The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-01
A Remarkable Experience.

1have been preaching in Essex this week,
and I took the opportunity to visit the place
where my grandfather preached so long, and
where spent my earliest days. Last Wed.
nesday was to ne day in which walked
like man in dream. Everybody seemed
bound to recall some event or other Of my
childhood. What story of Divine love and
mercy it did bring before my mind Among
other things sat down in place that must
be sacred to me. There stood in my grand
fathers manse garden, two arbors made Of
yew trees cut in sugar-loaf fashion. Though
the old manse has given way to new one,
and the old chapel has gone also, yet the yew
trees flourish as aforetime. sat down in
the right-hand arbor and bethought me of
what had happened there many years
ago. When I was young child staying
preach in the village Mr.. Knill, who had
been missionary at st. Petersburg, and
q mighty preacher of the Gospel. He came
to preach for the London Missionary Society,
and arrived on Saturday at the manse. He
was great soul-winner, and he soon spied
out the boy. He said to me, ''Where do you
sleepl for want to call you up in the morn
ing.h showed him my little room. At six
o'clock he called me up and we went into the
me of the love Of Jesus, and of the blessed
ness Of trusting in Him and loving Him In
our childhood. With many a story he
preached Christ to me, and told me how
good God had been to him, and then he
prayed that might know the Lord and
serve Him
On Monday morning he did rs on the Sab
bath, and again on Tuesday. Three times he
taught me and prayed with me, and before
lie had to leave, my grandfather had come
hack from the place where he had gone to
reach, and all the family were gathered to
korning prayer. Then, in the presence OF
hem all, Mr. Knill took me on his knee and
bid, "This child will one day preach the
ospel, and he will preach 1t to the great
pultitudes I am persuaded that he will
reach it In the chapel Of Rowland Hill
here II think he sajd) am now the minis
er." He spoke very solemnly, and called
Then he gave me si1-pence as reward II
would learn the hymn:
"God moves in O mysterious way
His wonders to perform"
I was made to promise that when
preached at Rowland Hills chapel that hymn
ehould be sung. Think of that as a promise
from childl Would it ever be other than
an idle dream7 Years flew by. After had
.segun for some little time to preach in Lon
Hon, DR.. Alexander Fletcher had to give the
annual sermon to children in the Surrey
chapel, but as he was taken i'll, / WAS asked
in hurry to preach to the children. yes"
said, II will, if the children will sing God
moves in mysterious way l made Q
promise long ago that it should be sung"
And so it was; preached in Rowland Hills
chapel, and that hymn was sung. My
Emotions on that occasion cannot describe.
Still that was not the chapel which Mr.. Knill
ptended. AL unsought by me, the minister
It Wottonunder Edge which was Mr.. Knill's
here. / went ON tho condition that the con-
regation should sing "God moves In q mys-
Serious wayn-which was also done. After
That went to preach for Mr.. Knill himself,
who was then at Chester. What q meeting
i've hadl
"God moves in q mysterious way
His wonders to perform"
After more than 40 years Of the Lords
loving kindness, sat again In that arbori
hear, but to me it was an overwhelming
moment The present minister OF Stambourn
meeting house and the members OF his fami-
v, including his son and his grandchildren,
were in the garden, and ! could not help
Railing them together around that arbor,
while I praised the Lord for His goodness.
Zone irresistible impulse was upon me: 1t was
Ito pray God to bless those lads that stood
around me. The memory begat the prayer.
Lie. II. Spurgeon.
! A weak mind Is like a microscope, which
Canagnihes trining things, but cannot receive
6great ones5tChester field.
! II our religion Is not true, we are bound to
Ehange it If it be true, We are bound to prop
.gate it.---Archbishop it. Whately.
The best and noblest lives are those which
arc set toward high ideals And the high
est and noblest ideal that any man can have
is Jesus of Nazareth. L tAlmerson.
Heaven is tho day Of which grace is the
dawn; the rich, ripe fruit, of which grace is
the lovely flower; the inner shrine of that
most glorious temple to which grace forms
the approach and outer court.-tDr. Guthr