The Wonders of Prayer Part 43

A REMARKABLE DECISION BY A JURY.

"In one of our northern cities, a trial at law took place between a Christian and an infidel. The latter had sued the former for a heavy sum, falsely alleging his promise to pay it for some stocks which he claimed to have sold him. The Christian admitted AN OFFER of the stock, but protested that so far from promising the sum demanded, he had steadily refused to make any trade whatever with the plaintiff. Each of the parties to the suit had a friend who fully corroborated their a.s.sertions. Thus the case went before the jury for decision.

"The charge of the judge was stern and significant. 'It was a grave and most painful task which devolved upon him to instruct the jurors that one of the parties before them must be guilty of deliberate and willful perjury. Their statements were wholly irreconcilable with each other; nay more, were diametrically opposite; and that either were innocently mistaken in their a.s.sertions was impossible.

"'Your verdict, gentlemen,' he said in conclusion, 'must decide upon which side this awful and heaven-daring iniquity belongs. The G.o.d of truth help you to find the truth, that the innocent suffer not.'

"It was late in the day when the judge's charge was given, and the finding of the jury was to be rendered in the morning. The plaintiff went carelessly from the court arm in arm with the wicked a.s.sociate whom he had bribed to swear falsely on his behalf. The defendant and his friend walked away together in painful silence. When the Christian reached his home, he told his family of the judge's solemn charge and of the grave responsibility which rested upon the jurors. 'They are to decide which of us has perjured ourselves on this trial,' he said; 'and how terrible a thing for me if they should be mistaken in their judgment. There is so little of any thing tangible for their decision to rest upon, that it seems to me as if a breath might blow it either way.

They cannot see our hearts, and I feel as if, only G.o.d could enable them to discern the truth. Let us spend the evening in prayer that he may give them a clear vision.'"

The twelve jurymen ate their supper in perplexed silence, and were shut in their room for deliberation and consultation. "I never sat in such a case before," said the foreman. "The plaintiff and defendant have sworn point-blank against each other; and how we are to tell which speaks the truth, I can not see. I should not like to make a mistake in the matter; it would be a sad affair to convict an innocent man of perjury." Again there was silence among them, as if each were weighing the case in his own mind. "_For myself_ I feel as if the truth must be with the defendant; I am constrained to think that he is an honest man. What say you, gentlemen?" _Every hand was raised in affirmation of this opinion_.

They were fully persuaded of its truth, and _gave a unanimous verdict accordingly._

Thus the Christian man was rightfully acquitted, and gave thanks to G.o.d, with a new and stronger confidence in the power of prayer. "Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me,"

saith the Lord.

THAT WONDERFUL $25. ANOTHER EVIDENCE OF THE EVER-PRESENT SPIRIT OF G.o.d.

The following incident is marvelous, as at the time of its occurrence neither party had ever been known to each other:

In _New Haven, Conn._, lives a little invalid widow, almost helpless, with no one upon whom to rely for support, and only indebted to friendly acquaintances for a temporary home. With no money, no acquaintances, she had nowhere else to turn to but to the Father of all good. She had prayed often, and often had answers, but this time, though needing money, still she received none. The answer was long delayed; she was almost discouraged. "_Was G.o.d at last to fail and forget her? No, it could not be. Let G.o.d be true even if I perish, I shall still cling to Him. I can not give Him up."_

Just at that time a business man in New York, who had been absent on a long journey for the Summer and had just returned, happened to pick up a note among many hundred lying on his desk, and noticed that the writer asked for some trifling favor, saying she was poor, had no means.

Her circ.u.mstances were unknown: he knew nothing but her name. He was eager to _minister to the little ones of the Lord,_ and felt deeply impressed in prayer that morning, in asking a blessing on his day's labors, that he might be able to help the need of some of "his children"

who might then be in want. In his business hours the thought came over him with the depth of emotion, "WHAT CAN I DO? LORD, THY SERVANT IS READY." Just at that moment he picked up this note of the little invalid, who asked the trivial favor, saying it would be such a comfort.

_(No money whatever was asked for in this note_.)

Suddenly the thought came to him, "_Perhaps this is my very opportunity.

This may be the Lord's little one in need_." But there was nothing in the letter to indicate she was a Christian. She solicited no money or pecuniary help.

Immediately there came to his mind, amid floods of tears, "_Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my children, ye have done it unto me_." Instantly he understood it as a message from the Lord, and the intimation of the Holy Spirit. He immediately sat down and wrote a check for $25, and enclosed it to her, saying, "_I know not your need; you have not asked me for help, but I send you something which may be useful. I trust you are a Christian. I shall be happy to learn if it has done good, and made you happy. Give me no thanks. The Lord's blessing is enough for me_."

