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repairing, which brought us together.
I was introduced to him, and as soon as I looked upon his counte-
nance I knew that he was the one whom the Lord had presented before
me in vision. The whole circumstance came distinctly before me....
He attended the meeting when he thought I would speak, and
would sit with his eyes riveted on me through the entire discourse,
which was translated into French by Brother Bourdeau. I felt a duty
to labor for this young man. I talked two hours with him and urged
upon him the peril of his situation. I told him because his brethren had
made a mistake that was no reason that he should grieve the heart of
Christ, who had loved him so much that He had died to redeem him....
I told him I knew the history of his life and his errors (which
were the simple errors of youthful indiscretion), which were not of a
character that should have been treated with so great severity. I then
entreated him with tears to turn square about, to leave the service of
Satan and of sin, for he had become a thorough backslider, and return
like the prodigal to his Father’s house, his Father’s service. He was in
good business learning his trade. If he kept the Sabbath he would lose
his position.... A few months more would finish his apprenticeship, and
then he would have a good trade. But I urged an immediate decision.
We prayed with him most earnestly, and I told him that I dared not
have him cross the threshold of the door until he would before God
and angels and those present say, “I will from this day be a Christian.”
How my heart rejoiced when he said this. He slept none that night.
He said as soon as he made the promise he seemed to be in a new
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channel. His thoughts seemed purified, his purposes changed, and
the responsibility that he had taken seemed so solemn that he could
not sleep. The next day he notified his employer that he could work
for him no longer. He slept but little for three nights. He was happy,
so thankful that the Lord had evidenced to him His pardon and His
love.—
Letter 59, 1886
.
An Effective Use of Literature—There was one man whom, with
his whole family, we highly prized. He is a reading man, and has a
large farm, on which grow the choicest of oranges and lemons, with
other fruit. But he did not in the beginning fully take his position for
the truth, and went back. They told me about this. In the night season
the angel of the Lord seemed to stand by me, saying, “Go to Brother
_____, place your books before him, and this will save his soul.” I