Part 29 (1/2)
”I could not help weeping, admiring the goodness of G.o.d. As I studied the Bible, I clearly perceived that the most eminent saints of the Bible were brought into _low_ circ.u.mstances, as Jacob, David, Moses, Joseph, Job and Jeremiah, and all the apostles, in order that the hand of providence might be watched.”
G.o.d TAKES AWAY THE SNOW.
”In the Winter the Lord sent a very deep snow, which lay a considerable time on the ground. We were brought into great straits, as our wheat was now of no use to us, and we could obtain no wood, the landlady saying that as the snow was likely to last some time, she must keep what little she had left, and could sell us no more.
”There was before us the fear of great suffering with the cold. I begged of G.o.d that he might _that night take away the snow_, and send us something to burn, that our little one might not perish with the cold, _and the next morning the snow was all gone_.”
SIGHT RESTORED.
”A violent humor came into my eyes, and for some months I was in danger of losing my sight. Both myself and my second daughter had it more or less for several years.
”In answer to prayer, G.o.d healed her eyes and mine too, so that our sight was perfectly recovered.”
PRAYING FOR TEA.
”As the life of faith consists in bearing the cross of Christ, we must not expect to be long without trials. Providence soon frowned on me again, and I got behindhand, as usual.
”This happened at a time when my wife was about delivery of child, and we were dest.i.tute of those necessaries of life which are needful at such times. The nurse came: we told her there was no tea in the house. My wife replied, '_Set the kettle on, even if there is not_.'
”The nurse said, '_You have no tea, nor can you get any_.' My wife replied, '_Set on the kettle_.' She did so, and before it boiled, a woman (with whom at that time we had no acquaintance) came to the door, and told the nurse that she had brought some tea as a present for my wife.”
THE LORD PAID HIS DEBT.
”It was the time of my returning from the north country. I observed that there were some small debts to be discharged. But the hand of G.o.d was fast closed; this continued for some time: and for all that time, I watched and observed narrowly.
”At this time there was a special debt due of twenty pounds. This sum hung long. I looked different ways, and chalked out different roads for the Almighty to walk in; but his paths were in the deep waters, and his footsteps were not known; no raven came, neither in the morning, nor in the evening.
”There was a gentlewoman at my house on a visit, and I asked her if she had got the sum of twenty pounds in her pocket, telling her at the same time how much I wanted it. She told me she had not; if she had, I should have it. A few hours after, the same woman was coming into my study, but she found it locked, and knocked at the door; I let her in, and she said, 'I am sorry I disturbed you.' I replied, 'You do not disturb me; I have been begging a favor of G.o.d, and I had just done when you knocked; and that favor I have now got in faith, and shall shortly have in hand, and you will see it.'”
”The afternoon of the same day, two gentlemen out of the city came to see me; and after a few hours of conversation, they left me, and to my great surprise, each of them at parting put a letter into my hand, which, when they were gone, _I opened, and found a ten pound note in each_. I immediately sent for the woman up-stairs, and let her read the letters, and then sent the money to pay the debt.”
It is impossible to give in this page any large portion of the life of Mr. Huntington, who was rich in faith, and upon whom G.o.d showered abundant answers to prayer. But, like all of us, he, too, suffered extremely in all the necessities of life, yet ever looked to G.o.d above for help. Of his experience, he says in his own words, after having for years thoroughly tested the promises and faithfulness of G.o.d:
”_A succession of crosses was always followed with perpetual blessings, for as sure as adversity led the van, so sure prosperity brought up the rear_.
”_Never, no never, did the Holy Spirit withhold his prevalent intercession from, me in times of trouble, nor did my G.o.d ever turn a deaf ear to my prayer, or fail to deliver me_.”
”_Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all_.”
THE FAITH OF LITTLE CHILDREN.
HOW G.o.d HONORS THEIR TRUST, AND ANSWERS THEIR PRAYERS.