"For many years I had been a professing Christian," said an aged "mother in Israel" who has gone to her rest, "but my husband was a stranger to God. Our children were growing up in impenitency, and at times I was distressed for them and for him. He manifested no interest, neither did he oppose me, until one winter, during a time of unusual interest in our church. I used to attend the numerous meetings, especially the morning prayer meeting. My husband seemed disturbed, but I knew it was better to say little to him. At length he seemed annoyed that I should go so frequently, and said it was only a waste of time. Finally, he forbade my going any more. This was a new thing. What could I do? I carried the case to God in prayer, and rose the following morning earlier than usual to see that none of my family cares were neglected, and that I might be ready for the 'sunrise prayer meeting.'
"When ready to go, my husband repeated what he had said, and added with an oath, 'If you go you'll be sorry for it.' I could not speak; but lifting up my heart to God, I passed out and turned towards 'the place where prayer was wont to be made.' But oh, with what a load! I felt crushed. Taking my seat in the little school house, I buried my face on the desk before me, and wept and prayed for my husband. Unconscious of all about me, I heard not a word of remark, not a prayer, until our good pastor commenced his closing prayer with that precious promise, 'Hast Thou not said, O Lord, Before they call I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear?' How new and precious those words seemed! At the close of the meeting, I retraced my steps with a heavy heart. Such language my husband had never before used to me, and I went in, hardly knowing what to expect.
"To my surprise he had gone out, and did not return until noon. Then he met me in silence. He looked unhappy, but said nothing. All day, though my hands were busy, my heart was going up in earnest pleadings for his precious soul. I felt that I could not be denied, and yet my faith was weak.
"In the evening, when my little ones were in bed, I sat down to my needle. My husband soon came in, and said, 'Are you not going to meeting to-night?' 'No,' I replied, 'I thought I would stay with you.' He made no reply, but sat for a time in silence. At length he burst out, 'Wife, I can't stand this any longer; the words I spoke to you this morning have been sounding in my ears ever since I uttered them, and they have been eating into my soul like fire all day. I can get no peace; will you forgive me?-for I am lost. Oh, what a life of sin I have lived!'
"We knelt down, and I poured out my wondering soul in his behalf. That night we shall remember through all eternity. There was no sleep for us. Together we wept and prayed, and I tried to point him to the Lamb of God. Before the morning broke light came in upon his troubled soul, and he was rejoicing with me in the redeeming love of Christ. With me he went to the 'sunrise prayer meeting,' and there told what the Lord had done for his soul. I could only exclaim, 'What hath God wrought!' Surely, while I was yet speaking, I was heard and answered."
O ye wives, believers in Christ, with unsaved husbands, slack not in your prayers to God for these unbelieving partners of your lives, neither be ye discouraged. God lives; He hears; and in His own time and way answers the faithful prayers of His saints for their loved ones. Only let your prayers be fervent and believing. Remember the apostle Peter's admonition in his 1st Epistle, 3:1-4, as to your conduct towards those whom you would win to your God and Saviour. Let them see you are concerned for them, that you are praying for their conversion, and are not to be turned aside in your efforts for their salvation. Remember too, as in the case related above, that the subject of our prayers and the object of our love may seem most opposed and rebellious just before they are ready to yield, whilst Satan makes a last desperate effort to retain them among his subjects, and seeks to discourage those who seek their salvation.' C. Knapp