Some Diabolical Work in Honan, China — Remarkable Cases of Divine Protection
By JOHN J. WESTRUP
WHAT a power the devil has over the poor deluded people of this world! In some countries he hides himself under an outwardly fine civilization, but his power to lead people away from God and to deceive is fearful. Here in China, being worshiped in order to appease his wrath, he works more openly and frightfully.
The awful devil-possessions, I have written about before. But there is another form of torture, the victims of which come to our dispensary nearly every day.
THEIR BODIES SWELL UP IN A FIT OF ANGER
When they become angry, it seems that the grace of God, which everywhere restrains the devil, has hardly any chance to manifest its protecting power, and the devil eggs them on to a fearful fit of anger. They ruin their voices for lifetime, their bodies swell up and stay swelled, and this slowly gives rise to other diseases. How terrible it will be when the grace of God is withdrawn from the unbelievers all over this wicked world! The whole world is under great obligation to God for the restraining influence of the Holy Spirit. O that men everywhere would thank the Lord for His goodness!
PRONOUNCED VICTORIES OVER EVIL POWER
No one in this country can doubt the existence of the devil. At the same time, the power of God to save is plainly manifested. The great change at conversion is more marked here than in many places. Their faith in God is more childlike, prayers more earnest, and they expect and do get victory over the devil and the flesh. We see many clear evidences of answer to prayer.
KEPT FROM THE ROBBERS
Only yesterday a colporteur told me how God continually protected him and his family and the brethren, while others around [[FIGURE]]
them constantly suffered from robbers, who are robbing and burning up houses and property at a great rate about us. One day he passed through a thousand of the White Wolf Robbers, and to his joy they did not molest him. Another time he was approaching a very dangerous place infested by fearful robbers; but he and the man who wheeled his papers, books, and other things, kneeled in the road and prayed earnestly for the Lord's protection, then went forward in faith, and passed through without being harmed.
PRESERVED THROUGH TWO-YEAR DANGER PERIOD
We have had many such instances these two years. The more dangers around, the more genuine is the faith. And having faith in God, He is able to show His power and love. Our brethren are scattered over Honan, and not one of them has lost property or life these two awful years, during and after the revolution. We daily praise God for His protecting love. Our one desire is to get nearer to Him and become more like Him. The more we become like Him, the more peace, joy, and blessing we have in our lives. Praise the dear Lord for His love and for His goodness to the children of men.
Evangelist F. E. Stafford and native evangelist Tze in front of our new tract society office in Shanghai, China
