Passing through a vineyard, he found
hidden among the vines a youth setting home gospel truth to a group
of others about his own age. At their request, he expounded the
parable of the ten virgins to them till it was time for forenoon
service; then they separated, to spend a few moments in private
devotion before entering the church.
In 1849, the pious men of the village divided it into districts, and
visited from house to house for religious conversation and prayer.
Meetings were held daily, and well attended. The most abandoned
persons were hopefully converted. Crimes committed twenty-five years
before were confessed, and restitution made. One Sabbath in
February, Mr. Stocking and Mar Yohanan found a large assembly in the
house of Mar Elias, listening to an exhortation from Priest Abraham.
Mar Yohanan, who had not been there since his conversion a little
while before, was then called on, and spoke of himself as the chief
of sinners, having led more souls to destruction than any other of
his people, and being all covered with their blood. In regard to his
flock he said, the fattest he had eaten, the poorest he had cast
away, the lame and the sick he had neglected.
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