1.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE HAND OF GOD REVEALED.

Revival meetings were held in the Swedish Mission Church in Des Moines, Iowa. The minister, G. Norseen, had lately ar rived from Sweden. Several coal miners attended the meeting Sunday evening. Among these was an infidel who indulged in blasphemy and indecent language. This man was surrounded by some people near the door at the close of the meeting. Rev. Norseen noticing the crowd came and listened to the infidel's infamy for a while, the crowd expecting the minister to produce a convincing argument, and he did. He said:

"This man is bound for hell and he will soon get there. Leave him alone, for he shall never see another sunset on earth." The crowd scattered, the infidel railed, but the minister paid no more attention to him:

On Monday morning the infidel went into the coal mine as usual. He started to hall coal in a truck having a sheet iron box to the elevator. Pushing the truck before him a large block of rock from the roof got loose and fell upon him, almost literally beheading him. So he never saw another sunset upon the earth. He was bound for hell, and he got there all right.

2. A young man Fred S., belonging to my church in Mead, Nebraska, had been converted and lived a Christian life. He was of an inventive turn of mind, and conceived the idea of a new seeder. He made models and had castings made at considerable expense, but when his invention came to be tried it refused to work. This made Fred raging mad; and so mad that he took offense at his GOD, claiming that he had prayed to GOD for guidance and success, and especially for patience in the experimenting stage of his invention, but his prayers were not heard, consequently GOD'S promises were not to be depended on.

I tried to lead Fred to self-examination to find if the fault was not really his own, but I was no match for Fred.

One of our elderly ministers, John Peterson, came along, and I told him of my friend Fred's dilemma, and asked Rev. Peterson to go with me to see Fred, which he willingly did.

Fred repeated his grievances truly and honestly, insisting that GOD hadn't dealt fairly with him.

Rev. Peterson sat quiet for a while, and I expected a convincing argument that would set Fred right. And a mighty argument it was, when at last he spoke.

"Fred, God almighty is going to argue with you himself from heaven. You are going to meet with a very serious accident that shall barely spare your life. And it will happen very soon, too, in a day or two."

That was all, not another word.

The day following Fred went to Fremont, Nebraska, eighteen miles distant, with a load of grain. The lines were fastened on to a center cleat on the front endboard while unloading. Ready

to take hold of his lines he found that one of them had slipped down onto the whiffletrees. Bending over to pick up that line, his foot slipped, and he fell headlong between the horses which became frightened and started off on a gallop. Some way Fred got his arm around the tongue, and thus he was dragged under the wagon between the heels of his galloping team through the streets in Fremont. The team was finally stopped, and Fred crawled out, shivering but not much hurt.

Now, Fred was a different man, for GOD had spoken to him. He had also found out the cause of his trouble. And he was quick to tell me about it, too. Yes, Fred had become the master, the god, and GOD was made his servant. Fred was the lord who commanded, and God the servant under obligation to obey. Fred was a great inventor, he was going to make lots of money and be a rich, very rich and an honored man.

On his way home from Fremont all became clear to him, and the best of all was that Fred acknowledged his sin, humbled himself and became a meek and devoted disciple of the LORD.

Notice here the inspiration foretelling the accident as predicted and the results.

3. A family in a settlement called Fremont, Iowa, south of Red Oak and near Essex, had several sons and only one daughter. The parents and daughter were devoted Christians, but the sons were very wicked and hateful. They could not be induced to remain in the house during family worship, never went along to church, but attended dances and all kinds of worldly amusements. Father, mother, sister and Christian friends continued in prayer for these wicked boys.

It came to pass that the oldest son broke his leg. The doctor set it, but in a few days it became very painful. The doctor was sent for. On examination it was found that mortification had set in. His body had been poisoned by excessive use of tobacco. The only thing to do to save his life was amputation of the affected member. The doctor would come back the next morning with his instruments for the operation.

But

The family gathered in an adjoining room for prayer. now the son called upon that dispised old mother to kneel by his bed and to pray for him. Father and sister united, and the fore part of the night was used in prayer for the son and in exhorting him to give himself to Christ.

Left alone for a while, he was heard sighing and praying himself, and finally he burst into weeping. Returning to his room, he now confessed his "cussedness," as he termed it, and asked father, mother and sister to forgive him. Another season of prayer and weeping for joy continued until between two and three o'clock in the morning, when suddenly the young man shouted, "I am saved! My sins are forgiven. Father, mother, your prodigal son has returned home to stay. If I am ever able to walk again I shall follow you to your meetings, and try to cheer you for all the sorrow and shame I brought you."

In the midst of rejoicing, the ever sensitive and mindful mother thought of the morning, the doctor and the amputation, so she asked if his leg hurt much.

"My leg, I had forgotten all about my leg. Why, I feel no pain at all. It's all gone, mother."

The family retired for a few hours' rest. The young man also fell into a sweet sleep, having had no rest for several nights. The doctor with an assistant came early to perform the operOn examination it was found that the color of the skin had changed and the wound and bruises had a healthy appearance. And no pain.

ation.

"Here is evidence of a miracle, something very unusual," said the doctor. He was then told the happenings during the night.

"That accounts for it, then," he said, repacking his instruments and congratulating the young man and the family for the unusual and most extraordinary results.

The healing of wounds and bruises progressed rapidly. And thereafter he not only remained with the family during worship but he participated. And you would hear him thank GOD for the broken leg and the salvation of his soul.

4. St. Augustine, the greatest of the Latin fathers of the church, was very wayward while a youth. His mother Monical continued in prayer for him, but it seemed that the more she prayed and wept, the more wicked became her beloved son, until she was almost ready to falter. She then spoke to the bishop about her wicked son. The bishop exhorted her to persevere, saying: "It is impossible that a son of so many prayers and tears can go lost." Young Augustine encountered hardship and was converted, and became a great preacher, teacher and author.

