The leader., 1904-02-17

TT is the faith which accepts the fact
OF the Christ, without feeling the
qulckening. Transforming power of the
Christ. 1t is the faith which these
Samaritans experienced when the
woman came back with her message
concerning the Man Who had told her
"all things that ever she did" They
believed on Him, but if they had been
content to let the matter end there we
would not have been told of that
mighty work of grace wrought there
during the two days sojourn of Jesus
in Sychar. If, when they heard of
Jesus, they had not come out to find
Jesus, if they had not invited Jesus
to abide with them, if they had not
come into personal heart to heart con-
tact with Jesus and heard Him for
themselves, they never could have
borne that glad, heartfelt testimony:
Now we believe, not because of sthy
speaking; for we have heard for our
selves, and know that this is indeed
the Saviour of the world" John never
would have had the privilege of telling
of that two days revival, but instead
he would have had to write that "al.
though many believed on Him because
of the word of the woman" still they
would not receive Him, and Jesus was
obliged to pass by. This is the sad
record which is being written every
day of many, many precious souls in
the world. They hear of the Christ,
they believe on Him because of the
testimony Of others, but they do not
come out from the city of their own
desires and ambitions and activities
and invite the Christ to come in and
abide; they do not care to hear of the
message of life from His lips, they do
not want the personal contact with
Him which will change their lives for
ever. Sad, sad tragedy it is, bringing
eternal darkness to the soul, that hav-
ing heard of Jesus, people are indiffer-
ent to the message and let Him pass
by, perhaps never to come that way
again.
DUT the Samaritans, when they heard
things command our attention here
Their prompt obedience, and their plac-
ingth claims of God before the things of
this life. The affairs of the city
business obligations, social activities,
and pleasures-werel left behind in the
| There is no reason to suppose that
these men who came out to Jesus were
lot of idle, shiftless loafers who had
| nothing else to do. 1t was getting on
in the afternoon towards the cool of
the day when the business of the city
would be at it's height, and undoubtedly
one reason the men were so accessible
was because they were gathering in
the market place and the shops for
trade and work. But Notwithstanding
| the pressure of the cares of this life,
when they heard the message of the
woman, they went out of the city,
| There were no excuses of pressure of
business, of important social functions
or home cares, or of pleasures planned,
but, hearing of Jesus, they left all be-
hind and went out to Jesus. If BUSH
ness plans and the pursuit of pleasure
had been of greater weight with those
Samaritans than meeting Jesus they
would have missed their opportunity
they would not have met Him. And
this is the reason SO many, many
many precious souls who hear of Jesus
and believe on Him, never meet Him
They are too busy. They must keen
this social obligation. They must in
dulge in this pleasure. And as long
as they continue to abide in the city
of their own desires and activities, just
so long are they kept from meeting
Jesus and kept from coming to know
that deeper, larger faith which brings
life to the SOUL Out of the city OF
self, if you would meet Jesus! Give
God His rightful place in your thoughts
and plans! In no other way may you
meet Jesus
And if Jesus will not listen to ex.
cuses as to why you cannot come
neither will He brook delays. If those
Samaritans had reasoned that to-mor.
row would do just as well, they would
then have searched for Jesus in vain
for He would have passed on. Theirs
was prompt response to the message
and because of that promptitude they
met Jesus. And you, my friends, who
have heard of Jesus, and who are plan.
ming some day, when a more con.
venient season has come, to go out to
meet Jesus, may never know that
blessed experience unless you go now
Delay not! Go at once, for the more
/ convenient season, the tomorrow of
another opportunity, may never come.
1900 WHEN the Samaritans came unto
( ~ Him, they besought Him to abide
with them" Here was the second step to
the saving faith in Christ which they
came to know. Having heard of Jesus
they came out to Him; and they besoueht
Him to abide with them. He was wait
ing out there at the well for just such an
| invitation. He wanted to come in and
abide with them. This is what He longs
to do for every heart. Behold He
says, Il stand at the door and knock;
| if any man hear my voice and open the
door, will come in to him, and will sup
with him and he with Me-" They invited
Him in. If those Samaritans had been
like a great many people they would
have wished to wait until they had
cleaned up their city and covered up all
the cess pools of sin, and whitewashed
all their dwellings. But they didn't seem
to think about getting ready to receive
Jesus. They knew they must invite Him
to come at once or not at all. So many