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What Decision Did

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Oct 7, 1875

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 1, No. 47.

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What Decision Did.

In the West lived a very, proud, wealthy infidel, and irreligious father, who having one day called his family together, told them if they went to the prayer-meeting and “got religion” he would disinherit them, and banish them from his house. The wife and child were included in the threat. The daughter, however, continued to go to the prayer-meetings, and soon found peace in believing in Jesus. When an opportunity was afforded to make a profession, she merely arose and spoke of the “great change” in her heart, and of her faith in the Saviour.
The news was immediately carried to the family of the young lady. Having come home that night, she was met at the door by her father, standing with the Bible in his arms.
“Maria,” said he, “I have been told that you publicly professed, to-night, that you have religion. Is that so?”
“Father,” said the girl, “I love you; and I think I love the Saviour, too.”
Opening his Bible to a blank leaf, and pointing his finger, he said:—
“Maria, whose name is that?”
“It is my name, sir.”
“Did I not tell you I would disinherit you if you got religion?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, I must do it. You cannot come into my house.” And tearing the leaf out of the Bible, “There, so do I blot out your name from among my children. You can go.”
She went to the house of a pious widow in the neighborhood, and heard no more from her father for three weeks. But one morning seeing her father’s carriage driving up to the door, she ran out and said to the driver:
“What is the matter, James?”
“Your father is very sick, and thinks he is going to die; and he is afraid he shall go to hell for his wickedness and the grievous wrong he has done you in disinheriting you, and turning you from his house. He wants you to jump into the carriage and come home as quickly as possible.”
She found her father sick, sure enough, on going home; but she soon saw he was only sin sick. She talked with him, prayed with him, and endeavored to lead him to Christ. In three days, the father, mother, two brothers and a sister, making the whole family, were all rejoicing in hope.—Religious Intelligencer.