"I visited a family for whom I have felt a deep interest for weeks past.
The father had been out of employment some time, and they have lacked food and clothing. Much of their trouble has been caused by the intemperance of the mother. Her husband has borne long and patiently with her, and although she would for a long time leave off drinking, it was only to fall again still lower. While furnishing them with clothing, and a.s.sisting them in other ways, I besought the mother to give her heart to Jesus, knowing that he could keep her from falling. She became, a constant attendant at our meetings. Says "_Jesus has taken her love for drink all away_." One of her little ones, who is just beginning to talk, said the other day, "Mamma, you don"t drink now." They are a happy family, and their home is greatly changed.
PRAYER FOR PURCHASERS.
When removal to the new Home was determined upon, there still remained five of the old buildings on hand to be disposed of. This too was taken to the Lord in prayer that he might send purchasers.
One building was sold in October, and the remaining four in November.
When it is considered that a portion was property usually very difficult of sale, and that no advertis.e.m.e.nt of it had been made, no other means than prayer resorted to, it must be convincing to all that there must be "one who knoweth all things," who hears and helps in financial as well as in spiritual necessities.
ASKING FOR LARGE GIFTS.
Upon the 26th of September the record of the Home was as follows: "There is due on the first of next month, $2,450 interest on our property, and we are now within four days of the time, with not a dollar towards it.
For several days I have been asking that amount of the Lord."
Now here was a man depending wholly upon _chance gifts_ for the livelihood of several hundred people, with a debt of over two thousand dollars to pay in four days. His occupation and work were such that no one could even possibly think of making any loans, as there was no security. Neither was it the principle or the practice of the Home ever to solicit a dollar. What was to be done? _It was taken to the Lord in prayer_, and all waited the result.
Was it at all probable that so large a sum of money could be sent in so short a time by any one or any number of persons?
That evening a letter from the probate office at Exeter, N. H., was received by Dr. Cullis, informing them of the death of a citizen of Portsmouth, with a bequest to the Home of _five thousand dollars_. The Lord answered their prayer the same day and sent _double what was asked for_.
A SEVERE TUMOR HEALED.
During the year 1872, there was under the professional care of Dr.
Cullis, at the Consumptive"s Home, a Christian lady with a tumor which confined her almost continuously to her bed in severe suffering. All remedies were unavailing, and the only human hope was the knife; but feeling in my own heart the power of the promise, I one morning sat down by her bedside, and taking up the Bible, I read aloud, G.o.d"s promise to his believing children. "_And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him_."
I then asked her if she would trust the Lord to remove this tumor and restore her to health and to her missionary work. She replied, "I am willing to trust the Lord for it."
I then knelt and anointed her with oil in the name of the Lord, asking Him to fulfill his own word. Soon after I left she got up and walked three miles. From that time the tumor rapidly lessened until all trace of it at length disappeared.
FAITH CURED HER.
This incident was related by the lady herself in a public meeting in Boston, where it was heard by the sorrowing wife of an afflicted husband, whose statement is as follows:
"I was first confined to my house with a violent cold. I lost my voice completely, suffered with pain in my lungs and expectorated almost constantly. I grew worse every day, and in a week called in a physician.
On examination he found my lungs diseased. I also had fever. With all his care my cough grew worse, and night sweats set in; a few weeks later my wife was told by the Doctor that my lungs were badly ulcerated, and that my case being hopeless, it was not worth while for him to attend longer; also that she must NOT be surprised if I should pa.s.s away suddenly. I then tried some highly recommended medicine, which seemed only to increase my disease.
"When I became so weak as to be nearly helpless, Dr. Cullis was called in. He sounded my lungs and gave the same verdict, saying my only hope for recovery was in the Lord. Diarrhea also set in, and my feet began to swell."
This statement will show his perfect helplessness.
After the return of his wife from the above meeting, he read over and over the precious promises of G.o.d, and became more and more convinced of the power of faith. Believing that "_He is faithful that promised_" he sent for Dr. Cullis to come and pray with him.
"Dr. C. prayed, anointed me with oil, and in the name of the Lord Jesus, commanded me to be healed. Instantly my whole being was thrilled with an unknown power, from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. From the moment I believed, the _work was done_. My lungs, so long diseased, breathed with new vigor, and I returned thanks to G.o.d for the results of faith. Since that memorable night I have taken no medicine, and my health has been constantly improving, so _that I am feeling better now than I did before my sickness_."
Two years after he was seen by Dr. Cullis, and continued in perfect health, and engaged in active business.
CURED OF CANCER.
