charles cullis - faith cures (1879)

7/30/2019 Charles Cullis - Faith Cures (1879)

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FAITH CURES;OR,

Answers to Prayer \\) the Healiijg of tlje Sick.

BYCHARLES CULLIS. M. D.

The prayer of faith shall save thp '^ick, and the Lord shall raisehim up."James v. 15.

WILLARD TRACT REPOSITORY,2 Beacon Hill Place, Boston.239 Fourth Avenue, New York.1323 Arch Street, Philadelphia.


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PREFACET seems to me that Christians are not living upto their gospel privileges when they fail to claimGod's promises, not only for spiritual but fortemporal blessings, and also for the healing of

the body. God says, "My word shall not return unto mevoid." Yet how few are finding the promise true in their ownexperiences. It is for the children of God to accept everyportion of His Word, and to act thereupon with unwaveringconfidence, "that God in all things may be glorified throughJesus Christ ; to whom be praise and dominion for ever andever. Amen." i Peter iv. ii. Having settled for myselfsome years ago that God's Word was true, and accepting thegrace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I reckoned myself washedby the blood and sanctified by the Spirit. I took my standupon the promises whereby " we are made partakers of thedivine nature." My greatest desire has been to honor Godby following His commands^ and these are always joined toa promise. For upwards of six years the command and thepromise in James v. 14 and 15 have been made real to me byfaith, so that hundreds of sufferers have been healed. In

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6 PREFACE.summing up a report of these cases, I do not in any wisewish to detract from the valuable services of the medicalprofession, of which I am a member. I only desire to proveto the world that "man's extremity is God's opportunity,'''and that when the " profession" pronounces a case hopeless,the promise of God remains as a testimony to the truth ofHis Word, " All power is given unto Me in heaven and onearth." Many a trusting child of God has learned in everyknown want for soul and for body, that '* according to thyfaith be it unto thee," proclaims the Father's ear to be everopen, His eyes constantly guiding, so that there shall indeedbe "no want to them that seek the Lord."

In publishing the following accounts of healing by prayer,I ought to say, that several of them have already appeared inmy " Annual Report of the Work of Faith." Many of recentdate are added. I have thought it best to send out thesereports of persons who have been healed, as far as possiblein their own words, that they might have the privilege ofgiving God the glory and the praise. If our readers willnote carefully the following texts, it will be found that Jamesis not the only scriptural warrant for prayer for healing.They will see at once how God promises to hear and toanswer the prayers of His children when they call upon Himfor this blessing. CHARLES CULLIS.

SOLOMON'S PRAYER.2 Cliron. VI. 28-30 : "If there be dearth in the land, if there be

pestilence, if there be blasting, or mildew, locusts, or caterpillars.If their enemies besiege thern in the cities of their land ; whatsoeversore, or whatsoever sickness there be ; then what prayer or what


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PREFACE. 7supplication soever shall be made of any man or of all thy peopleIsrael, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief,and shall spread forth his hands in this house ; Then hear thou fromheaven thy dwelling place, and forgive."

THE LORD'S ANSWER TO SOLOMON'S PRAYER.2 Chron. vii. 12-15 "And the Lord appeared to Solomon by

night and said unto him, 1 have heard thy prayer, * * * * if i g^utup heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts todevour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people ; if mypeople which are called by my naihe, shall humble themselves, andpray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then willI hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal theirland:'

Psalm ciii. 2-5 : * Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not allHis benefits : * * * who healeth all thy diseases ; Who redeemeththy -life from destruction \ * * so that thy youth is renewed like theeagle's."

Proverbs ix. ii : "By me thy days shall be multiplied, andthe years of thy life shall be increased."

Proverbs iv. 22 : " For they (my words) are life unto those thatfind them, and health to all their flesh:'Exodus xxii. 25 : "Ye shall serve the Lord thy God, * * and

I will take sickness away from the midst of thee."Exodus XV. 26 : "I will put none of these diseases upon thee,

* * * for I am the Lord that healeth thee."Psalm xci. 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 16: "Surely he shall deliver

thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.Thou shalt not be afraid * * for the pestilence that walketh indarkness ; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thou-sand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but itshall not come nigh thee. There shall no evil befall thee, neithershall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give hisangels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. I will deliverhim and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show himmy salvation."


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8 PREFACE.Deut. vii. 15. "And the Lord will take away from thee all sick-

ness."Jeremiah xxxiii. 6. "I will cure them. I will bring it healthand cure."Deut. xxxii. 39: "I kill and I make alive; I wound, and I

heal ; neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand."2 Kings XX. 5 : " I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears,

behold 1 will heal thee.' (Also, Isaiah xxxviii. 5.) (Hczekiah.)Psalm XXX. 2 : " O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou

hast healed me."Psalm cvii. 20: "He sent his word, and healed them, anddelivered them from their destructions."Isaiah liii. 5. "With his stripes we are healed." (Compare

verse 4 with Mathew viii. 17.)Matthew iv. 24: "And his fame went throughout all Syria:

and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken withdiverse diseases and torments, and those which were possessed withdevils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy ;and he healed them." All diseases. Also Matthew xiv. 35, 36;Mark vi. 55, 56.Matthew viii. 5-8, 13."And when Jesus was entered into Caper-

naum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying,Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tor-mented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. Thecenturion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thoushouldest come under my roof : but speak the word only, and myservant shall be healed. And Jesus said unto the centurion. Gothy way ; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. Andhis servant was healed in the selfsame hour. ' ' Palsy. Also Matthewix. 2-8 ; Mark ii. 1-12; Luke v. 17-29; vii. 10.Luke xiv. 2, 4. "And behold, there v/as a certain man before

him which had the dropsy. And he took him, and healed him, andlet him go." Dropsy.Matthew xii. 10, 13 : "And behold, there was a man which hadhis hand withered. Then said he to the man. Stretch forth thine

hand. And he stretched it forth ; and it was restored whole, likeas the other. Paralysis. Also Mark iii. 5 ; Luke vi. 10.John iv. 46, 47, 50: "So Jesus came again into Cana of

Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain


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PREFACE. 9nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard thatJesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, andbesought him that he would come down, and heal his son : for hewas at the point of death. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way ; thyson liveih."Luke iv. 33-35 : "And in the synagogue there was a man,

which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loudvoice, saying. Let us alone ; what have we to do with thee, thouJesus of Nazareth ? art thou come to destroy us ? I know thee whothou art ; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying.Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil hadthrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not."Demoniac. Some cases like Insanity, and others like Epilepsy.Also Mark i. 25, 26 ; Matthew viii. 16 ; Mark v. 2-15 ; Matthewxvii. 14 ; Mark ix. 14 ; Luke viii. 27-35 '> ^^- 37-Matthew viii. 2,3: "And behold, there came a leper and

worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make meclean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, [will ; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed."Leper. Also Mark i. 40-44 ; Luke v. 12-14.Mark i. 30, 31 : " But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever,

and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by thehand, and lifted her up ; and immediately the fever left her, and sheministered unto them." Fever. Also Luke iv. 38 ; JMatt. viii. 14, 15.Matthew viii. 16, 17 : "When the even was come, they brought

unto him many that v/ere possessed with devils : and he cast out thespirits with his word, and healed all that were sick : That it mightbe fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying Himselftook our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." All diseases. AlsoMark i. 32 ; Luke iv. 40 ; Matt. ix. 35.John v. 5, 8, 9 : "And a certain man was there, which had an

infirmity thirty and eight years. Jesus saith unto him. Rise, take upthy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole,and took up his bed, and walked : and on the same day was theSabba th . " InfirtnityMatthew xii. 22 : "Then was brought unto him one possessed

with a devil, blind, and dumb : and he healed him insomuch thatthe blind and dumb both spake and saw." Blind and dumb.


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lO PREFACE.Luke vii. 21 : "And in that same hour he cured many of their

infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits ; and unto many that wereblind he gave sight." Plagues and blind.Luke viii. 41,42,51-54; "And, behold, there came a mannamed Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue : and he fell

down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into hishouse : for he had one only daughter about twelve years of age, andshe lay a dying. And when he came into the house, he suffered noman to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father andthe mother of the maiden. And all wept, and bewailed her : but hesaid, Weep not ; she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughedhim to scorn, knowing that she was dead. And he put them all out,and took her by the hand, and called, saying. Maid, arise. And herspirit came again, and she arose straightway : and he commanded togive her meat." Dead raised to life. Also Mark v. 22 ; Matt. ix.18 ; Luke vii. 12-15.Matthew ix. 20-22: "And behold, a woman which was dis-

eased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him andtouched the hem of his garment. For she said within herself, If

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may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus tumed himabout, and when he saw her, he said. Daughter, be of good comfortthy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made wholefrom that hour." Issue of blood. Also Mark v. 25 ; Luke viii. 43.Luke X. 9 : " Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them,

The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you." The seventy com-missioned to heal the sick.Mark xvi. 17, 18: "And these signs shall follow them that

believe ; Li my name shall they cast out devils ; they shall speakwith new tongues ; They shall take up serpents ; and if they drinkany deadly thing, it shall not hurt them ; they shall lay hands on thesick, and they shall recover." Power of healing the sick promisedto believers.

