Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1904-02-03

LOW much eloquence does IL take to
l / become a 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: I've 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
knowledge are not a 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
quartertalented disciples into His ser
vice, and He blesses their efforts in the
ociNlHB Vi tlOuutuCt,
deep understanding of the Bible enlarge
ones possibilities of service for the Mas
ter, but qualification which is more i'm
portant than all these, and which all may
possess from the lowest to the highest,
from the weakest to the strongest. from
the unlettered artisan to the intellectual
giant, and which all must possess If they
would be in the ranks of the soul win
ners, Is love-simple. sweet, powerful
love. 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-
l teenth chapter of Corinthians, Paul
tells us about love. the greatest thing
in the world. In words of marvellous
grace and simplicity, he shows that eli
knowledge. all power all charity and
good works are absolutely a negative
quantity, in Gods estimation, without
love. Faith-yes, because without
faith 1t is impossible to please Cod"
Hope-yes. because hope maketh not
ashamed" and because hope as an an
Choir to the soul is sure and steadfast."
But above all else love, for 1t is the
browning glory of all else. AS +. H.
Meyer beautifully puts it: Faith is
the root. hope is the stem and love is
the perfect flower" God is love" and
hence is the source of love. God 80
loved that He gave" Herein is the
depth OF Gods love revealed God
commendeth His love towards Nc in
that while we we're yet sinners, Christ
died for us."-here is conquering love.
Hereby know We love- because lie laid
down His life for us"-here is love the
begetter Of love. Gods love not only
conquering, but Gods love filing. Love
giving birth to love. We have then
Gods love-the true love-revealed
through Christ; love conquering
through Christ. and love begetting love
through Christ. This is the love which
is factor in soul winning. But II is
not the love which always rules in the
heart and life of Christs followers.
Faith may be present in saving power:
the Christian graces and virtues may
he a possession of the heart and an ex-
preston of the life; Christian service
may be faithfully and freely rendered.
but love may be lacking-that love
which bleeds and suffers and dies that
souls may be saved.