It is easy to give up and die. I can look back and see many places I could have said "Yes" to death and gone to heaven, but I insisted on living. I am satisfied many people die before their time and others go through life grunting when they ought to be an inspiration in the earth. It is the devil's doctrine that "What is, had to be." Because my brothers and sisters died with consumption at a certain age, therefore I must go at about the same age. Absurd!

I well remember when at the age of twenty-two, a boy preacher and a thousand miles from home, I came down with that dread disease tuberculosis, which had taken so many of our family. When the doctor left my bedside, I overheard him say in the kitchen: "It is too bad to see a young man like that die, who wants to live and be a blessing." This aroused me and I whispered (for my voice was gone) to my attendant to bring a pencil. I sat up on one elbow and wrote to Rev. Osborn, whom I knew in an adjoining town : "Dear Fred, come over quick, I am dying." He came and for twelve hours prayed in an undertone in my room and in the adjoining one. I can see now why it required so long for him to create an atmosphere in which it would be easy to believe for healing. This was over fifty years ago and there were few then who believed and taught Divine healing. One reason why more are not permanently healed today is that they do not prepare the way by fasting, repentance, and prayer. Hence there is no atmosphere to inspire living faith; there is no well-grounded expectancy. Preachers are largely responsible. They should teach the people. Well, after twelve hours of praying down the healing power of God, I whispered, "Get a blanket, wrap it around me and lead me out to the other room," where I sat in a rocker by the fire. Here I entered into a special covenant with God: If He would heal me, I would go forth and preach, without fear or favor, everything I found in the Book. He quickened my mortal body, my speech returned, and I said, I am healed."

Next morning Fred went to the doctor, telling him he need not come to see me any more. Excitedly the doctor asked, "Is he dead?" "No, he is up and dressed." "Well, I must go and see him at once, for he must be out of his head." He came and, staring at me, asked what all this meant. I told him God had arrived ahead of him and healed me. After taking my temperature, he remarked, "This is wonderful! Your temperature last night registered one hundred and four and one half and now it is normal."

That day I walked up town, snow being a foot deep. Business men said I was crazy and should be in bed. I replied that I was healed, but they, as in the days of Christ, "laughed me to scorn." I gained seven pounds the first twelve days and have been going like a race horse ever since. I am satisfied that I would have died had it not been for the power of God prayed down. Lord, teach as how to pray!