ,harrowgate4 ,we had a blessed meeting1 said ,samuel1 ,i was very happy and gave all the money ,i had in my pocket4 ,after the meeting was concluded1 he mounted his horse to return home4 ,no one had offered to pay his expenses--he had not a farthing in his pocket4 ,advanced in life--a slow rider1 and not a very sprightly horse--in the night--alone--twenty miles from home4 ,think of the lonesomeness2 the time for the tempter to come and lead him to distrust in his ,lord4 ,but he struggled2 the trial was short and the victory complete1 for1 said he1 ,devil1 ,i never stuck fast yet4 ,just as he entered ,harewood1 a gentleman took his horse by the bridle1 asked him where he had been1 talked with him long1 and to whom ,samuel's talk was a wonderful consolation4 ,said ,sammy3 ,i have not wanted for any good thing1 and could always pray with ,job1 ',the ,lord gave and the ,lord taketh away1 blessed be the name of the ,lord4' ,the gentleman asked1 ,can you read8 ,yes1 returned ,samuel4 ,then1 replied the gentleman1 holding a piece of paper in his hand1 which was rendered visible by the glimmering light of the stars1 ,there is a five pound note for you4 ,you love ,god and his cause1 and ,i believe you will never want4 ,and ,sammy said1 ,i cried for joy4 ,this was a fair salvation from the ,lord4 ,when ,i got home1 ,i told my wife4 ,she burst into tears1 and we praised the ,lord together1 and he added3 ,you see1 we never give to the ,lord but ,he gives in return4 ,,the ,,lord ,,will ,,provide4 ,a poor but pious widow in ,boston1 in her eighty-seventh year1 said to a friend1 ,when ,i was left a widow with three little children1 ,i was brought into such extremity that they were crying for bread1 and ,i had nothing for them to eat4 ,as ,i arose on a ,sabbath morning1 ,i knew not what to do but to ask my heavenly ,father to feed my little ones1 and commit myself and them to his care4 ,i then went out to the well to get a pail of water1 and saw on the ground a six cent piece1 which ,i took up2 and learning that it did not belong to any of those who lived in the same house with me1 ,i thought ,i might take it to feed my famishing children4 ,though it was a ,sabbath morning1 ,i felt that it would be right to go to a baker who lived in the neighborhood1 tell him our circumstances1 and buy bread with the money ,providence had thus cast in my way4 ,the baker not only did this1 but the ,lord opened his heart to add a bountiful supply2 and from that hour to the present1 which is nearly fifty years1 ,i have never doubted that ,god would take care of his children4 ,,abraham ,,lincoln',s ,,faith ,,in ,,prayer4 ,when ,president ,lincoln left his home in ,springfield1 ,ill41 ,february #aa1 #ahfa1 on his way to ,washington1 he made the following farewell address to his friends and neighbors3 ,my friends1 no one not in my position can appreciate the sadness ,i feel at this parting4 ,to this people ,i owe all ,i am4 ,here ,i have lived more than a quarter of a century2 here my children were born1 and here one of them lies buried4 ,i know not how soon ,i shall see you again4 ,a duty devolves upon me which is perhaps greater than that which has devolved upon any other man since the days of ,washington4 ,he would never have succeeded except for the aid of ,divine ,providence1 upon which he at all times relied4 ,i feel that ,i cannot succeed without the same ,divine aid which sustained him1 and on the same ,almighty ,being ,i place my reliance for support2 and ,i hope you1 my friends1 will all pray that ,i may receive that ,divine assistance1 without which ,i cannot succeed1 but with which success is certain4 ,again1 ,i bid you all an affectionate farewell4 ,that simple but earnest request sent an electric thrill through every ,christian heart1 and without doubt1 in response to it1 more prayer was offered for him throughout his administration1 than for any one who ever before occupied the ,presidential chair4 ,at a ,sabbath-school convention in ,massachusetts1 a speaker stated that a friend of his1 during an interview with ,mr4 ,lincoln1 asked him if he loved ,jesus4 ,the ,president buried his face in his handkerchief and wept4 ,he then said1 ,when ,i left home to take this chair of state1 ,i requested my countrymen to pray for me4 ,i was not then a ,christian4 ,when my son died--the severest trial of my life--,i was not a ,christian4 ,but when ,i went to ,gettysburg1 and looked upon the graves of our dead heroes who had fallen in defense1 of their country1 ,i then and there consecrated myself to ,christ4 ,i do love ,jesus4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,adams1 of ,philadelphia1 stated in his ,thanksgiving sermon that1 having an appointment to meet the ,president at #e o'clock in the morning1 he went a quarter of an hour before the time4 ,while waiting for the hour1 he heard a voice in the next room as if in grave conversation1 and asked the servant1 ,who is talking in the next room8 ,it is the ,president1 sir4 ,is anybody with him8 ,no1 sir2 he is reading the ,bible4 ,is that his habit so early in the morning8 ,yes1 sir4 ,he spends every morning1 from #d o'clock to #e1 in reading the ,scriptures and praying4 ,it was the ,lord who ,guided the mind of ,mr4 ,lincoln in his extraordinary act of the ,emancipation of the ,slaves of ,america4 ,the ,lord had prepared it1 and chose him as the means whereby to accomplish it4 ,were not his ,prayers and efforts specially blessed by the ,lord in wisdom1 for the guidance of our ,nation8 ,,extraordinary ,,care ,,of ,,the ,,lord ,,in ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer4 ,the scenes of the riots in ,new ,york1 at the time of our civil war1 are of national celebrity2 but few1 however1 know that one of the most atrocious acts of cruelty attempted to be perpetrated by the malefactors1 and which utterly failed of its purpose1 came solely in answer to prayer4 ,on the first day of the mob1 however1 several thousand men1 women and children1 armed with clubs and brickbats1 suddenly appeared at the door of the ,colored ,orphan ,asylum1 and effected an entrance by breaking down the front door with an axe4 ,the building was soon fired in ten or fifteen places1 and the work of destruction was accomplished in twenty minutes4 ,there were at the time two hundred and twenty-three children in the building with their attendants and teachers4 ,the matron having assembled all the children after the first alarm1 one of the teachers thus addressed them3 ',children1 do you believe that ,almighty ,god can deliver you from a mob8' ,the reply was promptly made in the affirmative4 ',then1' said she1 ',i wish you now to pray silently to ,god to protect you from this mob4 ,i believe that he is able and will do it4 ,pray earnestly to him1 and when ,i give the signal1 go in order1 without noise1 to the dining-room4' ,at this every head was instantly bowed in prayer1 such prayer as is not frequently offered1 the silent1 earnest supplication of terrified and persecuted little children4 ,when1 at the sound of the bell1 their heads were raised1 the teacher said the tears were streaming1 but not a sound1 not even a sob1 was to be heard4 ,they then quietly went down stairs and through the halls1 and she remarked that 'to her dying day she should never forget the scene2' the few moments of eloquent silence1 the streaming noiseless tears1 the funereal march through the halls1 the yells and the horrible sounds which were nearer and nearer approaching4 ,not one of these helpless innocents was injured in the least2 but in spite of the threats and the blood-thirstiness of the rioters1 through whom they were obliged to pass1 all were removed unmolested to a place of safety4 ,a ,,remarkable ,,decision ,,by ,a ,,jury4 ,in one of our northern cities1 a trial at law took place between a ,christian and an infidel4 ,the latter had sued the former for a heavy sum1 falsely alleging his promise to pay it for some stocks which he claimed to have sold him4 ,the ,christian admitted ,,an ,,offer of the stock1 but protested that so far from promising the sum demanded1 he had steadily refused to make any trade whatever with the plaintiff4 ,each of the parties to the suit had a friend who fully corroborated their assertions4 ,thus the case went before the jury for decision4 ,the charge of the judge was stern and significant4 ',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 perjury4 ,their statements were wholly irreconcilable with each other2 nay more1 were diametrically opposite2 and that either were innocently mistaken in their assertions was