Books: The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher

I >> Isabel C. Byrum >> The Poorhouse Waif and His Divine Teacher

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

"To forsake sin," Edwin explained, "is to stop doing anything that one
knows to be wrong, like stealing, lying, swearing," and he named over a
number of other things. "By the power of the will it is possible for any
who have formed such habits to stop doing the things that are wrong, but
before a person can really be delivered from sin, he must be very sorry for
having disobeyed God. That sorrow is repentance if the person is sorry
enough to ask God to forgive him and to cleanse him from all
unrighteousness."

Edwin did not tell them that it had always been his desire to do to others
as he would be done by, for to him this had been only his privilege and
duty to mankind, and he fully realized that before he was converted he was,
with all the rest of humanity, in a sense separated from God. Instead he
said:

"You must think of God's goodness," and he read: "Come unto me, all ye that
labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you,
and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
to your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." And then he
read Heb. 10:39: "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but
of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

"O Edwin!" his brother cried, "why is it that we have never heard of these
things before? Surely God has sent you to us."

As a large revival was being held in the city at that time, they all
decided to attend, and at the meeting and with Edwin's help the brother and
his wife were gloriously saved.

When the meeting was over, Edwin was urged to prolong his stay. This he
did, and he spent a few weeks very profitably in helping his relatives to
become established and to learn how to study the Bible that had so long
been only an ornament in their home.

His sister also was deeply impressed with the wonderful things that God had
done for Edwin, but she was the mother of several small children, and her
life was such that she thought that she was unable to make the necessary
sacrifices. Edwin read to her from the seventh chapter of Matthew these
words of Jesus: "Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the
rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock." Then he explained
to her about the house that fell, but she only answered: "No, Edwin, it is
of no use. I can not live it now," and thus Edwin left her feeling her need
but unwilling to yield.

From his sister's home Edwin returned to Mrs. Kauffman's, where he was
again treated with the greatest affection and respect. As he told of his
experiences, his kind friends were deeply interested as well as astonished
at the manner in which he had succeeded in his brother's home, and Mrs.
Kauffman thanked God for so wonderfully answering prayer.

Learning that Edwin was again in the neighborhood, the farmers with whom he
was acquainted did their best to engage him to work for them, but to all he
said: "No, not yet. I have not satisfied my mind. I am still a guest in the
home of Mrs. Kauffman, and since they are satisfied to have me stay, I
think that there must be more things that God would teach me from his Word,
so I will study my Bible for a while longer."

Baptism was the next subject that bothered him. During his recent visit
with his mother he had learned from her that, as an infant, before he was
taken to the poorhouse, he was baptized; but he had read in his Bible, "He
that _believeth_ and is baptized, shall be saved" (Mark 16:16). "No infant
could believe or reason anything about the Lord Jesus," he told Mrs.
Kauffman, and he asked her advice about having the work done again.

"You had better go to your minister and ask him what he thinks," Mrs.
Kauffman said. Edwin improved the very first opportunity, which happened to
be the following Sunday immediately after the morning service. Replying to
him, the minister asked:

"Don't you think the baptism in your infancy amounted to anything?"

"I don't know," Edwin answered cautiously. "That is what I came to see you
about. The Bible says, 'He that believeth and is baptized,' and I'm sure
that I didn't know enough at that time to 'believe' anything, and the way
that I understand that verse is that I am to be baptized after I am
converted."

"Well, then," said the minister, "if you do not feel satisfied, I will, at
some convenient season, attend to the matter."

For several weeks Edwin anxiously waited for the "convenient season"; then
on entering the chapel one Sunday morning, he noticed on a stand beside the
altar a large bowl of water, and he wondered if it was in any way connected
with his baptism. He was not kept long in suspense, for immediately after
the morning exercises he was requested by the minister to come forward and
to take his seat upon the altar. Edwin quickly obeyed, and the minister,
after a short ceremony, took the bowl in his hand and with his fingers
sprinkled a little of the water upon Edwin's head.

