diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33015-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 86357 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33015-h/33015-h.htm | 3996 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33015-h/images/Divider.png | bin | 0 -> 5422 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33015.txt | 4064 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33015.zip | bin | 0 -> 77265 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
8 files changed, 8076 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33015-h.zip b/33015-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7376534 --- /dev/null +++ b/33015-h.zip diff --git a/33015-h/33015-h.htm b/33015-h/33015-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..84a1545 --- /dev/null +++ b/33015-h/33015-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3996 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title>The Overcoming Life</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + body {font-family:'Bookman Old Style', 'Book Antiqua', 'Garamond'; text-align:justify; margin-left:3em; margin-right:3em} + p.pnn {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.ps {margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.pn {text-indent:1.5em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.pns {text-indent:1.5em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p0 {font-size:88%; padding-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.1em} + p.p0s {font-size:88%; padding-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.2em} + p.p1 {padding-left:4em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.p1s {font-size:75%; padding-left:4em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.5em} + p.p2 {font-size:75%; padding-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p2s {padding-left:5em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p3 {font-size:92%; padding-left:6em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.p3s {padding-left:6em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + p.p4 {font-size:92%; padding-left:7em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0} + p.p4s {font-size:92%; padding-left:7em; text-indent:-2em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em} + + .sc {font-variant:small-caps} + .f11 {font-size:92%} + .ls1 {letter-spacing:0.1em} + .ls2 {letter-spacing:0.2em} + .ls3 {letter-spacing:0.3em} + h1 {text-align:center; margin-top:1.5em; margin-bottom:0.8em; font-size:142%; font-weight:normal} + h2 {text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.5em; font-size:117%; font-weight:normal} + h3 {text-align:center; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0.6em; font-size:100%; font-weight:normal} + h4 {text-align:center; margin-top:1.2em; margin-bottom:1em; font-size:108%; font-weight:bold} + hr {margin: 0 auto; text-align:center} +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Overcoming Life, by Dwight Moody + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Overcoming Life + and Other Sermons + +Author: Dwight Moody + +Release Date: June 28, 2010 [EBook #33015] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OVERCOMING LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + + + + + +</pre> + +<p class="pnn"><a href="#contents">Contents.</a></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center; font-size:179%;margin-top:2.0em ;margin-bottom:0.8em"> +THE OVERCOMING LIFE</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:138%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:4.4em"> +AND OTHER SERMONS</p> +<div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Graphic" src= +"images/Divider.png" style= +"width: 5.0em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:4.6em"></div> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:100%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:5.8em"> +By D. L. MOODY.</p> +<div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Graphic" src= +"images/Divider.png" style= +"width: 5.0em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:5.7em"></div> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:75%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:8.0em"> +“<i>This is the victory that overcometh the, world, even +our faith</i>.”</p> +<div style="text-align:center"><img alt="Graphic" src= +"images/Divider.png" style= +"width: 5.0em; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:4.7em"></div> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:117%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0.2em"> +<b>FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY</b></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:83%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0.2em"> +N<span class="sc">ew York</span> C<span class="sc">hicago</span> +T<span class="sc">oronto</span></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:83%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"> +<i>Publishers of Evangelical Literature</i></p> +<hr style="margin-top:6em;margin-bottom:27em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:75%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0"> +COPYRIGHTED 1896, BY F<span class="sc">leming H. Revell +Company</span>.</p> +<hr style="margin-top:27.8em;margin-bottom:13em"> +<div style="font-size:92%"> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:150%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1.0em"> +<a name="contents" id="contents">CONTENTS.</a></p> +<hr style="width:6em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="ps"><a href="#life">THE OVERCOMING LIFE</a></p> +<p class="pns"><a href="#life">PART I. THE CHRISTIAN’S +WARFARE</a></p> +<p class="pns"><a href="#part2">PART II. INTERNAL FOES</a></p> +<p class="pns"><a href="#part3">PART III. EXTERNAL FOES</a></p> +<p class="ps"><a href="#results">RESULTS OF TRUE +REPENTANCE</a></p> +<p class="ps"><a href="#wisdom">TRUE WISDOM</a></p> +<p class="ps"><a href="#come">“COME THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE +INTO THE ARK”</a></p> +<p class="ps"><a href="#humility">HUMILITY</a></p> +<p class="ps"><a href="#rest">REST</a></p> +<p class="ps"><a href="#seven">SEVEN “I WILLS” OF +CHRIST</a></p> +</div> +<hr style="margin-top:19em;margin-bottom:10em"> +<h1><a name="life" id="life">THE OVERCOMING LIFE.</a></h1> +<hr style="width:3em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1.0em"> +<h2>PART I.</h2> +<h3>THE CHRISTIAN’S WARFARE.</h3> +<p class="pn">I would like to have you open your Bible at the +first epistle of John, fifth chapter, fourth and fifth verses: +“Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this +is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is +he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is +the Son of God?”