A light shined in the cell

A

Cighl Shined in lhe ¡cell HE

was the most zealous Christian I have ever knowt1 ! Though he was as poor as the proverbial church mouse, 1 have known him for the Master's sake give away one of his two essential outer garments in the depths of winter to one needier than himself. He never stopped smiling, even when a brother wns pointing out some weakness ot¡ attacking him.

Unoffonded, be would go away and pray about it, often witl1 weeping, such was the intcnsitv of his earnestness. He would pray to his Lord for four or five hours every day and spoke constantly to fellow-students of the savit1g power of Christ. Some of them would avoid him when they saw him corning, afraid of being urged to pray with him, and accept salvation.

Converted during an evangelistic campaign

in his University, he made a complete break with his old life and became a voracious Bible student. When the Christian students went out to hold an evangelistic meeting in the park or on the streets, he was an eager witness. On one occasion he was preaching through a loud speaker to the big crowd that had gathered, and just as he was saying, " Perhaps some of you even now have thoughts of murder in your hearts" a youthful actor was passing by.

Those Spirit-inspired words smote the young man, and he stopped suddenly. How could the speaker know that with a deep jealous hatred of a successful fellow actor in his heart he was on his way, knife in pocket, to murder him! Deeply convicted of sin, he found his way to the flaming young evangelist, who that night led the potential murderer to the feet of Christ.

In spite of success in the Lord's service, however, he felt the need of a fuller spiritual equipment, and went to a spiritual training seminary to prepare to serve the Lord. For two or three years he gave his whole time to preaching the Gospel. Then came the "liber-

ation," and a round-up of all who were many way suspected of being in sympathy with the old government, and he was imprisoned. for a while he was kept in solitary con­ finement, although twenty other men were locked in the cell next to his. Through a chink in the wall he could be seen praying aloud, a heavenly light upon his face. He refused to give up praying and witnessing, even in prison, and when others tried to argue him out of his faith in Christ, they found themselves unable to meet his God-given wisdom. He was publicly reprimanded once. How could he who had so sinned against the people dare to tell others about God? But he said that it was just because he was such a sinner that he needed God and His forgiveness. When he was manacled and his feet put into stocks his joy increased rather than diminished-and, strange to say, so did his appetite! Eventually, he was released from the stocks. But his fell.ow­ prisoners had seen the power of the Lord. The prayerful walk, the zealous witness, the unswerving faithfulness, had not been in vain.

One man, released from prison, went imme-

diately to find a church where he might worship the Lord in whom he, too, had come to trust.

And he said he was iure many others would do the same.

This mode;rn Paul, like many of the Lord's servants of old, has proved fruitful in his affliction. May it not be that through our prayers, and the constant supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, others will be strengthened to witness a good confession, even though they may be in bonds?

THE PRAYER UNION offers help to those who desire to pray system­ atically. The annual subscription is l /-. Those who wish to join should write to: THE PRAYER SECRETARY, CH,INA INLAND MISSION, NEWINGTON GREEN, LONDON, N.16.