He Prayeth by E. Cornwall

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 24, 1872

He Prayeth.

By E. Cornwall

WALKING one day recently along the seashore, I saw a number of people running to the water's edge, and a boat putting off in haste. It was after a youth who, in bathing, had got out of his depth and sunk. After remaining for a quarter of an hour under water, he was taken out, and restoratives promptly applied, to rekindle, if possible, the spark of life. I waited with many more at the door of the building to ascertain whether he was likely to recover. Several came out, but to tell of no hope. At last a person darted out of the house, the bearer of better tidings. “He has caught a breath.” The crowd caught and quickly echoed the cry. I thought of the joy that is felt in Heaven when a penitent sinner is crying for mercy; for just as an infant begins to breathe when it enters the world, so does the sinner begin to pray when he is newly born of God. It is at that moment that he draws his first spiritual breath.—E. Cornwall.