We had a beautiful illustration of God’s power to completely deliver and save the drunkard, in a story sweetly told at Sunderland by Mrs. Beruldsen, of Edinburgh, in whose Mission at Leith the incident took place. It was of a wife and mother, whose terrible craving for drink caused her to fall so low that she resorted to pawning anything in order to get money to supply her with drink. Things got so desperate for the poor husband that he decided to put her into a home for inebriates in Edinburgh. Evidently she did not like the idea, for the night before the day on which she was to have gone to this home, she said to her husband, “John, go down to the lady of the Mission, and ask her advice about this.” Of course the dear man did go, found the lady of the Mission, and told her his story.

Instead of the advice he expected, however, she said, “I know what you want. You want to get your soul saved. Come in here.”

“Oh, but I’m no’ feelin’ that way,” he replied.

“Never mind how you feel,” said the missioner, “Just come away.”

Again an excuse came. “But I canna come in wi’ thae claes.”

“We don’t mind about the clothes,” was the reply.

“Well, will ye no ask me to pray?” said he.

“That,” said his friend, “I won‘t promise.”

At last he was prevailed upon to enter the Hall. The people were on their knees engaged in prayer, and, perhaps not to appear out of place, as it were, he also knelt at one of the seats, and beside him the lady missioner also knelt and silently prayed for him.

Ere long, and without a word having been spoken, he was heard gently pleading with God to save him. “I think,” said Mrs. Beruldsen, “he must have suffered in his knee, for I heard him say, ‘Never mind the knee; it’s my soul I’m mindin’, praise the Lord!”’ And God in His goodness did hear and did save him, for very soon he was praying aloud and rejoicing in the knowledge of knowing that he was redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus.

When he reached home his wife said, “Why John, you’ve got something you hadn’t when you went out. What is it?”

“Oh, Mary! I forgi’e ye everything. I’ve got converted,” answered he.

When retiring for the night he said to his wife, “Mary, will ye ca’ me at four in the mornin’” (he slept in a little room alone).

“Yes,” said Mary, “I will.” Before she went to bed she knelt and asked God to waken her at the right time to call John, and God answered her prayer, for she woke at 3.30 a.m. At 4 a.m. she called, “John!” She waited, but got no answer. “John!’’ she called again, but still no answer. Next she went to his door and, looking in, she called again. “Whist!” came from the bedside, “I’m praying, Mary,” said the dear man.

“Why did ye no tell me, and I would have come to pray wi’ you,” said Mary. (What a wonder-working Jesus.)

He prayed so long that morning that he had not time to take his customary cup of tea. At 9 a.m. he returned for breakfast, and on entering the home he said, “Mary, I’ve had an awfu’ fa’” (awful fall).

Have you?” said Mary. “Where are you hurt?”

“Oh, Mary! I’m no’ hurt. I forgot and swore, and I shouted so loud to the Lord to forgi’e me that I frightened the gaffer.”

When leaving after breakfast he said, “Mary, pray.”

“Yes, John, I’ll pray, and I’ll dae what’s richt” (I’ll do what is right).

By God’s grace Mary has been enabled to do “what’s richt” ever since. The dear Lord took all desire for drink from her, and now she and her husband and children are witnesses and workers for Jesus in that mission.

Mary’s testimony is: “Oh, we are so happy in our home now, for Jesus lives and reigns there.’’ Hallelujah!

 

From: Confidence, Vol. VI, No. 12, December 1913, pag. 243, Sunderland, England

 

 

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