The Wonders of Prayer Part 5

CAST OUT INTO THE STREET, YET NOT FORSAKEN.

A piteous wail was heard on the street one day, and a poor Scotchman crossed over to see the trouble. A widow and three children sat on their few articles of household furniture. Put in the street, when they could no longer find five dollars for the rent of the kennel in which, for six months, they had not lived, but existed. He had just received five dollars for a piece of work, and was hurrying home with it to his sick wife, crippled mother and two children. He thought of the piece of meat--a long untasted luxury--he meant to buy; of the tea his mother so much craved, and hesitated. Could he give these up? But the streaming eyes of the children, and the mute despair on the face of the mother, took down the scale. He ran several blocks and found an empty bas.e.m.e.nt; hired it for four dollars; enlisted the sympathy and help of a colored boy to carry the furniture; put up the stove, bought a bundle of wood, pail of coal, and some provisions with the other dollar; held a little prayer-meeting on the spot, and left with the benedictions of the distressed ones filling his ears. The recital of his adventure obliterated for the time all sense of their own desires, and they thanked G.o.d together that their loss had been the widow's gain. The next morning, while taking their frugal meal, a tea dealer, for whom this man had frequently put up shelves, came to say he was short-handed, and if the Scotchman was not very busy, he would give him a regular position in his establishment, at a better salary than he could hope to earn.

Meanwhile, hearing his wife was sick, he had brought her a couple pounds prime tea, and it occurred to him that venison steaks were a little out of the ordinary run of meat, and, as he had a quant.i.ty at home, he brought a couple. Thus the Lord answered the prayer of the poor, and repaid the generous giver who sacrificed his money for the Lord.

A PERSECUTOR PUNISHED BY THE LORD.

A most devout, hard-working and poorly paid man, was the object of constant persecution by a cross-grained, ugly, infidel neighbor. For three years the thing went on, till the Christian thought he must remove from the place. He could not do it without breaking up his humble home, for which he had worked night and day. He and his wife were in deep distress; told their plans to the Lord; asked Him to direct them to another home, and then went to a newspaper office to advertise their little place for sale. The editor was out, and they preferred to see him--would return home and call again to-morrow. The next morning the infidel was found dead in his bed, from a stroke of apoplexy.

HOW G.o.d 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 made this resolution: that no man whom I was _owing_ should ever ask me for money, and I not pay him; but now, I could see no way out; and if, as I expected, it should be demanded, I was not in a condition to meet it. Such was my condition when, on a certain day, the demand came. I took the letter from the office at noon. What now was to be done? Again I took the case to the Lord, and asked Him to help me pay it, so that my word need not fail, or _his cause suffer reproach._ I first determined to pay a part; but, as no letter could be sent out that day, I awaited the results of the day following. From the northern mail, which first arrived, I took a letter containing an unexpected draft of $50 to my wife, from parties whom we did not know, and had never seen, nor they us. Within twenty minutes more I was presented with a _surprise_ of $40, from a people where I had preached for the six months past. Here was my $90, and, before the mail went out, I had my letter written and in the mail. Both were as unexpected as if they had come from heaven direct."

FROM WEALTH, TO POVERTY.

A lady of superior culture and refinement, fell from opulence to extreme poverty, within four years. No less ready when at the bottom of fortune's ladder, than at the top, to do good as she had opportunity, she paid another poor woman's way to a neighboring State, where employment awaited her, and did it literally with her _last_ dollar-and a-half! Supposing herself the possessor of a ten cent note, over and above the twelve s.h.i.+llings, she went with her somewhat feeble protege over Jersey city ferry, and saw her safely in the cars. Starting back, she was dismayed to find no ten cents in her pocket-book, and, all too late, remembered having paid it for a quart of milk that morning; the sole breakfast of herself and daughter. Night was approaching--what to do she did not know. She had a plain, worn, old gold ring on her finger; she took it off, offered it to the ferry-master, who would not take it, though she told him she found her money gone and would redeem it next day. She went back in the ladies' room and told it to the Lord, beseeching his a.s.sistance. Just then, a girl pa.s.sing, jostled against her and knocked down her parasol. She picked it up, happened to turn it upside down, and out rolled a _five-cent nickel!_ The Lord, then, hears prayer for even _five cents_ to provide for the comfort and need of those whom He loves.

A PRAYER FOR FIFTY DOLLARS.

A clergyman writes _The Christian_ as follows:

"The Winter of 1872 I spent in missionary work, carrying the glad tidings of the kingdom of G.o.d into new fields in the 'regions beyond.'

With my devoted wife, I labored ardently for the salvation of men 'from the wrath to come.' We were full of comfort to be thus engaged, though without pledge from man for support, or promised salary for preaching.

