The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-11-17

our wills to that divine will; when we
try to look beyond the mists of "that
dim spot which men call earth," and to
discern the land that is very far off: and
when we try to nerve ourselves for duty
and sacrifice by bright visions of a future
hope, that on this path of faith too,
when He "putteth forth his sheep He
goeth before them," and has bade us do
nothing which lie himself has not done.
II will put my trust in Him." he snys
first, and then He turns to US, and COM
mands, believe in God, believe also in
Me-" REQ. Alexander Maclaren, D. D.
The story OF "Come to Jesus"
The Open Air Misi is one of Lon
don's most active and ubiquitous institu-
tions for carrying the gospel to the
masses. During the summer months the
gospel is preached on Sunday evenings
from thousand different standpoints.
Much of the success of the mission h
due, under God, to the indefatigab Ia
bors of the faithful secretary, Mr.. Gavin
Kirkham. At his request the Rev. New"
man Hall, prince among outdoor
preachers, recently addressed the mis-
sionaries, giving some Of his own expert
ence in the work. These were interest
ing throughout, and especially so in Mr..
Halls recital of the origin of his we'll
known tract, "Come to Jesus" He was
settled in Hull at the time he wrote it.
But here is the story in his own words:
II remember when was in Hull that
every year, after the London missionary
society anniversary, very worthy citi-
zen-.a Scotchman he was-uscd to dine
all those who took part in it, and after
the dinner the hospitablc Scot set out
the table with long pipes and whisky
toddy. Now I am not going to say a.
word about this--all was done with the
utmost decorum--but I was T. T. and
didn't like the smell of the tobacco
smoke. So whispered to a neighbor
like-ninded, Let's g. out to the slums
for half an hour and preach;' and VIC
were there in five minutes. OF course
we borrowed chair-and got on it
without thinking very much about q
text, but all round were children and
the fathers and mothers of them, and J.
said,
COME TO JESUS
and sang it, too. Now these were some
of my heads2 What is meant by cominga
Why ought we to comet Am I worthy
to Gomez How am I to come? Who are
to Gomez And when I got down I said
to myself, That's a strange sort of q
sermon; but I'll preach it flom the pull
pit next Sunday And did. There
were thirty heads in it; but I did not
90 at it by first, second, etc. Just then
I had rheumatic fever, and it brought
me to skeleton--I was getting better
and then rclapscd-so I went home to
Maidstone for a change of mir. As I
lay there tied to the bed I began to think
about my sermon and its thirty heads. I
thought now if l fold paper so and so,
and so and 80, that would give just "a
pages, and if take two pages for every
head, with title page, hymn or so,
that would just do. So I began to write
my book, hoping it might suit, like
The Sinners Friend,' written by my
father. took one day to each head. l
wrote out the first, and counting the
lines found it was just twice the right
length; so it had to be rewritten,
pruned, and all the big words taken
out. And so went on day by day, and
by the time the book was finished my
health was reinstated. Well, I got it
printed down there, and put publish
crs' name on it; you know you must do
that-and venturcd to order 2,O00-I
thought might sell one and give the
other away; but what do you think the
publishers wrote to me2 We want
10, 900 OF Como to Jesus at once. And
so the sale went on, so that now l be-
lieve three millions of it have been
printed, and it has been translated into
a hundred languages and more I be-
lievc. Now have I not good reasons to
thank God for open air breaching'"
The Cause of His Longevity.
A representative of the Pail Mall Ga
astb recently interviewed the eminent
chemist, NJ. Chevreul, who had just COM
pleted his one hundreith year. 'I1e at
tributes" says the Gazette, This extreme
longevity to his simple and regular sys-
TEN of living, and to moderation in his
habits. Early in youth he contracted a
great repugnance for wine and liquor OF
all kinds, and has never allowed drop
to cross his lips-a point for the teetotal-
ers. He has never smoked, either-one
for non-smokcrs.