A "celebrated Christian," as he
was described to us, having heard of the hall, had volunteered to
engage in debate on the claims of the Old Testament to Divine
authority. He turned out to be a preacher whom we knew quite well.
He was introduced by his freethinking antagonist, who claimed for him
a respectful hearing. The preacher said that before beginning he
should like to "engage in prayer." Accordingly he came to the front
of the platform, lifted up his eyes, told God why he was there, and
besought Him to bless the discussion in the conversion "of these poor
wandering souls, who have said in their hearts that there is no God,
to a saving faith in Him and in the blood of Christ." I expected
that some resentment would be displayed when the wandering souls
found themselves treated like errant sheep, but to my surprise they
listened with perfect silence; and when he had said "Amen," there
were great clappings of hands, and cries of "Bravo." They evidently
considered the prayer merely as an elocutionary show-piece. The
preacher was much disconcerted, but he recovered himself, and began
his sermon, for it was nothing more. He enlarged on the fact that
men of the highest eminence had believed in the Old Testament.
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