To Edwin it was a very solemn affair, for he was very sincere. At the close
of the ordinance the minister said, "Now, whether you consider that your
other baptism amounted to anything or not, I hope that your doubts will be
forever gone." At the time Edwin thought they were, but later on when he
read, "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him
through faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead"
(Col. 2:12), he thought that to be really baptized meant more than merely
to have a little water sprinkled upon his head; and when he considered that
John baptized people in the river Jordan and that Jesus, his example,
walked down into the water, saying, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness," and that when Jesus came up out
of the water the voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I
am well pleased" (Matt. 3:15, 17), he felt that he should like to go down
into the water as though he had been buried from the sight of the world
just as his Savior had done.

As was his custom when perplexed over such problems, he went to Mrs.
Kauffman that he might have the benefit of her judgment. She advised him to
go to a body of people that believed in immersion and be baptized by their
minister. Edwin followed her direction, and as soon as possible he was put
under the water as a testimony to the world that he was dead to sin.

Thus, day by day God in his wisdom continued to be Edwin's teacher in the
deep as well as in the simple things of life until the wisdom of the
poorhouse waif was in many things far beyond that of many who professed to
be leaders of men.

"For his God doth instruct him to discretion and doth teach him" (Isa. 28:
26).

"Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the
end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe
it with my whole heart." "Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is
devoted to thy fear" (Psa. 119: 33, 34, 38).

CHAPTER XX

CALLED TO SERVICE

Walk
Boldly and wisely in that light thou hast;
There is a hand above will help thee on.

--Bailey.

When Edwin heard of the heathen in other lands across the sea, a great
longing to help them to understand God's love and to bear them the message
of Jesus' mission to the earth came into his heart. So great did this
longing become that he spoke of it to the brethren at the church, but he
was told that it would be better to first prove his calling at home, for
there were plenty of heathen all around him needing his help.

Without criticism or feelings that he had been dealt with unwisely, he
accepted this judgment as proper and right, and at once began by seeking
for opportunity to talk about his experiences with both neighbors and
friends. In this way he made his efforts for doing good to count, and he
became personally acquainted with the greater part of the community. Mr.
and Mrs. Kauffman, seeing Edwin's zeal and courage, were surprized and
pleased, and, taking note of the good he was accomplishing, offered him the
privilege of holding prayer-meetings in their home. Soon others gave him
the same opportunity, and it was evident that God was using him even to the
saving of a few souls.

As Edwin continued to grasp every opportunity for usefulness, the brethren
who had refused to accept him as a candidate for membership in their
church, became anxious to have him enroll, but Edwin told them: "No, my ten
years are not yet up. You must remember that I told you I wanted that long
to prove to you that I could stand and that I am truly converted."

When Edwin felt that he could spare the time from studying the Bible and
doing spiritual work, to resume his labors as a farm-hand, he found that it
required no effort to find a place, as all seemed to know of his ability
and willingness to work. There was even contention among the farmers as to
who would be so fortunate as to secure his services.

Finding out the true state of affairs, Edwin was pleased, and he decided to
divide his time among them. In this way he was able to enter other homes
and lives and to help them spiritually as well as with his labor. But
through all this service Edwin was not without various trials and tests;
but in everything he was able to give God thanks and to draw useful
lessons. "For thou, O Lord, hast proved us: thou hast tried us as silver is
tried." (Psa. 16:10).

After a time Edwin felt that he would like for at least a while to try city
life. Finding a man that was engaged in peddling spring-water, he agreed to
work for him for a share of the income. The business did not prove to be a
profitable one for Edwin, but by very careful management he was able to
make both ends meet. But when he had met his necessary expenses, he had
nothing left that he could use for the work of the Lord.

