A man finds readiness for God's kingdom through prayer and surrender, not self-effort.
A recruiting-officer in Massachusetts heard that a young man was ready to enlist, and hastened to call upon him. He was put off with the statement, that he was not ready yet. The call was several times repeated, with like results. This vacillation seemed strange to those who knew the young man's straightforward character. Afterwards, he confessed that he did not wish to enlist till he felt himself ready to die. He was profane and wicked, as were all his friends and associates, save one sister. He did not have confidence enough to communicate his feelings to any one, but purloined his sister's Bible, and began to read at the beginning, to learn how to become a Christian. He came to the Commandments in course, and in them thought he had found that which would prepare him to enlist. He learned them by heart, and then tried to keep them. He was conscious of breaking only one, that against profanity. Against this, he struggled; but the more he struggled, the more he swore. He then thought he would try prayer. He could not put off the recruiting-officer much longer. He knelt, and cried out in much abasement and excitement. "Lord, help, help!" His prayer was answered. He passed the provocations of the next day without an oath. When the recruiting-officer next came, he put down his name, and said, "Now, I am ready to face any thing; rebels or death." He went before the church, and told his experience, and was reminded that he had said nothing about Jesus. His explanation was, that he had not got to him yet in his Bible. He had read to the Psalms, but thought he must begin at the other end to find Jesus. He went to the army, as every one should enter the battle of life, a happy Christian, ready to do, suffer, or die.
