The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-03-13
4uns&hnla agntas.
LEAD YOUR SCHOLARS 10 JESUS.


The success of q school is not to be Judged
from its great numbers, its enthusiasm, its
contributions, or anything else but spiritu-
atty, the number Of conversions Of its sehOl,
srs. This is the true-saying result. To
this end We need more pointed instructions.
We need more direct labOr-a taking of the
children by the hand and leading them
straightway to the Lord Jesus Christ. One
of the most eminent ministers in the speak
er's State said to him that he was for years
in the class Of teacher who faithfully and
earnestly did the mere work Of instruction
in the text of the Bible-its historical facts
and dOctrinal statements-but ne never made
personal application Of the truth. During
the years he was in the class, the teacher
never said word to him personally about
giving his heart to Christ. A stranger took
the class once, in his absence, who said,
"Boys, don't know you, but want to ask
you each one the question, Do you love che
Lord Jesus Christ 2 He then went from
boy to boy asking the question. When ne
came to this minister, he answered, frankly,
"No, sir, I do not love Jesus, but I want to
love him !' And he dates bis conversion
from that plain, direct question of a stranger.
Beloved teacher, "les no man take the crow"
from failure to press home pointedly,
plainly, personally, the duty of each one of
your dear scholars to give his or her heart to
the Lord Jesus Christ nOl0. taught class
once without results, continued the speaker.
It troubled me sOrely. told my troubles
to minister of Christ who was staying
with me.
"You lack faith, he said. 50 Have you
ever taken your scholars one by one, and
asked them personally why they were not
Christians?"
"NO, never have"
"Well, there is your difficulty. You have
lacked faith in the virtue of such direct Ia,
Dor with them. Take your class now, and
ask each one of them personally, What
keeps you, my dear -, from the Lord
Jesus Christi Let US go apart and pray
for your scholars"
We went 20 an upper room, and prayed
that God would give me, as the teacher, each
one of my scholars on the very next day
The next day was the Sabbath. resolved
that would honor God by believing his
promises. There was no unusual religious
interest in the school. AS longed and
prayed for my class, ny faith increased.
pleaded, o Lord, for thy names sake, for
Jesus sake, for these dear souls sake, give
me all my scholars for thee on the morrow
1 went to my class the next day with feel
ings I never had before. taught the les
son. 1 applied it. Annie, when do you
expect to be a Christian"
81 don't know, Mr.. Reynolds.
"Don't you feel that you ought TO be one
now?"
EYES, sir"
"Annie, viii you nos.surrondor your heart
to Jesus %
She burst into tears. faithfully spoke Go
the next, and the next until my five scholar;
were in tears, and one of them said to me-
Won't you please meet Us in a prayer
meeting at our house, Mr.. Reynolds p
"With pleasure" I went there. We
knelt in prayer, and every one Of them, there
upon their knees, gave themselves away sC
Jesus, and they are earnest Christians to-
day, three of them in my Sabbath School
leading others to the same Saviour. 1 took
another class, and pursued the same course
All but one were converted to Christ We
kept up these meetings and others were
drawn in and converted Fellow teacher
take your class in the arms of prayer. Have
faith in God. Believe his word. Expect
the blessing. Il will come. God has chal
lenged you to faith. He is ready and will
ing to bless you. Why should you doubt
Dear teachers, do not let another Sabbath
pass, without direct, faithful, personal eff
fort to win your scholars to Christ. Oul
scholars are fast going to eternity. We
know not how near they may be. We art
teaching them, Sabbath after Sabbath yet
we do not feel the Importance Of their pre-
sent, their immediate conversion. A few
weeks ago one Of my scholars left the class,
and before the next Sunday was in eternity
As took his teachers hand, said to him
" Did you never expect to meet your boy
again when you parted from him last Sab
bath? He burst into tears, and replied, 81
am afraid to meet that boy at the judgment
bar of God. I never asked him to be q
Christian 2" o, Sabbath School teachers
ponder these things, snd let the solemn
weight of souls rest upon and press you
down until you discharge your whole duty
" Reynolds.
WEBSTER AND BENTON.