Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-11-22

with one of our New York boards, and
| cannot go to church" Father" per-
sisted the young girl. "you say you
love me. believe you do. If | was
to be married next Sunday, you would
be there. would you not? Well. father,
| am going to more important cere-
mony thnn any earthly marriage.
am going to give my troth to Jesus
Christ. He Is to be more to me than
seyer nn earthly husband can be, and
want you to be there" The tears be-
gan to rain down the great fnancler's
cheeks as he answered, "Yes, Helen,
will CO." AS q result of that invita-
ton and that service the father gave
his heart to God. He Is today awaiting
In heaven the advent Of his Christian
daughter, whose faithfulness led him
to the foot Of the cross. Oh. that you
and |, as gospel evangelists, might be
willing to begin our evangeistlc work
at home-begin by putting our arm IN
loving embrace about our dear friends
whose affections mean so much to us
and say: Brother. sister, cannot be
truly happy unless you are happy with
me in Christ. Will you come with me
to meet my Saviour? VIII you come
nowl"
Personal Evangelistic Work.
When John Mclean. the famous as
sociate justice Of the supreme court Of
the United States, was converted many
years ago. it was on a Sunday morn
Ing at church. On his way home he
said to his wife: "Mary, we have neg
lected our duty to Christ too long We
shall at once set up family altar and
have family prayers as soon as we ar
rive home" But, john" answered
his wife. I'VE cannot do that at once
You have invited some prominent law
yers to dinner. and they will be wait
ing for us in the parlor now. Perhaps
we might have family prayers In the
back room, II you wish" mo" an
swered the famous lawyer. who is long
since dead; the first time ask Jesus
into my home shall not sneak him In
by the kitchen door | shall ask him
to enter my parlor." When Judge Nc
Lean entered the house. he immediate
ly called the children together; then.
after greeting his lawyer friends. he
turned and said: Gentlemen. gave
my heart to Christ this morning. 1t Is
! very important day in my life. | m
tend to start a family altar at once. |
wish that you would join In family
worship with me and my children and
that my Christ might become your
Christ. But II you are not willing To
join we will be through with prayers !
ina little while, and then we will all !
20 to dinner" AS a result of that ear
nest plea not only did his family. but |
also his guests kneel In prayer. One |
or two of those guests then and there |
gave their hearts to Christ. Would |
that we might all start our eyangelis-
tic work In our homes! Would that we
all might obey the commandment Of
my text by first trying to bring our
loved ones to know and to trust that
Saviour whose love for the repentant
sinner passeth all understanding!
But the gospel invitation ought to be
given 10 the strangers who are within
a Christians gates rs well as to the
loved ones who have right by the
ties of blood to live there. 1t is non
sense for us to suppose that after we
have gathered our fathers and mothers
and wives and husbands and children
and very few dear personal friends
into the gospel lifebOat we have a
right to haul In the plank and cast Off
the hawsers and set sail for heaven,
deeming our Christian responsibilities
fulfilled. No. Emphatlcally no. The
Christians obligations are 50 farreach-
ing toward his fellow men that in the
light Of the gospel the poor Traveller
who was waylaid by thieves on the
road to Jericho was just as much a
brother to the good Samaritan as il
he had been born in the same cradle,
sung TO sleep by the same lullaby and
reared In the same homestead.
But, though the gospel teachings
make the Jew and the gentle broth
ers, yet the average church member
does not feel that he has any direct
responsibility in presenting the gospel
invitation to the stranger that is with
In his gates. After the minister has
preached some Sunday a pertinent ser
mon upon this overwhelming text go
out into the highways and hedges
and compel them to come in," this
average church member accosts the
pastor with words like the following:
why, my dear pastor, you would not
expect me to stand in the aisle of the
church and ask the stranger to come
into the after meeting, would you?
am 4 young girl. 1t would not be (
proper for young lady to speak to
strange men and women, even in a {
church, without an introduction" Or '
some young man would say: Preach c
er, am a church member. but ! can 1
not do what you want me to do. loui t
surely would not expect me. when ]
I'm riding along in railroad train, to s
ak about Christ with every man who q
night sit down by my side and open Il
| conversation with mef Why. such b
/ course as that would naturally be d
very embarrassing to me as well as to @
he people with whom l talk" Yes, n
7oung man or young woman, whether b
I be embarrassing or no; whether you q
ave hGd all introduction or not to the I
,eople with whom you come into ten II
'orary contact that is what | believe C
very true church member ought to n
10. believe every Christian ought to +
'e so anxious to save souls for Christ o
hat, no matter in what position in C
lie he may be placed, he ought never IL
o allow any man, woman or child to Il
ONE into contact with him In any o
vay unless he tactfulIy improves that IL
hance for speaking a word for his b
Divine Master. Il