The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-10
LOOMING no CHRISTI

"A great multitude followed Him,
because---'' John vi. 2.
Every man follows Christ for some
reason. Let the heart say how 1t sees
Christ, lays hold on Christ, for what
reason 1t clinss to Christ-that VIII
tell the whole story. You cannot shake
a man out OF what he feels in his
own heart. If Christ Is born in man
Eo remains there the hope of glory
Then those men. when they had
seen the miracle that Jesus did, said,
This IS OF q truth the prophet that
should come into the world" They
believed only when they saw the
miracle OF the loaves and fishes. Moth
ing else would have convinced them.
It was g poor reason. but II was be-
ginning. and for that we must re-
joice. Every man must begin where
he can. There are men who need all
kinds OF wonders to be done before
their eyes; and then through that gate
Of amazement they finally emerge into
the upper and inner kingdom. If q toy
will please an infantile mind. do not
withhold the toy; after the toy may
come the alphabet; and after the
alphabet?-What may not come! Begin
whore you can; begin with Nicodemus
in establishment at the quality OF the
miracle, begin with tho common mob
in amazement at the quantity Of the
miracle.
Others are convinced by argument:
MANY Of the Samaritans OF that city
believed on Him. for the saying Of the
woman. . And many moro believed
because Of His own word" Let them
come! Men OF doctrine. of philosophy
let them bring their powers into the
service of Christ. One comes In by the
door Of argument-let him come! One
comes in by the door OF wonder-let
him come. Each will find all they need
supplied by Christ.
Others believe in Christ because Of
known cases Of spiritual conversions,
They havo seen what Christianity has
done in the mission field abroad and
at home-the lion turned into lamb,
tho foul into tho clean-by belief in
the Son OF God. Facts arc argument
which cannot be gainsaid. Study the
question for yourself, then truthfully
deal with tho facts.
Others trust to their own conscious
ness OF change. They look within for
a ayd a m rlxnH :
trast. Each man says; What was to
begin with? What am ! now? What
We're once my hopes, my fears. my
pleasures? See now how different I
am; "old things have passed away.
all things havo become new" Blessed
IS that man who can turn in on him
self and be able to say, zone thing
know, whereas once was blind now |
see" a single personal experience
such as this combines whole series
Of proofs. There are men who are
miracles themselves. Let every man
be strong upon his own one point. Lot
each man live out his own life: let
each speak In the good old common
NSA03t 6iCdL IIAAE2 S1Oo IlaS
done for him. II you have seen God
IIo will teach you how to tell others
| about Him.
Some men are Christians and do not
! know It. they have to be told what
they are. lie may be troubled BY his
| inability to meet many requirements
but II he can say truly, II love the
Son OF tiod"--it Is all that Is needed
tho rest will surely follow, "rhe
Spirit itself beareth witness with our
| spirit that we are the children OF
God" The Holy Ghost Is q comforter
4 tencher, and the minister OF Christ
taking the deepest things Of Ills king
dom. and showing them to the wonder
! Ing and glowing heart There can be
no literal report OF such an interview
! what takes place is only knowJ to the
heart Itself; but when It Is thus known
ana folt. that heart becomes fixed; ar
| imprcgnable fortress, n holy covert, @
safe abiding place.. a blessed sanctuary
Have You this Witness OF the Holy
J Ghoat1 Does He sneak comfortable