She placed a wet cloth on his head, lay down by his
side, and knew no more until the next morning.
Both slept soundly. When she awoke, she saw that
the child was breathing naturally and that the fever
was entirely gone. Then she fully realized that
God had healed him. With a grateful heart she
thanked the Lord for his tender love. It was indeed
true that Leroy was well. About ten o’clock
his mother carried him to the lake and, having Bessie
to row the boat, gave him a pleasant boat-ride.
The fever never returned; his head stopped growing;
and he became a strong, healthy boy. The friends
who had thought that he would surely die said they
could not understand the change that had taken place,
but Mrs. Worthington understood, and gave God all the
praise.
EXPLAINING THE DIVINE LIFE.
After Bessie’s conversion Mrs. Worthington’s
talks to her were often on the subject of the divine
life within—how to care for it and nourish
it, so that it might not die nor become blighted.
She sometimes compared the young Christian’s
experience to that of a new-born babe. “You
know,” said she, “the little one must
be carefully fed, and tenderly guarded against everything
harmful. Even a slight breeze blowing upon its
little body, if unprotected, might result in death.
But as the child grows older and stronger, it gradually
becomes accustomed to the rude elements about it and
can, with comparative safety, be brought in contact
with them. The Christ life, new-born in the human
heart, is just as sensitive and needs the same tender
care. Guard it carefully, Bessie. It must
be constantly nourished by prayer and the Word of
God. Seek to become established by the grace
of sanctification; then you will be better able to
meet temptation and persecution. Christ is your
shepherd, and he wants to lead you, his lamb, into
green pastures and beside still waters.
“A person may profess to be a Christian, Bessie;
but unless he has a change of heart and affections,
he is what the Bible terms a wolf in sheep’s
clothing, and not one of the gentle lambs of the Savior’s
fold. The profession does not amount to anything
when the heart is full of envy, hatred, jealousy,
love of self, and a drawing toward the world.
A person with a profession only, may appear for a
time to be quite lamb-like; but sooner or later the
old nature will manifest itself, for it can not be
hidden long.”
“I think, Mama,” said Bessie, “I
understand you—but you spoke of the experience
of sanctification; please tell me what that means.”
As briefly as possible, the mother explained that
the second cleansing of the heart takes away that
evil nature which causes man to want to disobey God.
Not long after this talk Bessie had an experience
in school that helped her to comprehend her mother’s
words. To be put back in her studies was hard,
but to have to give up her old teacher, to whom she
was strongly attached, was harder still. Her
regret on the latter account, however, was of short
duration; for her new teacher was even more lovable
than the old one, and, best of all, she was a Christian.
She and Bessie not only got along well, but became
warm friends and enjoyed sweet fellowship in the Spirit.
One day, however, something happened that severely
tested their love, but, in the end, only deepened it.