</p> +<p class="pn">When a battle is fought, all are anxious to know +who are the victors. In these verses we are told who is to gain +the victory in life. When I was converted I made this mistake: I +thought the battle was already mine, the victory already won, the +crown already in my grasp. I thought that old things had passed +away, that all things had become new; that my old corrupt nature, +the Adam life, was gone. But I found out, after serving Christ +for a few months, that conversion was only like enlisting in the +army, that there was a battle on hand, and that if I was to get a +crown, I had to work for it and fight for it.</p> +<p class="pn">Salvation is a gift, as free as the air we breathe. +It is to be obtained, like any other gift, without money and +without price: there are no other terms. “To him that +worketh not, but believeth.” But on the other hand, if we +are to gain a crown, we must work for it. Let me quote a few +verses in First Corinthians: “For other foundation can no +man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if +any man buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, +wood, hay, stubble; each man’s work shall be made manifest: +for the day shall declare it, because it is revealed in fire: and +the fire itself shall prove each man’s work, of what sort +it is. If any man’s work shall abide, which he built +thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall +be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; +yet so as through fire.”</p> +<p class="pn">We see clearly from this that we may be saved, but +all our works burned up. I may have a wretched, miserable voyage +through life, with no victory, and no reward at the end; saved, +yet so as by fire, or as Job puts it, “with the skin of my +teeth.” I believe that a great many men will barely get to +heaven as Lot got out of Sodom, burned out, nothing left, works +and everything else destroyed.</p> +<p class="pn">It is like this: when a man enters the army, he is +a member of the army the moment he enlists; he is just as much a +member as a man who has been in the army ten or twenty years. But +enlisting is one thing, and participating in a battle another. +Young converts are like those just enlisted.</p> +<p class="pn">It is folly for any man to attempt to fight in his +own strength. The world, the flesh and the devil are too much for +any man. But if we are linked to Christ by faith, and He is +formed in us the hope of glory, then we shall get the victory +over every enemy. It is believers who are the overcomers. +“Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in +Christ.” Through Him we shall be more than conquerors.</p> +<p class="pn">I wouldn’t think of talking to unconverted +men about overcoming the world, for it is utterly impossible. +They might as well try to cut down the American forest with their +penknives. But a good many Christian people make this mistake: +they think the battle is already fought and won. They have an +idea that all they have to do is to put the oars down in the +bottom of the boat, and the current will drift them into the +ocean of God’s eternal love. But we have to cross the +current. We have to learn how to watch and fight, and how to +overcome. The battle is only just commenced. The Christian life +is a conflict and a warfare, and the quicker we find it out the +better. There is not a blessing in this world that God has not +linked Himself to. All the great and higher blessings God +associates with Himself. When God and man work together, then it +is that there is going to be victory. We are coworkers with Him. +You might take a mill, and put it forty feet above a river, and +there isn’t capital enough in the States to make that river +turn the mill; but get it down about forty feet, and away it +works. We want to keep in mind that if we are going to overcome +the world, we have got to work with God. It is His power that +makes all the means of grace effectual.</p> +<p class="pn">The story is told that Frederick Douglas, the great +slave orator, once said in a mournful speech when things looked +dark for his race:—</p> +<p class="pn">“The white man is against us, governments are +against us, the spirit of the times is against us. I see no hope +for the colored race. I am full of sadness.”</p> +<p class="pn">Just then a poor old colored woman rose in the +audience, and said.—</p> +<p class="pn">“Frederick, is God dead?”</p> +<p class="pn">My friend, it makes a difference when you count God +in.</p> +<p class="pn">Now many a young believer is discouraged and +disheartened when he realizes this warfare. He begins to think +that God has forsaken him, that Christianity is not all that it +professes to be. But he should rather regard it as an encouraging +sign. No sooner has a soul escaped from his snare than the great +Adversary takes steps to ensnare it again. He puts forth all his +power to recapture his lost prey. The fiercest attacks are made +on the strongest forts, and the fiercer the battle the young +believer is called on to wage, the surer evidence it is of the +work of the Holy Spirit in his heart. God will not desert him in +his time of need, any more than He deserted His people of old +when they were hard pressed by their foes.</p> +<h4>The Only Complete Victor.</h4> +<p class="pn">This brings me to the fourth verse of the fourth +chapter of the same epistle: “Ye are of God, little +children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is +in you than he that is in the world.” The only man that +ever conquered this world—was complete victor—was +Jesus Christ. When He shouted on the cross, “It is +finished!” it was the shout of a conqueror. He had overcome +every enemy. He had met sin and death. He had met every foe that +you and I have got to meet, and had come off victor. Now if I +have got the spirit of Christ, if I have got that same life in +me, then it is that I have got a power that is greater than any +power in the world, and with that same power I overcome the +world.</p> +<p class="pn">Notice that everything human in this world fails. +Every man, the moment he takes his eye off God, has failed. Every +man has been a failure at some period of his life. Abraham +failed. Moses failed. Elijah failed. Take the men that have +become so famous and that were so mighty—the moment they +got their eye off God, they were weak like other men; and it is a +very singular thing that those men failed on the strongest point +in their character. I suppose it was because they were not on the +watch. Abraham was noted for his faith, and he failed right +there—he denied his wife. Moses was noted for his meekness +and humility, and he failed right there—he got angry. God +kept him out of the promised land because he lost his temper. I +know he was called “the servant of God,” and that he +was a mighty man, and had power with God, but humanly speaking, +he failed, and was kept out of the promised land. Elijah was +noted for his power in prayer and for his courage, yet he became +a coward. He was the boldest man of his day, and stood before +Ahab, and the royal court, and all the prophets of Baal; yet when +he heard that Jezebel had threatened his life, he ran away to the +desert, and under a juniper tree prayed that he might die. Peter +was noted for his boldness, and a little maid scared him nearly +out of his wits. As soon as she spoke to him, he began to +tremble, and he swore that he didn’t know Christ. I have +often said to myself that I’d like to have been there on +the day of Pentecost alongside of that maid when she saw Peter +preaching.