God Is Clearly Seen In What He Has Made
John Hambleton, a rebellious young man was convinced of the existence of God and set on the path to repentance when on an eventful night, the Holy Spirit led him to experience the sure evidence of God in the beauty and resplendence of nature.
Following excerpt from 14% into The Converted Actor by E. H. Bennett
Describing that eventful night he said:—“I shall never forget the hours spent ‘Alone with God ’ as I roamed along the shore, and my spirit seemed awakening to hear His voice reminding me of the fact that, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge.’ ...
"As I lifted my eyes and saw the full moon shedding upon me its soft, mellow light, and the clustering stars in the firmament above, which seemed to fix their tiny eyes upon me, the weary prodigal, a voice within seemed to enquire, ‘Who made those planets you are gazing upon, and what power created and sustains all the sublime mechanism of the universe?’
"The tiniest flower, and even the blades of grass and shrubs, seemed to speak of an Infinite Creator, and to shame all the boastings of science and philosophy. As I watched the fruit trees they seemed to ask me ‘Who causes our branches to bud and blossom? Who sends the rain and fruitful seasons which fills men’s hearts with food and gladness?’ Everything thus in nature seemed to have a voice to my soul and prove the existence of that Supreme Being whose glorious attributes are unfolded in the Scriptures of Truth.
"... Every hour’s experience during that memorable night forced upon my soul the conviction that ‘God is the Creator and Sovereign Lord of All.’ For the deep consciousness that ‘In Him we live, move, and have our being,’ was then impressed upon my soul.“ Without doubt the Holy Spirit was thus leading me into a new experience, bringing to my remembrance texts of Scripture learnt in my infancy, but long forgotten, and thus shedding beams of heavenly light into my benighted soul.
“These were some of the marvellous links in the chain of God’s providential dealings with me that were used to turn my feet from paths of sin and folly into ‘ His ways of pleasantness and His paths of peace.’
"As I lifted my eyes and saw the full moon shedding upon me its soft, mellow light, and the clustering stars in the firmament above, which seemed to fix their tiny eyes upon me, the weary prodigal, a voice within seemed to enquire, ‘Who made those planets you are gazing upon, and what power created and sustains all the sublime mechanism of the universe?’
"The tiniest flower, and even the blades of grass and shrubs, seemed to speak of an Infinite Creator, and to shame all the boastings of science and philosophy. As I watched the fruit trees they seemed to ask me ‘Who causes our branches to bud and blossom? Who sends the rain and fruitful seasons which fills men’s hearts with food and gladness?’ Everything thus in nature seemed to have a voice to my soul and prove the existence of that Supreme Being whose glorious attributes are unfolded in the Scriptures of Truth.
"... Every hour’s experience during that memorable night forced upon my soul the conviction that ‘God is the Creator and Sovereign Lord of All.’ For the deep consciousness that ‘In Him we live, move, and have our being,’ was then impressed upon my soul.“ Without doubt the Holy Spirit was thus leading me into a new experience, bringing to my remembrance texts of Scripture learnt in my infancy, but long forgotten, and thus shedding beams of heavenly light into my benighted soul.
“These were some of the marvellous links in the chain of God’s providential dealings with me that were used to turn my feet from paths of sin and folly into ‘ His ways of pleasantness and His paths of peace.’
The Converted Actor
by E. H. Bennett
| Genre: | Biography or personal narrative |
| Subject: | John Hambleton |
| Publisher: | Walter G. Wheeler & Co. |
| Year: | 1900 |
| Location: | London |
| Library: | Brethren Archive |
| Online: | https://www.brethrenarchive.org/bookshel... |
Scripture Testimony Index stories in this book
John Hambleton writes glowingly about his mother and the Godly heritage handed down to him by her words and personal example.
For sixteen years, John Hambleton rebelled against God and his family. Bad friends were a terrible influence on him, helping him to continue in rebellion.
John Hambleton, a rebellious young man was convinced of the existence of God and set on the path to repentance when on an eventful night, the Holy Spirit led him to experience the sure evidence of God in the beauty and resplendence of nature.
In a terrific dream one night, John Hambleton who was at the time wallowing in sin, saw visions of his Christian mother in heaven - a blessing he wanted to share in, and also visions of hell where the unrepentant suffered. That dream left an impression that stayed with John even after his conversion.
Driven by the compassion of God, John Hambleton led a homeless girl to Christ, took her to his sister's home for shelter and helped reconcile the young girl with her embittered parents.
A teetotal reformer and advocate for temperance met John Hambleton at a watering place and argued that the gospel had failed in it's mission to to save men from sin, but beautifully and courageously, John made a case for the gospel being the power of God unto salvation.
John Hambleton witnesses to an old man at a bridge in Hereford, bringing hope to the once hopeless old man who departed the scene rejoicing in his newfound hope.
Though convicted of his sinfulness, Henry Reed found no reprieve for his condemned state and so remained utterly miserable. All his attempts at earning salvation failed and he knew no joy until realized that, "By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."
Evangelist John Hambleton spoke to a group of upper class, respectable and religious, people about the need to be born again. One woman was so offended that she left the room. But that night God gave her a dream that revealed her true heart condition.