HOW AN INFIDEL WAS CONVERTED.
By C. H. Wetherbe
SEVERAL years ago there lived in Iowa a Mr. T., a keen and intelligent man and a successful banker, but he was a blasphemous infidel. He did not have the slightest respect for the historical Christ, and would not acknowledge that such a man was anything more than an impostor, if, indeed, He ever existed. Finally, while Mr. Moody's sermons were being published by the New York Witness, shortly after his return from his first preaching tour in England, Mr. T.'s attention was drawn to a copy of that paper, which his wife was taking. She was not a Christian, but liked the paper, and her husband took it just to please her. One day, while waiting for dinner, he took up the Witness to while away the time, when his attention was attracted to a sermon by Mr. Moody, which he read partly through, and in which he became considerably interested. Being called to his bank immediately after dinner, he could not then finish reading the sermon, but on returning to his house he was strongly desirous of finishing it, which he did in the hearing of his wife. There was an illustration in the sermon which especially interested him. It was this: Mr. Moody spoke of five men who were in a certain prison, under sentence for some high crimes. They were pardoned by the governor of the state, but did not know anything about their being pardoned until they were called out, each by his own name, and told of the fact. Each responded to the call of his name, except the fifth one. His name was called the second time, but no response came from him. As there were several others in the room, and the condemned men were scattered among them, the chaplain, who called off the names, thought at first that the man might not be present; or, perhaps, if present, he might be deaf. It was soon ascertained, however, that he was so overcome by the good news that he could not speak. God used this story to set Mr. T. seriously thinking about his own need of pardon. He reflected on the great truth that Christ had been offering him pardon for a long time and yet he would not accept it. The power of the Holy Spirit fell upon him, and he went into an adjoining bedroom and there pleaded with groanings that God would indeed pardon him. In a short time a glad sense of pardon was experienced, and a great change came over him. Since then he has given $1,000 to erect a church building in that place, and has been trying to save souls by preaching, as a layman, the Gospel of his Lord, in which way he has done much good.—C. H. Wetherbe.