impossible4 ',your verdict1 gentlemen1' he said in conclusion1 'must decide upon which side this awful and heaven-daring iniquity belongs4 ,the ,god of truth help you to find the truth1 that the innocent suffer not4' ,it was late in the day when the judge's charge was given1 and the finding of the jury was to be rendered in the morning4 ,the plaintiff went carelessly from the court arm in arm with the wicked associate whom he had bribed to swear falsely on his behalf4 ,the defendant and his friend walked away together in painful silence4 ,when the ,christian reached his home1 he told his family of the judge's solemn charge and of the grave responsibility which rested upon the jurors4 ',they are to decide which of us has perjured ourselves on this trial1' he said2 'and how terrible a thing for me if they should be mistaken in their judgment4 ,there is so little of any thing tangible for their decision to rest upon1 that it seems to me as if a breath might blow it either way4 ,they cannot see our hearts1 and ,i feel as if1 only ,god could enable them to discern the truth4 ,let us spend the evening in prayer that he may give them a clear vision4' ,the twelve jurymen ate their supper in perplexed silence1 and were shut in their room for deliberation and consultation4 ,i never sat in such a case before1 said the foreman4 ,the plaintiff and defendant have sworn point-blank against each other2 and how we are to tell which speaks the truth1 ,i can not see4 ,i should not like to make a mistake in the matter2 it would be a sad affair to convict an innocent man of perjury4 ,again there was silence among them1 as if each were weighing the case in his own mind4 ,for myself ,i feel as if the truth must be with the defendant2 ,i am constrained to think that he is an honest man4 ,what say you1 gentlemen8 ,every hand was raised in affirmation of this opinion4 ,they were fully persuaded of its truth1 and gave a unanimous verdict accordingly4 ,thus the ,christian man was rightfully acquitted1 and gave thanks to ,god1 with a new and stronger confidence in the power of prayer4 ,call upon me in the day of trouble2 ,i will deliver thee1 and thou shalt glorify me1 saith the ,lord4 ,,that ,,wonderful #be4 ,,another ,,evidence ,,of ,,the ,,ever-,,present ,,spirit ,,of ,,god4 ,the following incident is marvelous1 as at the time of its occurrence neither party had ever been known to each other3 ,in ,new ,haven1 ,conn41 lives a little invalid widow1 almost helpless1 with no one upon whom to rely for support1 and only indebted to friendly acquaintances for a temporary home4 ,with no money1 no acquaintances1 she had nowhere else to turn to but to the ,father of all good4 ,she had prayed often1 and often had answers1 but this time1 though needing money1 still she received none4 ,the answer was long delayed2 she was almost discouraged4 ,was ,god at last to fail and forget her8 ,no1 it could not be4 ,let ,god be true even if ,i perish1 ,i shall still cling to ,him4 ,i can not give ,him up4 ,just at that time a business man in ,new ,york1 who had been absent on a long journey for the ,summer and had just returned1 happened to pick up a note among many hundred lying on his desk1 and noticed that the writer asked for some trifling favor1 saying she was poor1 had no means4 ,her circumstances were unknown3 he knew nothing but her name4 ,he was eager to minister to the little ones of the ,lord1 and felt deeply impressed in prayer that morning1 in asking a blessing on his day's labors1 that he might be able to help the need of some of his children who might then be in want4 ,in his business hours the thought came over him with the depth of emotion1 ,,what ,,can ,i ,,do8 ,,lord1 ,,thy ,,servant ,,is ,,ready4 ,just at that moment he picked up this note of the little invalid1 who asked the trivial favor1 saying it would be such a comfort4 7,no money whatever was asked for in this note47 ,suddenly the thought came to him1 ,perhaps this is my very opportunity4 ,this may be the ,lord's little one in need4 ,but there was nothing in the letter to indicate she was a ,christian4 ,she solicited no money or pecuniary help4 ,immediately there came to his mind1 amid floods of tears1 ,inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these1 my children1 ye have done it unto me4 ,instantly he understood it as a message from the ,lord1 and the intimation of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he immediately sat down and wrote a check for #be1 and enclosed it to her1 saying1 ,i know not your need2 you have not asked me for help1 but ,i send you something which may be useful4 ,i trust you are a ,christian4 ,i shall be happy to learn if it has done good1 and made you happy4 ,give me no thanks4 ,the ,lord's blessing is enough for me4 ,the letter was sent and forgotten1 but a strange presentiment came over the mind of the writer4 ,i am afraid ,i did not direct that letter right4 ,he sent a second postal card1 asking if a letter had been received at her home2 if not1 to go to her post office and inquire4 ,now notice the wonderful singularity of incident4 ,here is a man sending money1 never asked for1 to an unknown person1 about whom he knew nothing2 then misdirecting his letter1 and then remembering and sending another message to go and find where the first had gone to4 ,but notice the marvelous result4 ,the little invalid received the postal card1 but not the letter4 ,she sent to the post office1 and sure enough there was the first letter with its misdirection4 ,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 city4 ,she opened her letter1 and with tears of thankfulness perused this wonderful reply1 a marvelous witness to the power of an overruling ,spirit1 who had directed everything4 ,my heart is full1 that ,god should so answer my simple prayer4 ,i first asked him for #aj1 then #ae1 and then for #be4 ,i asked him for #be several times1 and was astonished at my boldness1 but the amount was so fixed in my mind1 ,i could not ask for anything else1 and then ,i humbly trusted it to ,him1 and from that time ,i thought1 ,i will not name any sum2 let it be as ,he knows my need4 ,and how ,he has honored my simple faith and trust in these dark days4 ,your letter contained exactly the #be ,i prayed for4 ,i have not had #a4ej to spend this ,summer4 ,i have suffered for everything4 ,but through it all ,i have felt such perfect faith in the ,lord1 that his hand was leading me1 even when ,i could not see a step before me2 and that ,he should move your heart to help me seems so wonderful1 so good4 ,i am so glad ,i can thank you now1 but ah1 so much over there where words will express so much more in the beautiful atmosphere of heaven4 ,your letter and kind gift was mailed the very same day that ,i was praying in great distress and trial4 ,i knew not but that ,i should be without even a home4 ,my verse was ,psalms #ej3 #ae4 ,o1 how ,i had to pray that day4 ,so day by day ,i was comforted1 and now to-day the answer has come4 ,here1 then1 is a portion of the story of a sweet life who trusted ,god1 not as a ,god of the past1 nor far off1 but ever living1 ever present1 ever faithful1 and believed ,him able1 willing1 and that ,he would help her in her daily life4 ,she tried her ,lord1 to prove if his promises were indeed true1 and she clung to them to the very last4 ,no one knew her need4 ,no one knew what she was praying for4 ,the stranger did not know anything of her4 ,she had asked money of no one but the ,lord4 ,hesitant ever1 she dared not name any amount of the ,lord1 but that ever present ,spirit of ,god guided her heart1 made her fix the amount1 and then touched the heart of the stranger and fixed the amount also in his mind1 and then1 by his own guidance saved the letter from being lost1 and behold6 when opened the prayer of the one and the gift of the other was the same4 ,what a comfort1 what a privilege1 then1 it is for the true-hearted ,christian thus to feel1 ,there is one who careth for us4 ,,why ,,he ,,failed4 ,a prominent business man failed in the ,spring of #ahgg4 ,he had been for years a prominent and consistent member of a ,christian church4 ,he had even supported a church once almost entirely4 ,nothing was known against his character1 but he failed2 he failed in business4 ,no one knew the reason why1 but there it was1 failure4 ,at last1 in moments of bitter repentance before ,god1 he unbosomed himself to his pastor1 and said1 ,long ago ,i promised to give the ,lord one-tenth of all the profits ,i gained from my business1 and while ,i did so1 ,i was immensely prosperous and