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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14716-0.txt b/14716-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b412e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/14716-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1680 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14716 *** + +THE + +ART OF SOUL-WINNING. + + +(SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PERSONAL WORKERS.) + + +BY + +J.W. MAHOOD, EVANGELIST, + +Author of "The Missing Wheel Found," and joint-author of "The Young +People's History of Methodism." + + +"_And he brought him to Jesus._" + + + +CINCINNATI: JENNINGS & PYE. + +NEW YORK: EATON & MAINS. + +1901 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Never was there such great need for a mighty, Pentecostal revival in all +our Churches; and the key to such a revival is earnest personal work. +But the membership of the Churches are not prepared to enter upon this +work. Multitudes know nothing of a personal Pentecost. Many are utterly +indifferent. They do not realize their opportunity and responsibility +before God. If they did, the revival would come at once. + +With the hope that many professing Christians may be awakened to duty, +and hear God's call to personal work in soul-winning, this little volume +is written. + +Let the pastor see that a copy is put into every home one month previous +to the time set for special revival-meetings. Let him secure a pledge +from the people to read the study for each day, commit the memory +verses, and meditate upon the Scripture suggested. + +Once each week, either at a special meeting appointed for this purpose, +at the week-night prayer-meeting, or at the young people's devotional +meeting Sunday evening, let the studies for the week be reviewed and the +memory verses recited. Short talks may also be given on each topic by +persons previously selected. + +When the entire Church membership shall begin to think and speak upon +these vital themes; when the spirit of grace and supplication shall take +the place of formality and worldly desire; when the Holy Ghost of +Pentecost shall come upon the waiting, praying Church, then the times of +refreshing will be sure to come from the presence of the Lord, and the +perishing multitudes will be saved. + +Sioux City, Iowa. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +FIRST WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE. + +"THE LOVE OF CHRIST." + + PAGE +STUDY I Foreword and Appeal 9 +STUDY II The Lord's Command 12 +STUDY III By Personal Effort 15 +STUDY IV Trophies of Personal Effort 18 +STUDY V The Worth of a Soul 21 +STUDY VI The Death of a Soul 24 +STUDY VII The Supreme Motive 27 + + +SECOND WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE. + +"YIELD YOURSELVES TO GOD." + +STUDY VIII A Definite Experience 33 +STUDY IX A Complete Surrender 36 +STUDY X The Spirit's Witness 39 +STUDY XI Every Weight 42 +STUDY XII Prayer 45 +STUDY XIII Faith 48 +STUDY XIV Self-Sacrifice 51 + + +THIRD WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT. + +"COMPLETELY FURNISHED." + + PAGE +STUDY XV Knowledge of the Scripture 57 +STUDY XVI Tact 60 +STUDY XVII Earnestness 63 +STUDY XVIII Perseverance 66 +STUDY XIX Tenderness 69 +STUDY XX Burden for Souls 72 +STUDY XXI A Personal Pentecost 75 + + +FOURTH WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS. + +"BY ALL MEANS." + +STUDY XXII Direct Approach 81 +STUDY XXIII Correspondence 85 +STUDY XXIV Tracts and Books 88 +STUDY XXV The Prayer List 91 +STUDY XXVI Work Among Students 93 +STUDY XXVII Meeting Objections 96 +STUDY XXVIII No Effort in Vain 100 + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE. + +"FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST." + + + + +STUDY I. + +FOREWORD AND APPEAL. + +Memory Verse: "And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of + the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars + for ever and ever."--(Dan. xii, 3.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Matt. vi, 19-23; Rev. iii, 14-22. + + +Fred B---- was a medical student. He was stricken, with that dreaded +scourge, consumption. The physicians advised a trip to the mountains. +During the first few months among the Rockies he improved rapidly, and +hope and ambition flamed anew; but it was only a brief respite from +suffering before the final collapse. Lying in a Denver hospital, he was +visited by some consecrated young people, who sang and prayed with him. +He yielded himself to Christ, and the peace of God filled his heart. + +They brought him home to a little Iowa city to die. The day after his +arrival the pastor was summoned to his bedside, when the young man +related the circumstances of his conversion. The pastor said, "Then you +are not afraid to die?" "No," said he, "_not afraid, but not ready_." + +When asked why he was not ready, he replied: "I have done nothing for my +Master. I have won no souls for him. Could I have six months more to +live that I might bring some souls to Jesus, and thus not go into his +presence empty-handed, I would be satisfied to die. _I am not afraid to +die, but not ready._" Just then the door of the room opened, and the +dying boy's father, an old, white-haired man who had been absent from +home and had not seen his son since his return, came in. The old man was +not a Christian. Then occurred a pathetic scene. The young man threw his +arms about his father's neck, and drew him down upon his knees at the +bedside, urged him to give himself to God, and then, with shortening +breath, uttered such a prayer of intercession as is seldom heard. The +old man sobbed aloud, yielded to Christ, declared his faith, and the +dying boy had won one soul for his Master. In a few hours he had gone +into the presence of the King; _but not empty-handed_. + +O ye to whom God has given the strength and vigor of manhood and +womanhood, and who have pledged your allegiance to the Christ of +Calvary, are you winning any souls for your Master? Or are you going +into his presence _empty-handed_? What if in the judgment-day it shall +be seen that some souls who might have been saved have been lost through +your neglect? What if it shall then be seen that the crown of many stars +which you might have won is given to another? And what, if in the great +day of his appearing you shall be found, having gathered no sheaves and +_empty-handed_? + + + + +STUDY II. + +THE LORD'S COMMAND. + +Memory Verse: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every + creature."--(Mark xvi, 15.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Ezek. xxxiii, 1-11. + + +By the Master's final words to his disciples the obligation is laid upon +every Christian to be a soul-winner. "Ye shall be my witnesses," is the +risen Lord's message to all his followers. No one is excused. "Follow +me," said Christ, "and I will make you fishers of men." And when his +face was set toward Calvary, he said to the Father, "As thou hast sent +me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." By the +mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, God distinctly says that, if we neglect +"to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his +iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." We are all +_sent_, and if we shrink or excuse ourselves from our great mission we +shall come into condemnation. + +The unsaved multitudes know that every Christian should be an ambassador +for Christ, and when we fail to do our duty we are condemned in their +eyes as well as before God. A writer in the _Epworth Era_ says: + +"A college professor who was noted among his fellow-teachers for his +habit of addressing young men upon their personal relations to Christ, +was asked by one of his fellow-professors, 'Do they not resent your +appeals as an impertinence?' He replied: 'No! Nothing is of such +interest to any man as his own soul and its condition. He will never +resent words of warning or comfort if they are prompted by genuine +feeling. When I was a young man, I felt as you do. My wife's cousin, a +young fellow not yet of age, lived in our house for six months. My dread +of meddling was such that I never asked him to be present at family +worship, or spoke to him on the subject of religion. He fell into the +company of a wild set, and was rapidly going to the bad. When I reasoned +with him I spoke of Christ. "Do you call yourself a Christian?" he +asked, assuming an astonished look. "I hope so," I replied. "But you are +not. If you were, he must be your Best Friend. Yet I have lived in your +house for six months, and you have never once named his name to me; no, +he is nothing to you!" I have never forgotten the rebuke.'" + + + + +STUDY III. + +BY PERSONAL EFFORT. + +Memory Verse: "And he brought him to Jesus."--(John i, 42.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John i, 35-45. + + +Have you ever noticed that much of the work which the Master and his +disciples did was "personal work?" Some of our Lord's greatest sermons +were preached to one person. The apostles were all won individually. +Turn to your Bible now, and read the account of the visit of Nicodemus +to Christ, and of the meeting with the woman of Samaria at the well. If +you take the time to follow this theme through the Gospels and through +the Acts of the Apostles, you will be sure to see that the work of +winning souls for Christ by personal effort is the work of every +Christian. + +And a conviction of this is the greatest need of the Church to-day. It +is the key to the twentieth-century revival. The world would be +evangelized in this generation did each professing Christian win only +one soul each year for Christ; and the great social and labor problems +of the day would be speedily solved were the great Christian Church +actively engaged in leading men and women to Jesus of Nazareth. Mightier +than the influence of great sermons and fine music and splendid ritual +is the influence of a life consecrated to personal effort in seeking the +lost. + +That remarkable soul-winner, Dr. J.O. Peck, now translated, said: "So +great is my conviction of the value of personal effort, as the result of +a lifework of winning souls, that I can not emphasize the method too +strongly. If it were revealed to me from heaven by the archangel Gabriel +that God had given me the certainty of ten years of life, and that as a +condition of my eternal salvation I must win a thousand souls to Christ +in that time; and if it were further conditioned to this, that I might +preach every day for the ten years, but might not personally appeal to +the unconverted outside the pulpit; or that I might not enter the pulpit +during these ten years, but might exclusively appeal to individuals, I +would not hesitate one moment to make the choice of personal effort as +the sole means to be used in securing the conversion of one thousand +souls necessary to my own salvation." + +Dr. Theodore Cuyler once said concerning the three thousand souls he had +received into Church fellowship during his ministry, "I have handled +every stone." + + + + +STUDY IV. + +TROPHIES OF PERSONAL EFFORT. + +Memory Verse: "And he that is wise winneth souls."--(Prov. xi, 30, R.V.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 2 Cor. v, 14-21. + + +Is it not a suggestive fact that nearly all those men who have shone +brightly in the galaxy of martyrs, preachers, and reformers in the +Christian Church through the centuries have been won to Christ by the +personal effort of some consecrated life? Think of some in our own age. + +Dwight L. Moody, when a clerk in a store, was visited by his +Sunday-school teacher, who put his hand upon the young man's shoulder +and talked to him about Christ; and Mr. Moody says, "I had not felt I +had a soul till then." + +Colonel H.H. Hadley, who has kneeled and prayed with over thirty-five +thousand drunkards, declares that one of the agencies which led him to +Christ was a brief interview with Chaplain (now Bishop) McCabe on a +railway-train in Ohio just after the Civil War. + +Lord Shaftesbury, one of the greatest Christian philanthropists of the +nineteenth century, was won for Christ in early boyhood by the effort of +Maria Willis, a servant-girl in his father's home. + +The conversion of Diaz, the great Cuban evangelist, was due to the +faithfulness of a consecrated young lady of Brooklyn. She found him in a +hospital at the point of death, procured a Spanish New Testament, read +to him the words of mercy and invitation, pointed him to Christ; and he +went back to his own country, a flaming herald of the gospel. + +J. Wilbur Chapman, one of the most successful pastor-evangelists of this +generation, says that while in a revival-meeting, when a boy, his +Sunday-school teacher touched him on the elbow, and said, "Do you not +think you had better stand?" and that one touch, as much as anything +else, pushed him into the kingdom. + +Joseph F. Berry, whose name is a household word in the Methodist +Episcopal Church, was led to Christ by two young friends who took the +young printer to his father's barn, and held a prayer-meeting with him, +which resulted in a glorious conversion. + + + + +STUDY V. + +THE WORTH OF A SOUL. + +Memory Verse: "For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, + and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his + soul?"--(Matt. xvi, 26.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 1-10. + + +What is a life worth? What is your life worth? What is the life of your +son or daughter or mother or wife worth? What would you take for a life? +But if the life of a dear one be worth so much to you, what must be its +value in God's sight, who sees to what depths a soul may plunge and to +what heights it may rise? It may be a small matter to you that in yonder +saloon is a man dissipated and drunken. But what if he were your father +or brother or husband? It may be a very small matter to you that the boy +whom you met on the street is puffing a cigarette and wears already +upon his face the marks of an evil life. But what if he were your boy or +your brother? Yet, in God's sight, his life is as valuable as if he were +your boy or your brother; and every soul is of infinite worth. + +Jesus Christ set a high estimate upon human life when he left his +Father's throne and came into this sin-cursed world to suffer and die +that he might redeem us from death. + +The Church of to-day needs a new vision of the worth of a soul. We need +to stand beside Calvary and see the price that was paid there for human +life. + +John Keble, the poet-preacher of the English Church, said that the +salvation of one soul is worth more than the framing of the Magna Charta +of a thousand worlds. + +It was meditation upon the words of the memory verse of this study that +fired the souls of Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier with a holy +enthusiasm to rescue the perishing multitudes. Had their successors and +disciples been, filled with the same enthusiasm, and kept themselves +free from the machinations of politics, they would have long since +evangelized the world, and Jesuitism would not have been "the scandal of +Christianity." + + + + +STUDY VI. + +THE DEATH OF A SOUL. + +Memory Verse: "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from + the error of his way shall save a soul from death."--(James v, 20.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xvi, 19-31. + + +What is death--the death of a soul? What is it to die eternally? In the +passage for meditation our Lord gives us a glimpse into the realms of +death. Surely the Son of God is not trifling here; nor does he speak to +confuse. For a moment the curtain is drawn, and we see what is actually +transpiring in the future world. In these days there is a disposition in +some quarters to make light of the future punishment of the wicked. Some +preachers are dumb upon the awful punishment of sin, or preach only half +a gospel, saying, as Bishop Warren puts it, "You must repent, as it +were; be converted, in a measure; or you will go to hell, so to speak." + +But Christ did not speak with any uncertain sound about the future +punishment of the impenitent. He is authority. Take your Bible and read +such passages as Matt. xxv, 41, 46; Matt. viii, 12; Luke xvi, 23; John +v, 29. + +In the light of these words, we must see that the death of a soul means +eternal separation from God, from mercy, and from heaven. + +And yet how indifferent we are concerning the unsaved multitudes all +about us who are drifting into a hopeless eternity. The Church needs a +vision like that of the little lad in Olive Schreiner's "Story of a +South African Farm," who, waking at midnight, sees multitudes drifting +over the precipice into eternal night, and throws himself on his face on +the floor, crying out in the agony of his burdened heart to God to have +mercy. + +Some one tells of a shepherd in the Far West who, on a dark, stormy +night, found three sheep missing. Going to the kennel where the +faithful shepherd-dog lay with her little family, he bade her go to find +the sheep. An hour afterwards she returned with two. When these had been +put in the fold, he said, "One sheep is yet missing. Go!" The faithful +dog took one mute look of despair at her little family, then was off in +the dark and the storm. In two hours she had returned with the lost +sheep, but was torn and bleeding, and, as she staggered toward the +kennel, fell dead at the door. But if a poor, dumb brute, with no +immortal hope, be obedient, even unto death, what shall we say of men +and women who know the destiny of the soul, and whom the King of kings +has bidden seek the lost, yet are disobedient, indifferent, and +thoughtless as to the dying multitudes about them? + + + + +STUDY VII. + +THE SUPREME MOTIVE. + +Memory Verse: "For the love of Christ constraineth us."--(2 Cor. v, 14.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. xiii, R.V. + + +But the supreme motive in all our efforts to win others should be "the +glory of God." Possessed of an undying love for him who first loved us, +we will have an inspiration to seek the lost for whom he gave his life. +And all our efforts shall be, as Paul puts it in his letter to the +Ephesians, "unto the praise of his glory." + + "The love of Christ doth me constrain + To seek the wandering souls of men." + +Love never faileth. Love knows no impossibility. He who works for wages +and he who works for love live in two different realms. A lot of men +were entombed in a coal-mine, and great crowds gathered to help clear +away the earth and rescue the miners. An old, gray-headed man came +running up, and, seizing a shovel, began working with the strength of +ten men. Some one asked to relieve the old man. "Get out of the way," he +cried; "I have two boys down there." + +Love will triumph; and he whose heart throbs with love to Christ will +find real joy in rescuing from sin those who are the purchase of his +blood, _that his name may be glorified_. + +Study his life of self-sacrifice. See again his suffering for sinful +men. Linger in Gethsemane, and behold the agony of Calvary. Then your +heart will begin to throb with love to him "who first loved us." + +Get a new vision of your crucified, but now risen, Savior, until the +beauty of his matchless life charms your heart and you are ready to say: + + "Come, and possess me whole, + Nor hence again remove; + But sup with me, and let the feast + Be everlasting love." + +Then you will possess the highest motive that moves human hearts, and +personal work in soul-winning will become a real delight. + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE. + +"YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD." + + + + +STUDY VIII. + +A DEFINITE EXPERIENCE. + +Memory Verse: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born + again, he can not see the kingdom of God."--(John iii, 3.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John iii, 1-15. + + +In a prayer-meeting a young lady was asked, "What is the first thing we +must do if we would win others to Christ?" She replied, "_We must live +holy ourselves._" She was right. Just as the telegraph wire must be +insulated, so must the life of him who expects to be the messenger of +God be insulated from the old life of sin before he can hope to carry +the loving messages of the gospel to other souls. + +This implies a definite experience of conversion. He who would engage in +this most fascinating of all work must have nothing short of an inner +consciousness of sins forgiven and of the presence of Christ in his +life. He must be able to say, like Andrew and like Philip of old, "I +have found him." He must know what it is to have "a new heart" and to +have peace with God. + +William Butler, the veteran missionary and soul-winner, now translated, +wrote the author of these studies a letter, in which he said: + +"First and foremost, I thank God for a true conversion. When I got +religion, I got it good and thorough. Christ became everything to me. +The law of sin, or temptation to worldly conformity of any kind, was +completely eradicated from my heart; and from that hour to this the law +of Christ has fully satisfied my soul, and made me gloriously free and +independent of the world and its maxims and pleasures. And now, after +fifty-five years' enjoyment of peace with God and humble devotion to his +service, I bless him that I ever gave him my heart and devoted myself to +his work. I am happy. The consoling comforts of the grace of God are +with me by day and by night, and the blessed future is radiant with the +hope of being 'numbered with the saints in glory everlasting.'" + +In these days of compromise and doubt we need to have as definite an +experience of salvation as had William Butler. He who would win others +to a new life must himself possess that life, and know it, being able to +say with Paul, "I know whom I have believed." + + + + +STUDY IX. + +A COMPLETE SURRENDER. + +Memory Verse: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, + that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable + unto God, which is your reasonable service."--(Rom. xii, 1.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Rom. vi, 1-13. + + +John Wesley said, "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but +sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be +clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of hell and set up +the kingdom of heaven upon the earth." + +A life surrendered to God will be an invincible life, while the life +only partly surrendered will know nothing but defeat. Someone says that, +in the transfer of property, any reservation implies, also, reserved +rights. If a man sells a ten-acre lot, and keeps a yard square in the +center for himself, he has a right of way across what he has sold to +get to his reservation. And if, in our surrender, we keep back anything, +"that constitutes the devil's territory, and he will trample over all we +call consecrated to get to his own." Therefore a complete surrender of +the life to God is absolutely necessary. + +To the rich young man who came to him, Jesus said, "One thing thou +lackest." He demanded an unconditional surrender of every interest of +his life. But the young man was not willing to make the surrender, and +went away sorrowful. Of every man and woman Jesus asks the same +surrender. But many now wander off in the darkness of formality and +doubt because they are not willing. Three things are implied in such a +surrender: (1) An acknowledgment of the Divine ownership and human +stewardship in all temporal affairs; (2) A complete submission of the +will to God; (3) The supremacy of Jesus Christ in the heart and life, so +that the interests of his kingdom are first, always, and everywhere. + +There is an old story of a monk who, having been disobedient to the +rules of the monastery, was told he must die. They took him out into the +graveyard, stood him upright in a grave, filled in the earth about his +feet. Then they asked, "Are you dead yet?" He said, "No." The earth was +then filled in about him to his waist, and the question again asked. He +replied, "No." Then they filled in the earth until he was covered, all +but his head, and could scarcely breathe. When asked if he would die, he +replied, "Yes, I will give up; I will die." So may we die to the old +life of self and sin, and live the new life of entire surrender to our +risen Lord! + + "If Christ would live and reign in me, + I must die, I must die. + Like him I crucified must be, + I must die, I must die. + So dead that no desire may rise, + To pass for good, or great, or wise, + To any but my Savior's eyes,-- + Let me die, let me die." + + + + +STUDY X. + +THE SPIRIT'S WITNESS. + +Memory Verse: "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that + we are children of God."--(Rom. viii, 16, R.V.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 John v, 1-15. + + +When the life has been wholly surrendered to God, and Christ, the +crucified and risen Savior, is enthroned in the heart and confessed +before men, then the blessed assurance of our sonship with God will be +clear and joyous. No longer shall we say, "I hope I am a Christian," or, +"I am trying to be a Christian;" but, like Paul, we shall exclaim, "I +know whom I have believed." + +The witness of the Spirit will give a holy confidence to the +soul-winner. + + "What we have seen and felt, + With confidence we tell." + +Much of the timidity and reluctance shown by Christians toward personal +work may be traced to a refusal or neglect to live the surrendered life +and have the clear assurance of acceptance with God. + +This direct testimony to our adoption is given only by the Holy Spirit, +and given only to believers because they are the sons of God. It is +God's seal which he places upon his own, and we then no longer receive +the spirit of bondage unto fear; but we receive the spirit of adoption +whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The voice of God is heard in the soul +bearing witness to our acceptance, and then the fruit of the Spirit +speedily follows in the life to corroborate the inner voice and "give +unmistakable confirmation to the testimony which was primary and +direct." + +To some, this assurance comes like a sudden flash from the sky; to +others, like the gentle breathing of the evening zephyr. But it comes, +_it surely comes_; and no soul should be satisfied until it comes; for +it is essential to a useful, joyous life. Look up now, and with eager +expectancy await the "blessed assurance." + + "Why should the children of a King + Go mourning all their days? + Great Comforter, descend and bring + The tokens of thy grace. + + Assure my conscience of her part + In the Redeemer's blood; + And bear thy witness with my heart, + That I am born of God. + + Thou art the earnest of His love, + The pledge of joys to come; + May thy blest wings, celestial Dove, + Safely convey me home!" + + + + +STUDY XI. + +EVERY WEIGHT. + +Memory Verse: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so + great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the + sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the + race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and + finisher of our faith."--(Heb. xii, 1, 2.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. viii, 9-13; ix, 24-27. + + +We hear much about "personal liberty" in these days, and, to hear some +talk, one would think that personal liberty was a gift to be selfishly +guarded rather than to be sacrificed for the good of others. But Paul, +the apostle, sacrificed his liberty for the sake of others; so did +Onesimus, the Christian slave. Surely those professing Christians who +make "personal liberty" their plea for engaging in some form of worldly +amusement (such as dancing, card-playing, or theater-going), and those +who are given to some filthy habit (such as the use of tobacco), have +not studied the life of Jesus, or of Paul, or of Onesimus. + +If there were no other reasons why these things should be renounced, +that they injure our influence as soul-winners would be sufficient; for +who ever heard of a man or woman who engaged in these forms of +questionable amusement becoming illustrious as a soul-winner? To say the +least, they are "weights," and must be laid aside. + +In a revival service, a lady rose, and, with tears raining down her +face, said: "I have taught a Sunday-school class of sixteen young men +for three years, and have not seen one of them converted. I believe I +know why, and now confess my sin. Being a teacher in the city schools, I +thought I must see a Shakespearean play, and went to the theater one +night. I saw several of my class there, and they all seemed to be +looking at me as if surprised. Next day I met some of them, and they +confessed surprise that I was at the theater. I have been conscious +from that time that I had lost my influence to win these young men to +Christ." Within one week after this confession was made this lady had +won seven of her class for the Savior. + +A young lady, once a society belle and fond of worldly amusements, +consecrated her life to the Lord's work. In a rescue mission she was +asked to speak to a poor wreck of a man who had been a gambler. He +looked at her suspiciously as he asked, "Do you play cards, or dance, or +go to the theater?" "No, not now," she replied. "Well, then you may talk +to me; but I won't listen to one word from you fine folks who are doing +on a small scale the very things that brought us poor wretches to where +we are." And the young lady afterwards said she had found more real joy +in leading that lost soul to Christ than she had ever found in the +pleasures of the world. + +_Lay aside every weight; lay aside every weight, just now._ + + + + +STUDY XII. + +PRAYER. + +Memory Verse: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth + much."--(James v, 16.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Gen. xxxii, 24-30; Luke xi, 1-13. + + +Nothing is more essential to the soul-winner than prayer. Prayer will +generate a spiritual atmosphere in the individual life. The prayers of +many will generate a spiritual atmosphere in a community. In answer to +prayer, the Holy Spirit will do his office, and produce such pungent +conviction of sin that men will carry out, as on the day of Pentecost, +"Men and brethren, what shall we do?" + +In the Life of Mr. Finney it is related that, during a revival at Rome, +New York, the air seemed surcharged with Divine power. A sheriff, who +had laughed about the meetings, came over from Utica. He felt this +strange influence when he crossed the old canal, a mile west of town. +When he sat in the hotel dining-room, he had to get up and go to the +window two or three times to divert his attention and keep from weeping. +After dinner he hurried away, but was afterwards converted. + +See what spiritual triumphs and great revivals the early Church +witnessed; but the secret of it all was that "they continued steadfastly +in prayers." Why is it that to-day many have so little courage and so +little power to win others to Christ? They neglect prayer. "They that +wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with +wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and +not faint." How little time we spend daily in prayer! Study the life of +Paul, and Savonarola, and Catherine of Siena, and Martin Luther, and +John Knox, and see how they all gave themselves continually to prayer, +and so prevailed. All they who have become illustrious as great +soul-winners have been, without exception, men and women mighty in +prayer. They came to understand that God's storehouses of wisdom, +prayer, and grace are inexhaustible, and with the key of prayer they +unlocked every door. + +Prayer avails for the salvation of others when every other means seems +to fail. The disciples spent ten days in prayer. Then came Pentecost and +a revival that brought thousands into the kingdom. John Livingstone, +with a few friends, spent a whole night in prayer, and the next day five +hundred persons gave themselves to Christ. Two sisters agreed to spend +the night in prayer in behalf of an unconverted brother. That night, +although twenty miles away, the young man tossed on his bed in agony of +conviction, and next day started for home, and found salvation. + +Prayer is omnipotent; and, if we would see the kingdom of Christ come +speedily in the world, we must have a great revival of prevailing +prayer. + + + + +STUDY XIII. + +FAITH. + +Memory Verse: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, + the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these + shall he do; because I go unto my Father."--(John xiv, 12.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Heb. xi. + + +Not the mystery of faith, nor the philosophy of faith, does the +soul-winner need to study; but the simplicity, the childlikeness of +faith. To believe God implicitly is to have victorious faith. "I can do +all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," said Paul; and +everywhere in the Bible we find the clear teaching that "God and one +make a majority." To realize this in one's own life is to live the +victorious life. + +But perhaps we should distinguish between trust and saving faith. Trust +gives the life to God; faith takes from God that which he has promised +in his Word. Trust is continuous; faith is a definite act. "Faith is +the giving substance to things hoped for, the evidence of things not +seen." (Heb. xi, 1.) + +It is true that we walk by faith now; but faith has a clear eye. Faith +can see the clouds full of chariots and horses. Faith can see legions of +angels marshaling themselves for our defense. Faith can see that every +promise of God is steadfast, and will surely be fulfilled, and can claim +its fulfillment. + + "Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, + And looks to that alone; + Laughs at impossibilities, + And cries, 'It shall be done.'" + +Of Barnabas it is said, "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost +and of faith." The fullness of faith will make unbelief and moral +darkness impossible in the soul, and will generate a triumphant +confidence in God. + +To have faith is to have power; and the little child, as well as the +grown man, may possess this power, and exercise it in winning souls for +Jesus. A little girl who had bowed at the altar and given her heart to +God, pulled the pastor's coat at the close of the service, and said, +"Will you please pray for my mamma?" "Certainly," said the pastor. And +the next evening the little girl brought her mother to the service. When +the invitation was given, she took her hand and led her to the altar. +That little girl's faith won her mother to Christ. + +Faith will give courage for personal work. With a strong, unfaltering +confidence which takes God at his word, we shall not hesitate nor fear +to approach the unsaved and seek to win them to the Savior. + +Faith is nourished by the Word. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by +the Word of God." If we feed our faith upon the Word, and exercise it, +then we shall have the faith of those mentioned in the eleventh chapter +of Hebrews, and we shall prove the promise of the Savior, "All things +are possible to him that believeth." + + + + +STUDY XIV. + +SELF-SACRIFICE. + +Memory Verse: "For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and + whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."--(Matt. + xvi, 25.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Matt. xvi, 24; 2 Cor. iv. + + +The words of Christ, "If any man will come after me, let him deny +himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," can not be mistaken. The +earthly life of Jesus was a supreme example of self-sacrifice. All the +way from Bethlehem to Calvary his life was a constant denial of self. +The early Church followed their Master. They were ready to sacrifice +all. Men sold their fields and houses for the work's sake. They counted +nothing too good for sacrifice, even to life itself; and many went +gladly to the arena and the fiery stake rather than be untrue to their +Lord. As long as the early Christian Church maintained this spirit, she +went from victory to victory. Nothing could withstand her progress. And +when the followers of Jesus Christ in this twentieth century shall again +put on the beautiful garments of self-sacrifice, the Church will become +invincible. + +There is now a great opportunity for men and women to sacrifice, in +personal liberty, in popularity, in social standing, and personal +comfort, for the sake of the perishing multitudes. None are too poor, +none too old, to do something to win souls. + +An aged widow, who had all her money invested in a farm in a +drouth-stricken part of the West, found herself almost penniless. She +was compelled to find shelter in a Refuge Home. At first she was +discouraged and heart-broken; but God put upon her heart the multitudes +of perishing women in India. She tried to occupy her mind piecing a +quilt. This she sold, and the money was sent to India. Then she made +another for Africa, then another for Japan, until now, in six years, +she has given four hundred dollars to home and foreign missions, and has +six people at work as her substitutes in foreign lands. And she says, "I +was surely called of God to teach that no one is too poor to give to +missions, or too old to work for God and souls." + +A young man, twenty-four years old, working on a farm for twenty dollars +a month and board, has, in nineteen months, sent six substitutes, and +says, "I pray God to make me a Christian drunkard, that I may spend my +time and money for him as the drunkard does for the devil." And when the +whole Church shall begin to show the same spirit of self-sacrifice in +giving time and money, and in sacrificing pleasure and comfort and +social standing for the Lord's work, and for dying multitudes about +them, then we shall soon see the dawn of the millennial day. + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT. + +"COMPLETELY FURNISHED." + + + + +STUDY XV. + +KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES. + +Memory Verse: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all + wisdom."--(Col. iii, 16.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Heb. iv, 12; 2 Tim. iii, 13-17; Ps. cxix, + 1-11. + + +A thorough knowledge of the Word of God is essential to success in +soul-winning. The Word is "the sword of the Spirit," "the hammer that +breaketh the rock in pieces." If we are not skilled in the use of the +Divine sword and the Divine hammer, then we can not expect that the +Spirit will use us. + +In an excellent little book on "How to Obtain the Fullness of Power," +Dr. R.A. Torrey says: + +"There can be no fullness of life and service if the Bible is neglected. +In much that is now written on power; also in much that is said in +conventions, this fact is overlooked. The work of the Holy Spirit is +magnified; but the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works is +largely forgotten. The result is transient enthusiasm and activity, but +no steady continuance and increase in power and usefulness. We can not +obtain power, and we can not maintain power, in our own lives and in our +work for others, unless there is deep and frequent meditation upon the +Word of God.... Of course, it is much easier, and therefore much more +agreeable to our spiritual laziness, to go to a convention or +revival-meeting, and claim a 'filling with the Holy Spirit,' than it is +to peg along, day after day, month after month, year after year, digging +into the Word of God. But a 'filling of the Spirit,' that is not +maintained by a persistent study of the Word will soon vanish.... +Evidently Paul knew of no filling with the Spirit divorced from deep and +constant meditation upon the Word." + +The most remarkable movement among young men in this generation is the +World's Christian Student Federation, organized by Mr. John R. Mott. +Through this movement multitudes of young men the world over have been +led to keep what is called "The Morning Watch," by which they rise at +least half an hour earlier than usual each morning, and spend the time +in devotional Bible-study and prayer. What a mighty impetus would be +given to Christian work everywhere if all Christian young people would +form the habit of keeping "The Morning Watch!" + +Have a plan for your Bible study, and faithfully follow it. Commit to +memory the texts found in Study Twenty-seven, and thus be able to use +skillfully the Sword of the Spirit. + + + + +STUDY XVI. + +TACT. + +Memory Verse: "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all + means save some."