A young man arose in the Fulton Street prayer-meeting one day, and detailed his struggles and triumphs with his appetites. He was a perfect drunkard, helpless, poor; his friends’ best efforts to reclaim him were of no avail. The most solemn vows that he had ever taken, still were unable to hold him up. At last he gave himself up for lost. There seemed no hope for him, and in his despair he wandered away to the ocean shore.
He met a young man who showed him a good many favors, and to whom he offered a drink from his flask of liquor.
‘No’ said he, ‘I never drink intoxicating drink, and I ask the Lord Jesus to help me never to touch it.’
I looked at him with surprise, and inquired, ‘Are you a Christian ? ‘
‘ Yes, I trust I am,’ he answered. ‘
‘ And does Jesus keep you from drinking intoxicating liquor ? ‘
‘ He does, and I never wish to touch it’
That short answer set me to thinking. In it was revealed a new power. I went home that night and said to myself, as I went,
‘How do I know but Christ would keep me from drinking if I would ask him?’
When I got to my room, I thought over my whole case, and then I knelt down and told Jesus what a poor, miserable wretch I was ; how I had struggled against my appetite, and had always been overcome by it.
I told Him if he would take the appetite away I would give myself up to Him to be his forever, and I would forever love and serve Him. I told Him that I felt assured that He could help me, and that He would.
Now I stand here, and I tell you all most solemnly, that Jesus took me at my word. He did take away my appetite then and there, so that, from that sacred moment of casting myself on his help, I have not tasted a drop of liquor, nor desired to taste it. The old appetite is gone. The last two weeks have been rich experience of Divine goodness and grace.
