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We extract
the following from the Methodist
Magazine for July, 1827, being an account of a conversion that occurred
in a revival of religion, at Lanjeth, in |
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"The
first extraordinary conversion which I remarked, was
that of old William Morkum, of Lanjeth, who had lived just seventy years without
God in the world. In the month of February, 1826, as he was at work as usual
on the high roads, and reflecting on his long life spent in the neglect of
religion, his mind became greatly alarmed at the prospect of eternity. Night
came on; he sought to be refreshed on his bed by sleep, but in vain. His
alarm and terror increased so much that his family, consisting of his wife
and daughter, were kept up all night. On the next day he proceeded to his
labor, but remarked to his companion, with great apparent emotion ‘I believe
I am a lost soul.’ The next night came on, when, such was the horror of his
mind that his family, at his request, sent for some of their pious neighbors
to come and pray with him. They spent the whole night in prayer; but he remained
without hope, under the most fearful apprehensions. The third day was spent
as the former; but the third night was still more terrible to him than the
second. The religious friends were again called in, and great was the agony
of his mind. Hitherto he could not be persuaded that prayers would avail; but
at this crisis his friends prevailed upon him to join them in prayer to God,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He now poured forth the cry of the
publican: "God be merciful to me, a sinner." During the third night
his fears subsided, and he had power to cast his soul on the atonement of the
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom he obtained peace with God. For many years he
had through infirmity been bowed almost double, and had not been able to lift
his hand to his head. His employment had been to break stones on the roads.
The moment, however, of his deliverance from his load of guilt and fear, he
exclaimed in ecstasy. |
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"I am
made whole both in body and soul!"’ He accordingly stood perfectly
erect, and clasped his hands together behind his head. "Now," said
he, "I will request the parish to buy me a pair of spectacles,
that I may learn to read the Bible; and I will myself procure a
lantern to light me on the winter evenings to the Methodist chapel." He
joined himself to the society at Lanjeth, and met twice in class. About a
month after his conversion he became unwell, and said to his family:
"The time is come that I must die." He lay
down for a few days upon his peaceful bed, without pain or mental conflict,
expressing his trust in the adorable Redeemer, and peacefully fell asleep in
the Lord. |
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Touching
Incidents and Remarkable Answers to Prayer By S. B. SHAW. |
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From: http://www.ccel.org/ |