Part 25 (1/2)

”I visited a family for whom I have felt a deep interest for weeks past.

The father had been out of employment some time, and they have lacked food and clothing. Much of their trouble has been caused by the intemperance of the mother. Her husband has borne long and patiently with her, and although she would for a long time leave off drinking, it was only to fall again still lower. While furnis.h.i.+ng them with clothing, and a.s.sisting them in other ways, I besought the mother to give her heart to Jesus, knowing that he could keep her from falling. She became, a constant attendant at our meetings. Says ”_Jesus has taken her love for drink all away_.” One of her little ones, who is just beginning to talk, said the other day, ”Mamma, you don't drink now.” They are a happy family, and their home is greatly changed.

PRAYER FOR PURCHASERS.

When removal to the new Home was determined upon, there still remained five of the old buildings on hand to be disposed of. This too was taken to the Lord in prayer that he might send purchasers.

One building was sold in October, and the remaining four in November.

When it is considered that a portion was property usually very difficult of sale, and that no advertis.e.m.e.nt of it had been made, no other means than prayer resorted to, it must be convincing to all that there must be ”one who knoweth all things,” who hears and helps in financial as well as in spiritual necessities.

ASKING FOR LARGE GIFTS.

Upon the 26th of September the record of the Home was as follows: ”There is due on the first of next month, $2,450 interest on our property, and we are now within four days of the time, with not a dollar towards it.

For several days I have been asking that amount of the Lord.”

Now here was a man depending wholly upon _chance gifts_ for the livelihood of several hundred people, with a debt of over two thousand dollars to pay in four days. His occupation and work were such that no one could even possibly think of making any loans, as there was no security. Neither was it the principle or the practice of the Home ever to solicit a dollar. What was to be done? _It was taken to the Lord in prayer_, and all waited the result.

Was it at all probable that so large a sum of money could be sent in so short a time by any one or any number of persons?

That evening a letter from the probate office at Exeter, N. H., was received by Dr. Cullis, informing them of the death of a citizen of Portsmouth, with a bequest to the Home of _five thousand dollars_. The Lord answered their prayer the same day and sent _double what was asked for_.

A SEVERE TUMOR HEALED.

During the year 1872, there was under the professional care of Dr.

Cullis, at the Consumptive's Home, a Christian lady with a tumor which confined her almost continuously to her bed in severe suffering. All remedies were unavailing, and the only human hope was the knife; but feeling in my own heart the power of the promise, I one morning sat down by her bedside, and taking up the Bible, I read aloud, G.o.d's promise to his believing children. ”_And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him_.”

I then asked her if she would trust the Lord to remove this tumor and restore her to health and to her missionary work. She replied, ”I am willing to trust the Lord for it.”

I then knelt and anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord, asking Him to fulfill his own word. Soon after I left she got up and walked three miles. From that time the tumor rapidly lessened until all trace of it at length disappeared.

FAITH CURED HER.

This incident was related by the lady herself in a public meeting in Boston, where it was heard by the sorrowing wife of an afflicted husband, whose statement is as follows:

”I was first confined to my house with a violent cold. I lost my voice completely, suffered with pain in my lungs and expectorated almost constantly. I grew worse every day, and in a week called in a physician.

On examination he found my lungs diseased. I also had fever. With all his care my cough grew worse, and night sweats set in; a few weeks later my wife was told by the Doctor that my lungs were badly ulcerated, and that my case being hopeless, it was not worth while for him to attend longer; also that she must NOT be surprised if I should pa.s.s away suddenly. I then tried some highly recommended medicine, which seemed only to increase my disease.

”When I became so weak as to be nearly helpless, Dr. Cullis was called in. He sounded my lungs and gave the same verdict, saying my only hope for recovery was in the Lord. Diarrhea also set in, and my feet began to swell.”

This statement will show his perfect helplessness.