Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-20

right even In a larger sense. The lon
ger live the more confidence have in
those sermons that are preached where
one man Is q minister and one man Is
a congregation, because such a gospel
service can be held everywhere 1t can
use the mechanics bench for a pulpit;
It can have the iceman's cart for a
moving tabernacle; 1t can carry the
Bread of Life to the sinner who would
otherwise never be willing to receive
that bread over the pulpit desk. Be-
sides. the minister in such case does
not have to be an ordained theological
student, but need be simply an earnest
consecrated layman pleading for Christ
with the sinner who is standing by his
side in the village store.
saving . Sinful World.
II all church members were to be-
come earnest and consecrated evangel-
lists, 1t would not take very long for
this whole sinful world to see the sun
rise burst Of the millennial dawn Sure
ly 1t would not be too much tn expect
that one such evangelist as Mr.. Beech
or described should at least win one
soul a year for Christ. yet Or. William
Morley Punshon, the great English
Methodist, once made the startling
statement: "If every disciple today
were to call only one person to Christ
each year and that one were to call
one other, how swiftly the world would
be wholly converted. There are today
millions Of true believers in the world
But II there were only 100 see how
quickly the work would grow In less
than twenty-five years the world would
be converted, for this would double the
number Of disciples each year" After
such an impressive statement, will any
one say that the gospel Invitation.
which can be given daily by the church
members, would amount to but little
In the salvation Of sinful world?
To show the Importance OF a Chris
tan layman's work I cannot do better
In closing this sermon than quote two
illustrations from the personal expert
ence Of II. Clay Trumbull, the well
known editor Of the Sunday School
Times. Mr.. Trumbull's early life was
spent in Stonington. Conn. There a
great revival swept the town, and
many Of the companions Of his youth
Joined the church, among whom was a
young man who was one of his most
intimate friends. For many years
these two az boys and young men lived
near each other, but his Christian
friend never spoke to him about reli-
gion. After awhile they separated.
Mr.. Trumbull became an engineer in
Hartford; his Christian friend went to
Yale. but during his last year at col
lege he sent letter to his old chum
pleading with him to become Chris
tan. That letter was the means Of
saving II. Clay Trumbulls soul. In
his engine room. upon the receipt OF it.
he then and there gave his heart to
God
He Immediately said to himself. 'It
the personal work Of layman can dc
so much in the salvation Of an immor
tai SOUL I will never make the mistake
NY friend made with me by postpon
ing for so long a personal invitation
to another" So, the same night OF
winch ne was COnVeTIeu MT. lIun'
bull went to one Of his fellow work
men and told him he had been con
verified. He urged his friend also t.
accept Christ. This friend turned to
him and said: "Trumbull, your words
cut me to the heart. You little know
how they rebuke me. have lon,
been a protested follower Of Christ
and you have never suspected this
although we've been in close associa.
ton in house and office for years. May
God forgive me for my lack of faith
fulness." Aye. may God today forgive
us all. ministers and laymen alike, II
we have shown the same negligence
as these two young men who came
into II. Clay Trumbull's life. May
God teach us, one and all, the power
of personal testimony for Christ. And
may we one and all be willing to make
the resolution u. l.. Moody made g
short time after his conversion-"l
here and now promise that no day
hereafter shall pass unless have per
sonally presented my Saviour to al
least one immortal soul. So help me
Jesus, in my vow! Amen"
copyright, 1902, by Louis Klopsch.l