A Prayer-Meeting Incident.
An interesting incident recently occurred in a prayer-meeting at Farmington, Me. In consequence of the illness of the pastor of the Congregationalist church, a large number of his congregation attended the Methodist prayer-meeting. During the exercises of the evening, a good Congregationalist brother, somewhat advanced in life, arose and stated that more than thirty years since he trusted he was enabled to give his heart to Christ, and notwithstanding all his unfaithfulness, he was thankful that he still had a hope in his mercy. When he sat down, a physician, favorably known among us, and of a long standing as a prominent member of the M. E. church, arose and said he well remembered the circumstances of visiting that man and his family professionally more than thirty years ago, and the deep anxiety he then felt for the salvation of their souls. He conversed with them, prayed with them, and obtained a promise from them that they would pray for themselves. On his return home he was so deeply impressed with a desire to pray for his patients, that he got off his horse and kneeled down by the wayside and prayed for their salvation. He soon afterwards ascertained that both this man and his companion found the Saviour. When the doctor closed his remarks, the brother first mentioned arose again, and with much emotion said that he well remembered the visit of the doctor, and that after he left them, he proposed to his wife to unite with him in prayer for the salvation of their souls; and as nearly as he could estimate, at about the same time the doctor was praying for them by the wayside, the Lord forgave him his sins. His wife then also found the Saviour. The above circumstance shows conclusively the truth of the sacred word, "The fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Zion's Herald.