The Wonders of Prayer
by
Various
Part 5 out of 7
Dorothea Trudel was a worker in flowers, and in time came to have many
workers under her, and when she was about thirty-seven years of age,
four or five of her workers fell sick. The sickness resisted all
treatment, grew worse, appeared to be hopeless. She was a deep, earnest
Christian, and while diligent and unselfish as a nun, yet her anxiety
for her work people drew her to earnest prayer and study of the
Scriptures for relief. Like a sudden light, she says, the well known
prayer of the Epistle of James, 5: 14, 15, flashed upon her.
"If medical skill was unavailing, was there not prayer? And could not
the same Lord who chose to heal through medicines, also heal without
them? Was he necessarily restricted to the one means? There was a time
when his healing power went forth directly; might it not be put forth
directly still?"
Agitated by these questions, she sought help in prayer, and then
kneeling by the bedside of these sick people, she prayed for them. They
recovered; and the thought that at first had startled her, became now
the settled conviction of her life.
Her reputation spread; others who were sick, came to her for relief, but
she sought only the recovery of the patients by prayer alone. Many
recovered. Her doors were besieged, and at last she consented to receive
invalids at her home, from compassion. By degrees her own house grew
into three, and at last it became in fact a hospital.
She lived a life of humility, and perfect simplicity, yet strength of
faith, and at her death her work was, and still is, carried on by Mr.
Zeller, who also has had marvelous successes in answer to prayer.
REMARKABLE CURES.
There have been gathered together in her biography, well authenticated
cases of answer to prayer, when the patient was considered wholly
incapable of help from medical skill.
"There was one of a stiff knee, that had been, treated in vain by the
best physicians in France, Germany and Switzerland; one of an elderly
man who could not walk, and had been given up by his physicians, but who
soon dispensed with his crutches; a man came with a burned foot, and the
surgeons said it was a case of '_either amputation or death_' and he
also was cured; one of the leading physicians of Wurtemburg, testifies
to the cure of a hopeless patient of his own; another remained six
weeks, and says he saw all kinds of sicknesses healed; cancers and
fevers have been treated with success; epilepsy and insanity more
frequently than any other form of disease.
"Neither is the life and experience of Dorothea Trudel an exceptional
one. Pastor Blumenhart of Wurtemberg, has had his home crowded for years
with patients, and cures occur constantly.
"The mother of Dorothea Trudel was an eminently pious woman, and it was
her custom, when any of her children were ill, to bring them in prayer
before the feet of the Heavenly Physician, as Dorothea herself says:
'Our mother had no cure except prayer, and though at that time we did
not understand, yet since then we have found it out, that it was the
healing hand of the Saviour alone, that helped and restored us.'"
CURED OF THE SMALL-POX.
"Even when I had the small-pox, and became blind, no doctor was sent
for, and no one was told of it. Our father was not at home (he, father,
most unfortunately, was not a religious person); and when our mother
asked him to come, telling him how ill I was, he would not believe it,
and preferred to remain with his friends. Our mother, however, was not
in the least vexed or excited; she prayed for him, for all of us,
especially for her sick child, and before my father came home, my eyes
were re-opened."
CURED OF SEVERE FITS.
"Once again, one of my brothers had a fit brought on through fright. It
was a most violent and painful attack, and we were greatly alarmed. This
time, also, our father was out; and our mother said to us, I know this
fearful illness, my children; it is one of the heaviest trials which
could have, occurred, but Jesus, who cured that lunatic boy, can heal
our child. Do not speak of the attack to any one; we will go only to
Jesus about it; and then she prayed with us.
"Not long after, a second fit came on, and again our father was taking
his pleasure at the public house. This time mother told him what had
happened in his absence; but he laughed at it, and said, 'I don't
believe it; you were frightened at the child having bad dreams.'
"His wife replied, 'For the sake of your unbelief, I hope that the child
will have another attack whilst you are at home, so that you may witness
it yourself, then you will believe; I pray God, however, that this may
be the last time.'
"It came to pass about a week after, that another most dreadful fit came
on; the boy foamed violently, and threw himself about in fearful
convulsions; on this occasion the father was present, and he was
convinced of the nature of the attack, and alarmed at what he saw. _But
the mother's prayer was heard, for the disease never showed itself again
for thirty-four years, while both parents lived_."
BUYING A COW.
"Our father going away abroad, he sold one of our two cows, and took the
proceeds with him. (He, the father, was a reckless spendthrift, idle,
and fond of the public inn.) A rich neighbor directly offered to loan us
money enough to buy another; this kind proposal we gratefully accepted.
Although we did not understand much about bargains of this kind, yet the
cow we purchased served us so remarkably, that we were obliged to
acknowledge whence the blessing came. In Summer we could sell fourteen
measures of milk; in Winter, twelve to the dairyman, so that the
borrowed money was speedily paid.
"At the same time the cow performed the farm work required of it, with
such strength and quickness, we were astonished. When our father, on his
return, heard us speaking with pleasure of this animal, he became so
enraged with the poor thing, that he was determined to sell it, and
actually _offered it at half its value_.
"The faithless children were in a continual fright. When any one came
near the house, we thought that we were assuredly going to lose our cow.
But mother exhorted us not to be so fearful; for, said she, 'If your
father could do always as he likes, none of you would be alive now; but
God will never let him go any farther than he sees to be for our good.
Believe me, God, who has given us this cow, will keep it for us as long
as we need it.'
"And so it turned out, for the cow never left us whilst our mother was
alive; and when we were all provided for, a purchaser came, who paid a
high price for the creature, having heard of its wonderful powers from
the man to whom we sold the milk for so many years; but no sooner was
the animal taken to its new home, than the wonder ceased, and _this cow
became no better than any other_."
A LADY CURED, WHO HAD BEEN REJECTED FROM AN ASYLUM.
"Madam M----, the mother of twelve children, had been quite shattered in
mind by the death of her husband, and had been actually sent away
uncured from an asylum. She came to Dorothea's home, was blessed in
remembrance in her prayers, _and after seven weeks went away perfectly
cured_. She acknowledged the Lord was indeed her helper, and she has
remained well to this day."
THE SOUL CURED AS WELL AS THE BODY.
On many occasions she experienced wonderful help from God, who, while
performing marvels for the body, which is the least important part,
accomplishes what is far greater, even the salvation of souls.
"Among others, one named B. T----, went to her, who had been suffering
for six months from a disease of his bones, and had been for a
lengthened period in a Swiss hospital, under medical treatment. At
length he, by the advice of Christian friends, sought for relief from
his malady at Dorothea's house. His care began in the first week of his
visit, and in a few weeks he was completely recovered."
On one occasion a young artisan came, in whom cancer had made such
progress as to render any approach to him almost unbearable.
"At the Bible lessons, this once frivolous man, now an earnest inquirer,
learned where the improvement must begin; and from the day that he
confessed his sins against God and man, the disease abated. Some time
afterwards he acknowledged one sin he had hitherto concealed, and then
he speedily recovered his bodily health, and returned to his home cured
in spirit also."
"A lady in S---- had so injured her knee by a fall, that for weeks she
lay in the greatest agony. The doctors declared that dropsy would
supervene; but the Heavenly Physician fulfilled those promises which
will abide until the end of the world; and by prayer, and the laying on
of Dorothea's hand, the knee was cured in twenty-four hours, and the
swelling vanished."
PRAYER, NOT MESMERISM.
"Several people have maintained that her work was one of mesmerism; and
when once she was asked to visit an out patient, she earnestly implored
the Lord _not_ to heal this invalid through her means if she employed
mesmerism; but if not, to permit recovery. The woman was cured in a
short time, though Dorothea had never entered her house, and had,
therefore, no opportunity of placing herself in a mesmeric relation to
this patient."
HELP IN PECUNIARY AFFAIRS.
"In pecuniary affairs, also, the Lord was their helper. Many times
something had to be paid, and they had no means wherewith to meet the
claims. Once, God actually sent aid by means of an enemy, who offered
money; another time, _three thousand francs_ came from Holland, just as
they were needed, and also unexpected on a third occasion they were
about to borrow money to pay for bread, when two hundred and fifty
francs arrived."
THE FAITH LIFE OF MR. ZELLER.
After the death of Dorothea Trudel, the work at Maennedorf, instituted by
her, has been furthered and carried on by Mr. Samuel Zeller, who had
been her associate. He has published two reports, which contain many
instances of answers to prayer, showing that the Lord still gave blessed
results, and rewarded their faithful trust.
"No disease is found to be more obstinate than epilepsy, yet several
instances are recorded of patients being restored to perfect health.
Persons afflicted with mental disorder and convulsions are frequently
brought to Maennedorf, and many return cured or benefited.
"On one occasion, a lady who had been afflicted with constant headache
for five years, found her disorder removed speedily under the influence
of prayer. In other cases the passion for strong drink was taken away;
fever more or less disappeared; and the subjects of various kinds of
chronic diseases, even some apparently far gone in consumption, have
found their strength return to them under the same influence.
"Unhappy victims of spiritualist delusions have found deliverance at the
mercy-seat; and there, too, many in the bondage of sin have rejoiced in
a present Saviour.
"One patient afflicted with convulsions, who came several years
successively without being cured, at last confessed that she possessed a
book of 'charms' in which she put some degree of, faith, and she had
recommended them to others. She was led to see the folly and sin of such
things, and soon after the book was burned she was restored to health."
Many cases have occurred where the suffering patient was utterly unable
to come to Maennedorf, but prayer has been offered there in their behalf,
and the answers have been as frequent as with the cases which have come
under the same roof.
"A brother living at R---- was seized with a violent fever, and appeared
to be at death's door. Intelligence having been sent to Maennedorf,
united prayer was made in his behalf; and very soon afterwards a
telegraphic message announced that he was recovering. On this occasion
the promise was remembered with joy,' Before they call I will answer.'"
