The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1915-01-01

being a Christian.
- Our Roman Cath
olic friends, who
belong almost wholly TO the laboring
class, and whose time is not their own,
as a rule. are the most regular church
| goers In the community. The fact is
that people find time for what they
consider important.
| know young man who wished TO
attend certain series of meetings.
| The factory where. he was employed
was running evenings. and every man
was expected TO work overtime for a
| few weeks during the busy season,
| for which OF course. they received ex-
ira pay He was not a Christian, but
he went to his employer and asked to
! be excused from working evenings for
week, and he also went without hia
supper each night in order TO attend
the services. Very soon he gave his
heart to God, and before the end OF
the week he had the pleasure OF see.
ing his brother converted.
Not the Real Reason.
When one offers the lack OF time
as an excuse for not being a Chris
tian, 1t is well to show him by some
simple illustration that this is not the
real reason. Say to him, IF, in addi-
tion to your regular work, you had an
opportunity to earn ten dollars each
week by one hour of extra work.
would you accept the offer?"
He will doubtless answer. II think
would"
I'm other words, IL you want time
for something extra, you manage TO
find It, You see, my friend, the sim
pie fact is that you do not feel the
need Of salvation, and you are not in
terested in 1t. You are in the condi-
tion described In Ephesians 4:l8, 'Hav-
ing the understanding darkened. being
alienated from the life OF God through
the ignorance that is in them, because
OF the hardening OF their heart Why
not face the fact, disagreeable as il
may be, and when people ask you why
you are not a Christian, give them the
real reason instead of offering false
one? And furthermore, IT is well to
remember that If you do not take time
to consider this question of salvation
you will soon lose your capacity TO
know God, and will be in the condition
described in the nineteenth verse OF
the same chapter, Who being past
! feeling. gave themselves up to all
manner OF sim"
~ viii Think About It."
There are some minds which ma
ture very slowly, and If one really has
never considered what is involved IN
becoming a Christian, 1t may be well
to give him little time for reflection.
AS rule. however, this excuse is only
another way Of saying, Not now" We
should show the person that already
he has all the information he needs
for an intelligent decision. and that IL
he waited dozen years he would not
be any better prepared, but on the
contrary, he would be less disposed TO
decide than now.
There are only two things that he
needs TO know-that he is lost, and
that Christ is the only Savior These
two things he knows already. and all
that remains for him to do is to ac-
cept Christ as his Savior. Show him
that continual thinking on the sub
Ject will not make the decision any
easier, but continual rejection OF
Christ will surely make IL harder. II
Is great mistake for people 10 think
hnt L.
please. The only time when a man
can be saved is when God chooses 10
save him, and Gods time is now; BE
hold. now is the accepted time; be
hold. now is the day OF salvation"
No one has a right TO say that he
will think II over and decide when he
is ready. God calls for immediate de- |
cision; be commands us 20 lay dcwn |
the weapons OF our rebellion. and sur. |
render Internationally. When Mr.. |
Moody was holding meetings in Hart |
ford, Conn. many years ago. he urged |
man one night 10 accept Christ al
once. Finally the man replied, well. |
Mr. Moody. will promise you this: I |
will attend the meeting tomorrow
night and I will accept Christ as my
Savior then" That man never reached
his home alive. The train on which
he Travelled ran OF bridge at Tariff
vile and many lost their lives. and
among them was this man. THAT ex.
perience." said Mr.. Moody, taught me
lesson. never 10 let any one on with
promise. but 70 press them hard for
an immediate decision. and n that
failed, TO show them the peril OF even
a nights delay