The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-21

and pull the door shut and then pray
earnestly to God. There was something
in II closet. He didn't know what il was
but he knew thai power cane tom PRAYER
in II closet.
DR.. Brourhton related an Incident in
his ministry. There was Young man
who had been licensed 10 preach hy his
church Just before he took charge Vt it.
He was II Young man of few gifts. He
had been raised up in the town After
he had been to the seminary for two yeai $
he returned to visit his friends in Roam
oke. He thought it would be nothing but
courtesy to invite him to preach. He did
so. The young man agreed TO speak.
DIR. Broughton said he did not tell any of
his deacons that the young man was 90
ing to preach, and he did not even tell
his wife, for fear that she would tell the
deacons. If they had known it they
would not have come to church. Sunday
arrived and the young man came into
the lower room of the church. He went
off into Il little room in the corner
I'm II few minutes,n said Or. BrOug-
ton, 81 went to the room and opened the
door. There was that boy lying flat down
on his face on the carpet, praying to God.
went in and fell down beside him, and,
putting my arm around his neck. we
prayed together for power from Cob
When that young man of meagre attain.
ments faced the congregation, his face
was illuminated, and he preached one of
the most powerful sermons ever heard. :"
In calm. conversational tone, DR..
Broughton told of II visit he had made to
Luray caverns in Virginia. The guide
gave him Il candle and he went down to
the depths of the cavern. He saw moth
ing beautiful there There were staac.
titles and Staagmites, hut they were cold
and dead. After awhile the guide I'M
rolled II ribbon and touched his candle to
the end of it. Instantly there was a blaze
and II calcium light nared up. The sta
lactites and stalagmtes were all aglow
angels seemed to be lowering over the
place, and it was the most magnificent
scene he had ever witnessed.
Thus it was with the truths of the
Bible. Nan might study it and see its
stalactites and stalagmites by the light
of his little candle Of intellect and there
would ne no beauty i'll them, but let the
calcium light of God fall upon them and
the whole Scriptures would glow with
brilliancy and beauty DR.. Broughton's
description and climax was dramatic
Bob Ingersoll knew all about the Bible,
but he did not know the Bible. Unless
Il Christian knew the Bible he would he
cold and dead. That was the secret of so
iiistuy ucd'i CuuTCllcS, VucN were cnurChcS
of influence. but not Of power. Jesus
Christ had no influence but he had power
to speak and the dead would come crawl
ing ont Of their graves Paul had no in.
iluence, not enough to keep oat of Jail,
but he had power enough to shake The
prison doors oil their hinges.
II thank God, - said DIR. Br5ughton, in
the latter part of his sermon, that
haven't got any better sense than to be
lieve the Bible. | don't want to know
all about the Bible, but want to know
the Bible. If the Bible had said that
Jonah swallowed the whale, would have
believed it, just as believe that the
whale swallowed Jonah.
Amen came from the middle of the
church in tones so loud that every body
looked.
I'm put that amen down in my note
book, said DR.. Broughton, and if can
get up ~ little shouting tonight l will
, think that we have reached highwater
/ mark"