</p> +<p class="pn">“Why,” I suppose she said, “what +has come over that man? He was afraid of <i>me</i> only a few +weeks ago, and now he stands up before all Jerusalem and charges +these very Jews with the murder of Jesus.”</p> +<p class="pn">The moment he got his eye off the Master he failed; +and every man, I don’t care who he is—even the +strongest—every man that hasn’t Christ in him, is a +failure. John, the beloved disciple, was noted for his meekness; +and yet we hear of him wanting to call fire down from heaven on a +little town because it had refused the common hospitalities.</p> +<h4>Triumphs of Faith.</h4> +<p class="pn">Now, how are we to get the victory over all our +enemies? Turn to Galatians, second chapter, verse twenty: +“I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not +I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the +flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and +gave Himself for me.” We live by faith. We get this life by +faith, and become linked to Immanuel—“God with +us.” If I have God for me, I am going to overcome. How do +we gain this mighty power? By faith.</p> +<p class="pn">The next passage I want to call your attention to +is Romans, chapter eleven, verse twenty: “Because of +unbelief they were broken off; and thou standest by faith.” +The Jews were cut off on account of their unbelief: we were +grafted in on account of our belief. So notice: We live by faith, +and we stand by faith.</p> +<p class="pn">Next: We walk by faith. Second Corinthians, chapter +five, verse seven: “For we walk by faith, not by +sight.” The most faulty Christians I know are those who +want to walk by sight. They want to see the end—how a thing +is going to come out. That isn’t walking by faith at +all—that is walking by sight.</p> +<p class="pn">I think the characters that best represent this +difference are Joseph and Jacob. Jacob was a man who walked with +God by sight. You remember his vow at Bethel:—“If God +will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will +give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again +to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my +God.” And you remember how his heart revived when he saw +the wagons Joseph sent him from Egypt. He sought after signs. He +never could have gone through the temptations and trials that his +son Joseph did. Joseph represents a higher type of Christian. He +could walk in the dark. He could survive thirteen years of +misfortune, in spite of his dreams, and then ascribe it all to +the goodness and providence of God.</p> +<p class="pn">Lot and Abraham are a good illustration Lot turned +away from Abraham and tented on the plains of Sodom. He got a +good stretch of pasture land, but he had bad neighbors. He was a +weak character and he should have kept with Abraham in order to +get strong. A good many men are just like that. As long as their +mothers are living, or they are bolstered up by some godly +person, they get along very well; but they can’t stand +alone. Lot walked by sight; but Abraham walked by faith; he went +out in the footsteps of God. “By faith Abraham, when he was +called to go out into a place which he should after receive for +an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he +went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a +strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, +the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city +which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” +And again: We fight by faith. Ephesians, sixth chapter, verse +sixteen: “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith +ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the +wicked.” Every dart Satan can fire at us we can quench by +faith, By faith we can overcome the Evil One. To fear is to have +more faith in your antagonist than in Christ.</p> +<p class="pn">Some of the older people can remember when our war +broke out. Secretary Seward, who was Lincoln’s Secretary of +State—a long-headed and shrewd politician—prophesied +that the war would be over in ninety days; and young men in +thousands and hundreds of thousands came forward and volunteered +to go down to Dixie and whip the South. They thought they would +be back in ninety days; but the war lasted four years, and cost +about half a million of lives. What was the matter? Why, the +South was a good deal stronger than the North supposed. Its +strength was underestimated.</p> +<p class="pn">Jesus Christ makes no mistake of that kind. When He +enlists a man in His service, He shows him the dark side; He lets +him know that he must live a life of self-denial. If a man is not +willing to go to heaven by the way of Calvary, he cannot go at +all. Many men want a religion in which there is no cross, but +they cannot enter heaven that way. If we are to be disciples of +Jesus Christ, we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and +follow Him. So let us sit down and count the cost. Do not think +that you will have no battles if you follow the Nazarene, because +many battles are before you. Yet if I had ten thousand lives, +Jesus Christ should have every one of them. Men do not object to +a battle if they are confident that they will have victory, and, +thank God, every one of us may have the victory if we will.</p> +<p class="pn">The reason why so many Christians fail all through +life is just this—they under-estimate the strength of the +enemy. My dear friend; you and I have got a terrible enemy to +contend with. Don’t let Satan deceive you. Unless you are +spiritually dead, it means warfare. Nearly everything around +tends to draw us away from God. We do not step clear out of Egypt +on to the throne of God. There is the wilderness journey, and +there are enemies in the land.</p> +<p class="pn">Don’t let any man or woman think all he or +she has to do is to join the church. That will not save you. The +question is, are you overcoming the world, or is the world +overcoming you? Are you more patient than you were five years +ago? Are you more amiable? If you are not, the world is +overcoming you, even if you are a church member. That epistle +that Paul wrote to Titus says that we are to be sound in +patience, faith and charity. We have got Christians, a good many +of them, that are good in spots, but mighty poor in other spots. +Just a little bit of them seems to be saved, you know. They are +not rounded out in their characters. It is just because they +haven’t been taught that they have a terrible foe to +overcome.