--(1 Cor. ix, 22.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. ix, 19-27. + + +The successful business man knows the value of tact, and the Christian +worker should know the value of consecrated tact. A special study of the +life of Christ to notice his methods of dealing with various people, and +to see the aptness with which he used parable and exhortation, would +prove very helpful to every soul-winner. The life of Paul might also be +studied in the same manner with profit. He knew how to become all things +to all men to save some. + +Christ's exhortation to his disciples was, "Be ye as wise as serpents," +but how little wisdom many seem to have in seeking to win the unsaved to +Christ! And this, too, when we have the promise, "If any of you lack +wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and +upbraideth not: and it shall be given him." + +"Now if I could tell you," said a pastor to an unsaved business man, who +had been relating how much a friend had helped him in business, "how +much Christ has helped me, and what he has been to me, I believe I could +win you to him." + +The value of tact was well illustrated in an incident which occurred +during Mr. Finney's meetings in New York City. The big cutlery firm of +Sheffield, England, had a branch house in New York. The manager was a +partner of the firm, and very worldly. One of his clerks, who had been +converted in the meetings, invited his employer to attend. One evening +he was there, and sat just across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He +appeared affected during the sermon, and Mr. Tappan kept his eye on him. +After the dismissal, Mr. Tappan stepped quickly across the aisle, +introduced himself, and invited him to stay for the after-service. The +gentleman tried to excuse himself and get away, but Mr. Tappan caught +hold of the button on his coat and said, "Now, do stay; I know you will +enjoy it;" and he was so kind and gentlemanly that the cutlery man could +not very well refuse. He staid, and was converted. Afterwards he said, +"An ounce of weight upon my coat-button saved my soul." + +To watch for opportunity, and then to know how effectively to make use +of the opportunity, is all-important in soul-winning. And there is no +better teacher than the Holy Spirit, of whom it is said, "He shall teach +you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance." + + + + +STUDY XVII. + +EARNESTNESS. + +Memory Verse: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy + might."--(Eccl. ix, 10.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Mark ii, 1-12. + + +The testimony of Charles H. Spurgeon should have weight here. He said: +"If a man is to be a soul-winner, there must be in him intensity of +emotion as well as sincerity of heart. You may repeat the most +affectionate exhortations in such a half-hearted manner that no one will +be moved either by love or fear. I believe that for soul-winning there +is more in this matter of earnestness than in almost anything else." + +When we become as much in earnest to rescue our friends and dear ones +from eternal death as we are to save them from physical suffering and +death, then we shall see the rapid spread of the kingdom of Christ. A +man falls overboard from the deck of a vessel, and his wife screams: +"Stop the boat! My God! My husband is drowning!" But no one criticises +the woman for her passionate outcry, or bids her keep still. It was so +natural for her to cry out for help. And when the Church of Jesus Christ +becomes thoroughly awake to the worth of a soul and the awful danger to +which all out of Christ are exposed, it will be the most natural thing +in the world for them to show an undying earnestness in seeking the +lost. Then propriety, and reticence, and restraint, and rules of +rhetoric will be thrown to the winds, and a divine passion will possess +the life. The world may sneer at it as fanaticism, but it is the +fanaticism of Pentecost. When the crowd saw the intensity of emotion +shown by the newly-anointed disciples, they exclaimed, "These men are +full of new wine." Here was shown an enthusiasm that leaps over all +difficulties and rises above every discouragement--the enthusiasm of +Pentecost; and every soul-winner must have it. Then, like Paul, wishing +himself accursed that Israel might be saved, or like John Welch, wrapped +in his plaid, kneeling in the snow, unable to sleep, and praying +mightily for the souls of men, this holy earnestness will not let us +rest until we see the salvation of the lost. + +It will tell in look, and tone, and manner. It may lead us to do things +that may shock the sense of propriety of the dead, formal Church member, +such as being obedient to the Master's command, "Go ye out into the +highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." Jeremiah preached +repentance in the streets; and the early Church preached everywhere, on +the streets, by the river's bank, in the market-places, and in prisons. +John Livingstone stood on a tombstone, and preached with such power in +the midst of a falling rain that multitudes were born in a day. So did +John Wesley. O that the great Church of Jesus Christ might now have the +enthusiasm of Pentecost! + + + + +STUDY XVIII. + +PERSEVERANCE. + +Memory Verse: "Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take no + rest."--(Isa. lxii, 6, R.V.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 1-10. + + +How we are willing to persevere to save our friends from physical +suffering and death! No night is too long to watch, no sacrifice too +great to make, no burden too heavy to bear, that the life of a loved one +may be saved. But should we not be just as persistent in our efforts to +save from eternal death those whom we love? + +Perhaps we have no more illustrious example of devotion to soul-winning +than evidenced in the life of Uncle John Vassar. Two incidents, related +by the Rev. Walter B. Vassar, illustrate the perseverance with which he +sought the perishing. + +A young man was noticed to come night after night to revival-meetings, +but would slip away before one could grasp his hand. Mr. Vassar felt he +must see this soul, and walked five miles to the farm where he lived, +arriving as the family was about to eat an early dinner, of which he was +urged to partake. After being seated, the face of the young man not +appearing in the family group, Mr. Vassar excused himself from the +table, and hunted through all the farm-buildings where a man might +possibly be in hiding. At last, when about to confess himself defeated, +he walked to the further end of the corn-crib, and there, in an old +hogshead, he found the fellow lying low. He confessed afterward that he +had taken satisfaction in looking through the bunghole of the hogshead, +in believing Uncle John would not find him there. But this "winner of +souls," knowing his opportunity, leaped over by the side of the runaway, +and then and there turned, as Charles Spurgeon has said, "the hogshead +into a Bethel," and won a soul for heaven. + +An Irish woman in a village was told about a strange man calling about +her place, and affirmed he would not be kindly treated if he knocked at +her door. Mr. Vassar, not knowing her feelings, came there in his +visits, but the moment she saw he was the man--according to the +description of him--she slammed the door in his face. He sat at once +upon her doorstep and began to sing: + + "But drops of grief can ne'er repay + The debt of love I owe." + +In a few weeks she wanted admission into the Protestant Church, and all +her experience was, "Those drops of grief, those drops of grief; I could +not get over them." + +See how men persevere to get rich or to gain political prestige! See how +insurance agents, and book agents, and traveling men persevere in their +efforts to convince men! They seek most favorable times, and then often +go again and again. And shall we who win immortal souls be any less +diligent? + + + + +STUDY XIX. + +TENDERNESS. + +Memory Verse: "I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life + for the sheep."--(John x, 12.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 3-7; John x, 1-18. + + +What infinite depths of tenderness are revealed in these sweet parables +of the Lost Sheep and the Good Shepherd! The tender, loving heart of the +Savior goes out in eager compassion and pity for the straying. What +boundless sympathy is revealed in the words, "He calleth his own sheep +by name;" "He goeth after that which is lost;" "When he hath found it, +he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing!" The seeker after souls must +be like his Master. A heart ready to melt at the sight of human +suffering and human need is necessary to successful soul-winning. There +are many whose hearts are hardened by long years of rebellion against +God; whose power of will is emasculated by long years of neglect; and +they will never be saved until some earnest Christian worker shall find +them, whose heart has been touched with the same sorrow that Jesus felt +when he stood on the Mount of Olives weeping over Jerusalem. + +J. Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, tells that when he was a +college student he had charge of a man with a gangrenous foot. It was +his duty to dress the man's foot every day. He soon learned that his +patient was not a Christian, and had not been in a church for forty +years. Such was his hatred of religion that he refused to go inside the +church at his wife's funeral. Young Taylor made up his mind to speak to +this man about his soul every time he visited him. The man cursed him, +and refused to allow him to pray. The student persisted in presenting +Christ until one day he said to himself, "It's no use," and was leaving +the room. When he reached the door, he turned around and saw the man +looking after him as if saying, "Why, you are going away to-day without +speaking to me about Christ!" Then the young man burst into tears, and +returning to the bedside, said: "Whether you wish me to or not, I must +deliver my soul. Will you let me pray with you?" The man assented, began +to weep, was converted. Mr. Taylor says, "God broke my heart, that +through me he might break this wicked man's heart." + +Ask now that the Holy Spirit may give you a tender heart, and make your +eyes a fountain of tears, that, with the sympathy of Christ, you may +seek the lost and perishing. + + + + +STUDY XX. + +BURDEN FOR SOULS. + +Memory Verse: "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ + for my brethren."--(Rom. ix, 3.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Gen. xviii, 16-33. + + +How the great heart of the Savior was burdened for the lost! See him +standing on Olivet and weeping as he said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou +that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, +how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen +gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" + +Where there is no real soul-burden for sinners, there will be no +revival. The early Church travailed in pain for the souls of dying men. +One preacher said, "As I entered the pulpit, I could scarcely stand +erect because of my concern for the people and solicitude for souls;" +and another said, "I spent a whole night in prayer, and what I passed +through was inexpressible." When we get a glimpse of the worth of a +soul, and then of the death of a soul, and begin to realize that we +stand between lost men and heaven or hell, then we shall have real +concern, and the Lord will hear our prayer of intercession. + +When Mr. Moody first went to London he preached in a Congregational +Church, Sunday morning. There was no particular stir. That evening he +spoke to a large audience of men in the same place, and scores expressed +a desire to become Christians. He went to Dublin next day, but was +recalled by a telegram saying that a great revival had broken out. And +Mr. Moody accounts for this wonderful work of grace which followed by +telling that, on that Sunday morning, a lady went home and told her +invalid sister that Mr. Moody from America had preached. "I know what +that means," said the invalid. "We are going to have a great revival. I +have been praying for months that the Lord would send him here." She +would not eat any dinner, but spent the day in fasting and prayer. The +revival began in that invalid's room. + +A gentleman waked his wife up at three o'clock in the morning to have +her join him in prayer in behalf of a neighboring family who were +unsaved; and at daybreak went to his neighbor's house to entreat them to +yield to Christ. + +When such concern for the perishing is manifested by the Church, there +is sure to be a gracious ingathering. + + + + +STUDY XXI. + +A PERSONAL PENTECOST. + +Memory Verse: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is + come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, + and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the + earth."--(Acts i, 8.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Acts ii, 1-4; xix, 1-6. + + +But, above all, the soul-winner must have _a personal Pentecost_. Christ +does not send us alone to seek the lost. In the fifteenth and sixteenth +chapters of St. John's Gospel, he definitely promises the Comforter. And +again, on the day of his ascension, he bids his disciples tarry at +Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost is come. Then as they waited, "with one +accord in one place," "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind +filled all the house where they were sitting, ... and they were all +filled with the Holy Ghost." Since that day the one supreme +qualification for Christ's witnesses is _the enduement with the Holy +Ghost_. He will give a better knowledge of the Scriptures; he will +re-enforce tact and earnestness and perseverance; he will give +tenderness of heart and the burden for souls. + +What a marvelous change the coming of the Spirit wrought in those +waiting disciples! They had forsaken him; they had doubted his word; +Peter had denied him. But now they all became flaming evangels, and +"spake the word of God with boldness." + +A personal Pentecost will help the soul-winner to overcome timidity, +give utterance and a holy boldness, and make effective the words he +speaks. It is the supreme need of the Church to-day. God wants men and +women in every vocation of life who are Spirit-filled; and who, by +diligent study of the Word of God, by prayer, and by Christian +testimony, live a Spirit-filled life that is perennial. + +The personal worker will succeed only when endued and empowered with the +Holy Ghost. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman tells of a young Irishman who was a +member of his Church, and who had not had the educational advantages +many young people have. Dr. Chapman says: + +"With a heart burdened for the men of the city, I called together a few +of the men of the Church, and laying before them the plan I had in mind, +told them first of all that we could do nothing without the 'infilling +of the Holy Ghost.' + +"When this had been explained, I noticed this man leave the room. He did +not return while the meeting was in session. When I sought him I found +him in one of the lower rooms of the church, literally on his face +before God. He was in prayer. + +"I shall never forget his petition: 'O God, I plead with thee for this +blessing!' then, as if God were showing him what was in the way, he +said, 'My Father, I will give up every known sin, only I plead with thee +for power;' and then, as if his individual sins were passing before him, +he said again and again, 'I will give them up; I will give them up.' +Then, without any emotion, he rose from his knees, turned his face +heavenward, and simply said, 'And now I claim the blessing.' + +"For the first time he became sensible of my presence, and with a +shining countenance he reached out his hands to clasp mine. You could +feel the very presence of the Spirit as he said, 'I have received him; I +have received him!' And I believe he had, for in the next few months he +led more than sixty men into the kingdom of God. His whole life had been +transformed." + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS. + +"THAT I MAY, BY ALL MEANS, SAVE SOME." + + + + +STUDY XXII. + +DIRECT APPROACH. + +Memory Verse: "Jesus ... saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and + tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee."--(Mark v, + 19.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John iv, 1-42. + + +John Vassar, than whom there has been no more successful soul-winner for +a hundred years, accomplished his work through personal conversation, +and declared that the best method of dealing with souls is to strike +home at once with the most direct and searching question possible. +Without a word of introduction he would say, "Have you experienced that +great change called the new birth?" That question could not be easily +evaded. + +Study the methods of Christ in dealing with such as Nicodemus, the +Samaritan woman, and the rich young man. How eagerly he used every +opportunity! How his questions search the life! Without any apology, +how he thrusts home warning and entreaty! + +How easily we may lose opportunity to speak directly to men of their +danger! While the great Dr. Chalmers was a guest at the home of his +friend, a Highland country gentleman, his friend died suddenly. Dr. +Chalmers had never spoken to him about his soul. He was much distressed, +and said, "If I had only known that he was going to be taken from earth +so soon, how earnestly I would have pleaded with him about his soul!" + +Dr. J.E. Carson, of New York City, said to his congregation one Sunday +morning, that every saved man was either a channel through which the +Spirit of God was reaching the unsaved, or a barrier preventing the +Spirit doing his work. One of the trustees of the Church said to himself +on the way home, "Am I a channel, or a barrier?" That night he could not +sleep, and cried out, "O Lord, make me a channel!" Almost the first +thought that came was that there were some men in his employ to whom he +had never spoken a word about Jesus Christ. He confessed his fault, and +told the Lord that if he would make him a channel he would speak to +these men. The first man who entered his office the next morning was his +confidential clerk, who had been with him eighteen years. The merchant +said, "Edward, haven't I been a good employer to you?" "Yes, sir." "Have +not I treated you well?" "Yes, sir." "Why, sir, what have I done," said +the clerk, "that you are going to discharge me?" "Edward, I am on my way +to heaven, and I want you to go with me." Tears came into the eyes of +both men as Edward took the merchant's extended hand and said, "I will, +sir." Dr. Carson afterwards received eleven men into his Church because +this trustee had consented to be a channel for the Holy Spirit. + +Dr. Manley S. Hard talked with a physician about his soul, and, two days +after, the doctor entered the revival-meeting just before the +benediction, walked straight to the altar, and begged the people to +wait and pray for him, saying: + +"I know it is late and you are all tired, but I want you to stay a +little while and pray for me. This has been an awfully hard day. I have +ridden fifty miles and visited more than twenty patients, but I am the +sickest man of them all. Two sermons have been preached to me; a +faithful one yesterday by my pastor; the other this morning when I had +to tell a woman she had better get ready to die, for she could not live. +As I drove away I said to myself, 'You have warned another, but you are +not ready yourself.'" + +To go to a man and speak to him directly and plainly about his +responsibility to God, and warn him to flee from "the wrath to come," +may take more courage than to preach to a thousand; but it pays, and it +must be done if the dying multitudes are ever saved. + + + + +STUDY XXIII. + +CORRESPONDENCE. + +Memory Verse: "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with + mine own hand."--(Gal. vi, 11.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Philemon. + + +What a beautiful letter is that which Paul wrote to Philemon! How it +breathes affection, and sympathy, and tender entreaty! And it was +written _by his own hand_. Study this letter, and have your heart +saturated with its spirit. You will then know how to write "words that +touch" to your unsaved friends. + +There are special occasions [Transcriber's note: original reads +'ocasions'], such as the time of bereavement, of sickness, of trial, or +of success, when this method may be employed to advantage. Many a soul +has been won for Christ, and many a lonely life cheered by a +sympathetic, wisely-worded letter, winged by prayer. + +Sitting in a public park, a young man was seen poring over a letter +while the tears rained down his face, and he almost sobbed aloud. "It is +from my mother," he said. "She wrote it herself, and though I ran away +from home and broke her heart, yet she says that she still loves me, and +is praying for me, and wants me to come home." + +Dr. T.L. Cuyler went to make his first call on a rich merchant. It was a +cold winter evening, and as the door was opened when the minister was +leaving, a cold, piercing gale swept in. Dr. Cuyler said, "What an awful +night for the poor!" The merchant went back and brought a roll of +bank-bills, saying, "Give these to the poorest people you know." Some +days after, Dr. Cuyler wrote him, telling him how his bounty had +relieved many poor, and then added, "How is it that a man so kind to his +fellow-creatures has always been so unkind to his Savior as to refuse +him his heart?" That sentence touched him. He sent for the minister to +talk to him, was converted, and told Dr. Cuyler that he was the first +person in twenty years who had spoken to him about his soul. + +Do not allow letter-writing to excuse you from direct personal work; but +watch for opportunity to write, as well as speak, that "by all means you +may save some." + + + + +STUDY XXIV. + +TRACTS AND BOOKS. + +Memory Verse: "And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, + lo, a roll of a book was therein."--(Ezek. ii, 9.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Eccl. xi, 1; 1 Tim. iv, 7-16. + + +The influence of a tract or of a good book can not be estimated. Rev. J. +Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, was converted in boyhood +through reading a gospel tract which he found in his father's library. +"He had been frequently troubled about his soul, and had again and again +tried to become a Christian, but had failed so often that he had +concluded that there was no use in trying any more." + +An agent of the American Tract Society relates the following: + +"A man on a canal-boat received a tract, but to show his contempt for +the tract and its giver, took out his penknife and cut it up into +fantastic shapes. Then he held it up to the derision of the company. + +"In tearing it apart, one of the pieces clung to his knee. His eyes were +attracted by the only word on it--'eternity.' He turned it over, and +there was the word 'God.' + +"These ideas remained in his mind. He tried to laugh them off; then to +drink, to play cards in order to banish them. But they still clung to +him, and plagued him till he sought God and preparation for eternity." + +There is an old true story about a tract, that should be told over and +over again: + +A Puritan minister named Sibbs wrote a tract called "The Bruised Reed." +A copy of this was given by a humble layman to a little boy at whose +father's house he had been entertained over night. That boy was Richard +Baxter, and the book was the means of his conversion. Baxter wrote his +"Call to the Unconverted," and among the multitude led to Christ by it +was Philip Doddridge. Doddridge wrote "The Rise and Progress of Religion +in the Soul," and "the time would fail to tell" its blessed influence. +By it Wilberforce was converted, and of his life and labors volumes +could be written. Wilberforce wrote his "Practical View of +Christianity," and this led not only Dr. Chalmers into the truth, but +Legh Richmond to Christ. Richmond wrote "The Dairyman's Daughter," which +has been published in a hundred languages, and many million copies have +been sold. + +But he who would make the best use of good literature must be wise. How +little tact some workers have! In a hospital a tract-distributor handed +a leaflet on dancing to a poor fellow who had lost both limbs. Another +zealous young man gave a tract on "The Tobacco Habit" to a beautiful +cultured lady, the wife of a minister. A good supply of common sense is +just as necessary to success in the use of this method as in any other. + + + + +STUDY XXV. + +THE PRAYER LIST. + +Memory Verse: "I will pray for you unto the Lord."--(1 Sam. vii, 5.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xviii, 1-8. + + +One of the highest privileges of the Christian life is the privilege of +intercession for the unsaved. Every Christian may be an intercessor, and +bear to the mercy-seat, in the arms of prayer, some unsaved friend every +day. Have a prayer list. In a little memorandum-book write the names of +those whom you are anxious to see saved. Spread these names before the +Lord daily until your prayers are answered. + +One of the greatest Christian movements of modern times started with a +prayer-list carried in the vest-pocket of a commercial traveler, Mr. +E.R. Graves, traveling for a paper-house in New York City. He secured +permission from a merchant to allow his name to be entered on his +prayer-list. The merchant wrote his name in the traveler's book, and +then proceeded to inform Mr. Graves that he had determined not to be a +Christian, and that he had taken too big a contract if he expected to +pray him into the kingdom. But the traveler simply said, "I confidently +expect my prayer to be answered." When they met again the merchant had +been converted, and, amid tears of rejoicing, another name was checked +off the list. The merchant's name was Samuel M. Sayford. Mr. Sayford +became a secretary in the Young Men's Christian Association, and shortly +after met C.K. Ober, then a student at Williams College, and pushed him +out into Association work. Mr. Ober, in turn, found John E. Mott in +Cornell University, persuaded him to enter Association work among +students; and Mr. Mott, in the course of time, started on his journey +around the world, organizing the World's Christian Student Federation. + + + + +STUDY XXVI. + +WORK AMONG STUDENTS. + +Memory Verse: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did + beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled + to God."--(2 Cor. v, 20.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. ii. + + +No more fruitful and important field for personal work can be found than +in our educational institutions, and Christian students who make +soul-winning a habit of life may win many rich trophies for the Master. +Bishop H.W. Warren, when a Freshman in college, was led to an open +confession of Christ through a Saturday morning walk with a Junior, who +talked to him about his soul. + +Dr. J.W. Bashford, in _The Christian Student_, tells about "a Senior in +the Ohio Wesleyan University who was smitten with conviction because he +had neglected personal work for the Master. He intended to be a +minister, but had been indifferent to the spiritual welfare of his +student friends. He offered himself to Christ in full consecration, and +made a list of sixteen friends for whom he felt personal responsibility. +He engaged in systematic personal work with these friends, and had the +satisfaction before the year was completed of seeing every one of them +begin the Christian life. Six of his sixteen friends entered the +ministry, and some of them are even more talented and successful than +the student friend who led them to Christ." + +As a rule, young people during their college years are thoughtful and +easily reached; but if not saved before they leave the college halls and +begin the active work of life, they are almost certainly lost to the +kingdom. How often, because of timidity or carelessness, Christian +students and teachers allow this precious harvest time to go by, and +lose the opportunity to win a soul for Christ! + +A man, who is now an eminent and widely-known minister, says that he +roomed with a young man at college for two years, and never said a word +to him about his soul. When he was about to leave for home, his +room-mate said, "Why have you not spoken to me about my soul?" Said the +Christian student, "I thought you did not care for me to do so." The +young man replied, "Why, that is the very reason I roomed with you, and +there has never been a day for these two years that you could not have +done so." + +Let Christian students set out to win some trophies among their friends +and room-mates for Christ. The results of faithful personal work may not +be immediate or apparent, but the blessed Spirit of God will water the +seed. For thirteen months a college student prayed for and urged a +fellow-student to surrender to Christ, and died without seeing any +result of his efforts. But the seed was faithfully sown, and the young +man was afterwards converted, and became Bishop Hannington, the martyr +bishop of Africa. + + + + +STUDY XXVII. + +MEETING OBJECTIONS. + +Memory Verse: "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your + adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."--(Luke xxi, + 15.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John ix, 1-41. + + +The zealous personal worker will be met by objections; but it must be +remembered that these objections are often given for the sake of +argument, and often for the sake of something to say. They should be +squarely met, however, and answered; and the best way to answer such is +by Scripture. There is not an objection advanced by the unconverted that +can not be met and overcome by some passage of Scripture. Just as Jesus +in the wilderness met the tempter's arguments with "It is written," so +we may meet every argument of the objector with the Word. + +A faithful study of Christ's conversations with seeking souls, such as +Nicodemus and the rich young man, will also be helpful. + +Below are some of the objections usually given, with the Scripture +references that may be used to meet them. This arrangement of texts is +taken from "Personal Work," by S.M. Sayford, by consent of the +publishers: + +"I am good enough." (Gen. vi, 5; Ps. li, 5-7; Luke xviii, 19.) + +"I am as good as most Christians." (Rom. xiv, 10-12; 2 Cor. v, 10; Rev. +xx, 11; xii, 15.) + +"I have never done anything really bad." (Luke xvi, 15; James ii, 10.) + +"I can not give up my pleasures." (Eccl. ii, 1; xi, 9; Ps. xvi, 11.) + +"I know I shall fail." (John vi, 37; 2 Tim. i, 12; iv, 18.) + +"I can not now, but will some time." (Luke xiv, 17; Acts xxiv, 25; James +iv, 13, 14; Luke xii, 19, 20.) + +"I am too great a sinner." (Luke v, 32; xix, 10; 1 Tim. i, 15.) + +"My day of grace has past." (Ex. xxxiv, 5-7; 2 Chron. xxx, 9; Isa. lv, +7.) + +"I do not feel concerned." (Rom. xiii, 11; Eph. v, 14; Heb. ii, 3.) + +"I can not know that these things are true." (Acts xvii, 11; John v, 39; +vii, 17.) + +"It will cost me my living." (Matt. vi, 33; Ps. lxxxiv, 11; Rom. xiv, +8.) + +"It will prevent my becoming rich." (1 Tim. vi, 9, 10; Mark viii, 36, +37; Rev. iii, 17, 18.) + +"I can not hold my friends." (Matt. x, 37; xxii, 37; Phil. iii, 8.) + +"How may I know that Christ is the Son of God?" (John xx, 30, 31; x, +23-25; 1 John v, 13, 20; Mark iv, 11.) + +"How may I know that the Bible is true?" (John vii, 17.) + +"Will not God save me if I do my best?" (Eph. ii, 9; Titus iii, 5-8.) + +"Why must a man believe in Christ to be saved?" (John xiv, 6; Acts iv, +12; Gal. ii, 16; Rom. iii, 23, 26.) + +"How may I know I am forgiven?" (Ps. xxxii, 5; Prov. xxviii, 13; 1 John +i, 7-9.) + + + + +STUDY XXVIII. + +NO EFFORT IN VAIN. + +Memory Verse: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it + shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I + please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."--(Isa. + lv, 11.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John iv, 36; 1 Cor. xv, 58. + + +"Some day I hope you will preach the gospel," said an aged minister to a +little boy in England. That boy became Charles H. Spurgeon. That great +soul-winner, Mark Guy Pearse, says that when he was a boy his father +took him to see a saintly old lady, who laid her hand upon his head, +saying, "God bless the boy, and make him a minister." Mr. Pearse says +that, through this aged woman, God called him to the ministry. + +In a college chapel in Pennsylvania a Christian layman sat down beside a +boy and talked to him about Christ. That boy became Alfred Cookman, +whose name will be held in everlasting remembrance. + +An eminent lawyer of Minneapolis, converted a short time since, declares +that the earnest question, "Have you found Jesus?" spoken by a young +lady to his friend who sat by his side in a revival-meeting, and her +startled look, when she was answered roughly, followed him for fifteen +years until he was finally converted. + +No sincere effort for Christ can fail. To human eyes there may be little +encouragement, but his Word shall prevail. Every invitation and entreaty +shall in the end be, to those who reject it, the "savor of death unto +death," but to those who accept it, "the savor of life unto life." We +may go forth now, weeping, bearing precious seed; but some blessed day +we shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with +us. + +Perhaps we are too anxious to see results now. We do like to number the +converts, and add to the Church roll. Far better do our best for Christ +and souls, then leave the results to God. He will see that the seed, +faithfully planted, is watered, and that _no effort is in vain_. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Art of Soul-Winning, by J.W. Mahood + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14716 *** diff --git a/14716-h/14716-h.htm b/14716-h/14716-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a3a15ae --- /dev/null +++ b/14716-h/14716-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1791 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Art of Soul-Winning, by J.W. Mahood, Evangelist. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + P { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + + } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + } + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + ins.correction { + text-decoration:none; + border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .hanghead {font-weight: bold; text-indent: -3em; margin-left: 3em;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.iquote {display: block; margin-left: .3em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14716 ***</div> + +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1 style="font-size: 250%; font-variant: small-caps; ">Art of Soul-Winning.</h1> +<br /> + +<h4 style="font-variant: small-caps;">(Specially Adapted for Personal Workers.)</h4> +<br /><br /> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h2>J.W. MAHOOD, EVANGELIST,</h2> + +<h4>Author of "The Missing Wheel Found," and joint-author of<br /> +"The Young +People's History of Methodism."</h4> +<br /> +<hr style='width: 20%;' /> +<h4>"<i>And he brought him to Jesus.</i>"</h4> +<hr style='width: 20%;' /> +<br /> + +<h3>CINCINNATI: JENNINGS & PYE.</h3> + +<h3>NEW YORK: EATON & MAINS.</h3> + +<h3>1901</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Never was there such great need for a mighty, Pentecostal revival in all +our Churches; and the key to such a revival is earnest personal work. +But the membership of the Churches are not prepared to enter upon this +work. Multitudes know nothing of a personal Pentecost. Many are utterly +indifferent. They do not realize their opportunity and responsibility +before God. If they did, the revival would come at once.</p> + +<p>With the hope that many professing Christians may be awakened to duty, +and hear God's call to personal work in soul-winning, this little volume +is written.</p> + +<p>Let the pastor see that a copy is put into every home one month previous +to the time set for special revival-meetings. Let him secure a pledge +from the people to read the study for each day, commit the memory +verses, and meditate upon the Scripture suggested.</p> + +<p>Once each week, either at a special meeting appointed for this purpose, +at the week-night prayer-meeting, or at the young people's devotional +meeting Sunday evening, let the studies for the week be reviewed and the +memory verses recited. Short talks may also be given on each topic by +persons previously selected.</p> + +<p>When the entire Church membership shall begin to think and speak upon +these vital themes; when the spirit of grace and supplication shall take +the place of formality and worldly desire; when the Holy Ghost of +Pentecost shall come upon the waiting, praying Church, then the times of +refreshing will be sure to come from the presence of the Lord, and the +perishing multitudes will be saved.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sioux City, Iowa.</span></p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<center> +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_MOTIVE'>FIRST WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE. +<br /> +"THE LOVE OF CHRIST."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_I">STUDY I — Foreword and Appeal</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_II">STUDY II — The Lord's Command</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_III">STUDY III — By Personal Effort</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_IV">STUDY IV — Trophies of Personal Effort</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_V">STUDY V — The Worth of a Soul</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_VI">STUDY VI — The Death of a Soul</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_VII">STUDY VII — The Supreme Motive</a><br /> + +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_LIFE'>SECOND WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE. +<br /> +"YIELD YOURSELVES TO GOD."