The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-09-07
HOW he FOUND CHRIST.
GREAT MANS CONVERSION.
President Charles G.. Finney Tells His
Experience as Seeker After Truth
and Light as it is Found in a knOwl-
edge of the Lord Jesus---Helpful
Thoughts for Young Men.

Thoughts for Young Men.
After dinner we were engaged IN
removing our books and furniture to
another office. We were busy in this
and had but little conversation all the
afternoon. My mind, however, re-
NAMED in that profoundly tranquil
state. There was a great sweetness and
tenderness in my thoughts and feel
ings. Everything appeared to be going
right, and nothing seemed to ruffie or
disturb me in the least.
X
Just before the evening the thought
took possession of my mind, that as
soon as | was alone in the new office l
would try to pray again-that l was
not going to abandon the subject of
religion and give it up, at any rate ;
and therefore, although l no longer
had any concern about my soul, still
l would continue to pray.
By evening we got the books and
furniture adjusted ; and made up, in
an open fire place, good fire, hoping
to spend the evening alone. Just at
dark Squire W, seeing that every
thing was adjusted, babe me good
night and went to his home. | &C
companied him to the door and as |
closed the door and turned around,
my heart seemed to be liquid within
me. All my feelings seemed to rise
and flow out and the utterance of
my heart was, 81 want 10 pour my
whole soul out to God" The rising
of my soul was SO great that | rushed
into the room back of the front Office
to pray.
There was no fire and no light in
the room nevertheless it appeared to
me as if it were perfectly light. AS l
went in and shut the door after me, it
seemed to me as if l met the Lord
Jesus Christ face to face. 1t did not
occur to me then, nor did it for some
time afterward, that it was wholly a
mental state. On the contrary, it
seemed to me that | saw him as |
would any other man. He said moth
ing, but looked at me in such a man
ner as to break me right down at his
feet. l have always since regarded
this as a most remarkable state OF
mind for it seemed to me a reality
that he stood before me, and | fell
down at his feet and poured my soul
out to him. l wept aloud like a child,
and made such confessions as l could
with my choked utterance. 1t seemed
to me that | bathed his feet with my
tears and yet l had no distinct i'm.
preston that l touched him, that
reCollect.
| must have continued in this state
for good while but my mind wa:
too much absorbed with the interview
to recollect anything that l said. Bu
know as soon as my mind became
calm enough to break off from the in
terview, returned to the front Office
and found that the fire that l had
made of large wood, was nearly burned
| out.
* X x
But as turned and was about t.
take seat by the fire l received ;
mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost
Without any expectation of it, withou
ever having the thought in my mine
that there was any such thing for me
without my recollection that l hat
ever heard the thing mentioned b,
any person in the world, the Hol,
Spirit descended upon me in a man
ner that seemed to 60 through me
body and soul.
l could feel the impression like
wave of electricity going through ant
through me. In deed it seemed il
waves and waves of liquid love; for
could not express it in other way. l
seemed like the very breath of God
can recollect distinctly that it seemed
to fan me like immense wings.
| x x
No words can express the wonder
full love that was shed abroad in m
heart. l wept aloud with JOY and love
and l do not say but l should say,
literally beloved out the unutterabl
gushlngs of my heart. These wave
came over me, and over me, and owe
me, one over the other, until l recol
lect | cried out, " l shall die if thes
waves continually pass over me-"
said, " Lord, | cannot bear any more.
Yet | had no fear of death. How lon
| continued in this state, with thi
baptism continuing to roll over m
and go through me, l do not know
But l know it was late in the evenin
when member of my choir-tor
was the leader of the choir-cam
into the office to see me. He was
member of the church. He found m
in this loud state of weeping and sail
to me, "Mr. Finney, what ails you?
l gathered myself up as best l could
and replied, No, but so happy that
can not live
He turned and left the office, an
in a few minutes returned with one {
the elders of the church, whose sho
was nearly across the way from on
office. The elder was a very seriou
man; and in my presence had bee
very watchful, and had scarcely eve
seen him laugh. When he came in
was very much in the state of mind i
which | was when the young man wen
out to call him. He asked me how
felt and began to tell him. Instea
of saying anything he fell into a mos
spasmodic laughter. 1t seemed as
| it was imDossible for him 10 keen fror