Prayer Answered by M. Hayden

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 5, 1861

Prayer Answered.

By M. Hayden

In one of my pastoral visits a few days ago, I stopped at the house of one of our sisters, and found there an aged sister whom I had never seen before. I did not stop to inquire what church she belonged to, for I was too deeply interested in conversation, to think of that. There was no difficulty in finding out that she had faith in the Lord our Saviour; for she had attained to a full assurance of her acceptance with Christ. And surely, if an answer to prayer is an evidence that we are Christ's, then the following incident in her experience is full proof in her case:

Her son had desired for several years to go to sea, much against the wish of his kind parents. They had succeeded in preventing it, until he was now of age. His mother, feeling that it could no longer be prevented, gave him up to the Lord. Nothing had been said for a long time, however, about his going to sea, until one day, when the parents were preparing for a journey, the son said to his mother, "Mother, when you get home, you will not find George here." He would tell her nothing about it. Grief,

"Which none but he that feels it knows," rose like a flood, and filled her heart, but that heart was fixed, trusting in God.

When they were some distance from home, they ascertained that George had actually gone. This news entirely overcame the father, and dropping his lines from his hands, he cried most bitterly, saying, "George is lost, we shall never see him again!" The mother drove home, and though her husband sunk upon the bed in despair, she laid the matter before the Lord. All night she agonized in prayer, until morning, when she said, "O Lord! if George cannot be saved any other way, bring him right in the midst of danger, spare his life, and send him home." She immediately received a presentiment that in less than a week's time she should receive an answer to her prayer.

Reader, behold the mercy of the Lord! That very night George was aboard a vessel; was swept overboard by a strong surge, and was drawn from this watery grave by a rope. Something then told him, "George, you have been saved by a mother's prayers; now go home and obey your parents." He obeyed, and in less than one week's time the father's lost son was returned, and the mother's presentiment fulfilled. Here is another proof of the power of importunate prayer. That long night was not spent in vain; for George was not only saved from this terrible death, but ere long was saved from the "wrath to come."

Parents, have you a child that has gone from you to seek his fortunes among strangers? Follow him by your prayers and they shall be like guardian spirits to protect him from sin and temptation, and lead him to Christ the Saviour of sinners.

I cannot but pity that young man who among strangers, has no friends to pray for him. I wish that the whole world were saints upon their knees, praying that I may be faithful to God and man. The closet is the place to approach your Maker. O that there were more closet prayers; then Christianity would have more power and success, and Christians, warming with the love of God, would behold, though perhaps after much trial and waiting, the fruit of their labors, nobly hanging from the limbs of the tree of providence.

M. Hayden.—Am. Baptist.

Clyde N. Y., Nov. 12, 1860.