How Prayer Helped Him To Keep The Pledge.
In a rural district, in the North of England, lived a shoe-maker who had
signed the temperance pledge often, but never had strength to keep it.
After a while, he was able to keep it, and reformed entirely. A friend
was curious to learn how he had been able, at last, to win the victory,
and went to see him.
"Well, William, how are you?"
"Oh, pretty well. I had only eighteen pence and an old h
signed, and a few old scores; but now I have about ten pounds in the
bank, and my wife and I have lived through the summer without getting
into debt. But as I am only thirty weeks old yet (so he styled himself),
I cannot be so strong yet, my friend."
"How is it you never signed before?"
"I did sign; but I keep it different now to what I did before, friend."
"How is this?"
"Why, I _gae doon_ on my knees and pray."
Here was the _real strength of prayer_. His own resolves were of no
value; but when he called on God to help, then came new strength, and he
was kept by restraining grace. The bitter experience of those who pledge
and pledge over and over again, and never gain the victory, at last must
come to either of two ends--their utter destruction, or else to call on
God in prayer, to help them keep the pledge manfully, and make them
steadfast in their resolutions.
More
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God With Us.
An old woman was taking home' some sewing the night before, and passing through a narrow and dark street, was knocked down by a runaway horse. Taken up senseless and unknown, she was carried into the house of a kind family who sent for a physician... 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 accust... 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 o... Hating The Accursed Drink.
A brother rose in the meeting and said, "I believe it is God's will that I should tell you how He saved me, about two years since. I came into the meeting when it was held in the old church, and was at the time under the influence of liquor. The m... He Did Not Keep His Promise, But God Did.
A remarkable instance of how God keeps his promises and is faithful, and how man often forgets to keep his, and at last receives deserved punishment for his thanklessness to God, was recently related in the Fulton Street prayer-meeting. A very ... He Forgetteth Not The Cry Of The Humble.
A City home missionary has told us of the case of a poor colored family, the husband nearly one hundred years old, totally incapacitated for work, and confined to his room by sickness nearly twelve years. Although very often in straitened circum... He Gave All The Money He Had.
At one time he attended a missionary meeting near Harrowgate. "We had a blessed meeting," said Samuel, "I was very happy and gave all the money I had in my pocket." After the meeting was concluded, he mounted his horse to return home. No one had o... He Gave His Last $5 To The Lord.
A missionary agent thus relates this incident in the life of a poor physician: "I preached a missionary sermon in the town of -----, and a physician subscribed and paid five dollars. A gentleman standing by told me that the five dollars was all... He Healeth The Sick.
"The wife of Deacon W. was sinking rapidly with pneumonia. Friends gave up all hope of her recovery, and even the hopeful physician felt that he was hoping against hope. In his despair the husband bore the case directly to God; he sought the praye... He Shall Direct Thy Paths
"I am a teacher by profession, and, a few years ago, I found myself placed in a school whose every surrounding was utterly repugnant to my tastes, and to all my ideas of right and wrong and what good teaching should be. At first, I kept hoping that ... Healing Of Soul And Body.
"I have reason to rejoice that I have been greatly blessed in answer to your prayers. Two young lady friends of mine have been enabled to claim the blessed promise of full salvation, not only to the healing of the soul, _but the body also_. My ... Healing.
"For over three years, I was troubled with frequent raising of blood from my right lung, which physicians failed to cure. Of this I prayed to be relieved; after which, the soreness healed, and for several years it has ceased to trouble me." ... Hearts Made Glad.
"We return most hearty thanks for the answer to prayer given. I wrote more than a year ago last August of our low state. Last Winter twenty young persons were converted, and continue to work faithfully." ... Help At The Very Last Moment. Faith Rewarded.
A clergyman in the State of New York, through the influence of a disaffected member, was unfairly and precipitately deprived of his pulpit, which involved a large family in necessity. At supper the good man had the pain of beholding the last morse... Help For The Shipwrecked.
Admiral Sir Thomas Williams, a straight-forward and excellent man, was in command of a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean. His course brought him in sight of the Island of Ascension, at that time uninhabited, and _never visited by any ship_, except ... Help In Need.
"The sums received for several days had been small. One day as the Doctor was in prayer for his needs, he received a note from a lady asking him to call at her house, naming the day and the hour. At the time appointed he called, and found the lady... Help In Paying A Mortgage.
A business man in New York had several large amounts due for payment. An unprecedented series of calls from tradesmen wishing their bills paid sooner than customary, drained his means, and he was satisfied from the situation that his means would n... 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 fra... Help In Time Of Need.
A poor, humble Christian woman had a claim on some property in a neighboring State. It was in law, and she was summoned to attend court at a certain time. Having scarcely money enough for her daily bread, she was obliged to borrow the means to tak... Hip Disease Cured.
A lady from Brooklyn, N.Y., came to the Consumptive's Home for prayer cure. "She had a diseased hip, and _had used crutches for twenty years_. Often the hip joint would slip from its socket, so that it was impossible for her to walk without cru... His Mother's Prayer.
A poor sailor, leading a most profligate and abandoned life, whose praying mother followed him like a shadow into and out of his drinking saloons and gambling houses, at last absented himself from home, whenever he was in port. Her burden, finally... How A Poor Little Cripple Converted A Village.