The letter was sent and forgotten, but a strange presentiment came over the mind of the writer. "_I am afraid I did not direct that letter right_." He sent a second postal card, asking if a letter had been received at her home; if not, to go to her post office and inquire.

Now notice the wonderful singularity of incident. Here is a man sending money, _never asked for, to an unknown person, about whom he knew nothing; then misdirecting his letter_, and then remembering and _sending another message to go and find where the first had gone to. But notice the marvelous result_. The little invalid received the postal card, but not the letter. She sent to the post office, and sure enough there was the first letter with its misdirection. She was _just in time_ to save it from being sent to _another woman of the same name living in another part of the same city_.

She opened her letter, and with tears of thankfulness perused this wonderful reply, a marvelous witness to the power of an overruling Spirit, who had directed everything.

"My heart is full, that G.o.d should so answer my simple prayer. I first asked him for $10, then $15, _and then for_ $25. I asked him for $25 several times, and was astonished at my boldness, but the amount was so fixed in my mind, _I could not ask for anything else_, and then I humbly trusted it to Him, and from that time I thought, I will not name any sum; let it be as He knows my need. And how He has honored my simple faith and trust in these dark days. _Your letter contained exactly the $25 I prayed for_. I have not had $1.50 to spend this Summer. I have suffered for everything. But through it all I have felt such perfect faith in the Lord, that his hand was leading me, even when I could not see a step before me; and that He should move your heart to help me seems so wonderful, so good. I am so glad I can thank you now, but ah, so much "_over there_" where words will express so much more in the beautiful atmosphere of heaven. Your letter and kind gift was mailed _the very same day_ that I was praying in great distress and trial. I knew not but that I should be without even a home. My verse was Psalms 50: 15. O, how I had to pray that day. So day by day I was comforted, and now to-day the answer has come."

Here, then, is a portion of the story of a sweet life who trusted G.o.d, not as a G.o.d of the past, nor far off, but ever living, ever present, ever faithful, and believed Him _able, willing_, and that He _would help_ her in her daily life. She tried her Lord, to prove if his promises were indeed true, and she clung to them to the very last. No one knew her need. No one knew what she was praying for. The stranger did not know anything of her. She had asked money of no one but the Lord. Hesitant ever, she dared not name any amount of the Lord, but that ever present Spirit of G.o.d guided her heart, made her _fix the amount_, and then touched the heart of the stranger and fixed the amount also in his mind, and then, by his own guidance saved the letter from being lost, and behold! when opened the _prayer of the one and the gift of the other was the same_.

What a comfort, what a privilege, then, it is for the true-hearted Christian thus to feel, "_There is one who careth for us_."

WHY HE FAILED.

A prominent business man failed in the Spring of 1877. He had been for years a prominent and consistent member of a Christian church. He had even supported a church once almost entirely. Nothing was known against his character, _but he failed; he failed in business_. No one knew the reason why, but there it was, _failure_.

At last, in moments of bitter repentance before G.o.d, he unbosomed himself to his pastor, and said, "_Long ago I promised to give the Lord one-tenth of all the profits I gained from my business, and while I did so, I was immensely prosperous and successful; never did any one have any such splendid success,--but I forgot my promise, stopped giving, thought that I did not need to spend so much, and I began to invest my means in real estate. When I stopped giving I stopped getting. Now all is gone. I lost my all because I did not keep my promise to the Lord_."

This incident is a practical one, telling how utter is the impossibility of true success, without the aid of the Lord, and how absolutely necessary it is to our own peace and comfort of mind to religiously observe one's promises made to G.o.d. The Bible only too truly tells of the end of those who forget Him.

"_But Jeshurun waxed fat, then he forsook G.o.d which made him; and when the Lord saw it, he abhorred them, and said, 'I will hide my face from them_.'"

"_Ye can not prosper; because ye have forsaken the Lord_, He _hath also forsaken you." "There shall be desolation; because thou hast forgotten the G.o.d of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength_."

* * * * * HOW THE LORD

CONTROLS THE WINDS AND THE WAVES

JOHN EASTER'S PRAYER.

In his "Memorials of Methodism in Virginia," Dr. W.W. Bennet relates the following incidents in the life of John Easter, one of the pioneer ministers who labored there nearly one hundred years ago: He is represented as being the most powerful exhortatory preacher of his day.

His faith was transcendent, his appeals irresistible, his prayers like talking with G.o.d face to face. Perhaps no man has ever been more signally honored of G.o.d as an instrument in the conversion of souls. On one of his circuits eighteen hundred members were added to the church in a single year.

Many thrilling scenes under his preaching yet linger among the people in those counties where he princ.i.p.ally labored. A most extraordinary display of his faith was witnessed in Brunswick. At Merritt's meeting- house a quarterly meeting was in progress, and so vast was the concourse of people from many miles around, that the services were conducted in a beautiful grove near the church. In the midst of the exercises, a heavy cloud arose, and swept rapidly towards the place of worship. From the skirts of the grove the rain could be seen coming on across the fields.

