Miraculous Powers

Goodness of Providence

“After the plague had spread its ravages in London, in 1666, Mr. Mortimer returned to Devonshire, his native country, at which time the plague breaking out there, the inhabitants accused him of having brought it, though he had no sickness, and cruelly sent him and his wife to the pesthouse; but Providence preserved him so that neither he nor his wife caught the disease. MIRP 133.3

“Afterward he became much reduced and in debt, and for fear of being thrown into prison was obliged to leave his home and hide himself. As he was walking along the road he met a man driving some sheep, whom he endeavored to avoid; but the man came up to him and put a paper into his hand, in which was a good sum of money. He immediately returned to his wife, whom he left in great sorrow, and gave her the paper, in which was written these words, ‘To preach Providence.’ The whole family, it may be supposed, were full of joy and thankfulness at receiving so seasonable a supply, and in a manner so wonderful.”—American Tract Society, Primer No. 2. MIRP 133.4

The same book contains the following: MIRP 134.1

“From the history of the Sclavonic churches we find that it was no uncommon thing for their enemies to shut up their pious members in prison for a while, and then starve them to death. Matthias Dolanscius was a prisoner in the city of Prague, designed for this miserable end; and all the attempts of godly people in that place to relieve him completely failed. One day, when he was on the point of starving, he cast his eye toward the grate of his prison windows, and saw a little bird, perhaps a carrier-pigeon, sitting there with something in his bill. His curiosity led him thither, the bird flew away, but left a bit of cloth, in which, when he took it up, he found a piece of gold: with this he found means to furnish himself with bread until he obtained full deliverance.” MIRP 134.2