A lady came to the Consumptive"s Home with a cancer in the cheek, which had attained the size of a filbert. It had a very red and angry appearance. After prayer for her healing she went into the country, when some one remarked, "E. thinks that faith will cure her, but _that_ is something that will have to be burned out or cut out." Her friends tried to induce the use of various applications, all of which she firmly refused. She returned home in eight weeks, entirely cured. Her friends acknowledged, "_Faith did do good after all_."
CURED OF NEURALGIA.
A lady of East Cambridge writes, "For nineteen years I have been afflicted with neuralgia; added to this, of late years a combination of diseases has rendered life an intolerable burden, and baffled the skill of every physician to whom I have applied. By the prayer of faith I have been healed, both body and soul, and made to rejoice continually. I can now say I am entirely well, and engaged in arduous work--often among the sick, losing whole nights of rest."
CURED OF SPINE DISEASE.
Dr. Cullis thus speaks of a signal answer to his prayer. "While at the home of L.R. in England, I was asked to pray with his daughter, who had spinal curvature. Subsequently L.R. writes, "We. are full of thankfulness and praise about E. She is quite well and strong, and does everything like her sisters. She has such perfect faith that the Lord had healed her, that she at once put away the board and said she should never lie upon it again, and on the following Sunday she walked four miles in a hot sun, and sat for two hours on a bench without a back. As far as we can judge, she is quite well in every respect. For fifteen months before she had been a constant cause of anxiety to us--never walked or attended to study.""
AN INJURED LEG RESTORED TO PROPER LENGTH.
"Some months ago a young lady called, requesting to be prayed for. She simply told me that some years ago she was run over and her hip badly injured. I asked her if she could trust the Lord for healing. She replied, "Yes." I prayed, with her, and she went home.
"I learned after a day or two, that she was perfectly cured, and obtained from her these facts: Some six years before, she was run over by a hack, and her hip so injured that she was confined to her bed for six months. She then got up with a permanent lameness, one limb being shorter than the other. In two or three instances since, she has been confined to her bed for three months at a time. She now walks perfectly, both limbs being of the same length. She says of herself, "I can leap and run as well as any other person, and my heart overruns with praise and thanksgiving to G.o.d.""
A LOST VOICE REGAINED.
"Some nine months since a lady showed signs of indisposition, and soon was attacked by a cough. Change of air was prescribed, but after a lapse of some weeks she returned to her home, in no way improved. Physicians were consulted, her lungs found to be much irritated and pulse low. Soon all appet.i.te left her, a hoa.r.s.eness succeeded, resulting in entire loss of voice.
"There was little desire to eat, as everything taken into the stomach caused great distress. Months succeeded; nothing could be gained from medical treatment. I felt that I must trust all to G.o.d. I seemed to feel that G.o.d would heal me. I read in his Bible, "The prayer of _faith shall save the sick_." I accepted it at once, I felt sure that it was for me.
I was led to visit Boston and see Doctor Cullis. I stated all the circ.u.mstances of my illness, and was asked if I could trust G.o.d to heal me? I replied, "Yes, I am sure the Lord is able and willing."
""We knelt in prayer; _in a moment, as it were, my. voice came to me, I was able to talk with ease_, and from that time nothing that I have eaten has given me any distress. The Lord"s promises are sure, and He has filled my soul with joy and praise.""
In speaking of the many cases of cures in answer to prayer, Doctor Cullis says: "I have noticed that in some cases the cure has been instantaneous; others I have prayed with two or three times, or even more. My explanation is, as far as I have been able to observe, that there has been oftentimes a question or lack of faith on the part of the patient; for some seem to come, not in faith, but as a matter of _experiment. G.o.d"s word says it is the prayer of faith that shall save the sick._"
From this it will be noticed that the _faith is that of the patient,_ and the more strongly it is fixed on G.o.d and the promise, the surer the answer.
It is but justice to say, that in no case has there ever been the thought or the a.s.sumption, by Doctor Cullis himself, of having _any divinely conferred power_ to heal all that come to him, or for whom he may pray. No such power would ever be given to any human creature by our Lord. It is the Lord himself who works the wonder--but solely because of the faith of sufferers who have sought the addition of the prayer of one who is stronger in faith and prayer than its own. Each must wait upon G.o.d, and must have faith without a doubt, and perfect willingness to trust all to Him, and continue to expect the blessing.
It should be noticed, also, that all who have come pleading the prayer of faith, and asking the Lord for relief, have either then, or before, _pledged themselves to the service of the Lord_, and have desired the good gifts they seek, that they may more efficiently work for His own honor and glory, and the good of others.