This soon became a great trial to Edwin, and when one Sunday there was a
call (in the new church he was attending in the city) for a liberal amount
of money, he felt that he must subscribe twenty-five dollars even though he
did not know how he could ever pay it. He believed that in some way or
other he would be able to raise the money even though the time allowed for
paying it was only one month. "God will help me in this thing as he has
helped me through all my other difficulties," he said as he set out on
Monday morning in his covered wagon to dispose of his bottled water.

At first the sales were as they had been on other days, but along in the
afternoon they began to increase, and when night came and he had time to
figure up the amount of the water sold, he found that there was over and
above all his expenses five dollars extra to his credit. For four
successive days this increase of sales continued, until he had four
five-dollar bills laid aside.

On Friday morning Edwin started with a glad heart; for he thought, "If only
I succeed today as well as I have been doing all week, by this evening I
shall have the amount I subscribed." He expressed his gratitude in
thanksgiving and praise to God. To his great disappointment, that day the
extra amount of water was not sold, and on Saturday and Sunday he did not
peddle. Climbing into his covered wagon filled with bottles, he started out
for his boarding-place; but he was not in the least discouraged, for he was
sure that the remainder of the money would be raised in some unexpected
manner before the month was up.

Scarcely had Edwin dismissed the matter from his mind when he came to an
electric-car crossing. It was a dangerous place, for a few feet above the
crossing the track was completely hidden from view by a large ledge of rock
and a sudden curve. At this place Edwin always listened carefully for a
signal. Hearing nothing and knowing that the car had been due fully ten
minutes before, he was soon driving upon the track without any thought of
danger, as he had so often done before. His surprize was therefore complete
when, just as the back wheels of the wagon were dropping heavily over the
last rail, there was a sudden breeze and whiz came the car around the
curve. No warning whatever had been given, and a second later Edwin found
himself among the legs and hoofs of the faithful animal that he had been
driving.

It was indeed a narrow escape, and as Edwin crept from his dangerous
position he found that not only his horse but his wagon and load of bottles
were upside down and that the conductor and motorman were by his side
inquiring of him how badly he was hurt.

Edwin himself was uninjured, and after the harness had been loosened, the
horse was able to rise, and when the wagon and bottles were examined, it
was found that nothing was at all harmed. But before Edwin was again on his
seat in the wagon, the conductor had taken his name and address.

As he drove away from the scene of the accident Edwin was rejoicing in the
fact that he had escaped so well, and with no thought of ever hearing any
more about the affair he was soon putting his things away for the night. In
the morning, therefore, he was greatly surprized when he was called to the
door and by the same conductor that had the evening before taken his name
and address was handed an envelope and told that the contents were his
because of the accident that had occurred the evening before at the
crossing. Edwin tried to explain that no harm had been done to anything,
but the conductor replied that the blame was his because he had given no
signal. "But," he continued, "it will always be a mystery in my mind how
such an accident could occur without a single injury to anything."

Then the conductor went away, and when Edwin opened the envelope, he found
that it contained just five dollars, the exact amount that he needed to
complete his purpose-money. One week out of the four had not yet passed,
and yet he had the full amount of his obligation. And when, on Sunday
morning, he carried the money to the church and told of the wonderful
manner in which it had been supplied (for indeed it was wonderful), many
marveled.

In the city Edwin continued to do all in his power for the Lord as he had
done in the country, and just about two years from the time that he
attended his first prayer-meeting in the home of Mrs. Miller, he received
an urgent invitation from Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman to return to their home and
hold a series of revival meetings; "for" said the letter, "our house and
all that we possess are turned over to the Lord, and we feel that you have
proved yourself sufficiently to come and be our minister."

To Edwin the privilege of holding the meeting and the confidence of these
people meant very much indeed, but he still felt keenly his inability of
doing anything in his own strength. To think of himself as a preacher he
did not, for God at that time had not revealed to him his calling in life.
Still, he submitted the matter entirely to the Lord, and when the way was
opened for him to go he was glad to accept the opportunity. As a result
there was a wonderful revival; for Mr. and Mrs. Kauffman did their best to
have the meetings advertised, and as Edwin's present, and early history as
well, was well known throughout the country, the people for miles around,
many of them out of curiosity, however, came to see if what they had been
hearing about Edwin as a Christian was true.

