Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-07-04
Sunday RaaiHs,
Light Through Confession.

IN large CITY nOllceu an Olu
man who had remained through the
first and second meetings, and was
standing as though he were hesitatiug
whether to leave the room or to tarry
in order to confer with others.
asked a gentleman who was then
my associate to speak TO him, and,
approaching him, he said, "My
friend, are you a Christian ?"
The old man said, "No, sir, l am
not Christian, but l want to be. 1
have been trying all my life to find
out how to be Christian, but l have
not been able to receive any satisfac-
ton in connection with my endea-
vors in that respect. l have been to
church all my life, and read the
Bible. / have attended meetings
like these, and yet have received no
light as to what l need to do in order
to be Christian. When Mr.. Moody
was here, several years ago, l attend
ed almost all of his meetings, and
talked with him and Others personal
ly, and when the meetings were done
l was as far away as ever. Now, I
don't suppose it is of any use, but 1
would be very glad if you would tell
me what need to do in order that l
might become Christian"
Ny friend said to him, "Have you
ever confessed Christ with your
lips ?"
The old man said, "No; was wait>
ing to become a Christian before 1
should do that"
My friend said to him, "That is
Just the way to become Christian"
and quoted passage upon that point
from the tenth chapter of Romans,
and said, 81 believe you need to COM
mence tonight with an open &C.
acknowledgement of Christ as your Mas
ter"
The old man said, "It is too late to
do it tonight, for the service has
been dismissed"
My friend looked about the room,
where there may have been ten per-
sons tarrying, and said, "Suppose
you confess Christ to these people
who are now in this room ?'
After moments hesitation, the
old man walked down the room and
held out his hand to a gentleman
whom he knew, and said, "Mr.
W, / want to confess Christ to
you," and then went to others and
said practically the same thing. l
think / was the last one to whom he
spoke that night, and l told him moi
to let the adversary make him think
that he had not commenced the
Christian life that night, but to count
the matter settled and to think Of
himself as follower of Christ.
The next morning, when l came in
to the ten o'clock service, the old gen
tleman was seated in the front seat
and with him was another NINA
about seventy-fve years of age. The
first man came to me, and said, 81
have brought friend to meeting
this morning. He is a little hard o
hearing. Will you please speak on
so that he can hear, and be sure t
say something about confessins
Christ 2"
said to him, "Has the light com,
to yOu?"
And he said, eyes, and l want M!
friend here to confess Christ, too"
Before the day was done, the sec
ond old man had risen in the meet
ing to express his intention of being
follower of Christ, and after that j
was joy to see the two old men
side by side, with their faces beam
ing with the satisfaction that wa
brought to them by their new life.
believe that what God puts first W
need to put first also, and that ther
is no greater aid to the faith Of on
who would be a disciple than ope
acknowledgment of his intention t
be a follower of Christ.