Acts iii. 2, 6, 8, 9 : " And a certain man lame from his mother'swomb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the templewhich is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into thetemple ; then Peter said. Silver and gold have I none ; but such asI have give I thee : In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise upand walk. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with


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PREFACE. 1them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and piaising God. Andall the people saw him walking and praising God." Peter healingthe sick. Also, Acts ix. 33, 34. "

Acts V. 14-16: "And believers were the more added to theLord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that theybrought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds andcouches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might over-shadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the citiesround aboitt unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them whichwere vexed with unclean spirits : and they were healed every one."Peter healing the sick.

Acts viii. 5-8 : " Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria,and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accordgave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeingthe miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loudvoice, came out of many that were possessed with them ; and manytaken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And therewas great joy in that city." Philip healing the sick.

Acts ix. 17, iS : " And Ananias went his way, and entered intothe house; and putting his hand on him said. Brother Saul, the Lord,even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest, hathsent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with theHoly Ghost, And immediately there fell from his eyes as it hadbeen scales : and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and wasbaptised." Ananias restoring sight to the blind.

Acts xiv. 8-10."And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotentin his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never hadwalked : the same heard Paul speak : who steadfastly beholdinghim, and, perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loudvoice. Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked." Paulhealing the sick. Also Acts xxviii. 8, 9, [case of dysentery.)

Acts xvi, 16-18. "And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, acertain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, whichbrought her masters much gain by soothsaying : the same followedPaul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of themost high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. Andthis did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said tothe spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come outof her. And he came out the same hour." Paul casting out devils.


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12 PREFACE.Acts xix. II, 12. "And God wrought special miracles by the

hands of Paul : so that from his body were brought unto the sickhandkerchiefs, or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, andthe evil spirits went out of them."

Acts xxviii. 3-6. "And when Paul had gathered a bundle ofsticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat,and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venom-ous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubtthis man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yetvengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into thefire, and felt no harm. Howbeit they looked when he should haveswollen, or fallen down dead suddenly : but after they had looked agreat while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed theirminds, and said that he was a god."James v. 14, 15. "Is any sick among you? let him call for the

elders of the church ; and let them pray over him, anointing himwith oil in the name of the Lord : and the prayer of faith shall savethe sick, and the Lord shall raise him up ; and if he have committedsins, they shall be forgiven him."


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FAITH CURES;ANSWERS TO PRAYER IN l]jE IJE^LING OF THE SICK.

CHAPTER I.OULD the numerous instances, which areconstantly occurring, of healing throughfaith, be collected together, the churchwould be astonished at the great body of

testimony, and would no longer say that the promisesof Scripture belong to the past, and not to the present.For several years my mind had been exercised before

God as to whether it was not His will that the Workof Faith in which He had placed me, should extend tothe cure of disease, as well as the alleviation of themiseries of the afflicted. I often read the instructionsand promise contained in the fourteenth and fifteenthverses of the fifth chapter of the Episde of James : "Isany sick among you? let him call /or the elders of thechurch; and let them pray over him, anointing him with

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14 FAITH CURES.oil in the name of the Lord ; and the prayer offaich shallsave the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up ; and if hehave committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."They seemed so very plain, that I often asked of my

own heart, Why, if I can rely on God's word, "What-soever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do," andevery day verify its truth in the supply of the daily needsof the various work committed to my care, why cannot I also trust Him to fulfill His- promises as to the heal-ing of the body, " The prayer of faith shall save the sick,and the Lord shall raise him up 'V I could not see why,with such explicit and unmistakable promises, I shouldlimit the present exercise of God's power. I began toinquire of earnest Christians whether they knew of anyinstances of answers to prayer for the healing of thebody. Soon afterward the "Life of Dorothea Trudell "*fell into my hands, which strengthened my convictions,and the inquiry was raised, "If God can perform suchwonders in Mannedorf, why not in Boston .? "

At this time I had under my professional care a Chris-tian lady, with a tumor which confined her almost con-tinuously to her bed in severe suffering. All remedieswere unavailing, and the only human hope was the knife ;but feeling in my own heart the power of the promise, Ione morning sat down by her bedside, and taking upthe Bible, I read aloud God's promise to His believingchildren, "Jnd the prayer of faith shall save the sick,and the Lord shall raise him up ; and if he have com-mitted sins, they shall he forgiven him "

* A revised and enlarged edition of this interesting h^ook has been publishedand can be obtained at the Willard Tract Repository, Beacon Hill, Bo ton ; 239Fourth Avenue, New York ; 1323 Arch Street, Philadelphia. Price, 75 cents.


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 1I then asked her if she would trust the Lord to remove

this tumor and restore her to health, and to her mission-ary work. She replied, "I have no particular faithabout it, but am willing to trust the Lord for it."

I then knelt and anointed her with oil in the name ofthe Lord, asking Him to fulfill His own word. Soonafter I left, she got up and walked three miles. Fromthat time the tumor rapidly lessened, until all trace of itat length disappeared.Some time afterward, this lady gave testimony in a

public meeting to the cure wrought in her by the prayerof faith, and a sorrowing wife present, whose husbandwas sick with consumption, went home and repeated tohim the story. At my request he has written out thecase as follows :

"W , NEAR Boston, March, 1872."I was first confined to my house in November, 1870,

with a violent cold, I lost my voice completely, sufferedwith pain in my lungs, and expectorated almost con-stantly. I grew worse every day, and in a week calledin a physician. On examination he found my lungs dis-eased. I also had fever. With all his care my coughgrew worse, and night sweats set in. A few weeks latermy wife was told by the doctor that my lungs were badlyulcerated, and that, my case being hopeless, it was notworth while for him to attend longer; also, that she mustnot be surprised if I should pass away suddenly. I thentried some highly recommended patent medicine, whichseemed only to increase my disease."When I became so weak as to be nearly helpless,Dr. Cullis was called in. He sounded my lungs, and


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l6 FAITH CURES.gave the same verdict, saying that my only hope forrecovery was in the Lord. j\Iy wife pleaded in the nameof Jesus for my restoration ; but diarrhoea set in, and myfeet began to swell. She, however, continued to prayearnestly, urging me to pray for myself I could not doit, as I had no desire in the matter apart from the willof God, who had dealt with me so graciously in all mysickness, that I delighted in His will. If it was alone ofHis goodness to me that you desired me to write, Iwould not know where to end. During the next summerI seemed to gain, but was so dependent on my medicine,that a single day's omission would aggravate my distress.As autumn advanced, I felt that my disease was gainingground.

"At length my wife heard, at a meeting for Christianholiness at the house of Dr. Cullis, Miss D. narrate herrecovery from a tumor by the power of faith. Returninghome, she repeated it to me. I knew that our Father inheaven was no respecter of persons, and the more Ithought upon it and read the precious promises of God,the more I was convinced that 'the prayer offaith shallsave the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.' Believingthat He is faithful that promised, I now sent for Dr.Cullis to come and pray with me. Dr. and Mrs. Cullis,with my wife, went with me into an upper room, wherewe knelt before God. Dr. C. prayed, anointed mewith oil, and in the name of the Lord Jesus commandedme to be healed. Instantly my whole being was thrilledwith an unknown power, from the top of my head to thesoles of my feet. From the moment I believed, the workwas done! My lungs, so long diseased, breathed withnew vigor, and I returned thanks to God for the results


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. IJof faith. Since that memorable night I have taken nomedicine, and my health has been constantly improving,so that I am feeling better now than I did before mysickness. To God be all the glory ! "

It is now more than seven years since the above inci-dent took place. The writer continues perfectly well,and is engaged in active business, walking before theLord in humble, fervent spirit.

A lady came to me with a cancer in the cheek, whichhad attained the size of a filbert. It had a very red andangry appearance. After prayer for her healing, shewent into the country, when some one remarked : " E,thinks that faith will cure her ; but that is something thatwill have to be burned out or cut out." Her friendstried to induce the use of various applications, all ofwhich she firmly refused. She returned home in eightweeks, entirely cured. The friends acknowledge that"faith did do good, once."

