The Evidence of Things Not Seen.
An English lady whose Christian work incurs a large outlay every year, and who trusts to her divine Master to provide everything in response to her faith and prayer, says: "I was once confronted with an infidel, who demanded what proof we have that there is a God, or, rather, that we could know there is a God. I replied:— "If you had made an appeal to a person whom you had never seen, and of whose existence you only knew by report, for a thousand pounds, and if he had responded to your appeal by sending you the money by the hand of some friend, would you not know that such a person must be a living reality?" "Yes," he said with an incredulous smile, "I think I should. Hard cash is pretty strong evidence." "Well," said I, "I made an appeal to God for that very sum, toward building a house by the sea-side for the benefit of his servants; and he gave me the exact amount I asked for, by the hand of a friend, without my having to appeal to any one else but himself. I therefore claim to know that he exists." "The man changed countenance, and turned away without answering. And I would say to wavering Christians, that when I have often, in answer to prayer, when no one but myself and the living God knew of the straits into which I have been brought, received 'hard cash,' sent in every variety of form,—sometimes a few stamps, sometimes a hundred pounds, at other times three hundred, and five hundred, and a thousand,—I think I have a tangible proof that God, whom Jesus Christ came to reveal as the Father, is, indeed, to all who seek him, 'a living, bright reality.'"—Christian Woman.