Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-28
WITH EVERY MAN.

WITH EVERY MAN.
This narrative is suggestive of a truth
which Christian workers should never lose
sight Of. and that is that in leading men
10 repentance and to faith in Christ. God
deals with every man according 10 his
own peculiar temperament condition, and
environment.
Compare the circumstances which led
to Jacobs repentance and conversion with
those connected with the transformation
of Saul OF Tarsus Compare the CONVEX
sion of the Ethiopian eunuch. or Lydia's
conversion with that Of the Philippiar
Tailor.
Every conversion is Gods work The
conviction of sin which always proceeds
conversion is bcgotten by the Holy Spirit
No human teacher can do II. conscience
cannot do it; law in none of it's forms. hu>
man or divine. can do it. Nay, the Gospel
Itself cannot do IL. Although the Word of
God is the sword OF the Spirit unless the
Spirit draws forth that sword 1t lies
powerlcss In its sheath. Only when the
spirit ~ God Yields II is IL quick and
powerful. sharper than two-edgcd
sword. piercing 10 the dividing asunder
OF the soul ana spirit
The heart Of man must be softened be-
fore II can receive any saving impression
from the Gospel. and that softening Is
the work of the Holy Spirit
Take the cold iron and attempt TO beat
1t into certain shape. How fruitless
me enort Lay 1t on the anvil serve
the blacksmith's hammer let blow after
blow fall upon it, and you will accom-
plish nothing. But put ii in the fire and
LET II be softened and made malieable:
then lay II on the anvil. and YOU may
fashion 1t into any form you may desire.
We can make no impression on heart
or stone. The furnace heat of God s
spirit must soften II before we can write
upon II Gods saving truth.
But while conversion is the work of
the Holy Spirit the Spirit does not accom-
Dlish His work without means lie uses
great variety OF means to bring men
into saving contact with Jesus Christ.
THE goodness of God leadeth some men
To repentance. and when the Spirit is
with them they can see that goodness
in the minutest things Of earth or mir
or sky Behold the lilies of the feldp
Why did Christ turn our thoughts IN
the fowersY Because they speak TO us
of Gods goodness Those tiny beauties
those little Joys. as gentle and unnoticed
often as mothers kiss upon the face
OF her sleeping child. there is no con.
ccNable reason TO be given for their exist
ence other than the intention TO promote
mans pleasure and happiness. The dis.
NNN'iS VI Npu EOOuneSS IN some little
thing Is sometimes the beginning of the
Spirits work in leading human soul
into the Kingdom Of Heaven.
AN EARNEST CHRISTIAN.
Some years ago young lady on a
pleasure excursion in the harbor of Port.
land fell overheard. and was very nearly
drowned. After her return TO con.
sciousness she stated that while In IN,
water her whole previous life. even tc
the minutcst Incidents. had passed befor,
her mind as In a visible panorama. Tn,
review OF her life so affected her with a
sense or Gods goodness and her own in.
gratitude that she then and there cast hei
soul on the mercy of Christ and con
secrated herself TO His service. From
that moment TO the day OF her death
she was an earnest and faithful Christian
God does not contne Himself TO an,
particular method of awakening the i'm.
penitent. He came TO Paul as ne rod,
along the highway to Damascus. ant
sinote nm, as II were. with bolt Of fire
lie came TO Zaccheus as he sat perchet
on the limb OF a sycamore tree. and
said; Come down. Zaccheus, for | must
abide AT they home today" He came Il
Matthew sitting at the receipt of customs
and said; Follow me-" He came TO tho
fhillppian tailer in an earthquake shock
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ anC
thou shalt be saved"
What II is 10 believe on the Lord Jesu,
Christ Is not easily TO describe. | never
saw any definition or Illustration Of faitl
that was very helpful 10 an honest. ear.
nest enquirer.
"A man siroled out 10 a rock IN the seq
al eobtde. amused himself upon IL til hi
WAS weary and. lying down TO rest. fel
asleep When he aw0ke the returning It'd.
had cut on his retreat and the sea wa:
iaAi covering the place on which he stood
lie could not return Conscious OF hi.
peru, aud looking death In the face hs
raised distress signal II was seen from
the shore and lifeboat hastened 10 hi.
rescue As soon as It came In reach h,
settled 1t. and, leaping into II. he stood
erect. ana waving his hand above hi,
head ne exclaimed in a voice that wa.
heard by his anxious friends ON the dis
iant shore: Thank God. I'm saved"
brethren. Christ is our nfeboat. IL w,
are In II We are safe. We have nothing Il
fear amid the winds aud woes of our yoy
age home, and as the days glide swift,
by and We come nearer 10 the peaceful
:iome. where our keel shall strike tn,
A.. -. -.