"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of Life — John Shaqi
"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of LifeOsborne, Zenas
Religion
"Born of the Spirit;" or, Gems from the Book of Life
Osborne, Zenas
Free Methodist Church of North America; Osborne, Zenas
Every effect has its own legitimate cause. It is not necessary that
we should understand perfectly the law governing cause and effect in
order to have implicit trust and confidence in God. Things about us
may have a strange and a very forbidding appearance, yet we are to
get good out of all the events of life. “All things work together for
good to them that love God.” This will keep the soul cheerful and
make life a pleasant pilgrimage. Having this constantly before our
minds, that God directs or permits all of life’s operations; and all
for His glory, and the eternal well being of His dear children. Glory
to God and the Lamb forever! “Heaven and earth would sooner pass
away, than one jot, or one tittle, of His law, should fail.”
We believe God; the uncreated, that was, from everlasting, to
everlasting; that was, away back in the eternal solitudes of nature.
With this profound mystery before us, and mysteries all along the
way, we have the revealed will of God before us, which makes the
way so plain, that, “The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err
therein.”
How numerous the cases where God’s special providences have been made
manifest in delivering, in the time of great danger; in sustaining
in the time of drouth and famine; when wasted and worn by disease.
Truly, our God, is a present help, in time of need.”
In the fall of 1871 we were sent by our conference, and we believe
by the Lord, to Philadelphia, Pa. We had felt, through the summer
preceding, that we ought to go there in the fall. We arrived at our
destination, and at Bro. Overing’s about 6 o’clock P. M. As we sat
down to tea, soon after our arrival, Sister Overing said to me, “Bro.
Osborne, did you know that the small pox was very thick in this part
of the city?” I said, “No!” I then asked, “How long has it been at
work here?” She said, “About three months.” Immediately my appetite
for food left me, as suddenly as the unwelcome news approached me. I
arose from the table without tasting of any food--powerfully tempted.
The enemy said to me, “You see now what a fool you have made of
yourself. You have brought your family here to die of the small pox.”
I thought for a few moments that I should sink. I found my way into
the parlor and then into a bed-room. I fell on my knees and cried
unto the Lord. I told the Lord that I came there in good faith, and
I could not bear to have my family all destroyed by the small pox.
While on my knees the Lord telephoned me in these words, “No plague
shall come nigh thy dwelling.” I recognized the communication as
coming from my Heavenly Father, and immediately replied in these
words: “Yea, Lord, be it unto Thy servant according to Thy word.” The
burden rolled off and I felt as secure all the year from that moment,
as though pestilence and death were not in the city. It spread
until every part of the city was scourged with small pox. Hundreds
died every week with it, and thousands during the year. Wife and I
visited those that were sick.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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