TOUCHING THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT.
BY MRS. W.J. STARR.
It is with
thanksgiving and praise to God that I bear witness to His willingness to heal
the body as well as the soul.
In the summer of
1877 my blood became very sluggish in its circulation, so that I suffered from
cold even during the hottest weather. This was accompanied with severe sinking
spells, in which I lay speechless and rigid, unable to move a muscle, though
perfectly conscious. These continued, growing more frequent, until the time of
my healing. At first my disease was pronounced as nervous prostration, but it
was afterwards found to be a complication of serious internal troubles. My
liver, also, became badly deranged, causing severe attacks of bilious colic,
combined with neuralgia. I could sit up only a short time, and when lying down
was almost helpless. My sufferings were without cessation. I was unable to
become reconciled to this affliction, not then realizing that “God moves in a
mysterious way, His wonders to perform.”
I had not yet
ceased to hope for recovery, but there were days and weeks of gloom, and times
when reason itself was almost dethroned. After suffering in this way for nearly
a year and a half, my principal disease took another form, decidedly for the
worse. As time went on and I saw no improvement, I became discouraged and
questioned my doctor closely. He described to me the seriousness of my case,
but encouraged me to hope for recovery in time.
Soon after this
acquaintance sent word that she would bring me a book entitled “Faith Cures,”
by Dr. Cullis, and that I need to take no more medicine if I would trust the
Lord to heal me.
I was much
grieved, thinking that she could not realize the extend of my sufferings, or
she would not recommend healing by such a method! But after thinking the matter
over, I concluded that her motive could be only one of kindness, and when she
came I was prepared to receive the book with gratitude.
I began reading
it with ever increasing interest, and the Lord blessed it to me in a wonderful
manner. I questioned why, if these things were true, I could not be healed in the
same way, since God is no respecter of persons, and I began to cry, “Lord,
increase my faith.” While thus pleading, my should seemed filled with “the
fullness of God,” and I felt underneath me “the everlasting arms” lifting me
upward, and still upward, until the word seemed disappearing in the distance,
and I was lost in the immensity of God’s love. At first, I questioned what this
strange, next experience might be, as my conversion, years before, had been
very clear; but though like Jacob I knew not the name of my Heavenly Guest, I
felt the overshadowing of the Divine Presence.
I remained some
weeks in this uplifted state, and my meditation of God was so sweet that I
desired no other though to intrude. My physical health continued about the
same; I fully realized God’s power, but I was not yet assured of His willingness
to heal my body. I felt the need of support from those stronger in the faith,
and sent requests for prayer to Dr. Cullis and to Mrs. Mix, both well known for
their great faith.
At the hour
appointed by Dr. Cullis, my pastor requested all who were in sympathy to
remember me, and throughout the village earnest prayers ascended from the
hearts of both friends and strangers. I passed the hour In communion with the
Lord, and the room seemed filled with His glory.
Had I known then,
as I do now, the simplicity of the way, that the only requirement is
unfaltering trust in God’s word alone, I have no doubt that the work would have
been done immediately, but it was not until another year of instruction in the
school of suffering, that I at length learned God’s willingness to make me
perfectly whole.
My faith had not
yet reached the point where I could lay aside all medicine and depended
entirely upon the Great Physician; consequently I grew much worse. At times
during my sickness, I had suffered more or less from dyspepsia, and this now
began to trouble me seriously. I felt that I was slowly starving, and in my
intense hunger the sight of food brought tears to my eyes. The little
nourishment when I was obligated to take caused great suffering.
Everything was
done fore me by my physician and friends that loving hearts could devise, but
in spire of their tender care, I failed rapidly. At one time I nearly lost the
use of my right arm, being unable to raise it without the assistance of the
other. I had for a long time suffered from weakness in my spine, and this
greatly increased, causing much inflammation and sensitiveness. I could sit
upright but a few moments, when in spite of every effort to prevent it, I would
begin to double over, growing very sick and faint, and the slightest movement
of my body, created a terrible sensation, as if the joints were slipping by
each other. Even the bed was a torture, and the only position approaching ease,
was lying upon my face. I tried sun-baths, painting with iodine, etc., but all
these, instead of bringing relief, aggravated the disease. My kind physician,
who had hitherto seemed hopeful, now grew completely discouraged, and said he
could do nothing more fore me. I was not surprised to hear this, as I had
realized for some months that the Lord alone could heal me. However, at the
urgent request of friends, I tried a third mode of treatment which, for a short
time, slightly relieved me in some respects, while in others I grew much worse.
On the
twenty-eighth day of August, 1880, a few
friends gathered in my room for prayer in my behalf. Some of them had strong
faith for my healing, others were wavering. These meetings were continued
weekly throughout the fall and winter, and were inexpressibly dear to me,
helping much cheer to my sick-room.
During the winter
I suffered much from catarrh, ulcers in the throat, and large swellings on my
neck, which we feared would prove to be abscesses. In addition to all my other troubles,
towards spring, a severe cold settled on my lungs, which had been weak for
years; my breathing was so difficult that I was obligated to have the doors
open, and use a fan almost constantly.
Sometimes
previous to this, God had shown me, through the reading of His Word, that I
should be healed by the laying on of hands in the name of the Lord. I was very
anxious to see Mrs. Mix, but my friends did not fully sympathize with me in
this desire. I was so firmly convinced, however, that this was the Lord’s will
for me, that we agreed to make it a subject of special prayer.
After three
months’ waiting, the friend who had first called my attention to faith-healing,
came one Sunday to read to me. She was deeply impressed with the verse, “All
they that had any sick brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every
one of them and healed them.-(Luke iv: 40.) She said she was ready to send
immediately for Mrs. Mix, if I desired, and I gave an eager assent. She wrote
to Mrs. M… who returned the word that it was not convenient for her to come,
and directed us to send for Mr. E.O. Allen, of Springfield, Mass.
My friend wrote,
asking him to come, and after two weeks more of suffering and trial, the Lord
permitted him to come to me.
As Mr. A… offered
prayer, laying his hands upon me in the name of the Lord, I felt an intense
heat an moisture over the surface of my body, until at length my whole being
was permeated b this Divine healing power, and I unhesitatingly declared myself
healed; then rising, in the name of the Lord, I walked several times across the
floor. I was freed from all pain, and, like the Nobleman’s son, began to mend
from that very hour.
Not that I have
been from that time exempt from all suffering; many times I have been sorely
tried, but not above that I was able toe bear, for with temptation, God has
also made “a way of escape.” Each new trial has but served to strengthen my
faith, each deliverance has been to God’s greater glory. In the course of a few
weeks, during which time I visited the Faith Home, in Springfield, and was
greatly blessed, I could walk half a mile, and could go up and down stairs
without human help. I was soon enabled to resume my household duties, and to have
the care of my child, which pleasure had never before permitted me.
It is now several
months since my recovery, and my strength has steadily increased, to the astonishment
of all who knew my former condition.
My only desire in
writing this account of my sickness and healing, is that God will use if for
His glory, and for the encouragement of His suffering ones. T all such I would
say, “Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting
strength.”
Groton, Conn.