successful2 never did any one have any such splendid success1--but ,i forgot my promise1 stopped giving1 thought that ,i did not need to spend so much1 and ,i began to invest my means in real estate4 ,when ,i stopped giving ,i stopped getting4 ,now all is gone4 ,i lost my all because ,i did not keep my promise to the ,lord4 ,this incident is a practical one1 telling how utter is the impossibility of true success1 without the aid of the ,lord1 and how absolutely necessary it is to our own peace and comfort of mind to religiously observe one's promises made to ,god4 ,the ,bible only too truly tells of the end of those who forget ,him4 ,but ,jeshurun waxed fat1 then he forsook ,god which made him2 and when the ,lord saw it1 he abhorred them1 and said1 ',i will hide my face from them4' ,ye can not prosper2 because ye have forsaken the ,lord1 ,he hath also forsaken you4 ,there shall be desolation2 because thou hast forgotten the ,god of thy salvation1 and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,controls ,,the ,,winds ,,and ,,the ,,waves ,,john ,,easter',s ,,prayer4 ,in his ,memorials of ,methodism in ,virginia1 ,dr4 ,w4,w4 ,bennet relates the following incidents in the life of ,john ,easter1 one of the pioneer ministers who labored there nearly one hundred years ago3 ,he is represented as being the most powerful exhortatory preacher of his day4 ,his faith was transcendent1 his appeals irresistible1 his prayers like talking with ,god face to face4 ,perhaps no man has ever been more signally honored of ,god as an instrument in the conversion of souls4 ,on one of his circuits eighteen hundred members were added to the church in a single year4 ,many thrilling scenes under his preaching yet linger among the people in those counties where he principally labored4 ,a most extraordinary display of his faith was witnessed in ,brunswick4 ,at ,merritt's meeting- house a quarterly meeting was in progress1 and so vast was the concourse of people from many miles around1 that the services were conducted in a beautiful grove near the church4 ,in the midst of the exercises1 a heavy cloud arose1 and swept rapidly towards the place of worship4 ,from the skirts of the grove the rain could be seen coming on across the fields4 ,the people were in consternation2 no house could hold one-third of the multitude1 and they were about to scatter in all directions4 ,easter rose in the midst of the confusion--,brethren1 cried he at the top of his voice1 be still while ,i call upon ,god to stay the clouds1 till ,his word can be preached to perishing sinners4 ,arrested by his voice and manner1 they stood between hope and fear4 ,he kneeled down and offered a fervent prayer that ,god would then stay the rain1 that the preaching of ,his word might go on1 and afterwards send refreshing showers4 ,while he was praying1 the angry cloud1 as it swiftly rolled up to them1 was seen to part asunder in the midst1 pass on either side of them1 and close again beyond1 leaving a space several hundred yards in circumference perfectly dry4 ,the next morning a copious rain fell again1 and the fields that had been left dry were well watered4 ,,the ,,hushed ,,tempest4 ,the following circumstance is communicated to ,the ,christian by a minister of the editor's acquaintance1 as a memorial of ,god's care for the poor and needy who trust in him3 ,it was about the year #ahec1 and near the middle of a ,canadian ,winter1 we had a succession of snowfalls1 followed by high winds and severe cold4 ,i was getting ready to haul my ,winter's stock of wood1 for which ,i had to go two miles over a road running north and south1 entirely unprotected from the keen cold west winds that prevail the most of the time in that part of ,canada during the ,winter months4 ,the procuring of my ,winter's supply of wood was no small task for me1 for ,i had very little to do with1 and was unable to endure much fatigue1 or bear the severe cold4 ,i had1 however1 succeeded in securing the services of an excellent hand to chop1 and help me load1 and had also engaged a horse of one neighbor1 and a horse and sled of another1 and was ready on ,monday morning to commence my job4 ,monday morning the roads were fair1 the day promised well1 and my man was off at daybreak to the woods to1 have a load ready for me4 ,there had been quite a fall of snow during the night2 not enough to do any harm if it only lay still1 but should the wind rise1 as it had after every snow-fall before1 it would make it dreadful for me4 ,soon as possible ,i harnessed my team1 and started4 ,i had not gone a quarter of a mile before it became painfully evident that a repetition of our previous blows was impending4 ,the sky was dark and stormy1 the wind rose rapidly1 and in every direction clouds of the newly fallen snow were beginning to ride on the wings of the wind1 pouring over the fences1 and filling the road full6 ,my heart sank within me4 ,what could ,i do8 ,at this rate1 by next morning the roads would be impassable1 and it was so cold6 ,besides1 if ,i failed to go on now1 it would be very difficult to get my borrowed team together again1 and impossible to get my man again2 and we could as well live without bread as without wood in a ,canadian ,winter4 ,every moment the wind increased4 ,in deep distress1 ,i looked upon the threatening elements1 exclaiming over and over1 ,what shall ,i do8 ,i felt then that there was but one thing that ,i could do1 and that was just what poor sinking ,peter did2 and with feelings ,i imagine something like his1 ,i looked up to ,god1 and cried out1 ,o1 my ,god1 this is more than ,i am able to bear4 ,lord1 help me6 ,the elements are subject to thee2 thou boldest the winds in thy fist4 ,if thou wilt speak the word1 there will be a great calm4 ,o1 for ,jesus' sake1 and for the sake of my little helpless family1 let this snow lie still and give me an opportunity of accomplishing this necessary labor comfortably6 ,i do not think it was above fifteen minutes after ,i began to call upon the ,lord before there was a visible change4 ,the wind began to subside1 the sky grew calm1 and in less than half an hour all was still1 and a more pleasant time for wood-hauling than ,i had that day1 ,i never saw nor desire to see4 ,many others beside me enjoyed the benefit of that sudden change of weather1 but to them it was only a nice spell of weather1 a lucky thing2 while to me it was full of sweet and encouraging tokens of the loving-kindness of the ,lord4 ,and now1 after so many years1 ,i feel impelled to give this imperfect narrative1 to encourage others in the day of trouble to call upon the ,lord2 and also1 as a tribute of gratitude to ,him who has never said to the house of ,jacob1 seek ye my face in vain4 ,,praying ,,in ,,fair ,,weather4 ,the ways in which ,god saves those whom he wishes to deliver from death1 are sometimes too wonderful for our understanding4 ,a certain ship was overtaken in a severe and prolonged storm at sea4 ,she had a noble ,christian man for a captain1 and as good a sailor as ever trod the quarter-deck1 and he had under him a good and obedient crew4 ,but they could not save the ship2 she was too badly strained1 her leaks were too great for the pumps1 she must go to the bottom4 ,the captain committed them all to the care of the ,god in whom he put his trust1 and made ready to take to their boats4 ,just then a sail was descried1 and1 by signals of distress1 drawn to their relief4 ,all on board were taken off safely and put on the ship1 soon after which they saw their own ship go down4 ,now comes the peculiar part4 ,the ship was soon overtaken in a dreadful storm1 was cast on her beam ends1 and everything seemed to be lost4 ,the passengers were praying1 and many of the old seamen were calling on ,god to save them from the great deep4 ,the captain of the ship had done his best1 but could not right the vessel1 and all was given up to go down4 ,the captain1 whose ship was lost1 then asked if he might take his crew and try to right the vessel4 ,take them1 and do what you can1 was the reply4 ,he called to his men and told them they must save that ship2 he inspired them with confidence1 for they knew he was a true man of ,god4 ,they executed his orders with alacrity and care4 ,they cut away the masts1 and cleared away the rigging1 and brought all the force they could to right the vessel4 ,god prospered the efforts--the ship righted2 they got the pumps at work1 rigged a sail1 and were finally all saved4 ,it seemed as if it was necessary to put the captain of the first ship and his crew on the second ship1 that they might