The people were in consternation; no house could hold one-third of the mult.i.tude, and they were about to scatter in all directions. Easter rose in the midst of the confusion--"Brethren," cried he at the top of his voice, "be still while I call upon G.o.d to stay the clouds, till His word can be preached to perishing sinners." Arrested by his voice and manner, they stood between hope and fear. He kneeled down and offered a fervent prayer that G.o.d would then stay the rain, that the preaching of His word might go on, and afterwards send refreshing showers. _While he was praying, the angry cloud, as it swiftly rolled up to them, was seen to part asunder in the midst, pa.s.s on either side of them, and close again beyond, leaving a s.p.a.ce several hundred yards in circ.u.mference perfectly dry. The next morning a copious rain fell again, and the fields that had been left dry were well watered_."

THE HUSHED TEMPEST.

The following circ.u.mstance is communicated to _The Christian_ by a minister of the editor's acquaintance, as a memorial of G.o.d's care for the poor and needy who trust in him:

It was about the year 1853, and near the middle of a Canadian Winter, we had a succession of snowfalls, followed by high winds and severe cold. I was getting ready to haul my Winter's stock of wood, for which I had to go two miles over a road running north and south, entirely unprotected from the keen cold west winds that prevail the most of the time in that part of Canada during the Winter months.

The procuring of my Winter's supply of wood was no small task for me, for I had very little to do with, and was unable to endure much fatigue, or bear the severe cold. I had, however, succeeded in securing the services of an excellent hand to chop, and help me load, and had also engaged a horse of one neighbor, and a horse and sled of another, and was ready on Monday morning to commence my job. Monday morning the roads were fair, the day promised well, and my man was off at daybreak to the woods to, have a load ready for me. There had been quite a fall of snow during the night; not enough to do any harm if it only lay still, but should the wind rise, as it had after every snow-fall before, it would make it dreadful for me. Soon as possible I harnessed my team, and started. I had not gone a quarter of a mile before it became painfully evident that a repet.i.tion of our previous "blows" was impending. The sky was dark and stormy, the wind rose rapidly, and in every direction clouds of the newly fallen snow were beginning to ride on the "wings of the wind," pouring over the fences, and filling the road full! My heart sank within me. What could I do? At this rate, by next morning the roads would be impa.s.sable, and it was so cold! Besides, if I failed to go on now, it would be very difficult to get my borrowed team together again, and impossible to get my man again; and we could as well live without bread as without wood in a Canadian Winter.

Every moment the wind increased. In deep distress, I looked upon the threatening elements, exclaiming over and over, "What shall I do?" I felt then that there was but one thing that I could do, and that was just what poor sinking Peter did; and with feelings I imagine something like his, I looked up to G.o.d, and cried out, "O, my G.o.d, this is more than I am able to bear. Lord, help me! The elements are subject to thee; thou boldest the winds in thy fist. If thou wilt speak the word, there will be a great calm. O, for Jesus' sake, and for the sake of my little helpless family, let this snow lie still and give me an opportunity of accomplishing this necessary labor comfortably!" I do not think it was above fifteen minutes after I began to call upon the Lord before there was a visible change. The wind began to subside, the sky grew calm, and in less than half an hour all was still, and a more pleasant time for wood-hauling than I had that day, I never saw nor desire to see. Many others beside me enjoyed the benefit of that "sudden change" of weather, but to them it was only a "nice spell of weather," a "lucky thing;"

while to me it was full of sweet and encouraging tokens of the "loving-kindness of the Lord." And now, after so many years, I feel impelled to give this imperfect narrative, to encourage others in the day of trouble to call upon the Lord; and also, as a tribute of grat.i.tude to Him who has "never said to the house of Jacob, seek ye my face in vain."

PRAYING IN FAIR WEATHER.

The ways in which G.o.d saves those whom he wishes to deliver from death, are sometimes too wonderful for our understanding. A certain ship was overtaken in a severe and prolonged storm at sea. She had a n.o.ble Christian man for a captain, and as good a sailor as ever trod the quarter-deck, and he had under him a good and obedient crew. But they could not save the ship; she was too badly strained, her leaks were too great for the pumps, she must go to the bottom. The captain committed them all to the care of the G.o.d in whom he put his trust, and made ready to take to their boats. Just then a sail was descried, and, by signals of distress, drawn to their relief. All on board were taken off safely and put on the ship, soon after which they saw their own ship go down.

Now comes the peculiar part. The ship was soon overtaken in a dreadful storm, was cast on her beam ends, and everything seemed to be lost. The pa.s.sengers were praying, and many of the old seamen were calling on G.o.d to save them from the great deep. The captain of the ship had done his best, but could not right the vessel, and all was given up to go down.