But he cannot heal you without your willing consent to obey his commands.  He first of all commands you to repent, for now “God commandeth all men everywhere to repent.”  The moment you are willing to obey this command, that moment he will give you the power to obey.  Without aid from the power of the Lord that man never could have stretched forth his withered hand; but the instant he was willing to obey, that very instant he received the power to obey.

Again he says:  “Give me thy heart.”  But your heart is all withered too.  It is so chilled and blighted by the cold, and damp, and darkness of sin, that, like the man’s right hand, without help of the Lord, it is powerless.  But the instant you feel a desire to give your heart to the Lord, such desire as the blind beggar had to receive his sight; such desire as the poor leper had to be cleansed; such desire as the publican had that God would be merciful to him a sinner; I say the instant you feel such desire to give your heart to God, that instant he will give you power to do so.  It surely was a great relief to that man to have his withered hand restored to healthy activity.  It may not have been very painful; indeed, it may have been so lifeless that there was not much feeling in it.  So it may be with your heart.  And let me say to you that if you really give God your heart in faith and love he will so effectually heal it that it will beat with new life, and the warm blood of love and truth from his Word will flow through it until your greatest joy will be found in doing his will.

Stay twenty-first night in Benton.

WEDNESDAY, May 24.  Stay twenty-second night at Lupton’s.

THURSDAY, May 25.  Go to Squire Knapp’s and make deeds.  Then to meeting at Brother Heastand’s.  Part of John 1 is read.  In afternoon return to Lupton’s and finish business with him.  Stay twenty-third night at Lupton’s.  Fine weather.

FRIDAY, May 26.  Stay twenty-fourth night at Brother Jacob Bowers’s. 
Beautiful weather.

SATURDAY, May 27.  Council meeting at Brother Jacob Bowers’s, Jr.  Night meeting at Brother Thomas’s, where we stay twenty-fifth night.  Fine weather continues.

SUNDAY, May 28.  Meeting at Brother Jacob Bowers’s, Sr.  Speak from Matthew 3.  John’s baptism was unto repentance.  The people came to him and were immersed of him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.  This was their first step in repentance.  From this they were to keep on bringing forth fruits meet for, or corresponding to, repentance.  The outside life was to be the exponent of the penitent heart within.  He also pointed them to him who was to come after him, that is, Christ.  He would baptize them in the Holy Spirit and fire.  This was literally fulfilled on the day of Pentecost.  Baptize one person to-day.  Stay twenty-sixth night at Brother Rotebauch’s.

MONDAY, May 29.  Go westward to Daniel Miller’s, Solomon Wine’s, Jacob Miller’s, and stay twenty-seventh night at Samuel Miller’s.