A lady of East Cambridge writes: "For nineteenyears I have been afflicted with neuralgia ; added to this,of late years a combination of diseases has rendered lifean intolerable burden, and baffled the skill of every phy-sician to whom I have applied. By the prayer of faithI have been healed, bot-h body and soul, and made torejoice continually. For the first few months Satan wasbusy with me ; and when I gave way to doubt, painagain racked my body. God has strengthened my faithcontinually. I can now say I am entirely well, andengaged in arduous work, often among the sick, losing


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1 FAITH, CURES.whole nights of rest God sustains me, and gives megreat yearnings for the souls and bodies of the suffering,and uses me in ministering- to them. 'My mouth shallspeak the praise of the Lord ; and let all flesh bless Hisholy name forever and ever.'"While at the house of L. R. , in England, I was asked

to pray with his daughter, who had spinal curvature.Subsequently L. R. writes : "We are full of thankfulnessand praise about E. She is quite well and strong, anddoes everything like her sisters. She had such perfectfaith that the Lord had healed her, that she at once putaway the board and said she should never lie upon itagain ; and on the following Sunday she walked fourmiles in a hot sun, and sat for two hours on a benchwithout a back. As far as we can judge, she is quitewell in every respect. For fifteen months before, she hadbeen a constant cause of anxiety to us never walked orattended to study.

It was on our return to London, after nearly threemonths' absence, that we received the above.A lady furnishes the following account of her child :

St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 8, 1873.I most cheerfully give my testimony to the healing of

my little girl, believing it to be the Lord's will tostrengthen the faith of some one, and to His own glory.It is now nearly three years since my little one firstinjured her spine by falling from one step. A decidedcurvature became apparent, and after consulting severalphysicians, it was decided to place her on her back with


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 1braces. At the end of ten months she was totally para-lysed from the hips down. The treatment was changed,the braces taken off and she was allowed to sit up a litde.I was led to Boston to try a new physician ; he gaverelief in many respects, but the paralysis baffled him. Atlast I lost all confidence in human help and requestedDr. C. to pray for her recovery, claiming the promise inJames v. 15.

I believe, in answer to my prayer, I was directed ofGod to take off braces, bandages and plasters, and giveher entirely into His care. Then my faith was severelytried, but how wonderfully the Holy Spirit filled andupheld me. For nearly three months following this stepout upon the promises of God, my child seemed to growsteadily worse. When, one day, she arose voluntarilyand walked across the room out into the hall of thehotel. She improved so rapidly from this moment, thatevery one in the house could but acknowledge that amiracle had been performed. At this time the physicianwhom I had first employed in Boston, called. Heseemed utterly astonished at the improvement. Afterseeing her walk, he said: "All her movements areperfectly natural, evidently all the essential functions ofthe spine are restored." She now runs, jumps and playsas actively as most children. I am still waiting uponGod to have this wonderful cure completed. Faith isgiven me to believe that it will be done. The followingpromise was given me, and I cling to it : " Fear notbelieve only, and she shall be made whole." Talkingabout what the dear Jesus has done for my child, is suchan interesting subject to me that I can hardly leave it.******


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20 FAITH CURES.From a minister of the Gospel we have this testimony :I was taken sick with bilious fever when about four-

teen years of age, which fever settled in my left limb andterminated in a fever sore. It was a very bad case, andI suffered extremely for many years. At one time I hadnine running sores between my hip and knee. Manypieces of bone came out. Finally, after a surgical ope-ration, in which the diseased portions of the bone wereremoved, the sores healed, but my knee was left in avery bad condition. It was rendered nearly stiff inconsequence of an enlargement of the bone of the joint.From this I could get no relief I went to several of theleading surgeons of Boston, but they could not relieveme. Dr. B. told me, as an only resort, that a sectionof the joint must be cut out, removing the ends of boththe upper and lower bones, bringing them together,when they would unite like a broken bone, thus makingone solid bone from the hip to the ankle. That processwould remove the diseased part from the knee, and ifsuccessful would effect a cure, but it would endanger mylife. I decided not to have it done.The knee was so badly affected that I was obliged to

go upon a crutch and cane for about eight years, andanticipated going thus to my grave. But one day, aboutthe latter part of January or first of February, 1872, whileat Dr. Cullis's office, he called my attention to the promisecontained in James, fifth chapter, 14 th and 15 th verses,and asked me if I did not think that the Lord was ableto fulfill that promise unto me by restoring my limb. Ireplied that I did not doubt God's ability in the least. Iknew that He was able to heal me, but I did not know


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 21that He was willing, for I was not sure that it would befor my good or His glory to have it done. The doctorreplied : "Why not? If the Lord should restore it, andyou should give Him the praise of it, and then use it inHis service, why would it not be both for your good andHis own glory?" ''Think of it," said he, "and whenyou think you can trust the Lord to heal you, come inand we will pray for it." I went away thinking of thematter, and began to make it an especial subject ofprayer that God would show me if I might trust in Himto make good to me the promise. For about two weeksI continued praying for this object. One evening, notfar from the middle of February, 1872, I retired as usual,but during the night, having occasion to arise, I took myBible, thinking I would see what word the Lord wouldgive me. My eyes fell upon the 12th and 13th verses ofthe sixteenth chapter of 2d Chronicles: "And Asa, inthe thirty and ninth year of his reign, was diseased in hisfeet, until his disease was exceeding great ; yet in hisdisease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians.And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one-and-fortieth year of his reign." As I read, it occurred to methat I had been imitating King Asa, by seeking a curefrom the physicians and not from the Lord. I continuedpraying, and soon felt that I might ask and believe inGod to heal me.

I went to Dr. Cullis's office again, and told him Iwanted to ask and trust the Lord to heal my limb. Weknelt in prayer, the doctor asking God to heal me. Iaccompanied his prayers and faith with my own. Afterleaving the doctor's office I walked to the horse-cars onTremont street without any crutch, using my cane only.


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22 FAITH CURES.I occasionally called on the doctor for him to pray withnie, still carrying my crutch, to use sometimes when mylimb was weary. Once, when I went to have the doctorpray with me, he asked why I did not leave my crutch athome, and, in his prayer, asked that the Lord would giveme such confidence in His word as that I might leavemy crutch at home and trust alone in God. After thatday I left my crutch at home, and, I believe, have neverused it since.

It is nearly two years since the Lord graciously heardand answered prayer in behalf of my limb. Most of thattime has been spent in the ministry, and I have beenable to use my limb more freely than for many yearsprevious, and without a crutch. The stiffness of thejoint is not yet wholly removed, but we are looking tothe Lord to perfect His own work, making this limbwhole, even as the other. This would be impossiblewith men, but with God "All things are possible.""Nothing is too hard for the Lord."

I give this simple recital of what God has done for mein answer to prayer, hoping that the Lord Jesus will beglorified thereby. Unto His dear name be all the praise.Yours in Jesus, G. F. B.

At one time a young lady called, requesting me topray for her. Being in haste to meet an engagement, Idid not ask the particulars of her lameness. She simplytold me that some years ago she was run over and her hipbadly injured. I asked her if she could trust the Lordfor healing. She replied : "Yes." I prayed with her,and she went home. I learned, after a day or two, thatshe was perfectly cured, and obtained from her these facts


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 2^Some six years before, she was run over by a hack, andher hip so injured that she was confined to her bed forsix months. She then got up with a permanent lame-ness, one limb being shorter than the other. In two orthree instances since, she has been confined to her bedfor three months at a time. She now walks perfectly,both limbs being of the same length. She says of her-self : "I can leap and run as well as any other person,and my heart overruns with praise and thanksgiving toGod." She has not withheld this testimony, but to theglory of God has proclaimed it publicly in the church.

Another lady, who for about a year showed signs ofindisposition, and soon was attacked by a cough, con-sulted a physician. Change of air was prescribed, butafter a lapse of some weeks she returned to her home inno way improved. Other physicians were consulted, herlungs were found to be much irritated and pulse low.Soon all appetite left her, a hoarseness succeeded, result-ing in entire loss of voice. There was little desire to eat,as everything taken into the stomach caused great dis-tress. Months succeeded, alternating between hope andfear. She writes : ** When I first lost my voice, I felt thatGod sent the trial for my discipline, that I must leave allin His hands, yet I was in great unrest. After sometime I became willing to accept my condition, and totrust all to God. My anxiety was gone, and I becamerestful. I seemed to gain nothing from medical treat-ment, and my doctor suggested I should see Dr. B ,of Boston. But my thoughts were turned in anotherdirection ; I seemed to feel that God would heal me. Iread in His Word : " The prayer of faith shall save the


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24 FAITH CURES.sick." I accepted it at once, and felt sure it was for me.I seemed to gain strength from that moment. I hadread of the Work of Faith, under Dr. CulHs, and wasimpressed to go and see him. I did not think much ofmy dyspepsia, so anxious was I to gain my voice. Beingtoo ill to go alone, some kind friends accompanied meto Boston. After resting from the journey I called onDr. C. I stated all the circumstances of my illness, andwas asked if I could trust God to heal me, I replied :"Yes; I am sure the Lord is able and willing." Weknelt in prayer. In a moment, as it were, my voicecame to me. I was able to talk with ease, and fromthat time nothing that I have eaten has given me anydistress. The Lord's promises are sure, and He hasfilled my soul with joy and peace. I am continuallygaining ; the dear Lord is taking care of His child, and Iam enjoying so much of His presence that I cannot findwords to express my thanksgivings. To Him be all theglory.