"Perhaps one of the most striking cases of blessing recorded is that of
a lady, who was subject to fits of insanity so violent that they
threatened her life, and who was so far conscious of her miserable
condition, that happening to go into a meeting where she heard God's
word, she requested to be prayed for. A friend wrote to Maennedorf,
describing the case, and asking prayer on her behalf; and only a
fortnight later, the same friend communicated the happy news of her
recovery. After a fit of unusual severity, she fell into a deep sleep,
from which she awoke in her right mind; more than that, she learned to
believe in the _Lord Jesus_, and rejoiced in His love."
"A patient in this institution, who arrived unconverted, and was thought
to be in a dying state, heard the good news of Salvation, and was
enabled to rejoice in the Lord, through simple trust in Him; and from
that moment she began to rapidly recover from her disorder, and soon
became strong enough to nurse another patient."
Another remarkable case was that of a young girl who, in consequence of
the breaking off of a marriage engagement, manifested decided symptoms
of insanity. She not only recovered from her malady, but found the
Saviour.
THE BLIND RESTORED TO SIGHT.
Prayer was asked for a young lady who was wholly blind. A letter
received soon after brought this joyful news:
"In answer to your prayer for our niece, I must thankfully tell you, her
eyes are so much better that the Doctor this morning told her to thank
God for having saved her from the most dangerous kind of cataract.
"While examining her eyes, the Doctor, who is a Jew, took up a book
lying near, and opening it told her to try and read, which she was able
to do with ease. It was a hymn book, and the first words on which her
eyes fell were these:
'Christ Jesus, glorious King of Light,
Great Conqueror, David's heir,
Come now and give my blind eyes sight,
O Saviour, hear my prayer!'
"'That will do,' said the Doctor, 'you are much better.'
"I for my part hastened to my chamber, and shutting the door fell on my
knees with a cry of joyful praise."
Threats were made by many of the villagers that they would burn up the
house for this institution, saying all manner of unreasonable things.
"You can not prevent this by prayer," said one writer, "we have taken an
oath to do it." Mr. Zeller remained quiet, taking no notice of these
threats, but quietly trusted in the Lord. Though other anonymous letters
came frequently, yet the threats were never carried out.
It will he seen from this that, blessed as was the work of faith, still
the spirit of persecution was permitted by the Lord only to make his own
children rely more confidently on Him, and that he might fulfill more
positively his promise, "_No evil shall befall thee, no harm come nigh
thy dwelling_."
THE BANK OF FAITH. GOD THE GUARDIAN OF THE POOR.
Perhaps the providence of God in supplying the wants of the poor never
was more closely watched and better described than has been done by the
late William Huntington, formerly a minister in London, England, who, in
a book with the quaint title of the "Bank of Faith," tells how, in his
course of life, day by day the Lord guarded him, helped him, and
provided for every need, even the most trifling. It is a precious record
of faith and full of true encouragement. He answers as follows this
question: "_Should we fray for temporal blessings?_"
"Some have affirmed that we have no warrant to pray for temporal
blessings, but, blessed be God, he has given us '_the promise of the
life that now is, and of that which is to come_.' Yea, the promise of
all things pertaining to life and Godliness, and whatever God has
promised we may warrantably pray for.
"Those that came to our Saviour in the days of his flesh, prayed chiefly
for temporal mercies. The blind prayed for sight, the lepers for a cure,
the lame far the use of their limbs, and the deaf for the use of their
ears, and surely had they prayed unwarrantably, their prayers would not
have been so miraculously answered.
"Elijah prayed for a temporal mercy when he prayed for rain, and it is
clear that God answered him. Elisha works a miracle to produce a
temporal mercy when he healed the barren plains of Jericho."
Is my reader a poor Christian? Take it patiently. God maketh the poor as
well as the rich. Envy not the rich. Riches are often seen to be a
canker-worm at the root of a good man's comfort, a snare in his life, an
iron pillar at the back of his pride. A gar prayed to be fed with food
convenient for him, and you may pray for the same, and what God gives
you in answer to your prayer you will be thankful for.
That state is surely best which keeps you dependent on God and thankful
to Him, and so you shall find it to the end. _Go on, poor Christian,
trusting in the providence of God_.
THE LIFE OF HIS CHILD SAVED.
"My eldest daughter now living fell sick at about five or six months
old, and was wasted to a skeleton. She had a doctor to attend her, but
she got worse and worse. It seemed as if God intended to bereave us of
her, for he brought her even to death's door.
"My wife and I have sat up with her night after night, watching the
cradle, expecting every breath to be her last, for two or three weeks
together. At last I asked the Doctor if he thought there was any hope of
her life. He answered, no, he would not flatter me. _She would surely
die_.
"This distressed me beyond measure, and as he told me to do no more for
her, I left my room, went to my garden in the evening, and, in my little
tool house, wrestled hard with God in prayer for the life of the child.
"I went home satisfied that God had heard me; _and in three days the
child was as well as she is now_, and ate as heartily. This effectually
convinced me that all things were possible with God."
GOD SENT SUPPLIES.
"When I had been three weeks out of employment, I found a new place, and
after pawning all my best clothes to pay expenses, when the cart set us
down at the new home on Monday morning, I had the total sum of _ten
pence half-penny left,_ to provide for myself, my wife and child, till
the ensuing Saturday night.
"Though I was thus poor, yet I knew God had made me rich in faith. We
went on our knees beseeching the Almighty to send relief, as he in his
wisdom thought proper.
"The next evening my landlord's daughter, and son-in-law, came up to see
their mother, and brought some baked meat, which they had just taken out
of their oven, and brought for me and my wife to sup along with them.
"These poor people knew nothing of us, nor of our God. The next day in
the evening they did the same, and kept sending victuals and garden
stuff to us all the week long."
THE GOD WHO SUPPLIED ELIJAH BY A RAVEN SUPPLIED ME WITH FISH.
One of the most beautiful instances ever known, which almost identically
repeats the Bible over again, especially in the instance of Elijah as he
was fed in an unseen way by the hand of God, is given in the life of Mr.
Huntington. He was wholly unable to provide for his family, and could
depend only on God.
"As I went over a bridge, I cast my eye on the right-hand side, and
there lay a _very large eel_ on the mud by the river side, apparently
dead. I caught hold of it and soon found it was only asleep. With
difficulty I got it safe out of the mud upon the grass, and then carried
it home. My little one was very fond of it, and it richly supplied all
her wants that day. But at night I was informed the eel was all gone, so
the next day afforded me the same distress and trouble as the preceding
day had done.
"The next morning, as I entered the garden gate, I saw a _partridge_ lie
dead on the walk. I took it up and found it warm; so I carried it home,
and it richly supplied the table of our little one that day.
"Again the next day still found me unprovided, and brought forth fresh
work for faith and prayer. However, the morrow took thought for the
things of itself, for when I came to take the scythe in my hand to mow
the short grass, I looked into the pond, and there I saw three very
large carp lying on the water apparently sick. When the master came I
told him of it. He went and looked and said they were dead, and told me
I might have them if I would, for they were not in season. However, they
came in due season to me. _And I found, morning after morning, there lay
two or three of these fish at a time, dead, just as I wanted them, till
I believe there was not one live fish remaining, six inches long, in the
pond, which was near three hundred feet in length._
"I could not help weeping, admiring the goodness of God. As I studied
the Bible, I clearly perceived that the most eminent saints of the Bible
were brought into _low_ circumstances, as Jacob, David, Moses, Joseph,
Job and Jeremiah, and all the apostles, in order that the hand of
providence might be watched."
GOD TAKES AWAY THE SNOW.
"In the Winter the Lord sent a very deep snow, which lay a considerable
time on the ground. We were brought into great straits, as our wheat was
now of no use to us, and we could obtain no wood, the landlady saying
that as the snow was likely to last some time, she must keep what little
she had left, and could sell us no more.
"There was before us the fear of great suffering with the cold. I begged
of God that he might _that night take away the snow_, and send us
something to burn, that our little one might not perish with the cold,
_and the next morning the snow was all gone_."
SIGHT RESTORED.
"A violent humor came into my eyes, and for some months I was in danger
of losing my sight. Both myself and my second daughter had it more or
less for several years.
"In answer to prayer, God healed her eyes and mine too, so that our
sight was perfectly recovered."
PRAYING FOR TEA.
"As the life of faith consists in bearing the cross of Christ, we must
not expect to be long without trials. Providence soon frowned on me
again, and I got behindhand, as usual.
"This happened at a time when my wife was about delivery of child, and
we were destitute of those necessaries of life which are needful at such
times. The nurse came: we told her there was no tea in the house. My
wife replied, '_Set the kettle on, even if there is not_.'
"The nurse said, '_You have no tea, nor can you get any_.' My wife
replied, '_Set on the kettle_.' She did so, and before it boiled, a
woman (with whom at that time we had no acquaintance) came to the door,
and told the nurse that she had brought some tea as a present for my
wife."
THE LORD PAID HIS DEBT.
"It was the time of my returning from the north country. I observed that
there were some small debts to be discharged. But the hand of God was
fast closed; this continued for some time: and for all that time, I
watched and observed narrowly.
"At this time there was a special debt due of twenty pounds. This sum
hung long. I looked different ways, and chalked out different roads for
the Almighty to walk in; but his paths were in the deep waters, and his
footsteps were not known; no raven came, neither in the morning, nor in
the evening.
"There was a gentlewoman at my house on a visit, and I asked her if she
had got the sum of twenty pounds in her pocket, telling her at the same
time how much I wanted it. She told me she had not; if she had, I should
have it. A few hours after, the same woman was coming into my study, but
she found it locked, and knocked at the door; I let her in, and she
said, 'I am sorry I disturbed you.' I replied, 'You do not disturb me; I
have been begging a favor of God, and I had just done when you knocked;
and that favor I have now got in faith, and shall shortly have in hand,
and you will see it.'"
"The afternoon of the same day, two gentlemen out of the city came to
see me; and after a few hours of conversation, they left me, and to my
great surprise, each of them at parting put a letter into my hand,
which, when they were gone, _I opened, and found a ten pound note in
each_. I immediately sent for the woman up-stairs, and let her read the
letters, and then sent the money to pay the debt."
