The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1955-03-03
S er m O n ellie
Restitution

Spirit has always brought re-
suits. A merchant said to a pas
tor of his town, II can always
tell when a church in our town
has real revival by the num-
Der Of old debts / receive" Tt
must have been a real pleasure
to hear that merchant say to
the pastor, But i get the best
results when your church has a
revival"
The writer attended revival
meeting not long ago where sew
eral persons testified to making
restitution and the JOY they re-
ceived as a result.
The following examples of
restitution are taken from
Dwight L. Moody's book on Pre-
vailing Prayer: Trapp says in his
comment on Zacchaeus that a
rich Turk by the name of Sultan
Selymus was conscience stricken
because he had robbed the poor
to increase his wealth. His coun-
cellor, Pyrrhus, told him to give
the money to some noted hospital
for the relief of the poor, but
the dying Turk replied that God
hates robbery for burnt offer
ing and ordered the money re-
stored to its rightful owners.
When Henry the third of Eng
| land, sent a load Of frieze to
clothe the Friar Minors they re-
turned the same with the mes
sage that he ought not to give
aims of what he rent from the
poor, and they would not accept
his abominable gift. Latimer,
a great English preacher, said,
IF you do not restore stolen
goods you will cough in hell and
the devils will laugh at you"
After he preached a sermon on
the subject one man came to him
with 20 pounds to restore; the
next day another brought him
80 pounds; another time another
brought him 200 pounds.
Queen Mary restored again
all the eccleastical living assum-
ed by the crown, saying she set
more by the salvation of her own
soul that she did by ten King
doms, A Mr.. Burroughs told of
man who had wronged his neigh
Dor out of only five shilling but
could not rest fifty years later
until he had restored it.
Mr.. Moody said a man came
to him in great distress of mind
saying he was a defaulter. He
confessed he had taken fifteen
hundred dollars from his en-
ployers. He wanted to know if
he could go into business with
the money and make enough to
pay back the debt but was told
he could not prosper on stolen
money. He finally gave the re
naming nine hundred dollars to
Mr. Moody who took it to the
employers and pleaded for mercy
for the man. AS the man told
the whole story and promised
to make restitution tears came
to the eyes of both employers
Mr.. Moody said they all knelt
down and had a blessed prayer
meeting. So we would multiply
cases but there is no need. The
same results follow when we
give heed to the word of God
Peace and soul rest always
come to those who make full
restin the right spirit. Alsc
the injured person often receives
a blessing. A young man restor-
ed money taken Wrongfully from
a druggist. AS the defaulter
made an open confession and
asked forgiveness, the heart of
the druggist was touched. He
said to the young man, Il am
very glad you have taken this
step. Not so much because of the
small amount of money. Per
haps / could live and die without
it, but it gives me great pleasure
to see you 60 straight, may God
bless you"
Reader, do you have some
restitution to make? Do you
have some property in your pos
session which you know right
fully belongs to another. Remem-
ber, you cannot have peace of
mind and the blessing of God
as long as you retain it. Restore
it as soon as possible. Don't wait
for more convenient time.
If the owner is dead you can
give it to a near relative. If no
relative is living, give it to some
charitable cause and ask God to
forgive you. 1t will take cour-
age. Ask God to help you (you
cannot and will not without his
help. Go to the person making
a full confession and ask for
giveness in a humble spirit. You
will be greatly enriched by the
experience and will start good |
influence in the world that will
never end. John Grimes