The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1902-05-23


you and Freeda receiving an education. In your
last letter you spoke OF feeling OF regret on your
part that was Shaving so hard on the farm, while
you and your sister were having such an easy
time In college. but you ought to know, dear son.
that ! count hardship OF any account by the
side OF the love l have for you You may be
wondering why ] am writing this letter now, so
near your home coming and at a time while you
must be so busy, at commencement time, but
two nights ago as ] lay awake. toward morning.
had an experience that prompted this letter.
seemed to hear a voice say to me; "Your son
Edward is a good boy, truthful honest, unselfsh
In most things, free from coarse vices. but he is
not professed disciple Of Christ and has never
Joined a church tasted Of the communion.
One thing he lacks, and that is the greatest Of
all. lie needs to repent and believe in order to
be saved"
You know not Imaginative In the least.
and simply believe that what heard was the
Spirit speaking to me in your behalf. And could
not resist the feeling that | ought to write you
and urge you 70 give yourself TO Christ. Why
should you stand outside the kingdom, my son,
looking on at the struggle of the ages and posi-
bly, cnticisng 1t because you feel as good as any
one? Give your heart to him who gave ALL
Enter the kingdom like little child, Edward
You have great work to do in Gods world, II
he shall spare you. You wrote in your last letter
that you might decide to give up being a doctor
and become public speaker and write for a liv-
ing. 1t makes little difference to me what par
ucular thing you do In the world but Ii makes
oil the difference in the world whether you are a
Christian not. That is the main thing, after
all. Seek first the kingdom, my son. II you sue
coed In all worldly affairs and k;ow all knowl-
edge and do not know and love God supremely, it
will not profit you anything.
You do not doubt my love for you, do your
Why should you doubt the love Of God for you?
He gave his own Son for your salvation. Why
should you be careless In the face Of that great
atOnampnt2 IL cd Nod fha
for me. Oh, my dear son, your mother Is grow.
ing older and more feeble every year! I shall
soon pass over to the other side. But 1t will be
the best day OF my whole life when you tell me
that you have decided to give your heart to God
and believe in his redemption through Christ
May the Holy Spirit as he pleads with you be
allowed to enter your heart and will and lead you
by his almighty power to the feet Of Jesus. Your
loving MOTHER
Edward finished the letter and let 1t
lie open on the table. First Wheaton
and then Professor Clark, then the
president and Freeda, and now this
eliminating letter from his mother.
And all these appeals on one subject,
as If all the persons making them had
been consulting together.
Why was he not a Christian? He
believed in everything that was good
and true and pure. Why did he not
believe In Christ? The question drove
all the other memories out Of his mind.
He had thought good deal during the
first part Of the day about Willis, Won
dering what his future would be. He
had thought about Miss Seton and
wondered If he would ever gather up
courage enough to tell her what he
felt He had thought of his own fu-
ture and had more than once specu-
lated on the ambition he was beginning
to have for authorship and the public
platform. But now, near the close of
the day, near the midnight hour, alone
in his room, with that sacred appeal of
his mothers lying before him, he could
not shut out this one thought, Why
was he not q Christian man? What
was keeping him back? Was this
question of the age. what think We of
the Christi" going to face him contin-
ually? What difference would it make
with his future? All the difference in
the world he himself knew we'll
enough. Did Wheaton and Clark and
the president and Freeda and his
mother really believe that he would be
lost If he did not believe in Christ?
Evidently they did. But would he?
Was he not moral and truthful and
honest? What more was required?
"Yet one thing thou lackest." The
young man who asked Jesus what he
must do to inherit eternal life was
moral. What did he lack? Acknowl-
edgment Of Jesus as master Of his
whole life. Was he, Edward, ready to
do that? Or did he shrink from that
absolute following Of the divine Peas
ant Of Galilee because 1t would change
his selfish ambitions and make him
serve others instead of himself?
1t was after midnight, and still he
sat there with his mothers letter be-
fore him. The new century was his to
enter. Rich powers of mind and
strength were his to enjoy. What
would he choose as he looked into the
future? Edward Blake, college stu.
dent, you are at the most critical point
In all your life now. The Spirit will not
always strive with your soul. Your
mothers prayers cannot save you If
you do not give your heart to God.
Will you be Christ's man or not?
Leave him alone with God and pray
for him that he may cry before the
morning breaks, 20 Christ, thou art
my Lord and my God"
The Rock OF Ages has been cleft for me,
But thou wilt never save against my will;
The water and the blood have flowed from thee,
But must let that blood my being fill.
Oh, Spirit, pleading with strong tears and pain,
Grant that this soul may humbly let thee in
Show himSthe Christ who came for sinful men
And in his heart thy work Of Rrace hegin.