It is impossible to give in this page any large portion of the life of
Mr. Huntington, who was rich in faith, and upon whom God showered
abundant answers to prayer. But, like all of us, he, too, suffered
extremely in all the necessities of life, yet ever looked to God above
for help. Of his experience, he says in his own words, after having for
years thoroughly tested the promises and faithfulness of God:
"_A succession of crosses was always followed with perpetual blessings,
for as sure as adversity led the van, so sure prosperity brought up the
rear_.
"_Never, no never, did the Holy Spirit withhold his prevalent
intercession from, me in times of trouble, nor did my God ever turn a
deaf ear to my prayer, or fail to deliver me_."
"_Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him
out of them all_."
* * * * *
THE FAITH OF LITTLE CHILDREN.
HOW GOD HONORS THEIR TRUST, AND ANSWERS THEIR PRAYERS.
GOD KEEPS HOLD OF THE OTHER HAND.
A little boy with his mother was returning from a visit; the night was
very dark, and little could be seen ahead. She led her little boy, by
the hand, who trustingly walked by her side. He had only just begun to
learn and remember the stories of the Bible, and he believed and trusted
everything he heard. After walking for sometime in the darkness, very
silently, he burst out with,
"Mamma, I'm not afraid."
"Why, what makes you feel so."
"_Because, mamma, God keeps hold of the other hand_."
This is the beautiful lesson older ones, too, must learn, the simple,
childlike confidence in God, which gives no fear, no alarm.
The skeptic can never accuse little children of the same theories,
philosophies, imaginations and beliefs which are characteristic of older
heads. The child knows nothing of such books of reason, science or
religion. Many a child who could not read has asked of God and his
prayer has been answered; and when the whole world witnesses a little
child, who in its innocence has been told that God lives, that God loves
him, that God can do everything and will surely hear his prayer, and
then in its care and grief, kneels before the God it trusts, offers its
little prayer, _and the prayer is answered_, let none of maturer minds
ever presume to doubt. The faith of little children is typical of the
very simplest faith wherewith any human being must approach its Creator.
The child never questions, never doubts; but in its simplicity asks, and
God honors the trust. The following incident illustrates the point,
_that not one thing is ere too small for God to consider, or a soul to
bring to him in prayer_.
A CHILD WHOSE LIFE WAS SAVED IN ANSWER TO PRAYER--BY HIS OWN PRAYER THE
LIFE OF HIS SISTER IS SAVED.
One of the most beautiful incidents ever known relating to the faith of
children, and the reward of their trust, is contained in the following
circumstance, personally known to the editor of this book, who was a
participant in the facts.
The only child of a young married couple, living in this city, their
pride, their hope and joy, and the darling of the whole family, was
seized with severe sickness, grew rapidly worse. The grandfather, who
was a skilled physician, was constantly present, ministering in every
way, by every means, but nothing was of any avail. No medicine could
cure, and the child seemed ready to die. No one could think of relief or
knew where to find it. The grandfather, at last, proposed to lay the
case before God, and ask the prayers of His people in the child's
behalf. The mother was only too glad to ask other prayers with her own,
to bring relief. The father, who had hitherto never seriously thought of
religion, was in intense anxiety and despair. Here was his first, his
only child about to be taken away from him, and then came the thought,
is it possible his family life was not to be blessed; his child was in
distress, no human effort was available. At last, he too joined in the
prayer of his wife and father, and bowing before the Great Unknown,
unseen God, he poured out his heart in prayer, saying, "_Lord, if thou
wilt spare my child, wilt give him life, and thus show to me thy power
and will to save, I will never doubt again, and will give thee my
heart"_
A request for prayer was written and sent to the pastor, Dr. William
Adams, of the Madison Square Church. It arrived after church service had
begun; the sexton was unwilling to carry it to the pulpit, as it was
against the rule, but when told he _must, as a life was in great
danger_, he consented, and delivered it to the pastor.
The messenger waited breathlessly, and when in silence the doctor
specifically mentioned the case before him, and asked the Lord to heal
and spare the little one, and comfort the hearts of all, and make it a
witness of his love and power, the messenger accidentally looked at the
clock, and it marked just _quarter to eleven_, A.M.
When prayer was finished he returned home. Arriving at home, he was
astonished to find the child better, its whole condition had changed,
the medicine had taken hold, and the doctor now said everything was so
hopeful the child would surely recover, and it did. But mark the
unparalleled singularity of the scene. The father asked the messenger
the _time_ when the prayer was offered. He replied, "At a _quarter to
eleven."_ The father in astonishment said, "_At that very moment_ the
disease changed, and the doctor said he was better."
The father, who had thus been proving the Lord with this test of prayer
and its identity of time in his answer, was so overwhelmingly convinced
of the real power of prayer, and thereby of the real existence of God,
and that a Christian life was one of facts as well as beliefs, now
finding that the Lord had indeed kept His own promise, he, too, kept his
promise and gave his heart to the Lord, and became henceforth, a
professing Christian.
But there were more wonderful things yet to happen--a period of five
years passed. Other children were added to the family, and one day, the
youngest, a sweet, beautiful girl, was taken suddenly ill with
convulsions. The sickness for days tasked the strength of the mother,
and the skill of the doctor, but no care, ingenuity, or knowledge could
overcome the disease or subdue the pain. The little girl's fits were
severe and distressing, and there were but short intervals between, just
time to come out of one and with a gasp, pass into another still more
terrible. In its occasional moments of reason, it would look piteously
as if mutely appealing, and then the next convulsion would take it and
seem to leave it just at death's door.
All attendants were worn with care, the doctor fairly lived in the house
and forsook all his other business. The clergyman came and comforted the
anxious hearts with words of sympathy and prayer; but her _little
brother Merrill_, (whose own life we have just related,) tender-hearted,
a mere child, scarce seven years of age, who had known of the Lord, and
who believed that He was everywhere and could do everything, was
intensely grieved at "Mamie's" distress, and came at last to his mother
and asked if he could go and "_make a prayer to God for Sissy_." The
mother said, "Go." The little boy went back into his room, and kneeling
humbly by the side of his bed, as he did at his night and morning
prayers, uttered this request:
_"O God, please to bless little sister, she is very sick. Please stop
her fits so she won't have any more. For Jesus' sake, amen."_
He came back, told his mamma what he said, and added: "_Mamma, I don't
think she will have any more_."
Now mark how the Lord honored this simple faith of the little child.
_From that very moment the fits left her. They never returned; and the
child soon entirely recovered_.
Notice the full beauty and instruction of these two incidents: _Little
Merrill's life was saved in answer to prayer; was the means of his
father's salvation, and when he in turn had grown to an age when he
could learn of God, his own prayer was the means of saving his own
sister's life_.
Notice, too, that all earthly available means were used to save each
child, but to no effect. Physicians and parents considered the case
hopeless, and then committed it to the decision of God.
Notice, too, that when little Merrill was so sick, that the mother and
doctor both prayed, yet it was not until his father had also prayed that
the answer came. God meant to honor the faith of the first two, but was
_waiting for the prayer of the third_ ere he granted the request. That
child's sickness was one of the purposes of God. Notice in the second
case, that while father, mother, doctor, the clergyman, and others of
the house were all trusting in prayer, yet the Lord _was waiting for the
prayer of the little brother_, ere he sent the blessing of relief. Such
an incident draws its own conclusion. _Never cease in prayer for
anything which is to God's honor and glory. Use all the possible means
to help God. Where human means are of no avail, commit it to God and
wait in humble resignation. Ask others to pray, too, for the same
object_, that when the answer comes, God may be glorified before the
sight of others as well as your own. When so many are waiting to see if
_God_ will honor his promises, depend upon it, _God will be found
faithful to all his word_.
TRUSTING IN GOD'S PROMISES.
"It was a fierce, wild night in March, and the blustering wind was
blowing, accompanied by the sharp, sleety snow. It was very desolate
without, but still more desolate within the home I am going to describe
to you. The room was large and almost bare, and the wind whistled
through the cracks in the most dismal manner. In one corner of the room
stood an old-fashioned bedstead upon which a woman lay, her emaciated
form showing her to be in the last stage of consumption. A low fire
burned in the large fire-place, and before it a little girl was
kneeling. She had a small testament, and was trying by the dim
fire-light to read a chapter, as was her custom, before going to bed. A
faint voice called to her from the bed, 'Nellie, my daughter, read the
14th chapter of St. John for your Mother.' 'Yes, Mother,' was the reply,
and after turning the leaves a few moments, the child began. All that
long Winter day that poor mother had been tortured with pain and
remorse. She was poor, very poor, and she knew she must die and leave
her child to the mercies of the world. Her husband had died several
years before. Since then she had struggled on, as best she could, till
now she had almost grown to doubt God's promises to the helpless. 'In my
Father's house are many mansions.' 'I go to prepare a place for you.'
Here the little reader paused, and crept to her mother's side. She lay
motionless, with closed eyes, while great hot tears were stealing down
her wasted cheeks. 'Mother, He has a place almost ready for you, hasn't
He.' 'Yes, my child, and I am going very soon, but _He_ will watch over
you, Nellie, when Mother has gone to her last home.'
"The weeks went slowly by to the suffering invalid; but when the violets
were blooming, they made a grave upon the hillside, and laid the weary
body down to rest, but the spirit had gone to the home which Christ
himself had gone to prepare.
"Years passed away. It was sunny May. The little church of Grenville was
crowded. I noticed in one of the seats a lady plainly but neatly
attired. There was nothing remarkable in the face with its mournful
brown eyes, and decided looking mouth and chin. I ransacked my memory to
find who the lady was. Suddenly a vision of the poor widow came. This,
then, was the little girl, little Nellie Mason. 'We will read a part of
the 14th chapter of St. John,' the minister said. 'In my Father's house
are many mansions; I go to prepare a place for you.' The slow,
deliberate tones recalled me from my reverie, and I looked at Nellie.
Her head was bowed, but I could see the tears flowing like rain."
THE FAITH OF A LITTLE CHILD.
An incident most beautiful was told in the Fulton Street prayer meeting
by a converted Jew.
"Journeying in the cars, I was attracted by two little girls, Jewesses.