</p> +<p class="pn">If I wanted to find out whether a Man was a +Christian, I wouldn’t go to his minister. I would go and +ask his wife. I tell you, we want more <i>home piety</i> just +now. If a man doesn’t treat his wife right, I don’t +want to hear him talk about Christianity. What is the use of his +talking about salvation for the next life, if he has no salvation +for this? We want a Christianity that goes into our homes and +everyday lives. Some men’s religion just repels me. They +put on a whining voice and a sort of a religious tone, and talk +so sanctimoniously on Sunday that you would think they were +wonderful saints. But on Monday they are quite different. They +put their religion away with their clothes, and you don’t +see any more of it until the next Sunday. You laugh, but let us +look out that we don’t belong to that class. My friend, we +have got to have a higher type of Christianity, or the Church is +gone. It is wrong for a man or woman to profess what they +don’t possess. If you are not overcoming temptations, the +world is overcoming you. Just get on your knees and ask God to +help you. My dear friends, let us go to God and ask Him to search +us. Let us ask Him to wake us up, and let us not think that just +because we are church members we are all right. We are all wrong +if we are not getting victory over sin.</p> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:2.7em;margin-bottom:2.5em"> +<h2><a name="part2" id="part2">PART II.</a></h2> +<h3>INTERNAL FOES.</h3> +<p class="pn">Now if we are going to overcome, we must begin +inside. God always begins there. An enemy inside the fort is far +more dangerous than one outside.</p> +<p class="pn">Scripture teaches that in every believer there are +two natures warring against each other. Paul says in his epistle +to the Romans:—“For we know that the law is +spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I +allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that +do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law +that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin +that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my +flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; +but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good +that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. +Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin +that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that when I would do +good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God +after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, +warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into +captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” Again, +in the Epistle to the Galatians, he says: “For the flesh +lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and +these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the +things that ye would.”</p> +<p class="pn">When we are born of God, we get His nature, but He +does not immediately take away all the old nature. Each species +of animal and bird is true to its nature. You can tell the nature +of the dove or canary bird. The horse is true to his nature, the +cow is true to hers. But a man has two natures, and do not let +the world or Satan make you think that the old nature is extinct, +because it is not. “Reckon ye yourselves dead”; but +if you were dead, you wouldn’t need to reckon yourselves +dead, would you? The dead self would be dropped out of the +reckoning. “I keep my body under”; if it were dead, +Paul wouldn’t have needed to keep it under. I am judicially +dead, but the old nature is alive, and therefore if I don’t +keep my body under and crucify the flesh with its affections, +this lower nature will gain the advantage, and I shall be in +bondage. Many men live all their lives in bondage to the old +nature, when they might have liberty if they would only live this +overcoming life. The old Adam never dies. It remains corrupt. +“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no +soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: +they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified +with ointment.”</p> +<p class="pn">A gentleman in India once got a tiger-cub, and +tamed it so that it became a pet. One day when it had grown up, +it tasted blood, and the old tiger-nature flashed out, and it had +to be killed. So with the old nature in the believer. It never +dies, though it is subdued: and unless he is watchful and +prayerful, it will gain the upper hand, and rush him into sin. +Someone has pointed out that “I” is the centre of +S-I-N. It is the medium through which Satan acts.</p> +<p class="pn">And so the worst enemy you have to overcome, after +all, is <i>yourself</i>. When Capt. T— became converted in +London, he was a great society man. After he had been a Christian +some months, he was asked;</p> +<p class="pn">“What have you found to be your greatest +enemy since you began to be a Christian?”</p> +<p class="pn">After a few minutes of deep thought he said, +“Well, I think it is myself.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Ah!” said the lady, “the King +has taken you into His presence, for it is only in His presence +that we are taught these truths.”</p> +<p class="pn">I have had more trouble with D. L. Moody than with +any other man who has crossed my path. If I can only keep him +right, I don’t have any trouble with other people. A good +many have trouble with servants. Did you ever think that the +trouble lies with you instead of the servants? If one member of +the family is constantly snapping, he will have the whole family +snapping. It is true whether you believe it or not. You speak +quickly and snappishly to people and they will do the same to +you.</p> +<h4>Appetite.</h4> +<p class="pn">Now take <i>appetite</i>. That is an enemy inside. +How many young men are ruined by the appetite for strong drink! +Many a young man has grown up to be a curse to his father and +mother, instead of a blessing. Not long ago the body of a young +suicide was discovered in one of our large cities. In his pocket +was found a paper on which he had written: “I have done +this myself. Don’t tell anyone. It is all through +drink.” An intimation of these facts in the public press +drew two hundred and forty six letters from two hundred and forty +six families, each of whom had a prodigal son who, it was feared, +might be the suicide.</p> +<p class="pn">Strong drink is an enemy, both to body and soul. It +is reported that Sir Andrew Clarke, the celebrated London +physician, once made the following statement: “Now let me +say that I am speaking solemnly and carefully when I tell you +that I am considerably within the mark in saying that within the +rounds of my hospital wards today, seven out of every ten that +lie there in their beds owe their ill health to alcohol. I do not +say that seventy in every hundred are drunkards; I do not know +that one of them is; but they use alcohol. So soon as a man +begins to take one drop, then the desire begotten in him becomes +a part of his nature, and that nature, formed by his acts, +inflicts curses inexpressible when handed down to the generations +that are to follow him as part and parcel of their being. When I +think of this I am disposed to give up my profession—to +give up everything—and to go forth upon a holy crusade to +preach to all men, ‘Beware of this enemy of the +race!’”