but he didn't know me--a hard, wicked sinner, who if half the crimes I
had committed were known I'd be put in prison for life. Would God help
such a one? I knew I was clean and had a good suit of clothes on, but,
oh! how I wished God would give me another chance! But I felt as if He
had no use for me.

The man put his hand on my shoulder and said, "I want to be your friend;
will you let me?" I said I'd be proud of such a friend. "Now, Dave," he
said, "there's One better than I who will stick to you closer than a
brother; will you let Him be your friend?" I said I would, though I
doubted if He wanted any part of me, but I was going to make a try; and
the young man and myself knelt down in the Tabernacle, corner of Broome
Street and Centre Market Place, on the 16th of September, 1892, and I
asked God to have mercy on me, cut the drink out of my life, and make a
man of me, if such a thing could be done, for Christ's sake. I kept
praying that over and over again, the man still kneeling with me, when
all of a sudden I heard a voice say, "I will, Dave; only trust Me and
have faith." I heard those words just as sure as I am living, and
writing this book. None but a Christian can understand this voice;
others would say we are crazy who say such things; but it's true: only
have faith, and all things are yours. I've proved it!


A NEW MAN IN CHRIST JESUS

I rose from my knees a changed man. I can't explain it, but I felt as I
hadn't felt in years--lighter, happier, with a peace that was great in
my heart. I thought of mother and only wished she could see me then, but
she did all right.