Smyrna times., 1878-10-23
A Pleasant Recollection.

In the years of 1899 and 40 was pastor of
the NJ. Z. Church in the city of West Ches-
ter, Chester CO., Penn. There resided in
that city well-to-do family, consisting of,
If remember correctly, a father, mother,
one daughter, and three sons, who were
generally denominated Hickory Quakers.
Ihev were perhaps at one time members of
the society Of Friends, but at that time, SO
far as | know, they were not members of
any religious body. Indeed the family
were regarded generally as sceptics. They
paid no practical attention to religion
whatever. The holy Sabbath to them was
nothing different from any other dav of the
week. They treated all days alike. The old
gentleman, venerable in appearance, occa-
slonally attended our church. The other
members OF the family, believe, attended
no place OF religious worship. In the second
year OF my pastorate, the mother was taken
sick, and continued to grow worse until the
doctor informed the family that she was i'll
beyond recovery, and that he could do
nothing more for her; that she might die
any moment, and he desired to prepare
their minds for it. The family became
greatly alarmed at the announcement, and
after some reflection and consultation as to
what they should do to save her life, they
concluded, sceptics as they were, to send
for me to come and pray with and for her.
Consequently, a little after daybreak one
morning, before l had risen, heard loud
knock at my front door. l Immediately
| arose and inquired what was wanting, and
to my surprise there stood the oldest son
at the door, and said with deep emotion,
"my dear mother is dying, and want YOU
to come and pray with her." l replied, |
will be there in a few minutes. | went as
soon as | could and found, think, the
entire family sitting in the sick room,
| evidently waiting for me. Soon as | entered
the room they told me that the doctor
| says mother must die, and we sent for you
to pray for her. | replied, if the doctor
has given her up to die, there is but one
resort left us, that is prayer, and unless
God hears prayer in her behalf, she must
die. l therefore requested the family to
kneel with me before the Lord, while |
asked Him to restore the dying. We &C.
cordingly knelt down, while l engaged in
prayer How deeply solemn and affecting
the scene. Every heart was subdued, and we
all felt that the place had become awful.
| began to pray with a trembling voice.
When had uttered a few words only, I
felt that | had free access to the throne of
grace; that the spirit of Christ was present
to help my infrmities, and that whatsoever
| would ask the Father in the name of
Jesus, it should be done. then asked for
the immediate restoration of the dying
: wife and mother. For this plead, most
earnestly and devoutly. After a few min.
utes of holy wrestling, l felt all anxiety
and concern of mind to cease, and an un.
shaken confidence that all was granted
: took their place, and prayer ceased. 1,
after moment, arose from my knees and
said to the family, your mother will live.
God has answered prayer. The doctor says,
, as physician, she must die; l say, as q
minister of Jesus Christ, and in answer to
/ prayer, she will live, and upon the result
of the case l will stake my religion and
/ ministry. | then said, will call again at
> noon and see how she is. Accordingly
, called, and found the family calm and
5 cheerful. They told me that the doctor
! had been there, and pronounced her much
] better, and he then thought she would live.
e | replied, you may depend on that. In a
i comparatively short time, she was restored
e to health, and came with her husband to
i hear me preach, which they continued to do
as long as l remained in the city. l have
reason to believe, from her after life, when
! God healed her body He also saved her
;, soul. The duty which l design to enforce
;. by this case, is prayer-prayer as a sure
> remedy against all our woes. " Is any man
afflicted, let him pray" Prayer to God is
!, what we all need. Lord, help us to pray
: and never cease. "Lord, teach us ho10 to
!; pray" And will He not do it? Has He
not already done it in multitude of in
: stances? Did he not enable the ancient
. worthless through the power of believing
a prayer to subdue Kingdoms stop the mouths
! of lions; quench the violence of fire; escape
:, the edge of the sword; out of weakness
4 were made strong-strong enough to cast
= = out devils and turn the world upside down
: raise the dead; put to flight the armies of
= the aliens, and infinitely more, that they
9 might obtain a better resurrection? God
sends out His triumphant challenge to His
IF believing people. He says, "try me, and
n prove me-" "All things are possible to
d him that believeth." WIN. URIE.