</p> +<p class="pn">It is the most destructive agency in the world +today. It kills more than the bloodiest wars. It is the fruitful +parent of crime and idleness and poverty and disease. It spoils a +man for this world, and damns him for the next. The Word of God +has declared it: “Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor +idolaters, nor adulterers, . . . nor <i>drunkards</i> . . . shall +inherit the Kingdom of God.”</p> +<p class="pn">How can we overcome this enemy? Bitter experience +proves that man is not powerful enough in his own strength. The +only cure for the accursed appetite is regeneration—a new +life—the power of the risen Christ within us. Let a man +that is given to strong drink look to God for help, and He will +give him victory over his appetite. Jesus Christ came to destroy +the works of the devil, and He will take away that appetite if +you will let Him.</p> +<h4>Temper.</h4> +<p class="pn">Then there is <i>temper</i>. I wouldn’t give +much for a man that hasn’t temper. Steel isn’t good +for anything if it hasn’t got temper. But when temper gets +the mastery over me I am its slave, and it is a source of +weakness. It may be made a great power for good all through my +life, and help me; or it may become my greatest enemy from +within, and rob me of power. The current in some rivers is so +strong as to make them useless for navigation.</p> +<p class="pn">Someone has said that a preacher will never miss +the people when he speaks of temper. It is astonishing how little +mastery even professing Christians have over it. A friend of mine +in England was out visiting, and while sitting in the parlor, +heard an awful noise in the hall. He asked what it meant, and was +told that it was only the doctor throwing his boots downstairs +because they were not properly blacked. “Many +Christians,” said an old divine, “who bore the loss +of a child or of all their property with the most heroic +Christian fortitude, are entirely vanquished by the breaking of a +dish or the blunders of a servant.”</p> +<p class="pn">I have had people say to me, “Mr. Moody, how +can I get control of my temper?”</p> +<p class="pn">If you really want to get control, I will tell you +how, but you won’t like the medicine. Treat it as a sin and +confess it. People look upon it as a sort of a misfortune, and +one lady told me she inherited it from her father and mother. +Supposing she did. That is no excuse for her.</p> +<p class="pn">When you get angry again and speak unkindly to a +person, and when you realize it, go and ask that person to +forgive you. You won’t get mad with that person for the +next twenty-four hours. You might do it in about forty eight +hours, but go the second time, and after you have done it about +half-a-dozen times, you will get out of the business, because it +makes the old flesh burn.</p> +<p class="pn">A lady said to me once, “I have got so in the +habit of exaggerating that my friends accuse me of exaggerating +so that they don’t understand me.”</p> +<p class="pn">She said, “Can you help me? What can I do to +overcome it?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I said, “the next time +you catch yourself lying, go right to that party and say you have +lied, and tell him you are sorry. Say it is a lie; stamp it out, +root and branch; that is what you want to do.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Oh,” she said, “I wouldn’t +like to call it <i>lying</i>.” But that is what it was.</p> +<p class="pn">Christianity isn’t worth a snap of your +finger if it doesn’t straighten out your character. I have +got tired of all mere gush and sentiment. If people can’t +tell when you are telling the truth, there is something radically +wrong, and you had better straighten it out right away. Now, are +you ready to do it? Bring yourself to it whether you want to or +not. Do you find someone who has been offended by something you +have done? Go right to them and tell them you are sorry. You say +you are not to blame. Never mind, go right to them, and tell them +you are sorry. I have had to do it a good many times. An +impulsive man like myself has to do it often, but I sleep all the +sweeter at night when I get things straightened out. Confession +never fails to bring a blessing. I have sometimes had to get off +the platform and go down and ask a man’s forgiveness before +I could go on preaching. A Christian man ought to be a gentleman +every time; but if he is not, and he finds he has wounded or hurt +someone, he ought to go and straighten it out at once. You know +there are a great many people who want just Christianity enough +to make them respectable. They don’t think about this +overcoming life that gets the victory all the time. They have +their blue days and their cross days, and the children say,</p> +<p class="pn">“Mother is cross to-day, and you will have to +be very careful.”</p> +<p class="pn">We don’t want any of these touchy blue days; +these ups and downs. If we are overcoming, that is the effect our +life is going to have on others, they will have confidence in our +Christianity. The reason that many a man has no power, is that +there is some cursed sin covered up. There will not be a drop of +dew until that sin is brought to light. Get right inside. Then we +can go out like giants and conquer the world if everything is +right within.</p> +<p class="pn">Paul says that we are to be sound in faith, in +patience, and in love. If a man is unsound in his faith, the +clergy take the ecclesiastical sword and cut him off at once. But +he may be ever so unsound in charity, in patience, and nothing is +said about that. We must be sound in faith, in love, and in +patience if we are to be true to God.</p> +<p class="pn">How delightful it is to meet a man who can control +his temper! It is said of Wilberforce that a friend once found +him in the greatest agitation, looking for a dispatch he had +mislaid, for which one of the royal family was waiting. Just +then, as if to make it still more trying, a disturbance was heard +in the nursery.</p> +<p class="pn">“Now,” thought the friend, +“surely his temper will give way.”</p> +<p class="pn">The thought had hardly passed through his mind when +Wilberforce turned to him and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“What a blessing it is to hear those dear +children! Only think what a relief, among other hurries, to hear +their voices and know they are well.”</p> +<h4>Covetousness.</h4> +<p class="pn">Take the sin of <i>covetousness</i>. There is more +said in the Bible against it than against drunkenness. I must get +it out of me—destroy it, root and branch—and not let +it have dominion over me. We think that a man who gets drunk is a +horrid monster, but a covetous man will often be received into +the church, and put into office, who is as vile and black in the +sight of God as any drunkard.