The Use and Need of the Life of Carrie A. Nation [77]
a cry and mortification. My
best companion was the Bible. I then knew what David meant when he
said: "More to be desired are they, than gold, yea than much fine gold;
sweeter also than the honey and the honey comb." I often kiss and
caress my Bible; 'tis the most precious of all earthly treasures.
I wonder how people can live any kind of Christian life without
reading the Scriptures and prayer. If I neglect this one day I feel
impatient, restless,--a soul hunger. Spurgeon is my favorite of all ministers.
I read where he said, "Being a Christian was something like taking
a sea bath. You go in up to the ankles and there is no pleasure, then
to the knees is not much better, but if you wish to know the pleasure of
a bath take a 'HEADER' and plunge. Then you can say, How glorious."
Christian life is like a journey. There are flowers and fruit and streams;
thorns, dark valleys and fires; rocky steeps from whose summits you
can see beautiful prospects. There is rest, refreshment, sleep and bitter
tearful watchings. 'Tis a great pleasure to me to be in a spiritual meeting.
To know by the testimony how far they have traveled. Some one
in the garden of delights; he wonders why that one tells of the dark
valley. One at the base of the hill cannot understand why others see
what he cannot. The young beginner tells of the beautiful sights and
songs; and maybe the one who has been on the road almost a life time
will tell of the "continual heaviness, hours of darkness, and the smoking
furnace, and the lamp." I have found that the warrior is never as bouyant
as the new recruit, in his dress parade. We humor children, and call
on men to labor. Few, comparatively, get to the place where they prefer
hard labor; to endure desolation of heart; to seek self in nothing;
to see all loved but himself; to see others exalted but only abasement for
self; to "endure hardness as a good soldier;" to lay on the ground; to
eat hard tack; to make long, weary marches; footsore and still fight on;
to suffer traveling over rocks and thorns; to endure the loss of all
things." I will take this last for mine. 'Tis the best, Oh my God, give
me this! "He that goeth forth and WEEPETH bearing precious seeds shall
doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." I do
not ask this because I enjoy suffering but to prove my love and gratitude
to Him who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
After we moved to Medicine Lodge the Free Methodists came there
and held a meeting. I had never heard the doctrine of the "second
blessing" or "sanctification" taught. It was very interesting to me. Three
women called to see me in my home, to ask me if I had ever "had the
Gift." I told them I had something peculiar given me from God in
Texas; asked them to pray to God to give this great blessing to me or a
witness that he had done so. These sisters were Mrs. Painter, Green and
Marvin. I also prayed for myself. In about ten days from that time I
was in my sitting room. It was raining. A minister and his daughter
were at our house (Mr. Laurance, a Baptist). We were all quietly reading
in the room. I was in meditation, praying and saying: "Just now,
blessed Father, give me the witness." Then a wonderful thing took place,
which it is not "lawful" or possible for me to utter. Something was poured
on top of my bead, running all over and through me, which I call divine
electricity. The two persons who were in the room, Mr. Laurance and
his daughter, were very much startled, for I jumped up, clapped my hands,
saying: "I have this from God, this divine Gift." I went below in the
basement that I might give vent to my gratitude, and under my breath
I walked up and down, thanking, praising, crying and laughing.
Like the woman that found the piece of silver that was lost, I had
to tell my neighbors. I wrapped myself up to be protected from the
rain, and ran to Sister Painters, near by, then to Sister Dollars and Marvin's
and several others, to tell them of my great blessing.
When I returned I opened my Bible. Every word
best companion was the Bible. I then knew what David meant when he
said: "More to be desired are they, than gold, yea than much fine gold;
sweeter also than the honey and the honey comb." I often kiss and
caress my Bible; 'tis the most precious of all earthly treasures.
I wonder how people can live any kind of Christian life without
reading the Scriptures and prayer. If I neglect this one day I feel
impatient, restless,--a soul hunger. Spurgeon is my favorite of all ministers.
I read where he said, "Being a Christian was something like taking
a sea bath. You go in up to the ankles and there is no pleasure, then
to the knees is not much better, but if you wish to know the pleasure of
a bath take a 'HEADER' and plunge. Then you can say, How glorious."
Christian life is like a journey. There are flowers and fruit and streams;
thorns, dark valleys and fires; rocky steeps from whose summits you
can see beautiful prospects. There is rest, refreshment, sleep and bitter
tearful watchings. 'Tis a great pleasure to me to be in a spiritual meeting.
To know by the testimony how far they have traveled. Some one
in the garden of delights; he wonders why that one tells of the dark
valley. One at the base of the hill cannot understand why others see
what he cannot. The young beginner tells of the beautiful sights and
songs; and maybe the one who has been on the road almost a life time
will tell of the "continual heaviness, hours of darkness, and the smoking
furnace, and the lamp." I have found that the warrior is never as bouyant
as the new recruit, in his dress parade. We humor children, and call
on men to labor. Few, comparatively, get to the place where they prefer
hard labor; to endure desolation of heart; to seek self in nothing;
to see all loved but himself; to see others exalted but only abasement for
self; to "endure hardness as a good soldier;" to lay on the ground; to
eat hard tack; to make long, weary marches; footsore and still fight on;
to suffer traveling over rocks and thorns; to endure the loss of all
things." I will take this last for mine. 'Tis the best, Oh my God, give
me this! "He that goeth forth and WEEPETH bearing precious seeds shall
doubtless come again rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." I do
not ask this because I enjoy suffering but to prove my love and gratitude
to Him who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
After we moved to Medicine Lodge the Free Methodists came there
and held a meeting. I had never heard the doctrine of the "second
blessing" or "sanctification" taught. It was very interesting to me. Three
women called to see me in my home, to ask me if I had ever "had the
Gift." I told them I had something peculiar given me from God in
Texas; asked them to pray to God to give this great blessing to me or a
witness that he had done so. These sisters were Mrs. Painter, Green and
Marvin. I also prayed for myself. In about ten days from that time I
was in my sitting room. It was raining. A minister and his daughter
were at our house (Mr. Laurance, a Baptist). We were all quietly reading
in the room. I was in meditation, praying and saying: "Just now,
blessed Father, give me the witness." Then a wonderful thing took place,
which it is not "lawful" or possible for me to utter. Something was poured
on top of my bead, running all over and through me, which I call divine
electricity. The two persons who were in the room, Mr. Laurance and
his daughter, were very much startled, for I jumped up, clapped my hands,
saying: "I have this from God, this divine Gift." I went below in the
basement that I might give vent to my gratitude, and under my breath
I walked up and down, thanking, praising, crying and laughing.
Like the woman that found the piece of silver that was lost, I had
to tell my neighbors. I wrapped myself up to be protected from the
rain, and ran to Sister Painters, near by, then to Sister Dollars and Marvin's
and several others, to tell them of my great blessing.
When I returned I opened my Bible. Every word