MR. M. who had been greatly used of the Lord in many places in Scotland, was told that he need not attempt to go to a certain country town in the north. The ministers had told the people that the revival was a delusion, and Duncan was told that nobody wanted him, and that he would get none to hear him. Not discouraged by the failure in attempts made by others, he resolved to go.
After praying for a blessing, he went, hired a hall for a week, announced his meetings, and commenced at the appointed hour. Not a soul appeared; undisputed victory seemed to remain with spiritual apathy. Most men would have looked on the empty hall as an intimation of the will of God to depart and seek a more promising field; but our evangelist opened his book, and saying, “Let us praise God,” sang one of David’s Psalms, with somewhat of David’s spirit. Thereafter he said, “Let us pray,” and proceeded to pray aloud, as if all the town were there.
As the prayer was closing, a little boy dropped in, and sat down with all a child’s wonder and simplicity. The word was read, the text announced, and the sermon preached, the great voice ringing and reverberating strangely in the empty hall.
Ere the close, two or three men came stealing in from sheer curiosity, to see “a man preaching to nobody,” and sat as near the door as they could. The service ended, and the preacher announced that having made an engagement with the great God to meet Him for prayer, praise, and preaching of His gospel in that hall on every night of the week, he would be there, God helping him, at the same hour on the following evening, come what might, come who may.
Next night more came from curiosity, and ere the week closed the hall was crowded by an attentive, and in some instances awakened audience. Faith triumphed. Bolts and bars of triple steel gave way before the invisible artillery of believing prayer. Our evangelist once more realized our Saviour’s words— “All things are possible to him that believeth.”
ML 04/03/1904