When the meeting closed, Edwin had in the minds of the people proved
himself to be a real minister of the gospel, and arrangements were soon
made to buy a piece of ground and to build a small meeting-house. The idea
was sanctioned by Edwin, and he saw it carried into effect, but when they
begged him to stay as their pastor, he refused. "It is better," he said,
"for you to get some one else to be your leader until I know positively
that God has set me apart for that work"; and referring them to a certain
brother who claimed to be a minister, he left them in his charge and
returned to the city where he had been peddling water.

Edwin's object in leaving the community in which he had been holding the
meetings was that he might have a better opportunity to know positively
whether or not God had really called him to preach the gospel. His first
duty, therefore, after arriving in the city was to go to the minister for
advice and counsel. After confiding his desire to work for the Lord and the
manner in which he had been used in the meeting, he was told: "There are
many who mistake their calling in life. Sometimes the enemy of souls puts
such feelings in the heart to mislead honest souls, or to get them out of
God's order." And the minister related an instance of a young man who had
once come to him just as Edwin had come for advice. "Seeing his
earnestness, I gave the fellow a chance to prove himself, but it was found
that he had no gift or ability at all to teach. In fact, he did so poorly
in all public work that he was forced to confess that he was really
mistaken. After that he never wanted to preach again, and it was even
difficult for him to testify."

"Well," Edwin answered, "if it is the enemy in my case, I will have no
trouble to get rid of this feeling, for I shall only be too glad to know
that I am misled. All I want to know is what God wants me to do. If he
doesn't want me to preach, that is the last thing I would care to do."

From that moment Edwin ignored the thought of preaching, and while he
applied himself to his manual labor, he endeavored to forget all about his
usefulness during the revival. And as he was thus striving with himself,
the minister in whom Edwin had confided, desiring to know if there was
anything to Edwin's convictions, paid a visit to the community in which
Edwin had held the revival. Several months had passed, but the fire was
still burning in the hearts of the people (although the one left in charge
of them had done more harm than good), and as the minister listened to the
glowing accounts of Edwin's works among them and the good that had been
accomplished through his labors, he was forced to change his mind. "God's
hand must surely be on that man for service," was his secret thought, and
on the Sunday morning following his tour of investigation he brought the
matter before the church.

Nearly the entire congregation with the exception of Edwin were present,
and as the minister related carefully and in detail what had taken place
recently in the community where Edwin had been so "strangely" converted and
had formerly made his home, he added that only the wisdom and power of the
Holy Spirit could have enabled him to accomplish such a work. "There is no
doubt now in my mind," he continued, "that God's hand is upon the young man
for the ministry; for his moral character is without spot and blameless in
the eyes of all who know him, and he is well known and respected throughout
the country for this and because of his unusual conversion."

In that meeting it was decided that it would be best to have another talk
with Edwin before he was encouraged to preach. When the minister went to
him, it was with these words:

"Edwin, do you still feel your desire to preach the gospel?"

"Oh yes," Edwin answered. "Since talking with you, I have tried in every
way to get rid of the thought of preaching, if it was not God's will for me
to preach, but the burden is only growing heavier. I have submitted the
matter to you and the church, however, to decide for me, and I know that
God knows the same; so I can quietly trust him until you tell me what you
think would be best for me to do."

"Are you still fully agreed to allow the church to consider the matter for
you?" Edwin was then asked.

"Oh yes, sir!" he quickly replied. "I have submitted everything into your
hands, for I want to know just what you consider is best. I will be
perfectly satisfied either way it may go. I am not anxious; for I know that
if God really wants me to preach he will take care of it all and will work
everything out in his own good time and way. If he does not work it out so
that I am considered capable of preaching, then I shall take it for granted
that it was a suggestion of the enemy, and I will take a vehement stand
against those feelings as an imposition of the enemy. Now, I consider what
I have said is sufficient, and it will be no trial for me, for I shall feel
that I am in God's order, and I care for nothing else."

