River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-10-17

% less you say about
it the better, but
If it is really good news to you, then
speak of it in the same joyful way
that you would bring any other glad
tidings.
The president of one of our largest
theological seminaries was led to
Christ in this way. During his college
course. as he came out of recitation
one day, classmate gave him a slap
on the back and said, Say, Gus,
wish you were a Christian" Gus made
no reply and the matter was dropped,
but years afterwards he told his friend
that it was that remark which led him
to accept Christ as his saviour. The
hearty and natural way in which his
companion spoke, made him feel that
he was missing something which he
could not afford to lose.
Study the art of diyerting converse
ton to spiritual topics. Go through
the Gospel of John and study careful
ly the Saviour's methods OF approach
ing men, Indeed, the Gospel of John
might be called the personal workers
gospel SO full is it Of incidents which
illustrate this important subject. Take
the case of the Samaritan woman.
Jesus asked her for drink of wa
ter AS he drank it you can imagine
him saying, "This is very good water
but any one who drinks it will soon
thirst again; whosoever drinketh OF
the water that I shall give him shall
never thirst, but the water that shall
give him shall become in him well OF
water, springing up unto eternal life"
What is that?" asked the woman,
"A water, which if you once drink 1t.
you never thirst again" Sir, give
me this water that / thirst not, Meth
er come all the way hither to draw"
By this clever device he excites her
curiosity simply TO attract attention
to himself At another time he is the
bread Of life, the vine, the door, the
Good Shepherd, but whatever the SUBJ
ject of conversation, he always leaves
his hearers face to face with the SON
of God, and his supreme claim upon
them.
But l am not the Saviour" YOU
reply. VERY true, but if you are a
Christian, the Saviour dwells in you,
and he has said, Il will give you a
mouth and wisdom which all your
adversaries shall not be able to gain
say or resist"
] know a lady to whom an agent
was trying to sell an article for taking
out stains. He was rubbing away,
and meanwhile eloquently describing
the merits of his goods. Soon the
lady said, Il know something that will
take out stains too" What is that?"
asked the man eagerly, not knowing
but that some other dirt-killer had
canvassed the town ahead of him.
1.-THE blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth
us from all sin. Do you know any.
thing about that, my friend?" Do you
suppose that man would demonstrate
his goods again for six months without
thinking of that "Other something"
which could take stains out of a sim
full hearth" l doubt if he would for
get that lesson to his dying day.
A friend of mine at the Mortified
conference was asked by an express
man to direct him to certain mans
tent. 81 am very sorry" he replied,
that | cannot tell you where to find
him, but if you had asked me the
way to heaven | could have told you.
Do you know the way to heaven?~
mo" said the man, 81 cannot say that
/ do" well, it is 3ust this way" said
my friend, and he went on to explain
it. The result was that the man was
led to Christ right then and there.
II. Choose an opportune time and
place. It is not well to stop one who is
running for a train to inquire about
his soul, neither is it the highest wis
dom to give hungry man a tract.
Far better give him a cup of coffee,
and make it so hot that he cannot
drink it. Then while he is slipping the
coffee, you can perhaps say something
to warm his heart.
Remember that people are often
more ready to talk with strangers
about religion than with those whom
thew know. Remember that the Holy
Spirit is all the while convicting PEG
pie of sin, the Providence of God is
continually softening hearts, and pre-
pairing the way for some one to dror
in the good seed of the gospel Re
member also that thousands of people
have never once in all their life had
the way of salvation made plain to
them, and then In firm but loving
way have been urged to settle the
question. and settle it now.