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We were in
the midst of an interesting series of meetings in |
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One
evening, at the close of the sermon, when an opportunity was given for
remarks, Mr. Olin rose, and, in a bold and defiant tone, said: |
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"Mr.
Earle, I have heard you speak repeatedly in these meetings of the 'power of prayer,'
and I don't believe a word of it; but if you want to try a hard case, take
me." |
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I said,
"Mr. Olin, if you will come to the front seat, we will pray for you
now." |
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He
replied, "I will do nothing of the kind; but if you have 'power in
prayer,' try it on me. |
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Before
closing the meeting, I requested all who were willing, to go to their closets
at a given hour, and pray earnestly for Mr. Olin; and I requested him to
remember at that hour that we were praying for him. |
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The second
or third evening after this, Mr. Olin rose in our meeting, and urged us to
pray for him. I asked him if he would come forward and let us pray with him.
He said: |
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"Yes,
anywhere, if God will only have mercy on so great a sinner." |
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In a few
days he was a rejoicing Christian, and soon after sold his law books, and
became a preacher of the gospel. He is now a presiding elder in the Methodist
church. -- A. B. Earle, |
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From:
"Incidents Used ... In His Meetings," published in 1888 |
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From:
SELECTED SERMON ILLUSTRATIONS From The Writings of Absalom Backas (A.B.)
Earle And The Writings of J. Wilbur Chapman |