The Gospel-24/7

Won By His Child A. B. Earle

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TOPIC and SUBTOPIC: Children, Used Of God To Win Their Parents

TITLE: Won By His Child

A tender incident; one that illustrates the truth of Christ's word, A little child shall lead them.

A saloon-keeper of considerable note had an only daughter, named Eva. The father almost idolized this child. She was very lovely. He would often take her into his saloon, to show her to his company. His life seemed bound up in this child. He would gratify, as far as possible, every wish of his Eva, of whom he was becoming very proud.

When she was about six years old, a Christian temperance woman came into that place and formed a Childrens Temperance Society. Eva was invited to attend the meeting, and became a member. Her father, proud of having her noticed, gave his consent, thinking she was too young to be influenced by what might be said about his business.

The lady conducting the services asked the children to bow their heads while she asked God to bless them. Eva had never heard a prayer before.

It seemed very strange to her, and made a lasting impression on her mind.

After returning home, she at once began her lifework, which was to terminate in a few weeks. She went at once to her father, and said: "Papa, it is wrong to sell rum; it makes people bad."

He was pleased to see that she remembered so much that she had heard in the meeting, and so did not keep her from attending them. Eva, though so young, had given her heart to the Saviour.

A few weeks after giving herself to Christ, she was taken very sick. Her father watched over her day and night with the tenderest care. How could he have the pride and idol of his heart taken away?

She would often look up in his face so earnestly, and say: "Papa, don't sell any more rum, because it is wrong."

Still his saloon was open.

She was fast fading away. Death was about to liberate the soul of little Eva.

Just then, with her face almost angelic, she looked up in her fathers face, and said: "Papa, dear papa, won't you promise me that you will not sell any more rum?"

The father, almost overcome with emotion, replied: "Yes, Eva dear, I will promise you anything if you will only get well. How can I live without you!"

She asked him to go and shut up his saloon right away, so that she could tell Jesus what he had done.

He was too much affected to speak, but left the room. In a short time he returned, and said: "My darling, I have shut up my saloon, so that no one can come in." He then promised his child he would never sell another drop of liquor, and would throw away all there was in his saloon.

Eva was very happy about her fathers decision, and for some time was very quiet. After a while she opened her eyes, and looking about the room, on them all, with her face beaming with the love of Christ, said: "I am going to live with Jesus very soon, and I do want my papa and mamma there too. Papa, will you promise to give your heart to him and do all he wants you to, and then come and live with him?"

The father was silent. He did not like to promise anything he was not sure he could fulfill. His weeping wife said: "Oh, George, do grant your dying child's request. I have promised to meet her in heaven, and I want you should."

At last, in broken accents, he said: "I promise what you wish, my darling child. I will seek your Saviour with all my heart, and serve him the rest of my life, and hope to meet you in heaven."

Eva had accomplished her mission. Her work was ended, and she fell asleep. She went away with the angels to her happy home above, to welcome her father and mother when they come to meet her there.

Why would not these parents come to Jesus without this severe trial?

Reader, will it be necessary for God to deal in a similar way with you, to bring you to heaven?

A. B. Earle, From: Incidents Used In His Meetings, published in 1888.