</p> +<p class="pn">The most dangerous thing about this sin is that it +is not generally regarded as very heinous. Of course we all have +a contempt for misers, but all covetous men are not misers. +Another thing to be noted about it is that it fastens upon the +old rather than upon the young.</p> +<p class="pn">Let us see what the Bible says about +covetousness:—</p> +<p class="pn">“Mortify therefore your members . . . +covetousness, which is idolatry.”</p> +<p class="pn">“No covetous man hath any inheritance in the +Kingdom of God.”</p> +<p class="pn">“They that will be (that is, desire to be) +rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and +hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.</p> +<p class="pn">For the love of money is the root of all evil: +which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, +and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”</p> +<p class="pn">“The wicked blesseth the covetous, whom the +Lord abhorreth.”</p> +<p class="pn">Covetousness enticed Lot into Sodom. It caused the +destruction of Achan and all his house. It was the iniquity of +Balaam. It was the sin of Samuel’s sons. It left Gehazi a +leper. It sent the rich young ruler away sorrowful. It led Judas +to sell his Master and Lord. It brought about the death of +Ananias and Sapphira. It was the blot in the character of Felix. +What victims it has had in all ages!</p> +<p class="pn">Do you say: “How am I going to check +covetousness?”</p> +<p class="pn">Well,—I don’t think there is any +difficulty about that. If you find yourself getting very +covetous—very miserly—wanting to get everything you +can into your possession—just begin to scatter. Just say to +covetousness that you will strangle it, and rid it out of your +disposition.</p> +<p class="pn">A wealthy farmer in New York state, who had been a +noted miser, a very selfish man, was converted. Soon after his +conversion a poor man came to him one day to ask for help. He had +been burned out, and had no provisions. This young convert +thought he would be liberal and give him a ham from his smoke +house. He started toward the smoke-house, and on the way the +tempter said,</p> +<p class="pn">“Give him the smallest one you +have.”</p> +<p class="pn">He struggled all the way as to whether he would +give a large or a small one. In order to overcome his +selfishness, he took down the biggest ham and gave it to the +man.</p> +<p class="pn">The tempter said, “You are a fool.”</p> +<p class="pn">But he replied, “If you don’t keep +still, I will give him every ham I have in the +smoke-house.”</p> +<p class="pn">If you find that you are selfish, give something. +Determine to overcome that spirit of selfishness, and to keep +your body under, no matter what it may cost.</p> +<p class="pn">Mr. Durant told me he was engaged by Goodyear to +defend the rubber patent, and he was to have half of the money +that came from the patent, if he succeeded. One day he woke up to +find that he was a rich man, and he said that the greatest +struggle of his life then took place as to whether he would let +money be his master, or he be master of money, whether he would +be its slave, or make it a slave to him. At last he got the +victory, and that is how Wellesley College was built.</p> +<h4>Are You Jealous, Envious?</h4> +<p class="pn">Go and do a good turn for that person of whom you +are jealous. That is the way to cure jealousy; it will kill it. +Jealousy is a devil, it is a horrid monster. The poets imagined +that Envy dwelt in a dark cave, being pale and thin, looking +asquint, never rejoicing except in the misfortune of others, and +hurting himself continually.</p> +<p class="pn">There is a fable of an eagle which could outfly +another, and the other didn’t like it. The latter saw a +sportsman one day, and said to him,</p> +<p class="pn">“I wish you would bring down that +eagle.”</p> +<p class="pn">The sportsman replied that he would if he only had +some feathers to put into the arrow. So the eagle pulled one out +of his wing. The arrow was shot, but didn’t quite reach the +rival eagle; it was flying too high. The envious eagle pulled out +more feathers, and kept pulling them out until he lost so many +that he couldn’t fly, and then the sportsman turned around +and killed him. My friend, if you are jealous, the only man you +can hurt is yourself.</p> +<p class="pn">There were two business +men—merchants—and there was great rivalry between +them, a great deal of bitter feeling. One of them was converted. +He went to his minister and said,</p> +<p class="pn">“I am still jealous of that man, and I do not +know how to overcome it.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” he said, “if a man comes +into your store to buy goods, and you cannot supply him, just +send him over to your neighbor.”</p> +<p class="pn">He said he wouldn’t like to do that.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” the minister said, “you +do it and you will kill jealousy.”</p> +<p class="pn">He said he would, and when a customer came into his +store for goods which he did not have, he would tell him to go +across the street to his neighbor’s. By and by the other +began to send his customers over to this man’s store, and +the breach was healed.</p> +<h4>Pride.</h4> +<p class="pn">Then there is <i>pride</i>. This is another of +those sins which the Bible so strongly condemns, but which the +world hardly reckons as a sin at all. “An high look and a +proud heart is sin.” “Everyone that is proud in heart +is an abomination to the Lord; though hand join in hand, he shall +not be unpunished.” Christ included pride among those evil +things which, proceeding out of the heart of a man, defile +him.</p> +<p class="pn">People have an idea that it is just the wealthy who +are proud. But go down on some of the back streets, and you will +find that some of the very poorest are as proud as the richest. +It is the heart, you know. People that haven’t any money +are just as proud as those that have. We have got to crush it +out. It is an enemy. You needn’t be proud of your face, for +there is not one but that after ten days in the grave the worms +would be eating your body. There is nothing to be proud +of—is there? Let us ask God to deliver us from pride.</p> +<p class="pn">You can’t fold your arms and say, +“Lord, take it out of me”; but just go and work with +Him.</p> +<p class="pn">Mortify your pride by cultivating humility. +“Put on, therefore,” says Paul, “as the elect +of God, holy and beloved, . . . humbleness of mind.” +“Be clothed with humility,” says Peter. +“Blessed are the poor in spirit.”</p> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:2.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<h2><a name="part3" id="part3">PART III.</a></h2> +<h3>EXTERNAL FOES.