Hope For the Hopeless. An Autobiography of John Vine Hall ... Ed. by Rev. Newman Hall ... Abridged With the Author'S Sanction.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865 edition. Excerpt: ...to retreat from their accursed bane; yet from the almost insurmountable difficulty of the way, they remain engulfed till death overtakes them with all the horrors of a guilty conscience. I have been upon the very verge of this destruction, but the Lord stretched forth his mighty arm and snatched me from the yawning gulf. I knew personally a fine young man in Worcestershire, the eldest son of a wealthy baronet, who accompanied one of his college friends into Scotland during a vacation, and while there imbibed such a habit of drinking whiskey, that when he returned to his father's house he found the dreadful poison to be irresistible; but, being a young man of superior attainments, the degradation of his mind became insupportable, and in an agony of despair he committed suicide to avoid the shame of being a drunkard. I have been tempted to do the same, but God preserved me. Dec. 10. Study Op The Scriptuees. Although I have now studied the blessed Scriptures many years, yet I find new beauties every day, and I have a clearer perception of passages which had not shone in my view before, or had been but little regarded. This is to me a decisive proof of the influences of the Holy Spirit in enlightening by degrees the mind which could not at first have encountered all the effulgence of divine truth. I rejoice in this gradual unfolding of the precious truth, because the soul is thus continually receiving new enjoyment, as well as renewed impulse to search after hidden treasure. Dec. 21. My dear boys were now returned from school; we were all seated round the table. My heart was surcharged with gratitude to God for his goodness in having preserved us. I could not refrain from tears. I addressed my dear children on the mercy of God, and told them how...