I asked them if they loved Jesus. To my surprise, they said they did. I
found that their mother was in a seat near by. She had attended some of
the gospel meetings for Jews, and was interested in them. She said her
husband had not been to church or synagogue for eleven years, and she
did not know his views on religion. Her two little girls had attended a
Methodist Sunday school, and there learned of Jesus. A day or so after,
the mother was taken very sick, and remedies failing, the eldest child,
a little over eight years old, said: 'O Mamma, if you will let me pray
to Jesus for you, He can take away your pains and give you sleep.' She
knelt with her sister and prayed in simple words to Jesus to heal her
mother, telling Him that He had so promised to hear prayer. Shortly
after, the mother, after long hours of restlessness and suffering, fell
into a deep sleep and awoke relieved of pain and much refreshed. She
heard from her daughter's lips the story of her faith in Jesus and love
for Him, and then sent for me, begging me to pray for her. I am glad to
tell you that she is now a converted woman, a believer in the Lord Jesus
Christ."
THE WANDERER FOUND.
A mother sent a request for prayer to the Fulton Street prayer-meeting,
that she might hear from him who had long ago left home, and wandered
far away. She had been praying very earnestly for him, and soon she
wrote that she had just heard from him, and heard too that he had become
a Christian and learned to trust in Him.
ARE YOU THERE.
A mother, one morning, gave her two little ones books and toys to amuse
them while she went up-stairs to attend to something. A half hour passed
quietly away, and then one of the little ones went to the foot of the
stairs, and in a timid voice called out, "Mamma, are you there?"
"Yes, darling."
"All right," said the little one, and-went on with her play. By-and-by
the question was repeated, "Mamma, are you there?"
"Yes, darling."
"All right," said the child again, and once more went on with her play.
And this is just the way we should feel towards Jesus. He has gone
up-stairs, to the right hand of God, to attend to some things for us. He
has left us down in this lower room of this world to be occupied here
for a while. But to keep us from being worried by fear or care, He
speaks to us from His word, as that mother spoke to her little ones. He
says to us, "Fear not; I am with thee. I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee." "The Lord will provide."
And so we see how certain it is that God does provide relief in trouble
for those who love and serve Him.
GOD KNOWS THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.
"Mother, I think God always hears when we scrape the bottom of the
barrel," said a little boy to his mother one day. His mother was poor.
They often used up their last stick of wood and their last bit of bread
before they could tell where the next supply was to come from. But they
had so often been provided for in unexpected ways, just when they were
most in need, that the little boy thought _God always heard when they
scraped the bottom of the barrel_. This was only that little fellow's
way of saying what Abraham said when he called the name of the place
where God had delivered him, "Jehovah-Jireh."
GOD'S CARE FOR LITTLE CHILDREN IN LITTLE WANTS.
"I was early taught that God cares for His children, even to regard
their _little_ daily wants. An illustration of my implicit confidence,
which I do not remember ever to have been betrayed, occurred when I was
about ten years of age. I was accustomed to give five cents each Sabbath
at the Sunday School collection for foreign missions. This money was not
given me directly by my parents; but I was allowed to go on an errand,
or to do some little piece of work for a neighbor and thus earn it,
outside of the performance of the duties that naturally fell to my lot
at home. At one time, when I was attending school about a mile from
home, my time out of school was taken up by my walk to and from it and
the chores which necessarily fall to a farmer's boy, so that for some
months I had no opportunity of earning anything. One Sabbath morning, I
dropped my last silver piece into the collection, with a prayer--which I
always offered at such a time--that God would bless it to the heathen,
that some one might be led to Him by it.
"I went home that day with a child's anxiety, feeling that I could not
bear the thought of giving nothing for the heathen on next Sabbath, and
yet not seeing how I could possibly obtain it. That night I asked my
Heavenly Father to provide the money for me. The anxiety was all gone;
for I felt that God would answer. Next morning, when almost at the
school-house, I found a handkerchief in the road, in the corner of which
was securely tied a silver quarter and a silver dime. Instantly my
thoughts flew to the next Sabbath, and to the prayer I had offered. O,
yes! I thought, God has more than answered my prayer; instead of giving
me just enough for next Sabbath, He has given me enough, for seven
Sabbaths.
Then the thought came, somebody lost it; yes, it was my duty to find the
owner, which I did not expect would be difficult, although it was in
town. So I cheerfully gave it up, thinking that 'the Lord will provide'
in some other way. I took it directly to my teacher, and asked her to
find the owner. She made faithful inquiry, but no one was found to claim
it. Who can question this being an answer to prayer, when we think of
the numerous _chances_ against its occurring just as it did."
A CHILD'S PRAYER FOR PAPA.
A drunkard, who had run through his property, returned one night to his
unfurnished house. He entered his empty hall. Anguish was gnawing at his
heart-strings, and language was inadequate to express his agony as he
entered his wife's apartment, and there beheld the victims of his
appetite, his loving wife and a darling child. Morose and sullen, he
seated himself without saying a word; he could not speak; he could not
look up then. The mother said to the little angel at her side, "Come, my
child, it is time to go to bed;" and that little baby, as she was wont,
knelt by her mother's lap and gazing wistfully into the face of her
suffering parent, like a piece of chiseled statuary, slowly repeated her
nightly orison. When she had finished, the child (but four years of age)
said to her mother, "Dear Mother, may I not offer up one more prayer?"
"Yes, yes, my sweet pet, pray;" and she lifted up her tiny hands, closed
her eyes, and prayed: "O God! spare, oh! spare my dear papa!" That
prayer was lifted with electric rapidity to the throne of God. It was
heard on high--it was heard on earth. The responsive "Amen!" burst from
the father's lips, and his heart of stone became a heart of flesh. Wife
and child were both clasped to his bosom, and in penitence he said: "My
child, you have saved your father from the grave of a drunkard. I'll
sign the pledge!"
A LITTLE QUAKER BOY'S PRAYER RIGHT OUT IN MEETING.
A little Quaker boy, about six years old, after sitting, like the rest
of the congregation, in silence, all being afraid to speak first, as he
thought, got up on the seat, and, folding his arms over his breast,
murmured in a clear, sweet voice, just loud enough to be distinctly
heard on the front seat, "I do wish the Lord would make us all gooder,
and gooder, and gooder, till there is no bad left."
WHAT THE LITTLE CHILDREN MAY DO.
At family prayer, little Mary, one evening when all was silent, looked
anxiously in the face of her back-sliding father, who had ceased to pray
in his family, and said to him with quivering lips, "Pa, is God dead?"
"No, my child--why do you ask that?"
"Why, Pa, you never talk to him now as you used to do," she replied.
These words haunted the father until he was mercifully reclaimed.
THE UNBELIEVING FATHER LED TO GO TO CHURCH.
An unbelieving father came home one evening and asked where his little
girl was. "She has gone to bed," said his wife. "I'll just go and give
her one kiss," said the father, for he loved his little daughter dearly.
As he stood at the door of her bedroom, he heard some one praying. It
was his little Jane, and he heard her say, "Do, God Almighty, please
lead daddy to hear Mr. Stowell preach."
She had often asked him to go, and he had always said, "No, no, my
child." After listening to her prayer, he determined, the next time she
asked him, to accompany her, which he did, and heard a sermon which took
his attention and pricked his conscience. On leaving the church, he
clasped the hand of his little girl in his, and said, "Jane, thy God
shall be my God, and thy minister shall be my minister." And the man
became a true follower of the Lord.
A CHILD'S PRAYER FOR RELIEF
An interesting little daughter of a professor in Danville, Kentucky, in
the Summer of 1876, in eating a watermelon, got one of the seeds lodged
in her windpipe. The effort was made to remove it, but proved
ineffectual, and it was thought that the child would have to be taken to
one of the large cities to have an operation performed by a skillful
surgeon. To this she was decidedly opposed, and pleaded with her mamma
to tell her if there was no other way of relief. Finally, in order to
quiet her childish fears, her Christian mother told her to ask God to
help her.
The little one went into an adjoining room and offered her prayer to God
to help her. Shortly thereafter she came running to her mamma with the
seed in her hand, and her beautiful and intelligent face lighted up with
joy. In response to the eager inquiry of the mother, the little one said
that she had asked God to help her, and while she was praying she was
taken with a severe cough, in which she threw up the seed.
GOD'S CARE OVER HIS PEOPLE--THE PRAYING WIDOW
A young widow with two children was living in the city of Berlin. She
was a Christian woman, and trusted in Jehovah-Jireh to take care of her.
One evening she had to be away for a while. During her absence a man
entered her house for the purpose of robbing her. But "the Lord who
provides" protected her from this danger in a very singular way. On
returning to her home she found a note lying on her table, which read as
follows:
"Madam, I came here with the intention of robbing you, but the sight of
this little room, with the religious pictures hanging around in it, and
those two sweet-looking children quietly sleeping in their little bed,
have touched my heart. I cannot take anything of yours. The small amount
of money lying on your desk I leave untouched, and I take the liberty of
adding fifty dollars besides." The Bible tells us that "the hearts of
men are in the hands of God. and he turneth them as the rivers of waters
are turned." He turned the heart of this robber from his wicked purpose,
and in this way he protected the widow who trusted in him.
GOD SAVED A FAMILY MERCIFULLY.
One morning a Christian farmer, in Rhode Island, put two bushels of rye
in his wagon and started to the mill to get it ground. On his way to the
mill he had to drive over a bridge that had no railings to the sides of
it. When he reached the middle of this bridge his horse, a quiet, gentle
creature, began all at once to back. In spite of all the farmer could
do, he kept on backing till the hinder wheels went over the side of the
bridge, and the bag of grain was tipped out and fell into the stream.
Then the horse stood still. Some men came to help the farmer. The wagon
was lifted back and the bag of grain was fished up from the water. Of
course it could not be taken to the mill in that state. So the farmer
had to take it home and dry it. He had prayed that morning that God
would protect and help him through the day, and he wondered what this
accident had happened for. He found out, however, before long. On
spreading out the grain to dry he noticed a great many small pieces of
glass mixed up with it. If this had been ground up with the grain into
the flour it would have caused the death of himself and his family. But
Jehovah-Jireh was on that bridge. He made the horse back and throw the
grain into the water to save the family from the danger that threatened
them.
