Burden of Sin Lifted Instantly Through Divine Mercy

During a Methodist revival in Kentucky when John Lowe Butler was in his early twenties, after weeks of seeking religion without satisfaction, he sat in a class meeting feeling awful. The class leader tried to encourage him, but to no purpose. As he sat there thinking of his condition, he seemed to have a view of himself and thought he could see every sin he ever committed. In this state, his seat seemed to be sinking from under him, and he felt with all his soul moved to call upon the Lord God to forgive him as a sinner. All of an instant, the burden left him and he felt to rejoice for a minute or two. Then he stopped to think what such a sudden change meant. In that moment, a voice whispered to him and said, 'You have yet to preach the gospel to the world.' This divine communication through an inner voice, combined with the instantaneous removal of his guilt and burden, became a defining moment that would guide him toward his later calling in the Restoration.