save it and those on board when the terrible storm came4 ,now it was particularly noticed in connection with this deliverance1 that the captain of the lost vessel did not make any ado in prayer1 or in calling on ,god1 while the storm was raging2 and knowing that he was a ,christian man1 they asked him the reason of this4 ,he answered them1 that he did his praying in fair weather2 and then said he1 when the storm comes1 ,i work4 ,he did not distrust ,god then1 any more than in fair weather2 but he knew that ,god requires man to do all he can to save himself1 and praying might lose him his ship1 when his own efforts must save it4 ,,the ,,rescue ,,from ,,the ,,ville ,,du ,,havre1 ,,and ,,the ,,loch ,,earn4 ,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 steamship1 ,ville du ,havre1 which was sunk by a collision with the ,loch ,earn1 ,november #bb1 #ahgc1 on her voyage from ,new ,york to ,france4 ,after the sinking of the ,ville du ,havre1 with some two hundred of her passengers1 the rest were taken up by the ,loch ,earn1 from which most of them were afterwards transferred to the ,trimountain4 ,others remained on board the ,loch ,earn1 where in consequence of its disabled condition they seemed again in imminent danger of being lost4 ,on the #aath of ,december1 while ,mr4 ,d4,l4 ,moody was conducting a noonday prayer-meeting in the city of ,edinburgh1 ,rev4 ,dr4 ,andrew ,thompson read a letter from a ,christian lady1 the mother of one of these imperiled passengers1 which contained the following account3 ,after the ,trimountain left them1 and they had examined their ship1 many a heart failed1 and they feared they would never see land again4 ,they could not navigate the vessel1 and were left to the mercy of the winds and waves1 or rather to the care of ,him who ruleth wind and waves4 ,vain was the help of man4 ,the wind drove them out of the course of ships1 northward4 ,you are aware that two ministers were left on board the ,loch ,earn4 ,one1 ,mr4 ,cook1 a truly godly man1 did all he could to encourage their hearts4 ,every day1 at noon1 he gathered them together1 and earnestly1 by prayer1 strove to lead them to the ,savior2 and this he continued to do till they reached ,england4 ,the day before they were rescued they knew that very shortly the ship must go down4 ,the wind had changed1 bringing them nearer the track of ships1 but they had little hope of being saved4 ,mr4 ,cook told them of his own hope1 that death to him would be eternal life1 and he urgently entreated them to put their trust in ',him who was mighty to save4' ,at the same time he told them he had no doubt they would be rescued1 that even then a vessel was speeding to save them1 that ,god had answered their prayers1 that next day as morning dawned they would see her4 ,that night was one of great anxiety4 ,as morning dawned every eye was strained to see the promised ship4 ,there truly she was1 and the ,british ,queen bore down upon them4 ,you may think that with thankful hearts they left the ,loch ,earn4 ,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 do1 and three times during the night he changed the course of the vessel1 bearing northward4 ,he told the watch to keep a sharp lookout for a ship1 and immediately on sighting the ,loch ,earn bore down upon her4 ,at first he thought she had been abandoned1 as she lay helpless in the trough of the sea1 but soon they saw her signal of distress4 ,it seems to me a remarkable instance of faith on the one side and a guiding ,providence on the other4 ,after they were taken on board the pilot-boat that brought them into ,plymouth1 at noon1 when they for the last time joined together in prayer1 ,mr4 ,cook read to them the account of ,paul's shipwreck1 showing the similarity of their experience4 ',what made that captain change his course against his will8' but the ever present ,spirit of ,god4 ,,the ,,storm ,,made ,,calm4 ,at a ,sunday morning meeting at ,repository ,hall1 ,january #be1 #ahgd1 a ,christian brother1 in illustration of the power and faithfulness of ,god1 and his willingness to hear and answer prayer1 related these facts in his own experience4 ,an account of them was subsequently published in the ,christian3 ,in #ahci ,i was a sailor on board the brig ,pandora1 ,captain ,g----1 bound from ,savannah to ,boston1 with a cargo of cotton4 ,when off the coast of ,virginia1 some twenty-five miles distant from ,chesapeake ,bay1 we encountered a heavy gale4 ,saturday evening1 ,december #bast1 the wind blew gently from the south4 ,on sounding1 we found ourselves in thirty fathoms of water4 ,at midnight the wind veered to the eastward1 gradually increasing until four o'clock ,sunday morning1 by which time the brig was under close-reefed topsails and foresail4 ,the wind still increasing1 every stitch of canvas was taken in1 and now the vessel lay helpless and unmanageable in the trough of the sea1 not minding her helm at all1 while the wind blew a perfect hurricane4 ,the vessel being very light1 loaded with cotton1 made much leeway1 and though we had worn ship four times during the preceding night1 hoping1 if possible1 to weather some shoals which the captain judged were near1 and to make ,chesapeake ,bay1 where we might have a clear beach before us in case the vessel should strand1 yet at eight o'clock ,sunday morning we were in but seventeen fathoms of water4 ,the gale now increased with fearful violence1 waves rising like mountains1 and rain and sleet pouring from the dismal clouds4 ,at ten1 ,a4,m41 being then in fifteen fathoms of water1 and drifting rapidly towards the shore1 the captain summoned all hands into the cabin to consult about throwing our deck-load overboard1 in order to leave us a better chance to secure ourselves to the rigging1 and thus save our lives when the vessel should strike1 which he judged would be in about half an hour4 ,not a gleam of hope appeared1 and here our distress was increased by observing that the captain seemed under the influence of liquor1 to which he had probably resorted in order to stifle his fears of approaching death4 ,the order was given1 and we went to work to throw the cotton over1 while the captain1 frightened and despairing1 went into the cabin to drown his fears in drink4 ,seeing the state of things1 and believing that shipwreck was imminent1 ,i found two of my shipmates who were ,christians1 and who had prayed daily with me in the forecastle1 and ,i asked them if they had any faith in ,god now1 that he would hear our prayers and deliver us8 ,they both said they had2 and ,i told them to pray1 then1 that the ,lord might rebuke the winds and calm the waves4 ,with an unspeakable mingling of fear and hope we applied ourselves to the task of casting the cotton into the sea1 at the same time lifting up earnest and united prayers to ,god for deliverance from the threatened destruction1 occasionally gliding in close contact with each other1 and speaking words of hope in each other's ears1 and feeling1 as we toiled1 a blessed confidence that our prayers were not in vain4 ,it did not seem more than five minutes from the time we commenced to throw the cotton overboard1 for we had scarcely tumbled twenty bales into the sea1 when we heard a shout from the quarter deck3 ',avast heaving cotton overboard6 ,the wind is coming out from our lee6 ,avast there6' ,it was the captain's voice1 bidding us stay our hands2 we obeyed1 and looking up we saw him clinging to the rigging1 apparently so drunk that he could hardly stand1 while away over our lee-bow we could see blue sky and fair weather1 and it seemed that in less than ten minutes from the time the hurricane was at its height1 the wind had chopped around in shore1 and was gently wafting us away from danger1 and out into deep water again4 ,there were glad souls on board the ,pandora that day1 as she swung around in obedience to the helm1 and we laid her course again for our destined port4 ,and some who before had mocked at prayers and blasphemed the ,god we loved1 admitted then that ,god had answered prayer1 and that he had delivered us from death4 ,and ,i love to repeat the story to the praise of the ,lord1 who yet lives to hear1 and bless1 and save his trusting children4 ,,no ,,fear ,,of ,,thunder4 ,some years ago a camp-meeting was held in ,southern ,indiana4 ,it rained nearly all the time of the meeting4 ,father ,haven1 a man mighty in prayer1 rose to preach4 ,just as he announced his text it thundered1 and the congregation seemed to be restless and alarmed4 ,the old hero instantly said1 ,let us engage a moment in prayer4 ,he prayed that ,god