Forewarned in the Prayer Closet by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 15, 1910

Forewarned in the Prayer Closet

By W. A. S.

DR. W. H. VAN DOREN years ago repeated, in the Evangelist, a story of the historic Wyoming Valley, in Pennsylvania, in the times of 1778. An aged father living in the mountains had asked his sons to go next day to the mill in the valley with corn to replenish the meal chest. The boys prepared bright and early for the journey, expecting as usual to spend the night at the mill, and return the day after. The account runs:—

As the father came out in the morning from the closet of prayer, and said to the waiting sons, “Not to-day!” the young men were greatly surprised.

“But, father, our supply is used up, and why should we delay?” they said.

“Not to-day, my sons,” the man of prayer repeated with emphasis. “I know not what it means, but in my prayer my mind was deeply impressed with this word, ‘Let them abide till the morrow.’”

Without charging their venerated parent with superstition, the obedient sons yielded, unl aded their horses, and waited for another morning to come.

That memorable night a horde of savages, with torch and tomahawk, entered Wyoming Valley, and began their work of destruction; and it is said that before their work was ended, not a house, barn, church, nor mill escaped the flames; and few of the inhabitants escaped.

In the morning at sunrise the father and sons were watching the valley filled with ascending volumes of smoke and flames. The awful truth flashed upon their minds. The aged saint knelt down with his sons on the mountain top, and in adoring prayer thanked God for the warning voice of his Spirit.

W. A. S.