“I REMEMBER,” says Richard Weaver, “a poor mother asked me to pray for her unconverted son. I did not know where he was, nor did she. He was her only son, and the poor widow was left by him to support herself and daughter by needlework. I prayed to God to bless her son, that he might be convinced of sin, of eternity, of a judgment to come. Three or four months passed, and I again went near that dwelling to preach. When I had done preaching, I invited them to come into the vestry. Up came a man, his constitution evidently blighted and blasted by habits of dissipation. I looked at him, and he said, “Sir, you invited any one to come tonight and be saved; you do not know what a character I have been. I said, I do not want to know what a character you have been, but I want to tell thee what Christ can do for thee.” “But,” said he, “do you think, sir, that Christ can save me?” The poor man was miserably clothed. You could see under his coat; he had no shirt on; his toes were through his shoes. But I thought he had a soul to save, and I said, “Well, brother, look to Jesus; he can save thee, and that to the very uttermost.” “Do you think He will save me? Oh, what a wretch and a fool I have been! what a wicked young man! Do you think He will save me?” He began to pray, and said, “Lord, have mercy upon me!” and for about twenty minutes he was crying upon his knees, and saying, “Lord, save me.” A good sister said to him, “Jesus has done the work, and do thou rest upon it.” And after awhile he clapped his hands together, and said,
“Oh, happy day, that fixed my choice
On thee, my Saviour and my God,
That made this stony heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.
Oh, happy day,
When Jesus washed my sins away.”
I said to him, “Where did you learn that verse?” “Oh,” he said, “I learned it when I was a boy.” Just as he said that, the dear sister flew at him and said, “Oh, John, my brother! it is only today my mother has been praying for God to bless you.” They were locked in each other’s arms for some time. She had not seen her brother for seven years. She did not look at his ragged dress, ―nothing of the sort; she said, “Thou art my brother.” He says, “Bless God, Elizabeth, the Lord has pardoned my sins; oh, won’t my mother be glad as she says, ‘Now John, to know that thou art saved will make me happy all my life!’ it is only today my poor mother has been praying for me. “But,” said he, “do you think my mother will take me in?” “Oh yes; she said today she would give a world to see thee.” I went home with them, and the daughter went first and said to her mother, “We have had a blessed meeting tonight. Oh, mother, when you hear tell of this meeting you will say that it is the best meeting that ever you heard of; there have been many people converted tonight, and one among them whom you love above everybody.” “Oh,” said the old woman, “who is that?” “Oh, you will be glad to learn that it is your only son John.” “My son converted? nothing of the sort; it is a delusion.” “No, no, mother, it is not. John is at the door waiting for you.” The poor mother flew to the door, and as her son walked in she caught hold of him round the neck, and said, “This my son was dead, and is alive again; was lost, and is found.” About three or four weeks after that day, John departed this life, and as he departed he cried, “Victory, victory, through the blood of the Lamb!” Oh, bless God, you that have lived in iniquity and sin, you can this moment look to Jesus and get pardoned. Oh, may the Lord help you to look now! For “now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, even the righteousness of God, by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe.”