</h3> +<p class="pn">What are our enemies without? What does James say? +“Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity +with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is +the enemy of God.” And John? “Love not the world, +neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the +world, the love of the Father is not in him.”</p> +<p class="pn">Now, people want to know what is <i>the world</i>. +When you talk with them they say:</p> +<p class="pn">“Well, when you say ‘the world,’ +what do you mean?”</p> +<p class="pn">Here we have the answer in the next verse: +“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and +the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the +Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the +lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth +forever.”</p> +<p class="pn">“The world” does not mean nature around +us. God nowhere tells us that the material world is an enemy to +be overcome. On the contrary, we read: “The earth is the +Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that +dwell therein.” “The heavens declare the glory of +God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.”</p> +<p class="pn">It means “human life and society as far as +alienated from God, through being centered on material aims and +objects, and thus opposed to God’s Spirit and +kingdom.” Christ said: “If the world hate you, ye +know that it hated Me before it hated you . . . the world hath +hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of +the world.” Love of the world means the forgetfulness of +the eternal future by reason of love for passing things.</p> +<p class="pn">How can the world be overcome? Not by education, +not by experience; only by faith. “This is the victory that +overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh +the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of +God?”</p> +<h4>Worldly Habits and Fashions.</h4> +<p class="pn">For one thing we must fight <i>worldly habits and +fashions</i>. We must often go against the customs of the world. +I have great respect for a man who can stand up for what he +believes is right against all the world. He who can stand alone +is a hero.</p> +<p class="pn">Suppose it is the custom for young men to do +certain things you wouldn’t like your mother to know +of—things that your mother taught you are wrong. You may +have to stand up alone among all your companions.</p> +<p class="pn">They will say: “You can’t get away from +your mother, eh? Tied to your mother’s apron +strings!”</p> +<p class="pn">But just you say: “Yes! I have some respect +for my mother. She taught me what is right, and she is the best +friend I have. I believe that is wrong, and I am going to stand +for the right.” If you have to stand alone, <i>stand</i>. +Enoch did it, and Joseph, and Elisha, and Paul. God has kept such +men in all ages.</p> +<p class="pn">Someone says: “I move in society where they +have wine parties. I know it is rather a dangerous thing because +my son is apt to follow me. But I can stop just where I want to; +perhaps my son hasn’t got the same power as I have, and he +may go over the dam. But it is the custom in the society where I +move.”</p> +<p class="pn">Once I got into a place where I had to get up and +leave. I was invited into a home, and they had a late supper, and +there were seven kinds of liquor on the table. I am ashamed to +say they were Christian people. A deacon urged a young lady to +drink until her face flushed. I rose from the table and went out; +I felt that it was no place for me. They considered me very rude. +That was going against custom; that was entering a protest +against such an infernal thing. Let us go against custom, when it +leads astray.</p> +<p class="pn">I was told in a southern college, some years ago, +that no man was considered a first class gentleman who did not +drink. Of course it is not so now.</p> +<h4>Pleasure.</h4> +<p class="pn">Another enemy is <i>worldly pleasure</i>. A great +many people are just drowned in pleasure. They have no time for +any meditation at all. Many a man has been lost to society, and +lost to his family, by giving himself up to the god of pleasure. +God wants His children to be happy, but in a way that will help +and not hinder them.</p> +<p class="pn">A lady came to me once and said: “Mr. Moody, +I wish you would tell me how I can become a Christian.” The +tears were rolling down her cheeks, and she was in a very +favorable mood; “but,” she said, “I don’t +want to be one of your kind.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I asked, “have I got any +peculiar kind? What is the matter with my +Christianity?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” she said, “my father was +a doctor, and had a large practice, and he used to get so tired +that he used to take us to the theater. There was a large family +of girls, and we had tickets for the theaters three or four times +a week. I suppose we were there a good deal oftener than we were +in church. I am married to a lawyer, and he has a large practice. +He gets so tired that he takes us out to the theater,” and +she said, “I am far better acquainted with the theater and +theater people than with the church and church people, and I +don’t want to give up the theater.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I said, “did you ever +hear me say anything about theaters? There have been reporters +here every day for all the different papers, and they are giving +my sermons verbatim in one paper. Have you ever seen anything in +the sermons against the theaters?”</p> +<p class="pn">She said, “No.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I said, “I have seen you +in the audience every afternoon for several weeks and have you +heard me say anything against theaters?”</p> +<p class="pn">No, she hadn’t.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I said, “what made you +bring them up?” “Why, I supposed you didn’t +believe in theaters.” “What made you think +that?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Why,” she said, “Do you ever +go?”</p> +<p class="pn">“No.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Why don’t you go?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Because I have got something better. I would +sooner go out into the street and eat dirt than do some of the +things I used to do before I became a Christian.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Why!” she said, “I don’t +understand.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Never mind,” I said. “When Jesus +Christ has the pre-eminence, you will understand it all. He +didn’t come down here and say we shouldn’t go here +and we shouldn’t go there, and lay down a lot of rules; but +He laid down great principles. Now, He says if you love Him you +will take delight in pleasing Him.” And I began to preach +Christ to her. The tears started again. She said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I tell you, Mr. Moody, that sermon on the +indwelling Christ yesterday afternoon just broke my heart. I +admire Him, and I want to be a Christian, but I don’t want +to give up the theaters.”