WILLIAM L—had a praying mother. When he was eighteen years old his father and sister were drowned. Great a grief as this was to the godly mother, a greater still lay upon her heart—her unconverted son. She pressed him about the need of his soul; but this, and the knowledge of her prayers for him, only brought him an uneasy conscience. At length, finding it unbearable to remain, and in the absence of a father's restraint, he resolved to get away to America. This he did at the age of 23, in the year 1857. Almost the first words addressed to him there were by a stranger, who said, “You are running away from your mother's prayers." Was not this a voice from God that reached him there? Determined to continue, he covered hundreds of miles in his wanderings, and though seeking rest he found it not. From one end of the country to the other he roamed, mostly on foot, and enduring much hardship. But God, who "speaketh once, yea, twice," gave further warning if unheeded. Fie was cutting wood with another man in a large forest, miles away from civilization, and had only a wagon for sleeping place. Awaking one morning, about four o'clock, he found his mate moaning in agony, and without speaking a word the man died. As he assisted in burying him there the old disquieting thoughts rose again, to be again dismissed.
Still he went on till he found himself penniless. Nothing was left in his carpet bag but an unused Bible, which his mother gave him at parting. It seemed foolish and useless to carry them farther, but with conscience still at work, bidding some kind of care for the treasure, he climbed a tree and there left the irksome burden high among its branches.
The great civil war was now threatening, and his thoughts turned to quitting America. With difficulty he worked his way to New Orleans, and the first ship he could board was for England. He had no money, but after a few weeks, the desire to return home growing more intense, he shipped in desperation as an able-bodied seaman. The fraud was quickly discovered, the mate being so enraged that he drew his knife and threatened to kill him. His consequent sufferings are almost indescribable, and after a six weeks' voyage he reached Liverpool in 1861. How like the prodigal be was! In rags, broken in health, in debt, and without money. But his spirit was unbroken, for though glad to let his mother know of his arrival, and glad to be brought home to Doncaster by the kindness of his brother, he gave an emphatic “No" to his mother's request that he should kneel with her in prayer.
For thirteen more years he was the subject of her prayers. Then, after attending revival services for some time, the Holy Spirit so convicted him of sin that he became quite miserable. He thought to ease himself by encouraging class meetings at his house; then by going to the penitent form; but these things did not, could not, bring him a step nearer salvation. He was five months in this condition, till early one morning, the 5th of March, 1874, previous to descending the coal mine where he worked, he read John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)—" For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. “Later, when he had almost finished his day's labor, and still in the bowels of the earth, he said, “I believe all that I am asked to believe.” Immediately light flooded his soul, and a voice said to him, “Thy sins are forgiven thee, go in peace.”
Is peace with God yours, dear reader? It can never be until you believe God's word as He caused it to be written. To the unconverted man, resting solely on the word of God appears like walking on the water! it is no support to him. But it is God's witness, and “heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:3535Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)). Open your heart to receive it in the simple resolve of faith. How can you doubt God?
To William L— all things had become new. Nor was evidence wanting. Whilst in America he had become indebted to the amount of £35 in our money. When converted this gave him no rest till he had written and found out his creditors. Then he paid all—nineteen years after the debts were contracted. lie has often prayed that the Bible he left in the forest might be used to someone's blessing. He is living today, over three score years and ten, and still has great delight in visiting the villages around his house distributing gospel books and tracts, seeking to lead others to the Savior.
H. C. B.