Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1882-04-28


very happy and successful meeting, and
the second week approaches its completion
with total Of is2 confessions for the soul
and AZ snointed for healing. This 70
Wednesday night inclusive For which
PRAISE THE LORD.
Ths "break down"-the fret Of the
meeting, occurred last Sunday night, when
25 confessed, many Of them surprising
cases. The subject Of the discourse was
the 2nd Advent Of our Savior-a theme
that never fails to gather harvest. The
lear LORD always sets his seal Of appro-
baton on this subject, which greatly con
firms the conviction that | sm speaking
the mind Of the Spirit in the main, when
I warn my hearers Of the speedy coming
Of our JESUS TO receive His own" The
children's meetings have proved an enter.
ing wedge, here as elsewhere, TO the change
Of tone and tongue on the part Of the "old
folks" The "little fellows Of George
town are very sweet and bright. A char
pcteristic feature Of the meeting is the
number Of men Of advanced age who have
confessed the Savior. II is very touching
to think Of how many Of these cases there
are, all over the country, who are ready to
welcome the good news that a simple ac-
ceptance Of Jesus as Savior before men is
all that the LORD requires. How many
say, with an air Of injured surprise, "Why
] could have taken that step any time these
20 years, had only known the truth" A
striking case Of this sort-sample Of a
large class Of similar ones: met this
week in Gov. Robinson, venerable man
Of 50, and as grand gentleman Of the
old school" as one can find; feeble in body,
but clear as crystal in intellect. went
out, supposing should meet one difficult
to persuade. but to my astonishment found
fervent believer, aud bold confessor Of
Jesus as Savior. Yet this gentleman, like
many others, will perhaps never join a
Church, because the growing preiudices Of
life time are not set aside in an hour.
There are so many upon whom the incon-
sistencies Of christians and the Jealousy Of
the sects, with all its denominationaI bick-
erings engendered by it, have produced a
souring effect that they will never be able
TO overcome. For this class Of men have
agrowing sympathy, and while rsgi ct
that they do not go on, and trample down
all such feelings in an earnest desire to
lend helping hand To a sinking, enfeebled
and almost apostate church, yet | can
we'll understand their position when | find
that il takes all the charity can muster,
after 40 years church membership and
five Of these years spent in the higher
christian life, to endorse the bigotry, mar
observation-disclosures and persecution | meet
with among church members and minis
ters. Ii is too much to expect Of young
convert to 20 into church where the min.
lister every Sunday will throw hot shot
into the very gospel that saved him, and
disapprove the course Of the man who has
been the human instrument of his Saliva
ton.
/ will say this: Let the ministers and
churches heartily unite in these meetings
and cease TO oppose the gospel and the
man who breaches il; and then there will
be no complaint Of converts not joining
the churches. My hearty desire is to build
up all the churches as 1 find them, wish
ing, it is true, that they were better, but
only glad TO take them as they are, and
lend a helping hand to increase their num-
beers and lift the standard OF piety. How
often this desire is frustrated by the suici-
dial folly Of churches and ministers them
selves. But / will also say this, which l
lately said, in substance, TO clerical
friend, Il have a few Of that sort in an
swer to his fen vent appeal to me to exhort
young converts to join some church, il
possible, every time | preached. replied
i can not do this, because the weak can
not bear it. Many are repealed by every
mention of church joining, and may not
lay on such a burden they can not bear. /
used to fret because many who confessed
under my preaching did not join the
churches. | no longer repine at this, not
because do not fervently wish they may,
hut because l more and more see that
through my ministry large class is reach
ed, who but for it would have never taken
the one needful step Of confessing Jesus
LORD" If they do not take a second,
am sorry, but thank the dear LORD that
they have taken one, at least, and that the
most important Of all. Surely if they
never take another that is inestimably
blessed. These men who never Join
are not lost thereby, il saved by
the confessing of Jesus name. Their use
fulness may be crippled, but let us thank
the good LORD that they get to heaven
And let us never forget that they have
much reason 10 hesitate in going into
church where the ministry is cold and for
NAL, and the rank and file Of the member
ship is rent by internal jealousy and strife.
What can poor babe do that is cast upon
the bosom Of frozen mother2 Oh chill.
iren of the living God walk in the light"
and We shall have TO give to them that
lack, and fulfill the blessed design of the
dear Savior in appointing you a church,
where the strong support the weak, the
old counsel the young, and all "bear each
others burdens and 30 fulfill the law Of
Christ. So mote il be. Ever in Jesus.
GEO. o. BARNES.
onVfE nanurN