The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-05-08

wished-for evidence. / cannot describe
the condition of mind in which ! found
myself. l did not know what to do, and
the thought of doing nothing almost
crazed me.
had only one acquaintance in Chicago
whom knew to be a Christian. ] went
to see him, and told him what had hap
pened. He told me of the noon1ay prayer
meetings at Farwell hall, and advised me
to go there. l thought u o'clock never
would come. / would look at my watch,
and then after what appeared to have been
a very long time / would look again, and
the hands seemed to have scarcely moved.
| was in hell that made fire and brim-
stone attractive in comparison.
The awful truth was burning in my soul
that had nature that banished me from
the presence of God. 1t was not because
of my past sins that l was troubled. I
scarcely recalled a single one of them. 1t
was what | was at that moment that
caused me so much torment. Not the fear
OF consequences for what | had done, but
the awful meaning of my nature at that
moment. j was as one dying of thirst in
sight of cooling fountains. My soul was
burning up for want of the living God.
was longing for some one to take me
kindly by the hand and tell me that God
loved me. Ny ears were deaf TO all
else, and yet l could not hear this.
| was determined that the business
OF my life from that moment should be to
ask and serve my Maker An irresistible
power seemed to force me forward, and
yet | did not know what l was to do or
how was to proceed. Sometimes / would
recall a long-forgotten portion OF scripture
had learned in childhood, and it would
be luminous with meaning. The very
voice OF God seemed to speak to me from
it, as He did to Moses from the burning
bush. There was no prayer-meeting in
Farwell hall that day, it being Saturday.
That night | went back again to the
ChlcagO-avenue church. / couldn't keep
away. In the inqury-roOm / had some
talk with Mr.. Moody. l wanted to
reason my way to God. He said 1t
was absurd for me to try to comprehend
the Infinite, and rebel against His laws
because | could not understand them. He
urged me to venture upon the promises.
Mrs. moody came in and was introduced
to her. She gave me some light. and the
way began to grow brighter before me.
Mr.. GOss, the pastor, Miss Over and other
workers in Moody church all contributed
something in the way of counsel TO help
me along toward God, but it was several
days before got clearly out into the light.
] could not Intellectually believe that
Jesus Christ had ever walked this earth,
and did not get over this difficulty until
had been several months converted. But
finally the Holy Spirit revealed to me the
spiritual Christ and made it all so simple
and plain that | could look to God in
child-like trust and give Him my heart.
At that moment the burden rolled away,
the peace which passeth understanding
came quietly into my soul and from
that moment there has never
been an hour when l have not known that
/ was saved One evening soon
after l was converted, wife and / gathered
all Of our infdel books together and |
wheeled them out into the orchard, where
my twelve-year-Old boy was permitted to
make bonfire of them. | am not much
afraid that he will become an in6del.
Before l became a Christian L would not
permit him to attend Sunday-school. and
he had never been inside a church in my
company. The bible suddenly became
the book of all books to me, and couldn't
read any other. / felt like prince who
had suddenly come into a glorious in
heritance, and I wanted to find out what
belonged to me. / didn't care for the
fieeting things of this life. but l did want
to learn all could about the great ques-
ton of eternity. From hating the bible
as / did rattle-snake, | have come to love
it as the apple of my eye.