EXTRACTS FROM CORRESPONDENCE.
I WILL soon be fifty-one years old, but I am glad that the Lord has given me the ability to commit his word to memory. Six years ago a servant of the Lord brought the precious truth to us, and taught us how to memorize verses in the Bible. I have nearly four hundred verses committed to memory; and when I am anywhere without my Bible, and people question me in regard to my peculiar faith, I can quote a “Thus saith the Lord,” and give the chapter and verse where the statement is found. For over a year I have held Bible readings with some of the poorest persons in the city. My friends criticised me, and said that if I went among such a class, no respectable persons would wish me in their homes, and at first I shrank from it. But I knew that Christ never refused to help such persons, and why should I, his servant, shrink from duty when he called, and the people themselves were begging me to come and tell them of Jesus? I shall never forget the experiences I have had. One night as I approached a house noted for its wickedness, which was near where I held my Bible reading, a little girl, who had been to one of my meetings, recognized me, and ran to me, begging me to go and invite her mother to come to the meeting. I said, “Where is your mother?” “On the steps back of the house, with others,” she replied. She took hold of me, and begged so hard that I could not refuse her. I talked to the mother, and asked her to go with me to the meeting. At first she refused, but I talked kindly to her, and at last she went; and she continued to come after that, and would sit with tears in her eyes. She told me that many years before, she had gone to a meeting, but on account of her poverty was treated in such a manner that she resolved never to go again. She was anxious and eager to learn of Christ. At another place where I was to hold a reading with a sick woman, I found eight persons waiting to hear what I had to say. I felt almost too weak to go on, but God’s grace is sufficient for any work that he sends us. The Lord spoke through me; and when we arose from prayer, I saw that all were weeping. The Spirit of the Lord was present in this little company of those who are not noticed by popular ministers and professed Christian people, even if it was only a weak servant who was trying to explain the truth, and they begged me to come again. It is in the byways and hedges that people are starving to-day, but pride keeps many from going to their aid. I have a prophetic chart which I painted myself, because I could not afford to buy one; and as I explain the image and the beasts of prophecy to the people, they become much interested. Since I saw the truth two years ago, my great desire has been to tell others of it. I do not wish to shrink from one duty, no matter what the world says. I wish a clear conscience with God. I am praying that he will give me this town for him.