Taking “the Prince at his Word.” – Dwight Lyman Moody

Some time ago I remember reading of an incident that occurred between a prince in a foreign land and one of his subjects. This man for rebellion against the government, was going to be executed. He was taken to the guilotine block. When the poor fellow reached the place of execution he was trembling with fear. The prince was present and asked him if he wished anything before judgment was carried out. The culprit replied: “A glass of water.” It was brought to him, but he was so nervous he couldn’t drink it. Do not fear,” said the prince to him, “judgment will not be carried out till you drink that water,” and in an instant the glass was dashed to the ground and broken into a thousand pieces. He took that prince at his word.

A Wife’s Faith. In one of the towns in England there is a beautiful little chapel, and a very touching story is told in connection with it. It was built by an infidel. He had a praying wife, but he would not listen to her, would not allow her pastor even to take dinner with them; would not look at the Bible, would not allow religion even to be talked of. She made up her mind, seeing she could not influence him by her voice, that every day she would pray to God at twelve o’clock for his salvation. She said nothing to him, but every day at that hour she told the Lord about her husband. At the end of twelve months there was no change in him. But she did not give up. Six months more went past. Her faith began to waver, and she said, “Will I have to give him up at last? Perhaps when I am dead He will answer my prayers.” When she had got to that point, it seemed just as if God had got her

where he wanted her. The man came home to dinner one day. His wife was in the dining-room waiting for him, but he didn’t come in. She waited some time, and finally looked for him all through the house. At last she thought of going into the little room where she had prayed so often. There he was, praying at the same bed with agony, where she had prayed for so many months, asking forgiveness for his sins. And this is a lesson to you wives who have infidel husbands. The Lord saw that woman’s faith and answered her prayers.