Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-25

senSeleSS weakness as this, but he hau
no power in himself TO rouse his man
hood. Then instantly 1t occurred 10
him 10 lift his heart in prayer 10 one
who certainly was able 10 SuccOr MIN
and prepare him for the trials now so
near at hand. He well remembers the
substance of that prayer. 30 God. NIL
my heart with Thy spirit and enable
me TO do my duty.
Swifter than the whiZzing bullet,
quick as the lightning and brighter than
the sunbeam was the powerful response.
Words cannot express it, but it came in
effects. All fear and the consequent re-
suits of apprehenSionS at once diSap-
peared from his body and soul. The
PRAYER was heard. the sad condition of
human weakness did not recur in that
mode during the great war.
Was that a special act of Providence?
Certainly special" but precisely ac-
cording TO Gods promises and according
10 His spiritual law, whichiS oftenenun-
ciated in the Bible, to-wit: Call upon
Ne in the time of trOOble and | will
hear thy petition.
An army officer who had just had his
leg almost severed from his body began
70 cry out: 20, Lord have mercy on me.
have mercy and help me TO bear this.
He saw the eve of a Christian friend
fixed compaSSionately upon him while
he was trying to give him some air.
Catching the scent Of sympathy the
wounded officer smiled and said:
lone always does so in trouble, then
only he remembers and calls upon his
Saviour
"Why shouldn't he? Until | was al
nirted / went astray," his friend said.
Since that day that officer has been u
faithful servant of his Saviour. In his
wounded condition Our Father found
him and healed him.
Such instances that are known among
both Union and Confederate soldiers are
numerous, and doubtless the Heavenly
Father. who ever dealeth directly with
human souls. has his own abundant
multiplication. Providence exhibits his
dealings with great leaders. One could
not be long with General George ii.
Thomas without noticing this. lie was
wonderfully successful in his operations,
especially at Mill Springs, Ky. and ii
nally AT Nashville, Tenn. A sense OF
responsibility and a sense of duty
pressed his mind and heart without in
PERMISSION. He once said TO the writer:
Il can not leave the front; l can not go
on furlOugh, though | haven't seen
home nor my wife for more than a year.
should | leave headquarters this win
ter something would be sure 10 90
wrong" Here was a conStraint and an
impulse beyond those which came from
the ordinary conscience.
They kept him solid AT his post out OF
battle and in battle. They impaired the
same discipline 10 his men a. all times
and made them partakerS of his imper-
turbable character, uncOnqucrable IN
battle. These exhibitions were even
more marked in General |. \. Grant.
He must not do that If he should he
would be flying in the face of Provi-
dence," lie could not swear, the feel
ing of Gods presence was so strong. 1t
inspired him with courage when other
hearts failed Ii kept him on the Of
fenSive till the sin of slavery and re-
bellion had been Subdued. This as we
have endeayored to express it was his
own view: that is: The Lords hand is
In this contest. When We shall have
suffered enough 10 bring Us to our
proper senses then we shall have the
strong courage TO meet the enemy and
prevail.
Abraham Lincoln. the more he Suf-
fered in spirit, the more he pondereG
the problems of war. The more he
prayed i'm secret, so much the more was
he able to see the doingS Of God and
interpret them TO his people in, those
messages SO beautiful in their simplicity
and so marvellous in their wisdom.
These were revelation 10 all, from
the small to the great. To most minds
the Northern reyulSion of sentiment
after the Sumpter affair was a direct
work Of Providence. 1t was so con
taglouS, so simultaneous, 50 universal.
We cried out: "Thc Union; il must be
preserved" Men brought up and edu-
cated against war and all connected
with il instantly r>yerSed the wheels of
their whole being, buckled on the armor
aud went forth, without conjunction OF
conscience, to fields OF strife. But one
asks: How about the other side, where
there was an equal sincerity and
like unanimitv2 The spirit was not