A CHILD'S FAITH IN THE LORD'S PRAYER.
About the 30th of July, 1864, the beautiful village of Chambersburgh was
invaded and pillaged by the Confederate army. A superintendent of a
Sabbath school, formerly resident in the South, but who had been obliged
to flee to the North because of his known faithfulness to the national
government, was residing there, knowing that if discovered by the
Confederate soldiers, he would be in great peril of life, property and
every indignity,--in the gray dawn of that memorable day, with his wife
and two little girls, again on foot, he fled to the chain of mountains
lying north-west of the doomed village.
After remaining out for some days and nights, with no shelter but such
as was afforded by the friendly boughs of large forest trees, and
without food, they became nearly famished. At last, the head of the
family, unable to endure the agony of beholding his wife and children
starving to death before his face, and he not able to render the needed
relief, withdrew to a place by himself, that he might not witness the
sad death of his loved ones. With his back against a large oak, he had
been seated only a short time, when his eldest little daughter, not
quite ten years old, came to him and exclaimed:
"_Father, father, I have found such a precious text in my little
Testament, which I brought to the mountain with me, for very joy I could
not stop to read it to mother, but hastened to you with it. Please
listen while I read_." To which he said:
"Yes, my child, read it. There is comfort to be found in the Scriptures.
We will not long be together on earth, and there could be no better way
of spending our last mortal hours." To which she replied:
"O, father, I believe that we will not die at this time; that we will
not be permitted to starve; that God will surely send us relief; but do
let me read." Then opening her dear little volume, at the ninth verse of
the sixth chapter of Matthew, she read as follows:
"'_Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom
come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our
daily bread.' O, father, to think that our dear Saviour Himself taught
His disciples to pray for their daily bread. These are His own words. It
is not possible, therefore, that He will allow any person to starve,
who, in His own appointed language, asks Him for food. Will He not, dear
father, hear our prayers for bread_?"
At once and forever the scales fell from the eyes of that parent. With
tears streaming down his cheeks, he clasped his child to his bosom, and
earnestly repeated the Lord's Prayer. _He had scarcely finished it when
a small dog ran to where he and his daughter were upon their knees, and
barked so fiercely as to attract to the spot its owner, a wealthy
Pennsylvania farmer,_ who was upon the mountain in search of cattle that
he had lost for several days. The kind-hearted tiller of the soil
immediately piloted the suffering family to his own comfortable home,
and properly provided for their wants.
A CHILD PRESERVED FROM WOLVES.
A little girl only nine years old, named Sutherland, living at
Platteville, Col., was recently saved from death by ferocious forest
wolves as follows: The child went with her father on a cold afternoon to
the woods to find the cattle, and was told to follow the calves home,
while the father continued his search for the cows. She did so, but the
calves misled her, and very soon she became conscious that she was lost.
Night came on, and with it the cold of November and the dreaded wolves.
With a strange calmness she continued on her uncertain way. The next
day, Sunday, at 10 A.M., she reached, in her wanderings, the house of
John Beebe, near a place called Evans, having traveled constantly
eighteen hours, and a distance of not less than twenty-five miles. _All
night the wolves growled around her, but harmed her not_; neither was
she in the least frightened by them. All know that in ordinary cases
fierce packs of blood-thirsty wolves would devour a man, and even a
horse. But this little one was invincible in her trusting, simple faith.
The narrative states: "She said that the wolves kept close to her heels
and snapped at her feet; but her mother told her that if she was _good_
the Lord would _always_ take care of her; so she asked the Lord to take
care of her, and she knew the wolves would not hurt her, _because God
wouldn't let them_!" The child was hunted for by a great number of
people, and being found was restored shortly to her parents in perfect
health and soundness.
JESUS CURED ME.
In the family of a missionary pastor in Kansas, was a daughter of twelve
years of age, seriously afflicted with chronic rheumatism. For three
years she suffered, until the leg was shrunken, stiff at the knee,
shorter by some two inches than, the other, and the hip joint was being
gradually drawn from its socket. The child read of Mrs. Miller's cure by
prayer, originally published in _The Advance_, and wondered why she
could not also be cured by the same means. She repeated to her mother
some of the promised answers to prayer, and asked: "Don't Jesus mean
what he says, and isn't it just as true now as then?" The mother
endeavored to divert her attention by representing the affliction as a
blessing. The physician also called and left another prescription, and
encouraged the child to hope for benefit from it. The child could not,
however, be diverted from the thought that Jesus could and would heal
her. After the doctor's departure she said: "_Mamma, I cannot have that
plaster put on."_
"Why, dear."
"_Because, mother, Jesus is going to cure me, and he must have all the
glory. Dr. ---- doesn't believe in God; if we put the plaster on, he
will say it was that which helped me; and it must be all Jesus_." So
earnest was she, that her mother at length placed the package, just as
she had received it, on a shelf, and said no more about it.
The little girl and her mother were alone that day, the father being
absent from home. When the household duties were done she called her
mother to her.
"Mother, will you pray now to Jesus to cure me_? I have got the faith; I
know he will if you will ask him_." The mother, overcome, yielded to her
daughter's request, and commenced praying. She was blest with unusual
consciousness of the presence of God, and became insensible of all
outward surroundings, pleading for the child. She remained in this state
of intercession for more than an hour, when she was aroused by her
daughter, who with her hand on the mother's shoulder was joyfully
exclaiming, "_Mother, dear mother, wake up! Don't you see Jesus has
cured me? O, I am well! I am all well!" and she danced about the room,
literally healed._
One week from that day, the girl was seen by the writer in the
"_Advance,"_ who says she was _out sliding on the ice with her
companions_. From that day to this she has had no further trouble; _the
limb is full, round and perfect_; there is _no difference between it and
the other_.
To every question asked she replies, with the overflowing gratitude of a
loving heart, "Jesus cured me!"
THE LITTLE BOY WHO WANTED HIS SISTER TO READ THE BIBLE.
Rev. Mr. Spurgeon, of London, tells of the excellent faith of a little
boy in one of the schools of Edinburgh, who had attended a
prayer-meeting, and at the last said to his teacher who conducted it:
"Teacher, I wish my sister could be got to read the Bible; she never
reads it."
"Why, Johnny, should your sister read the Bible?"
"Because if she once read it I am sure it would do her good, and she
would he converted and saved."
"Do you think so, Johnny?"
"Yes, I do, sir; and I wish the next time there was a prayer-meeting you
would ask the people to pray for my sister, that she may begin to read
the Bible."
"Well, well, it shall be done, John."
So the teacher gave out that a little boy was anxious that prayer should
be offered that his sister might read the Bible. John was observed to
get up and go out. The teacher thought it very rude of the boy to
disturb the people in a crowded room, and so the next day, when the lad
came, he said:
"John, I thought it very rude of you to get up in the prayer-meeting and
go out. You ought not to have done so."
"O, sir," said the boy, "I did not mean to be rude; _but I thought I
should like to go home and see my sister reading her Bible for the first
time_."
_True to his faith, when he reached his home, he found the little girl
reading her Bible_.
NETTIE'S DAILY BREAD.
A little girl in a wretched attic, whose sick mother had no bread, knelt
down by the bedside, and said slowly: "Give us this day our daily
bread." Then she went into the street and began to wonder where God kept
his bread. She turned around the corner and saw a large, well-filled
baker's shop.
"This," thought Nettie, "is the place." So she entered confidently, and
said to the big baker, "I've come for it."
"Come for what?"
"My daily bread," she said, pointing to the tempting loaves. "I'll take
two, if you please--one for mother and one for me."
"All right," said the baker, putting them into a bag, and giving them to
his little customer, who started at once into the street.
"Stop, you little rogue!" he said, roughly; "where is your money?"
"I haven't any," she said simply.
"Haven't any!" he repeated, angrily; "you little thief, what brought you
here, then?"
The hard words frightened the little girl, who, bursting into tears,
said: "Mother is sick, and I am so hungry. In my prayers I said, 'Give
us this day our daily bread,' and then I thought _God meant me to fetch
it, and so I came_."
The rough, but kind-hearted baker was softened by the child's simple
tale, and instead of chiding her or visiting threats of punishment, as
is usually the case, he said: "_You poor, dear girl; here, take this to
your mother_," and he filled a large basketful and gave it to her.
THE BROTHER'S PRAYER.
A physician, who for many years practiced his profession in the State of
California, was called once to see the child of Mr. Doak, of Calveras
County, living on the road between San Andreas and Stockton, and not far
from the mining town of Campo Seco, or Dry Camp. He says: The patient
was a little girl about ten years of age, bright and intelligent and one
of twins, the other being a boy, equally bright and well-disposed. The
primary symptoms had indicated inflammation of the stomach, which the
attending physician had hopelessly combated, and finally, when by
metastasis it attacked the brain, with other unfavorable symptoms, he
was inclined to abandon the case in despair.
It was at this juncture I was called in. The symptoms were exceedingly
unfavorable, and my own opinion coincided with my professional
brother's. However, we determined to go to work. A day and night of
incessant watching, and the state of the patient caused us both to feel
the case hopeless, and we only continued our attendance at the earnest
solicitation of the child's mother. The anxious, care-worn and restless
sorrow of the little brother, his deep grief as he saw his sister given
over to the power of the King of Terrors, had attracted our attention.
He would creep up to the bedside of his sister silently, with pale and
tearful face, controlling his emotion with great effort, and then steal
away again and weep bitterly. With a vague, indefinite idea of
comforting the little fellow, I took him to my knee, and was about to
utter some platitude, when the little fellow, looking me in the face,
his own the very picture of grief, burst out with--
"Oh, Doctor, must sister die?"
"Yes," I replied, "but,"--
Before I could go farther he again interrupted me: "Oh, Doctor, is there
nothing, nothing that will save her? Can nobody, nobody save my sister?"
For an instant the teachings of a tender and pious mother flashed over
my mind. They had been long neglected, were almost forgotten.
California, in those days, was not well calculated to fasten more deeply
on the mind home teachings. There were very few whose religious training
survived the ordeal, and for a long time I had hardly thought of prayer.