would allow the storm to pass by and not disturb them4 ,after having plead for a few moments he said1 ,friends1 keep your seats2 it will not rain one drop here to-day4 ,he commenced to preach1 and it thundered again4 ,he repeated his assurance1 and thus it continued until the storm-cloud was almost over the encampment4 ,it divided north and south1 and passed about a quarter of a mile on either side of them1 reunited again and passed on1 and not one solitary drop of rain fell on that encampment4 ,,the ,,prayer ,,of ,,the ,,pilgrims ,,for ,,rain ,,answered4 ,it is well known that many of the good men who were driven from ,england to ,america by persecution in the seventeenth century1 had to endure great privations4 ,in the ,spring of #afbc they planted more corn than ever before2 but by the time they had done planting1 their food was spent4 ,they daily prayed1 ,give us this day our daily bread2 and in some way or other the prayer was always answered4 ,with a single boat and a net they caught some fish1 and when these failed1 they dug in the sand for shell-fish4 ,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 hay4 ,all expected to perish with hunger4 ,in their distress the pilgrims set apart a day of humiliation and prayer1 and continued their worship for eight or nine hours4 ,god heard their prayers1 and answered them in a way which excited universal admiration4 ,although the morning of that day was clear1 and the weather very hot and dry during the whole forenoon1 yet before night it began to rain1 and gentle showers continued to fall for many days1 so that the ground became thoroughly soaked1 and the drooping corn revived4 ,,the ,,enemies ,,of ,a ,,god ,,fearing ,,nation4 ,an answer to prayer1 says ,le ,clerc1 may be seen by what happened on the coast of ,holland in the year #afgb4 ,the ,dutch expected an attack from their enemies by sea1 and public prayers were ordered for their deliverance4 ,it came to pass that when their enemies waited only for the tide1 in order to land1 the tide was retarded1 contrary to its usual course1 for twelve hours1 so their enemies were obliged to defer the attempt to another opportunity2 which they never found1 because a storm1 arose afterwards1 and drove them from the coast4 ,,changing ,,the ,,course ,,one ,,point4 ,walking across ,palace ,square in ,rio de ,janeiro1 ,brazil1 with an ,american ship-master1 7says a correspondent of the ,watchman7 he invited me to accompany him to his hotel4 ,while there he showed me a very large gold medal he had received from the ,british government for saving a ship's company at sea4 ,the circumstances were these3 ,one night at sea1 when it was the captain's mid-watch1--the watch from twelve1 midnight1 till four o'clock in the morning--just before turning in1 he gave the officer of the watch the ship's course2 the direction in which she was to be steered4 ,while undressing1 it was impressed on his mind that he ought to change the course a point2 but he could see no reason for the change1 as the ship was on the right course for the port of her destination4 ,he turned in and tried to fall asleep1 as it was only four hours to his watch2 but the impression that he ought to change the ship's course kept him awake4 ,in vain he tried to throw off that impression2 and yielding to it1 he went on deck and gave the order for the change4 ,on returning to his berth1 he was asleep as soon as his head was on the pillow4 ,the next day he sighted a ship in distress1 and made sail for her4 ,the ship was in a sinking condition1 and he rescued the whole ship's company4 ,shortly after1 a gale of wind arose and carried the sinking ship to complete destruction4 ,had not the ,american captain changed the course of his ship that evening1 he would not have come in sight of the ship in distress1 and all of the company would have perished4 ,query--,what made that ,captain arise in the middle of the night and1 contrary to all science1 reason and his own will1 change the course of his vessel1 but a ,supreme ,being1 whose power he could not resist1 and what made him exactly reach that sinking ship just in time4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,fulton ,,st4 ,,prayer ,,meeting4 ,,answers ,,to ,,prayer ,,from ,,its ,,history1 ,,records ,,and ,,correspondence4 ,the following ,incidents of ,prayer and the remarkable ,answers1 have been obtained from the records of the ,fulton ,street ,prayer ,meeting in ,new ,york ,city4 ,they include both facts which have been related by speakers in their daily meetings1 or furnished from the letters of those who have solicited ,prayer and received the ,answer to their ,faith4 ,they are of the utmost diversity of subjects1 literally including the all things of the ,bible1 and temporal as well as spiritual interests4 ,numerous as the incidents are1 which we here give1 still they cover only one-sixtieth part of the whole ,record of the ,blessed ,meeting4 ,history can never tell of the wonders done in ,answer to the ,prayers of these trusting ones2 but ,faith can rejoice1 for here is fulfilled daily those cheerful ,promises of the ,lord3 ,if ye abide in me and my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will1 and it shall be done unto you4 ,ask and receive1 that your joy may be full4 ,,saved ,,from ,a ,,life ,,of ,,degradation4 ,your prayers for my husband have been answered2 on the very day ,i wished your prayers for him1 and before the hour of prayer had expired he came into the house1 and said1 ',i am going to do better4' ,he had not been home before for several weeks4 ,he was a profane1 hard-drinking man4 ,he has since joined the church4 ',all hail the power of ,jesus' name4' ,,recovery ,,of ,,an ,,invalid4 ,one year ago1 the prayers of this meeting were asked for an invalid who had years of intense suffering before her1 unless soon relieved4 ,prayers were offered for her4 ,now we would like to acknowledge the loving-kindness and tender mercy of our ,god1 for1 since that time1 she has slowly but steadily improved1 even under most trying and unfavorable circumstances1 and-has now recovered comparative strength4 ,,relief ,,in ,,business4 ,none of those who trust in ,him shall be made desolate4 ,some three weeks ago1 ,i wrote you1 stating that my business had been a failure1 and asked your prayers that ,god1 in ,his mercy1 would point out a way for me to provide for my family4 ,the clouds grew thicker and blacker1 but the more earnest were my prayers4 ,last ,saturday the ,lord came to my rescue1 and provided me with the necessities of life1 and to-day ,i wish you to join with me in thanksgiving to ,almighty ,god for these favors2--',for ,he is good2 ,his mercy endureth forever4' ,a ,,daughter ,,saved ,,from ,,marriage ,,with ,a ,,corrupt ,,man4 ,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 marriage4 ,,the ,,lord gave her strength and courage to break her engagement1 in answer to our earnest prayers4 ,oh1 implore ,him to keep that man out of her path1 for he is constantly lying in wait to meet her when she goes out4 ,he wanted her to read bad books1 but told her that they were not wrong4 ,he constantly laid temptation in alluring forms before her4 ,to ,,him alone be the thanks for this step she has taken4 ,a ,,skeptic ,,overpowered4 ,more and more ,god is pouring out ,his ,spirit1 gloriously answering your prayers and ours4 ,i have been constantly asking your prayers1 and though1 for a while1 the vision tarried1 yet it has come4 ,the young man1 from a neighborhood where there was not one ,christian1 and he himself scarcely less than a skeptic1 is now sitting1 in his right mind1 at ,jesus' feet4 ,,saved ,,from ,,death4 ,my brother1 that lay apparently at the point of death1 has been restored to comparative health4 ,,an ,,intemperate ,,young ,,man ,,reclaimed4 ,rejoice with me1 and thank ,god for his gracious answer to prayer4 ,the intemperate young man for whom ,i requested prayer some months ago1 has turned away from his cups1 and is earnestly striving to overcome his appetite for strong drink4 ,he is competent to be the means of doing so much good4 ,,the ,,conversion ,,of ,,intimate ,,friends4 ,some time since1 ,i sent request for prayer for the conversion of friends4 ,since then three have united with the church4 ,,raised ,,up ,,from ,,death',s ,,door4 ,our former pastor was raised up from death's door1 in answer to your prayer4 ,the doctor gave him up4 ,he says the ,lord alone saved him1 in answer to prayer4 ,praise ,his name4 ,,the ,,desire ,,of ,,the ,,heart ,,fulfilled4 ,a few weeks since ,i sent a request for prayer in my