The speech may be without polish, the manner uncouth, and the
matter simple and plain; but conviction will surely follow any
preaching in the burning love and power and contagious joy of the
Holy Spirit.
A few years ago a poor black boy in Africa, who had been stolen
for a slave, and most cruelly treated, heard a missionary talking
of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and his heart hungered and
thirsted for Him. In a strange manner he worked his way to New
York to find out more about the Holy Spirit, getting the captain
of the ship and several of the crew converted on the way. The
brother in New York to whom he came took him to a meeting the
first night he was in the city, and left him there, while he went
to fulfil another engagement. When he returned at a late hour, he
found a crowd of men at the penitent-form, led there by the
simple words of this poor black fellow. He took him to his
Sunday-school, and put him up to speak, while he attended to some
other matters. When he turned from these affairs that had
occupied his attention for only a little while, he found the
penitent-form full of teachers and scholars, weeping before the
Lord. What the black boy had said he did not know; but he was
bowed with wonder and filled with joy, for it was the power of
the Holy Spirit.
Men used to fall as though cut down in battle under the preaching
of Wesley, Whitefield, Finney, and others.
Pages:
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143