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_VIII">STUDY VIII — A Definite Experience</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_IX">STUDY IX — A Complete Surrender</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_X">STUDY X — The Spirit's Witness</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XI">STUDY XI — Every Weight</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XII">STUDY XII — Prayer</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XIII">STUDY XIII — Faith</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XIV">STUDY XIV — Self-Sacrifice</a><br /> + +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_EQUIPMENT'>THIRD WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT. +<br /> +"COMPLETELY FURNISHED."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_XV">STUDY XV — Knowledge of the Scripture</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XVI">STUDY XVI — Tact</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XVII">STUDY XVII — Earnestness</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XVIII">STUDY XVIII — Perseverance</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XIX">STUDY XIX — Tenderness</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XX">STUDY XX — Burden for Souls</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXI">STUDY XXI — A Personal Pentecost</a><br /> + +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_METHODS'>FOURTH WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS. +<br /> +"BY ALL MEANS."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_XXII">STUDY XXII — Direct Approach</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXIII">STUDY XXIII — Correspondence</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXIV">STUDY XXIV — Tracts and Books</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXV">STUDY XXV — The Prayer List</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXVI">STUDY XXVI — Work Among Students</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXVII">STUDY XXVII — Meeting Objections</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXVIII">STUDY XXVIII — No Effort in Vain</a><br /> +</center> +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_MOTIVE'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE.</h2> + +<h3>"FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_I'></a><h2>STUDY I.</h2> + +<h3>FOREWORD AND APPEAL.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of + the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars + for ever and ever."—(Dan. xii, 3.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Matt. vi, 19-23; Rev. iii, 14-22.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Fred B—— was a medical student. He was stricken, with that dreaded +scourge, consumption. The physicians advised a trip to the mountains. +During the first few months among the Rockies he improved rapidly, and +hope and ambition flamed anew; but it was only a brief respite from +suffering before the final collapse. Lying in a Denver hospital, he was +visited by some consecrated young people, who sang and prayed with him. +He yielded himself to Christ, and the peace of God filled his heart.</p> + +<p>They brought him home to a little Iowa city to die. The day after his +arrival the pastor was summoned to his bedside, when the young man +related the circumstances of his conversion. The pastor said, "Then you +are not afraid to die?" "No," said he, "<i>not afraid, but not ready</i>."</p> + +<p>When asked why he was not ready, he replied: "I have done nothing for my +Master. I have won no souls for him. Could I have six months more to +live that I might bring some souls to Jesus, and thus not go into his +presence empty-handed, I would be satisfied to die. <i>I am not afraid to +die, but not ready.</i>" Just then the door of the room opened, and the +dying boy's father, an old, white-haired man who had been absent from +home and had not seen his son since his return, came in. The old man was +not a Christian. Then occurred a pathetic scene. The young man threw his +arms about his father's neck, and drew him down upon his knees at the +bedside, urged him to give himself to God, and then, with shortening +breath, uttered such a prayer of intercession as is seldom heard. The +old man sobbed aloud, yielded to Christ, declared his faith, and the +dying boy had won one soul for his Master. In a few hours he had gone +into the presence of the King; <i>but not empty-handed</i>.</p> + +<p>O ye to whom God has given the strength and vigor of manhood and +womanhood, and who have pledged your allegiance to the Christ of +Calvary, are you winning any souls for your Master? Or are you going +into his presence <i>empty-handed</i>? What if in the judgment-day it shall +be seen that some souls who might have been saved have been lost through +your neglect? What if it shall then be seen that the crown of many stars +which you might have won is given to another? And what, if in the great +day of his appearing you shall be found, having gathered no sheaves and +<i>empty-handed</i>?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_II'></a><h2>STUDY II.</h2> + +<h3>THE LORD'S COMMAND.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"> +<p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every + creature."—(Mark xvi, 15.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Ezek. xxxiii, 1-11.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>By the Master's final words to his disciples the obligation is laid upon +every Christian to be a soul-winner. "Ye shall be my witnesses," is the +risen Lord's message to all his followers. No one is excused. "Follow +me," said Christ, "and I will make you fishers of men." And when his +face was set toward Calvary, he said to the Father, "As thou hast sent +me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." By the +mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, God distinctly says that, if we neglect +"to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his +iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." We are all +<i>sent</i>, and if we shrink or excuse ourselves from our great mission we +shall come into condemnation.</p> + +<p>The unsaved multitudes know that every Christian should be an ambassador +for Christ, and when we fail to do our duty we are condemned in their +eyes as well as before God. A writer in the <i>Epworth Era</i> says:</p> + +<p>"A college professor who was noted among his fellow-teachers for his +habit of addressing young men upon their personal relations to Christ, +was asked by one of his fellow-professors, 'Do they not resent your +appeals as an impertinence?' He replied: 'No! Nothing is of such +interest to any man as his own soul and its condition. He will never +resent words of warning or comfort if they are prompted by genuine +feeling. When I was a young man, I felt as you do. My wife's cousin, a +young fellow not yet of age, lived in our house for six months. My dread +of meddling was such that I never asked him to be present at family +worship, or spoke to him on the subject of religion. He fell into the +company of a wild set, and was rapidly going to the bad. When I reasoned +with him I spoke of Christ. "Do you call yourself a Christian?" he +asked, assuming an astonished look. "I hope so," I replied. "But you are +not. If you were, he must be your Best Friend. Yet I have lived in your +house for six months, and you have never once named his name to me; no, +he is nothing to you!" I have never forgotten the rebuke.'"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_III'></a><h2>STUDY III.</h2> + +<h3>BY PERSONAL EFFORT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And he brought him to Jesus."—(John i, 42.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John i, 35-45.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Have you ever noticed that much of the work which the Master and his +disciples did was "personal work?" Some of our Lord's greatest sermons +were preached to one person. The apostles were all won individually. +Turn to your Bible now, and read the account of the visit of Nicodemus +to Christ, and of the meeting with the woman of Samaria at the well. If +you take the time to follow this theme through the Gospels and through +the Acts of the Apostles, you will be sure to see that the work of +winning souls for Christ by personal effort is the work of every +Christian.</p> + +<p>And a conviction of this is the greatest need of the Church to-day. It +is the key to the twentieth-century revival. The world would be +evangelized in this generation did each professing Christian win only +one soul each year for Christ; and the great social and labor problems +of the day would be speedily solved were the great Christian Church +actively engaged in leading men and women to Jesus of Nazareth. Mightier +than the influence of great sermons and fine music and splendid ritual +is the influence of a life consecrated to personal effort in seeking the +lost.</p> + +<p>That remarkable soul-winner, Dr. J.O. Peck, now translated, said: "So +great is my conviction of the value of personal effort, as the result of +a lifework of winning souls, that I can not emphasize the method too +strongly. If it were revealed to me from heaven by the archangel Gabriel +that God had given me the certainty of ten years of life, and that as a +condition of my eternal salvation I must win a thousand souls to Christ +in that time; and if it were further conditioned to this, that I might +preach every day for the ten years, but might not personally appeal to +the unconverted outside the pulpit; or that I might not enter the pulpit +during these ten years, but might exclusively appeal to individuals, I +would not hesitate one moment to make the choice of personal effort as +the sole means to be used in securing the conversion of one thousand +souls necessary to my own salvation."</p> + +<p>Dr. Theodore Cuyler once said concerning the three thousand souls he had +received into Church fellowship during his ministry, "I have handled +every stone."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_IV'></a><h2>STUDY IV.</h2> + +<h3>TROPHIES OF PERSONAL EFFORT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"> +<p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And he that is wise winneth souls."—(Prov. xi, 30, R.V.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +2 Cor. v, 14-21.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Is it not a suggestive fact that nearly all those men who have shone +brightly in the galaxy of martyrs, preachers, and reformers in the +Christian Church through the centuries have been won to Christ by the +personal effort of some consecrated life? Think of some in our own age.</p> + +<p>Dwight L. Moody, when a clerk in a store, was visited by his +Sunday-school teacher, who put his hand upon the young man's shoulder +and talked to him about Christ; and Mr. Moody says, "I had not felt I +had a soul till then."</p> + +<p>Colonel H.H. Hadley, who has kneeled and prayed with over thirty-five +thousand drunkards, declares that one of the agencies which led him to +Christ was a brief interview with Chaplain (now Bishop) McCabe on a +railway-train in Ohio just after the Civil War.</p> + +<p>Lord Shaftesbury, one of the greatest Christian philanthropists of the +nineteenth century, was won for Christ in early boyhood by the effort of +Maria Willis, a servant-girl in his father's home.</p> + +<p>The conversion of Diaz, the great Cuban evangelist, was due to the +faithfulness of a consecrated young lady of Brooklyn. She found him in a +hospital at the point of death, procured a Spanish New Testament, read +to him the words of mercy and invitation, pointed him to Christ; and he +went back to his own country, a flaming herald of the gospel.</p> + +<p>J. Wilbur Chapman, one of the most successful pastor-evangelists of this +generation, says that while in a revival-meeting, when a boy, his +Sunday-school teacher touched him on the elbow, and said, "Do you not +think you had better stand?" and that one touch, as much as anything +else, pushed him into the kingdom.</p> + +<p>Joseph F. Berry, whose name is a household word in the Methodist +Episcopal Church, was led to Christ by two young friends who took the +young printer to his father's barn, and held a prayer-meeting with him, +which resulted in a glorious conversion.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_V'></a><h2>STUDY V.</h2> + +<h3>THE WORTH OF A SOUL.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, + and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his + soul?"—(Matt. xvi, 26.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xv, 1-10.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What is a life worth? What is your life worth? What is the life of your +son or daughter or mother or wife worth? What would you take for a life? +But if the life of a dear one be worth so much to you, what must be its +value in God's sight, who sees to what depths a soul may plunge and to +what heights it may rise? It may be a small matter to you that in yonder +saloon is a man dissipated and drunken. But what if he were your father +or brother or husband? It may be a very small matter to you that the boy +whom you met on the street is puffing a cigarette and wears already +upon his face the marks of an evil life. But what if he were your boy or +your brother? Yet, in God's sight, his life is as valuable as if he were +your boy or your brother; and every soul is of infinite worth.</p> + +<p>Jesus Christ set a high estimate upon human life when he left his +Father's throne and came into this sin-cursed world to suffer and die +that he might redeem us from death.</p> + +<p>The Church of to-day needs a new vision of the worth of a soul. We need +to stand beside Calvary and see the price that was paid there for human +life.</p> + +<p>John Keble, the poet-preacher of the English Church, said that the +salvation of one soul is worth more than the framing of the Magna Charta +of a thousand worlds.</p> + +<p>It was meditation upon the words of the memory verse of this study that +fired the souls of Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier with a holy +enthusiasm to rescue the perishing multitudes. Had their successors and +disciples been, filled with the same enthusiasm, and kept themselves +free from the machinations of politics, they would have long since +evangelized the world, and Jesuitism would not have been "the scandal of +Christianity."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_VI'></a><h2>STUDY VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH OF A SOUL.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from + the error of his way shall save a soul from death."—(James v, 20.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xvi, 19-31.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What is death—the death of a soul? What is it to die eternally? In the +passage for meditation our Lord gives us a glimpse into the realms of +death. Surely the Son of God is not trifling here; nor does he speak to +confuse. For a moment the curtain is drawn, and we see what is actually +transpiring in the future world. In these days there is a disposition in +some quarters to make light of the future punishment of the wicked. Some +preachers are dumb upon the awful punishment of sin, or preach only half +a gospel, saying, as Bishop Warren puts it, "You must repent, as it +were; be converted, in a measure; or you will go to hell, so to speak."</p> + +<p>But Christ did not speak with any uncertain sound about the future +punishment of the impenitent. He is authority. Take your Bible and read +such passages as Matt. xxv, 41, 46; Matt. viii, 12; Luke xvi, 23; John +v, 29.</p> + +<p>In the light of these words, we must see that the death of a soul means +eternal separation from God, from mercy, and from heaven.</p> + +<p>And yet how indifferent we are concerning the unsaved multitudes all +about us who are drifting into a hopeless eternity. The Church needs a +vision like that of the little lad in Olive Schreiner's "Story of a +South African Farm," who, waking at midnight, sees multitudes drifting +over the precipice into eternal night, and throws himself on his face on +the floor, crying out in the agony of his burdened heart to God to have +mercy.</p> + +<p>Some one tells of a shepherd in the Far West who, on a dark, stormy +night, found three sheep missing. Going to the kennel where the +faithful shepherd-dog lay with her little family, he bade her go to find +the sheep. An hour afterwards she returned with two. When these had been +put in the fold, he said, "One sheep is yet missing. Go!" The faithful +dog took one mute look of despair at her little family, then was off in +the dark and the storm. In two hours she had returned with the lost +sheep, but was torn and bleeding, and, as she staggered toward the +kennel, fell dead at the door. But if a poor, dumb brute, with no +immortal hope, be obedient, even unto death, what shall we say of men +and women who know the destiny of the soul, and whom the King of kings +has bidden seek the lost, yet are disobedient, indifferent, and +thoughtless as to the dying multitudes about them?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_VII'></a><h2>STUDY VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE SUPREME MOTIVE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For the love of Christ constraineth us."—(2 Cor. v, 14.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. xiii, R.V.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>But the supreme motive in all our efforts to win others should be "the +glory of God." Possessed of an undying love for him who first loved us, +we will have an inspiration to seek the lost for whom he gave his life. +And all our efforts shall be, as Paul puts it in his letter to the +Ephesians, "unto the praise of his glory."</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"The love of Christ doth me constrain<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>To seek the wandering souls of men."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Love never faileth. Love knows no impossibility. He who works for wages +and he who works for love live in two different realms. A lot of men +were entombed in a coal-mine, and great crowds gathered to help clear +away the earth and rescue the miners. An old, gray-headed man came +running up, and, seizing a shovel, began working with the strength of +ten men. Some one asked to relieve the old man. "Get out of the way," he +cried; "I have two boys down there."</p> + +<p>Love will triumph; and he whose heart throbs with love to Christ will +find real joy in rescuing from sin those who are the purchase of his +blood, <i>that his name may be glorified</i>.</p> + +<p>Study his life of self-sacrifice. See again his suffering for sinful +men. Linger in Gethsemane, and behold the agony of Calvary. Then your +heart will begin to throb with love to him "who first loved us."</p> + +<p>Get a new vision of your crucified, but now risen, Savior, until the +beauty of his matchless life charms your heart and you are ready to say:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Come, and possess me whole,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Nor hence again remove;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>But sup with me, and let the feast<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Be everlasting love."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Then you will possess the highest motive that moves human hearts, and +personal work in soul-winning will become a real delight.</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_LIFE'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE.</h2> + +<h3>"YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_VIII'></a><h2>STUDY VIII.</h2> + +<h3>A DEFINITE EXPERIENCE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born + again, he can not see the kingdom of God."—(John iii, 3.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John iii, 1-15.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>In a prayer-meeting a young lady was asked, "What is the first thing we +must do if we would win others to Christ?" She replied, "<i>We must live +holy ourselves.</i>" She was right. Just as the telegraph wire must be +insulated, so must the life of him who expects to be the messenger of +God be insulated from the old life of sin before he can hope to carry +the loving messages of the gospel to other souls.</p> + +<p>This implies a definite experience of conversion. He who would engage in +this most fascinating of all work must have nothing short of an inner +consciousness of sins forgiven and of the presence of Christ in his +life. He must be able to say, like Andrew and like Philip of old, "I +have found him." He must know what it is to have "a new heart" and to +have peace with God.</p> + +<p>William Butler, the veteran missionary and soul-winner, now translated, +wrote the author of these studies a letter, in which he said:</p> + +<p>"First and foremost, I thank God for a true conversion. When I got +religion, I got it good and thorough. Christ became everything to me. +The law of sin, or temptation to worldly conformity of any kind, was +completely eradicated from my heart; and from that hour to this the law +of Christ has fully satisfied my soul, and made me gloriously free and +independent of the world and its maxims and pleasures. And now, after +fifty-five years' enjoyment of peace with God and humble devotion to his +service, I bless him that I ever gave him my heart and devoted myself to +his work. I am happy. The consoling comforts of the grace of God are +with me by day and by night, and the blessed future is radiant with the +hope of being 'numbered with the saints in glory everlasting.'"</p> + +<p>In these days of compromise and doubt we need to have as definite an +experience of salvation as had William Butler. He who would win others +to a new life must himself possess that life, and know it, being able to +say with Paul, "I know whom I have believed."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_IX'></a><h2>STUDY IX.</h2> + +<h3>A COMPLETE SURRENDER.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, + that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable + unto God, which is your reasonable service."—(Rom. xii, 1.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Rom. vi, 1-13.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>John Wesley said, "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but +sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be +clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of hell and set up +the kingdom of heaven upon the earth."</p> + +<p>A life surrendered to God will be an invincible life, while the life +only partly surrendered will know nothing but defeat. Someone says that, +in the transfer of property, any reservation implies, also, reserved +rights. If a man sells a ten-acre lot, and keeps a yard square in the +center for himself, he has a right of way across what he has sold to +get to his reservation. And if, in our surrender, we keep back anything, +"that constitutes the devil's territory, and he will trample over all we +call consecrated to get to his own." Therefore a complete surrender of +the life to God is absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>To the rich young man who came to him, Jesus said, "One thing thou +lackest." He demanded an unconditional surrender of every interest of +his life. But the young man was not willing to make the surrender, and +went away sorrowful. Of every man and woman Jesus asks the same +surrender. But many now wander off in the darkness of formality and +doubt because they are not willing. Three things are implied in such a +surrender: (1) An acknowledgment of the Divine ownership and human +stewardship in all temporal affairs; (2) A complete submission of the +will to God; (3) The supremacy of Jesus Christ in the heart and life, so +that the interests of his kingdom are first, always, and everywhere.</p> + +<p>There is an old story of a monk who, having been disobedient to the +rules of the monastery, was told he must die. They took him out into the +graveyard, stood him upright in a grave, filled in the earth about his +feet. Then they asked, "Are you dead yet?" He said, "No." The earth was +then filled in about him to his waist, and the question again asked. He +replied, "No." Then they filled in the earth until he was covered, all +but his head, and could scarcely breathe. When asked if he would die, he +replied, "Yes, I will give up; I will die." So may we die to the old +life of self and sin, and live the new life of entire surrender to our +risen Lord!</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"If Christ would live and reign in me,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>I must die, I must die.<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>Like him I crucified must be,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>I must die, I must die.<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>So dead that no desire may rise,<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>To pass for good, or great, or wise,<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>To any but my Savior's eyes,—<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Let me die, let me die."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_X'></a><h2>STUDY X.</h2> + +<h3>THE SPIRIT'S WITNESS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that + we are children of God."—(Rom. viii, 16, R.V.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 John v, 1-15.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>When the life has been wholly surrendered to God, and Christ, the +crucified and risen Savior, is enthroned in the heart and confessed +before men, then the blessed assurance of our sonship with God will be +clear and joyous. No longer shall we say, "I hope I am a Christian," or, +"I am trying to be a Christian;" but, like Paul, we shall exclaim, "I +know whom I have believed."</p> + +<p>The witness of the Spirit will give a holy confidence to the +soul-winner.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"What we have seen and felt,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>With confidence we tell."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Much of the timidity and reluctance shown by Christians toward personal +work may be traced to a refusal or neglect to live the surrendered life +and have the clear assurance of acceptance with God.</p> + +<p>This direct testimony to our adoption is given only by the Holy Spirit, +and given only to believers because they are the sons of God. It is +God's seal which he places upon his own, and we then no longer receive +the spirit of bondage unto fear; but we receive the spirit of adoption +whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The voice of God is heard in the soul +bearing witness to our acceptance, and then the fruit of the Spirit +speedily follows in the life to corroborate the inner voice and "give +unmistakable confirmation to the testimony which was primary and +direct."</p> + +<p>To some, this assurance comes like a sudden flash from the sky; to +others, like the gentle breathing of the evening zephyr. But it comes, +<i>it surely comes</i>; and no soul should be satisfied until it comes; for +it is essential to a useful, joyous life. Look up now, and with eager +expectancy await the "blessed assurance."</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Why should the children of a King<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Go mourning all their days?<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>Great Comforter, descend and bring<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>The tokens of thy grace.<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span class='iquote'>Assure my conscience of her part<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>In the Redeemer's blood;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>And bear thy witness with my heart,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>That I am born of God.<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span class='iquote'>Thou art the earnest of His love,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>The pledge of joys to come;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>May thy blest wings, celestial Dove,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Safely convey me home!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XI'></a><h2>STUDY XI.</h2> + +<h3>EVERY WEIGHT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so + great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the + sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the + race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and + finisher of our faith."—(Heb. xii, 1, 2.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. viii, 9-13; ix, 24-27.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>We hear much about "personal liberty" in these days, and, to hear some +talk, one would think that personal liberty was a gift to be selfishly +guarded rather than to be sacrificed for the good of others. But Paul, +the apostle, sacrificed his liberty for the sake of others; so did +Onesimus, the Christian slave. Surely those professing Christians who +make "personal liberty" their plea for engaging in some form of worldly +amusement (such as dancing, card-playing, or theater-going), and those +who are given to some filthy habit (such as the use of tobacco), have +not studied the life of Jesus, or of Paul, or of Onesimus.</p> + +<p>If there were no other reasons why these things should be renounced, +that they injure our influence as soul-winners would be sufficient; for +who ever heard of a man or woman who engaged in these forms of +questionable amusement becoming illustrious as a soul-winner? To say the +least, they are "weights," and must be laid aside.</p> + +<p>In a revival service, a lady rose, and, with tears raining down her +face, said: "I have taught a Sunday-school class of sixteen young men +for three years, and have not seen one of them converted. I believe I +know why, and now confess my sin. Being a teacher in the city schools, I +thought I must see a Shakespearean play, and went to the theater one +night. I saw several of my class there, and they all seemed to be +looking at me as if surprised. Next day I met some of them, and they +confessed surprise that I was at the theater. I have been conscious +from that time that I had lost my influence to win these young men to +Christ." Within one week after this confession was made this lady had +won seven of her class for the Savior.</p> + +<p>A young lady, once a society belle and fond of worldly amusements, +consecrated her life to the Lord's work. In a rescue mission she was +asked to speak to a poor wreck of a man who had been a gambler. He +looked at her suspiciously as he asked, "Do you play cards, or dance, or +go to the theater?" "No, not now," she replied. "Well, then you may talk +to me; but I won't listen to one word from you fine folks who are doing +on a small scale the very things that brought us poor wretches to where +we are." And the young lady afterwards said she had found more real joy +in leading that lost soul to Christ than she had ever found in the +pleasures of the world.</p> + +<p><i>Lay aside every weight; lay aside every weight, just now.</i></p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XII'></a><h2>STUDY XII.</h2> + +<h3>PRAYER.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth + much."—(James v, 16.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Gen. xxxii, 24-30; Luke xi, 1-13. +</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Nothing is more essential to the soul-winner than prayer. Prayer will +generate a spiritual atmosphere in the individual life. The prayers of +many will generate a spiritual atmosphere in a community. In answer to +prayer, the Holy Spirit will do his office, and produce such pungent +conviction of sin that men will carry out, as on the day of Pentecost, +"Men and brethren, what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>In the Life of Mr. Finney it is related that, during a revival at Rome, +New York, the air seemed surcharged with Divine power. A sheriff, who +had laughed about the meetings, came over from Utica. He felt this +strange influence when he crossed the old canal, a mile west of town. +When he sat in the hotel dining-room, he had to get up and go to the +window two or three times to divert his attention and keep from weeping. +After dinner he hurried away, but was afterwards converted.</p> + +<p>See what spiritual triumphs and great revivals the early Church +witnessed; but the secret of it all was that "they continued steadfastly +in prayers." Why is it that to-day many have so little courage and so +little power to win others to Christ? They neglect prayer. "They that +wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with +wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and +not faint." How little time we spend daily in prayer! Study the life of +Paul, and Savonarola, and Catherine of Siena, and Martin Luther, and +John Knox, and see how they all gave themselves continually to prayer, +and so prevailed. All they who have become illustrious as great +soul-winners have been, without exception, men and women mighty in +prayer. They came to understand that God's storehouses of wisdom, +prayer, and grace are inexhaustible, and with the key of prayer they +unlocked every door.</p> + +<p>Prayer avails for the salvation of others when every other means seems +to fail. The disciples spent ten days in prayer. Then came Pentecost and +a revival that brought thousands into the kingdom. John Livingstone, +with a few friends, spent a whole night in prayer, and the next day five +hundred persons gave themselves to Christ. Two sisters agreed to spend +the night in prayer in behalf of an unconverted brother. That night, +although twenty miles away, the young man tossed on his bed in agony of +conviction, and next day started for home, and found salvation.</p> + +<p>Prayer is omnipotent; and, if we would see the kingdom of Christ come +speedily in the world, we must have a great revival of prevailing +prayer.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XIII'></a><h2>STUDY XIII.</h2> + +<h3>FAITH.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, + the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these + shall he do; because I go unto my Father."—(John xiv, 12.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Heb. xi.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Not the mystery of faith, nor the philosophy of faith, does the +soul-winner need to study; but the simplicity, the childlikeness of +faith. To believe God implicitly is to have victorious faith. "I can do +all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," said Paul; and +everywhere in the Bible we find the clear teaching that "God and one +make a majority." To realize this in one's own life is to live the +victorious life.</p> + +<p>But perhaps we should distinguish between trust and saving faith. Trust +gives the life to God; faith takes from God that which he has promised +in his Word. Trust is continuous; faith is a definite act. "Faith is +the giving substance to things hoped for, the evidence of things not +seen." (Heb. xi, 1.)</p> + +<p>It is true that we walk by faith now; but faith has a clear eye. Faith +can see the clouds full of chariots and horses. Faith can see legions of +angels marshaling themselves for our defense. Faith can see that every +promise of God is steadfast, and will surely be fulfilled, and can claim +its fulfillment.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>And looks to that alone;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>Laughs at impossibilities,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>And cries, 'It shall be done.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of Barnabas it is said, "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost +and of faith." The fullness of faith will make unbelief and moral +darkness impossible in the soul, and will generate a triumphant +confidence in God.</p> + +<p>To have faith is to have power; and the little child, as well as the +grown man, may possess this power, and exercise it in winning souls for +Jesus. A little girl who had bowed at the altar and given her heart to +God, pulled the pastor's coat at the close of the service, and said, +"Will you please pray for my mamma?" "Certainly," said the pastor. And +the next evening the little girl brought her mother to the service. When +the invitation was given, she took her hand and led her to the altar. +That little girl's faith won her mother to Christ.</p> + +<p>Faith will give courage for personal work. With a strong, unfaltering +confidence which takes God at his word, we shall not hesitate nor fear +to approach the unsaved and seek to win them to the Savior.</p> + +<p>Faith is nourished by the Word. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by +the Word of God." If we feed our faith upon the Word, and exercise it, +then we shall have the faith of those mentioned in the eleventh chapter +of Hebrews, and we shall prove the promise of the Savior, "All things +are possible to him that believeth."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XIV'></a><h2>STUDY XIV.</h2> + +<h3>SELF-SACRIFICE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and + whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."—(Matt. + xvi, 25.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Matt. xvi, 24; 2 Cor. iv.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The words of Christ, "If any man will come after me, let him deny +himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," can not be mistaken. The +earthly life of Jesus was a supreme example of self-sacrifice. All the +way from Bethlehem to Calvary his life was a constant denial of self. +The early Church followed their Master. They were ready to sacrifice +all. Men sold their fields and houses for the work's sake. They counted +nothing too good for sacrifice, even to life itself; and many went +gladly to the arena and the fiery stake rather than be untrue to their +Lord. As long as the early Christian Church maintained this spirit, she +went from victory to victory. Nothing could withstand her progress. And +when the followers of Jesus Christ in this twentieth century shall again +put on the beautiful garments of self-sacrifice, the Church will become +invincible.</p> + +<p>There is now a great opportunity for men and women to sacrifice, in +personal liberty, in popularity, in social standing, and personal +comfort, for the sake of the perishing multitudes. None are too poor, +none too old, to do something to win souls.</p> + +<p>An aged widow, who had all her money invested in a farm in a +drouth-stricken part of the West, found herself almost penniless. She +was compelled to find shelter in a Refuge Home. At first she was +discouraged and heart-broken; but God put upon her heart the multitudes +of perishing women in India. She tried to occupy her mind piecing a +quilt. This she sold, and the money was sent to India. Then she made +another for Africa, then another for Japan, until now, in six years, +she has given four hundred dollars to home and foreign missions, and has +six people at work as her substitutes in foreign lands. And she says, "I +was surely called of God to teach that no one is too poor to give to +missions, or too old to work for God and souls."