Let us pray without ceasing for our children, until we have them all saved by our side in heaven. When I was young, then 1 prayed first for myself and at random for others and for the conversion of souls in general. I got married and prayed for myself and wife, and for missions in general, remembering also the sick and needy. We were blessed with children and later with grandchildren, so now more time is required for prayers, and the interest and magnitude have increased many, many fold, for the salvation of all our children, grandchildren and their children all along the line until Jesus comes. We can't afford to miss a single one.

A Test Case.

Forty-two years ago, at the time that the author entered the ministry, Rev. J. Peterson, then pastor at Des Moines, Iowa, related the following incident which happened in his parish:

A family consisted of husband, wife and a daughter about 18 years old. The man was an infidel; the wife a devoted Christian. The man enjoyed reading Ingersoll's "Mistakes of Moses," Thomas Paine's works and other infidel publications, while the mother and the daughter read the Bible and religious literature. On Sundays the man went to his club of "free thinkers," as they

were called, while the wife and daughter went to Sunday school and attended church worship.

A bad cough. What's the matter with Emma? Can't the doctor stop it? The doctor did try to stop it, but it wouldn't stop. Emma grew thinner and weaker. One afternoon a severe continuous coughing caused hemorrhage of the lungs.

The doctor was sent for hastily. After examination, he called the mother into another room for consultation. Returning to the sick-room, the daughter noticed tears rolling down her mother's cheeks. This suggested that the doctor had said something serious, and Emma wanted to know what. The mother hesitated, her tears flowing more freely, but Emma insisted on knowing what was the matter.

Dear Jesus May Call for My Darling Tomorrow.

The truth had to be told. The mother knelt by the bed and in broken sentences said: "You cannot possibly live more than two days, and it is most likely that dear Jesus will call for my darling tomorrow about the time your lung-bleeding started to-day. And then the two, weeping, mingled their tears together for a while.

No; not the tears of dispair; for Emma was prepared. They would meet again on that beautiful shore. Happily, Emma by the influence and prayers of a godly and devoted mother, had surrendered to the blessed Redeemer, and had the assurance that her name was duly recorded in the Lambs Book of Life. Death had already been conquered. She had passed from death unto life. She had already appeared before the judgment seat of God, there acknowledged and confessed her sins, the sentence of PARDON had been announced, and she had received her passports sealed with the assurance and testimony of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, this moment was the most sacred and triumphant in her life. She experienced the sweetest joy and indescribable happiness, such as is known only by saints and angels. "I shall be with Jesus to-morrow! O, I shall be with Jesus to-morrow! O mamma, dear, think of it, I shall be with Jesus to-morrow," she exclaimed repeatedly. And then in feeble voice she thanked her mother for what she had been to her.

A knock at the door separated mother and daughter for a moment. It was a kind neighbor who wished to inquire about Emma's condition. Just a look and a word of encouragement and a promise to return in the evening.

"Papa, papa, papa!" "No, papa hasn't come home yet, darling." "I want to see papa.' "Yes, darling, as soon as he comes home, I'll tell him.”

Alone With Teasing, Mocking Husband.

This call for papa brought an entirely different picture to the mind and different feelings to the heart of the mother and wife. A moment ago she wept tears of joy in the loving embrace of the blessed Savior. The assurance of meeting overshadowed the

scene of parting. But now what? "O that God would grant that I may follow Emma," she sighed. "How shall I endure the teasing and mocking of my blasphemous husband in my loneliness?" And yet, she felt that she ought not to complain for her husband did not forbid her to attend meetings at her church. She would pray more fervently for the conversion of him than ever before; and she went at it right away. Then she again thought of Emma, so she went to her and asked her to pray for unhappy papa before she left. There and then the two joined in prayer for father. After the season of prayer, in which the angels of heaven mingled with their amen, and which was heard and considered in heaven, Emma whispered:

"Mother, darling mother, I can't leave you till I know that papa is saved."

The door is opened and someone enters without knocking. That must be father. Mother hastens to meet him in the hall. The sad news was told.

"Emma wants to see you. She is getting weaker every minute, so you want to wash and dress as quickly as possible. He had not to be told twice, for his loved his daughter dearly.

The Crisis and the Victory.

Father and mother entered the room very quietly. Both stood there by the bed watching, listening to the heavy breathing and the rustling sound, the mother's tears flowing freely, the father pale, rigid, like a marble statute. Presently, Emma opened her eyes, and looking at her parents for a little while lifted her hand and pointed to a chair and said: “Papa, dear, sit down." The mother turned the chair so that the father should face his daughter. Then gathering all her strength, she said:

"Papa, the doctor says that I have only a day or two to be with you, to live-I must die, maybe to-night, maybe to-morrow. Now, mama believes and says that Jesus and holy angels will come and take me to heaven. But you say that there is no heaven and no hell-papa, I am going to die, and I must know right now, who is right, you or mama.'

The poor infidel father was thunderstruck. His whole body was shaking, his lips quivered, his heart felt like a stone.

"Papa, tell me I am dying-I must know this very minute.” The mother stood behind the chair and stepping forward to his side, bent forward, her arm around her husband's neck and looking him in the face, pleaded:

"Can you let our beloved child pass away without giving an answer to her last question?"

"Your mother is right, believe as she does," he stammered, hardly able to speak.

"Then you are wrong,-papa-If mama and I go-to-heaven -you-go to he-ll-Never-never-meet me-any more."

Gathering her strength for a last effort, she said: "Mama and I meet in heaven-you-go to-hell. Never never-meet-"