behalf1 asking you to pray ,god very earnestly that ,he would grant me the desire of my heart1 for which ,i was praying almost unceasingly4 ,on the evening of the same day on which ,i supposed you would receive my request1 the answer came1 lifting a great burden from my heart4 ,i send this in acknowledgment of ,god's loving-kindness to me1 and to encourage' every burdened1 praying one1 to trust ,him more4 ,a ,,poor ,,old ,,sick ,,lady ,,restored4 ,the poor1 sick old lady for whom ,i requested your prayers some time since1 wishes to return thanks to ,almighty ,god1 for restoring her health1 and sending friends4 ,it is wonderful how your and our requests are answered4 ,a ,,new ,,birth4 ,give thanks with me4 ,since ,i wrote you last1 our son has given himself to ,jesus4 ,a ,,church ,,saved ,,from ,,strife4 ,it is with heartfelt gratitude to ,god that ,i write you of answer to your prayer4 ,last ,spring1 ,i asked your prayers in behalf of our church4 ,it was almost destroyed by a man trying to get into our ,conference without proper papers1 and could not4 ,he then broke up a ,presbyterian church1 and formed another4 ,he gathered a number of our members with him1 and tried hard to take our parsonage1 but did not succeed4 ,thank ,god6 though we are few1 and have had a hard struggle1 we still hold our property1 our circuit has doubled1 ,god is reviving ,his work1 and is now answering your prayers ,,reason ,,restored4 ,last ,march1 ,i requested you to pray for a dear friend in ,massachusetts1 who was deprived of her reason through sickness and great trouble4 ,give thanks unto ,god1 she is fully restored4 ,arise ,and ,walk4 ,it will be just one year since ,jesus came and took me by the hand1 and ,i arose from what was supposed to be my death-bed1 and walked to the astonishment of all4 ,i have not claimed the fullness of the promise1 but feel that ,i may4 ,i prayed ,god not to heal my body wholly1 until ,i was more patient under my cross4 ,,the ,,appetite ,,for ,,strong ,,drink ,,taken ,,away4 ,sometime ago ,i wrote to you for my husband4 ,he was a victim to strong drink at that time1 but blessed be ,god1 he has not drank one drop for five months4 ,,spiritual ,,strength4 ,i feel your prayers2 ,i think ,i know the day and the hour1 for ,i felt strengthened with strength in my soul4 ,,healing ,,of ,,soul ,,and ,,body4 ,i have reason to rejoice that ,i have been greatly blessed in answer to your prayers4 ,two young lady friends of mine have been enabled to claim the blessed promise of full salvation1 not only to the healing of the soul1 but the body also4 ,my own experience helped them3 ,on the #afth of ,january1 last1 in answer to constant prayer offered by myself and friends1 ,i arose from what all thought to be my death-bed1 and walked all over the house2 also many miles on the streets during the next few months4 ,i did not claim the full extent of the promise as ,i craved only relief from such terrible pain1 as was then my portion to bear4 ,i think ,god in his goodness would have granted full restoration to health1 as ,i was so anxious to work for ,him1 but ,i pleaded with ,him not to heal my body until my mind had had the discipline ,i felt it needed4 ,,an ,,intemperate ,,husband ,,saved ,,by ,,prayer4 ,some three weeks since1 ,i asked you for my intemperate husband1 that you would pray that he might be willing to be saved4 ,he has been made willing to give up the intoxicating cup1 and says he has not any desire for it4 ,to ,god be all the praise4 ,,religion ,,lost1 ,,religion ,,regained4 ,i wrote you two months since1 asking an interest in your prayers for a young man that experienced religion a year ago1 but failed to confess ,christ by uniting with the church4 ,your prayers have been answered4 ,last night my heart was made to rejoice by seeing him confess ,christ1 before the world4 ,he is now happy in the love of ,jesus1 and will he useful and active in the church4 ,,drunkards ,,reformed4 ,return thanks to ,god for two men signing the pledge1 about one month ago1 who have been enabled to keep it through great temptation4 ,they were drunkards for over twenty years4 ,their reformation was in answer to a praying mother's prayers1 and to the prayers for them at your meeting4 ,a ,,hopeless ,,case4 ,a little less than a year ago1 prayers were desired at the ,fulton street prayer-meeting for a man whose case seemed wholly hopeless4 ,shortly after he gave up drink1 and became a ,christian2 is now a happy man1 and has a happy family4 ,please carry this thank offering to ,god1 that he has given us such a ,savior1 and such a way to escape from temptation4 ,a ,,harvest ,,of ,,conversions4 ,last ,fall1 ,i wrote you to pray for us4 ,you did pray4 ,the result was a wonderful increase of spiritual life--fifty conversions4 ,a ,,family ,,made ,,happy4 ,two years ago1 ,i wrote asking your prayers for a dear sister1 brothers and nieces4 ,since then1 one brother1 about sixty1 and my two nieces have been converted1 and are now rejoicing in a ,savior's love4 ,,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 church4 ,the ,lord answered us by giving us over four score souls4 ,,hearts ,,made ,,glad4 ,we return most hearty thanks for the answer to prayer given4 ,i wrote more than a year ago last ,august of our low state4 ,last ,winter twenty young persons were converted1 and continue to work faithfully4 ,,given ,,up ,,by ,,man1 ,,but ,,rescued ,,by ,,the ,,great ,,physician4 ,the writer was himself raised up by prayer1 from the gates of death1 offered by the heart and lips of one who is now a sufferer4 ,two of the most skillful physicians in the land had given me up4 ,,the ,,story ,,of ,a ,,wayward ,,life1 ,,saved ,,by ,,prayer4 ,in the last fourteen years ,i have stood beside the deathbeds of eight who were near and dear to me1 and the last words that each spoke to me as they were leaving the world were1 ,will you not meet me in ,heaven8 ,i have been a wayward child4 ,eight years ago ,i became addicted to strong drink4 ,i became a drunkard1 which brought my dear old father down to an untimely grave4 ,i made a promise on his death-bed that ,i would not drink any more1 and for six long years ,i kept that promise1 but at last ,i broke it4 ,i again became a drunkard1 which began to tell on my wife4 ,i promised her that ,i would not drink1 but that promise was broken time after time4 ,within this year1 in the week of prayer1 ,i attended the prayer-meetings1 asked prayers for me1 and on the night following1 ,i erected the family altar1 which had for four years been neglected1 and1 thank ,god1 it is there yet4 ,i am now trusting in the promise that ,he will not let his children be tempted beyond what they are able to endure4 ,a ,,wonderful ,,cure4 ,an earnest ,christian woman who believed the ,lord greater than any earthly physician1 cries1 ,o1 praise the ,lord4 ,he hath delivered me in six troubles1 and in the seventh he hath not forsaken me4 ,and the seventh was the worst4 ,by the help of eight physicians1 and in answer to prayer1 partly of this meeting1 a fearful tumor has been taken from me weighing twelve pounds1 with three gallons of water in the sack4 ,o1 praise the ,lord1 for ,he is good1 and his mercy endureth forever4 ,this case was one of extraordinary risk and apparently impossible achievement2 but the ,lord gave faith to try1 and skill to win the victory4 ,no earthly power could have dared the venture4 ,,given ,,up4 ,our pastor1 after four months' sickness1 preached to us last evening the most solemn sermon ,i ever heard1 and says he was raised up in answer to prayer4 ,the physicians gave him up several times1 and say they have never known such an instance of recovery4 ,,chains ,,broken ,,at ,,last4 ,long months1 week by week1 ,i have asked you to pray that my husband might be saved from the eternal doom of a drunkard4 ,god has mercifully given him strength to break the fetters that bound him fast4 ,,better ,,than ,,we ,,expected4 ,we asked your prayers2 they have been answered4 ,they were answered more and better than we had hoped or dreamed they could be4 ,,prayer ,,answered ,,for ,,employment4 ,a foreigner without means and friendless tried in vain for ten months to succeed in finding some employment4 ,he requested your prayers to ,god1 and ,god answered4 ,in less than eighteen hours a splendid position was offered to him4 ,he and his wife give thanks1 and pray that they may devote their lives usefully to the cause of ,god who has been so good to them4 ,,found ,,employment4 ,god has answered our united prayers1 and given employment to his child4 ,,an ,,old ,,lady ,,saved ,,from ,,little ,,annoyances4 ,your prayers have been heard and answered in mercy4 ,the old lady has not been quite so much annoyed4 ,thank ,god for some peace for the aged one1 not able to bear what younger people can1 that go out into the world and can find relief4 ,i thank my heavenly ,father for his loving- kindness and tender mercy for those that cry to him in trouble4 ,,insanity ,,dispelled4 ,i sent a petition months ago1 for prayers for an insane husband4 ,your prayers have been answered4 ,he has rapidly recovered4 ,,reclaimed4 ,i must ask you to return thanks with me that your prayers have been answered4 ,an intemperate brother has been reclaimed4 ,,restored ,,to ,,health4 ,one month since1 ,i requested prayer specially for my own family4 ,my oldest son1 who was then sick1 has been restored to his usual health4 ',the prayer of faith hath indeed saved the sick4' ,,temptations ,,removed4 ,some months ago ,i asked your prayers for a son in college1 amid great temptations4 ,i desire to give thanks that those temptations have been removed4 ,,the ,,heart ,,of ,a ,,clergyman ,,turned ,,from ,,thoughts ,,of ,,ambition4 ,i sent a request to you for a young man1 who was called1 and eminently fitted for the ministry1 but was tempted1 by ambition1 not to listen to the divine call1 and obstacles had hedged his way somewhat4 ,after ,i requested your prayers in his behalf1 this temptation was removed1 and nearly one hundred persons were converted in the church which was under his care4 ,a ,,grateful ,,tribute4 ,for a long time ,i have been the subject of personal affliction1 caused by two internal tumors of the worst type4 ,speedy death seemed inevitable2 yet there was a little hope that a surgical operation might possibly remove the difficulty and prolong my day4 ,to this hope ,i clung1 submitted to the operation1 and it was a success4 ,to the earnest prayers of ,christian people is due this grateful acknowledgment4 ,,was ,a ,,perfect ,,slave ,,to ,,liquor4 ,please return thanks to our kind ,heavenly ,father for this answer to prayer4 ,all last ,winter requests were sent in for a gentleman1 a perfect slave to liquor4 ,those prayers were answered1 and he is attending church regularly1 striving to do what is right to please his ,heavenly ,master4 ,,always ,,answered4 ,several times in years past ,i have asked for the prayers of this meeting1 and always found them answered4 ,,cured ,,of ,,epilepsy4 ,i wrote you to aid me by your prayers1 that my afflicted son1 who was troubled with epilepsy1 might be cured4 ,thanks be to the ,heavenly ,father1 he is better4 ,,almost ,,lost4 ,your prayers and mine for my son have been answered4 ,he was almost lost1 on the downward road of intemperance4 ,he has now reformed4 ,a ,,situation ,,obtained ,,by ,,prayer4 ,yesterday ,i sent a request that ,god would give me sustaining grace and abiding faith1 and in his own good time give me a situation where ,i might be able to support my family4 ,in that very afternoon1 ,i made a contract of #a1bjj a year4 ,praise the ,lord4 ,a ,,bountiful ,,blessing4 ,some time ago ,i solicited your prayers for a blessing on my services1 and never1 in all my life before have ,i been blessed as since that time4 ',tis truly wonderful2 it has seemed as if ,i must have become some one else1 and that it could not longer be me speaking with such boldness1 and apparent success4 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1 and all that is within me1 bless his holy name4 ,,saved ,,from ,,the ,,company ,,of ,a ,,bad ,,lover4 ,a week ago ,i begged you to pray for my daughter1 who had given her heart to an unworthy man1 praying that ,god might guide her to see him as he is1 and turn her love from him4 ,she is a child of ,god4 ,in answer1 ,god has caused a rupture between them4 ,,away ,,from ,,home1 ,,but ,,not ,,away ,,from ,,god4 ,some weeks since ,i sent in a request for prayer for my sons who had fallen victims to intemperance and vice4 ,my heart rejoices to-day in the hope that it has4 ,two who left home1 and had gone to distant cities to seek employment1 have written me to pray that they may be able to forsake sin in all its forms1 and come to ,christ and be ,christians4 ,one of them was skeptical when he left home4 ,the one remaining at home has resolved to quit drinking4 ,,god ,,always ,,answers ,,believing ,,prayer4 ,your prayers asked on several occasions have all been graciously answered4 ,return thanks unto the ,lord that sendeth mercy4 ,,the ,,hardest ,,heart ,,yields ,,at ,,last4 ,several years since your prayers were solicited in behalf of one who seemed given over to hardness of heart and reprobacy of mind4 ,since that time there has been some reform in his life4 ,god only knows how far those prayers have been answered in restraining grace4 ,last week he said to the friend who had solicited your prayers for him1 ',i wish you would ask ,fulton ,street prayer-meeting to pray again for me4 ,i believe it did me good4' ,,up ,,from ,,the ,,lowest ,,depths4 ,one year ago ,i wrote you respecting prayer for my husband4 ,he has since been reclaimed from the lowest depths of a drunkard's life1 and is now a member of the ,christian church4 ,thanks be to ,god1 the giver of all good4 ,,saved ,,and ,,honored4 ,almost three years ago ,i asked you to pray for a young man that was wandering from ,god4 ,thank ,god1 your and my prayers were answered4 ,he is now an active ,christian1 a superintendent of the ,sabbath school1 and a most zealous member of the ,young ,men's ,christian ,association of this place4 ,,almost ,,persuaded4 ,some weeks since ,i requested prayer for a member of this ,institution who was 'almost persuaded' to be a ,christian4 ,thanks to our ,father1 and to those who have offered prayer in her behalf1 she has been altogether persuaded1 and has united with the ,lord's people4 ,,answered ,,the ,,same ,,day4 ,you received a letter yesterday4 ,my husband rose for prayers the same night4 ,,oh1 ,,how ,,precious4 ,i wrote five months since for prayers for myself1 and ,i now write to say that ,i have found my ,savior very precious to my soul4 ,,praying ,,for ,a ,,pastor4 ,several months ago ,i wrote asking you to pray for a feeble church in need of a pastor4 ,since then ,i am happy to say that this church has been blessed and we now have a pastor4 ,a ,,telegram ,,of ,,prayer4 ,an incident was related at one of the meetings by a clergyman who had written a telegram asking for prayers4 ,god heard it before it was sent4 ,when we were in ,switzerland1 my daughter was taken very ill1 so that the doctor despaired of her life4 ,i felt the need of sympathy and help and prayer1 and ,i made up my mind that ,i would send a telegraphic dispatch to this meeting1 where ,i had so often united with you in prayer4 ,i wrote the dispatch and was prepared to send it1 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 life1 and ,i fell on my knees in devout thanksgiving for the assurance that ,god gave me that he had heard and answered our prayers1 for we had prayed for that dear daughter's life4 ,there lay the telegram ready to be sent4 ,there ,i was waiting and praying4 ,in less than half an hour my wife came into the room and said1 ',there is a change for the better in our daughter1' and the telegram was never sent1 though ,i believe the writing of it was the prayer that ,god answered4 ,,he ,,did ,,not ,,keep ,,his ,,promise1 ,,but ,,god ,,did4 ,a remarkable instance of how ,god keeps his promises and is faithful1 and how man often forgets to keep his1 and at last receives deserved punishment for his thanklessness to ,god1 was recently related in the ,fulton ,street prayer-meeting4 ,a very urgent case was presented by a friend4 ,he said3 ,a friend of mine is seeking ,jesus4 ,a little while ago his only child lay near death4 ,he prayed ,god to restore her to health1 promising to serve the ,lord for the rest of his life if the child's life was spared4 ,his daughter recovered1 but the man forgot the promise he had made and sought not after ,god4 ,in a very little while the child was suddenly taken sick again1 and almost as suddenly died4 ,the father remembered his vows1 and feels that this is ,god's solemn warning to him to seek the ,savior4 ,a ,,double ,,prayer ,,answered4 ,at the ,fulton ,street prayer-meeting a number of remarkable cases were related of real answers to prayer for recovery to health1 and obtaining of positions4 ,i must tell you how ,god has been answering prayer1 for his glory and for your encouragement4 ,your prayers were asked for a sick wife4 ,she was thought by the