"In spite of our rigid economy, I had contracted some debts for the necessaries of life. I have since learned to go without what the Lord does not provide means to pay for at once. I needed the money to pay the debts, and felt impressed to pray for fifty dollars. I said to my wife: '_I am going to pray for fifty dollars_.' 'Well,' said she, 'I will join you;' and we bowed before G.o.d and told Him our needs, and unitedly asked Him for fifty dollars; so that we might not bring ourselves or the truth we preached, into reproach, by being unable to pay debts. We were agreed in asking, and thus claiming the promise: 'If two of you shall agree as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.' (Matt, xviii. 19). We had the a.s.surance that money would come; but from whence we did not know, nor care, for we knew the 'silver and gold' are the Lord's, as well as the 'cattle upon a thousand hills,' and he could easily cause some one to give or send us the money.

"We felt full of peace; for we knew it was for G.o.d's glory to answer that prayer. No one outside of the family knew we were praying for money. We did not go around among our friends and tell them we were praying for fifty dollars, in hopes that they would take it upon themselves to answer the prayer. We told none but the G.o.d whom we serve.

"Some little time pa.s.sed, and no money came, but we did not lose our faith or a.s.surance. One morning, at family prayer, I was led out to pray that we might see the Lord's working in our behalf that day, and I rose from my knees with perfect confidence that our hearts would be made to rejoice in G.o.d that day. When I came in to my dinner I asked my wife if any one had brought our mail from the post-office. She said, 'Yes, there are some papers on your table.' 'What!' said I, with surprise, 'no letters?' I saw a peculiar expression on her countenance, and I asked no more questions, but sat down to the dinner table and turned over my plate, and there saw a letter she had put beneath it; and as soon as I saw the hand-writing I felt, there is money in this, though, of all sources, this was from the one least expected. I opened the letter, and there was a draft for _fifty dollars, 'a gift to aid in preaching the Gospel.'_ If I ever recognized the hand of G.o.d in anything, I did in this; and if there was ever a time of devout thanksgiving to G.o.d, and a humbling of self before Him in my house, it was that day. Since then, it has been easier to trust in Him than before. He has said, 'I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' He has also said, through his apostles, 'Be careful for nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto G.o.d.'"

CONCURRENT TESTIMONY OF THE VALUE OF PRAYER.

A request was published by the _Ill.u.s.trated Christian Weekly,_ asking that all who could report positive facts as direct results of prayer, and thus, tend to show that _"G.o.d does answer prayer,"_ should communicate them. Very many were communicated, regarding all trials and troubles of the heart, and daily temporal or spiritual life. No one can question they are authentic to the highest degree; they should silence the skeptic, and convince the worldly of the presence of the mysterious power and wonderful Spirit of G.o.d, which tempers the hearts and lives of men and controls them as He wills.

A WORLDLY MAN SURRENDERS.

A clergyman says, "I was very anxious for the building of a mission chapel to accommodate a flouris.h.i.+ng mission-school that had been organized under my pastorate. Knowing that a certain physician of the city was possessed of abundant means and had a praying Christian mother, though he had long since given up going to church, I resolved to call upon him. Before starting from my study I knelt down and asked G.o.d to prosper me in my appeal. Upon going out of my parsonage the physician was in the act of pa.s.sing in his carriage. I hailed him, explained to him my desire, and the result was not only a contribution of money as large as the largest, but a gift of a lot for the chapel worth several hundred dollars."

A SERVANT'S PRAYER FOR A GOOD HOME.

"I was brought up religiously as a servant in a family in Connecticut, and from twelve years of age until twenty-three, knew no other home. The old couple died, and I lived with their children, but they were so different that I became very unhappy and hardly knew what to do or which way to turn. I had no relatives and knew nothing of any world save the little one in which I had all my life moved, and I was terribly afraid to try any other. I could only offer my constant prayer for help, and it was answered so much beyond my highest hope, and so kind were G.o.d's dealings with me that I was taken, almost without an effort of my own, into a warm, loving heart, and such a happy home, and all so easily and smoothly that to me it seems like a miracle; and never can I forget while I live, nor cease to believe that truly 'He is the hearer and answerer of prayer.'"

"BEFORE THEY CALL I WILL ANSWER."--A PASTOR PRAYS FOR DECISION AS TO GOOD CHOICES.

"The writer was once in great trouble to know what was duty. Urged by ministers and laymen in high standing to undertake a work not exactly in the line of the ministry, he hesitated. G.o.d's displeasure was feared, lest in doing what was desired 'sin might lie at his door.' To refuse the wish of good and wise men might be resisting G.o.d's call. In this trial of conscience he sought in fasting and special prayer the guidance of his Heavenly Father. While so doing the above promise came very distinctly to his mind. He brought it to G.o.d as his own promise, and pleaded, if it could be graciously done, that He would literally fulfill it to the suppliant. In the very act of thus pleading, he heard a rap on the door. Opening it, there stood his mother-in-law. She said, 'Two gentlemen are in the parlor waiting for you.' I went down, and the interview revealed the exact fulfillment both of the promise and the prophecy. The Lord answered my prayer two days before I called on Him.

