PREFACE. WHY have I written this book? Because I want money. For what purpose? To make an effort, by the grace and under the direction of God, at demonstrating the uses to which He intended money should be applied. What are those uses? As He has revealed them to me, any measures, however crudely or with whatever elaborateness they may be prosecuted, which have the salvation of mankind and the glorification of His holy kingdom, are proper uses to which to apply money. How do I hope to accomplish such ends through the publication of this volume? Because I have faith that the story it tells will bring to others now in the clutches of the devil, the new and beautiful life which, praise God, has been bestowed on me. Because I have faith in God's love of business. He helps those who help themselves. No man has a right to ask for or expect to get something for nothing. I want money to enable me to enlarge my work and ability to do service, and I don't want to get that money in a way which would be unfair to God or man. Believing that this volumesolely for the lessons it presents-is worth full value of all that is asked for it, and confident that through God—not through Wills, mind you— it will prove of direct value to each reader, I herewith submit it without further apology, so far as myself and my venture are concerned. In beginning this first book-making venture, I want to place myself squarely with the reader by saying, that, while I am the author of the work, I did not do the editing. That has been done by a friend who, knowing both the old Wills and the new Wills, was sufficiently interested in the latter to undertake the work of preparing my manuscript for publication. "His chief regret," as he said, "viewing the enterprise both from religious and business standpoints, is that it was not practicable to present the story in fac-similes of the original manuscript." Therefore, in his behalf I desire to say that but little else has been done by him than to tie together in consecutive form, the material I have furnished. That my manuscript showed neither graceful diction or elegant chirography is not strange, when it is considered that I am, as everybody knows, not an educated man, as to book-learning. The only book about which I profess to have some knowledge is God's own Book, and all, or nearly all, that I know of that, has been revealed to me by His gracious goodness within the past seven years. Thus much explanatory will set us right as to the character of this volume; and now, as you are about to read of a man once a sinner, and almost hopeless in his devotion to the devil, I may be pardoned, I hope, for introducing copies of a few of my most highly prized testimonials. HENRY O. WILLS. TESTIMONIALS. FROM THE LATE GEORGE DUFFIELD, LL. D. H. O. WILLS: BLOOMFIELD, N. J., June 12, 1888. DEAR SIR, I was glad to receive your paper from Glenn's Falls. giving an account of your work there. For a month past I have been unable to write to any one, and only within two or three days have I gained a fighting chance for life. It is a great pleasure to me to know that you are still faithful in your labors for the salvation of human souls. It is a grand work-the grandest in which mortal men may be employed; and so long as you stick to your motto, "He died for me," I do not doubt of your success. This simple truth is mighty, through God, for the pulling down of the strongholds of sin and Satan. My brother, Bethune, unites with me in thanksgiving for what you have done and are still doing for the cause of our Savior, the Redeemer of the world. With love to you and Mrs. Wills, Fraternally yours, GEORGE DUffield. |