These narrations are but specimens of a large number,to whom the Lord has made good His promise of resto-ration through faith, under my immediate personalobservation and knowledge: ' * Why should it be thoughta thing incredible with you " that the Lord should bestowupon His church in this day the same ''spirit of faithwith power," with which the first communities ofChristians were endowed ?


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CHAPTER II.EQUESTS by letter for prayer for the healingof the body have reached me from hundreds,afflicted in most cases with diseases that thephysicians have given up as hopeless. A

great proportion of these have been entirely healed. Inevery case we believe God's sovereign power (and thatpower is Love) has been exercised, and we pray that allmay thus be led to praise His name. Whether He willsto heal our bodies, and spare us years on earth to giveforth His praise, or to remove us to the glories of Hisimmediate presence, the trusting child sees nought butLove. There is one difficulty with regard to those livingai a, distance, and whom my many cares prevent me fromseeing, that can only be obviated by opening a househere. This has led me to pray that God would give themeans to erect a building for this purpose, on the GroveHall grounds. For the benefit of those who may nothave seen any detailed account of a similar institution,which has been blessed of God for many years in thehealing of the sick, I insert a description of my visit toMannedorf.

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26 FAITH CURES.In the month of July, 1873, ^^ reached Zurich, Swit-

zerland, having planned our route with the express pur-pose of visiting this spot from which we could easilyreach Mannedorf on the Lake of Zurich. We were fullof earnest anticipation to see the home of DorotheaTrudel, and to witness for ourselves the wonderful workstill carried on by Mr. Zeller, for healing by the "prayerof faith."

Arriving at Zurich, we rested over night, and took thesteamer the next morning for Mannedorf The sail wasdelightful. Never were hills and valleys pictured ona fairer surface than that of this lovely lake. The ming-ling of tints in sea, air, and sky, with the somewhatdistant glaciers, the vine-covered hills in nearer view, aswe darted from side to side of the lake, dropping passen-gers at the different landing places, discovered to ourenraptured gaze a scene beyond our powers of descrip-tion. Nature alone was all-glorious, and as we nearedthe simple cluster of houses, with the unpretending plas-tered church rising in the centre, and saw the simplepainted sign "Mannedorfat the landing, it seemed,by its very quiet unpretentiousness, to be a mute acknowl-edgment of the grandeur of God's own handiwork.We had no difficulty in finding our way to Mr. Zeller'sresidence. There was litde to distinguish it from thesurrounding dwellings ; it was an ordinary-looking house,which we entered by a short flight of steps direcdy fromthe sidewalk. Our first inquiry was for some one whocould speak English. The young woman who first metus, ran and brought a young Swede, who spoke quiteintelligibly. We made known our nationality and ourdesire to learn what we could in our short stay, of a work


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 2/that we had studied and admired at a distance. Ourfriend, whom we found was seeking cure among thesepraying ones, in a most kindly way answered our inqui-ries. He informed us that Mr. Zeller was away for theday, it being his custom once a week to seek quiet forhis correspondence, in this way. We had a feeHng ofregret that we could not at least give and receive afriendly grasp of the hand from one who lived so in thepower of the Spirit, as was testified by those who dailylistened to his utterances and felt the reality of his lovingfaith and holy walk. However, our imperfect knowledgeof the German language would have proved a limit toour mutual pleasure.We first followed our guide to the chapel, which wasbuilt out as an addition to the main house, and has beenerected since the death of Dorothea Trudel, by Mr. Zel-ler. It is a very neat, pleasant room, seating about twohundred and fifty persons, the furniture consisting ofordinary settees, with a pulpit on a raised platform. Onthe face of the pulpit were inscribed the words, " Whatmust I do to be saved.?" and "Believe on the LordJesus Christ." Behind the pulpit was a small organ ; onthe wall above it, hung a representation of Christ on thecross. Our hearts beat more quickly as we read on oneside, "Soul, this I did for thee," and on the other," What wilt thou do for Me ? "A word about Mr. Zeller. He was sick, and sought

healing at Mannedorf while Dorothea was yet living.The year before her death, Dorothea began to think thatso far as was in her power she should make provision forthe continuance of the work.


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28 FAITH CURES.Mr. Zeller had not only been restored, but was praying

with the sick, God honoring his faith. Dorothea inlooking to the Lord for a successor, felt it to be His willthat Mr. Zeller should be the one, and accordingly, aftermuch prayer, made over the entire property to him, sothat when in the autumn of 1862, she fell sick and died,there was no change of handsno trouble or expensethe work going on as heretofore. Mr. Zeller is thirty-seven years of age.

Service is held in the chapel every morning, attendedby the household, and any persons in the village who sodesire ; also a prayer-meeting every alternate evening.Every day at 5 o'clock Mr. Zeller meets such as are able,for praying, and anointing for healing ; preaching everySabbath morning. All these services are conducted byMr. Zeller, who is not an ordained clergyman, but calledof the Lord for this His own work ; and His power restsupon Him. Persons are often cured while listening tohis preaching, though he may not at the time say any-thing about the healing of the bodyonly of the healingof the.soul by the blood of Jesus. There is one markedfeature of the workthat not unfrequently the soul issaved and then the body cured.From the chapel we were conducted to Dorothea's

room, where she had been accustomed to hold her Biblemeetings, and to pray with the sick. The room wasmarked by the same simplicity that characterized all thedoings and surroundings of this lowly follower of theLamb. A few pictures adorned the walls ; one, a like-ness of Dorothea's sister, and the motto, ' ' Who is sogreat a God as our God .? "


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 29In this room we were introduced to Netli Weber, who

was a faithful worker with Dorothea, and now spends herwhole time ministering to the sick. Many are healed inanswer to her prayers, especially among the insane, .ofj\'hom there were thirty at the time of our visit. Therewere about fifty patients in the house, subject to variousdiseases, among them several paralytics and epileptics.Many others, who avail themselves of the privileges ofthe house and take meals there, lodge in the village.Anna Barbara Meili was another, healed in Dorothea'stime, when far gone in consumption, who remains todevote the life that God has given, to His service.We next visited the churchyard, to look upon the spot

where Dorothea was buried. A small iron cross, over-grown with ivy, bearing name and dates of birth anddeath, alone distinguished her lowly resting-place.

Accepting an invitation to dine, we sat down withabout one hundred and fifty persons of different nation-alities, these all waiting upon the Lord for healing. Weenjoyed the simple meal, and would fain have lingeredin the home, so hallowed by the Holy Spirit's presence.It shone forth in the face of the workers, and in thesubdued, and what seemed to us, expectant expressionon every face.The highest charge received for board is a fraction over

two dollars per week a price fixed in Dorothea's time.Another class pay half this sum. Of course the work isnot supported by the small income these payments aggre-gate, voluntary gifts making up the deficiencies. Wewere told that poor children from the village came everyevening to receive any surplus food.


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30 FAITH CURES.We learned also that Mr. Zeller had in contemplation

the building of a larger chapel, and a work-room inwhich patients could be employed.On asking the question whether all were healed, thereply was, "No, but none die until the soul is healed."We could but exclaim, as we took our reluctant de-parture, What a glorious work of God and for God ! andwhat a grand testimony to the presence of the promisedSpirit, teaching all things, bringing all things to remem-brance and planting His servants upon the living Word.Herein was the secret of power with this humble, lovingwoman. Her soul fed on those Scriptures whose seal oftruth came from lips that "spake as never man spake." "Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye haveeternal life, and they are they which testify of Me. " Shecould say, ' ' Thy testimonies are wonderful ; thereforedoth my soul keep them ; " and so was verified to her,and to those who follow in a like consecrated path,"And I will build him a sure house; and he shall walkbefore Mine Anointed forever.