But the question brought out with the vividness of a flash of lightning,
and as suddenly, all that had been obscured by my course of life, and,
hardly knowing what I did, I spoke to him of the power that might reside
in prayer. I said, God had promised to answer prayer. I dared not allow
the skeptical doubt, that came to my own mind, meet the ear of that
innocent boy, and told him, more as my mother had often told me than
with any thought of impressing a serious subject on his mind, "_That the
prayers of little boys, even, God would hear_." I left that night with
some simple directions, that were given more to satisfy the mother than
from having the slightest hope of eventual recovery, promising to return
next day.
In the morning, as I rode to the door, the little boy was playing round
with a bright and cheerful countenance, and looked so happy that
involuntarily I asked:
"Is your sister better?"
"Oh, no, Doctor," he replied, "but she is going to get well."
"How do you know," I asked.
"_Because I prayed to God_" said he, "and _he told me she would."_
"How did he tell you?"
The little fellow looked at me for an instant, and reverently placing
his hand on the region of his heart, said:
"_He told me in my heart_."
Going to the room where my patient was lying, I found no change
whatever, but in spite of my own convictions there had sprung up a hope
within me. The medical gentleman with whom I was in consultation came to
the room, and as he did, _a thought of a very simple remedy_ I had seen
used by an old negro woman, in a very dissimilar case, _occurred to my
mind._ It became so _persistently present_ that I mentioned it to my
brother practitioner. He looked surprised, but merely remarked. "It can
do no harm." I applied it. In two hours we both felt the case was out of
danger.
The second day after that, as we rode from the house, my friend asked me
how I came to think, of so simple a remedy.
"_I think it was that boy's prayer_," I replied.
"Why, Doctor! you are not so superstitious as to connect that boy's
prayers with his sister's recovery," said he.
"Yes, I do," I replied; "for the life of me I cannot help thinking his
prayers were more powerful than our remedies."
LIGHT GIVEN TO A BLIND CHILD.
"A missionary visiting one of the mission schools of Brooklyn, was
introduced to a remarkable child. He was brought into the school from
the highways and hedges, and young as he was, he had been taught of God.
One day he was playing with powder, and putting his mouth to the match
to blow it, it exploded, and the whole charge went into his face and
eyes. He became totally blind, and the physician gave but little hope of
recovery. But the little sufferer was patient and calm, and even
hopeful; sitting through the dark days meditating on what he had learned
at the mission Sabbath-school, and repeating passages of Scripture and
many a beautiful hymn.
"One evening after the physician had spoken discouragingly, and his
parents, as he perceived, were in deep distress, he was absorbed on his
knees in a corner of the room in earnest prayer. His voice, though
subdued almost to a whisper, was indicative of intense feeling. His
parents inquired what he had been praying so earnestly for. Why, said
he, that _Jesus Christ would open my eyes. The doctor says he can't, and
so I thought I would ask the Savior to do it for me. God honored his
faith. In a few days his sight came to him; and the prayer was answered.
He can now see clearly_."
ASKING THE LORD TO HELP HIM IN HIS LESSONS.
"A little boy was at school, he was diligent, and determined to succeed,
but found that parsing was rather hard.
"One day he went to his mamma for a little help in analyzing some
sentences. She told him the proper manner of doing it, and he followed
her directions; but he was much troubled that he could not understand
the whys and wherefores himself.
"His mamma told him it was rather hard for him then, but that after he
had studied a little longer, it would be quite easy.
"Johnnie went into another room to study alone, but after a little came
back, his face perfectly radiant with joy. He said: 'O mamma, I want to
begin again. I asked Jesus to help me, and now I think I see just how it
is. He always helps us when we ask him;' and with unspeakable delight he
with his mamma went over his lesson again."
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
"The _American Messenger_ tells the story of Johnny Hall, a poor boy.
His mother worked hard for their daily bread. 'Please give me something
to eat; I am very hungry,' he said one evening. His mother let the work
upon which she was sewing fall from her knee, and drew Johnny toward
her. Her tears fell fast as she said: 'Mamma is very poor, and cannot
give you any supper to-night.' 'Never mind, mamma; I shall soon be
asleep, and then I sha'n't feel hungry. But you will sit and sew, and be
so hungry and cold. Poor mamma,' he said, and kissed her many times to
comfort her.
"'Now, Johnny, you may say your prayers;' for dearly as his mother loved
him, she could ill afford to lose a moment from her work. He repeated
'Our Father' with her until they came to the petition, 'Give us this day
our daily bread.' The earnestness, almost agony, with which the mother
uttered these words, impressed Johnny strongly. He said them over again:
'_Give us this day our daily bread_.' Then opening his blue eyes, he
fixed them on his mother, and said: 'We shall never be hungry any more.
God is _our Father_, and he _will_ hear us.' The prayer was finished and
Johnny laid to rest. The mother sewed with renewed energy. Her heart was
sustained by the simple faith of her child. Many were the gracious
promises which came to her remembrance. Although tired and hungry, still
it was with a light heart she sank to rest.
"Early in the morning a gentleman called on his way to business. He
wished Johnny's mother to come to his home to take charge of his two
motherless boys. She immediately accepted the offer. They were thus
provided with all the comforts of a good home. Johnny is a man now, but
he has never forgotten the time when he prayed so earnestly for his
daily bread.
"_God will hear prayer_ is his firm belief. In many ways has he had the
faith of his childhood confirmed. He looks to God as his Father with the
same trust now as then.
GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF ME.
"When the yellow fever raged in New Orleans, the pestilence visited a
Christian household, and the father died. Then the mother was suddenly
seized, and knowing that she must die, she gathered the four children
around her bed, the oldest being only about ten years of age, and said
to them that God was about to take her home to heaven. She urged them to
have no fears, and assured them that the kind, heavenly Father who had
so long provided for them would surely come and take care of them. The
children, with almost breaking hearts, believed what the dying mother
had told them.
"She was buried. The three youngest soon followed her, although they
received every necessary attention from friends during their sickness.
The oldest, a boy, was also seized by the pestilence, and in an
unguarded moment, under the influence of delirium, wandered from his
sick-bed out into the suburbs of the city, and lying down in the tall
grass by the roadside, looked steadfastly up, murmuring, incoherently at
times, 'Mother said God would come and take care of me--would come and
take care of me!' A gentleman happening to pass at the time, and hearing
the unusual sounds, went where the lad was lying, and rousing him, asked
him what he was doing there. Said the little fellow in reply: '_Father
died; mother died; little brother and sisters died. But just before
mother went away into heaven, she told us to have no fear, for God would
come and take care of us, and I am now waiting for him to come down and
take me. I know he will come, for mother said so, and she always told us
the truth_.'
"'Well,' said the gentleman, whose kindliest sympathies were stirred by
the little fellow's sad condition and his implicit confidence in his
sainted mother's pious instructions, '_God has sent me, my son, to take
care of you_.' So he had him carried to his home, and kindly nursed and
cared for by his own family. He recovered, and to-day is one of the most
useful Christian young men in the far West, where he has fixed his
home."
LAURA HEALED.
"A Christian teacher, connected with a Southern Orphan Asylum, writes
_The Christian_, that often when the children were sick, and most of
them came to me more or less diseased, I cried to the Lord for help, and
He who 'bore our infirmities, and carried our sicknesses,' healed them.
Oh it is so good to trust in the Lord! How much better to rely on Him
'in whom we live, and move, and have our being,' than to put confidence
in man, even in the most skillful physician. To confirm and strengthen
the faith of the doubting, I send you the following account of the
healing of one of our orphans.
"Laura was one of a large orphan family, living on Port Royal Island,
S.C. When her mother died, she went to live with a colored woman who
made her work very hard, 'tote' wood and water, hoe cotton and corn, do
all manner of drudgery, rise at daybreak, and live on scanty food. Laura
suffered from want, exposure and abuse. The freed-women of the
plantation looked with pity into her eyes, and desired her to run away.
But she replied, 'Aunt Dora will run after me, and when she done cotch
me, she'll stripe me well with the lash; she done tell so already.'
"One morning, however, when Laura went to the creek for crabs, a good
aunty followed her, and throwing a shawl over the poor child's rags,
said, 'Now, Laura, put foot for Beaufort fast as ever you can, and when
you get there, inquire where Mrs. Mather lives: go straight to her; she
has a good home for jes sich poor creeters as you be.' Laura obeyed,
hastened to Beaufort, seven miles distant, found my home, was made
welcome, and her miserable rags exchanged for good clean clothes. In the
morning, I said, 'Laura, did you sleep well last night?' She replied,
'O, missis, my heart too full of joy to sleep. Me lay awake all night,
thinking how happy me is in dis nice, clean bed, all to myself. Me never
sleep in a bed before, missis.'
"Laura, then about thirteen years old, came to me with a hard cough, and
pain in her side. I put on flannels, gave her a generous diet, and
hoped, that with rest and cheerful surroundings, she would soon rally as
other children had, who came to me in a similar broken-down condition.
Still the cough and pain continued. I dosed her with various
restoratives, such as flax-seed, and slippery elm, etc., but all were of
no avail. She steadily grew worse. Every week I could see she declined.
Her appetite failed; night sweats came on; and she was so weak that most
of the day she lay in bed. The children, all of whom loved Laura, she
was so patient and gentle, whispered one to another, 'Laura is gwine to
die; dere is def in her eye."
"One evening in mid-winter, the poor child's short breath, fluttering
pulse, and cold, clammy sweat alarmed me, and I felt sure that unless
the dear Lord interposed in her behalf, her time with us was very short.
I lingered by her bed till near midnight in prayer for her recovery. I
could not give her up. Again in my own room I poured out my soul in
prayer for the child, and then slept. About two o'clock, I suddenly
awoke, and heard what seemed a voice saying to me, '_Go to Laura; I can
heal her now; the conditions are right; you are both calm and
trustful_.'
"I arose quickly, hastened to her room and said to her, 'Laura, do you
want to get well?' 'O, yes, missis, me wants to get well.' 'Do you
believe Jesus can cure you?' She replied, 'I know he can if he will.'