</p> + +<p>A young man, twenty-four years old, working on a farm for twenty dollars +a month and board, has, in nineteen months, sent six substitutes, and +says, "I pray God to make me a Christian drunkard, that I may spend my +time and money for him as the drunkard does for the devil." And when the +whole Church shall begin to show the same spirit of self-sacrifice in +giving time and money, and in sacrificing pleasure and comfort and +social standing for the Lord's work, and for dying multitudes about +them, then we shall soon see the dawn of the millennial day.</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_EQUIPMENT'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT.</h2> + +<h3>"COMPLETELY FURNISHED."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XV'></a><h2>STUDY XV.</h2> + +<h3>KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all + wisdom."—(Col. iii, 16.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Heb. iv, 12; 2 Tim. iii, 13-17; Ps. cxix, + 1-11.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>A thorough knowledge of the Word of God is essential to success in +soul-winning. The Word is "the sword of the Spirit," "the hammer that +breaketh the rock in pieces." If we are not skilled in the use of the +Divine sword and the Divine hammer, then we can not expect that the +Spirit will use us.</p> + +<p>In an excellent little book on "How to Obtain the Fullness of Power," +Dr. R.A. Torrey says:</p> + +<p>"There can be no fullness of life and service if the Bible is neglected. +In much that is now written on power; also in much that is said in +conventions, this fact is overlooked. The work of the Holy Spirit is +magnified; but the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works is +largely forgotten. The result is transient enthusiasm and activity, but +no steady continuance and increase in power and usefulness. We can not +obtain power, and we can not maintain power, in our own lives and in our +work for others, unless there is deep and frequent meditation upon the +Word of God.... Of course, it is much easier, and therefore much more +agreeable to our spiritual laziness, to go to a convention or +revival-meeting, and claim a 'filling with the Holy Spirit,' than it is +to peg along, day after day, month after month, year after year, digging +into the Word of God. But a 'filling of the Spirit,' that is not +maintained by a persistent study of the Word will soon vanish.... +Evidently Paul knew of no filling with the Spirit divorced from deep and +constant meditation upon the Word."</p> + +<p>The most remarkable movement among young men in this generation is the +World's Christian Student Federation, organized by Mr. John R. Mott. +Through this movement multitudes of young men the world over have been +led to keep what is called "The Morning Watch," by which they rise at +least half an hour earlier than usual each morning, and spend the time +in devotional Bible-study and prayer. What a mighty impetus would be +given to Christian work everywhere if all Christian young people would +form the habit of keeping "The Morning Watch!"</p> + +<p>Have a plan for your Bible study, and faithfully follow it. Commit to +memory the texts found in Study Twenty-seven, and thus be able to use +skillfully the Sword of the Spirit.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XVI'></a><h2>STUDY XVI.</h2> + +<h3>TACT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all + means save some."—(1 Cor. ix, 22.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. ix, 19-27.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The successful business man knows the value of tact, and the Christian +worker should know the value of consecrated tact. A special study of the +life of Christ to notice his methods of dealing with various people, and +to see the aptness with which he used parable and exhortation, would +prove very helpful to every soul-winner. The life of Paul might also be +studied in the same manner with profit. He knew how to become all things +to all men to save some.</p> + +<p>Christ's exhortation to his disciples was, "Be ye as wise as serpents," +but how little wisdom many seem to have in seeking to win the unsaved to +Christ! And this, too, when we have the promise, "If any of you lack +wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and +upbraideth not: and it shall be given him."</p> + +<p>"Now if I could tell you," said a pastor to an unsaved business man, who +had been relating how much a friend had helped him in business, "how +much Christ has helped me, and what he has been to me, I believe I could +win you to him."</p> + +<p>The value of tact was well illustrated in an incident which occurred +during Mr. Finney's meetings in New York City. The big cutlery firm of +Sheffield, England, had a branch house in New York. The manager was a +partner of the firm, and very worldly. One of his clerks, who had been +converted in the meetings, invited his employer to attend. One evening +he was there, and sat just across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He +appeared affected during the sermon, and Mr. Tappan kept his eye on him. +After the dismissal, Mr. Tappan stepped quickly across the aisle, +introduced himself, and invited him to stay for the after-service. The +gentleman tried to excuse himself and get away, but Mr. Tappan caught +hold of the button on his coat and said, "Now, do stay; I know you will +enjoy it;" and he was so kind and gentlemanly that the cutlery man could +not very well refuse. He staid, and was converted. Afterwards he said, +"An ounce of weight upon my coat-button saved my soul."</p> + +<p>To watch for opportunity, and then to know how effectively to make use +of the opportunity, is all-important in soul-winning. And there is no +better teacher than the Holy Spirit, of whom it is said, "He shall teach +you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XVII'></a><h2>STUDY XVII.</h2> + +<h3>EARNESTNESS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy + might."—(Eccl. ix, 10.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Mark ii, 1-12.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The testimony of Charles H. Spurgeon should have weight here. He said: +"If a man is to be a soul-winner, there must be in him intensity of +emotion as well as sincerity of heart. You may repeat the most +affectionate exhortations in such a half-hearted manner that no one will +be moved either by love or fear. I believe that for soul-winning there +is more in this matter of earnestness than in almost anything else."</p> + +<p>When we become as much in earnest to rescue our friends and dear ones +from eternal death as we are to save them from physical suffering and +death, then we shall see the rapid spread of the kingdom of Christ. A +man falls overboard from the deck of a vessel, and his wife screams: +"Stop the boat! My God! My husband is drowning!" But no one criticises +the woman for her passionate outcry, or bids her keep still. It was so +natural for her to cry out for help. And when the Church of Jesus Christ +becomes thoroughly awake to the worth of a soul and the awful danger to +which all out of Christ are exposed, it will be the most natural thing +in the world for them to show an undying earnestness in seeking the +lost. Then propriety, and reticence, and restraint, and rules of +rhetoric will be thrown to the winds, and a divine passion will possess +the life. The world may sneer at it as fanaticism, but it is the +fanaticism of Pentecost. When the crowd saw the intensity of emotion +shown by the newly-anointed disciples, they exclaimed, "These men are +full of new wine." Here was shown an enthusiasm that leaps over all +difficulties and rises above every discouragement—the enthusiasm of +Pentecost; and every soul-winner must have it. Then, like Paul, wishing +himself accursed that Israel might be saved, or like John Welch, wrapped +in his plaid, kneeling in the snow, unable to sleep, and praying +mightily for the souls of men, this holy earnestness will not let us +rest until we see the salvation of the lost.</p> + +<p>It will tell in look, and tone, and manner. It may lead us to do things +that may shock the sense of propriety of the dead, formal Church member, +such as being obedient to the Master's command, "Go ye out into the +highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." Jeremiah preached +repentance in the streets; and the early Church preached everywhere, on +the streets, by the river's bank, in the market-places, and in prisons. +John Livingstone stood on a tombstone, and preached with such power in +the midst of a falling rain that multitudes were born in a day. So did +John Wesley. O that the great Church of Jesus Christ might now have the +enthusiasm of Pentecost!</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XVIII'></a><h2>STUDY XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>PERSEVERANCE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take no + rest."—(Isa. lxii, 6, R.V.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xv, 1-10.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>How we are willing to persevere to save our friends from physical +suffering and death! No night is too long to watch, no sacrifice too +great to make, no burden too heavy to bear, that the life of a loved one +may be saved. But should we not be just as persistent in our efforts to +save from eternal death those whom we love?</p> + +<p>Perhaps we have no more illustrious example of devotion to soul-winning +than evidenced in the life of Uncle John Vassar. Two incidents, related +by the Rev. Walter B. Vassar, illustrate the perseverance with which he +sought the perishing.</p> + +<p>A young man was noticed to come night after night to revival-meetings, +but would slip away before one could grasp his hand. Mr. Vassar felt he +must see this soul, and walked five miles to the farm where he lived, +arriving as the family was about to eat an early dinner, of which he was +urged to partake. After being seated, the face of the young man not +appearing in the family group, Mr. Vassar excused himself from the +table, and hunted through all the farm-buildings where a man might +possibly be in hiding. At last, when about to confess himself defeated, +he walked to the further end of the corn-crib, and there, in an old +hogshead, he found the fellow lying low. He confessed afterward that he +had taken satisfaction in looking through the bunghole of the hogshead, +in believing Uncle John would not find him there. But this "winner of +souls," knowing his opportunity, leaped over by the side of the runaway, +and then and there turned, as Charles Spurgeon has said, "the hogshead +into a Bethel," and won a soul for heaven.</p> + +<p>An Irish woman in a village was told about a strange man calling about +her place, and affirmed he would not be kindly treated if he knocked at +her door. Mr. Vassar, not knowing her feelings, came there in his +visits, but the moment she saw he was the man—according to the +description of him—she slammed the door in his face. He sat at once +upon her doorstep and began to sing:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"But drops of grief can ne'er repay<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>The debt of love I owe."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In a few weeks she wanted admission into the Protestant Church, and all +her experience was, "Those drops of grief, those drops of grief; I could +not get over them."</p> + +<p>See how men persevere to get rich or to gain political prestige! See how +insurance agents, and book agents, and traveling men persevere in their +efforts to convince men! They seek most favorable times, and then often +go again and again. And shall we who win immortal souls be any less +diligent?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XIX'></a><h2>STUDY XIX.</h2> + +<h3>TENDERNESS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life + for the sheep."—(John x, 12.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xv, 3-7; John x, 1-18.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What infinite depths of tenderness are revealed in these sweet parables +of the Lost Sheep and the Good Shepherd! The tender, loving heart of the +Savior goes out in eager compassion and pity for the straying. What +boundless sympathy is revealed in the words, "He calleth his own sheep +by name;" "He goeth after that which is lost;" "When he hath found it, +he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing!" The seeker after souls must +be like his Master. A heart ready to melt at the sight of human +suffering and human need is necessary to successful soul-winning. There +are many whose hearts are hardened by long years of rebellion against +God; whose power of will is emasculated by long years of neglect; and +they will never be saved until some earnest Christian worker shall find +them, whose heart has been touched with the same sorrow that Jesus felt +when he stood on the Mount of Olives weeping over Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>J. Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, tells that when he was a +college student he had charge of a man with a gangrenous foot. It was +his duty to dress the man's foot every day. He soon learned that his +patient was not a Christian, and had not been in a church for forty +years. Such was his hatred of religion that he refused to go inside the +church at his wife's funeral. Young Taylor made up his mind to speak to +this man about his soul every time he visited him. The man cursed him, +and refused to allow him to pray. The student persisted in presenting +Christ until one day he said to himself, "It's no use," and was leaving +the room. When he reached the door, he turned around and saw the man +looking after him as if saying, "Why, you are going away to-day without +speaking to me about Christ!" Then the young man burst into tears, and +returning to the bedside, said: "Whether you wish me to or not, I must +deliver my soul. Will you let me pray with you?" The man assented, began +to weep, was converted. Mr. Taylor says, "God broke my heart, that +through me he might break this wicked man's heart."</p> + +<p>Ask now that the Holy Spirit may give you a tender heart, and make your +eyes a fountain of tears, that, with the sympathy of Christ, you may +seek the lost and perishing.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XX'></a><h2>STUDY XX.</h2> + +<h3>BURDEN FOR SOULS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ + for my brethren."—(Rom. ix, 3.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Gen. xviii, 16-33.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>How the great heart of the Savior was burdened for the lost! See him +standing on Olivet and weeping as he said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou +that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, +how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen +gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"</p> + +<p>Where there is no real soul-burden for sinners, there will be no +revival. The early Church travailed in pain for the souls of dying men. +One preacher said, "As I entered the pulpit, I could scarcely stand +erect because of my concern for the people and solicitude for souls;" +and another said, "I spent a whole night in prayer, and what I passed +through was inexpressible." When we get a glimpse of the worth of a +soul, and then of the death of a soul, and begin to realize that we +stand between lost men and heaven or hell, then we shall have real +concern, and the Lord will hear our prayer of intercession.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Moody first went to London he preached in a Congregational +Church, Sunday morning. There was no particular stir. That evening he +spoke to a large audience of men in the same place, and scores expressed +a desire to become Christians. He went to Dublin next day, but was +recalled by a telegram saying that a great revival had broken out. And +Mr. Moody accounts for this wonderful work of grace which followed by +telling that, on that Sunday morning, a lady went home and told her +invalid sister that Mr. Moody from America had preached. "I know what +that means," said the invalid. "We are going to have a great revival. I +have been praying for months that the Lord would send him here." She +would not eat any dinner, but spent the day in fasting and prayer. The +revival began in that invalid's room.</p> + +<p>A gentleman waked his wife up at three o'clock in the morning to have +her join him in prayer in behalf of a neighboring family who were +unsaved; and at daybreak went to his neighbor's house to entreat them to +yield to Christ.</p> + +<p>When such concern for the perishing is manifested by the Church, there +is sure to be a gracious ingathering.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXI'></a><h2>STUDY XXI.</h2> + +<h3>A PERSONAL PENTECOST.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is + come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, + and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the + earth."—(Acts i, 8.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Acts ii, 1-4; xix, 1-6.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>But, above all, the soul-winner must have <i>a personal Pentecost</i>. Christ +does not send us alone to seek the lost. In the fifteenth and sixteenth +chapters of St. John's Gospel, he definitely promises the Comforter. And +again, on the day of his ascension, he bids his disciples tarry at +Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost is come. Then as they waited, "with one +accord in one place," "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind +filled all the house where they were sitting, ... and they were all +filled with the Holy Ghost." Since that day the one supreme +qualification for Christ's witnesses is <i>the enduement with the Holy +Ghost</i>. He will give a better knowledge of the Scriptures; he will +re-enforce tact and earnestness and perseverance; he will give +tenderness of heart and the burden for souls.</p> + +<p>What a marvelous change the coming of the Spirit wrought in those +waiting disciples! They had forsaken him; they had doubted his word; +Peter had denied him. But now they all became flaming evangels, and +"spake the word of God with boldness."</p> + +<p>A personal Pentecost will help the soul-winner to overcome timidity, +give utterance and a holy boldness, and make effective the words he +speaks. It is the supreme need of the Church to-day. God wants men and +women in every vocation of life who are Spirit-filled; and who, by +diligent study of the Word of God, by prayer, and by Christian +testimony, live a Spirit-filled life that is perennial.</p> + +<p>The personal worker will succeed only when endued and empowered with the +Holy Ghost. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman tells of a young Irishman who was a +member of his Church, and who had not had the educational advantages +many young people have. Dr. Chapman says:</p> + +<p>"With a heart burdened for the men of the city, I called together a few +of the men of the Church, and laying before them the plan I had in mind, +told them first of all that we could do nothing without the 'infilling +of the Holy Ghost.'</p> + +<p>"When this had been explained, I noticed this man leave the room. He did +not return while the meeting was in session. When I sought him I found +him in one of the lower rooms of the church, literally on his face +before God. He was in prayer.</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget his petition: 'O God, I plead with thee for this +blessing!' then, as if God were showing him what was in the way, he +said, 'My Father, I will give up every known sin, only I plead with thee +for power;' and then, as if his individual sins were passing before him, +he said again and again, 'I will give them up; I will give them up.' +Then, without any emotion, he rose from his knees, turned his face +heavenward, and simply said, 'And now I claim the blessing.'</p> + +<p>"For the first time he became sensible of my presence, and with a +shining countenance he reached out his hands to clasp mine. You could +feel the very presence of the Spirit as he said, 'I have received him; I +have received him!' And I believe he had, for in the next few months he +led more than sixty men into the kingdom of God. His whole life had been +transformed."</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_METHODS'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS.</h2> + +<h3>"THAT I MAY, BY ALL MEANS, SAVE SOME."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXII'></a><h2>STUDY XXII.</h2> + +<h3>DIRECT APPROACH.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Jesus ... saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and + tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee."—(Mark v, + 19.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John iv, 1-42.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>John Vassar, than whom there has been no more successful soul-winner for +a hundred years, accomplished his work through personal conversation, +and declared that the best method of dealing with souls is to strike +home at once with the most direct and searching question possible. +Without a word of introduction he would say, "Have you experienced that +great change called the new birth?" That question could not be easily +evaded.</p> + +<p>Study the methods of Christ in dealing with such as Nicodemus, the +Samaritan woman, and the rich young man. How eagerly he used every +opportunity! How his questions search the life! Without any apology, +how he thrusts home warning and entreaty!</p> + +<p>How easily we may lose opportunity to speak directly to men of their +danger! While the great Dr. Chalmers was a guest at the home of his +friend, a Highland country gentleman, his friend died suddenly. Dr. +Chalmers had never spoken to him about his soul. He was much distressed, +and said, "If I had only known that he was going to be taken from earth +so soon, how earnestly I would have pleaded with him about his soul!"</p> + +<p>Dr. J.E. Carson, of New York City, said to his congregation one Sunday +morning, that every saved man was either a channel through which the +Spirit of God was reaching the unsaved, or a barrier preventing the +Spirit doing his work. One of the trustees of the Church said to himself +on the way home, "Am I a channel, or a barrier?" That night he could not +sleep, and cried out, "O Lord, make me a channel!" Almost the first +thought that came was that there were some men in his employ to whom he +had never spoken a word about Jesus Christ. He confessed his fault, and +told the Lord that if he would make him a channel he would speak to +these men. The first man who entered his office the next morning was his +confidential clerk, who had been with him eighteen years. The merchant +said, "Edward, haven't I been a good employer to you?" "Yes, sir." "Have +not I treated you well?" "Yes, sir." "Why, sir, what have I done," said +the clerk, "that you are going to discharge me?" "Edward, I am on my way +to heaven, and I want you to go with me." Tears came into the eyes of +both men as Edward took the merchant's extended hand and said, "I will, +sir." Dr. Carson afterwards received eleven men into his Church because +this trustee had consented to be a channel for the Holy Spirit.</p> + +<p>Dr. Manley S. Hard talked with a physician about his soul, and, two days +after, the doctor entered the revival-meeting just before the +benediction, walked straight to the altar, and begged the people to +wait and pray for him, saying:</p> + +<p>"I know it is late and you are all tired, but I want you to stay a +little while and pray for me. This has been an awfully hard day. I have +ridden fifty miles and visited more than twenty patients, but I am the +sickest man of them all. Two sermons have been preached to me; a +faithful one yesterday by my pastor; the other this morning when I had +to tell a woman she had better get ready to die, for she could not live. +As I drove away I said to myself, 'You have warned another, but you are +not ready yourself.'"</p> + +<p>To go to a man and speak to him directly and plainly about his +responsibility to God, and warn him to flee from "the wrath to come," +may take more courage than to preach to a thousand; but it pays, and it +must be done if the dying multitudes are ever saved.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXIII'></a><h2>STUDY XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>CORRESPONDENCE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with + mine own hand."—(Gal. vi, 11.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Philemon.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What a beautiful letter is that which Paul wrote to Philemon! How it +breathes affection, and sympathy, and tender entreaty! And it was +written <i>by his own hand</i>. Study this letter, and have your heart +saturated with its spirit. You will then know how to write "words that +touch" to your unsaved friends.</p> + +<p>There are special +<ins class="correction" +title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'ocasions'"> +occasions</ins>, such as the time of bereavement, of sickness, of trial, or +of success, when this method may be employed to advantage. Many a soul +has been won for Christ, and many a lonely life cheered by a +sympathetic, wisely-worded letter, winged by prayer.</p> + +<p>Sitting in a public park, a young man was seen poring over a letter +while the tears rained down his face, and he almost sobbed aloud. "It is +from my mother," he said. "She wrote it herself, and though I ran away +from home and broke her heart, yet she says that she still loves me, and +is praying for me, and wants me to come home."</p> + +<p>Dr. T.L. Cuyler went to make his first call on a rich merchant. It was a +cold winter evening, and as the door was opened when the minister was +leaving, a cold, piercing gale swept in. Dr. Cuyler said, "What an awful +night for the poor!" The merchant went back and brought a roll of +bank-bills, saying, "Give these to the poorest people you know." Some +days after, Dr. Cuyler wrote him, telling him how his bounty had +relieved many poor, and then added, "How is it that a man so kind to his +fellow-creatures has always been so unkind to his Savior as to refuse +him his heart?" That sentence touched him. He sent for the minister to +talk to him, was converted, and told Dr. Cuyler that he was the first +person in twenty years who had spoken to him about his soul.</p> + +<p>Do not allow letter-writing to excuse you from direct personal work; but +watch for opportunity to write, as well as speak, that "by all means you +may save some."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXIV'></a><h2>STUDY XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>TRACTS AND BOOKS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, + lo, a roll of a book was therein."—(Ezek. ii, 9.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Eccl. xi, 1; 1 Tim. iv, 7-16.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The influence of a tract or of a good book can not be estimated. Rev. J. +Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, was converted in boyhood +through reading a gospel tract which he found in his father's library. +"He had been frequently troubled about his soul, and had again and again +tried to become a Christian, but had failed so often that he had +concluded that there was no use in trying any more."</p> + +<p>An agent of the American Tract Society relates the following:</p> + +<p>"A man on a canal-boat received a tract, but to show his contempt for +the tract and its giver, took out his penknife and cut it up into +fantastic shapes. Then he held it up to the derision of the company.</p> + +<p>"In tearing it apart, one of the pieces clung to his knee. His eyes were +attracted by the only word on it—'eternity.' He turned it over, and +there was the word 'God.'</p> + +<p>"These ideas remained in his mind. He tried to laugh them off; then to +drink, to play cards in order to banish them. But they still clung to +him, and plagued him till he sought God and preparation for eternity."</p> + +<p>There is an old true story about a tract, that should be told over and +over again:</p> + +<p>A Puritan minister named Sibbs wrote a tract called "The Bruised Reed." +A copy of this was given by a humble layman to a little boy at whose +father's house he had been entertained over night. That boy was Richard +Baxter, and the book was the means of his conversion. Baxter wrote his +"Call to the Unconverted," and among the multitude led to Christ by it +was Philip Doddridge. Doddridge wrote "The Rise and Progress of Religion +in the Soul," and "the time would fail to tell" its blessed influence. +By it Wilberforce was converted, and of his life and labors volumes +could be written. Wilberforce wrote his "Practical View of +Christianity," and this led not only Dr. Chalmers into the truth, but +Legh Richmond to Christ. Richmond wrote "The Dairyman's Daughter," which +has been published in a hundred languages, and many million copies have +been sold.</p> + +<p>But he who would make the best use of good literature must be wise. How +little tact some workers have! In a hospital a tract-distributor handed +a leaflet on dancing to a poor fellow who had lost both limbs. Another +zealous young man gave a tract on "The Tobacco Habit" to a beautiful +cultured lady, the wife of a minister. A good supply of common sense is +just as necessary to success in the use of this method as in any other.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXV'></a><h2>STUDY XXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE PRAYER LIST.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I will pray for you unto the Lord."—(1 Sam. vii, 5.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xviii, 1-8.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>One of the highest privileges of the Christian life is the privilege of +intercession for the unsaved. Every Christian may be an intercessor, and +bear to the mercy-seat, in the arms of prayer, some unsaved friend every +day. Have a prayer list. In a little memorandum-book write the names of +those whom you are anxious to see saved. Spread these names before the +Lord daily until your prayers are answered.</p> + +<p>One of the greatest Christian movements of modern times started with a +prayer-list carried in the vest-pocket of a commercial traveler, Mr. +E.R. Graves, traveling for a paper-house in New York City. He secured +permission from a merchant to allow his name to be entered on his +prayer-list. The merchant wrote his name in the traveler's book, and +then proceeded to inform Mr. Graves that he had determined not to be a +Christian, and that he had taken too big a contract if he expected to +pray him into the kingdom. But the traveler simply said, "I confidently +expect my prayer to be answered." When they met again the merchant had +been converted, and, amid tears of rejoicing, another name was checked +off the list. The merchant's name was Samuel M. Sayford. Mr. Sayford +became a secretary in the Young Men's Christian Association, and shortly +after met C.K. Ober, then a student at Williams College, and pushed him +out into Association work. Mr. Ober, in turn, found John E. Mott in +Cornell University, persuaded him to enter Association work among +students; and Mr. Mott, in the course of time, started on his journey +around the world, organizing the World's Christian Student Federation.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXVI'></a><h2>STUDY XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>WORK AMONG STUDENTS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did + beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled + to God."—(2 Cor. v, 20.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. ii.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>No more fruitful and important field for personal work can be found than +in our educational institutions, and Christian students who make +soul-winning a habit of life may win many rich trophies for the Master. +Bishop H.W. Warren, when a Freshman in college, was led to an open +confession of Christ through a Saturday morning walk with a Junior, who +talked to him about his soul.</p> + +<p>Dr. J.W. Bashford, in <i>The Christian Student</i>, tells about "a Senior in +the Ohio Wesleyan University who was smitten with conviction because he +had neglected personal work for the Master. He intended to be a +minister, but had been indifferent to the spiritual welfare of his +student friends. He offered himself to Christ in full consecration, and +made a list of sixteen friends for whom he felt personal responsibility. +He engaged in systematic personal work with these friends, and had the +satisfaction before the year was completed of seeing every one of them +begin the Christian life. Six of his sixteen friends entered the +ministry, and some of them are even more talented and successful than +the student friend who led them to Christ."</p> + +<p>As a rule, young people during their college years are thoughtful and +easily reached; but if not saved before they leave the college halls and +begin the active work of life, they are almost certainly lost to the +kingdom. How often, because of timidity or carelessness, Christian +students and teachers allow this precious harvest time to go by, and +lose the opportunity to win a soul for Christ!</p> + +<p>A man, who is now an eminent and widely-known minister, says that he +roomed with a young man at college for two years, and never said a word +to him about his soul. When he was about to leave for home, his +room-mate said, "Why have you not spoken to me about my soul?" Said the +Christian student, "I thought you did not care for me to do so." The +young man replied, "Why, that is the very reason I roomed with you, and +there has never been a day for these two years that you could not have +done so."</p> + +<p>Let Christian students set out to win some trophies among their friends +and room-mates for Christ. The results of faithful personal work may not +be immediate or apparent, but the blessed Spirit of God will water the +seed. For thirteen months a college student prayed for and urged a +fellow-student to surrender to Christ, and died without seeing any +result of his efforts. But the seed was faithfully sown, and the young +man was afterwards converted, and became Bishop Hannington, the martyr +bishop of Africa.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXVII'></a><h2>STUDY XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>MEETING OBJECTIONS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your + adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."—(Luke xxi, + 15.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John ix, 1-41.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The zealous personal worker will be met by objections; but it must be +remembered that these objections are often given for the sake of +argument, and often for the sake of something to say. They should be +squarely met, however, and answered; and the best way to answer such is +by Scripture. There is not an objection advanced by the unconverted that +can not be met and overcome by some passage of Scripture. Just as Jesus +in the wilderness met the tempter's arguments with "It is written," so +we may meet every argument of the objector with the Word.</p> + +<p>A faithful study of Christ's conversations with seeking souls, such as +Nicodemus and the rich young man, will also be helpful.</p> + +<p>Below are some of the objections usually given, with the Scripture +references that may be used to meet them. This arrangement of texts is +taken from "Personal Work," by S.M. Sayford, by consent of the +publishers:</p> + +<p>"I am good enough." (Gen. vi, 5; Ps. li, 5-7; Luke xviii, 19.)</p> + +<p>"I am as good as most Christians." (Rom. xiv, 10-12; 2 Cor. v, 10; Rev. +xx, 11; xii, 15.)</p> + +<p>"I have never done anything really bad." (Luke xvi, 15; James ii, 10.)</p> + +<p>"I can not give up my pleasures." (Eccl. ii, 1; xi, 9; Ps. xvi, 11.)</p> + +<p>"I know I shall fail." (John vi, 37; 2 Tim. i, 12; iv, 18.)</p> + +<p>"I can not now, but will some time." (Luke xiv, 17; Acts xxiv, 25; James +iv, 13, 14; Luke xii, 19, 20.)</p> + +<p>"I am too great a sinner." (Luke v, 32; xix, 10; 1 Tim. i, 15.)</p> + +<p>"My day of grace has past." (Ex. xxxiv, 5-7; 2 Chron. xxx, 9; Isa. lv, +7.)</p> + +<p>"I do not feel concerned." (Rom. xiii, 11; Eph. v, 14; Heb. ii, 3.)</p> + +<p>"I can not know that these things are true." (Acts xvii, 11; John v, 39; +vii, 17.)</p> + +<p>"It will cost me my living." (Matt. vi, 33; Ps. lxxxiv, 11; Rom. xiv, +8.)</p> + +<p>"It will prevent my becoming rich." (1 Tim. vi, 9, 10; Mark viii, 36, +37; Rev. iii, 17, 18.)</p> + +<p>"I can not hold my friends." (Matt. x, 37; xxii, 37; Phil. iii, 8.)</p> + +<p>"How may I know that Christ is the Son of God?" (John xx, 30, 31; x, +23-25; 1 John v, 13, 20; Mark iv, 11.)</p> + +<p>"How may I know that the Bible is true?" (John vii, 17.)</p> + +<p>"Will not God save me if I do my best?" (Eph. ii, 9; Titus iii, 5-8.)</p> + +<p>"Why must a man believe in Christ to be saved?" (John xiv, 6; Acts iv, +12; Gal. ii, 16; Rom. iii, 23, 26.)</p> + +<p>"How may I know I am forgiven?" (Ps. xxxii, 5; Prov. xxviii, 13; 1 John +i, 7-9.)</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXVIII'></a><h2>STUDY XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>NO EFFORT IN VAIN.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it + shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I + please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."—(Isa. + lv, 11.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John iv, 36; 1 Cor. xv, 58.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>"Some day I hope you will preach the gospel," said an aged minister to a +little boy in England. That boy became Charles H. Spurgeon. That great +soul-winner, Mark Guy Pearse, says that when he was a boy his father +took him to see a saintly old lady, who laid her hand upon his head, +saying, "God bless the boy, and make him a minister." Mr. Pearse says +that, through this aged woman, God called him to the ministry.</p> + +<p>In a college chapel in Pennsylvania a Christian layman sat down beside a +boy and talked to him about Christ. That boy became Alfred Cookman, +whose name will be held in everlasting remembrance.</p> + +<p>An eminent lawyer of Minneapolis, converted a short time since, declares +that the earnest question, "Have you found Jesus?" spoken by a young +lady to his friend who sat by his side in a revival-meeting, and her +startled look, when she was answered roughly, followed him for fifteen +years until he was finally converted.</p> + +<p>No sincere effort for Christ can fail. To human eyes there may be little +encouragement, but his Word shall prevail. Every invitation and entreaty +shall in the end be, to those who reject it, the "savor of death unto +death," but to those who accept it, "the savor of life unto life." We +may go forth now, weeping, bearing precious seed; but some blessed day +we shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with +us.