"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
Almost every day I was in a small pox
procession; and all through the year I felt perfectly secure from all
of its destroying power.
Thus was God’s special providence made manifest in this fearfully
alarming time of pestilence and death. Some two hundred thousand
left the city in fearful alarm and dismay. At another appointment
where our people were very poor and very much scattered, a rich man
was saved and joined the feeble band. He agreed that if conference
would let me stay with the poorest part of the circuit the second
year, he would support the work, if it cost a thousand dollars, and
beside, he would build a church for the pilgrims. This, doubtless he
would have done, had he lived. He died soon after conference, having
paid but one hundred dollars, leaving us to trust alone in God for
our support. The house that we occupied was sold so that we were
compelled to find another. There was just one house to be rented in
the place for six months, the balance of the conference year, and
this was owned by a hard-fisted landlord, and he wanted his rent
monthly in advance. What could I do? I had nowhere to look for help,
but to God alone. I must have a house, and get out of the one I then
occupied, or be turned into the street. What a dilemma! How it would
look to have a Free Methodist preacher, with wife and children,
as good as ever graced the earth, turned into the street, because
_why_? I seemed to be forced to bargain for the house, and agree to
pay monthly in advance. The price was eight dollars per month. These
were days of sore trial and anxious care. Much time we spent on our
knees with strong crying and tears before God for the salvation of
souls, food and shelter. Three days before we were to make our first
payment, just the amount came, and we secured the house. Money came
so that we were able to pay our rent always on time, and with two
exceptions, it came three days before time. This has not always been
the case, when we have trusted in boards, official or otherwise. But
when we have been shut up alone with God, we have fed on the good of
the land--the finest of wheat, with honey out of the Rock.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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