The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-01-20
RELIGIOUS READING.
Do You Know Jesus

DO You Know Jesus:
! was walking hastily along a
crowded street wnen my steps were
suddenly arrested by Il voice behind
ME utterlng the words, "Slr, DO you
know Jesus?" For the time anu
place it was a strange question. IL
was high noon, and many were
Fastening to the Exchange near n.y.
1t was in the centre of busy
thoroughfare through which hundreds
were pressing, each intent upon ms
own particular errand. In the lnlosS
Of the temples of Mammon anu OF tne
things Of his worshipers, l heard the
strange thrilling question, ''Sir' do
you know Jesus:' Stranger still,
when turned to see the person who
uttered the words, could not
tx upon any one OF the NUMBERS oe.
hind me as the speaker. L dlu not
see, either, to whom it had been
spoken. 1t it had fallen from the
GEAR sky above me it could not have
had less Of personality about 1t. Inc
air had borne it to my ear oue trom
whom l could not discern; ana the
words, 50 unusual in that place and at
that time, seemed to have become
doubly strange, that their speaker had
50 quickly vanished.
turned away and passed up the
street, pondering over the queStlo1
which had so mysteriously heard
thought of the declaration OF Jesus
that ito know" him is :'life eternal,
and then l forgot the strangeness OF
the query in the sense of its over,
whelming Importance. 1 questioned
my own soul, "Dost thou know Jesus,
the eternal life? applied it mental
ly to those who passed me so hurried
ly, eager in their pursuit of present
good. One I recognized as slrewd
and practical 6nancier. He knew
something of the secrets of the bank
ing-house. He understood the vast
system Of exchanges which spread
over our country like network. He
could discourse fuently upon the
crisis and its causes. Did he know
Jesus9 If not, he had missed the
highest knowledge. lie knew not
him in whom infinite treasures OF
wisdom and grace are found.
passed on further. and 1 saw a
well-known merchant ascending the
steps of the Custom House. He was
an adept in his business, thoroughly
versed in all the departments of trade.
He knew the value of commodities at
glance, and could predict the turn
OF markets, and speculate wisely upon
the changes in commerce made by the
manifold changes Of the times. He
was an oracle IN the counting-house
and on change. But did he know
Jesus? was my thought. In his cal
culations has he ever computed the
worth Of Lis soul, or the value of
Christ's sacrifice offered for its re-
demption? Did he know Jesus as his
Saviour, and heartily receive him as
his sacrifice before God? If not, what
was his acquired knowledge but a
guide for lew years, to he utterly
useless when God should call him to
give up his possessions on earth.
Further on, l met another familiar
face. 1t was pale, and an air of abstrac'
ton spread over it. The maa Of
science was coming some new prob
lem, or pondering over some novel
facts. He knew the laws by which
the stars move and the waters flow.
lie had analyzed and combined until
be understood many things in their
elements, and the processes by which
these elements were united in many
different forms. He knew the history
of the past, and could tell where the
mountains had been built up and seas
spread out. Did he also know Jesus?
That is the great question. Reader, do
you know Jesus? Do you know his
power to save from sin and the fear of
impending judgment? DO you know
how free his mercy is? how full his
grace? You must know him, or per-
ish. You must know him. or miss
eternal life.-1he Presbyterian.
Men cling to Christ to-day as if it
was but yesterday that He had died for
them. When all other names carved
on the worlds records have become
unreadable, like forgotten inscriptions
on decaying gravestones. His shall en-
dure forever, deep craven on AeShy
tables Of heart. His revelation Of
God is the highest truth. Till the end
of time men will turn to His lite for
the clearest knowledge and happiest
certainty of their Father in Heaven.
There is nothing limited or local in
His character of works. In his meek
beauty and gentle perfectness He
stands so high above us all, that to-
day the inspiration of His example
and the lessons Of his conduct touch
US as much as if he had lived in this
generation, and will always shine be-
fore men as their best and most