</p> + +<p>Perhaps we are too anxious to see results now. We do like to number the +converts, and add to the Church roll. Far better do our best for Christ +and souls, then leave the results to God. He will see that the seed, +faithfully planted, is watered, and that <i>no effort is in vain</i>.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14716 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + + + + diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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Mahood + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Art of Soul-Winning + +Author: J.W. Mahood + +Release Date: January 17, 2005 [EBook #14716] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ART OF SOUL-WINNING *** + + + + +Produced by Kathryn Lybarger and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + +<h2>THE</h2> + +<h1 style="font-size: 250%; font-variant: small-caps; ">Art of Soul-Winning.</h1> +<br /> + +<h4 style="font-variant: small-caps;">(Specially Adapted for Personal Workers.)</h4> +<br /><br /> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h2>J.W. MAHOOD, EVANGELIST,</h2> + +<h4>Author of "The Missing Wheel Found," and joint-author of<br /> +"The Young +People's History of Methodism."</h4> +<br /> +<hr style='width: 20%;' /> +<h4>"<i>And he brought him to Jesus.</i>"</h4> +<hr style='width: 20%;' /> +<br /> + +<h3>CINCINNATI: JENNINGS & PYE.</h3> + +<h3>NEW YORK: EATON & MAINS.</h3> + +<h3>1901</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> +<br /> + +<p>Never was there such great need for a mighty, Pentecostal revival in all +our Churches; and the key to such a revival is earnest personal work. +But the membership of the Churches are not prepared to enter upon this +work. Multitudes know nothing of a personal Pentecost. Many are utterly +indifferent. They do not realize their opportunity and responsibility +before God. If they did, the revival would come at once.</p> + +<p>With the hope that many professing Christians may be awakened to duty, +and hear God's call to personal work in soul-winning, this little volume +is written.</p> + +<p>Let the pastor see that a copy is put into every home one month previous +to the time set for special revival-meetings. Let him secure a pledge +from the people to read the study for each day, commit the memory +verses, and meditate upon the Scripture suggested.</p> + +<p>Once each week, either at a special meeting appointed for this purpose, +at the week-night prayer-meeting, or at the young people's devotional +meeting Sunday evening, let the studies for the week be reviewed and the +memory verses recited. Short talks may also be given on each topic by +persons previously selected.</p> + +<p>When the entire Church membership shall begin to think and speak upon +these vital themes; when the spirit of grace and supplication shall take +the place of formality and worldly desire; when the Holy Ghost of +Pentecost shall come upon the waiting, praying Church, then the times of +refreshing will be sure to come from the presence of the Lord, and the +perishing multitudes will be saved.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sioux City, Iowa.</span></p> + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<center> +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_MOTIVE'>FIRST WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE. +<br /> +"THE LOVE OF CHRIST."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_I">STUDY I — Foreword and Appeal</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_II">STUDY II — The Lord's Command</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_III">STUDY III — By Personal Effort</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_IV">STUDY IV — Trophies of Personal Effort</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_V">STUDY V — The Worth of a Soul</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_VI">STUDY VI — The Death of a Soul</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_VII">STUDY VII — The Supreme Motive</a><br /> + +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_LIFE'>SECOND WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE. +<br /> +"YIELD YOURSELVES TO GOD."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_VIII">STUDY VIII — A Definite Experience</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_IX">STUDY IX — A Complete Surrender</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_X">STUDY X — The Spirit's Witness</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XI">STUDY XI — Every Weight</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XII">STUDY XII — Prayer</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XIII">STUDY XIII — Faith</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XIV">STUDY XIV — Self-Sacrifice</a><br /> + +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_EQUIPMENT'>THIRD WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT. +<br /> +"COMPLETELY FURNISHED."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_XV">STUDY XV — Knowledge of the Scripture</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XVI">STUDY XVI — Tact</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XVII">STUDY XVII — Earnestness</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XVIII">STUDY XVIII — Perseverance</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XIX">STUDY XIX — Tenderness</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XX">STUDY XX — Burden for Souls</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXI">STUDY XXI — A Personal Pentecost</a><br /> + +<h3><a href='#THE_SOUL_WINNERS_METHODS'>FOURTH WEEK—THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS. +<br /> +"BY ALL MEANS."</a></h3> +<a href="#STUDY_XXII">STUDY XXII — Direct Approach</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXIII">STUDY XXIII — Correspondence</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXIV">STUDY XXIV — Tracts and Books</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXV">STUDY XXV — The Prayer List</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXVI">STUDY XXVI — Work Among Students</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXVII">STUDY XXVII — Meeting Objections</a><br /> +<a href="#STUDY_XXVIII">STUDY XXVIII — No Effort in Vain</a><br /> +</center> +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> + +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_MOTIVE'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE.</h2> + +<h3>"FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_I'></a><h2>STUDY I.</h2> + +<h3>FOREWORD AND APPEAL.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of + the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars + for ever and ever."—(Dan. xii, 3.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Matt. vi, 19-23; Rev. iii, 14-22.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Fred B—— was a medical student. He was stricken, with that dreaded +scourge, consumption. The physicians advised a trip to the mountains. +During the first few months among the Rockies he improved rapidly, and +hope and ambition flamed anew; but it was only a brief respite from +suffering before the final collapse. Lying in a Denver hospital, he was +visited by some consecrated young people, who sang and prayed with him. +He yielded himself to Christ, and the peace of God filled his heart.</p> + +<p>They brought him home to a little Iowa city to die. The day after his +arrival the pastor was summoned to his bedside, when the young man +related the circumstances of his conversion. The pastor said, "Then you +are not afraid to die?" "No," said he, "<i>not afraid, but not ready</i>."</p> + +<p>When asked why he was not ready, he replied: "I have done nothing for my +Master. I have won no souls for him. Could I have six months more to +live that I might bring some souls to Jesus, and thus not go into his +presence empty-handed, I would be satisfied to die. <i>I am not afraid to +die, but not ready.</i>" Just then the door of the room opened, and the +dying boy's father, an old, white-haired man who had been absent from +home and had not seen his son since his return, came in. The old man was +not a Christian. Then occurred a pathetic scene. The young man threw his +arms about his father's neck, and drew him down upon his knees at the +bedside, urged him to give himself to God, and then, with shortening +breath, uttered such a prayer of intercession as is seldom heard. The +old man sobbed aloud, yielded to Christ, declared his faith, and the +dying boy had won one soul for his Master. In a few hours he had gone +into the presence of the King; <i>but not empty-handed</i>.</p> + +<p>O ye to whom God has given the strength and vigor of manhood and +womanhood, and who have pledged your allegiance to the Christ of +Calvary, are you winning any souls for your Master? Or are you going +into his presence <i>empty-handed</i>? What if in the judgment-day it shall +be seen that some souls who might have been saved have been lost through +your neglect? What if it shall then be seen that the crown of many stars +which you might have won is given to another? And what, if in the great +day of his appearing you shall be found, having gathered no sheaves and +<i>empty-handed</i>?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_II'></a><h2>STUDY II.</h2> + +<h3>THE LORD'S COMMAND.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"> +<p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every + creature."—(Mark xvi, 15.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Ezek. xxxiii, 1-11.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>By the Master's final words to his disciples the obligation is laid upon +every Christian to be a soul-winner. "Ye shall be my witnesses," is the +risen Lord's message to all his followers. No one is excused. "Follow +me," said Christ, "and I will make you fishers of men." And when his +face was set toward Calvary, he said to the Father, "As thou hast sent +me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." By the +mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, God distinctly says that, if we neglect +"to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his +iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." We are all +<i>sent</i>, and if we shrink or excuse ourselves from our great mission we +shall come into condemnation.</p> + +<p>The unsaved multitudes know that every Christian should be an ambassador +for Christ, and when we fail to do our duty we are condemned in their +eyes as well as before God. A writer in the <i>Epworth Era</i> says:</p> + +<p>"A college professor who was noted among his fellow-teachers for his +habit of addressing young men upon their personal relations to Christ, +was asked by one of his fellow-professors, 'Do they not resent your +appeals as an impertinence?' He replied: 'No! Nothing is of such +interest to any man as his own soul and its condition. He will never +resent words of warning or comfort if they are prompted by genuine +feeling. When I was a young man, I felt as you do. My wife's cousin, a +young fellow not yet of age, lived in our house for six months. My dread +of meddling was such that I never asked him to be present at family +worship, or spoke to him on the subject of religion. He fell into the +company of a wild set, and was rapidly going to the bad. When I reasoned +with him I spoke of Christ. "Do you call yourself a Christian?" he +asked, assuming an astonished look. "I hope so," I replied. "But you are +not. If you were, he must be your Best Friend. Yet I have lived in your +house for six months, and you have never once named his name to me; no, +he is nothing to you!" I have never forgotten the rebuke.'"</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_III'></a><h2>STUDY III.</h2> + +<h3>BY PERSONAL EFFORT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And he brought him to Jesus."—(John i, 42.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John i, 35-45.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Have you ever noticed that much of the work which the Master and his +disciples did was "personal work?" Some of our Lord's greatest sermons +were preached to one person. The apostles were all won individually. +Turn to your Bible now, and read the account of the visit of Nicodemus +to Christ, and of the meeting with the woman of Samaria at the well. If +you take the time to follow this theme through the Gospels and through +the Acts of the Apostles, you will be sure to see that the work of +winning souls for Christ by personal effort is the work of every +Christian.</p> + +<p>And a conviction of this is the greatest need of the Church to-day. It +is the key to the twentieth-century revival. The world would be +evangelized in this generation did each professing Christian win only +one soul each year for Christ; and the great social and labor problems +of the day would be speedily solved were the great Christian Church +actively engaged in leading men and women to Jesus of Nazareth. Mightier +than the influence of great sermons and fine music and splendid ritual +is the influence of a life consecrated to personal effort in seeking the +lost.</p> + +<p>That remarkable soul-winner, Dr. J.O. Peck, now translated, said: "So +great is my conviction of the value of personal effort, as the result of +a lifework of winning souls, that I can not emphasize the method too +strongly. If it were revealed to me from heaven by the archangel Gabriel +that God had given me the certainty of ten years of life, and that as a +condition of my eternal salvation I must win a thousand souls to Christ +in that time; and if it were further conditioned to this, that I might +preach every day for the ten years, but might not personally appeal to +the unconverted outside the pulpit; or that I might not enter the pulpit +during these ten years, but might exclusively appeal to individuals, I +would not hesitate one moment to make the choice of personal effort as +the sole means to be used in securing the conversion of one thousand +souls necessary to my own salvation."</p> + +<p>Dr. Theodore Cuyler once said concerning the three thousand souls he had +received into Church fellowship during his ministry, "I have handled +every stone."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_IV'></a><h2>STUDY IV.</h2> + +<h3>TROPHIES OF PERSONAL EFFORT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"> +<p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And he that is wise winneth souls."—(Prov. xi, 30, R.V.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +2 Cor. v, 14-21.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Is it not a suggestive fact that nearly all those men who have shone +brightly in the galaxy of martyrs, preachers, and reformers in the +Christian Church through the centuries have been won to Christ by the +personal effort of some consecrated life? Think of some in our own age.</p> + +<p>Dwight L. Moody, when a clerk in a store, was visited by his +Sunday-school teacher, who put his hand upon the young man's shoulder +and talked to him about Christ; and Mr. Moody says, "I had not felt I +had a soul till then."</p> + +<p>Colonel H.H. Hadley, who has kneeled and prayed with over thirty-five +thousand drunkards, declares that one of the agencies which led him to +Christ was a brief interview with Chaplain (now Bishop) McCabe on a +railway-train in Ohio just after the Civil War.</p> + +<p>Lord Shaftesbury, one of the greatest Christian philanthropists of the +nineteenth century, was won for Christ in early boyhood by the effort of +Maria Willis, a servant-girl in his father's home.</p> + +<p>The conversion of Diaz, the great Cuban evangelist, was due to the +faithfulness of a consecrated young lady of Brooklyn. She found him in a +hospital at the point of death, procured a Spanish New Testament, read +to him the words of mercy and invitation, pointed him to Christ; and he +went back to his own country, a flaming herald of the gospel.</p> + +<p>J. Wilbur Chapman, one of the most successful pastor-evangelists of this +generation, says that while in a revival-meeting, when a boy, his +Sunday-school teacher touched him on the elbow, and said, "Do you not +think you had better stand?" and that one touch, as much as anything +else, pushed him into the kingdom.</p> + +<p>Joseph F. Berry, whose name is a household word in the Methodist +Episcopal Church, was led to Christ by two young friends who took the +young printer to his father's barn, and held a prayer-meeting with him, +which resulted in a glorious conversion.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_V'></a><h2>STUDY V.</h2> + +<h3>THE WORTH OF A SOUL.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, + and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his + soul?"—(Matt. xvi, 26.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xv, 1-10.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What is a life worth? What is your life worth? What is the life of your +son or daughter or mother or wife worth? What would you take for a life? +But if the life of a dear one be worth so much to you, what must be its +value in God's sight, who sees to what depths a soul may plunge and to +what heights it may rise? It may be a small matter to you that in yonder +saloon is a man dissipated and drunken. But what if he were your father +or brother or husband? It may be a very small matter to you that the boy +whom you met on the street is puffing a cigarette and wears already +upon his face the marks of an evil life. But what if he were your boy or +your brother? Yet, in God's sight, his life is as valuable as if he were +your boy or your brother; and every soul is of infinite worth.</p> + +<p>Jesus Christ set a high estimate upon human life when he left his +Father's throne and came into this sin-cursed world to suffer and die +that he might redeem us from death.</p> + +<p>The Church of to-day needs a new vision of the worth of a soul. We need +to stand beside Calvary and see the price that was paid there for human +life.</p> + +<p>John Keble, the poet-preacher of the English Church, said that the +salvation of one soul is worth more than the framing of the Magna Charta +of a thousand worlds.</p> + +<p>It was meditation upon the words of the memory verse of this study that +fired the souls of Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier with a holy +enthusiasm to rescue the perishing multitudes. Had their successors and +disciples been, filled with the same enthusiasm, and kept themselves +free from the machinations of politics, they would have long since +evangelized the world, and Jesuitism would not have been "the scandal of +Christianity."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_VI'></a><h2>STUDY VI.</h2> + +<h3>THE DEATH OF A SOUL.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from + the error of his way shall save a soul from death."—(James v, 20.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xvi, 19-31.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What is death—the death of a soul? What is it to die eternally? In the +passage for meditation our Lord gives us a glimpse into the realms of +death. Surely the Son of God is not trifling here; nor does he speak to +confuse. For a moment the curtain is drawn, and we see what is actually +transpiring in the future world. In these days there is a disposition in +some quarters to make light of the future punishment of the wicked. Some +preachers are dumb upon the awful punishment of sin, or preach only half +a gospel, saying, as Bishop Warren puts it, "You must repent, as it +were; be converted, in a measure; or you will go to hell, so to speak."</p> + +<p>But Christ did not speak with any uncertain sound about the future +punishment of the impenitent. He is authority. Take your Bible and read +such passages as Matt. xxv, 41, 46; Matt. viii, 12; Luke xvi, 23; John +v, 29.</p> + +<p>In the light of these words, we must see that the death of a soul means +eternal separation from God, from mercy, and from heaven.</p> + +<p>And yet how indifferent we are concerning the unsaved multitudes all +about us who are drifting into a hopeless eternity. The Church needs a +vision like that of the little lad in Olive Schreiner's "Story of a +South African Farm," who, waking at midnight, sees multitudes drifting +over the precipice into eternal night, and throws himself on his face on +the floor, crying out in the agony of his burdened heart to God to have +mercy.</p> + +<p>Some one tells of a shepherd in the Far West who, on a dark, stormy +night, found three sheep missing. Going to the kennel where the +faithful shepherd-dog lay with her little family, he bade her go to find +the sheep. An hour afterwards she returned with two. When these had been +put in the fold, he said, "One sheep is yet missing. Go!" The faithful +dog took one mute look of despair at her little family, then was off in +the dark and the storm. In two hours she had returned with the lost +sheep, but was torn and bleeding, and, as she staggered toward the +kennel, fell dead at the door. But if a poor, dumb brute, with no +immortal hope, be obedient, even unto death, what shall we say of men +and women who know the destiny of the soul, and whom the King of kings +has bidden seek the lost, yet are disobedient, indifferent, and +thoughtless as to the dying multitudes about them?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_VII'></a><h2>STUDY VII.</h2> + +<h3>THE SUPREME MOTIVE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For the love of Christ constraineth us."—(2 Cor. v, 14.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. xiii, R.V.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>But the supreme motive in all our efforts to win others should be "the +glory of God." Possessed of an undying love for him who first loved us, +we will have an inspiration to seek the lost for whom he gave his life. +And all our efforts shall be, as Paul puts it in his letter to the +Ephesians, "unto the praise of his glory."</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"The love of Christ doth me constrain<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>To seek the wandering souls of men."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Love never faileth. Love knows no impossibility. He who works for wages +and he who works for love live in two different realms. A lot of men +were entombed in a coal-mine, and great crowds gathered to help clear +away the earth and rescue the miners. An old, gray-headed man came +running up, and, seizing a shovel, began working with the strength of +ten men. Some one asked to relieve the old man. "Get out of the way," he +cried; "I have two boys down there."</p> + +<p>Love will triumph; and he whose heart throbs with love to Christ will +find real joy in rescuing from sin those who are the purchase of his +blood, <i>that his name may be glorified</i>.</p> + +<p>Study his life of self-sacrifice. See again his suffering for sinful +men. Linger in Gethsemane, and behold the agony of Calvary. Then your +heart will begin to throb with love to him "who first loved us."</p> + +<p>Get a new vision of your crucified, but now risen, Savior, until the +beauty of his matchless life charms your heart and you are ready to say:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Come, and possess me whole,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Nor hence again remove;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>But sup with me, and let the feast<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Be everlasting love."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Then you will possess the highest motive that moves human hearts, and +personal work in soul-winning will become a real delight.</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_LIFE'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE.</h2> + +<h3>"YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_VIII'></a><h2>STUDY VIII.</h2> + +<h3>A DEFINITE EXPERIENCE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born + again, he can not see the kingdom of God."—(John iii, 3.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John iii, 1-15.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>In a prayer-meeting a young lady was asked, "What is the first thing we +must do if we would win others to Christ?" She replied, "<i>We must live +holy ourselves.</i>" She was right. Just as the telegraph wire must be +insulated, so must the life of him who expects to be the messenger of +God be insulated from the old life of sin before he can hope to carry +the loving messages of the gospel to other souls.</p> + +<p>This implies a definite experience of conversion. He who would engage in +this most fascinating of all work must have nothing short of an inner +consciousness of sins forgiven and of the presence of Christ in his +life. He must be able to say, like Andrew and like Philip of old, "I +have found him." He must know what it is to have "a new heart" and to +have peace with God.</p> + +<p>William Butler, the veteran missionary and soul-winner, now translated, +wrote the author of these studies a letter, in which he said:</p> + +<p>"First and foremost, I thank God for a true conversion. When I got +religion, I got it good and thorough. Christ became everything to me. +The law of sin, or temptation to worldly conformity of any kind, was +completely eradicated from my heart; and from that hour to this the law +of Christ has fully satisfied my soul, and made me gloriously free and +independent of the world and its maxims and pleasures. And now, after +fifty-five years' enjoyment of peace with God and humble devotion to his +service, I bless him that I ever gave him my heart and devoted myself to +his work. I am happy. The consoling comforts of the grace of God are +with me by day and by night, and the blessed future is radiant with the +hope of being 'numbered with the saints in glory everlasting.'"</p> + +<p>In these days of compromise and doubt we need to have as definite an +experience of salvation as had William Butler. He who would win others +to a new life must himself possess that life, and know it, being able to +say with Paul, "I know whom I have believed."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_IX'></a><h2>STUDY IX.</h2> + +<h3>A COMPLETE SURRENDER.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, + that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable + unto God, which is your reasonable service."—(Rom. xii, 1.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Rom. vi, 1-13.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>John Wesley said, "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but +sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be +clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of hell and set up +the kingdom of heaven upon the earth."</p> + +<p>A life surrendered to God will be an invincible life, while the life +only partly surrendered will know nothing but defeat. Someone says that, +in the transfer of property, any reservation implies, also, reserved +rights. If a man sells a ten-acre lot, and keeps a yard square in the +center for himself, he has a right of way across what he has sold to +get to his reservation. And if, in our surrender, we keep back anything, +"that constitutes the devil's territory, and he will trample over all we +call consecrated to get to his own." Therefore a complete surrender of +the life to God is absolutely necessary.</p> + +<p>To the rich young man who came to him, Jesus said, "One thing thou +lackest." He demanded an unconditional surrender of every interest of +his life. But the young man was not willing to make the surrender, and +went away sorrowful. Of every man and woman Jesus asks the same +surrender. But many now wander off in the darkness of formality and +doubt because they are not willing. Three things are implied in such a +surrender: (1) An acknowledgment of the Divine ownership and human +stewardship in all temporal affairs; (2) A complete submission of the +will to God; (3) The supremacy of Jesus Christ in the heart and life, so +that the interests of his kingdom are first, always, and everywhere.</p> + +<p>There is an old story of a monk who, having been disobedient to the +rules of the monastery, was told he must die. They took him out into the +graveyard, stood him upright in a grave, filled in the earth about his +feet. Then they asked, "Are you dead yet?" He said, "No." The earth was +then filled in about him to his waist, and the question again asked. He +replied, "No." Then they filled in the earth until he was covered, all +but his head, and could scarcely breathe. When asked if he would die, he +replied, "Yes, I will give up; I will die." So may we die to the old +life of self and sin, and live the new life of entire surrender to our +risen Lord!</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"If Christ would live and reign in me,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>I must die, I must die.<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>Like him I crucified must be,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>I must die, I must die.<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>So dead that no desire may rise,<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>To pass for good, or great, or wise,<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>To any but my Savior's eyes,—<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Let me die, let me die."<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_X'></a><h2>STUDY X.</h2> + +<h3>THE SPIRIT'S WITNESS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that + we are children of God."—(Rom. viii, 16, R.V.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 John v, 1-15.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>When the life has been wholly surrendered to God, and Christ, the +crucified and risen Savior, is enthroned in the heart and confessed +before men, then the blessed assurance of our sonship with God will be +clear and joyous. No longer shall we say, "I hope I am a Christian," or, +"I am trying to be a Christian;" but, like Paul, we shall exclaim, "I +know whom I have believed."</p> + +<p>The witness of the Spirit will give a holy confidence to the +soul-winner.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"What we have seen and felt,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>With confidence we tell."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Much of the timidity and reluctance shown by Christians toward personal +work may be traced to a refusal or neglect to live the surrendered life +and have the clear assurance of acceptance with God.</p> + +<p>This direct testimony to our adoption is given only by the Holy Spirit, +and given only to believers because they are the sons of God. It is +God's seal which he places upon his own, and we then no longer receive +the spirit of bondage unto fear; but we receive the spirit of adoption +whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The voice of God is heard in the soul +bearing witness to our acceptance, and then the fruit of the Spirit +speedily follows in the life to corroborate the inner voice and "give +unmistakable confirmation to the testimony which was primary and +direct."</p> + +<p>To some, this assurance comes like a sudden flash from the sky; to +others, like the gentle breathing of the evening zephyr. But it comes, +<i>it surely comes</i>; and no soul should be satisfied until it comes; for +it is essential to a useful, joyous life. Look up now, and with eager +expectancy await the "blessed assurance."</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Why should the children of a King<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Go mourning all their days?<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>Great Comforter, descend and bring<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>The tokens of thy grace.<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span class='iquote'>Assure my conscience of her part<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>In the Redeemer's blood;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>And bear thy witness with my heart,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>That I am born of God.<br /></span> +</div><div class='stanza'> +<span class='iquote'>Thou art the earnest of His love,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>The pledge of joys to come;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>May thy blest wings, celestial Dove,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>Safely convey me home!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XI'></a><h2>STUDY XI.</h2> + +<h3>EVERY WEIGHT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so + great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the + sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the + race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and + finisher of our faith."—(Heb. xii, 1, 2.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. viii, 9-13; ix, 24-27.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>We hear much about "personal liberty" in these days, and, to hear some +talk, one would think that personal liberty was a gift to be selfishly +guarded rather than to be sacrificed for the good of others. But Paul, +the apostle, sacrificed his liberty for the sake of others; so did +Onesimus, the Christian slave. Surely those professing Christians who +make "personal liberty" their plea for engaging in some form of worldly +amusement (such as dancing, card-playing, or theater-going), and those +who are given to some filthy habit (such as the use of tobacco), have +not studied the life of Jesus, or of Paul, or of Onesimus.</p> + +<p>If there were no other reasons why these things should be renounced, +that they injure our influence as soul-winners would be sufficient; for +who ever heard of a man or woman who engaged in these forms of +questionable amusement becoming illustrious as a soul-winner? To say the +least, they are "weights," and must be laid aside.</p> + +<p>In a revival service, a lady rose, and, with tears raining down her +face, said: "I have taught a Sunday-school class of sixteen young men +for three years, and have not seen one of them converted. I believe I +know why, and now confess my sin. Being a teacher in the city schools, I +thought I must see a Shakespearean play, and went to the theater one +night. I saw several of my class there, and they all seemed to be +looking at me as if surprised. Next day I met some of them, and they +confessed surprise that I was at the theater. I have been conscious +from that time that I had lost my influence to win these young men to +Christ." Within one week after this confession was made this lady had +won seven of her class for the Savior.</p> + +<p>A young lady, once a society belle and fond of worldly amusements, +consecrated her life to the Lord's work. In a rescue mission she was +asked to speak to a poor wreck of a man who had been a gambler. He +looked at her suspiciously as he asked, "Do you play cards, or dance, or +go to the theater?" "No, not now," she replied. "Well, then you may talk +to me; but I won't listen to one word from you fine folks who are doing +on a small scale the very things that brought us poor wretches to where +we are." And the young lady afterwards said she had found more real joy +in leading that lost soul to Christ than she had ever found in the +pleasures of the world.</p> + +<p><i>Lay aside every weight; lay aside every weight, just now.</i></p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XII'></a><h2>STUDY XII.</h2> + +<h3>PRAYER.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth + much."—(James v, 16.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Gen. xxxii, 24-30; Luke xi, 1-13. +</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Nothing is more essential to the soul-winner than prayer. Prayer will +generate a spiritual atmosphere in the individual life. The prayers of +many will generate a spiritual atmosphere in a community. In answer to +prayer, the Holy Spirit will do his office, and produce such pungent +conviction of sin that men will carry out, as on the day of Pentecost, +"Men and brethren, what shall we do?"</p> + +<p>In the Life of Mr. Finney it is related that, during a revival at Rome, +New York, the air seemed surcharged with Divine power. A sheriff, who +had laughed about the meetings, came over from Utica. He felt this +strange influence when he crossed the old canal, a mile west of town. +When he sat in the hotel dining-room, he had to get up and go to the +window two or three times to divert his attention and keep from weeping. +After dinner he hurried away, but was afterwards converted.</p> + +<p>See what spiritual triumphs and great revivals the early Church +witnessed; but the secret of it all was that "they continued steadfastly +in prayers." Why is it that to-day many have so little courage and so +little power to win others to Christ? They neglect prayer. "They that +wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with +wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and +not faint." How little time we spend daily in prayer! Study the life of +Paul, and Savonarola, and Catherine of Siena, and Martin Luther, and +John Knox, and see how they all gave themselves continually to prayer, +and so prevailed. All they who have become illustrious as great +soul-winners have been, without exception, men and women mighty in +prayer. They came to understand that God's storehouses of wisdom, +prayer, and grace are inexhaustible, and with the key of prayer they +unlocked every door.</p> + +<p>Prayer avails for the salvation of others when every other means seems +to fail. The disciples spent ten days in prayer. Then came Pentecost and +a revival that brought thousands into the kingdom. John Livingstone, +with a few friends, spent a whole night in prayer, and the next day five +hundred persons gave themselves to Christ. Two sisters agreed to spend +the night in prayer in behalf of an unconverted brother. That night, +although twenty miles away, the young man tossed on his bed in agony of +conviction, and next day started for home, and found salvation.</p> + +<p>Prayer is omnipotent; and, if we would see the kingdom of Christ come +speedily in the world, we must have a great revival of prevailing +prayer.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XIII'></a><h2>STUDY XIII.</h2> + +<h3>FAITH.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, + the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these + shall he do; because I go unto my Father."—(John xiv, 12.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Heb. xi.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>Not the mystery of faith, nor the philosophy of faith, does the +soul-winner need to study; but the simplicity, the childlikeness of +faith. To believe God implicitly is to have victorious faith. "I can do +all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," said Paul; and +everywhere in the Bible we find the clear teaching that "God and one +make a majority." To realize this in one's own life is to live the +victorious life.