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CHAPTER III.O as many of God's dear children as "be-lieve," and yet cry, "Lord, help my un-belief," we are persuaded that the followingtestimonies will bring an increased confi-

dence in God's Word, "The prayer of faith shall savesick." I have noticed in every case of healing by prayer,as great a blessing has come to the soul as to the body.This has been invariable. The reader will notice thisin each of the following testimonies :

South Harwich, April, 1874.In December, 1871, I was suddenly and violently

attacked with an affection of the heart. For some timemy life seemed to hang in a balance ; but God, who isrich in mercy, in answer to prayer lengthened life's brittlethread, and I was partially restored. I was able, how-ever, to endure but little physical or mental exertion ; theexercise of my mind, especially, would bring a renewalof my heart trouble, and for two years I was only partiallyable to attend either my ordinary business or religiousmeetings, and even this wearied me. I had sometimes

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32 FAITH CURES.cherished the thought of calling on Dr. Cullis and askinghim to pray for the restoration of my health, and alsofor a more satisfactory religious experience. Being inBoston in December last, after deliberation and prayer,I went, with trembling, I confess, to see him. On myway these lines came with encouragement to my mind :

"Thou art coming to a King,Large petitions with thee bring,For His grace and power are such.None can ever ask too much."

Dr. C. had but a few moments before the hour of theTuesday afternoon meeting. I told him my object, andin great simplicity, as taught by the Holy Spirit, heasked the Lord for just the things I desired. As he laidhis hand on my head in prayer, I felt a thrill go throughmy whole being, and as I left his office he said encoura-gingly, "The Lord will do it." I immediately began tobe better in body and soul ; the next day the promisesof God opened to my mind as never before ; my healthimproved constandy. Being in the city a few weeksafter, I called to see Dr. C. again, and told him of theimprovement I had experienced both of body and soul.I asked him if he did not think it was the Lord's will thecure should be perfect ; he answered unhesitatingly,"Yes," and again prayed with me, anointing me withoil in the name of the Lord Jesus. As I left his officethis Scripture came to my mind, " It is done as Thouhast commanded, and yet there is room," and on arriv-ing at my brother's house in the city and going to myroom, I opened my Bible on these words, "Thy Godhath commanded thy strength ; strengthen, O God, that


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 33which Thou hast wrought for us." Thus graciously didthe Lord confirm my faith that He had answered theprayer of His dear servant.For perhaps two years I had not been able, on retiringat night, to fall asleep lying on my side, but it seemed tome that night, that this relief would be granted me,and so it proved, for I sweetly fell asleep in this position,and with very few exceptions have done so ever since.My health from this time improved more rapidly, and(luring the winter has been better than for years previous.I have been able to attend to my business, also religiousmeetings, singing and taking other part in the exercises,and the Lord has so * ' quickened my mortal body byHis Spirit," that instead of being wearied as formerly,my health and strength have seemed to increase thereby.The Lord has manifested Flimself to my soul as neverbefore ; I consecrate afresh to Him the renewed strengthHe has given me, and my soul which He hath redeemed."Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all Hisbenefits : Who forgiveth all thine iniquities ; who healethall thy diseases," &c. O. N.

I have noticed that in some cases the cure has beeninstantaneous ; others I have prayed with two or threetimes, or even more. My explanation is, as far as I havebeen able to observe, that there has been oftentimes aquestion or lack of faith on the part of the patient ; forsome seem to come, not in faith, but as a matter of.experiment. God's Word says it is the ''prayer offaith " that shall save the sick.


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34 FAITH CURES.Boston Highlands, July, 1874.

During the winter of 1869, which I spent in England,from the effects of a severe cold lasting several months,the lower part of my right lung became hepatized. Aboutthe middle of last March I was taken with congestion ofthe lungs. Our family physician was called ; he visitedme for nearly three weeks, and I have no doubt did allthat medical skill could do. He succeeded in checkingmy fever, but I grew weaker day by day ; a subtle diseasewas evidently preying upon my nervous system ; I lostmy appetite, coughed and expectorated a great deal, andhad night sweats. My wife became alarmed, and afterconsulting our physician, (who is also my dear friendand shared all her anxiety,) called as counsel Dr. CharlesCuUis. The doctors examined my case very carefully,and found I had no use of my right lung ; they gave mevery little if any encouragement. From that time I grewrapidly worse ; my disease, as the doctors feared, wasevidently tending to the brain. The second night afterthe consultation I was sleepless and quite delirious ; inthe morning I was so wild that my family could not con-trol me. Both doctors were called, and as they cameinto my room I cried out in my delirium, "I want noneof your medicine, only your prayers. " I felt a conscious-ness that deliverance had come ; I threw my arms aroundDr. Cullis and wept like a child. The doctor knelt withme by my bed, offered a short prayer for my recovery,anointing me with oil in the name of the Lord. Mynerves immediately became quiet ; I lay down and re-mained in a semi-conscious state for about two hours.From my appearance my wife feared that I was dying,but the doctor assured her that that was not the case ;


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 35that he felt confident the Lord would raise me up. Soonafter the doctors left, in spite of the remonstrances of mywife, I got up, dressed, and went below, and for someten hours I was in an almost constant struggle, trying, asI told my friends, to get myself into the hands of theLord. At last I said to those around me, " In a fewminutes I shall go to sleep ; as soon as I am asleep youcan put me where you please, I shall sleep two orthree hours." In a few minutes I fell asleep; they liftedme from the floor where I had persisted in lying forseveral hours, and laid me on a sofa. I slept quietly forabout two hours ; when I awoke I felt a wonderful senseof relief I had during my illness felt sick from thecrown of my head to the soles of my feet ; that feelingwas all gone. I went to bed, and for the first time sinceI was taken ill, I slept quietly nearly all night ; I slept agood part of the next day like a weary man. / took nomore medicine, but from the hour I went to sleep I com-menced improving, which has continued until I feel aswell as ever, except I have not the full use of my hepa-tized lung, but I breathe the' whole length of it, includ-ing that part which I had not used since 1869. ^7breathing is improving constantly, and I have no doubtit will recover entirely.

For all this I give God the glory. It is said to me bythose to whom I relate this experience, "It is wonder-ful." I say to them, "Yes, it is wonderful; but notthat God fulfills His promises : It is wonderful that Hischildren should doubt His word. " It is certainly wonder-ful that Christians should read the fourteenth and fifteenthverses of the fifth of James, and think it means nothingnow it is not for them. I have a friend who has a


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36 FAITH CURES.daughter who came home from the West last May, appa-rently in consumption ; she had a bad cough, expecto-rated a great deal, and had profuse night sweats. Shearrived in Boston on Thursday of the week.; on the fol-lowing Monday she had a stroke of paralysis, completelyparalyzing her left side. The doctor gave no hope, saidshe could not live ; I advised them to call Dr. Cullis andhave him pray for her. He consented to do so if theywould abandon the use of medicine and simply trust hercase in the hands of the Lord ; to this they assented, andBr. Cullis prayed for her. To-day she is free fromcough, night sweats, aiid all other signs or symptoms ofconsumption, and has been for nearly two months. Herparalysis is so far removed that she walks about the house.

S. B. P.

SoMERviLLE, Mass. , April 16, 1874.Dear Sir :My heart is so full of praise and thanksgiving to thedear Lord who has wrought such a great work for me,that I love to testify of His goodness and of the healingpower that comes from His hands in answer to prayer.For more than nine months the muscles of my arms hadbeen so badly diseased, that most of the time it troubledme very much to move them, and at no time was I ableto do so with accustomed ease, or without trembling.At first I thought there was nothing serious the matter,so for several weeks consulted no physician. As themuscles grew more and more contracted and painful, Ifelt that something must be done, and from that time Iavailed myself of every means in my power to overcomethe disease, not only by skillful medical treatment, but


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 37by change of air and exercise. 1 found only temporaryrelief from the acute suffering, and I was beginning tofear I should lose the use of my arms entirely, as thephysicians gave me but little hope. At the earnestentreaty of dear Christian friends that I would trust theLord to heal me, I so far put myself in His hands thatI left off using medicine entirely. Yet I dared notbelieve and claim the promised blessing, for I felt it wastoo great for one so unworthy as I to receive.

Several weeks passed in this way, when I determinedno longer to yield to doubts and fears, but trusting fullyin Jesus, would go and ask Dr. Cullis to j^ray with me.With this resolve there came into my soul such a quiet,restful feeling, that I was sure the Lord was leading mein His own way. I went into the Doctor's ofiTice withmy arms unusually painful, but while we were kneelingin prayer, and before I had moved them to test the cure,I felt all through my being that they were healed, andpraises to His name came joyously into my heart at thisconscious victory through faith in Him. Praise to Hisname has been continually in my heart ever since, as Imove my arms freely and with natural ease, and to Hisglory I would say, that not only are they now perfectlywell, but my general health, which has been poor for thepast four years, has been constantly improving, and myheart is filled with joy and peace. " Praise the Lord, Omy soul ! "

Please to use all or any of this, as you think best, forthe honor and glory of God.

