The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-10-17

1t the better, but
Ii 1t is really good news to you. then
speak OF 1t 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 slap
on the back and said. Say. Eus, /
wish you were Christian" Gua made
no reply and the matter was dropped,
but years afterwards he told his friend
that 1t 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 .diverting 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 a drink of wa
ter. AS he drank it you can imagine
him saying, This is very good water.
bud any one who drinks 1t will soon
thirst again; whatsoever drinketh Of
the water that l shall give him shAf
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 % attract attention
to himself. At another time he is the
bread Of life, the vine, the door, the
Good Shepherd. but whatever the sub
ject of conversation, he always leaves
his hearers face to face with the SON
of God, and his supreme claim upon
them.
But / am not the Saviour you
reply. Very true, but If you are
Christian, the Saviour dwells In you.
and he has said, Il will give you a
mouth and a 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, II know something that will
take out stains too What is that?"
asked the man engerly, not knowing
but that some other dirt-killer had
canvassed the town ahead OF him.
"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 sim
full hearth doubt II he would for
get that lesson to his dying day.
A Salvation army girl was selling
y
said to her, You don't believe in the
Bible, do your" Il do said the girl,
.'or wouldn't be in this place. can
assure YOU" you don't mean to say
that you believe that story about the
whale swallowing Jonah?" Certain
" do; God says SO, and I believe 1t.
"Pshaw," said the man, nobody be-
lieyes that story nowadays" We'll"
said the girl. when / get to heaven
I will go to Jonah and ask him If he
had a real experience in a real
whale" But you won't find Jonah
in heaven; he isn't there" Then
suppose you ask him." said the girl
quietly, assuming that II Jonah was
not In heaven. he might be in the 9TH
err place.
THAT girl was bright" you say.
Very true, but who gave her that wit
and wisdom? The Holy Spirit, and he
will give you all the wit and wisdom
you need for the work to which he has
called you. THE amounting which We
have received abideth in you, and ye
need not that any man teach you
Il John 2:27). If Christians would
only believe what God says, they would
have more confidence to engage in
personal work.
A friend of mine at the Mortified
conference was asked by an express
man to direct him to a certain mans
tent. Il am very sorry" he replied.
that cannot tell you where to find
him. but If you had asked me the
way to heaven l could have told you.
Do you know the way to heaven"
NO." said the man, Il cannot say that
/ do.' well. it is Just this way" said
my friend, and he went on to explain
1t. The result was that the man was
led to Christ right then and there.
II. Choose an opportune time ana
place. 1t is not well to stop one who IL
running for train to inquire about
his soul. neither is it the highest wis
dom to give hungry man q tract.
Far better give him cup OF coffee.
and make it so hot that he cannot
drink it. Then while he is slipping the
CO... lou can perhaps say something
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