An Infidel's Life Spared A Few Days.


"During the Summer of 1862, I became acquainted with a Mr. A----, who

professed infidelity, and who was, I think, as near an atheist as any I

ever met. I held several conversations with him on the subject of

religion, but could not seem to make any impression on his mind, and,

when a point was pressed strongly, he would become angry.



"In the Fall, he was taken ill, and seemed to go into a rapid decline.

I
with others, sought kindly and prayerfully to turn his mind to his

need of a Saviour, but only met with rebuffs. As I saw that his end was

drawing near, one day I pressed the importance of preparing to meet God,

when he became angry and said I need not trouble myself any more about

his soul, as there was no God, the Bible was a fable, and when we die

that is the last of us, and was unwilling that I should pray with him. I

left him, feeling very sad.



"Some four weeks after, on New Year's morning, I awoke with the

impression that I should go and see Mr. A----, and I could not get rid

of that impression; so, about nine o'clock, I went to see him, and, as I

approached the house, I saw the two doctors, who had been holding a

consultation, leaving. When I rang the bell, his sister-in-law opened

the door for me, and exclaimed, 'Oh! I am so glad you have come; John is

dying. The doctors say he cannot possibly live above two hours, and

probably not one.' When I went up to his room, he sat bolstered up in a

chair, and appeared to have fallen into a doze. I sat down, about five

feet from him, and when, in about two minutes, he opened his eyes and

saw me, he started up, with agony pictured on his face and in the tones

of his voice, exclaimed, 'O! Mr. P----, I am not prepared to die; there

is a God; the Bible is true! O, pray for me! pray God to spare me a few

days, till I shall know I am saved.'



"These words were uttered with the intensest emotion, while his whole

physical frame quivered through the intense agony of his soul. I replied

in effect, that Jesus was a great Saviour, able and willing to save all

who would come unto Him, even at the eleventh hour, as He did the thief

on the cross.



"When I was about to pray with him, he again entreated me to pray

especially that God would spare him a few days, till he might have the

evidences of his salvation. In prayer, I seemed to have great assurance

of his salvation, and asked God to give us the evidence of his

salvation, by granting him a few days more in this world. Several others

joined in praying God to spare him a few days, till he should give

evidence of being saved.



"I called again in the evening; he seemed even stronger than in the

morning, and his mind was seeking the truth. The next day, as I

entered, his face expressed the fact that peace and joy had

taken the place of fear and anxiety. He was spared some five

days, giving very clear evidence that he had passed from death to life.

His case was a great mystery to the doctors. They could not understand

how he lived so long; but his friends, who had been praying for him, all

believed it was in direct answer to prayer."



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