When the minister heard Edwin's humble answer and noted his willingness to
allow God to have his perfect way with him and compared his manner with the
many remarkable reports to which he had listened concerning his
experiences, he was more convinced than ever that God's hand for service
was surely upon this devoted young man. But he felt that since the thing
had been left for the church to decide, he must in Edwin's absence once
more place the subject before the congregation.

The time chosen was the following Sunday. When the minister asked for an
expression from the people concerning Edwin's case, with one united vote
they said that they were perfectly agreed to accept Edwin as a minister,
provided he could prove his gift. It was therefore decided that since they
had never heard him preach, they would call him in and let him deliver the
morning sermon; and severe as was the test, it was carried out.

When Edwin a few minutes later entered the room and looked over that large
audience, he had not the faintest idea of preaching to the people. His only
thought was to learn what their decision had been, and his surprize was
therefore complete when the almost painful hush that prevaded the room was
broken by the request that he take the pulpit and assume full charge of the
meeting that morning.

Had it not been that Edwin already knew the Lord to be an unfailing source
of strength and an able helper in every time of need, his courage might
have failed him, for upon the rostrum were several ministers and gospel
workers. Instead, he instantly submitted the matter to the Lord, and,
forgetting about his ignorance, he rejoiced that he could have an
opportunity to glorify God and took his position between God and poor
blighted humanity.

"Let us pray," were his first words, and, falling upon his knees, he poured
out his heart in fervent prayer to God, asking him for help and divine
guidance in this, his great hour of need. While still upon his knees he was
given a text, and, rising to his feet, he opened his Bible, turned to Luke
7:47, and read, "Her sins, which were many, are forgiven; for she loved
much."

Then as he explained the meaning of the words, his eyes became blinded by
tears. As he lost sight of his audience, the Holy Spirit came to his
rescue, and as the words poured forth from his mouth, it was evident to all
that the sermon was given him by divine power. So lost to himself and the
opinions of others did he become that he seemed to be swimming out into the
vast ocean of God's boundless love.

That God was glorified and his name honored it is needless to say, and from
that time Edwin was accepted without question as a gifted and qualified
minister of the gospel, and his calls both in his home community and in
other places were many. He was even preferred above other able ministers
because of his strange and wonderful experiences.

As Edwin continued to preach, he remembered how hard it had been for him to
understand that there were other languages than his own mother tongue, and
he prepared himself to preach not only in the German and the English
languages, but in Pennsylvania Dutch as well.

While studying his Bible he found that there was even healing virtue in
prayer. In James 5:14, 15, he read, "Is any sick among you? let him call
for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him
with oil in the name of the Lord: 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." In his own case he had found this to be true. God
had not only healed his soul's sickness but also removed his bodily
afflictions. Finding that he could receive such instant relief for himself,
he was soon exercising his gift for others, and many were healed through
his earnest prayers.

In one place where he was preaching, he made his home with a family in
which there were two small children, a girl three years old and a boy about
one year younger. To these children Edwin soon became greatly attached, and
their love for him was no less than his own. Once when Edwin was away for a
few days holding a series of meetings, the little boy became seriously ill
with pneumonia. The parents, who knew the worth of prayer in time of
sickness, took his case at once to their Great Physician; but although they
prayed very earnestly, their prayers seemed to be of no avail, for the
child grew constantly worse. A number of the brethren were repeatedly
called in to pray for little Charley, but the child grew constantly worse
until it seemed that it would be a question only of a few hours until he
would be called into eternity. Finally the mother said, "If Edwin were only
here, I believe that the child would be healed," but Edwin did not even
know that little Charley was ill.

Pages:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11