The guiding hand

Preface

One fact is worth two arguments ; and the incidents recorded in this volume are offered as facts. It is true that some of them are given anonymously, having been gathered up during years of desultory reading, from sources so varied that it has been sometimes impossible to authenticate or ascertain the authorship of a particular account ; but a very considerable portion of the instances here recorded ha ve occurred within the experience and observation of the writer, or that of his own personal friends and acquaintances. Others are given upon the most trustworthy authority, hence, many of these accounts are known to be true, and all are believed to be worthy of credence.

Called, in the providence of God, to the establishment and direction of a religious periodical, the writer determined, while rigidly excluding the pious fictions and lying wonders that defile the denominational literature of the age, to make the recital of authentic instances of God's gracious dealings with his children, a leading point of interest in its columns. Accordingly from January, 1866, each number of The Christian issued, has carried to the tens of thousands of its readers, accounts of answers to prayer, instances of providential direction, and tokens of the constant and gracious leading of God's Guiding Hand.

Many of these accounts, thus given to the public, have been copied into other journals, reprinted in tracts and widely scattered, and inserted in books by various compilers. They are now collected and arranged for publication in a series of volumes entitled, %i The Guiding Hand," " Tales of Trust," " Ebenezers, or Records of Prevailing Prayer," etc. ; the labor of classifying and arranging them having been kindly undertaken by my fellow- worker, Wolcott P. Smith, without whose aid their issue must have been deferred till a more convenient season.

The first of these books is here presented, with the confident assurance that it will minister strength to trusting hearts, and prove a help and comfort to tossed and troubled souls.

4 PREFACE.

\Ye dc not offer these incidents because we think it a new, or strange, or wonderful thing that God should manifest his care for his people, or guide the footsteps of his little flock ; but we simply follow the example of one who said, "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." Psalm lxvi. 16.

If there are those who regard these accounts a.s too marvelous for belief, they are referred to the Holy Scriptures for other instances, many of which are far more astonishing than those here narrated. If, on the other hand, they doubt those wonders wrought of God in the far off ages, as recorded in his word, we lay before them these accounts, as instances of events continually occurring, through the wonder-working power of the ever living and ever loving God.

The literature of ancient Israel was full of the records of the mighty deeds of Him who wrought wonders in the land of Egypt, who divided the sea by his strength, and who went before his chosen ones, giving them manna from on high, and water from the smitten rock, defending and delivering them, and providing for all their wants.

" For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children ; that the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born, who should arise and declare them to their children ; that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments." Ps. lxxviii. 5-7.

In like manner, it is meet that we make mention of the mercies of the Lord to us, that our children may learn to trust him, and in an age of doubt and unbelief, submit themselves to the guidance of the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.

That this and the other volumes of the " Faith Series" may be blessed to the profit of the sons of men, and lead them to " set their hope in God, and not forget his works," is the prayer of

The Author.

Scriptural Tract Repository, Office of The Christian, Boston, Mass., U. S. A., August, 1881.

Dreams and Impressions ICO