Mr. D.L. Moody relates the instance of a poor little cripple, whose prayers were answered to the conversion of _fifty-six people._ "I once knew a little cripple who lay upon her death bed. She had given herself to God, and was distressed only be... How God Answered My Prayer For $90.
"Suffice it, then, I was in debt. I was owing the large sum (large for a poor home missionary) of $90.00. Expecting soon to be called upon for the payment of it, and not seeing any way to meet it, _I went to the Lord with it_. Early in life I had ... How Much Good Two Dollars Did.
A lady sent two dollars to a brave-hearted sister--who, by faith alone, and not by money, had gathered some sick and poor about her, and lived only by prayer--and a note of apology and half-contempt that it was such a miserable pittance. She recei... How Prayer Helped Him To Keep The Pledge.
In a rural district, in the North of England, lived a shoe-maker who had signed the temperance pledge often, but never had strength to keep it. After a while, he was able to keep it, and reformed entirely. A friend was curious to learn how he had ... How She Learned To Love The Bible.
The Rev. Frederick G. Clark thus writes of an answer to prayer, from one who wanted to love the Bible more: "Twenty-seven years ago, in the congregation of my first charge, was a lady whose love for the Bible was something remarkable. In the co... How The Lord Blessed An Old Advertisement.
"I had another acquaintance who was also greatly distressed. With a wife and family to care for, and all his means gone, and no prospect of employment, he was in trouble indeed. We induced him to present his case for prayer here, as it would encou... 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 th... How The Lord Controls Even The Locomotive And The Railroad Train.
A remarkable instance of how the Lord controlled circumstances for the detention of one train, and speeded the arrival of the other, in answer to the prayer of a poor widow, who was in anxiety and distress, is thus known to the editor of _The Watc... How The Lord Is Constantly Caring For His Trusting Poor.
A city missionary recently found, in this city on the streets, a refined Englishwoman with her children, who had been turned out of her home for non-payment of rent. With the aid of a few friends he installed her in a new domicile, and procured wo... How The Lord Paid Back The $5.
Mr. H., missionary, was appealed to by a poor man who seemed almost distracted. He had a wife and five children; one of them ill; had been sick himself for three months, and owed rent for the whole of that time. The landlord had served him with a ... How The Lord Repaid A Generous Gift.
"Some gentlemen, urged to contribute to a most worthy cause, said, 'Go first to Mr. Z.--whatever he gives, we will.' Mr. Z., upon application, concluded to make his neighbors do something worth while, and, as he was expecting a thousand dollars in... How The Lord Rescued Him.
A wonderful incident is told by Dr. S.I. Prime among his many facts relating to prayer, as published in _The Observer_ and "_The Power of Prayer_." "A young man held a good position in a large publishing house in this city. He was about thirty ... How The Stolen Sleigh Was Returned By A Thief.
The widow of a minister of the Gospel sends to "_The Christian_" the following instance illustrating God's faithfulness in hearing and answering prayer: "About the year 1829, my husband, who died January 2d, 1854, lent his sleigh and harness to... In Everything Make Known Your Wants.
"Six years ago, on the low country of South Carolina, a friend asked me to go with him to a camp-meeting. I was delighted with the idea, for, in my estimation, a good camp-meeting comes nearer heaven than any other place on earth. "Just three d... Incidents From The Experience Of A City Missionary.--a Prayer For Supper Answered.
An educated, accomplished lady, reduced to the very lowest round of poverty's ladder, whom we shall call Mrs. X----, bears unfailing testimony to God's hearing and answering the prayer of faith. The daughter came up-stairs one day to announce the ... Incidents In The Life Of An Invalid - How God Cares And Comforts In Small Things.
The following incidents are from the life of an invalid, personally known to the editor of this book, and can be depended upon as authentic in every particular. They illustrate most beautifully the blessed way in which the Savior's everlasting arm... Insanity Cured And Suicide Prevented.
"_Augusta Moore_, writes _The Christian_, of a young lady called home by the illness of her widowed mother, who died before she could reach her. This alone was a terrible shock to the delicate daughter, who, having been reared in luxury, was ill-f... Insanity Dispelled.
"I sent a petition months ago, for prayers for an insane husband. Your prayers have been answered. He has rapidly recovered." ... 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 tha... Jacob Not Blessed Until He Became A Liberal Giver.
Jacob went out from his father's house "with his staff," a poor man. But at Bethel he vowed to give to God the _tenth_ of all that God should bestow on him. Commencing thus, God blessed him, and in twenty years he returned with great riches. ... 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 o... Jesus Keeps Me From Drinking.
A young man arose in the Fulton Street prayer-meeting one day, and detailed his struggles and triumphs with his appetites. He was a perfect drunkard, helpless, poor; his friends' best efforts to reclaim' him were of no avail. The most solemn vows ... 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 exho... John Knox And His Prophetical Prayer.
"John Knox was famous for his earnest prayers. Queen Mary said that she feared his prayers more than she did all the armies of Europe. One night, in the days of his bitterest persecution, while he and his friends were praying together, Knox spoke ... 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 c... 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 ... Lending To The Lord.
As a series of religious meetings was held in a Baptist church in ----, and the hearts of God's people were greatly encouraged, the church was consumed by fire. It was proposed to continue the meetings in the Congregational church, but the workmen...