</p> + +<p>But perhaps we should distinguish between trust and saving faith. Trust +gives the life to God; faith takes from God that which he has promised +in his Word. Trust is continuous; faith is a definite act. "Faith is +the giving substance to things hoped for, the evidence of things not +seen." (Heb. xi, 1.)</p> + +<p>It is true that we walk by faith now; but faith has a clear eye. Faith +can see the clouds full of chariots and horses. Faith can see legions of +angels marshaling themselves for our defense. Faith can see that every +promise of God is steadfast, and will surely be fulfilled, and can claim +its fulfillment.</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>And looks to that alone;<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>Laughs at impossibilities,<br /></span> +<span class='i1'>And cries, 'It shall be done.'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>Of Barnabas it is said, "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost +and of faith." The fullness of faith will make unbelief and moral +darkness impossible in the soul, and will generate a triumphant +confidence in God.</p> + +<p>To have faith is to have power; and the little child, as well as the +grown man, may possess this power, and exercise it in winning souls for +Jesus. A little girl who had bowed at the altar and given her heart to +God, pulled the pastor's coat at the close of the service, and said, +"Will you please pray for my mamma?" "Certainly," said the pastor. And +the next evening the little girl brought her mother to the service. When +the invitation was given, she took her hand and led her to the altar. +That little girl's faith won her mother to Christ.</p> + +<p>Faith will give courage for personal work. With a strong, unfaltering +confidence which takes God at his word, we shall not hesitate nor fear +to approach the unsaved and seek to win them to the Savior.</p> + +<p>Faith is nourished by the Word. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by +the Word of God." If we feed our faith upon the Word, and exercise it, +then we shall have the faith of those mentioned in the eleventh chapter +of Hebrews, and we shall prove the promise of the Savior, "All things +are possible to him that believeth."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XIV'></a><h2>STUDY XIV.</h2> + +<h3>SELF-SACRIFICE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and + whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."—(Matt. + xvi, 25.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Matt. xvi, 24; 2 Cor. iv.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The words of Christ, "If any man will come after me, let him deny +himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," can not be mistaken. The +earthly life of Jesus was a supreme example of self-sacrifice. All the +way from Bethlehem to Calvary his life was a constant denial of self. +The early Church followed their Master. They were ready to sacrifice +all. Men sold their fields and houses for the work's sake. They counted +nothing too good for sacrifice, even to life itself; and many went +gladly to the arena and the fiery stake rather than be untrue to their +Lord. As long as the early Christian Church maintained this spirit, she +went from victory to victory. Nothing could withstand her progress. And +when the followers of Jesus Christ in this twentieth century shall again +put on the beautiful garments of self-sacrifice, the Church will become +invincible.</p> + +<p>There is now a great opportunity for men and women to sacrifice, in +personal liberty, in popularity, in social standing, and personal +comfort, for the sake of the perishing multitudes. None are too poor, +none too old, to do something to win souls.</p> + +<p>An aged widow, who had all her money invested in a farm in a +drouth-stricken part of the West, found herself almost penniless. She +was compelled to find shelter in a Refuge Home. At first she was +discouraged and heart-broken; but God put upon her heart the multitudes +of perishing women in India. She tried to occupy her mind piecing a +quilt. This she sold, and the money was sent to India. Then she made +another for Africa, then another for Japan, until now, in six years, +she has given four hundred dollars to home and foreign missions, and has +six people at work as her substitutes in foreign lands. And she says, "I +was surely called of God to teach that no one is too poor to give to +missions, or too old to work for God and souls."</p> + +<p>A young man, twenty-four years old, working on a farm for twenty dollars +a month and board, has, in nineteen months, sent six substitutes, and +says, "I pray God to make me a Christian drunkard, that I may spend my +time and money for him as the drunkard does for the devil." And when the +whole Church shall begin to show the same spirit of self-sacrifice in +giving time and money, and in sacrificing pleasure and comfort and +social standing for the Lord's work, and for dying multitudes about +them, then we shall soon see the dawn of the millennial day.</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_EQUIPMENT'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT.</h2> + +<h3>"COMPLETELY FURNISHED."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XV'></a><h2>STUDY XV.</h2> + +<h3>KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all + wisdom."—(Col. iii, 16.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Heb. iv, 12; 2 Tim. iii, 13-17; Ps. cxix, + 1-11.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>A thorough knowledge of the Word of God is essential to success in +soul-winning. The Word is "the sword of the Spirit," "the hammer that +breaketh the rock in pieces." If we are not skilled in the use of the +Divine sword and the Divine hammer, then we can not expect that the +Spirit will use us.</p> + +<p>In an excellent little book on "How to Obtain the Fullness of Power," +Dr. R.A. Torrey says:</p> + +<p>"There can be no fullness of life and service if the Bible is neglected. +In much that is now written on power; also in much that is said in +conventions, this fact is overlooked. The work of the Holy Spirit is +magnified; but the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works is +largely forgotten. The result is transient enthusiasm and activity, but +no steady continuance and increase in power and usefulness. We can not +obtain power, and we can not maintain power, in our own lives and in our +work for others, unless there is deep and frequent meditation upon the +Word of God.... Of course, it is much easier, and therefore much more +agreeable to our spiritual laziness, to go to a convention or +revival-meeting, and claim a 'filling with the Holy Spirit,' than it is +to peg along, day after day, month after month, year after year, digging +into the Word of God. But a 'filling of the Spirit,' that is not +maintained by a persistent study of the Word will soon vanish.... +Evidently Paul knew of no filling with the Spirit divorced from deep and +constant meditation upon the Word."</p> + +<p>The most remarkable movement among young men in this generation is the +World's Christian Student Federation, organized by Mr. John R. Mott. +Through this movement multitudes of young men the world over have been +led to keep what is called "The Morning Watch," by which they rise at +least half an hour earlier than usual each morning, and spend the time +in devotional Bible-study and prayer. What a mighty impetus would be +given to Christian work everywhere if all Christian young people would +form the habit of keeping "The Morning Watch!"</p> + +<p>Have a plan for your Bible study, and faithfully follow it. Commit to +memory the texts found in Study Twenty-seven, and thus be able to use +skillfully the Sword of the Spirit.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XVI'></a><h2>STUDY XVI.</h2> + +<h3>TACT.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all + means save some."—(1 Cor. ix, 22.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. ix, 19-27.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The successful business man knows the value of tact, and the Christian +worker should know the value of consecrated tact. A special study of the +life of Christ to notice his methods of dealing with various people, and +to see the aptness with which he used parable and exhortation, would +prove very helpful to every soul-winner. The life of Paul might also be +studied in the same manner with profit. He knew how to become all things +to all men to save some.</p> + +<p>Christ's exhortation to his disciples was, "Be ye as wise as serpents," +but how little wisdom many seem to have in seeking to win the unsaved to +Christ! And this, too, when we have the promise, "If any of you lack +wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and +upbraideth not: and it shall be given him."</p> + +<p>"Now if I could tell you," said a pastor to an unsaved business man, who +had been relating how much a friend had helped him in business, "how +much Christ has helped me, and what he has been to me, I believe I could +win you to him."</p> + +<p>The value of tact was well illustrated in an incident which occurred +during Mr. Finney's meetings in New York City. The big cutlery firm of +Sheffield, England, had a branch house in New York. The manager was a +partner of the firm, and very worldly. One of his clerks, who had been +converted in the meetings, invited his employer to attend. One evening +he was there, and sat just across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He +appeared affected during the sermon, and Mr. Tappan kept his eye on him. +After the dismissal, Mr. Tappan stepped quickly across the aisle, +introduced himself, and invited him to stay for the after-service. The +gentleman tried to excuse himself and get away, but Mr. Tappan caught +hold of the button on his coat and said, "Now, do stay; I know you will +enjoy it;" and he was so kind and gentlemanly that the cutlery man could +not very well refuse. He staid, and was converted. Afterwards he said, +"An ounce of weight upon my coat-button saved my soul."</p> + +<p>To watch for opportunity, and then to know how effectively to make use +of the opportunity, is all-important in soul-winning. And there is no +better teacher than the Holy Spirit, of whom it is said, "He shall teach +you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XVII'></a><h2>STUDY XVII.</h2> + +<h3>EARNESTNESS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy + might."—(Eccl. ix, 10.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Mark ii, 1-12.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The testimony of Charles H. Spurgeon should have weight here. He said: +"If a man is to be a soul-winner, there must be in him intensity of +emotion as well as sincerity of heart. You may repeat the most +affectionate exhortations in such a half-hearted manner that no one will +be moved either by love or fear. I believe that for soul-winning there +is more in this matter of earnestness than in almost anything else."</p> + +<p>When we become as much in earnest to rescue our friends and dear ones +from eternal death as we are to save them from physical suffering and +death, then we shall see the rapid spread of the kingdom of Christ. A +man falls overboard from the deck of a vessel, and his wife screams: +"Stop the boat! My God! My husband is drowning!" But no one criticises +the woman for her passionate outcry, or bids her keep still. It was so +natural for her to cry out for help. And when the Church of Jesus Christ +becomes thoroughly awake to the worth of a soul and the awful danger to +which all out of Christ are exposed, it will be the most natural thing +in the world for them to show an undying earnestness in seeking the +lost. Then propriety, and reticence, and restraint, and rules of +rhetoric will be thrown to the winds, and a divine passion will possess +the life. The world may sneer at it as fanaticism, but it is the +fanaticism of Pentecost. When the crowd saw the intensity of emotion +shown by the newly-anointed disciples, they exclaimed, "These men are +full of new wine." Here was shown an enthusiasm that leaps over all +difficulties and rises above every discouragement—the enthusiasm of +Pentecost; and every soul-winner must have it. Then, like Paul, wishing +himself accursed that Israel might be saved, or like John Welch, wrapped +in his plaid, kneeling in the snow, unable to sleep, and praying +mightily for the souls of men, this holy earnestness will not let us +rest until we see the salvation of the lost.</p> + +<p>It will tell in look, and tone, and manner. It may lead us to do things +that may shock the sense of propriety of the dead, formal Church member, +such as being obedient to the Master's command, "Go ye out into the +highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." Jeremiah preached +repentance in the streets; and the early Church preached everywhere, on +the streets, by the river's bank, in the market-places, and in prisons. +John Livingstone stood on a tombstone, and preached with such power in +the midst of a falling rain that multitudes were born in a day. So did +John Wesley. O that the great Church of Jesus Christ might now have the +enthusiasm of Pentecost!</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XVIII'></a><h2>STUDY XVIII.</h2> + +<h3>PERSEVERANCE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take no + rest."—(Isa. lxii, 6, R.V.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xv, 1-10.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>How we are willing to persevere to save our friends from physical +suffering and death! No night is too long to watch, no sacrifice too +great to make, no burden too heavy to bear, that the life of a loved one +may be saved. But should we not be just as persistent in our efforts to +save from eternal death those whom we love?</p> + +<p>Perhaps we have no more illustrious example of devotion to soul-winning +than evidenced in the life of Uncle John Vassar. Two incidents, related +by the Rev. Walter B. Vassar, illustrate the perseverance with which he +sought the perishing.</p> + +<p>A young man was noticed to come night after night to revival-meetings, +but would slip away before one could grasp his hand. Mr. Vassar felt he +must see this soul, and walked five miles to the farm where he lived, +arriving as the family was about to eat an early dinner, of which he was +urged to partake. After being seated, the face of the young man not +appearing in the family group, Mr. Vassar excused himself from the +table, and hunted through all the farm-buildings where a man might +possibly be in hiding. At last, when about to confess himself defeated, +he walked to the further end of the corn-crib, and there, in an old +hogshead, he found the fellow lying low. He confessed afterward that he +had taken satisfaction in looking through the bunghole of the hogshead, +in believing Uncle John would not find him there. But this "winner of +souls," knowing his opportunity, leaped over by the side of the runaway, +and then and there turned, as Charles Spurgeon has said, "the hogshead +into a Bethel," and won a soul for heaven.</p> + +<p>An Irish woman in a village was told about a strange man calling about +her place, and affirmed he would not be kindly treated if he knocked at +her door. Mr. Vassar, not knowing her feelings, came there in his +visits, but the moment she saw he was the man—according to the +description of him—she slammed the door in his face. He sat at once +upon her doorstep and began to sing:</p> + +<div class='poem'><div class='stanza'> +<span>"But drops of grief can ne'er repay<br /></span> +<span class='iquote'>The debt of love I owe."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>In a few weeks she wanted admission into the Protestant Church, and all +her experience was, "Those drops of grief, those drops of grief; I could +not get over them."</p> + +<p>See how men persevere to get rich or to gain political prestige! See how +insurance agents, and book agents, and traveling men persevere in their +efforts to convince men! They seek most favorable times, and then often +go again and again. And shall we who win immortal souls be any less +diligent?</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XIX'></a><h2>STUDY XIX.</h2> + +<h3>TENDERNESS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life + for the sheep."—(John x, 12.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xv, 3-7; John x, 1-18.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What infinite depths of tenderness are revealed in these sweet parables +of the Lost Sheep and the Good Shepherd! The tender, loving heart of the +Savior goes out in eager compassion and pity for the straying. What +boundless sympathy is revealed in the words, "He calleth his own sheep +by name;" "He goeth after that which is lost;" "When he hath found it, +he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing!" The seeker after souls must +be like his Master. A heart ready to melt at the sight of human +suffering and human need is necessary to successful soul-winning. There +are many whose hearts are hardened by long years of rebellion against +God; whose power of will is emasculated by long years of neglect; and +they will never be saved until some earnest Christian worker shall find +them, whose heart has been touched with the same sorrow that Jesus felt +when he stood on the Mount of Olives weeping over Jerusalem.</p> + +<p>J. Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, tells that when he was a +college student he had charge of a man with a gangrenous foot. It was +his duty to dress the man's foot every day. He soon learned that his +patient was not a Christian, and had not been in a church for forty +years. Such was his hatred of religion that he refused to go inside the +church at his wife's funeral. Young Taylor made up his mind to speak to +this man about his soul every time he visited him. The man cursed him, +and refused to allow him to pray. The student persisted in presenting +Christ until one day he said to himself, "It's no use," and was leaving +the room. When he reached the door, he turned around and saw the man +looking after him as if saying, "Why, you are going away to-day without +speaking to me about Christ!" Then the young man burst into tears, and +returning to the bedside, said: "Whether you wish me to or not, I must +deliver my soul. Will you let me pray with you?" The man assented, began +to weep, was converted. Mr. Taylor says, "God broke my heart, that +through me he might break this wicked man's heart."</p> + +<p>Ask now that the Holy Spirit may give you a tender heart, and make your +eyes a fountain of tears, that, with the sympathy of Christ, you may +seek the lost and perishing.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XX'></a><h2>STUDY XX.</h2> + +<h3>BURDEN FOR SOULS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ + for my brethren."—(Rom. ix, 3.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Gen. xviii, 16-33.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>How the great heart of the Savior was burdened for the lost! See him +standing on Olivet and weeping as he said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou +that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, +how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen +gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"</p> + +<p>Where there is no real soul-burden for sinners, there will be no +revival. The early Church travailed in pain for the souls of dying men. +One preacher said, "As I entered the pulpit, I could scarcely stand +erect because of my concern for the people and solicitude for souls;" +and another said, "I spent a whole night in prayer, and what I passed +through was inexpressible." When we get a glimpse of the worth of a +soul, and then of the death of a soul, and begin to realize that we +stand between lost men and heaven or hell, then we shall have real +concern, and the Lord will hear our prayer of intercession.</p> + +<p>When Mr. Moody first went to London he preached in a Congregational +Church, Sunday morning. There was no particular stir. That evening he +spoke to a large audience of men in the same place, and scores expressed +a desire to become Christians. He went to Dublin next day, but was +recalled by a telegram saying that a great revival had broken out. And +Mr. Moody accounts for this wonderful work of grace which followed by +telling that, on that Sunday morning, a lady went home and told her +invalid sister that Mr. Moody from America had preached. "I know what +that means," said the invalid. "We are going to have a great revival. I +have been praying for months that the Lord would send him here." She +would not eat any dinner, but spent the day in fasting and prayer. The +revival began in that invalid's room.</p> + +<p>A gentleman waked his wife up at three o'clock in the morning to have +her join him in prayer in behalf of a neighboring family who were +unsaved; and at daybreak went to his neighbor's house to entreat them to +yield to Christ.</p> + +<p>When such concern for the perishing is manifested by the Church, there +is sure to be a gracious ingathering.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXI'></a><h2>STUDY XXI.</h2> + +<h3>A PERSONAL PENTECOST.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is + come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, + and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the + earth."—(Acts i, 8.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Acts ii, 1-4; xix, 1-6.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>But, above all, the soul-winner must have <i>a personal Pentecost</i>. Christ +does not send us alone to seek the lost. In the fifteenth and sixteenth +chapters of St. John's Gospel, he definitely promises the Comforter. And +again, on the day of his ascension, he bids his disciples tarry at +Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost is come. Then as they waited, "with one +accord in one place," "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind +filled all the house where they were sitting, ... and they were all +filled with the Holy Ghost." Since that day the one supreme +qualification for Christ's witnesses is <i>the enduement with the Holy +Ghost</i>. He will give a better knowledge of the Scriptures; he will +re-enforce tact and earnestness and perseverance; he will give +tenderness of heart and the burden for souls.</p> + +<p>What a marvelous change the coming of the Spirit wrought in those +waiting disciples! They had forsaken him; they had doubted his word; +Peter had denied him. But now they all became flaming evangels, and +"spake the word of God with boldness."</p> + +<p>A personal Pentecost will help the soul-winner to overcome timidity, +give utterance and a holy boldness, and make effective the words he +speaks. It is the supreme need of the Church to-day. God wants men and +women in every vocation of life who are Spirit-filled; and who, by +diligent study of the Word of God, by prayer, and by Christian +testimony, live a Spirit-filled life that is perennial.</p> + +<p>The personal worker will succeed only when endued and empowered with the +Holy Ghost. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman tells of a young Irishman who was a +member of his Church, and who had not had the educational advantages +many young people have. Dr. Chapman says:</p> + +<p>"With a heart burdened for the men of the city, I called together a few +of the men of the Church, and laying before them the plan I had in mind, +told them first of all that we could do nothing without the 'infilling +of the Holy Ghost.'</p> + +<p>"When this had been explained, I noticed this man leave the room. He did +not return while the meeting was in session. When I sought him I found +him in one of the lower rooms of the church, literally on his face +before God. He was in prayer.</p> + +<p>"I shall never forget his petition: 'O God, I plead with thee for this +blessing!' then, as if God were showing him what was in the way, he +said, 'My Father, I will give up every known sin, only I plead with thee +for power;' and then, as if his individual sins were passing before him, +he said again and again, 'I will give them up; I will give them up.' +Then, without any emotion, he rose from his knees, turned his face +heavenward, and simply said, 'And now I claim the blessing.'</p> + +<p>"For the first time he became sensible of my presence, and with a +shining countenance he reached out his hands to clasp mine. You could +feel the very presence of the Spirit as he said, 'I have received him; I +have received him!' And I believe he had, for in the next few months he +led more than sixty men into the kingdom of God. His whole life had been +transformed."</p> + + +<br /><br /> +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='THE_SOUL_WINNERS_METHODS'></a><h2>THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS.</h2> + +<h3>"THAT I MAY, BY ALL MEANS, SAVE SOME."</h3> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXII'></a><h2>STUDY XXII.</h2> + +<h3>DIRECT APPROACH.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Jesus ... saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and + tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee."—(Mark v, + 19.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John iv, 1-42.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>John Vassar, than whom there has been no more successful soul-winner for +a hundred years, accomplished his work through personal conversation, +and declared that the best method of dealing with souls is to strike +home at once with the most direct and searching question possible. +Without a word of introduction he would say, "Have you experienced that +great change called the new birth?" That question could not be easily +evaded.</p> + +<p>Study the methods of Christ in dealing with such as Nicodemus, the +Samaritan woman, and the rich young man. How eagerly he used every +opportunity! How his questions search the life! Without any apology, +how he thrusts home warning and entreaty!</p> + +<p>How easily we may lose opportunity to speak directly to men of their +danger! While the great Dr. Chalmers was a guest at the home of his +friend, a Highland country gentleman, his friend died suddenly. Dr. +Chalmers had never spoken to him about his soul. He was much distressed, +and said, "If I had only known that he was going to be taken from earth +so soon, how earnestly I would have pleaded with him about his soul!"</p> + +<p>Dr. J.E. Carson, of New York City, said to his congregation one Sunday +morning, that every saved man was either a channel through which the +Spirit of God was reaching the unsaved, or a barrier preventing the +Spirit doing his work. One of the trustees of the Church said to himself +on the way home, "Am I a channel, or a barrier?" That night he could not +sleep, and cried out, "O Lord, make me a channel!" Almost the first +thought that came was that there were some men in his employ to whom he +had never spoken a word about Jesus Christ. He confessed his fault, and +told the Lord that if he would make him a channel he would speak to +these men. The first man who entered his office the next morning was his +confidential clerk, who had been with him eighteen years. The merchant +said, "Edward, haven't I been a good employer to you?" "Yes, sir." "Have +not I treated you well?" "Yes, sir." "Why, sir, what have I done," said +the clerk, "that you are going to discharge me?" "Edward, I am on my way +to heaven, and I want you to go with me." Tears came into the eyes of +both men as Edward took the merchant's extended hand and said, "I will, +sir." Dr. Carson afterwards received eleven men into his Church because +this trustee had consented to be a channel for the Holy Spirit.</p> + +<p>Dr. Manley S. Hard talked with a physician about his soul, and, two days +after, the doctor entered the revival-meeting just before the +benediction, walked straight to the altar, and begged the people to +wait and pray for him, saying:</p> + +<p>"I know it is late and you are all tired, but I want you to stay a +little while and pray for me. This has been an awfully hard day. I have +ridden fifty miles and visited more than twenty patients, but I am the +sickest man of them all. Two sermons have been preached to me; a +faithful one yesterday by my pastor; the other this morning when I had +to tell a woman she had better get ready to die, for she could not live. +As I drove away I said to myself, 'You have warned another, but you are +not ready yourself.'"</p> + +<p>To go to a man and speak to him directly and plainly about his +responsibility to God, and warn him to flee from "the wrath to come," +may take more courage than to preach to a thousand; but it pays, and it +must be done if the dying multitudes are ever saved.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXIII'></a><h2>STUDY XXIII.</h2> + +<h3>CORRESPONDENCE.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with + mine own hand."—(Gal. vi, 11.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Philemon.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>What a beautiful letter is that which Paul wrote to Philemon! How it +breathes affection, and sympathy, and tender entreaty! And it was +written <i>by his own hand</i>. Study this letter, and have your heart +saturated with its spirit. You will then know how to write "words that +touch" to your unsaved friends.</p> + +<p>There are special +<ins class="correction" +title="Transcriber's note: original reads 'ocasions'"> +occasions</ins>, such as the time of bereavement, of sickness, of trial, or +of success, when this method may be employed to advantage. Many a soul +has been won for Christ, and many a lonely life cheered by a +sympathetic, wisely-worded letter, winged by prayer.</p> + +<p>Sitting in a public park, a young man was seen poring over a letter +while the tears rained down his face, and he almost sobbed aloud. "It is +from my mother," he said. "She wrote it herself, and though I ran away +from home and broke her heart, yet she says that she still loves me, and +is praying for me, and wants me to come home."</p> + +<p>Dr. T.L. Cuyler went to make his first call on a rich merchant. It was a +cold winter evening, and as the door was opened when the minister was +leaving, a cold, piercing gale swept in. Dr. Cuyler said, "What an awful +night for the poor!" The merchant went back and brought a roll of +bank-bills, saying, "Give these to the poorest people you know." Some +days after, Dr. Cuyler wrote him, telling him how his bounty had +relieved many poor, and then added, "How is it that a man so kind to his +fellow-creatures has always been so unkind to his Savior as to refuse +him his heart?" That sentence touched him. He sent for the minister to +talk to him, was converted, and told Dr. Cuyler that he was the first +person in twenty years who had spoken to him about his soul.</p> + +<p>Do not allow letter-writing to excuse you from direct personal work; but +watch for opportunity to write, as well as speak, that "by all means you +may save some."</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXIV'></a><h2>STUDY XXIV.</h2> + +<h3>TRACTS AND BOOKS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, + lo, a roll of a book was therein."—(Ezek. ii, 9.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Eccl. xi, 1; 1 Tim. iv, 7-16.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The influence of a tract or of a good book can not be estimated. Rev. J. +Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, was converted in boyhood +through reading a gospel tract which he found in his father's library. +"He had been frequently troubled about his soul, and had again and again +tried to become a Christian, but had failed so often that he had +concluded that there was no use in trying any more."</p> + +<p>An agent of the American Tract Society relates the following:</p> + +<p>"A man on a canal-boat received a tract, but to show his contempt for +the tract and its giver, took out his penknife and cut it up into +fantastic shapes. Then he held it up to the derision of the company.</p> + +<p>"In tearing it apart, one of the pieces clung to his knee. His eyes were +attracted by the only word on it—'eternity.' He turned it over, and +there was the word 'God.'</p> + +<p>"These ideas remained in his mind. He tried to laugh them off; then to +drink, to play cards in order to banish them. But they still clung to +him, and plagued him till he sought God and preparation for eternity."</p> + +<p>There is an old true story about a tract, that should be told over and +over again:</p> + +<p>A Puritan minister named Sibbs wrote a tract called "The Bruised Reed." +A copy of this was given by a humble layman to a little boy at whose +father's house he had been entertained over night. That boy was Richard +Baxter, and the book was the means of his conversion. Baxter wrote his +"Call to the Unconverted," and among the multitude led to Christ by it +was Philip Doddridge. Doddridge wrote "The Rise and Progress of Religion +in the Soul," and "the time would fail to tell" its blessed influence. +By it Wilberforce was converted, and of his life and labors volumes +could be written. Wilberforce wrote his "Practical View of +Christianity," and this led not only Dr. Chalmers into the truth, but +Legh Richmond to Christ. Richmond wrote "The Dairyman's Daughter," which +has been published in a hundred languages, and many million copies have +been sold.</p> + +<p>But he who would make the best use of good literature must be wise. How +little tact some workers have! In a hospital a tract-distributor handed +a leaflet on dancing to a poor fellow who had lost both limbs. Another +zealous young man gave a tract on "The Tobacco Habit" to a beautiful +cultured lady, the wife of a minister. A good supply of common sense is +just as necessary to success in the use of this method as in any other.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXV'></a><h2>STUDY XXV.</h2> + +<h3>THE PRAYER LIST.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"I will pray for you unto the Lord."—(1 Sam. vii, 5.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +Luke xviii, 1-8.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>One of the highest privileges of the Christian life is the privilege of +intercession for the unsaved. Every Christian may be an intercessor, and +bear to the mercy-seat, in the arms of prayer, some unsaved friend every +day. Have a prayer list. In a little memorandum-book write the names of +those whom you are anxious to see saved. Spread these names before the +Lord daily until your prayers are answered.</p> + +<p>One of the greatest Christian movements of modern times started with a +prayer-list carried in the vest-pocket of a commercial traveler, Mr. +E.R. Graves, traveling for a paper-house in New York City. He secured +permission from a merchant to allow his name to be entered on his +prayer-list. The merchant wrote his name in the traveler's book, and +then proceeded to inform Mr. Graves that he had determined not to be a +Christian, and that he had taken too big a contract if he expected to +pray him into the kingdom. But the traveler simply said, "I confidently +expect my prayer to be answered." When they met again the merchant had +been converted, and, amid tears of rejoicing, another name was checked +off the list. The merchant's name was Samuel M. Sayford. Mr. Sayford +became a secretary in the Young Men's Christian Association, and shortly +after met C.K. Ober, then a student at Williams College, and pushed him +out into Association work. Mr. Ober, in turn, found John E. Mott in +Cornell University, persuaded him to enter Association work among +students; and Mr. Mott, in the course of time, started on his journey +around the world, organizing the World's Christian Student Federation.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXVI'></a><h2>STUDY XXVI.</h2> + +<h3>WORK AMONG STUDENTS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did + beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled + to God."—(2 Cor. v, 20.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +1 Cor. ii.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>No more fruitful and important field for personal work can be found than +in our educational institutions, and Christian students who make +soul-winning a habit of life may win many rich trophies for the Master. +Bishop H.W. Warren, when a Freshman in college, was led to an open +confession of Christ through a Saturday morning walk with a Junior, who +talked to him about his soul.</p> + +<p>Dr. J.W. Bashford, in <i>The Christian Student</i>, tells about "a Senior in +the Ohio Wesleyan University who was smitten with conviction because he +had neglected personal work for the Master. He intended to be a +minister, but had been indifferent to the spiritual welfare of his +student friends. He offered himself to Christ in full consecration, and +made a list of sixteen friends for whom he felt personal responsibility. +He engaged in systematic personal work with these friends, and had the +satisfaction before the year was completed of seeing every one of them +begin the Christian life. Six of his sixteen friends entered the +ministry, and some of them are even more talented and successful than +the student friend who led them to Christ."</p> + +<p>As a rule, young people during their college years are thoughtful and +easily reached; but if not saved before they leave the college halls and +begin the active work of life, they are almost certainly lost to the +kingdom. How often, because of timidity or carelessness, Christian +students and teachers allow this precious harvest time to go by, and +lose the opportunity to win a soul for Christ!</p> + +<p>A man, who is now an eminent and widely-known minister, says that he +roomed with a young man at college for two years, and never said a word +to him about his soul. When he was about to leave for home, his +room-mate said, "Why have you not spoken to me about my soul?" Said the +Christian student, "I thought you did not care for me to do so." The +young man replied, "Why, that is the very reason I roomed with you, and +there has never been a day for these two years that you could not have +done so."</p> + +<p>Let Christian students set out to win some trophies among their friends +and room-mates for Christ. The results of faithful personal work may not +be immediate or apparent, but the blessed Spirit of God will water the +seed. For thirteen months a college student prayed for and urged a +fellow-student to surrender to Christ, and died without seeing any +result of his efforts. But the seed was faithfully sown, and the young +man was afterwards converted, and became Bishop Hannington, the martyr +bishop of Africa.</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXVII'></a><h2>STUDY XXVII.</h2> + +<h3>MEETING OBJECTIONS.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your + adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."—(Luke xxi, + 15.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John ix, 1-41.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>The zealous personal worker will be met by objections; but it must be +remembered that these objections are often given for the sake of +argument, and often for the sake of something to say. They should be +squarely met, however, and answered; and the best way to answer such is +by Scripture. There is not an objection advanced by the unconverted that +can not be met and overcome by some passage of Scripture. Just as Jesus +in the wilderness met the tempter's arguments with "It is written," so +we may meet every argument of the objector with the Word.