with God for his recovery for upwards of an hour.  He went from his knees to the bed, and took his friend by the hand; again he said, “Dear Luther, why don’t you let me depart in peace?” “No, no, Philip; we can not spare you yet,” was the reply.  He then ordered some soup, and when pressed to take it, Melancthon declined, again saying, “Dear Luther, why will you not let me go home and be at rest.”  “We can not spare you yet, Philip,” was the reply.  He then added, “Philip, take this soup, or I will excommunicate you.”  He took the soup, regained his wonted health, and labored for years afterwards in the cause of the Reformation; and when Luther returned home he said to his wife with joy, “God gave me my brother Melancthon back in direct answer to prayer.”

In this incident is given this extraordinary statement that while death has really seized a man, who too wished to die, and did not want to live longer on the earth, yet his life was given back to him again in answer to the prayer of faith of another.

THE WONDERFUL POWER OF FAITH AND TRUST IN THE LORD TO DELIVER WHOLLY FROM BAD HABITS.

A victim of licentiousness and sensuousness, who often, amid his sinful pleasures, had the memory of Christian parents before him, felt his was indeed a life of shame.  But the downward steps had destroyed his will, his self-control, his manliness, his virtue.  He had no power to resist, all was wickedness, irresolution, constant yielding.  In vain he hung back, and tried to save himself from the cursed appetite; at last he realized that in a few weeks’ time he must go to the grave; strength could not stand such a waste of life.  “What a miserable life.  What wicked ways, what wicked thoughts; how I wish I was pure; O, that I might get free; I do not love this sin any more, I don’t want it, but I can’t stop it.  O, I wish I could be a Christian, and wholly free.”

Such were his constant thoughts.  In mercy, the Lord who had been reading his thoughts, sent him a great reverse in business, and in agony of heart, he knew not where to turn but to the Lord, and pray for relief.  His prayer, too, asked to be emancipated from his wickedness, and his strength and health restored. “Lord, save me and I will be thine forever.  I am lost unless thou wilt come and save.”

By gradual degrees, in the absorption of his thoughts over other distresses, his mind was diverted from his usual ways and thoughts of sinful living; gradually the habits of lust grew less and less strong, and finally ceased altogether.  But the body still remained under excessive weakness.  But faith that the Lord who had saved others, could save him too, led him to pray, not only for the destruction of the habit, but entire recovery from its evil effects.  His perseverance was persistent, and met with a triumphant reward.  After a long; time, he felt himself wholly healed.  New strength, new life, came back