A DIVINE PROVIDENCE.
The late Mr. Edward Parsons, of Leeds, frequently supplied the pulpit of the Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, London.
Walking out one Monday morning, he was accosted by a stranger, who expressed a wish to accompany him. On arriving at a certain house he said, "This is my home, sir. Will you walk in and rest yourself?"
Having done so, his host told him he had a design in thus treating him, and then related the following remarkable facts:—
Many years before, himself and wife had come from Scotland to London, where, as a mechanic, he had for a time full employment; but when his work became slack, he was obliged to part with some of his furniture and take a smaller house. His circumstances growing worse, his health also failing, he was obliged to part with more of his furniture, until he found himself, wife, and family driven to reside in a wretched cellar in St. Giles'.
One day, being without food, or the means of obtaining any, he resolved the next morning to drown himself in the New River, and accordingly started to carry out his terrible intention.
It was the Sabbath morning, and as he passed through Tottenham Court Road, on his way to the New River, a little before seven o'clock, he observed a throng of people entering the Tabernacle. In a sullen mood he joined these early worshippers.
Mr. Parsons was in the pulpit, and gave out his text, which was—"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Jacob, will not forsake them" (Isa. xli. 17).
It seemed so truly for him that the poor, starving man could not help remaining through the sermon.
At its close Mr. Parsons inquired, "Have you put the God of Jacob to the test?" The poor man at once said to himself, "I have not put the God of Jacob to the test"; and consequently, with a half-resolution to do so, he returned to the miserable cellar.
There sat his wretched wife, and there were his starving children, crying for the food he could not supply. A short period of pensive sadness, and then he said to his wife, "I think we might read a chapter."
Poor woman! The remark opened up the well-spring of her heart, and she burst into tears. The thought of her early religious training at once rushed on her mind. She looked for their Bible, but it had been pawned. She, however, found part of an old copy, out of which her husband read a chapter.
"We have not put the God of Jacob to the test. Shall we pray?" said he. This more surprised the poor wife, but at once they knelt down, and did then "put the God of Jacob to the test."
Still the whole day passed without their being supplied with food. The next morning, however, the postman, who very seldom entered that poverty-stricken street, brought the man a letter from a former fellow-workman who had heard of his ill-health and loss of work. The letter contained information concerning a large firm in London which had an extensive contract, and was requiring a number of hands, and advised that he should apply to it for employment. It also contained a one-pound note as a loan, which he immediately employed in obtaining food for his family and in delivering his best coat from the pawnbroker's.
He then applied to the firm named, and obtained employment, and, being a clever workman, his services were secured for a permanency. At length he was appointed foreman, and, after a few years, was made a partner in the business, and eventually, his former master retiring, he gave up the business to him.
With grateful acknowledgments to the Lord, he then told Mr. Parsons that he had also been enabled to "put the God of Jacob to the test" with reference to the wants of his soul—that he had been led by divine grace to seek and find salvation; so that he could set to his seal that God was true, and that, "when the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, the Lord will hear them; the God of Jacob will not forsake them."
R. F. R.