</p> + +<p>A faithful study of Christ's conversations with seeking souls, such as +Nicodemus and the rich young man, will also be helpful.</p> + +<p>Below are some of the objections usually given, with the Scripture +references that may be used to meet them. This arrangement of texts is +taken from "Personal Work," by S.M. Sayford, by consent of the +publishers:</p> + +<p>"I am good enough." (Gen. vi, 5; Ps. li, 5-7; Luke xviii, 19.)</p> + +<p>"I am as good as most Christians." (Rom. xiv, 10-12; 2 Cor. v, 10; Rev. +xx, 11; xii, 15.)</p> + +<p>"I have never done anything really bad." (Luke xvi, 15; James ii, 10.)</p> + +<p>"I can not give up my pleasures." (Eccl. ii, 1; xi, 9; Ps. xvi, 11.)</p> + +<p>"I know I shall fail." (John vi, 37; 2 Tim. i, 12; iv, 18.)</p> + +<p>"I can not now, but will some time." (Luke xiv, 17; Acts xxiv, 25; James +iv, 13, 14; Luke xii, 19, 20.)</p> + +<p>"I am too great a sinner." (Luke v, 32; xix, 10; 1 Tim. i, 15.)</p> + +<p>"My day of grace has past." (Ex. xxxiv, 5-7; 2 Chron. xxx, 9; Isa. lv, +7.)</p> + +<p>"I do not feel concerned." (Rom. xiii, 11; Eph. v, 14; Heb. ii, 3.)</p> + +<p>"I can not know that these things are true." (Acts xvii, 11; John v, 39; +vii, 17.)</p> + +<p>"It will cost me my living." (Matt. vi, 33; Ps. lxxxiv, 11; Rom. xiv, +8.)</p> + +<p>"It will prevent my becoming rich." (1 Tim. vi, 9, 10; Mark viii, 36, +37; Rev. iii, 17, 18.)</p> + +<p>"I can not hold my friends." (Matt. x, 37; xxii, 37; Phil. iii, 8.)</p> + +<p>"How may I know that Christ is the Son of God?" (John xx, 30, 31; x, +23-25; 1 John v, 13, 20; Mark iv, 11.)</p> + +<p>"How may I know that the Bible is true?" (John vii, 17.)</p> + +<p>"Will not God save me if I do my best?" (Eph. ii, 9; Titus iii, 5-8.)</p> + +<p>"Why must a man believe in Christ to be saved?" (John xiv, 6; Acts iv, +12; Gal. ii, 16; Rom. iii, 23, 26.)</p> + +<p>"How may I know I am forgiven?" (Ps. xxxii, 5; Prov. xxviii, 13; 1 John +i, 7-9.)</p> + + + +<hr style='width: 65%;' /> +<a name='STUDY_XXVIII'></a><h2>STUDY XXVIII.</h2> + +<h3>NO EFFORT IN VAIN.</h3> + +<div class="hanghead"><p><span class="smcap">Memory Verse:</span> +"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it + shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I + please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."—(Isa. + lv, 11.)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Scripture for Meditation:</span> +John iv, 36; 1 Cor. xv, 58.</p></div> +<br /> + +<p>"Some day I hope you will preach the gospel," said an aged minister to a +little boy in England. That boy became Charles H. Spurgeon. That great +soul-winner, Mark Guy Pearse, says that when he was a boy his father +took him to see a saintly old lady, who laid her hand upon his head, +saying, "God bless the boy, and make him a minister." Mr. Pearse says +that, through this aged woman, God called him to the ministry.</p> + +<p>In a college chapel in Pennsylvania a Christian layman sat down beside a +boy and talked to him about Christ. That boy became Alfred Cookman, +whose name will be held in everlasting remembrance.</p> + +<p>An eminent lawyer of Minneapolis, converted a short time since, declares +that the earnest question, "Have you found Jesus?" spoken by a young +lady to his friend who sat by his side in a revival-meeting, and her +startled look, when she was answered roughly, followed him for fifteen +years until he was finally converted.</p> + +<p>No sincere effort for Christ can fail. To human eyes there may be little +encouragement, but his Word shall prevail. Every invitation and entreaty +shall in the end be, to those who reject it, the "savor of death unto +death," but to those who accept it, "the savor of life unto life." We +may go forth now, weeping, bearing precious seed; but some blessed day +we shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with +us.</p> + +<p>Perhaps we are too anxious to see results now. We do like to number the +converts, and add to the Church roll. Far better do our best for Christ +and souls, then leave the results to God. He will see that the seed, +faithfully planted, is watered, and that <i>no effort is in vain</i>.</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Art of Soul-Winning, by J.W. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Art of Soul-Winning + +Author: J.W. Mahood + +Release Date: January 17, 2005 [EBook #14716] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ART OF SOUL-WINNING *** + + + + +Produced by Kathryn Lybarger and the Online Distributed Proofreading +Team. + + + + + + +THE + +ART OF SOUL-WINNING. + + +(SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PERSONAL WORKERS.) + + +BY + +J.W. MAHOOD, EVANGELIST, + +Author of "The Missing Wheel Found," and joint-author of "The Young +People's History of Methodism." + + +"_And he brought him to Jesus._" + + + +CINCINNATI: JENNINGS & PYE. + +NEW YORK: EATON & MAINS. + +1901 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +Never was there such great need for a mighty, Pentecostal revival in all +our Churches; and the key to such a revival is earnest personal work. +But the membership of the Churches are not prepared to enter upon this +work. Multitudes know nothing of a personal Pentecost. Many are utterly +indifferent. They do not realize their opportunity and responsibility +before God. If they did, the revival would come at once. + +With the hope that many professing Christians may be awakened to duty, +and hear God's call to personal work in soul-winning, this little volume +is written. + +Let the pastor see that a copy is put into every home one month previous +to the time set for special revival-meetings. Let him secure a pledge +from the people to read the study for each day, commit the memory +verses, and meditate upon the Scripture suggested. + +Once each week, either at a special meeting appointed for this purpose, +at the week-night prayer-meeting, or at the young people's devotional +meeting Sunday evening, let the studies for the week be reviewed and the +memory verses recited. Short talks may also be given on each topic by +persons previously selected. + +When the entire Church membership shall begin to think and speak upon +these vital themes; when the spirit of grace and supplication shall take +the place of formality and worldly desire; when the Holy Ghost of +Pentecost shall come upon the waiting, praying Church, then the times of +refreshing will be sure to come from the presence of the Lord, and the +perishing multitudes will be saved. + +Sioux City, Iowa. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +FIRST WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE. + +"THE LOVE OF CHRIST." + + PAGE +STUDY I Foreword and Appeal 9 +STUDY II The Lord's Command 12 +STUDY III By Personal Effort 15 +STUDY IV Trophies of Personal Effort 18 +STUDY V The Worth of a Soul 21 +STUDY VI The Death of a Soul 24 +STUDY VII The Supreme Motive 27 + + +SECOND WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE. + +"YIELD YOURSELVES TO GOD." + +STUDY VIII A Definite Experience 33 +STUDY IX A Complete Surrender 36 +STUDY X The Spirit's Witness 39 +STUDY XI Every Weight 42 +STUDY XII Prayer 45 +STUDY XIII Faith 48 +STUDY XIV Self-Sacrifice 51 + + +THIRD WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT. + +"COMPLETELY FURNISHED." + + PAGE +STUDY XV Knowledge of the Scripture 57 +STUDY XVI Tact 60 +STUDY XVII Earnestness 63 +STUDY XVIII Perseverance 66 +STUDY XIX Tenderness 69 +STUDY XX Burden for Souls 72 +STUDY XXI A Personal Pentecost 75 + + +FOURTH WEEK--THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS. + +"BY ALL MEANS." + +STUDY XXII Direct Approach 81 +STUDY XXIII Correspondence 85 +STUDY XXIV Tracts and Books 88 +STUDY XXV The Prayer List 91 +STUDY XXVI Work Among Students 93 +STUDY XXVII Meeting Objections 96 +STUDY XXVIII No Effort in Vain 100 + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S MOTIVE. + +"FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST." + + + + +STUDY I. + +FOREWORD AND APPEAL. + +Memory Verse: "And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of + the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars + for ever and ever."--(Dan. xii, 3.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Matt. vi, 19-23; Rev. iii, 14-22. + + +Fred B---- was a medical student. He was stricken, with that dreaded +scourge, consumption. The physicians advised a trip to the mountains. +During the first few months among the Rockies he improved rapidly, and +hope and ambition flamed anew; but it was only a brief respite from +suffering before the final collapse. Lying in a Denver hospital, he was +visited by some consecrated young people, who sang and prayed with him. +He yielded himself to Christ, and the peace of God filled his heart. + +They brought him home to a little Iowa city to die. The day after his +arrival the pastor was summoned to his bedside, when the young man +related the circumstances of his conversion. The pastor said, "Then you +are not afraid to die?" "No," said he, "_not afraid, but not ready_." + +When asked why he was not ready, he replied: "I have done nothing for my +Master. I have won no souls for him. Could I have six months more to +live that I might bring some souls to Jesus, and thus not go into his +presence empty-handed, I would be satisfied to die. _I am not afraid to +die, but not ready._" Just then the door of the room opened, and the +dying boy's father, an old, white-haired man who had been absent from +home and had not seen his son since his return, came in. The old man was +not a Christian. Then occurred a pathetic scene. The young man threw his +arms about his father's neck, and drew him down upon his knees at the +bedside, urged him to give himself to God, and then, with shortening +breath, uttered such a prayer of intercession as is seldom heard. The +old man sobbed aloud, yielded to Christ, declared his faith, and the +dying boy had won one soul for his Master. In a few hours he had gone +into the presence of the King; _but not empty-handed_. + +O ye to whom God has given the strength and vigor of manhood and +womanhood, and who have pledged your allegiance to the Christ of +Calvary, are you winning any souls for your Master? Or are you going +into his presence _empty-handed_? What if in the judgment-day it shall +be seen that some souls who might have been saved have been lost through +your neglect? What if it shall then be seen that the crown of many stars +which you might have won is given to another? And what, if in the great +day of his appearing you shall be found, having gathered no sheaves and +_empty-handed_? + + + + +STUDY II. + +THE LORD'S COMMAND. + +Memory Verse: "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every + creature."--(Mark xvi, 15.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Ezek. xxxiii, 1-11. + + +By the Master's final words to his disciples the obligation is laid upon +every Christian to be a soul-winner. "Ye shall be my witnesses," is the +risen Lord's message to all his followers. No one is excused. "Follow +me," said Christ, "and I will make you fishers of men." And when his +face was set toward Calvary, he said to the Father, "As thou hast sent +me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world." By the +mouth of the prophet Ezekiel, God distinctly says that, if we neglect +"to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his +iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand." We are all +_sent_, and if we shrink or excuse ourselves from our great mission we +shall come into condemnation. + +The unsaved multitudes know that every Christian should be an ambassador +for Christ, and when we fail to do our duty we are condemned in their +eyes as well as before God. A writer in the _Epworth Era_ says: + +"A college professor who was noted among his fellow-teachers for his +habit of addressing young men upon their personal relations to Christ, +was asked by one of his fellow-professors, 'Do they not resent your +appeals as an impertinence?' He replied: 'No! Nothing is of such +interest to any man as his own soul and its condition. He will never +resent words of warning or comfort if they are prompted by genuine +feeling. When I was a young man, I felt as you do. My wife's cousin, a +young fellow not yet of age, lived in our house for six months. My dread +of meddling was such that I never asked him to be present at family +worship, or spoke to him on the subject of religion. He fell into the +company of a wild set, and was rapidly going to the bad. When I reasoned +with him I spoke of Christ. "Do you call yourself a Christian?" he +asked, assuming an astonished look. "I hope so," I replied. "But you are +not. If you were, he must be your Best Friend. Yet I have lived in your +house for six months, and you have never once named his name to me; no, +he is nothing to you!" I have never forgotten the rebuke.'" + + + + +STUDY III. + +BY PERSONAL EFFORT. + +Memory Verse: "And he brought him to Jesus."--(John i, 42.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John i, 35-45. + + +Have you ever noticed that much of the work which the Master and his +disciples did was "personal work?" Some of our Lord's greatest sermons +were preached to one person. The apostles were all won individually. +Turn to your Bible now, and read the account of the visit of Nicodemus +to Christ, and of the meeting with the woman of Samaria at the well. If +you take the time to follow this theme through the Gospels and through +the Acts of the Apostles, you will be sure to see that the work of +winning souls for Christ by personal effort is the work of every +Christian. + +And a conviction of this is the greatest need of the Church to-day. It +is the key to the twentieth-century revival. The world would be +evangelized in this generation did each professing Christian win only +one soul each year for Christ; and the great social and labor problems +of the day would be speedily solved were the great Christian Church +actively engaged in leading men and women to Jesus of Nazareth. Mightier +than the influence of great sermons and fine music and splendid ritual +is the influence of a life consecrated to personal effort in seeking the +lost. + +That remarkable soul-winner, Dr. J.O. Peck, now translated, said: "So +great is my conviction of the value of personal effort, as the result of +a lifework of winning souls, that I can not emphasize the method too +strongly. If it were revealed to me from heaven by the archangel Gabriel +that God had given me the certainty of ten years of life, and that as a +condition of my eternal salvation I must win a thousand souls to Christ +in that time; and if it were further conditioned to this, that I might +preach every day for the ten years, but might not personally appeal to +the unconverted outside the pulpit; or that I might not enter the pulpit +during these ten years, but might exclusively appeal to individuals, I +would not hesitate one moment to make the choice of personal effort as +the sole means to be used in securing the conversion of one thousand +souls necessary to my own salvation." + +Dr. Theodore Cuyler once said concerning the three thousand souls he had +received into Church fellowship during his ministry, "I have handled +every stone." + + + + +STUDY IV. + +TROPHIES OF PERSONAL EFFORT. + +Memory Verse: "And he that is wise winneth souls."--(Prov. xi, 30, R.V.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 2 Cor. v, 14-21. + + +Is it not a suggestive fact that nearly all those men who have shone +brightly in the galaxy of martyrs, preachers, and reformers in the +Christian Church through the centuries have been won to Christ by the +personal effort of some consecrated life? Think of some in our own age. + +Dwight L. Moody, when a clerk in a store, was visited by his +Sunday-school teacher, who put his hand upon the young man's shoulder +and talked to him about Christ; and Mr. Moody says, "I had not felt I +had a soul till then." + +Colonel H.H. Hadley, who has kneeled and prayed with over thirty-five +thousand drunkards, declares that one of the agencies which led him to +Christ was a brief interview with Chaplain (now Bishop) McCabe on a +railway-train in Ohio just after the Civil War. + +Lord Shaftesbury, one of the greatest Christian philanthropists of the +nineteenth century, was won for Christ in early boyhood by the effort of +Maria Willis, a servant-girl in his father's home. + +The conversion of Diaz, the great Cuban evangelist, was due to the +faithfulness of a consecrated young lady of Brooklyn. She found him in a +hospital at the point of death, procured a Spanish New Testament, read +to him the words of mercy and invitation, pointed him to Christ; and he +went back to his own country, a flaming herald of the gospel. + +J. Wilbur Chapman, one of the most successful pastor-evangelists of this +generation, says that while in a revival-meeting, when a boy, his +Sunday-school teacher touched him on the elbow, and said, "Do you not +think you had better stand?" and that one touch, as much as anything +else, pushed him into the kingdom. + +Joseph F. Berry, whose name is a household word in the Methodist +Episcopal Church, was led to Christ by two young friends who took the +young printer to his father's barn, and held a prayer-meeting with him, +which resulted in a glorious conversion. + + + + +STUDY V. + +THE WORTH OF A SOUL. + +Memory Verse: "For what is a man profited, if he gain the whole world, + and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his + soul?"--(Matt. xvi, 26.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 1-10. + + +What is a life worth? What is your life worth? What is the life of your +son or daughter or mother or wife worth? What would you take for a life? +But if the life of a dear one be worth so much to you, what must be its +value in God's sight, who sees to what depths a soul may plunge and to +what heights it may rise? It may be a small matter to you that in yonder +saloon is a man dissipated and drunken. But what if he were your father +or brother or husband? It may be a very small matter to you that the boy +whom you met on the street is puffing a cigarette and wears already +upon his face the marks of an evil life. But what if he were your boy or +your brother? Yet, in God's sight, his life is as valuable as if he were +your boy or your brother; and every soul is of infinite worth. + +Jesus Christ set a high estimate upon human life when he left his +Father's throne and came into this sin-cursed world to suffer and die +that he might redeem us from death. + +The Church of to-day needs a new vision of the worth of a soul. We need +to stand beside Calvary and see the price that was paid there for human +life. + +John Keble, the poet-preacher of the English Church, said that the +salvation of one soul is worth more than the framing of the Magna Charta +of a thousand worlds. + +It was meditation upon the words of the memory verse of this study that +fired the souls of Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier with a holy +enthusiasm to rescue the perishing multitudes. Had their successors and +disciples been, filled with the same enthusiasm, and kept themselves +free from the machinations of politics, they would have long since +evangelized the world, and Jesuitism would not have been "the scandal of +Christianity." + + + + +STUDY VI. + +THE DEATH OF A SOUL. + +Memory Verse: "Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from + the error of his way shall save a soul from death."--(James v, 20.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xvi, 19-31. + + +What is death--the death of a soul? What is it to die eternally? In the +passage for meditation our Lord gives us a glimpse into the realms of +death. Surely the Son of God is not trifling here; nor does he speak to +confuse. For a moment the curtain is drawn, and we see what is actually +transpiring in the future world. In these days there is a disposition in +some quarters to make light of the future punishment of the wicked. Some +preachers are dumb upon the awful punishment of sin, or preach only half +a gospel, saying, as Bishop Warren puts it, "You must repent, as it +were; be converted, in a measure; or you will go to hell, so to speak." + +But Christ did not speak with any uncertain sound about the future +punishment of the impenitent. He is authority. Take your Bible and read +such passages as Matt. xxv, 41, 46; Matt. viii, 12; Luke xvi, 23; John +v, 29. + +In the light of these words, we must see that the death of a soul means +eternal separation from God, from mercy, and from heaven. + +And yet how indifferent we are concerning the unsaved multitudes all +about us who are drifting into a hopeless eternity. The Church needs a +vision like that of the little lad in Olive Schreiner's "Story of a +South African Farm," who, waking at midnight, sees multitudes drifting +over the precipice into eternal night, and throws himself on his face on +the floor, crying out in the agony of his burdened heart to God to have +mercy. + +Some one tells of a shepherd in the Far West who, on a dark, stormy +night, found three sheep missing. Going to the kennel where the +faithful shepherd-dog lay with her little family, he bade her go to find +the sheep. An hour afterwards she returned with two. When these had been +put in the fold, he said, "One sheep is yet missing. Go!" The faithful +dog took one mute look of despair at her little family, then was off in +the dark and the storm. In two hours she had returned with the lost +sheep, but was torn and bleeding, and, as she staggered toward the +kennel, fell dead at the door. But if a poor, dumb brute, with no +immortal hope, be obedient, even unto death, what shall we say of men +and women who know the destiny of the soul, and whom the King of kings +has bidden seek the lost, yet are disobedient, indifferent, and +thoughtless as to the dying multitudes about them? + + + + +STUDY VII. + +THE SUPREME MOTIVE. + +Memory Verse: "For the love of Christ constraineth us."--(2 Cor. v, 14.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. xiii, R.V. + + +But the supreme motive in all our efforts to win others should be "the +glory of God." Possessed of an undying love for him who first loved us, +we will have an inspiration to seek the lost for whom he gave his life. +And all our efforts shall be, as Paul puts it in his letter to the +Ephesians, "unto the praise of his glory." + + "The love of Christ doth me constrain + To seek the wandering souls of men." + +Love never faileth. Love knows no impossibility. He who works for wages +and he who works for love live in two different realms. A lot of men +were entombed in a coal-mine, and great crowds gathered to help clear +away the earth and rescue the miners. An old, gray-headed man came +running up, and, seizing a shovel, began working with the strength of +ten men. Some one asked to relieve the old man. "Get out of the way," he +cried; "I have two boys down there." + +Love will triumph; and he whose heart throbs with love to Christ will +find real joy in rescuing from sin those who are the purchase of his +blood, _that his name may be glorified_. + +Study his life of self-sacrifice. See again his suffering for sinful +men. Linger in Gethsemane, and behold the agony of Calvary. Then your +heart will begin to throb with love to him "who first loved us." + +Get a new vision of your crucified, but now risen, Savior, until the +beauty of his matchless life charms your heart and you are ready to say: + + "Come, and possess me whole, + Nor hence again remove; + But sup with me, and let the feast + Be everlasting love." + +Then you will possess the highest motive that moves human hearts, and +personal work in soul-winning will become a real delight. + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S LIFE. + +"YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO GOD." + + + + +STUDY VIII. + +A DEFINITE EXPERIENCE. + +Memory Verse: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born + again, he can not see the kingdom of God."--(John iii, 3.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John iii, 1-15. + + +In a prayer-meeting a young lady was asked, "What is the first thing we +must do if we would win others to Christ?" She replied, "_We must live +holy ourselves._" She was right. Just as the telegraph wire must be +insulated, so must the life of him who expects to be the messenger of +God be insulated from the old life of sin before he can hope to carry +the loving messages of the gospel to other souls. + +This implies a definite experience of conversion. He who would engage in +this most fascinating of all work must have nothing short of an inner +consciousness of sins forgiven and of the presence of Christ in his +life. He must be able to say, like Andrew and like Philip of old, "I +have found him." He must know what it is to have "a new heart" and to +have peace with God. + +William Butler, the veteran missionary and soul-winner, now translated, +wrote the author of these studies a letter, in which he said: + +"First and foremost, I thank God for a true conversion. When I got +religion, I got it good and thorough. Christ became everything to me. +The law of sin, or temptation to worldly conformity of any kind, was +completely eradicated from my heart; and from that hour to this the law +of Christ has fully satisfied my soul, and made me gloriously free and +independent of the world and its maxims and pleasures. And now, after +fifty-five years' enjoyment of peace with God and humble devotion to his +service, I bless him that I ever gave him my heart and devoted myself to +his work. I am happy. The consoling comforts of the grace of God are +with me by day and by night, and the blessed future is radiant with the +hope of being 'numbered with the saints in glory everlasting.'" + +In these days of compromise and doubt we need to have as definite an +experience of salvation as had William Butler. He who would win others +to a new life must himself possess that life, and know it, being able to +say with Paul, "I know whom I have believed." + + + + +STUDY IX. + +A COMPLETE SURRENDER. + +Memory Verse: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, + that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable + unto God, which is your reasonable service."--(Rom. xii, 1.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Rom. vi, 1-13. + + +John Wesley said, "Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but +sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be +clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of hell and set up +the kingdom of heaven upon the earth." + +A life surrendered to God will be an invincible life, while the life +only partly surrendered will know nothing but defeat. Someone says that, +in the transfer of property, any reservation implies, also, reserved +rights. If a man sells a ten-acre lot, and keeps a yard square in the +center for himself, he has a right of way across what he has sold to +get to his reservation. And if, in our surrender, we keep back anything, +"that constitutes the devil's territory, and he will trample over all we +call consecrated to get to his own." Therefore a complete surrender of +the life to God is absolutely necessary. + +To the rich young man who came to him, Jesus said, "One thing thou +lackest." He demanded an unconditional surrender of every interest of +his life. But the young man was not willing to make the surrender, and +went away sorrowful. Of every man and woman Jesus asks the same +surrender. But many now wander off in the darkness of formality and +doubt because they are not willing. Three things are implied in such a +surrender: (1) An acknowledgment of the Divine ownership and human +stewardship in all temporal affairs; (2) A complete submission of the +will to God; (3) The supremacy of Jesus Christ in the heart and life, so +that the interests of his kingdom are first, always, and everywhere. + +There is an old story of a monk who, having been disobedient to the +rules of the monastery, was told he must die. They took him out into the +graveyard, stood him upright in a grave, filled in the earth about his +feet. Then they asked, "Are you dead yet?" He said, "No." The earth was +then filled in about him to his waist, and the question again asked. He +replied, "No." Then they filled in the earth until he was covered, all +but his head, and could scarcely breathe. When asked if he would die, he +replied, "Yes, I will give up; I will die." So may we die to the old +life of self and sin, and live the new life of entire surrender to our +risen Lord! + + "If Christ would live and reign in me, + I must die, I must die. + Like him I crucified must be, + I must die, I must die. + So dead that no desire may rise, + To pass for good, or great, or wise, + To any but my Savior's eyes,-- + Let me die, let me die." + + + + +STUDY X. + +THE SPIRIT'S WITNESS. + +Memory Verse: "The Spirit Himself beareth witness with our spirit that + we are children of God."--(Rom. viii, 16, R.V.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 John v, 1-15. + + +When the life has been wholly surrendered to God, and Christ, the +crucified and risen Savior, is enthroned in the heart and confessed +before men, then the blessed assurance of our sonship with God will be +clear and joyous. No longer shall we say, "I hope I am a Christian," or, +"I am trying to be a Christian;" but, like Paul, we shall exclaim, "I +know whom I have believed." + +The witness of the Spirit will give a holy confidence to the +soul-winner. + + "What we have seen and felt, + With confidence we tell." + +Much of the timidity and reluctance shown by Christians toward personal +work may be traced to a refusal or neglect to live the surrendered life +and have the clear assurance of acceptance with God. + +This direct testimony to our adoption is given only by the Holy Spirit, +and given only to believers because they are the sons of God. It is +God's seal which he places upon his own, and we then no longer receive +the spirit of bondage unto fear; but we receive the spirit of adoption +whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The voice of God is heard in the soul +bearing witness to our acceptance, and then the fruit of the Spirit +speedily follows in the life to corroborate the inner voice and "give +unmistakable confirmation to the testimony which was primary and +direct." + +To some, this assurance comes like a sudden flash from the sky; to +others, like the gentle breathing of the evening zephyr. But it comes, +_it surely comes_; and no soul should be satisfied until it comes; for +it is essential to a useful, joyous life. Look up now, and with eager +expectancy await the "blessed assurance." + + "Why should the children of a King + Go mourning all their days? + Great Comforter, descend and bring + The tokens of thy grace. + + Assure my conscience of her part + In the Redeemer's blood; + And bear thy witness with my heart, + That I am born of God. + + Thou art the earnest of His love, + The pledge of joys to come; + May thy blest wings, celestial Dove, + Safely convey me home!" + + + + +STUDY XI. + +EVERY WEIGHT. + +Memory Verse: "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so + great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the + sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the + race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and + finisher of our faith."--(Heb. xii, 1, 2.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. viii, 9-13; ix, 24-27. + + +We hear much about "personal liberty" in these days, and, to hear some +talk, one would think that personal liberty was a gift to be selfishly +guarded rather than to be sacrificed for the good of others. But Paul, +the apostle, sacrificed his liberty for the sake of others; so did +Onesimus, the Christian slave. Surely those professing Christians who +make "personal liberty" their plea for engaging in some form of worldly +amusement (such as dancing, card-playing, or theater-going), and those +who are given to some filthy habit (such as the use of tobacco), have +not studied the life of Jesus, or of Paul, or of Onesimus. + +If there were no other reasons why these things should be renounced, +that they injure our influence as soul-winners would be sufficient; for +who ever heard of a man or woman who engaged in these forms of +questionable amusement becoming illustrious as a soul-winner? To say the +least, they are "weights," and must be laid aside. + +In a revival service, a lady rose, and, with tears raining down her +face, said: "I have taught a Sunday-school class of sixteen young men +for three years, and have not seen one of them converted. I believe I +know why, and now confess my sin. Being a teacher in the city schools, I +thought I must see a Shakespearean play, and went to the theater one +night. I saw several of my class there, and they all seemed to be +looking at me as if surprised. Next day I met some of them, and they +confessed surprise that I was at the theater. I have been conscious +from that time that I had lost my influence to win these young men to +Christ." Within one week after this confession was made this lady had +won seven of her class for the Savior. + +A young lady, once a society belle and fond of worldly amusements, +consecrated her life to the Lord's work. In a rescue mission she was +asked to speak to a poor wreck of a man who had been a gambler. He +looked at her suspiciously as he asked, "Do you play cards, or dance, or +go to the theater?" "No, not now," she replied. "Well, then you may talk +to me; but I won't listen to one word from you fine folks who are doing +on a small scale the very things that brought us poor wretches to where +we are." And the young lady afterwards said she had found more real joy +in leading that lost soul to Christ than she had ever found in the +pleasures of the world. + +_Lay aside every weight; lay aside every weight, just now._ + + + + +STUDY XII. + +PRAYER. + +Memory Verse: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth + much."--(James v, 16.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Gen. xxxii, 24-30; Luke xi, 1-13. + + +Nothing is more essential to the soul-winner than prayer. Prayer will +generate a spiritual atmosphere in the individual life. The prayers of +many will generate a spiritual atmosphere in a community. In answer to +prayer, the Holy Spirit will do his office, and produce such pungent +conviction of sin that men will carry out, as on the day of Pentecost, +"Men and brethren, what shall we do?" + +In the Life of Mr. Finney it is related that, during a revival at Rome, +New York, the air seemed surcharged with Divine power. A sheriff, who +had laughed about the meetings, came over from Utica. He felt this +strange influence when he crossed the old canal, a mile west of town. +When he sat in the hotel dining-room, he had to get up and go to the +window two or three times to divert his attention and keep from weeping. +After dinner he hurried away, but was afterwards converted. + +See what spiritual triumphs and great revivals the early Church +witnessed; but the secret of it all was that "they continued steadfastly +in prayers." Why is it that to-day many have so little courage and so +little power to win others to Christ? They neglect prayer. "They that +wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with +wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and +not faint." How little time we spend daily in prayer! Study the life of +Paul, and Savonarola, and Catherine of Siena, and Martin Luther, and +John Knox, and see how they all gave themselves continually to prayer, +and so prevailed. All they who have become illustrious as great +soul-winners have been, without exception, men and women mighty in +prayer. They came to understand that God's storehouses of wisdom, +prayer, and grace are inexhaustible, and with the key of prayer they +unlocked every door. + +Prayer avails for the salvation of others when every other means seems +to fail. The disciples spent ten days in prayer. Then came Pentecost and +a revival that brought thousands into the kingdom. John Livingstone, +with a few friends, spent a whole night in prayer, and the next day five +hundred persons gave themselves to Christ. Two sisters agreed to spend +the night in prayer in behalf of an unconverted brother. That night, +although twenty miles away, the young man tossed on his bed in agony of +conviction, and next day started for home, and found salvation. + +Prayer is omnipotent; and, if we would see the kingdom of Christ come +speedily in the world, we must have a great revival of prevailing +prayer. + + + + +STUDY XIII. + +FAITH. + +Memory Verse: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, + the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these + shall he do; because I go unto my Father."--(John xiv, 12.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Heb. xi. + + +Not the mystery of faith, nor the philosophy of faith, does the +soul-winner need to study; but the simplicity, the childlikeness of +faith. To believe God implicitly is to have victorious faith. "I can do +all things through Christ which strengtheneth me," said Paul; and +everywhere in the Bible we find the clear teaching that "God and one +make a majority." To realize this in one's own life is to live the +victorious life. + +But perhaps we should distinguish between trust and saving faith. Trust +gives the life to God; faith takes from God that which he has promised +in his Word. Trust is continuous; faith is a definite act. "Faith is +the giving substance to things hoped for, the evidence of things not +seen." (Heb. xi, 1.) + +It is true that we walk by faith now; but faith has a clear eye. Faith +can see the clouds full of chariots and horses. Faith can see legions of +angels marshaling themselves for our defense. Faith can see that every +promise of God is steadfast, and will surely be fulfilled, and can claim +its fulfillment. + + "Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees, + And looks to that alone; + Laughs at impossibilities, + And cries, 'It shall be done.'" + +Of Barnabas it is said, "He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost +and of faith." The fullness of faith will make unbelief and moral +darkness impossible in the soul, and will generate a triumphant +confidence in God. + +To have faith is to have power; and the little child, as well as the +grown man, may possess this power, and exercise it in winning souls for +Jesus. A little girl who had bowed at the altar and given her heart to +God, pulled the pastor's coat at the close of the service, and said, +"Will you please pray for my mamma?" "Certainly," said the pastor. And +the next evening the little girl brought her mother to the service. When +the invitation was given, she took her hand and led her to the altar. +That little girl's faith won her mother to Christ. + +Faith will give courage for personal work. With a strong, unfaltering +confidence which takes God at his word, we shall not hesitate nor fear +to approach the unsaved and seek to win them to the Savior. + +Faith is nourished by the Word. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by +the Word of God." If we feed our faith upon the Word, and exercise it, +then we shall have the faith of those mentioned in the eleventh chapter +of Hebrews, and we shall prove the promise of the Savior, "All things +are possible to him that believeth." + + + + +STUDY XIV. + +SELF-SACRIFICE. + +Memory Verse: "For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and + whosoever will lose his life for my sake, shall find it."--(Matt. + xvi, 25.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Matt. xvi, 24; 2 Cor. iv. + + +The words of Christ, "If any man will come after me, let him deny +himself, and take up his cross, and follow me," can not be mistaken. The +earthly life of Jesus was a supreme example of self-sacrifice. All the +way from Bethlehem to Calvary his life was a constant denial of self. +The early Church followed their Master. They were ready to sacrifice +all. Men sold their fields and houses for the work's sake. They counted +nothing too good for sacrifice, even to life itself; and many went +gladly to the arena and the fiery stake rather than be untrue to their +Lord. As long as the early Christian Church maintained this spirit, she +went from victory to victory. Nothing could withstand her progress. And +when the followers of Jesus Christ in this twentieth century shall again +put on the beautiful garments of self-sacrifice, the Church will become +invincible. + +There is now a great opportunity for men and women to sacrifice, in +personal liberty, in popularity, in social standing, and personal +comfort, for the sake of the perishing multitudes. None are too poor, +none too old, to do something to win souls. + +An aged widow, who had all her money invested in a farm in a +drouth-stricken part of the West, found herself almost penniless. She +was compelled to find shelter in a Refuge Home. At first she was +discouraged and heart-broken; but God put upon her heart the multitudes +of perishing women in India. She tried to occupy her mind piecing a +quilt. This she sold, and the money was sent to India. Then she made +another for Africa, then another for Japan, until now, in six years, +she has given four hundred dollars to home and foreign missions, and has +six people at work as her substitutes in foreign lands. And she says, "I +was surely called of God to teach that no one is too poor to give to +missions, or too old to work for God and souls." + +A young man, twenty-four years old, working on a farm for twenty dollars +a month and board, has, in nineteen months, sent six substitutes, and +says, "I pray God to make me a Christian drunkard, that I may spend my +time and money for him as the drunkard does for the devil." And when the +whole Church shall begin to show the same spirit of self-sacrifice in +giving time and money, and in sacrificing pleasure and comfort and +social standing for the Lord's work, and for dying multitudes about +them, then we shall soon see the dawn of the millennial day. + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S EQUIPMENT. + +"COMPLETELY FURNISHED." + + + + +STUDY XV. + +KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCRIPTURES. + +Memory Verse: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all + wisdom."--(Col. iii, 16.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Heb. iv, 12; 2 Tim. iii, 13-17; Ps. cxix, + 1-11. + + +A thorough knowledge of the Word of God is essential to success in +soul-winning. The Word is "the sword of the Spirit," "the hammer that +breaketh the rock in pieces." If we are not skilled in the use of the +Divine sword and the Divine hammer, then we can not expect that the +Spirit will use us. + +In an excellent little book on "How to Obtain the Fullness of Power," +Dr. R.A. Torrey says: + +"There can be no fullness of life and service if the Bible is neglected. +In much that is now written on power; also in much that is said in +conventions, this fact is overlooked. The work of the Holy Spirit is +magnified; but the instrument through which the Holy Spirit works is +largely forgotten. The result is transient enthusiasm and activity, but +no steady continuance and increase in power and usefulness. We can not +obtain power, and we can not maintain power, in our own lives and in our +work for others, unless there is deep and frequent meditation upon the +Word of God.... Of course, it is much easier, and therefore much more +agreeable to our spiritual laziness, to go to a convention or +revival-meeting, and claim a 'filling with the Holy Spirit,' than it is +to peg along, day after day, month after month, year after year, digging +into the Word of God. But a 'filling of the Spirit,' that is not +maintained by a persistent study of the Word will soon vanish.... +Evidently Paul knew of no filling with the Spirit divorced from deep and +constant meditation upon the Word." + +The most remarkable movement among young men in this generation is the +World's Christian Student Federation, organized by Mr. John R. Mott. +Through this movement multitudes of young men the world over have been +led to keep what is called "The Morning Watch," by which they rise at +least half an hour earlier than usual each morning, and spend the time +in devotional Bible-study and prayer. What a mighty impetus would be +given to Christian work everywhere if all Christian young people would +form the habit of keeping "The Morning Watch!" + +Have a plan for your Bible study, and faithfully follow it. Commit to +memory the texts found in Study Twenty-seven, and thus be able to use +skillfully the Sword of the Spirit. + + + + +STUDY XVI. + +TACT. + +Memory Verse: "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all + means save some."--(1 Cor. ix, 22.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. ix, 19-27. + + +The successful business man knows the value of tact, and the Christian +worker should know the value of consecrated tact. A special study of the +life of Christ to notice his methods of dealing with various people, and +to see the aptness with which he used parable and exhortation, would +prove very helpful to every soul-winner. The life of Paul might also be +studied in the same manner with profit. He knew how to become all things +to all men to save some. + +Christ's exhortation to his disciples was, "Be ye as wise as serpents," +but how little wisdom many seem to have in seeking to win the unsaved to +Christ! And this, too, when we have the promise, "If any of you lack +wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and +upbraideth not: and it shall be given him." + +"Now if I could tell you," said a pastor to an unsaved business man, who +had been relating how much a friend had helped him in business, "how +much Christ has helped me, and what he has been to me, I believe I could +win you to him." + +The value of tact was well illustrated in an incident which occurred +during Mr. Finney's meetings in New York City. The big cutlery firm of +Sheffield, England, had a branch house in New York. The manager was a +partner of the firm, and very worldly. One of his clerks, who had been +converted in the meetings, invited his employer to attend. One evening +he was there, and sat just across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He +appeared affected during the sermon, and Mr. Tappan kept his eye on him. +After the dismissal, Mr. Tappan stepped quickly across the aisle, +introduced himself, and invited him to stay for the after-service. The +gentleman tried to excuse himself and get away, but Mr. Tappan caught +hold of the button on his coat and said, "Now, do stay; I know you will +enjoy it;" and he was so kind and gentlemanly that the cutlery man could +not very well refuse. He staid, and was converted. Afterwards he said, +"An ounce of weight upon my coat-button saved my soul." + +To watch for opportunity, and then to know how effectively to make use +of the opportunity, is all-important in soul-winning. And there is no +better teacher than the Holy Spirit, of whom it is said, "He shall teach +you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance." + + + + +STUDY XVII. + +EARNESTNESS. + +Memory Verse: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy + might."--(Eccl. ix, 10.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Mark ii, 1-12. + + +The testimony of Charles H. Spurgeon should have weight here. He said: +"If a man is to be a soul-winner, there must be in him intensity of +emotion as well as sincerity of heart. You may repeat the most +affectionate exhortations in such a half-hearted manner that no one will +be moved either by love or fear. I believe that for soul-winning there +is more in this matter of earnestness than in almost anything else." + +When we become as much in earnest to rescue our friends and dear ones +from eternal death as we are to save them from physical suffering and +death, then we shall see the rapid spread of the kingdom of Christ. A +man falls overboard from the deck of a vessel, and his wife screams: +"Stop the boat! My God! My husband is drowning!" But no one criticises +the woman for her passionate outcry, or bids her keep still. It was so +natural for her to cry out for help. And when the Church of Jesus Christ +becomes thoroughly awake to the worth of a soul and the awful danger to +which all out of Christ are exposed, it will be the most natural thing +in the world for them to show an undying earnestness in seeking the +lost. Then propriety, and reticence, and restraint, and rules of +rhetoric will be thrown to the winds, and a divine passion will possess +the life. The world may sneer at it as fanaticism, but it is the +fanaticism of Pentecost. When the crowd saw the intensity of emotion +shown by the newly-anointed disciples, they exclaimed, "These men are +full of new wine." Here was shown an enthusiasm that leaps over all +difficulties and rises above every discouragement--the enthusiasm of +Pentecost; and every soul-winner must have it. Then, like Paul, wishing +himself accursed that Israel might be saved, or like John Welch, wrapped +in his plaid, kneeling in the snow, unable to sleep, and praying +mightily for the souls of men, this holy earnestness will not let us +rest until we see the salvation of the lost. + +It will tell in look, and tone, and manner. It may lead us to do things +that may shock the sense of propriety of the dead, formal Church member, +such as being obedient to the Master's command, "Go ye out into the +highways and hedges, and compel them to come in." Jeremiah preached +repentance in the streets; and the early Church preached everywhere, on +the streets, by the river's bank, in the market-places, and in prisons. +John Livingstone stood on a tombstone, and preached with such power in +the midst of a falling rain that multitudes were born in a day. So did +John Wesley. O that the great Church of Jesus Christ might now have the +enthusiasm of Pentecost! + + + + +STUDY XVIII. + +PERSEVERANCE. + +Memory Verse: "Ye that are the Lord's remembrancers, take no + rest."--(Isa. lxii, 6, R.V.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 1-10. + + +How we are willing to persevere to save our friends from physical +suffering and death! No night is too long to watch, no sacrifice too +great to make, no burden too heavy to bear, that the life of a loved one +may be saved. But should we not be just as persistent in our efforts to +save from eternal death those whom we love? + +Perhaps we have no more illustrious example of devotion to soul-winning +than evidenced in the life of Uncle John Vassar. Two incidents, related +by the Rev. Walter B. Vassar, illustrate the perseverance with which he +sought the perishing. + +A young man was noticed to come night after night to revival-meetings, +but would slip away before one could grasp his hand. Mr. Vassar felt he +must see this soul, and walked five miles to the farm where he lived, +arriving as the family was about to eat an early dinner, of which he was +urged to partake. After being seated, the face of the young man not +appearing in the family group, Mr. Vassar excused himself from the +table, and hunted through all the farm-buildings where a man might +possibly be in hiding. At last, when about to confess himself defeated, +he walked to the further end of the corn-crib, and there, in an old +hogshead, he found the fellow lying low. He confessed afterward that he +had taken satisfaction in looking through the bunghole of the hogshead, +in believing Uncle John would not find him there. But this "winner of +souls," knowing his opportunity, leaped over by the side of the runaway, +and then and there turned, as Charles Spurgeon has said, "the hogshead +into a Bethel," and won a soul for heaven. + +An Irish woman in a village was told about a strange man calling about +her place, and affirmed he would not be kindly treated if he knocked at +her door. Mr. Vassar, not knowing her feelings, came there in his +visits, but the moment she saw he was the man--according to the +description of him--she slammed the door in his face. He sat at once +upon her doorstep and began to sing: + + "But drops of grief can ne'er repay + The debt of love I owe." + +In a few weeks she wanted admission into the Protestant Church, and all +her experience was, "Those drops of grief, those drops of grief; I could +not get over them." + +See how men persevere to get rich or to gain political prestige! See how +insurance agents, and book agents, and traveling men persevere in their +efforts to convince men! They seek most favorable times, and then often +go again and again. And shall we who win immortal souls be any less +diligent? + + + + +STUDY XIX. + +TENDERNESS. + +Memory Verse: "I am the good Shepherd; the good Shepherd giveth his life + for the sheep."--(John x, 12.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xv, 3-7; John x, 1-18. + + +What infinite depths of tenderness are revealed in these sweet parables +of the Lost Sheep and the Good Shepherd! The tender, loving heart of the +Savior goes out in eager compassion and pity for the straying. What +boundless sympathy is revealed in the words, "He calleth his own sheep +by name;" "He goeth after that which is lost;" "When he hath found it, +he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing!" The seeker after souls must +be like his Master. A heart ready to melt at the sight of human +suffering and human need is necessary to successful soul-winning. There +are many whose hearts are hardened by long years of rebellion against +God; whose power of will is emasculated by long years of neglect; and +they will never be saved until some earnest Christian worker shall find +them, whose heart has been touched with the same sorrow that Jesus felt +when he stood on the Mount of Olives weeping over Jerusalem. + +J. Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, tells that when he was a +college student he had charge of a man with a gangrenous foot. It was +his duty to dress the man's foot every day. He soon learned that his +patient was not a Christian, and had not been in a church for forty +years. Such was his hatred of religion that he refused to go inside the +church at his wife's funeral. Young Taylor made up his mind to speak to +this man about his soul every time he visited him. The man cursed him, +and refused to allow him to pray. The student persisted in presenting +Christ until one day he said to himself, "It's no use," and was leaving +the room. When he reached the door, he turned around and saw the man +looking after him as if saying, "Why, you are going away to-day without +speaking to me about Christ!" Then the young man burst into tears, and +returning to the bedside, said: "Whether you wish me to or not, I must +deliver my soul. Will you let me pray with you?" The man assented, began +to weep, was converted. Mr. Taylor says, "God broke my heart, that +through me he might break this wicked man's heart." + +Ask now that the Holy Spirit may give you a tender heart, and make your +eyes a fountain of tears, that, with the sympathy of Christ, you may +seek the lost and perishing. + + + + +STUDY XX. + +BURDEN FOR SOULS. + +Memory Verse: "For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ + for my brethren."--(Rom. ix, 3.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Gen. xviii, 16-33. + + +How the great heart of the Savior was burdened for the lost! See him +standing on Olivet and weeping as he said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou +that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, +how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen +gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" + +Where there is no real soul-burden for sinners, there will be no +revival. The early Church travailed in pain for the souls of dying men. +One preacher said, "As I entered the pulpit, I could scarcely stand +erect because of my concern for the people and solicitude for souls;" +and another said, "I spent a whole night in prayer, and what I passed +through was inexpressible." When we get a glimpse of the worth of a +soul, and then of the death of a soul, and begin to realize that we +stand between lost men and heaven or hell, then we shall have real +concern, and the Lord will hear our prayer of intercession. + +When Mr. Moody first went to London he preached in a Congregational +Church, Sunday morning. There was no particular stir. That evening he +spoke to a large audience of men in the same place, and scores expressed +a desire to become Christians. He went to Dublin next day, but was +recalled by a telegram saying that a great revival had broken out. And +Mr. Moody accounts for this wonderful work of grace which followed by +telling that, on that Sunday morning, a lady went home and told her +invalid sister that Mr. Moody from America had preached. "I know what +that means," said the invalid. "We are going to have a great revival. I +have been praying for months that the Lord would send him here." She +would not eat any dinner, but spent the day in fasting and prayer. The +revival began in that invalid's room. + +A gentleman waked his wife up at three o'clock in the morning to have +her join him in prayer in behalf of a neighboring family who were +unsaved; and at daybreak went to his neighbor's house to entreat them to +yield to Christ. + +When such concern for the perishing is manifested by the Church, there +is sure to be a gracious ingathering. + + + + +STUDY XXI. + +A PERSONAL PENTECOST. + +Memory Verse: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is + come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, + and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the + earth."--(Acts i, 8.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Acts ii, 1-4; xix, 1-6. + + +But, above all, the soul-winner must have _a personal Pentecost_. Christ +does not send us alone to seek the lost. In the fifteenth and sixteenth +chapters of St. John's Gospel, he definitely promises the Comforter. And +again, on the day of his ascension, he bids his disciples tarry at +Jerusalem until the Holy Ghost is come. Then as they waited, "with one +accord in one place," "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind +filled all the house where they were sitting, ... and they were all +filled with the Holy Ghost." Since that day the one supreme +qualification for Christ's witnesses is _the enduement with the Holy +Ghost_. He will give a better knowledge of the Scriptures; he will +re-enforce tact and earnestness and perseverance; he will give +tenderness of heart and the burden for souls. + +What a marvelous change the coming of the Spirit wrought in those +waiting disciples! They had forsaken him; they had doubted his word; +Peter had denied him. But now they all became flaming evangels, and +"spake the word of God with boldness." + +A personal Pentecost will help the soul-winner to overcome timidity, +give utterance and a holy boldness, and make effective the words he +speaks. It is the supreme need of the Church to-day. God wants men and +women in every vocation of life who are Spirit-filled; and who, by +diligent study of the Word of God, by prayer, and by Christian +testimony, live a Spirit-filled life that is perennial. + +The personal worker will succeed only when endued and empowered with the +Holy Ghost. Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman tells of a young Irishman who was a +member of his Church, and who had not had the educational advantages +many young people have. Dr. Chapman says: + +"With a heart burdened for the men of the city, I called together a few +of the men of the Church, and laying before them the plan I had in mind, +told them first of all that we could do nothing without the 'infilling +of the Holy Ghost.' + +"When this had been explained, I noticed this man leave the room. He did +not return while the meeting was in session. When I sought him I found +him in one of the lower rooms of the church, literally on his face +before God. He was in prayer. + +"I shall never forget his petition: 'O God, I plead with thee for this +blessing!' then, as if God were showing him what was in the way, he +said, 'My Father, I will give up every known sin, only I plead with thee +for power;' and then, as if his individual sins were passing before him, +he said again and again, 'I will give them up; I will give them up.' +Then, without any emotion, he rose from his knees, turned his face +heavenward, and simply said, 'And now I claim the blessing.' + +"For the first time he became sensible of my presence, and with a +shining countenance he reached out his hands to clasp mine. You could +feel the very presence of the Spirit as he said, 'I have received him; I +have received him!' And I believe he had, for in the next few months he +led more than sixty men into the kingdom of God. His whole life had been +transformed." + + + + +THE SOUL-WINNER'S METHODS. + +"THAT I MAY, BY ALL MEANS, SAVE SOME." + + + + +STUDY XXII. + +DIRECT APPROACH. + +Memory Verse: "Jesus ... saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and + tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee."--(Mark v, + 19.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John iv, 1-42. + + +John Vassar, than whom there has been no more successful soul-winner for +a hundred years, accomplished his work through personal conversation, +and declared that the best method of dealing with souls is to strike +home at once with the most direct and searching question possible. +Without a word of introduction he would say, "Have you experienced that +great change called the new birth?" That question could not be easily +evaded. + +Study the methods of Christ in dealing with such as Nicodemus, the +Samaritan woman, and the rich young man. How eagerly he used every +opportunity! How his questions search the life! Without any apology, +how he thrusts home warning and entreaty! + +How easily we may lose opportunity to speak directly to men of their +danger! While the great Dr. Chalmers was a guest at the home of his +friend, a Highland country gentleman, his friend died suddenly. Dr. +Chalmers had never spoken to him about his soul. He was much distressed, +and said, "If I had only known that he was going to be taken from earth +so soon, how earnestly I would have pleaded with him about his soul!" + +Dr. J.E. Carson, of New York City, said to his congregation one Sunday +morning, that every saved man was either a channel through which the +Spirit of God was reaching the unsaved, or a barrier preventing the +Spirit doing his work. One of the trustees of the Church said to himself +on the way home, "Am I a channel, or a barrier?" That night he could not +sleep, and cried out, "O Lord, make me a channel!" Almost the first +thought that came was that there were some men in his employ to whom he +had never spoken a word about Jesus Christ. He confessed his fault, and +told the Lord that if he would make him a channel he would speak to +these men. The first man who entered his office the next morning was his +confidential clerk, who had been with him eighteen years. The merchant +said, "Edward, haven't I been a good employer to you?" "Yes, sir." "Have +not I treated you well?" "Yes, sir." "Why, sir, what have I done," said +the clerk, "that you are going to discharge me?" "Edward, I am on my way +to heaven, and I want you to go with me." Tears came into the eyes of +both men as Edward took the merchant's extended hand and said, "I will, +sir." Dr. Carson afterwards received eleven men into his Church because +this trustee had consented to be a channel for the Holy Spirit. + +Dr. Manley S. Hard talked with a physician about his soul, and, two days +after, the doctor entered the revival-meeting just before the +benediction, walked straight to the altar, and begged the people to +wait and pray for him, saying: + +"I know it is late and you are all tired, but I want you to stay a +little while and pray for me. This has been an awfully hard day. I have +ridden fifty miles and visited more than twenty patients, but I am the +sickest man of them all. Two sermons have been preached to me; a +faithful one yesterday by my pastor; the other this morning when I had +to tell a woman she had better get ready to die, for she could not live. +As I drove away I said to myself, 'You have warned another, but you are +not ready yourself.'" + +To go to a man and speak to him directly and plainly about his +responsibility to God, and warn him to flee from "the wrath to come," +may take more courage than to preach to a thousand; but it pays, and it +must be done if the dying multitudes are ever saved. + + + + +STUDY XXIII. + +CORRESPONDENCE. + +Memory Verse: "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with + mine own hand."--(Gal. vi, 11.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Philemon. + + +What a beautiful letter is that which Paul wrote to Philemon! How it +breathes affection, and sympathy, and tender entreaty! And it was +written _by his own hand_. Study this letter, and have your heart +saturated with its spirit. You will then know how to write "words that +touch" to your unsaved friends. + +There are special occasions [Transcriber's note: original reads +'ocasions'], such as the time of bereavement, of sickness, of trial, or +of success, when this method may be employed to advantage. Many a soul +has been won for Christ, and many a lonely life cheered by a +sympathetic, wisely-worded letter, winged by prayer. + +Sitting in a public park, a young man was seen poring over a letter +while the tears rained down his face, and he almost sobbed aloud. "It is +from my mother," he said. "She wrote it herself, and though I ran away +from home and broke her heart, yet she says that she still loves me, and +is praying for me, and wants me to come home." + +Dr. T.L. Cuyler went to make his first call on a rich merchant. It was a +cold winter evening, and as the door was opened when the minister was +leaving, a cold, piercing gale swept in. Dr. Cuyler said, "What an awful +night for the poor!" The merchant went back and brought a roll of +bank-bills, saying, "Give these to the poorest people you know." Some +days after, Dr. Cuyler wrote him, telling him how his bounty had +relieved many poor, and then added, "How is it that a man so kind to his +fellow-creatures has always been so unkind to his Savior as to refuse +him his heart?" That sentence touched him. He sent for the minister to +talk to him, was converted, and told Dr. Cuyler that he was the first +person in twenty years who had spoken to him about his soul. + +Do not allow letter-writing to excuse you from direct personal work; but +watch for opportunity to write, as well as speak, that "by all means you +may save some." + + + + +STUDY XXIV. + +TRACTS AND BOOKS. + +Memory Verse: "And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, + lo, a roll of a book was therein."--(Ezek. ii, 9.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Eccl. xi, 1; 1 Tim. iv, 7-16. + + +The influence of a tract or of a good book can not be estimated. Rev. J. +Hudson Taylor, of the China Inland Mission, was converted in boyhood +through reading a gospel tract which he found in his father's library. +"He had been frequently troubled about his soul, and had again and again +tried to become a Christian, but had failed so often that he had +concluded that there was no use in trying any more." + +An agent of the American Tract Society relates the following: + +"A man on a canal-boat received a tract, but to show his contempt for +the tract and its giver, took out his penknife and cut it up into +fantastic shapes. Then he held it up to the derision of the company. + +"In tearing it apart, one of the pieces clung to his knee. His eyes were +attracted by the only word on it--'eternity.' He turned it over, and +there was the word 'God.' + +"These ideas remained in his mind. He tried to laugh them off; then to +drink, to play cards in order to banish them. But they still clung to +him, and plagued him till he sought God and preparation for eternity." + +There is an old true story about a tract, that should be told over and +over again: + +A Puritan minister named Sibbs wrote a tract called "The Bruised Reed." +A copy of this was given by a humble layman to a little boy at whose +father's house he had been entertained over night. That boy was Richard +Baxter, and the book was the means of his conversion. Baxter wrote his +"Call to the Unconverted," and among the multitude led to Christ by it +was Philip Doddridge. Doddridge wrote "The Rise and Progress of Religion +in the Soul," and "the time would fail to tell" its blessed influence. +By it Wilberforce was converted, and of his life and labors volumes +could be written. Wilberforce wrote his "Practical View of +Christianity," and this led not only Dr. Chalmers into the truth, but +Legh Richmond to Christ. Richmond wrote "The Dairyman's Daughter," which +has been published in a hundred languages, and many million copies have +been sold. + +But he who would make the best use of good literature must be wise. How +little tact some workers have! In a hospital a tract-distributor handed +a leaflet on dancing to a poor fellow who had lost both limbs. Another +zealous young man gave a tract on "The Tobacco Habit" to a beautiful +cultured lady, the wife of a minister. A good supply of common sense is +just as necessary to success in the use of this method as in any other. + + + + +STUDY XXV. + +THE PRAYER LIST. + +Memory Verse: "I will pray for you unto the Lord."--(1 Sam. vii, 5.) + +Scripture for Meditation: Luke xviii, 1-8. + + +One of the highest privileges of the Christian life is the privilege of +intercession for the unsaved. Every Christian may be an intercessor, and +bear to the mercy-seat, in the arms of prayer, some unsaved friend every +day. Have a prayer list. In a little memorandum-book write the names of +those whom you are anxious to see saved. Spread these names before the +Lord daily until your prayers are answered. + +One of the greatest Christian movements of modern times started with a +prayer-list carried in the vest-pocket of a commercial traveler, Mr. +E.R. Graves, traveling for a paper-house in New York City. He secured +permission from a merchant to allow his name to be entered on his +prayer-list. The merchant wrote his name in the traveler's book, and +then proceeded to inform Mr. Graves that he had determined not to be a +Christian, and that he had taken too big a contract if he expected to +pray him into the kingdom. But the traveler simply said, "I confidently +expect my prayer to be answered." When they met again the merchant had +been converted, and, amid tears of rejoicing, another name was checked +off the list. The merchant's name was Samuel M. Sayford. Mr. Sayford +became a secretary in the Young Men's Christian Association, and shortly +after met C.K. Ober, then a student at Williams College, and pushed him +out into Association work. Mr. Ober, in turn, found John E. Mott in +Cornell University, persuaded him to enter Association work among +students; and Mr. Mott, in the course of time, started on his journey +around the world, organizing the World's Christian Student Federation. + + + + +STUDY XXVI. + +WORK AMONG STUDENTS. + +Memory Verse: "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did + beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled + to God."--(2 Cor. v, 20.) + +Scripture for Meditation: 1 Cor. ii. + + +No more fruitful and important field for personal work can be found than +in our educational institutions, and Christian students who make +soul-winning a habit of life may win many rich trophies for the Master. +Bishop H.W. Warren, when a Freshman in college, was led to an open +confession of Christ through a Saturday morning walk with a Junior, who +talked to him about his soul. + +Dr. J.W. Bashford, in _The Christian Student_, tells about "a Senior in +the Ohio Wesleyan University who was smitten with conviction because he +had neglected personal work for the Master. He intended to be a +minister, but had been indifferent to the spiritual welfare of his +student friends. He offered himself to Christ in full consecration, and +made a list of sixteen friends for whom he felt personal responsibility. +He engaged in systematic personal work with these friends, and had the +satisfaction before the year was completed of seeing every one of them +begin the Christian life. Six of his sixteen friends entered the +ministry, and some of them are even more talented and successful than +the student friend who led them to Christ." + +As a rule, young people during their college years are thoughtful and +easily reached; but if not saved before they leave the college halls and +begin the active work of life, they are almost certainly lost to the +kingdom. How often, because of timidity or carelessness, Christian +students and teachers allow this precious harvest time to go by, and +lose the opportunity to win a soul for Christ! + +A man, who is now an eminent and widely-known minister, says that he +roomed with a young man at college for two years, and never said a word +to him about his soul. When he was about to leave for home, his +room-mate said, "Why have you not spoken to me about my soul?" Said the +Christian student, "I thought you did not care for me to do so." The +young man replied, "Why, that is the very reason I roomed with you, and +there has never been a day for these two years that you could not have +done so." + +Let Christian students set out to win some trophies among their friends +and room-mates for Christ. The results of faithful personal work may not +be immediate or apparent, but the blessed Spirit of God will water the +seed. For thirteen months a college student prayed for and urged a +fellow-student to surrender to Christ, and died without seeing any +result of his efforts. But the seed was faithfully sown, and the young +man was afterwards converted, and became Bishop Hannington, the martyr +bishop of Africa. + + + + +STUDY XXVII. + +MEETING OBJECTIONS. + +Memory Verse: "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your + adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist."--(Luke xxi, + 15.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John ix, 1-41. + + +The zealous personal worker will be met by objections; but it must be +remembered that these objections are often given for the sake of +argument, and often for the sake of something to say. They should be +squarely met, however, and answered; and the best way to answer such is +by Scripture. There is not an objection advanced by the unconverted that +can not be met and overcome by some passage of Scripture. Just as Jesus +in the wilderness met the tempter's arguments with "It is written," so +we may meet every argument of the objector with the Word. + +A faithful study of Christ's conversations with seeking souls, such as +Nicodemus and the rich young man, will also be helpful. + +Below are some of the objections usually given, with the Scripture +references that may be used to meet them. This arrangement of texts is +taken from "Personal Work," by S.M. Sayford, by consent of the +publishers: + +"I am good enough." (Gen. vi, 5; Ps. li, 5-7; Luke xviii, 19.) + +"I am as good as most Christians." (Rom. xiv, 10-12; 2 Cor. v, 10; Rev. +xx, 11; xii, 15.) + +"I have never done anything really bad." (Luke xvi, 15; James ii, 10.) + +"I can not give up my pleasures." (Eccl. ii, 1; xi, 9; Ps. xvi, 11.) + +"I know I shall fail." (John vi, 37; 2 Tim. i, 12; iv, 18.) + +"I can not now, but will some time." (Luke xiv, 17; Acts xxiv, 25; James +iv, 13, 14; Luke xii, 19, 20.) + +"I am too great a sinner." (Luke v, 32; xix, 10; 1 Tim. i, 15.) + +"My day of grace has past." (Ex. xxxiv, 5-7; 2 Chron. xxx, 9; Isa. lv, +7.) + +"I do not feel concerned." (Rom. xiii, 11; Eph. v, 14; Heb. ii, 3.) + +"I can not know that these things are true." (Acts xvii, 11; John v, 39; +vii, 17.) + +"It will cost me my living." (Matt. vi, 33; Ps. lxxxiv, 11; Rom. xiv, +8.) + +"It will prevent my becoming rich." (1 Tim. vi, 9, 10; Mark viii, 36, +37; Rev. iii, 17, 18.) + +"I can not hold my friends." (Matt. x, 37; xxii, 37; Phil. iii, 8.) + +"How may I know that Christ is the Son of God?" (John xx, 30, 31; x, +23-25; 1 John v, 13, 20; Mark iv, 11.) + +"How may I know that the Bible is true?" (John vii, 17.) + +"Will not God save me if I do my best?" (Eph. ii, 9; Titus iii, 5-8.) + +"Why must a man believe in Christ to be saved?" (John xiv, 6; Acts iv, +12; Gal. ii, 16; Rom. iii, 23, 26.) + +"How may I know I am forgiven?" (Ps. xxxii, 5; Prov. xxviii, 13; 1 John +i, 7-9.) + + + + +STUDY XXVIII. + +NO EFFORT IN VAIN. + +Memory Verse: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it + shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I + please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."--(Isa. + lv, 11.) + +Scripture for Meditation: John iv, 36; 1 Cor. xv, 58. + + +"Some day I hope you will preach the gospel," said an aged minister to a +little boy in England. That boy became Charles H. Spurgeon. That great +soul-winner, Mark Guy Pearse, says that when he was a boy his father +took him to see a saintly old lady, who laid her hand upon his head, +saying, "God bless the boy, and make him a minister." Mr. Pearse says +that, through this aged woman, God called him to the ministry. + +In a college chapel in Pennsylvania a Christian layman sat down beside a +boy and talked to him about Christ. That boy became Alfred Cookman, +whose name will be held in everlasting remembrance. + +An eminent lawyer of Minneapolis, converted a short time since, declares +that the earnest question, "Have you found Jesus?" spoken by a young +lady to his friend who sat by his side in a revival-meeting, and her +startled look, when she was answered roughly, followed him for fifteen +years until he was finally converted. + +No sincere effort for Christ can fail. To human eyes there may be little +encouragement, but his Word shall prevail. Every invitation and entreaty +shall in the end be, to those who reject it, the "savor of death unto +death," but to those who accept it, "the savor of life unto life." We +may go forth now, weeping, bearing precious seed; but some blessed day +we shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with +us. + +Perhaps we are too anxious to see results now. We do like to number the +converts, and add to the Church roll. Far better do our best for Christ +and souls, then leave the results to God. He will see that the seed, +faithfully planted, is watered, and that _no effort is in vain_. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Art of Soul-Winning, by J.W. 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