Yours very truly, S. E. W.We give the subjoined, as one of many where prater

has been answered, although I have never seen the person.


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38 FAITH CURES.Thetford Centre, Vt., Feb. 25, 1874.

Dear Sir :I am scarcely able to say much at this time on accountof my many duties, yet by some power that I can neither

resist nor explain, I do feel impelled to say a little.Some weeks ago, possibly as long ago as last December,I sent a request to your Tuesday afternoon meetingcouched in language substantially as follows :"One who thinks that no one has done more to des-

troy the good results of your meetings in the past, thanhimself, but who has since proved in his experience thetruths taught, has been called of God to enter the workof the ministry. He is, however, greatly afflicted withrheumatism, of many years' standing, that he fears maylimit his labors ; believing that God can and does healthe sick in answer to the prayer of faith, says, he desiresto ask the prayers of this meeting for his complete resto-ration. He further says. Blessed be the name of theLord, prejudices have gone imder. "The above request, perhaps with some limitations, was

read at one of your meetings. Precisely at the hourwhen you usually pray on that occasion, I experiencedthe strangest sensations of my entire life. I felt surethat prayer was then and there being answered in mybehalf. And in my study, alone with the dear Saviour,I shouted ''Hallelujah,'' ''Glory to God.'' From thatmoment, I felt that the work of restoration had begun,and was fast going on. Not once since then have I beenafflicted with rheumatism or any other disease. BrotherS., with whom I was very intimate while in Boston,could tell you how much I suffered for many years, andif disposed, could likewise tell you how energetically I


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 39labored to destroy your influence in reference to prayingfor the restoration of the sick. But, somehow, God'sinvincible Spirit of love has settled down upon me, and Iwas bidden to present a request to the very one whom Ihad so unkindly treated without cause. O, what a Godis our God ! Ever since then my soul has been on thestretch to save men, and to the glory of God, be it said,that the greatest revival Thetford has known for twentyyears, is now shaking it from centre to circumference.At present, I enjoy a calm in my heart that is truly

surprising. Brother B. and others who know me, wellremember the stormy days that used to be mine. I askyour forgiveness for all my naughtiness toward you. Iam every whit whole, in body, soul and spirit. Glory tothe blessed name of God ! I am willing to be amongthe least of those who turn sinners to God.

Very affectionately, yours in the Lord,A. M. F. , Pastor M. E. Church.

Boston, Mass., Sept. 6, 1874.Dear Sir ;

I improve the first opportunity to write a few lines toinform you of the good results in answer, as I believe, toyour prayers. I have not time to minutely particularizemy situation. I will only say, the darkness of despairhad shut out every ray of hope from my mind. Mytrials had been so many and so severe, that the burdenof my life seemed greater than I could bear, and Godwas very far off. Misfortunes of various kinds had soworn upon my mind that my vitality was completelyexhausted, and my friends thought I was in consumption.I had a bad cough that resisted every known remedy,


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40 FAITH CURES.and 1 was too weak to sit up, or even be dressed. Onemorning I had been asleep, and when I awoke 1 feltthat if I could see Dr. Cullis, he would help me in somemanner, so that I could regain my health. I had neverseen you, only heard of you as connected with the Con-sumptives' Home. The boat would leave for Boston attwelve, and it was then ten o'clock, A. M. I arose andwith the assistance of my daughter dressed and gotaboard the steamer and went to your office. I was alittle surprised to find that you only offered a child-likeprayer in my behalf, yet the fountains of my soul werebroken up, and the sombre clouds were dissipated intears. From that hour the burden seemed lighter, somuch so that I walked back to the boat, and my friendsall noted the change in my looks and appearance. Verysoon my cough all left me, and now my health is quitegood, thanks to a loving Father's care, and you as theinstrument Very respectfully, I\*Irs. E, J. B.

Wakefield, August 28, 1874.Dear Sir :

I am so thankful for what the Lord has done for me,that I wish to tell the glad news to others, that they maybe led to believe that the Saviour has the same power,and is just as willing to heal the body now as when Hewas on earth. Five years ago I had hemorrhage of thelungs, which so reduced my strength that I was unableto work for three months. I have had three attackssince that time, and have suffered much from weaknessand pain in my lungs. I have had a severe cough allthe time, and as my symptoms became more and morealarming, I lost all faith in medicines. I read your


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 4Report, and learned that persons had been healed oftheir diseases through faith in Jesus. I believed Hecould heal me, and you recollect I came to your officesome two months ago and asked you to pray for me ; theday I came to see you I was very weak, and did not feelable to walk but a very short distance, and my breathingwas difficult. After you had prayed for me, I arose andcould breathe with perfect ease. I walked to the depotand took the cars for W. , and then walked home withoutdifficulty; my strength came gradually, and I have almostceased to cough, and do not have any pain or sorenessin my lungs. I believe the Lord is able to make meperfectly whole, and am trusting Him to do it. ToHim be all the glory.

Very respectfully yours, J. A. C.


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CHAPTER IV.ASES for prayer-cure are multiplying. Visit-ors come to me daily for this purpose, fromall parts of the country, claiming the promisein James v. 14. Lately a lady called to re-

port herself cured of a tumor, which had been pro-nounced incurable by several physicians. I prayed withher but once, some months since, and only now hear theresult. All glory be to Him who hath promised that**the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lordshall raise him up."A young lady who came to me for loss of voice, foundit restored at once.One who is trusting the Lord for healing of the body,

sends her gold watch chain, worth twenty-five dollars, tobe sold for the benefit of Faith Cure House, and writes :"My heart leaps for joy at the thought of sending it. Inever was so glad in giving before. I know He willaccept it. I hope it will sell well ; at any rate, the Lordwill bless the gift.

During the year 1875 I received hundreds of lettersfrom all parts of the country and Europe, asking me to

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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 43pray for the writers or their loved ones. In manyinstances I have heard of entire recovery to health ; Ihave also been besought to go to many. The latter isimpossible, with my cares at home. To such I wouldsay, that I cease not to ask of God daily the means toerect the needed building, where all who desire can bereceived in His name, and glorified in Him. Some whocome desiring the prayer of faith, insist upon leavingsm.all tokens of their gratitude ; these I lay by exclusivelyfor the purpose now mentioned, and although no largeamounts have accumulated, we feel they are the dropsthat portend the shower. His hand holds all fullness ofblessing, and the times and seasons are His.We continue with extracts from letters received fromthose who have been blessed :

Portland, Dec. i6, 1874.My health, since I met you in your office, has beenvery much improved. Then I could neither read orwrite ; now I am able to attend to business. To theprayer of faith I ascribe my recovery ; to God be all theglory. May God continue to sustain you in your work.

Yours fraternally, F. W. McK.Portland, Jan. 22, 1875.

Dear Sir :I hope you will not think my long silence seems any-

thing like lack of interest in the blessed work of faith.1 wish I could in some way express the wonderful joythat fills my soul. I say wonderful, because I neverknew anything Kke it before, I am so blessed, I haveall I want and more. **My cup runneth over." My


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44 FAITH CURES.health is almost perfect. The dear Lord has let me workfor Him this winter, and you don't know how much Ithank Him. He lets me speak of His love everywhereI go, and sends me down to the very lowest, even tothose who are kept by bolts and bars. O, how I praiseHim for this life given back to work for Him. I don'tfeel I can use it in any other way than for the gloryof God. I have given myself in a sacred consecration tothe Lord's work, such as I never knew before, and I amso sure that Jesus is able to keep all that I have giveninto His hands. I hope soon, if it is the Lord's will, tocome to you, to help in any way as the Lord shall openfor me. I have felt for a long time that the work calledme, but the way has never been opened that I couldleave my home. I stand before the Lord to be used forHis service. Please accept my mite for the Faith CureHouse. I am still praying for it. God bless you in allyour work, and may all your need be met in the fullnessof the love of Jesus.

Yours in Him, A. C. L.

Boston, August lo, 1875.Dear Sir :More than three years ago I called upon you to pre-

scribe for a tumor which gave me great anxiety ; yougave the medicine with the advice, ''just trust " myself"to Jesus." Months later, calling on the same errand,you quoted that passage in James, '*' Is any sick amongyou," &c. I replied, that I had thought much aboutthat promise, but with the thought always arose thequery, "Where are the elders of the church who takeGod at His word in this matter?" You answered,


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 45"When you are ready to trust the Lord lor healing,come in and I will pray with you." I felt I could trustHim then, and expressing my faith in His power andwillingness, you prayed with me. " My heart trusted inHim, and I was helped." The tumor disappeared grad-ually until entirely gone. Great as was the physicalblessing, the blessing that came into my heart wasgreater. It was rest and peace in Him who has promisedand is able to perform. I rejoice to acknowledge thegoodness of the Most High.