doctors to be beyond recovery1 but in response to prayer ,god spared her life1 and she and her husband returned their heartfelt thanks to ,him4 ,but there was another trouble4 ,the husband had long needed employment1 and was in great pecuniary distress4 ,he had been praying for help1 beseeching the ,lord to open up a way for him4 ,but help did not come1 and the cloud seemed darker1 and the poor man got discouraged4 ,friends begged him to hope on1 and not to give up his trust in that ,god who1 in answer to prayer1 had raised his sick wife to health4 ,he continued to pray1 and on the long1 dark night1 morning at last dawned4 ,he is now in a good position1 and sends a request to friends to thank ,god with him for this two-fold goodness of the ,lord4 ,,how ,,the ,,lord ,,blessed ,,an ,,old ,,advertisement4 ,i had another acquaintance who was also greatly distressed4 ,with a wife and family to care for1 and all his means gone1 and no prospect of employment1 he was in trouble indeed4 ,we induced him to present his case for prayer here1 as it would encourage him to have others pray for him4 ,then we inserted an advertisement in one of the daily papers1 offering his services1 hoping the ,lord would bless the means used and answer prayer4 ,day by day passed1 but no response came4 ,some two weeks after the advertisement was inserted1 a merchant picked up an old paper1 and noticing the advertisement1 showed it to his partner1 remarking1 ',why1 this is just the man we need4' ,observing the old date on the paper1 his partner said he thought it would be too late to respond2 but the trial was made4 ,the man was requested to call1 and proved to be just what these merchants had been wishing for1 and was very quickly engaged4 ,he feels that the ,heavenly ,father who cares for the sparrows1 undoubtedly met his need1 and that all the circumstances connected with the case were providential4 ,,hating ,,the ,,accursed ,,drink4 ,a brother rose in the meeting and said1 ,i believe it is ,god's will that ,i should tell you how ,he saved me1 about two years since4 ,i came into the meeting when it was held in the old church1 and was at the time under the influence of liquor4 ,the missionary took me into the gallery and talked with me1 and prayed with me1 and ,god heard prayer and saved me4 ,i became a new man in ,christ1 and have lost all appetite for drink2 ,i hate the accursed stuff4 ,a ,,drunkard ,,for ,,thirty ,,years4 ,another told a remarkable story of his life3 ,i was a drunkard for thirty years1 and ,i tried all kinds of means to get free1 but all failed4 ,i pledged myself over and over again1 and swore off many a time4 ,at last1 ,jesus met me at the mission meeting1 and he saved me4 ,he took away the appetite for drink from me4 ,i am a different man2 ,i am tempted in various ways at times1 but when tempted ,i think of ,jesus and look to ,him1 and ,he saves me4 ,,the ,,hopeless ,,one ,,brought ,,home4 ,a pastor related the incident of the conversion of a man who had disgraced his family1 and all through drink4 ,all the people in the village where he lived regarded him as a hopeless case4 ,but he was prayed for1 and one night in answer to an appeal to those desiring ,christ to rise1 he rose4 ,he soon became a new man1 and a steadfast soldier of the ,cross1 completely delivered from his hopeless situation1 and all his appetites taken away4 ,,no ,,man ,,can ,,pluck ,,them ,,out ,,of ,,my ,,father',s ,,hand4 ,a brother says1 ,jesus says this1 and ,i rest just there4 ,a year ago ,i was in ,philadelphia4 ,i had resolved not to drink any liquor that day1 but my resolution was soon broken4 ,in the evening as ,i wandered the streets1 that voice of ,god1 ',turn ye1 turn ye1' gave me great uneasiness4 ,although ,i tried hard not to go1 yet the ,spirit was at work within me1 and against my will led me to the meetings of the ,young ,men's ,christian ,association4 ,when the call came for those desiring prayers1 ,i felt that it was my last call1 and ,i pushed forward and rose4 ,friends prayed with me1 and that night1 as ,i pleaded for mercy1 the burden of my sin was lifted and ,i was free4 ,christ took the appetite for drink away1 and ,he has kept me ever since1 and will keep me to the end1 for ,he says1 ',fear not1 for ,i have redeemed thee2 ,i have called thee by thy name2 thou art mine4' ,oh6 ,i know ,he won't let me go4 ,,answer ,,to ,,prayer ,,in ,,temporal ,,matters4 ,a speaker said at one meeting1 ,god answers prayer in temporal matters4 ,in a ,western college1 at a time when the last morsels of food had been eaten1 and some had to go away from the table empty1 four of the number retired to pray1 and before they had ceased praying relief came4 ,provisions in large quantities were received1 thus verifying the old promise1 ',before they call ,i will answer4' ,,the ,,lord ,,proved ,,true4 ,the ,lord reigns1 another exclaimed1 ,i have proved that during my long life6 ,it has looked dark very often1 and ,i have been in difficult places1 but again and again the ,lord has brought me through triumphantly4 ,i have found the promise true4 ,trust in the ,lord1 and do good1 so shalt thou dwell in the land1 and verily thou shalt be fed4 ,a ,,little ,,boy',s ,,question4 ,a brother related a touching incident which occurred in ,brooklyn4 ,a little boy asked his father at the dinner table1 ',papa1 why don't you read the ,bible8' ,the father was a passionate man1 and was about driving the boy out of his presence1 but his anger made the little fellow weep4 ,that brought tears to the mother's eyes1 and then the father followed suit4 ,the boy's tears moved him1 and the question struck his heart2 and father and mother1 up to that hour unconverted1 were soon on their way to the prayer-meeting1 where they found ,jesus4 ,a ,,little ,,girl',s ,,question4 ,a touching little story1 with eternal results in it1 was told at one of the meetings1 illustrating that word of ,god's book1 ,a little child shall lead them4 ,a dress-maker called on a very wealthy lady in a city not far from ,new ,york1 and took with her her little girl1 five years old4 ,the lady took a fancy to the child1 and showed her over the house4 ,she expressed great admiration at all she saw1 and1 particularly attracted by the carpet1 said to the lady3 ',why1 ,i should think ,jesus must come here very often1 it is such a nice house1 and such a beautiful carpet--,he must come here very often4 ,he comes to our house1 and we have no carpet2 ,i am sure ,he must come here very often1 doesn't ,he8' ,the lady not answering1 the child repeated the question1 when the reply came1 with deep emotion1 ,i am afraid not4 ,the child left1 but ,god's message was delivered4 ,the lady related the incident to her husband in the evening1 and both were led to seek the ,savior4 ,,god ,,cared ,,for ,,me4 ,at a meeting a young man in broken ,english1 said3 ,if any man ought to believe in prayer1 ,i ought to4 ,my friends turned me out of my home1 because ,i was seeking for ,christ4 ,i was too much ,christian my landlady said4 ,i told her ,i wished ,i was all ,christian4 ,it was seven o'clock in the evening when she refused to let me come into the house4 ,i went then to the prayer-meeting in ,water ,street2 we had such a good meeting1 that ,i quite forgot that ,i had no place to sleep4 ,the services over1 ,i found it was raining fast1 and ,i had no place to which to go4 ,i went back into the room1 and kneeling at one of the benches1 ,i begged ,god to give me a place to rest4 ,i did not go home my usual way that night1 but on the way ,i took ,i met an old friend1 and walking with him to his house he begged me to stay the night1 as he did not like to be alone4 ,i staid there that night1 though ,i had never told him of my condition4 ,what was it but an answer to prayer4 ,many a time since has ,god thus provided for my wants4 ,o friends1 let your heart go out1 for ,him1 then ,he will never let you want4 ,,the ,,blind ,,can ,,see4 ,said another1 ,i came here yesterday to ask you to pray for my sister4 ,she has been sick some time1 and then she lost her sight4 ,i did not get an opportunity to present my request because so many took part2 but ,i thought ,i would just take my sister's case to ,jesus1 remembering that 'the prayer of faith shall save the sick4' ,in the afternoon ,i found her in sad need of sleep4 ,i told her just to look to ,jesus1 because it was written of ,him1 ',so ,he giveth ,his beloved sleep4' ,we prayed together1 and ,i left her in a profound slumber1 ',this morning when ,i called on her she could see me4' ,friends1 the ,lord does answer prayer4