EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE.
I AM trying to learn to discern the Saviour's voice and be obedient to his calls. Last week I felt a burden of prayer for a sick man,—a neighbor, five miles distant,—who, the doctors say has cancer of the stomach, which, having eaten through his spleen and liver, is working toward his heart. His case was given up as incurable. I went to his home early in the morning, so as to be there in time to do the housework for the day. Upon arriving I found that his wife had more help in the kitchen that day than was needed, so it was evident that I was not sent there for that purpose. I waited all day for them to ask me to pray with them, although I never had had prayer at a neighbor's house. I came home with the burden of prayer still on me, and really felt disappointed because they had not asked me to pray. On my way home I stopped at the post-office to get the mail, and upon looking it over, found some circulars from the Pacific Press. I read: “We are told a death-like slumber is upon the human agents, and the work is hindered by failure of the human to co-operate with the divine. All heaven is activity, and the angels of God are waiting to co-operate with the human agent who will devise plans whereby souls for whom Christ died may hear the glad tidings of salvation.” I felt that I was one of the human agents whom the angels were waiting for. Our lesson around the family altar that evening was the second chapter of Revelation. Verses 2-5 seemed to be directed to me, especially the words, “will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” The burden of my prayer now was that I might be forgiven; that this man's life might be preserved until I could prepare food for another day, so as to leave my family again; and I promised the Lord that I would go and do the work that he bade me do. Having no one-horse rig, I went on horseback, so there would be only one horse to care for during the night. I was impressed to take with me several articles for the sick, which I put in my satchel. Just before I started, I took some light graham bread from the oven, and something told me to take a loaf of it to them. But I recognized the voice of Satan suggesting, “Oh, it is hot! You can not carry such a load. You will have four wire gates to open on the way, and how will you mount the horse again with two great bundles? You will look like old Mrs. Mc Nally.” You see I could not put the hot bread in the satchel, as it would melt the butter. The fact was, I did not know how I could carry the things; but your idea flashed through my mind,—“God will lay no burden upon us without giving strength to perform;” so I answered, “I never started with a load yet that I did not go through with.” I had promised the Lord that if I was impressed again to take anything to them, I would do it; so I took the bundles and started. Fortunately, near the first two gates there was convenience for getting on my horse again, and the two last gates on my road had been accidentally (?) left open. When I reached the place, the woman said: “There now is Mrs. ——. I will rest to-night. I will go right to bed. When some one comes in that I can trust my husband with, I can rest.” In the morning the opportunity came to have prayer, and I did my duty the best I could. They seemed very thankful for what I had done, and I leave the result with the Lord. S. M. I. H.