Gratefully yours, S. M. B.The following was a case of spinal curvature :

Dear Sir :About the really wonderful way in which my life wasrelieved of its wearing burden of ache and pain, I wish

I could say something that would give a more definiteidea of the directness of the answer, whereby the tendermercy of our God visited me with healing. I will senda few of the notes jotted down at your request.

June 15. Saturday. Called at Dr. Cullis's office onmy way from the railroad station to Brookline, Mass.1 spoke of the feeble state of my health, and the proba-bility that I could not walk much longer. Dr. C. said,that where restoration was not immediate, it was owing,as far as his experience went, to want of faith in thepatient. I answered. So it is my faith needs healing aswell as my body. Dr. C. said, Yes, and prayed with .me. The carriage was waiting during my hurried call.I did not enter into minute detail. From various causes1 was very busy, and had no thought of an immediate


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46 FAITH CURES.answer. Driving to Winter Street, I felt a slight move-ment in the bony framework, even before I reachedthe store. This became more marked on return tothe carriage. As I went along, this became quitewonderful. The impression almost eludes words to con-vey, but it seemed like a limitless power applied to thewhole frame, gradually and with a gentleness as limitlessthis last was so marked as to be very touching. Throughthe whole I was as passive and helpless as a child in thearms of its mother. The power produced a movementin the bony framework. It affected the shoulders verymuch, passed dawn the vertebrae of the neck and backto the hips, and along the ribs, restoring them somewhatto their proper position. Strangely, as if spoken, thewords came to me, According to your faith be it untoyou,and I thought how in times passed I had reallylimited the healing power and application of faith, inlooking for merely temporal alleviation, and not radicalcure.As I watched in glad wonder the movement, (a sort of

twisting or kneading, though there is no word that woulddescribe it adequately,) as it passed along the ribs andspine, I recognized the tendency to restoration ; butreaching a spot near the hips, it seemed as if somethingintervened, and the rationalizing way of thinking cameto me : How can it extend further, &c. Then the wholestopped ; after a short lime it began again in the shoul-ders. I was not quite an hour on the drive, and was notexcited, but mind and body were passive. I onlythought, my traveling dress will have to be altered,though fitting very perfectly before this. It had to bealtered soon after. ]\Iy shoulders, which were thrownout, or rounded, were restored to their natural "place.


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 4/Sunday. Alone in my chamber all the morning, the

family being at church. I was reading when the move-ment extending to my hip returned, and lasted, on andoff, until they came from church, or nearly two hours.

Tuesday. Returned to the city. At the close of theafternoon meeting at Dr. Culhs's, I saw Dr. C. in hisoffice for a few moments, and told him of this answer tohis prayer of faith. I explained the chronic condition ofthe framework ; how the proper position of the bones ofthe chest, spine and shoulders had been slowly displaced,&c. , all of which was new to him. Not having thefaintest idea of such radical cure, I had not cared to takeup his time with such weary, hopeless details. Dr. C.thought the movement very remarkable, so much so thatpeople would not believe it, and asked me to write it down.

In July had marked movements. My friend, who waswith me, was alarmed at the apparent violence, yet theynever occasioned pain to me, though sometimes exhaus-tion ; the movement of the ribs was specially with thoseabout the chest. The movements which were so violent,seemed to connect themselves with restoration of theright hip. Several times I was thrown to the floor with-out feeling it. The result was the return of my powerto walk; for a long time I had not been able to do sowithout pain and aching and extreme prostration ofstrength. Also, in resting or sleeping, there was noposition in which I was free from discomfort. I cannow rest easily in almost any position.

Having attained thus much, and so much more than Ihad really asked or thought, my faith has been inert asto positive and complete restoration ; not, I think, fromunbelief, but having attained so much greater degree of


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48 FAITH CURES.comfort than I ever hoped in this life, I have been pre-occupied with other things ; though doubtless I couldattend to these other things much better (and manyothers) if I claimed the fullness.

This was in June of 1872, the Jubilee year. Myformer physician had told me that I certainly should losemy power of walking within two years. As I say, I walkand move about with greater ease now and since thattime, than for years previous.

Very sincerely yours, E. H. P.

Lowell, August 3, 1875.During last winter I heard that Dr. CuUis believed that

persons could be healed by prayer, but I knew nothingof his own work in this way. Afterwards, visiting inBoston, and speaking of the interest that many of us feltin the account of such cures, but also that we had nobelief in them apart from the effect of personal magnet-ism, my friend proposed that I should call upon Dr.Cullis, as he lived close by, and could then be found athis office.

After a- few moments' conversation, Dr. C. remarkedthat Christ was as ready to heal now as when He wasupon the earth. Instantly it flashed upon me, that Iwould see if prayer would have any effect in my case. Ithink at this time it was only a matter of curiosity. Veryearly in childhood, I was seized with a nervous trouble,something like St. Vitus's Dance. As I grew older itdid not pass off, but settled into a disease of the muscles.It became a terrible affliction. It was usually under mycontrol, but I could not endure protracted work of anykind or unusual fatigue. I had consulted, in various


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 49cities, the best physicians, but they pronounced it in-curable. All that could be done was to be careful ofoverwork and excitement. It must have been twenty-five years since I was first taken.

I gave Dr. Cullis some account of this. He asked ifI could give my body to the Lord to be healed. I feltthat I could truly say ' Yes.' He then simply prayedthat the Lord would restore strength of nerve and muscle.I went home touched and impressed by the comfortingwords, but in a day or two the idea seemed absurd, andI received no impression of any change. But at the endof the week, I was startled at the recollection that I hadfelt hardly anything of my trouble. My nerves began tofeel as if they were held with a grasp of iron. Themuscles refused to move as before at every inclination.For two weeks this painful tension lasted. Then I felt agradual relaxation, and found that I was strong likeother people. I tested myself in the severest ways,walked, wrote and lifted. After each exertion, I couldenjoy perfect rest.

For awhile, there was the fear that this trouble wouldreturn, but that has passed away. "Remember thatyou are healed," Dr. Cullis said, as I left him, and thatassertion comes to me with force enough for a lifetime.And just another word. No one can pass through suchan experience wiihout believing that the hand of theLord is in it. With this healing of the body came alsoa fresh realization of Christ's personal presence. I couldalmost feel the touch. The mystery of the miracles wasexplained to me. This power of God manifested in thepast, is manifest to us still. Faith can grasp and use it.Close beside us stands a limng Christ. R.

4


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50 FAITH CURES.A lady from Brooklyn, N. Y., came to me for prayer-

cure. She had a diseased hip, and had used crutchesfor twenty years. Often the hip joint would slip from itssocket, so that it was impossible for her to walk withoutcrutches. She writes : "My lameness was incurable, andGod interposed in my behalf, in answer to your prayer.I have been able to walk for five mon-ths without thecrutches I had used'-fpT^SpeO^ccBBty years.

We do no/jMsert these instances


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 5porary relief. For three years I have been sufferingwith rheumatism, and the most of the time I was unableto do my work, and could not walk a quarter of a milewithout feeling much exhausted. I was very weak, andmy whole system was very much debilitated, and upto the time I went to see you, I could not performany household work excepting the lightest, and didnot pretend to walk but a short distance at a time.From that time I have steadily increased in health,without taking a particle of medicine, until I can nowwalk two miles and feel better for it," and can do a goodday's work. The humor in my face seemed to arisefrom my state of health, for as soon as I began to gainin health, that commenced to grow better, and now Iam well, thanks be to my Heavenly Father, and hence-forth it is my desire to be wholly consecrated to Hisservice ; and better than health of body, my spiritualstrength has been renewed, and I have clearer views ofGod and His Holy Word, all in answer to your prayers,thanks be to His holy name.

In haste, Mrs. J. T. C.