One of the two came from New York to my home in a Western city to inquire about _the very thing which was troubling me. He was to me an entire stranger_, never having heard of him until I saw him. Having consulted his friend, the Rev. M.W. Jacobus, D.D., they together came to call on me about the matter at the very moment I was pleading with G.o.d that He would mercifully, 'while yet speaking, hear me.' Now could Tyndall and his followers desire a more literal, a more exact fulfillment of this prophecy and promise as proof of its inspiration, and of prayer as G.o.d's ordinance than that prayer for such fulfillment of these words actually before the prayer was made, and while the pet.i.tioner was 'yet speaking?'"

It will be noticed that the best judgment of good men advise one course, but trust in G.o.d for superior wisdom brought the case to answer in a totally different manner, by means of an unknown person, a total stranger, who neither knew him nor his desire. The circ.u.mstance should convince the world.

A FAMILY PRAY FOR A GOOD SERVANT.

"About three years since my family comfort was very much disturbed by failure to obtain a good housemaid. And, having been accustomed to wait upon G.o.d for right direction in my _temporal_ as well as spiritual affairs, in simple faith I asked Him to direct me on reaching New York City to where I would find a girl of good character that would appreciate a Christian home. My steps were led to a boarding-house on Greenwich street, and on inquiring for a German or Swede girl I was told they had a nice Swede just landed. I talked to her through an interpreter and was satisfied from what she said, as well as from her countenance, that she was the one I was searching for. She came to my home and proved, in two years' service, almost faultless. In conversation one day, a short time after she came to our home, she said she had had several places offered her that morning before I came, but she did not like them; but as soon as she saw me, felt that she could go with me--she was a Christian, member of the Lutheran church and wanted a Christian home. Her desire was granted and my prayer was answered."

A RECOVERY FROM A DEATH-BED.

"Some forty years ago, in a rural parish in New England, a young man lay apparently on his death-bed with a putrid fever. His aunt, in whose family he was staying, was a woman who had long lived in habitual intercourse with the unseen world through prayer. One afternoon, when it seemed to those around him that the sick one must die, she went away alone to speak with G.o.d. With intense earnestness she pleaded for the young man's life. And, being deeply interested in the portion of our country then beginning to be settled, she asked also that he might become a home missionary at the West. There were various circ.u.mstances which made this latter request, as well as the other, seem very unlikely to be fulfilled. And yet it was. The young man recovered, pursued a collegiate and theological course, and still lives and labors as a most devoted and useful Christian pioneer. More than once he has been a member of the General a.s.sembly of the Presbyterian Church, and his name is familiar to many."

A POOR STUDENT PRAYS FOR MONEY.

"I was a poor student in a Manual Labor Inst.i.tute at the West. The month of February was our regular Winter vacation. We were privileged to keep our rooms and have board at one dollar a week. But I had absolutely no money. I was six hundred miles from my friends, and they were unable to furnish me with funds. I had no books for the new term, though these were a necessity if I went on with my cla.s.s, and there was no work about the Inst.i.tution, nor that I know of in the neighborhood at that season.

My case seemed an exceedingly bad one; and I had no idea from where any help could come. So I went to my room in the third story, locked my door and carried my case to the Lord. It was a long, earnest, tearful cry for help from Him who alone seemed able to give it. My prayer was answered.

When I had been there I do not know how long, I heard footsteps in the empty hall, and in a moment a knock at my door. I wiped my eyes, and put myself into presentable shape as soon as I could, and opened the door. A lad stood there who said: 'A man wants to see you at the front door.'

Down the stairs I went, wondering who could want me and what he could want me for. In the front yard was a man on a restless horse, who at once said: 'We want you to teach our school for a month. The boys have driven out the female teacher. We want you to take them in hand, and we'll give you fifteen dollars and your board.' I said, 'All right, I'll be down there to-morrow morning.' And then I went back to my room to thank G.o.d for hearing my prayer."

"I CAN'T STOP TO PRAY."

"A deacon living in a Berks.h.i.+re town was requested to give his prayers in behalf of a poor man with a large family who had broken his leg. 'I can't stop now to pray,' said the deacon (who was picking and barreling his early apples for the city market), 'but you can go down into the cellar and get some corned beef, salt pork, potatoes, and b.u.t.ter--that's the best I can do.'"

REMARKABLE HEALING OF A CHILD.

A clergyman writes that during the ministration of his labors at Battle Greek, Mich., there were several remarkable manifestations of divine power--especially in the case of a little girl, the daughter of a Mr.

Smith, a child of about six years.