Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-10-24
From the New York Sun.
A PROTESTANT MIRACLE.

From the New York Sun.
A PROTESTANT MIRACLE. |
The Wife of n Methodist Clergy man
is tl,e Subte ct of a Miraculous Wis., |
itaiIOn and Restoration To Health. |
Great excitement has been created |
in New Hampshire by an account given |
by Mrs. Ellen c.. Sherman, wife of the
Rev. Moses Sherman of Pierpont, of |
her having been rescued from the i
brink of the grave by divine interpo- !
sition. Mrs. Sherman is woman of
thirty-fve, of fair education and strong
religious convictions. Her reputation
for integrity has always been unques-
tionable, and her remarkable story has
naturally given rise to animated dis
cussion among those who were familiar
with the facts in her case.
It appears to be admitted on all
sides that Mrs. Sherman, just before
the time of the alleged miracle, was in
an extremely dangerous condition. She
was scarcely able to lift her hand to
her mouth, and this incapacity for ac-
ton was accompanied with intense
pain, which at times was so severe as
to render her delirious. Then came
sudden and remarkable change with
out apparent cause, and rapid pro-
gress toward complete restoration to
health.
In the community where Mrs. Sher-
man lives the opinions upon the ma
ture of her sudden convalescence are
various, and evidently influenced by
sec tartan bias. Tt is said that the
Methodists generally accept her ac-
count as satisfactory evidence of mi
raculous interposition, while other
sects are skeptical, and attributing her
convalescence to natural causes, ascribe
her belief in a supernatural visitation
to the disordered fancies of a brain
excited to the highest degaee of relig-
ious fervor and physical agony. Here
is
MRS. sHERMAN's STORY.
I have been great sufferer for fif-
teen years, my sufferings increasing
with the years. For wears have been
a confirmed invalid, but not wholly,
though mostly, confined to my bed for
great part of the time for several
years, till Sept. 10, 1872. From that
time up to August 81, 1873, was
wholly confined, not able to stand on
my feet or be raised to standing pos
ture, or get on or off the bed alone, or
| help myself much in any way. l was
growing more helpless, and was espe-
cially 50 for few weeks previous to
my great change. Much of the time
| it required two persons to move me. l
! had become discouraged about ever
getting up again, and on that night,
being in unusual pain and suffering,
the prospect looked dark and dreary.
[ looked forward to years of suffering
in bed-ridden state, and felt that
must have more help from God to en-
able me to bear this life burden with
perfect submission and patience. ]
therefore tried, and was divinely helped
to anew and fully and forever surren-
der myself and all my being and inter.
ests into His hands to lie there il
passive subsection to Gods will. Wher
I felt that the conservation was com
plete, it was easy to grasp Jesus as my
Saviour oh, so easy! My faith
reached ont to take Him as my all
and rs I did so, began to be conscious
of Presence, His Presence in my
room, and voice whispered in my in
ner ear, 81 will come untoyou and vii
manifest myself unto you" 1t seemed
as if I might, if able to get up, grasl
Hin with my hand and feel his form
so manifest was His presence. I fell
I knew Him as nay Saviour. He seemed
to fill the room and my whole being
with his loving smile. But can never
tell how much of bliss entered into
that hour. I said to myself, "Truly
this is the gate of heaven" But was
not satisfied. My heart q did MOI
move or speak with my lips. 1t was {
spiritual manifestion, but as real as
though pertaining to the body CRIED
out: Lord, if thou wilt. thon canst
make me clean" Immediately thai
voice replied, SO lovingly and 50 sweet
ly, II will, be thou clean - and Will
the words came the cleansing power Of
Christ's most precious blood. l felt
cit cleanseth me 1t cleanseth me :
WAS TOO HAPPY
and too full to speak or move. L was
overpowered-struc dumb by such 6
Presence. l felt that l could not
lose such a Presence aud be left alone
[ remembered ASK what We will,
and l said, Lord send LIE the Com
forter that he may abide with me for
ever" knew He could do it and il
was instantly given, going through my
whole frame like an electric shock.
felt it, ard the words Refining fire sc
through my heart" &C., passed
through nay mind and were true in my
experience. The voice Of Jesus wills
pered, And when He is come, He
will take of the things of God and
show them unto you, and for few
moments, truly, He did show me Won
derful and marvellous things out OF
Gods Law. Promise after promise
came before my spirits eye as vividly
as if written in letters of light; and
since then it has been constantly veri-
fed.
L lay there overpowered by the
presence of Jesus, Who still remained,
though / saw not His form at all
only His presence, and the baptism of
! the Holy Spirit. While lost in Won
der, love and praise ! said to myself,
"This poor, sick, worn-out body is a
poor offering to make Him for Hia
dwelling in return for spch wonderful
love" The Spirit whispered to me-
of the Great Physlcian-''He is able
:.ample." Instantly Jesus passed near
my bed and spoke, "Belevest thou
that 1 am able to do this?" and it was
repeated many times, while moaned
''He is the same yesterday, to-day
and forever" "All power is given
Him." &C. He did heal the sick, and
my Judgment was convinced. l knew
He was willing. He had come be-
cause He was willing, yes anxious to
| do it. Power to yield and believe was
7 =
seems to me, said Lord, 1 believe;
help Thou mine unbelief" He saw
me and knew my whole heart believed.
Then He came still nearer, and I
heard the words, "And He breathed
On them and said, Receive We the
Holy Ghost" and they were accom-
panied by a breathing, and L felt it on
my face. 4 warming, inyigorating
influence was breathed upon me- It
passed down my body,
NV PAIN