The next circuit that we occupied was Seneca Falls, Auburn, Owasco, Niles and Canandaigua. I felt that God wanted me to live at Seneca Falls. My chairman thought that I had better settle at some other point, as the Seneca Falls pilgrims were very poor and discouraged. We went to Seneca Falls on Thursday, met the pilgrims at Sister McKee’s. I think there were less than a dozen poor, discouraged ones. They received us with not a little indifference, and were sure that a house could not be found anywhere in the place. They said that others had been there looking for houses, but could find none. However, they were going to leave it all with the Lord. In this they were like a great many that I have met with, awful willing to let the good Lord do it all. They really believe that Jesus paid it all, consequently, let Him do it all.
This did not disturb my convictions that God wanted me to live there, and that He had a house for me at that place. I prayed much that night, and as Friday morning dawned upon us I felt all through my being that in such a part of the town there was an empty house, and that I could hire it. I knew but little of the place, but after prayers I started off in the direction of the empty house, according to my conviction. I came to that part of the town indicated by my feelings. I met a lad and said to him, “Where is that house where the family moved out a few days ago?” Said he, “Right around the corner.” I moved on a few rods when I met another boy and made the same inquiry of him. He replied, “That house across there.” It was really a neat house owned by a merchant’s wife, they occupying the wing part. All the upright part, consisting of seven neat rooms, she wanted to rent until spring. Inside of ten minutes I made a bargain for the house, paid one month’s rent, and the next week we moved in and remained there for two years. We had the house for six dollars per month, when a great many others wanted it and would have paid ten or twelve dollars per month.
I want to say a little more about this affair, as it was so clear a case of the Lord’s doings; as clear as when Peter was led out of prison by the angel of God. I thought so then. I think so now, after the lapse of nearly twenty-five years, and look back to that event with the profoundest feelings of love and veneration for the special leadings of the Spirit of the Lord Jesus at that time, and all the way since. A gracious revival commenced from the very beginning of our ministry at that place. As we commenced house-keeping right away, I appointed a meeting for holiness at our house. In my notice of the meeting I excluded all that did not want something special of the Lord. The meeting was good and lasted until after ten o’clock. We had quite a struggle for a lady that came there expressly for her soul’s salvation. She finally came through with a tremendous shout, and this she continued for some time. I had a sort of feeling that these shouts greatly disturbed my landlady in the other part of the house. Immediately after breakfast the next morning she sent for me to come in, she wanted to see me. As soon as I entered she looked me square in the face and stated in very emphatic language that I must procure another house immediately. Said she, “I did not let you have my house for public meetings. I cannot and will not have such confusion in my house. It was perfectly ridiculous—such a noise—such a pow-wow—husband and I did not sleep a wink all night, you must move right out.” I looked her steadily in the face and said nothing until she had spent her force, and then made my statement. I knew my rights and purposed to stick to them. I said, “True, Mrs. Ingmire, you did not rent me your house for public meetings; it was not of that class—it was a select meeting. I stated from the pulpit that none need come except those that wanted something from the Lord. It was a meeting for holiness. You know the Methodists believe in that. (She was a Methodist.) We believe in being good—like our Master, who went about doing good to the souls and bodies of men.” I then referred to that poor widow that God converted last night; what a hard time she had, caring for five little children, working late at night and early in the morning with but little to eat and poorly clad and without the comforts of salvation. I saw that she was deeply interested in my talk, and that I had the inside track. At this point I said, “Let us pray,” at the same time dropping on my knees, I commenced praying for God to bless the work at Seneca Falls, and especially my landlady. She knelt while I prayed. The good Lord heard and answered prayer. When I came to the Amen, she responded, Amen. We arose. She said with tears rolling down her face, “God bless you, Brother Osborne, I believe the Lord sent you here; I think you will do good here; just the man needed.” I assured her that God sent me there, and that I meant to do good, and bade her good morning. No more was said about our leaving the house, but they made much effort to keep us there; and when the first year was up, they circulated a petition for our being returned the second year. We remained there two years and God gave us a continuous revival. For weeks souls were saved in every meeting at Seneca Falls, and at every point on this circuit we had a revival.
“God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform.”
The people that we were laboring with and for, were very poor, so that we were compelled to pray the Lord’s prayer daily: and blessed be the name of the Lord, He fed and clothed us. It would be impossible to tell the many peculiar ways that God had in supplying our needs. On one occasion my entire suit of wearing apparel had become badly worn and looked decidedly seedy. My coat was so feeble that it would not hold together under the arms, though wife had darned it much, and every time that I would raise my hand, when preaching, there would be an exhibition of cotton, which somewhat annoyed me. I prayed over the matter. I believed that God would supply my need. I said, “Lord, thy servant ought to be in a presentable shape.” It did not seem to me that in a country like ours, where there was such an abundance on every side, that God wanted me to go dressed so poorly. After much care, and thought and prayer, I called at the Post Office and received two letters. I did not open them until I reached home. My first letter contained a fifty dollar post office order. It seemed as if I could not believe my own senses. Tears of gratitude so filled my eyes that I could hardly read for the time being, while the Spirit said, “This means an entire suit of clothes.” Of course this sent afresh the doxology coursing, vibrating and thoroughly permeating all of our redeemed powers. O, how precious it is to live where God feeds and clothes the body and satisfies our immortal nature with Himself. Well might the poet sing—
“O for such love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break.”
Every law governing this vast universe, with all its intelligencies, are under the direct control of our Heavenly Father. Nothing is lost to His sight. “If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in Hell, behold Thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.”
Every effect has its own legitimate cause. It is not necessary that we should understand perfectly the law governing cause and effect in order to have implicit trust and confidence in God. Things about us may have a strange and a very forbidding appearance, yet we are to get good out of all the events of life. “All things work together for good to them that love God.” This will keep the soul cheerful and make life a pleasant pilgrimage. Having this constantly before our minds, that God directs or permits all of life’s operations; and all for His glory, and the eternal well being of His dear children. Glory to God and the Lamb forever! “Heaven and earth would sooner pass away, than one jot, or one tittle, of His law, should fail.”