Miraculous Powers

Answer to Prayer

The following account of a dreadful storm approaching a camp-meeting, being turned aside by prayer, is credited among Methodists. It speaks for itself: MIRP 135.1

“All were of the opinion that the services of the meeting would soon be seriously interrupted, if not entirely broken off, by the coming tempest. At this solemn hour I saw Rev. William B. Christie for the first time. He ascended the stand to close the service. It was soon apparent, even to the careless, that no ordinary personage was leading the devotion of the people of God at that hour. Brother Christie, after praying for the sanctification of the people of God, the conversion of sinners, and the success of the meeting in general, began to plead most eloquently with Almighty God, if consistent with his will in the government of the world, to ‘stop the bottles of heaven,’ and give us ‘fair weather’ in which to continue our worship in the tended grove. MIRP 135.2

“Never till that day had I known so fully the power and efficacy of prayer; and never before did I witness such a striking and remarkable answer to prayer. The minister on that occasion seemed to converse with God ‘face to face,’ as a man with his friend. As the petitioner approached nearer, and nearer still to the mercy seat, sprinkled with the blood of the Son of God, his faith waxed stronger and stronger, till ‘he prevailed with God;’ and the humble, fervent prayer of the suppliant was almost instantly answered. Hundreds of ‘living witnesses’ at this day would unite their testimony to mine in confirmation of this wonderful interposition of God in answer to the prayer of his faithful servant. Before the close of that ever-memorable prayer, all felt that the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and that his ear is open to their cry, and that the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Before he left off speaking, or while he was yet praying, God turned aside the storm, and the bright cerulean was seen through the disparting clouds. Never did a more cheerful and luminous light gladden the hearts of God’s ancient people in the wilderness, than shone out upon the tents of our Israel in the grove that day. As it respects my own observation, I had never seen it on this wise before.”—Foot Prints of an Itinerant, pp. 86, 87. MIRP 135.3

“Another instance of Mr. Bramwell’s faith, was at the time when a general alarm agitated our body respecting a bill which Mr. A. Taylor Esq., was about to bring into the House of Commons, to abridge the religious liberties of Dissenters. Many at that season were led to plead mightily with God, that our privileges might be continued; and, among others, Mr. Bramwell did not forget to offer up his fervent supplications. At the evening service one Lord’s day, before a very crowded congregation, he got into an agony of prayer; and, after wrestling for some time, he said, ‘Lord, thou hast now told me that this bill shall never pass into a law!’ Adding, ‘It is out of the power of any man, or set of men, to bring it to pass!’ Several of the congregation thought he was going too far; but about a week afterward the bill was quashed!”—Memoir of Bramwell, pp. 153, 154. MIRP 136.1

Charles Buck, author of Religious Anecdotes, says: MIRP 136.2

“In Professor Frank’s account of the footsteps of Divine Providence in raising and supporting the hospital for the reception and education of poor children, etc., ... we have several pleasing instances of prayer being answered.” MIRP 137.1

’Another time,’ says Frank, ‘all our provision was spent; but, in addressing myself to the Lord, I found myself deeply affected with the fourth petition of the Lord’s prayer, Give us this day our daily bread; and my thoughts were fixed in a more special manner upon the words this day, because on the very same day we had great occasion for it. While I was yet praying, a friend of mine came before my door in a coach, and brought the sum of four hundred crowns!’—Relig. Anec., pp. 352, 353. MIRP 137.2