The Rev. James Guthrie, one of the Scottish Covenanters, had a
man-servant who was much humbled and perplexed by hearing his
master pray regularly in family worship for one who was present
that his sins might be forgiven. There were few, of course, in
the household circle, and the man naturally thought that it was
he who was prayed for. After Mr. Guthrie had one night been
especially fervent in supplication for this person present, the
man could bear it no longer and spoke to his master, wishing to
know wherein he had come short. Judge of the astonishment of
both when Mr. Guthrie said it was himself he had been praying
for.
(2951)
* * * * *
A deacon in a Jacobite church near Tripoli, Syria, was seeking
relief for his sin-burdened conscience. He heard of a woman who
wrote out all her sins on a paper and laid it on the tomb of St.
Ephraim. When she found the paper later, there were no traces of
writing on it, so she knew her sins had been erased. The deacon
wrote his, and placed them under the altar-cloth beneath the
sacred wafer which he believed to be the very body of Christ;
but the ink showed no signs of dimness. He was disappointed and
discouraged, but just at that time he found a tract entitled
“Looking unto Jesus,” which showed him a better way.
(2952)
See EXPERIENCE AND BIBLE.