St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-03-05

able to become soul winner. In false
modesty and humility we shrink back
from the post of duty and the life line
falls short. We think that if we could
speak as that other Christian speaks, OF
if we knew our Bible as some other
one does, or if we had the conservation
and faith which are possessed by some
other brother or sister we would be glad
and eager to join the ranks Of the soul
winners. But we have not, and so we
hesitate and go not at our Lords COM
mand.
How much Bible knowledge does it
take to become soul winner? Ask that
ignorant, humble laborer into whose
heart the Christ had gained entrance
and who went out among his fellow
workmen and repeated the one verse OF
Scripture which he knew: For God so
loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
upon Him should not perish, but have
everlasting life
How much wisdom and learning and
skill in argument does it take to become
a soul winner? Ask that little boy
whose infidel father sought to SOW the
seeds of infidelity in his little heart and
so printed q sign, God is Nowhere"
and placed it on the walls of his home
and asked his son to read it. The little
fellow had been to Sunday school and
had learned of God and Jesus, the Sa-
viour, and he promptly spelled out the
words and said: God is Now Here. :"
And God was there, for the unexpected
reply sent the arrow Of conviction
straight to the fathers heart. The mass
of inf1delity and unbelief was swept
away as no argument could ever have
done, and little child it was who led the
father to Jesus.
low much eloquence does it take to
/ ! become soul winner? Ask that con-
vert of the Water street mission, Billy
Kelly, who before his conversion was
barkeeper and sport. After he came to
Jesus he went to work at rough, hard
labor. He was surrounded by wicked,
drinking men. He longed to bring them
to Christ. He could not be eloquent in
pleading his Saviour's cause. He could
not even speak without stumbling and
faltering in his message. But he could
say: 1--WE been down to the mission,
and you better come, too" And they
did come at the simple invitation, and
found salvation, and Billy Kelly became
an important link in the life line reach
Ing out for lost men. And so ignorance,
and weakness, and lack Of Scriptural
are not bar to entering the
ranks of the soul winners There are Pc
tiers to-day, there are Pauls and Apol-
loses, and they are used nightly by
God, but, thank God! Jesus calls the one
talented and the half-talented and the
disciples into His ser
vice, and He blesses their efforts in the
saving of men. Learning, eloquence.
deep understanding of the Bible enlarge
ones possibilities of service for the Mas
ter, but qualification which is more inn
portant than all these, and which all may
possess from the lowest to the highest,
from the weakest to the strongest, from
tae unlettered artisan to the intellectual
giant, and which all must possess II they
would be in the ranks of the soul win
ners, is ove-simple, sweet, powerful
ove. Love is an essential element in
soul winning. Whatever else may be
needed or not needed, this is certain, the
soul winner must have love.
N THAT inimitable classic, the thir-
| teenth chapter of Corinthians, Paul
ellis us about love, the greatest thing
n the world. In words Of marvellous
race and simplicity, he shows that all
all power, all charity and
,ood works are absolutely negative
quantity, in Gods estimation, without
owe. Faith-yes, because without
aith it is impossible to please Cod"
1ope-yes, because hope maketh not
Lshamed," and because 'hope as an an
hor to the soul is sure and steadfast."
3ut above all else love, for it is the
glory Of all else. AS F. B. |
deyer beautifully puts it: Faith 10
he root, hope is the stem, and love is |
he perfect flower" God is love-" and |
renee is the source Of love. God so !
owed that He gave" Herein Is the |
Iepth of Gods love revealed. God |
His love towards us in |
hat while we we're yet sinners, Christ |
lied for us,..-here is conquering love.
Hereby know we love, because He laid |
own His life for us"-here is love the |
'egetter of love. Gods love not only
onquering, but Gods love filling. Love
living birth to love. We have then
,od's love-th@ true love-revealed
through Christ; love conquering |
through Christ, and love begetting love
trough Christ. This is the love which
) factor in soul winning. But it is
ot the love which always rules in the
cart and life Of Christ's followers.
'aith may be present in saving power;
he Christian graces and virtues may
e possession of the heart and an ex-
ression of the life; Christian service
nay be faithfully and freely rendered,
ut love may be lacking-that love
7hich bleeds and suffers and dies that
ouls may be saved.
0KUL, who loves to reach his climaxes
on the sublime pinnacle of love,
leads with the Christian in the third
HAPPIER of Colossians, to above all
hese things, put on love-" And as we
lance back over the verses which pre-
EIDE we discover that the apostle has
ct high standard and placed a rare
alue upon love. He says: Put on
s Gods elect, holy and beloved, .
cart of compassion, kindness, lowli-
ess, meekness, long-suffering, for