West Lebanon, April i8, 1876.Dear Sir :You will remember that I came to you January 27th,

having been afflicted for some twenty years with spinalcurvature, which had drawn me very much out of shape,and from which, with other weaknesses, I suffered con-stantly. You prayed with me, and I went away strongin the faith that I should be healed. I returned to myhome on Friday, February 4th, nine days from the timeI called on you. I had not up to that time realized


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52 FAITH CURES.anything of the healing power, but faith still held thegreat Healer by the hem of His garment.The Monday night following I retired as usual, after

making the matter a subject of prayer, and fell asleep ;but in the night was suddenly awakened by the power ofGod upon me, and was conscious that the work of heal-ing was going on. I felt it at this time in every part ofmy body. The sensation, physically, I cannot describe,but my soul was filled with adoring wonder, love andpraise. When I arose m the morning, I was consciousthat the weakness and disease of the lower part of mybody was entirely gone. Thursday night following, ateleven o'clock, this strange power came upon me again,and continued until twelve, working only in my hipsand lower limbs.The next week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday,the same power was upon me, like electricity, through

the lower limbs and hips, until it seemed as if I couldhardly bear it longer, and I could hear a slight noise likea tap, tap, tap, among the bones of the back. Duringthe night I felt a gentle pulling at the hip, which has solong been drawn in. The result of this operation wasthe straightening of my hips, until they have becomenearly level. My spiritual experience during those dayswas a quiet trust in, and constant communion with theLord. The next Tuesday I had a slight touch.My next experience of the healing power was on thefirst day of March. It came upon me after dinner, andcontinued all the afternoon. At dark, as I was engagedin prayer, I said, "O Lord, fill me all up with Thyglory." Instantly the baptism of the Holy Ghost fellupon me, and I was indeed filled with glory and with


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ANSWERS TO PRATER. 53God. 1 retired, and the power was upon me all night,extending up through my back and shoulder, and severaltimes it went up over me just like a wave or flash. Theresult was the disappearance of a bunch from the project-ing shoulder, near the neck. The spiritual baptismcontinued with me all the next day in such power, thatI had scarcely strength to move about the house.On the i5ih of March I was again awakened with this

power working in my back and hips, and up through myshoulder and arm ; it continued through the next day,at times with severe pains in my joints and ribs. Sincethat time I have touches of it very frequently, and theprojecting ribs seem to be more natural.One peculiar feature of this whole experience has

been, that I never feel the power upon me when I havea hard day's work before me, but always when 1 can bestendure it. In this I recognize the loving care of thetender Parent, who knoweth our frame, and remembereththat we are dust. Please remember me still in prayer.I am expecting a perfect cure.

Very sincerely yours, E. E. W.Cambridge, Iowa, Dec. 31, 1875.

Dear Brother :I wrote you some time since, requesting you 10 pray

for me, as I desired to resume the work of the ministry,but could not, on account of my health. After I wroteyou, I put my trust in the Lord and looked for the bless-ing. On Saturday night, the 5th instant, just beforegoing to sleep, I asked the Lord if I might reasonablyexpect to be healed, so I could enter the work. Just asI was falling asleep, something said to me, "Perfect


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54 FAITH CURES.faith in Me never faileth." It is needless to say I felt,more sure of the blessing, and I continued to look for it,until on Tuesday morning, the yth, after I awoke ; whenI was thinking over the matter, I felt a queer sensationin my head, and from thence to my body. My heartbegan beating very fast, and the sweat started from thepalms of my hands. I shouted, " Glory to God, I ammade well ; I can now preach Christ," &c.

I felt that the Lord had done a great work for me, butdid not feel that the work was completed ; consequently1 delayed writing, to see the result. I am truly gratefulto God to say that I am still improving, and ammaking preparations to resume the work. You canbetter imagine my feelings than I can describe them. Iam rejoicing in a full and complete Saviour, and inknowing that He "helpeth mine infirmities."Yours in Christ, C. W. P.

St. Albans, Vt, March 28, 1876.Dear Sir :

In your meeting at Faith Chapel, March 7th, youoffered prayer for a young man in Florida, who wasapparently in consumption. I had previously notifiedhim that I should request prayer for him at that time,desiring him to join us in supplication at the same hour.I have just received a letter from him stating that he washealed at that hour. He says, that while before theLord, pleading the promise, his voice and strength weretaken away for a time. Then he began to praise theLord, and say, "'tis done," and it was done, and hegoes on in a jubilant way, telling of the wonderful


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 55change, his ability to talk and sing, with no difficultywhatever, his intense desire to be preaching again, &c.

O, how good Jesus is ! My heart can never halfpraise Him for what He is. This young friend is theson of my only sister. I praise the Lord that He haswrought this healing of soul and body for him. I trustyou will not think me impertinent in writing this to you.1 knew you had prayed for him, and I at once wanted totell you how Jesus had answered.

Yours in Jesus, L. F. McA.Cambridge, Mass., July, 1876.

Dear Sir :I had been afflicted with catarrh for over twenty years.

I had consulted many physicians and used many reme-dies, all failed to help me. In the spring of 1S74, Igrew so much worse that life became a burden. Isuffered from dizziness and great prostration. I wasurged to go to you for faith cure. This was no newthing to me ; I believed in it, yet found it difficult toexercise faith for myself. My daughter went to see you,as I was then unable to go. I looked to God, andbelieved from that moment. My whole soul and bodyseemed thrilled, and I began to gain strength imme-diately.

In a few days I was able to go to your office. Youprayed simply that God would take all disease from me.I have been entirely well from that time, (not onlycured of catarrh, but tumors on my limbs were entirelyremoved.) I desire to give God the praise. I blessHim that He does forgive our transgressions and healour diseases. Yours respectfully, H. E. A.


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S6 FAITH CURES.Hallowell, Me., July 13, 1876.

Dear Brother :1 feel that it is a duty as well as a pleasure to acknowl-

edge to you the wonderful loving kindness of myHeavenly Father, in bestowing health upon me in answerto your prayers. To Him be all the glory. I think itwas about the middle of last May, that mother and Icalled at your office, on our return from the Friends'yearly meeting, held in Newport, R. I. You will per-haps remember us from this circumstance. It had beenthe great desire of my heart, for a year or more, to meetyou, and it seemed to me, that if you would pray for me,that I should recover. And I fully believe that the Lordhas heard and answered that prayer, for my health hasbeen good ever since. My sickness of so long standinghas passed away.

I had been under the care of different physicians, farand near, for fifteen years ; have taken much medicine,but all proved unavailing, and I had made up my mindthat there was no help for me. I was so weak, that Iwas obliged to lie down several times through the day,during all these years of sickness, and hardly ever freefrom pain. I could not take anything of a sweet naturewithout suffering from canker for days. I have had noneof that since I saw you, and my physical strength is stillincreasing, although I partake freely of the differentkinds of food that previously caused me much distress.

I give you these particulars, in order that you may usethem to His honor and glory, and for the encouragementof others, (if you think it best, ) that they may see themighty power of God, and be led to believe on, and totrust in Him who is mighty to save. I earnestly desire


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ANSWERS TO PRAYER. 57your prayers, that I may ever live to His honor andglory,that I may ever cherish a deep feeling of gratitudeand love to Him who has manifested so much love andmercy to one so unworthy as I am.

Yours, &c., E. A. W.Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 2, 1876.

Dear Sir :I want to speak through the book which you are

about to publish, to all who are in any way sick, to tellthem of what the Lord has done for me. For five yearsI have had nervous dyspepsia, which wholly unfitted mefor every enjoyment of life. I tried allopathic and thenhomoeopathic treatment ; traveled for two years, thinkingchange of air and scenes would bring health ; but allwas to no purpose, the disease still clung fast to me.Last May, while in Boston, to gratify my friends, Icalled upon you. After conversing together a few min-utes, you reminded me of the fourteenth and fifteenthverses of the fifth chapter of the epistle of St. James. Ithought, Why could not that promise be for me now, aswell as when it was written in the days of the apostles ?

I went home, thinking much and praying much, thatif it were God's will I might have the faith, the un-doubting faith that He would bestow health upon me.That faith was granted to me. I called upon you again,and you prayed that all my disease might be taken away.Immediately I felt a thrill of life, as it were, rushingthrough me, and I rose from my knees knowing I was awell person. As I entered your ofiSce, it seemed to meI could hardly hold my head up, I had so little nervousstrength, but I went out feeling adequate to almost any


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58 FAITH CURES.task. From that hour and day I have continued to gainin strength, and not one trace of the disease appears. Ilaid all medicine aside, and simply trusted in God for allmy healing. Oh, you who are sick, do not delay, andfeel that there is no hope for you, because your earthlyphysician cannot help, but go at once to the Great Phy-sician, and ask Him to make you well. The answermay not be at once, as in my case, it may not be untilthe eleventh hour, but it will surely come.

M. A. H.FoxBORo', Feb., 1876.

Dear Sir :I had been an invalid two years and a half with lung

and spinal disease. My sickness commenced with pneu-monia and lung fever, by which I was prostrated forfourteen weeks. My lungs were left very weak, and myphysician pronounced me in consumption and incur-able. He advised a change of climate, suggesting Colo-rado. I could not go, so resorted to other treatment.During the time I tried homoeopathic, allopathic, andelectrical treatment ; each would seem to benefit me fora time, but no improvement was lasting. I had a coughall the time, expectorated, and had a great deal of painand soreness in my lungs and shoulders ; at times Icould hardly draw a breath, it would cause such pain,and there seemed to be a restricted feeling or a weightabout the lungs ;

charles cullis - faith cures (1879)

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