Smyrna times., 1878-02-20
How Mr., Moody was Softened.

81 used to think, said Mr. Moody, "that
God was behind the sinner with double.
edged sword, ready to hew him down. But
went to England in 1867, and in Dublin,
one Sunday night, | went to hear boy
preacher. didn't know who he was, but
he said lie would like to come to America,
and looked at him and didn't think he
could preach. However, lie told me TO write
TO hita and let him know if wanted him,
and | didn't want him and didn't write
But he .came over here and reminded me
of the night met him in Dublin wrote
him rather cold letter, but | got another
in return. saying that he probably would
be in Chicago soon, and if | wanted him to
preach lie would preach. Well, | didn't
know what to do with him. was going out
of town Just then. SO | said to the officers Of
the church, :" wish you would let this man
preach. They didn't much want to, but
said, Let him preach Thursday and Fri
day nights, anyway So he came and
preached. When | got home the first
thing | said to my wife was, " Iow did that
Irshman get along?H And my wife said ::
"Why. they like him very well; but he
breaches very different from you. lie
breaches that God loves men," Well"
| said, she must be wrong That's what
we all say when anyone differs from US
Well said my wife, q | think you'll like
him because lie proves everything by scrip.
ture." Well, | went to hear him Sunday:
and he preached from the sixteenth verse
of the third chapter Of John: " For God so
loved the world that lie gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever beieveth in
Him should not perish, bat have everlasting
life And noticed smile all over the
audience. lie had preached two sermons
already from that text and they wanted to
hear another. And he went through the
Bible from Genesis to Revelation, to prove
that God loved man. And noticed that a
great many people brought their Bibles and
referred to the passages lie quoted. Mon
day night there was great crowd there to
hear him. lie said My friends, if YOU
will turn to the sixteenth verse Of the third
chapter Of John, you will find my text.
Well, there was great smile over the audi
ence. thought that was about the best
sermon ! ever heard. It was better than
the first one, and it melted my heart. Nv
heart went out toward the people as it
never went out before, and | asked God to
forgive me for not having loved them
better. The next night the crowd was still
larger, and again he said "My friends. il
you will turn TO the sixteenth verse of the
third chapter Of John, you will find my
text" lie preached a wonderful sermon
ana touched higher chord that night.
The next night we went again, and thought
he surely couldn't preach again from these
words, but he said: "My friends. want IN
speak to you tonight on the sixteenth
verse Of the third chapter Of John" And.
surely enough, he preached a sixth sermon
from that text, and touched higher chord
than before. Well, the next day he got mn
and said: g My friends, I've been hunting
all day long for new text. but can't find
one, SO you will please turn to the sixteenth
verse Of the third chapter Of john
Laughter remember one thing he said
For week I've been trying to tell you
how much God loves you, but my pooi
stammering tongue is not able to do it.. II
| could get Jacobs ladder. and 90 up tc
heaven, and ask Gabriel il God loved man
all Gabriel could say would be: God Sc
loved the world that He gave His onl,
begotten Son, that whosoeyer believeth il
Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.' And, my friends, | have beer
preaching this gospel ever since.