Part 26 (1/2)
”I have had much encouragement,” she continues, ”in my labors during the summer. Visiting at the Hahnemann Hospital, I have become much interested in some of the patients. They ask me to sit down and talk to them, and I then point them to Jesus as the best Physician for soul as well as body. I have been kindly received by Roman Catholics, and have loaned Bibles to some of them, and some have kept them and paid for them.
”During the months of July and August, I have found many sick, in a.s.sisting whom I have been aided by the Flower Mission.
”I see a great change in families where the Bible is being read. One little girl says, 'I read the Bible every day, and so do my father and mother. Now they do not work on Sunday, as they used to do, but go to church, and read G.o.d's Word.'
”My own church has been closed a part of the summer, but the prayer-meeting has been well attended, and there has been much interest evinced. A man who was a drunkard for many years, has given up his bad habits and is now the support and comfort of his family. I gave him a Bible, which he reads, and he seems to be a truly converted man. I have sold several Bibles, as well as given several away.”
At one time coming in contact with a very serious case of hards.h.i.+p, she wrote concerning it, ”Formerly the mother depended upon the daughter for support, but she has lately been obliged to stay at home, and take care of her mother; and in consequence of this, they have both suffered, as they belong to that cla.s.s who are unwilling to make their wants known.
”I asked if they had attended any place of wors.h.i.+p. The mother said she had been a member of a Protestant church in Troy, but since she came to New York, and her circ.u.mstances had changed, not having clothing to make a decent appearance, she had not been to church. She added: 'I must say, it was pride, but I could not overcome it. Now I know and feel that I did wrong.'
”She is now more comfortable; for I have been able to get her some little delicacies, which she suffered greatly from the need of.
”It is a great satisfaction to us, when we meet with so many cases of want and suffering, to give some relief, however small, but the anxiety and labor that have often to be borne to succeed in the work is great.
I often think that if those who employ us to go forth with the Word of Life in our hands could see us engaged in our work, giving consolation and encouragement to the poor and dest.i.tute, the sick and dying, and as far as in our power relieving their wants, they would feel abundantly rewarded for the good and honorable work in which they are engaged.
”Every month I feel more and more the greatness of the work, and the necessity of laboring with earnestness, in order to compel them to come in, that the Lord's house may be filled, and that jewels may be gathered for our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I have brought a number of children into Sabbath-schools, and have induced several to attend church, and feel that my labors have been abundantly blessed, and that during the last month I have been much encouraged.
”I have succeeded in getting five tons of coal for my poor, besides groceries, etc. Have sold three Bibles, and given one away.”
CHAPTER x.x.x.
LOST, BUT FOUND.
Love of Christ, amazing love!
Vast as His eternity; Theme of angel choirs above, Theme of souls redeemed like me!
Outward to creation's bound, Up to Heaven's serenest height, Universal s.p.a.ce around, Swells the chorus day and night.
Here she writes about a woman whom she visited several years ago, and who attended her meetings: ”I lost sight of her for seven or eight years. She moved away from the city. One day recently I was sent for by a sick woman; I found it to be Mrs. V., who had returned. I read, prayed, and visited her until she died, believing in Jesus.” Here she reports the conversion of several others whom she has visited and brought out to religious services.
An unknown Christian lady writes thus: ”Mrs. Knowles has great success in her work, reading G.o.d's Word, and leaving the Bible to be read by those whom she visits, when not able to purchase a Bible; one is given in some instances; even the poorest will pay a small sum. A great change is noticeable after the Bible is read with real interest--cleaner children, better-dressed men and women, and a desire to hear the Gospel.”
Why this marvellous success? What brought about this personal reformation in the habits and character of parents and children? There are two reasons for this great change, namely: 1. Contact with G.o.d's Word. 2. Contact with a soul set on fire with the love of Christ. Oh!
the tremendous power there is in divinely implanted affection when it is beautifully blended in a human heart. Sir Walter Scott says:
Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, And men below, and saints above; For love is Heaven, and Heaven is love!
CONSOLATION AMID DOMESTIC DIFFICULTIES.
When we remember that we are penning for publication only a few stray gleanings from the multiplicity of instances of conversion, the reader, we trust, will behold the variety of cases recorded, and we sincerely hope the Christian worker will utilize them for practical purposes.
Some one has said that Paul's favorite ill.u.s.trations by images are drawn, not from the operations and uniform phenomena of the natural world, but from the activities and outward exhibition of human society, from the lives of soldiers, from the lives of slaves, from the market, from athletic exercises, from agriculture, from architecture.