Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-07-04

hearty confession and plea for mercy. |
Persuading people to repent is work |
so delicate and difficult that it is use
less to attempt it unless we are right |
with God ourselves.
At time when there was some re-
1igious interest at Princeton college
one of the students offered himself as
a worker. He was assigned to see
certain man. When asked about the
result of his visit, he replied: "Oh,
I made no headway. 1t was a great
mistake to send me there. When I
asked him why he was not Christian
he looked at me and said, 'Are\ you a
fair sample of ChristianityT Yes,
think 1 am about the average You
are? Yes Then I do not want to
be Christian That answer went
| straight to the mans heart. He knew
! what it meant. The unbeliever had
| had heard him say things that were
not true; and he had lost all respect
for him. 1t is not enough to be sound
in doctrine; one must also be con-
sistent in life. And, even when the
outward life is exemplary, there may
be a secret, unforgiving spirit, or un-
willingness to do Gods will, which
hinders our usefulness.
A lady once said to me: II am the
daughter of minister; am a grad
uate Of Wellesley college; I have
taught Sunday school ever since l was
fifteen years old, and yet to the best
of my knowledge I have never led
single soul to Christ"
ST thought that all your boys be
came Christians last Sunday"
'That is true; but had nothing tc
do with it, and that is what is break
ing my heart"
"Do not be too sure of that" I re
piled; and then I used an illustration
something like this: Suppose tina
/ chandelier was suspended by chail
instead of a rod. What link in tn
chain do you think would be the mos
D important, the first, or the second, o
the last one?p
' 81 do not see as there would be an
d difference. If you take out any Q
them, the whole thing would com
down"
every true," I replied. snow, i
T. the long chain of events by which Go
9 brings any wandering soul back
r himself, which is the most importaI
IL link, the first, or the fiftieth, or tt
e lastY'
'There is no difference. If any or
n of the links is gone, you cannot secul
n the final result
IN perhaps you did not speak tt
n final words that led your boys to d
n cision, but you have certainly spok'
many earnest words that prepared t
6, way for some one else to lead them
n. decision. Who shall say that yo
tn words were not just as important
ne his?"
&C. "There is some comfort in that,
must admit"
at Certainly; that is why I said it. .
OF "But do you not think that eve
ri Christian ought to be able to spe
lot the last words which lead soul
in decision occasionally?"
ay 'T do. / believe that God wishes
his children to be soul-winners, a
nd, that he has made abundant provisi
nd for that end"
aid 81 think there is something wro
est in my life,'' she replied.
md I thought so, too, and so I wal
sse for the Lord to show her what v
needed. In few weeks she sent w
md that she was now ready to devote
re- life to winning souls to Christ.
Iiet In this instance there was some c
us scious disobedience that had evide1
vas stood in her way for years. So Il
%, as there is any such obstacle one
the not pray with confidence, or sp
with power. We must be able to /
INC God in the face and say, "Thou kn
hon est. that I love thee" and also |
our neighbor in the face and say, :"
.,;11 know that am anxious for your {
lur version"