'Well, Laura,' I said, 'Jesus has just waked me out of a sound sleep,
and told me to go and tell you that he _will cure you now_. Do you
believe he will, Laura?' 'Yes, missis, me _do believe_,' she replied
earnestly. She then repeated this prayer. 'O, Jesus, do please to make
me well; let me live a long time, and be a good and useful woman.'
"The burden had rolled off my heart; I returned to my room and slept
sweetly. In the morning, Tamar, Laura's attendant, met me at the door,
exclaiming joyfully, 'O, I'se so glad! Laura is a heap better, Missis.
She wake me up long time before day and begged me to get her something
to eat, she so hungry.'
"From that night Laura rapidly recovered. Her cough abated, her appetite
was restored, her night sweats ceased, and in less than a month she was
strong and well."
A LITTLE SLAVE'S FAITH.
A missionary in India, passing one day through the school room, observed
a little boy engaged in prayer, and overheard him say, "O, Lord Jesus, I
thank thee for sending big ship into my country and wicked men to steal
me and bring me here, that I might hear about Thee and love Thee. And
now, Lord Jesus, I have one great favor to ask Thee. Please to send
wicked men with another big ship, and let them catch my father and my
mother, and bring them to this country, that they may hear the
missionaries preach and love Thee."
The missionary in a few days after saw him standing on the sea-shore,
looking very intently as the ships came in. "What are you looking at,
Tom?" "I am looking to see if Jesus Christ answers prayer."
For two years he was to be seen day after day watching the arrival of
every ship. One day, as the missionary was viewing him, he observed him
capering about and exhibiting the liveliest joy.
"Well, Tom, what gives you so much joy?" "_O, Jesus Christ answer
prayer. Father and mother come in that ship_," which was actually the
case.
A GOOD REASON FOR PRAYING.
A little girl about four years of age being asked, "Why do you pray to
God?" replied: "Because I know He hears me, and I love to pray to Him."
"But how do you know He hears you?"
Putting her little hand to her heart, she said, "I know He does, because
there is something _here_ that tells me so."
MY HEART TALKED.
A child six years old, in a Sunday school, said: "When we kneel down in
the school-room to pray, it seems as if my heart talked."
WHY, SIR, I BEGGED.
A little boy, one of the Sunday school children in Jamaica, called upon
the missionary and stated that he had lately been very ill, and in his
sickness often wished his minister had been present to pray with him.
"But, Thomas," said the missionary, "I hope you prayed." "Oh, yes, sir."
"Did you repeat the collect I taught you?" "I prayed." "Well, but how
did you pray?" "Why, sir, I begged."
A LITTLE CHILD'S PRAYER FOR HEALING.
A very little child, who had but recently learned to talk, and the
daughter of a Home missionary, had been for weeks troubled with a severe
cough, which was very severe in its weakness upon her. At last her
father said to her, "Daughter, ask Jesus, the good Lord, to heal you."
Putting up her little hands as she lay in bed, she said, "_Dear Jesus,
will oo please to cure me, and do please tell papa what to give me_."
The father, who was listening, thought several times of "_syrup of
ipecac_" but did not connect it immediately with the prayer. At last the
thought came so often before him, that he felt, "Well, it will do no
harm, perhaps this is what the Lord wants me to give her." He procured
it, administered it, and in three hours the little child's cough had
wholly ceased, and she was playing on the floor with the other children.
A most singular feature is the fact that the same medicine was
administered at other times and had no effect in relief.
* * * * *
THE BLESSEDNESS OF GIVING
"_Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in
time of trouble_."
"_Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all
thine increase, so shalt thy barns be filled with plenty_."
"_There is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that
withholdeth more than is meet, but it lendeth to poverty_."
"_The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be
watered also himself_."
"_He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which
he hath given will He pay him again."_
"_Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry
himself, but shall not be heard_."
"_He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his
bread to the poor_."
"_He that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat_."
"_He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that hideth his
eye shall have many a curse_."
"_Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shall find it after many
days_."
"_If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted
soul, the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in
drought, and make fat thy bones. And thou shall be like a watered
garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not_."
"_He which soweth bountifully, shall reap also bountifully_."
"_Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, nor of necessity, for_
GOD LOVETH A CHEERFUL GIVER.
* * * * *
HOW THE LORD BLESSES THOSE "WHO GIVE LIBERALLY TO HIS CAUSE.
A disciple of the Lord Jesus, poor in this world's goods, but rich in
faith, became greatly perplexed in regard to the meaning of the
forty-second verse of the fifth chapter of Matthew. The words are: "Give
to him that asketh thee; and from him that would borrow of thee turn not
thou away." After a season of prolonged mental inquiry, as to whether
the language was to be regarded as literal or not, she suddenly paused
and exclaimed: "It is easy enough to find out; test it and see."
It was Saturday. Her money, all but two dollars, had been expended in
providing for the Sabbath. The amount left, which was absolutely needed
for the following Monday, she put in her pocket, and went out.
On the street, a friend, whose husband had been for some time out of
business, met her and stated their distresses, and asked if she could
lend them _two dollars to last over the Sabbath_.
She was surprised. The test had come sooner than she expected, but,
without hesitation, the money was "_lent to the Lord,"_ and the now
penniless believer went home to wait and see.
Now mark the result. Monday came, and with it the needs to be supplied.
While pondering what course to pursue, a knock was heard, and, on
opening the door, a lady, with a bundle in her hand, inquired if she
could do a little work for her. Replying in the affirmative, and naming
the price, the lady took from her pocket-book two dollars, and handed it
to her, saying: "It is more than you ask, but you might as well have
it." "I was never more astonished," said this true disciple, "and
literally shouted for joy. I had tested and proved that the promises of
God are yea and amen in Christ Jesus. Glory to God. I have never doubted
since; and though often in straits, I have always been delivered."
Would it not be well for Christians to "test" where they cannot
understand? "Ye are my friends," said the blessed Lord, "if ye do
whatsoever I command you." Obedience will solve difficulties that
reasoning cannot unravel. Try and see.
DIVIDING WITH GOD.
A merchant, in answer to inquiries, refers back to a period when, he
says, "In consecrating my life anew to God, aware of the ensnaring
influences of riches, and the necessity of deciding on a plan of charity
before wealth should bias my judgment, I adopted the following system:
"I decided to balance my accounts as nearly as I could, every month; and
reserving such a portion of profits as might appear adequate to cover
probable losses, to lay aside, by entry on a benevolent account,
one-tenth of the remaining profits, great or small, as a fund for
benevolent expenditure, supporting myself and family on the remaining
nine-tenths. I further determined, that when at any time my net profits,
that is, profits from which clerk-hire and store expenses had been
deducted, should exceed $500 in a month, I would give twelve and a half
per cent.; if over $700, fifteen per cent.; if over $900, seventeen and
a half per cent.; if over $1,100, twenty per cent.; if over $1,300,
twenty-two and a half per cent.; thus increasing the proportion of the
whole as God should prosper, until at $1,500, I should give twenty-five
per cent., or $375 a month. As capital was of the utmost importance to
my success in business, I decided not to increase the foregoing scale
until I had acquired a certain capital, after which I would give
one-quarter of all net profits, great or small; and on the acquisition
of another certain amount of capital, I decided to give half; and on
acquiring what I determined would be a full sufficiency of capital, then
to give the whole of my net profits.
"It is now several years since I adopted this plan, and under it I have
acquired a handsome capital, and have been prospered beyond my most
sanguine expectations. Although constantly giving, I have never yet
touched the bottom of my fund, and have been repeatedly astonished to
find what large drafts it would bear. True, during some months I have
encountered a salutary trial of faith, when this rule has led me to lay
by the tenth, while the remainder proved inadequate to my support; but
the tide has soon turned, and with gratitude I have recognized a
heavenly hand more than making good all past deficiencies."
PROSPERITY AND LIBERALITY.
A London correspondent of the _Western Christian Advocate_, writing some
years ago of raising a fund for the extinction of debts on chapels,
gives the following incident:
"A gentleman named Wilkes, who was promised a subscription of one
thousand guineas to this fund, has a history so remarkable as to be
worth relating across the Atlantic. Seven years ago he was a journeyman
mechanic. Having invented and patented some kind of a crank or spindle
used in the cotton manufacture, and needing capital to start himself in
the business of making them, he made it a matter of earnest prayer that
he might be directed to some one able and willing to assist him. In a
singular and unexpected manner he fell in with an elderly Quaker, a
perfect stranger, who accosted him with the strange inquiry: 'Friend, I
should like to know if a little money would be of any service to thee.'
Having satisfied himself as to Wilkes' genius and honesty, the Quaker at
once advanced him the required amount. The praying mechanic started in
business on his own account, and everything he has touched of late
appeared to prosper.
"Hearing of a field in Ireland offered for sale, in which was a deserted
mine, he went over to see it; bought the field for a small sum,
recommenced working the mine, and it now turns out to yield abundance of
excellent copper. For the year 1852, he promised to give the Missionary
Society a _guinea a day_; but such abundance has poured in upon him
during the year, that he felt that to be below his duty, and has,
therefore, enlarged his subscription for the present year seven-fold. He
is actually giving to that noble cause seven guineas daily, or upwards
of $10,500 a year, during this year, 1853; in addition to which he has
just given one thousand guineas to the fund above referred to." "It is
pleasing to add," says the writer, "that this remarkable man retains the
utmost simplicity."
Would that liberality and prosperity might ever go hand in hand. Often,
as wealth increases liberality is starved out, and the rich give far
less than the poor in proportion to their means and ability.
THE DEACON'S SINGING SCHOOL.
"I am going out to see if I can start a singing school," said a good
man, as he stood buttoning up his overcoat, and muffling up his ears,
one bitterly cold Winter night.
"A singing school," said his wife, "how will you do that?"
"I have heard of a widow around the corner a block or two who is in
suffering circumstances. She has five little children, and two of them
down sick, and has neither fire nor food. So Bennie Hope, the office boy
tells me. I thought I would just step around and look into the case."
"Go, by all means," said his wife, "and lose no time. If they are in
such need we can give some relief. But I cannot see what all this has to
do with starting a singing school. But never mind, you need not stop to
tell me now; go quickly and do all you can for the poor woman."
