|
Some
little time ago, a Chinese boy of twelve years old, named Ma-Na-Si, a boarder
in the mission school at Chefoo, went home for the holidays. He is the son of
a native pastor. |
|
Whilst
standing on the doorstep of his father's house he espied a horseman galloping
towards him. The man -- a heathen -- was in a great state of perturbation. He
eagerly enquired for the "Jesus-man" -- the pastor. The boy told him
that his father was away from home. The poor man was much distressed, and
hurriedly explained the cause of his visit. He had been sent from a heathen
village some miles away to fetch the "holy man" to cast a devil out
of the daughter-in-law of a heathen friend. He poured out his sad story of
this young woman, torn by devils, raving and reviling, pulling out her hair,
clawing her face, tearing her clothes, smashing up furniture, and dashing
away dishes of food. He told of her spirit of sacrilege, and outrageous
impiety, and brazen blasphemy and how these outbursts were followed by
foaming at the mouth, and great exhaustion, both physical and mental
"But my father is not at home," the boy kept reiterating. At length
the frenzied man seemed to understand. Suddenly he fell on his knees, and,
stretching out his hands in desperation, cried, "You, too, are a
Jesus-man; will you come ?" |
|
Think of
it -- a boy of twelve! Yes, but even a lad, when fully yielded to his Savior,
is not fearful of being used by that Savior. There was but one moment of
surprise, and a moment of hesitation, and then the laddie put himself wholly
at his Master's disposal. Like little Samuel of old he was willing to obey
God in all things. He accepted the earnest entreaty as a call from God. The
heathen stranger sprang into the saddle, and, swinging the Christian boy up
behind him, he galloped away. |
|
Ma-Na-Si
began to think over things. He had accepted an invitation to cast out a devil
in the name of Christ Jesus. But was he worthy to be used of God in this way?
Was his heart pure and his faith strong? As they galloped along he carefully
searched his own heart for sin to be confessed and repented of. Then he
prayed for guidance what to say and how to act, and tried to recall Bible
instances of demoniacal possession and how they were dealt with. Then he
simply and humbly cast himself upon the God of power and of mercy, asking His
help for the glory of the Lord Jesus. On arrival at the house they found that
some of the members of the family were by main force holding down the
tortured woman upon the bed. Although she had not been told that a messenger
had gone for the native pastor, yet as soon as she heard footsteps in the
court outside she cried, "All of you get out of my way quickly, so that
I can escape. I must flee! A 'Jesus-man' is coming. I cannot endure him. His
name is Ma-Na-Si." |
|
Ma-Na-Si
entered the room, and after a ceremonial bow knelt down and began to pray.
Then he sang a Christian hymn to the praise of the Lord Jesus. Then, in the
name of the Risen Lord, glorified and omnipotent, he commanded the demon to
come out of the woman. At once she was calm, though prostrate with weakness.
From that day she was perfectly whole. She was amazed when they told her that
she had uttered the name of the Christian boy, for she had never heard of it
or read of it before, for the whole of that village was heathen. But that day
was veritably a "beginning of days" to those people, for from it
the Word of the Lord had free course and was glorified. |
|
|
|
|
|
From: http://www.ccel.org/ |