The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-05-28
81 Am Trying to Believe"
the Tree of Life.
AN INCIDENT OF THE MOODY MEETING IN LoNDo

AN INCIDENT OF THE MUDDY MEkIlNI IN LoNDON'
1t was during the last week of the meet
ings in the great Terminus hall, st. Pan
cras, that fell in with very intelligent
young lady on her way to the inquiry
room. She seemed to be quite anxious
about her SOUL and greatly troubled that
she could not find peace. | asked her if
she was a Christian ? She replied, 81
am trying to be one, sir"
"But," said l, "you are not to try; you
are Just to believe"
al know that quite we'll, sir; that is
what Mr.. Moody has been telling us in
his sermon this afternoon. And that
is what I am trying to do. 1 am trying
to believe"
DWELL, my dear friend, what are you
trying to believe 2"
"Why, sir, am trying to believe that
am saved"
But you are not to turn your faith upon
yourself at all. You are nowhere hidden
in the Word to believe that you are saved.
Do you not see that if you were to find
something in or about yourself that you
recognized as salvation, or the ground of
it, you would not be trusting in Christ at
all, but only in yourself ? This is very
common mistake. 1t is, indeed, the old
one Of trying to feel in order to be saved.
We are constantly tempted to turn our
thoughts inward upon ourselves, rather
than outward to Christ, who alone can
save. Now, dear friend, just give up all
attempts to believe anything about your
self. Believe Cd the Lord Jesus Christ,
and thou shalt be saved"
With that kind of inconsistency that is
characteristic of newly.awakened mind
she at once shifted her ground, and said !:
"Well, that is just what am trying to
do. | am trying to believe in Christ"
every WE'LL" said 1, with the purpose
Of clarifying her thought to her own
mind little: "What are you trying to
believe concerning him 2"
To this she made no answer for long
while. The truth is, she was full of con-
fused thoughts she really did not know
what her trouble was, and stood more in
need of some simple and clear instruction
than anything else. So determined upon
q course of questions which l thought
would lead her out of darkness and con-
fusion.
"Let us see," proceeded, off we can't
get at your difficulty. You say that you are
trying to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,
but cannot. What is it that you cannot
believe? Perhaps if we can separate
that which you do believe from that which
you do not believe, we will be able to
treat your difficulties more intelligently.
Do you mind answering me candidly a
few questions touching your lack of abil-
ity to believe ?"
81 will be pleased to answer any ques.
ton can +; for am very anxious to be
saved"
"Well, then, we will try and see what
you do believe, first. Do you believe that
Jesus Christ came into the world, some
two thousand years ago?"
"Oh yes believe that, of course"
"You are not in the least doubt upon
that point ?"
"Not the least, sir"
"Then you are not trying to believe on
that point ?"
"No, sir"
Sand do you believe that he was the
Son of God ?"
"Oh yes, sir 1 am not in doubt
there in the least. fully believe that he
was Gods only begotten Son, just as the
Bible says"
avery we'll. Now, do you believe that
God sent him into the world to save
sinners 2"
"Of course What else did he come
for? Ii did not believe that / would
not be here trying to get my own soul
saved"
"Very good; that seems to be clear.
Here are two or three points concerning
Jesus that you do believe without a
doubt; and so we rule them out from
among the difficulties in the way of your
faith. Do we both agree. so far, that you
are not trying to believe but that you
really do believe ?"
eyes"
Then turning to Isaiah lii, read the
following: Surely he hath borne oul
griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet We
did esteem him stricken, smitten of God
and afflicted. But he was wounded fol-
our transgressions he was bruised for oul
iniquities the chastisement of our peac,
was upon him; and with his stripes W.
are healed. All we like sheep have gont
astray; we have turned every one to hi
own way; and the Lord hath made tn,
iniquity of US all to meet on him." "Nov
my dear friend, do you believe that, wheI
God sent his Son into the world, he die
really lay or cause our sins and iniquitie
to be laid on him Or, to look at anothe
Scripture (Romans iv 25, do you believ
that he was delivered for our offense
and raised again for our justification ?
After looking at these and other lik
passages for awhile, she agreed that sh
was bound to believe that Christ ha
borne the iniquity and sin of the world.
"Well, do you believe that he bore you
sins as well as that of all other sinners
Or, do you expect him yet to come dow
and do this for you at some future time
Or, when he died for sinners, do you bt
heve that you were left out of account
Here were some new lines for her. Sh
dropped her bead, end gave herself owe