So out into the piercing cold of the wintry night went the husband,
while the wife turned to the fireside and her sleeping babes, who, in
their warm cribs, with the glow of health upon their cheeks, showed that
they knew nothing of cold or pinching want. With a thankful spirit she
thought of her blessings, as she sat down to her little pile of mending.
Very busily and quietly she worked, puzzling all the time over what her
husband could have meant by starting a singing school. A singing school
and the widow--how queer! What possible connection could they have?
At last she grew tired of the puzzling thought, and said to herself, "I
won't bother myself thinking about it any more. He will tell me all
about it when he comes home. I only hope we may be able to help the poor
widow and make her 'poor heart sing for joy.' There," she exclaimed,
"can that be what he meant? The widow's heart singing for joy! Wouldn't
that be a singing school? It must be; it is just like John. How funny
that I should find it out!" and she laughed merrily at her lucky guess.
Taking up her work again, she stitched away with a happy smile on her
face, as she thought over again her husband's words, and followed him in
imagination in his kind ministrations. By-and-by two shining tears
dropped down, tears of pure joy, drawn from the deep wells of her love
for her husband, of whom she thought she never felt so fond before. At
the first sound of footsteps she sprang to open the door.
"Oh, John! did you start the singing school?"
"I reckon I did," said the husband, as soon as he could loose his
wrappings; "but I want you to hunt up some flannels and things to help
to keep it up."
"Oh, yes! I will; I know now what you mean. I have thought it all out.
Making the widow's 'heart sing for joy' is your singing school. (Job.
xxix:13.) What a precious work, John! 'Pure religion and undefiled is to
visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.' My own heart has
been singing for joy all the evening because of your work, and I do not
mean to let you do it alone. I want to draw out some of this wonderful
music."
IT PAYS TO GIVE TO THE LORD.
"A clergyman states, that soon after he dedicated himself to the service
of Christ, he resolved, as Jacob did, 'Of all that thou shalt give me, I
will surely give a tenth unto thee.' Of the first $500 he earned, he
gave $130, and in such a way that it incited a wealthy friend to give
several hundreds more, including a donation of $100 to this clergyman
himself. For four years, the clergyman says, 'My expenses were small, my
habits economical, and the only _luxury_ in which I indulged was the
luxury of giving. In the two first of these years I was permitted to
give $500.' 'On a review of my ministry of about sixteen years,' he
adds, 'I find God has graciously permitted me to give to the cause of my
Redeemer nearly $1,200, by which amount about forty life memberships
have been created in various evangelical societies. During all these
years God has prospered me; has given me almost uninterrupted health;
has surrounded me with sweet domestic ties; and my congregation, by
means in part perhaps of a steady example, have given _more in these
sixteen years_ than in all their long previous history."
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF BENEFICENCE.
"A liberal donor, in enclosing $100 to a sister institution, but
strictly withholding his name, says, 'When I began business, it was with
the intention and hope to become rich. A year afterward I became, as I
trust, a Christian, and about the same time met with 'Cobb's
Resolutions,' which I adopted. Some four or five years later, I read
'Normand Smith's Memoir,' and also Wesley's 'Sermon on the use of
Money,' which led me to devote all my gains to benevolent uses,
reserving to myself $5,000 while I remained unmarried, part of which I
have bequeathed to relatives, and the remainder to benevolent societies.
Up to this time--about sixteen years--by the grace of God--nothing
else--I have given about $24,500 to benevolent purposes, and lent about
$500 to those in need, which has not been returned; making in all about
$25,000."
COMMENDABLE EXAMPLES.
The Methodist Missionary Society mention one of their donors who, for
twenty years, has used the power given him of getting wealth, for his
Lord, in which time he has been enabled to appropriate to benevolent
purposes _more than thirty thousand dollars_, while operating with a
capital of but five thousand dollars. Another business man of that
denomination in Boston, during fifteen years, has appropriated
_thirty-nine thousand dollars_.
SYSTEM IN GIVING.
A correspondent of the American Tract Society says, "It was their
publications which induced me to appropriate statedly one-tenth of my
income to the cause of the Lord. After acting upon that scale nearly two
years, and finding that although _my donations greatly exceeded those of
former years_, my affairs were not thereby involved in any
embarrassment; but that, on the contrary, with increasing contributions
to the leading objects of Christian benevolence and to general charity,
came an _increased store and enlarging resources_, I concluded, with a
heart throbbing with grateful emotions to my Creator, in view of his
great love and kindness toward me, that I would increase the
proportion."
LENDING TO THE LORD.
"A poor man, some of whose family were sick, lived near Deacon Murray,
(referred to in the tract, 'Worth of a Dollar,') and occasionally called
at his house for a supply of milk. One morning he came while the family
were at breakfast. Mrs. Murray rose to wait upon him, but the deacon
said to her, 'Wait till after breakfast.' She did so, and meanwhile the
deacon made some inquiries of the man about his family and
circumstances.
"After family worship the deacon invited him to go out to the barn with
him. When they got into the yard, the deacon, pointing to one of the
cows, exclaimed, 'There, take that cow, and drive her home.' The man
thanked him heartily for the cow, and started for home; but the deacon
was observed to stand in the attitude of deep thought until the man had
gone some rods. He then looked up, and called out, 'Hey, bring that cow
back.' The man looked around, and the deacon added, 'Let that cow come
back, and you come back too.' He did so; and when he came into the yard
again, the deacon said, 'There, now, take your pick out of the cows; _I
a'n't going to lend to the Lord the poorest cow I've got_.'"
A STEWARD OF HIS LORD'S BOUNTY.
An aged benevolent friend in a western city, states some interesting
facts respecting his own experience in giving systematically as the Lord
prospered him. He says, "Our country and professors of religion in it
have become 'rich and increased in goods,' but I fear that a due
proportion is not returned to the Giver of every good.
"I commenced business in 1809 with $600, and united with the 'Northern
Missionary Society No. 2,' which met monthly for prayer, and required
the payment of two dollars a year from each member. That year I married,
and the next united with the Christian church. No definite system of
giving 'as the Lord had prospered' me, was fully made until the close of
the year 1841. The previous fourteen years had been assiduously devoted
to the interests of Sabbath-schools and the temperance enterprise, when
I found both my physical and pecuniary energies diminished, the latter
being less than $30,000.
"After days and nights of close examination into my affairs, with
meditation and prayer, I promised the Lord of all, I would try at the
close of every year to see what was the value of my property, and the
one-quarter of the increase I would return to him in such way as my
judgment, aided by his word and providence, might direct.
"For more than fifteen years I have lived up to this resolve, and though
most of the time I have been unable to attend to active business, the
investments I have made have more than quadrupled the value of my
property, and in that time enabled me to return to Him 'from whom all
blessings flow,' $11,739.61."
THE FIVE-DOLLAR GOLD PIECE.
"'A friend,' says a venerable clergyman, Rev. Mr. H----, 'at a time when
gold was scarce, made me a present of a five-dollar gold piece. I
resolved not to spend it, and for a long time carried it in my pocket as
a token of friendship. In riding about the country, I one day fell in
with an acquaintance, who presented a subscription-book for the erection
of a church in a destitute place.
"'I can do nothing for you, Mr. B----,' said I; 'my heart is in this
good undertaking, but my pocket is entirely empty; having no money, you
must excuse me.'
"'Oh, certainly,' said he; 'all right, sir. We know you always give when
it is in your power.'
"We parted; and after I had proceeded some distance, I bethought me of
the piece of gold in my vest pocket. 'What,' said I to myself, 'I told
that man I had no money, when I had by me all the time this gold
pocket-piece. This was an untruth, and I have done wrong.' I kept
reproaching myself in this way until I stopped, and took from my pocket
the five-dollar piece.
"'Of what use,' said I, 'is this piece of money, stowed away so nicely
in my pocket?' I made up my mind to turn back, and rode as fast as I
could until I overtook Mr. B----, to whom I gave the coin, and resumed
my journey.
"A few days after, I stopped at the house of a lady, who treated me very
hospitably, for which I could make no return, except in thanks and
Christian counsel. When I took leave, she slipped into my vest pocket a
little folded paper, which she told me to give to my wife. I supposed it
was some trifle for the children, and thought no more of it until I
reached home. I handed it to my wife, who opened it, and to my
astonishment _it was a five-dollar gold piece, the identical
pocket-piece I had parted with but a few days before_. I knew it was the
same, for I had made a mark upon it; how this had been brought about was
a mystery, but that the hand of the Lord was in it I could not doubt.
'See,' said I to my wife; 'I thought I _gave_ that money, but I only
_lent_ it; how soon has the Lord returned it! Never again will I doubt
his word.'
"I afterward learned that Mr. B---- had paid over the coin to the
husband of the lady at whose house I staid, along with some other money,
in payment for lumber, and he had given it to his wife.
"Take my advice, and when appealed to for aid, fear not to give of your
poverty; depend upon it the Lord will not let you lose by it, if you
wish to do good. If you wish to prosper, 'Give, and it shall be given
unto you; for with the same measure that ye mete, it shall be measured
to you again.' 'Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in
the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.'"
A NEW YEAR'S INCIDENT.
"One New Year's day I was going out to visit some of my poorer
neighbors, and thought I would take a sovereign to a certain widow who
had seen days of competence and comfort. I went to look in my drawer,
and was so sorry to find I had but one sovereign left in my bank for the
poor, and my allowance would not be due for two or three weeks. I had
nearly closed the drawer upon the solitary sovereign, when this passage
of Scripture flashed so vividly into my mind, 'The Lord is able to give
thee much more than this,' (2 Chron. xxv: 9.) that I again opened the
drawer, took the money, and entered the carriage which was waiting for
me. When I arrived at Mrs. A.'s, and with many good wishes for the New
Year, offered her the sovereign, I shall never forget her face of
surprised joy. The tears ran down her cheeks while she took my hands and
said, 'May the God of the widow and fatherless bless you; we had not one
penny in the house, nor a morsel of bread; it is he who has heard my
prayers, and sent you again and again to supply my need.' You who pray
for and visit the poor, and enjoy the blessedness of relieving their
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