Signs and Wonders God Wrought in the Ministry for Forty Years/Chapter 24
CHAPTER XXIV
THE GOSPEL THE POWER OF GOD
After various journeys in several states, the account of which space forbids, we went to North Liberty, Iowa, to hold a meeting for the Church of God. Had a large crowd the first night, which continued to increase every service till the close. Thousands came daily, and souls were saved, and diseases healed from the first.
Many came forty and seventy miles over land in buggies and wagons, from the other meetings we had held. They told how the Lord had saved their souls, and many of them had also been healed by the power of God, and made every whit whole. They had been given up by the best physicians to die. Their ringing testimonies convinced the people that God was with us in mighty power. They saw these people were saved soul and body and filled with the Holy Ghost. Nearly all the ministers of the Church of God were at the, meeting and many from other churches, viz., M. E., U. B., Congregational, Christian, and others. Many of them bowed at the altar to be anointed with power from on high. Several were healed of different infirmities. The people came from every direction; forty-five, seventy, and a hundred miles through dust and heat.
Praise the Lord, he led many in visions to these meetings in as strange a manner as he led Cornelius and Paul, and as when he saw the man of Macedonia, with his hands raised, crying, “Come over and help us.” He saw at once the Lord was calling.
Hundreds came to the altar crying, what must I do to be saved. Forty at once. Sometimes the shouts of scores of the new born babes rang out, that made the Heavens ring. People from thirty-five to seventy-five came to Christ by scores, but some of the brethren began to get discouraged about the young men and women not coming. There were so many in that community, and the worst of them were very wild; they had tried hard to save them, but could not. They wanted this meeting more for their sake. I told them to have faith in God, there would be a break among them. Thank God there was. The worst came first, others followed till there was scarcely any left. Sinners were struck down and came out praising the Lord, and as their companions looked at them lying there, as if they were dead, it put the fear of God on them. Some had Visions of Hell and the Judgment, others of the Broad Road of Destruction; others of the Ladder reaching to Heaven whiter than snow, and the white robed saints going up, with the angels all around them, Christian men, women, and children fell, and lay for hours. Some lay all night. Some were struck down in their homes, and many were healed. The Holy fire spread all over the surrounding country, and went in all churches.
I must again omit several accounts. From St. Louis, Mo., I went to Lisbon, Salem and Canton, Ohio. Held meetings in the Tabernacle six years before in Canton. This time I held setvices in the Church of God. Most of the church had been converted when we were there before. The minister who had charge of the church was called to the ministry, and anointed for the work at our meeting held in the Tabernacle.
BACK TO ST LOUIS
From Canton we went back to St. Louis, and stayed a short time with the Church of God. I felt the care and responsibility of the church was too much for me with the work I am called to do as an Evangelist, so I gave the church with five hundred members, that I had cared for for five years, to the care of the Southern Indiana eldership of the Church of God, which they gladly received. I am no longer responsible for the prosperity of the church. The church and the work we have done in the hands of the Lord, is more established and appreciated by the people of
St. Louis than ever before.
AT MOUNT PLEASANT, IOWA
During our meeting at this place the editors of the different papers stood by the work and gave grand reports of the wonderful works the Lord was doing in the city. God bless them, they will never know the good they did until Eternity, when the Books are opened and all will be rewarded for the good they have done. The interest continued to increase until the close. The night we closed, the house was packed to the outside door at six o’clock, and many were turned away. The altar was filled with seekers to the last.