</p> +<p class="pn">I said, “Please don’t mention them +again. I don’t want to talk about theaters. I want to talk +to you about Christ.” So I took my Bible, and I read to her +about Christ.</p> +<p class="pn">But she said again, “Mr. Moody, can I go to +the theater if I become a Christian?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes,” I said, “you can go to the +theater just as much as you like if you are a real, true +Christian, and can go with His blessing.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” she said, “I am glad you +are not so narrow-minded as some.”</p> +<p class="pn">She felt quite relieved to think that she could go +to the theaters and be a Christian. But I said,</p> +<p class="pn">“If you can go to the theater for the glory +of God, keep on going; only be sure that you go for the glory of +God. If you are a Christian you will be glad to do whatever will +please Him.”</p> +<p class="pn">I really think she became a Christian that day. The +burden had gone, there was joy; but just as she was leaving me at +the door, she said,</p> +<p class="pn">“I am not going to give up the +theater.”</p> +<p class="pn">In a few days she came back to me and said, +“Mr. Moody, I understand all about that theater business +now. I went the other night. There was a large party at our +house, and my husband wanted us to go, and we went; but when the +curtain lifted, everything looked so different. I said to my +husband, ‘This is no place for me; this is horrible. I am +not going to stay here, I am going home.’ He said, +‘Don’t make a fool of yourself. Everyone has heard +that you have been converted in the Moody meetings, and if you go +out, it will be all through fashionable society, I beg of you +don’t make a fool of yourself by getting up and going +out.’ But I said, ‘I have been making a fool of +myself all of my life.’”</p> +<p class="pn">Now, the theater hadn’t changed, but she had +got something better and she was going to overcome the world. +“They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the +flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the +Spirit.” When Christ has the first place in your heart you +are going to get victory. Just do whatever you know will please +Him. The great objection I have to these things is that they get +the mastery, and become a hindrance to spiritual growth.</p> +<h4>Business.</h4> +<p class="pn">It may be that we have got to overcome in +<i>business</i>. Perhaps it is business morning, noon and night, +and Sundays, too. When a man will drive like Jehu all the week +and like a snail on Sunday, isn’t there something wrong +with him? Now, business is legitimate; and a man is not, I think, +a good citizen that will not go out and earn his bread by the +sweat of his brow; and he ought to be a good business man, and +whatever he does, do thoroughly. At the same time, if he lays his +whole heart on his business, and makes a god of it, and thinks +more of it than anything else, then the world has come in. It may +be very legitimate in its place—like fire, which, in its +place, is one of the best friends of man; out of place, is one of +the worst enemies of man;—like water, which we cannot live +without; and yet, when not in place, it becomes an enemy.</p> +<p class="pn">So my friends, that is the question for you and me +to settle. Now look at yourself. Are you getting the victory? Are +you growing more even in your disposition? are you getting +mastery over the world and the flesh?</p> +<p class="pn">And bear this in mind: Every temptation you +overcome makes you stronger to overcome others, while every +temptation that defeats you makes you weaker. You can become +weaker and weaker, or you can become stronger and stronger. Sin +takes the pith out of your sinews, but virtue makes you stronger. +How many men have been overcome by some little thing! Turn a +moment to the Song of Solomon, the second chapter, fifteenth +verse: “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the +vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” A great many +people seem to think these little things—getting out of +patience, using little deceits, telling white lies (as they call +them), and when somebody calls on you sending word by the servant +you are not at home—all these are little things. Sometimes +you can brace yourself up against a great temptation; and almost +before you know it you fall before some little thing. A great +many men are overcome by a little <i>persecution</i>.</p> +<h4>Persecution.</h4> +<p class="pn">Do you know, I don’t think we have enough +persecution now-a-days. Some people say we have persecution that +is just as hard to bear as in the Dark Ages. Anyway, I think it +would be a good thing if we had a little of the old fashioned +kind just now. It would bring out the strongest characters, and +make us all healthier. I have heard men get up in prayer-meeting, +and say they were going to make a few remarks, and then keep on +till you would think they were going to talk all week. If we had +a little persecution, people of that kind wouldn’t talk so +much. Spurgeon used to say some Christians would make good +martyrs; they would burn well, they are so dry. If there were a +few stakes for burning Christians, I think it would take all the +piety out of some men. I admit they haven’t got much; but +then if they are not willing to suffer a little persecution for +Christ, they are not fit to be His disciples. We are told: +“All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer +persecution.” Make up your mind to this: If the world has +nothing to say against you, Jesus Christ will have nothing to say +for you.</p> +<p class="pn">The most glorious triumphs of the Church have been +won in times of persecution. The early church was persecuted for +about three hundred years after the crucifixion, and they were +years of growth and progress. But then, as Saint Augustine has +said, the cross passed from the scene of public executions to the +diadem of the Caesars, and the down-grade movement began. When +the Church has joined hands with the State, it has invariably +retrograded in spirituality and effectiveness; but the opposition +of the State has only served to purify it of all dross. It was +persecution that gave Scotland to Presbyterianism. It was +persecution that gave this country to civil and religious +freedom.</p> +<p class="pn">How are we to overcome in time of persecution? Hear +the words of Christ: “In the world ye shall have +tribulation: but be of good cheer: I have overcome the +world.” Paul could testify that though persecuted, he was +never forsaken; that the Lord stood by him, and strengthened him, +and delivered him out of all his persecutions and +afflictions.</p> +<p class="pn">A great many shrink from the Christian life because +they will be <i>sneered at</i>. And then, sometimes when +persecution won’t bring a man down, <i>flattery</i> will. +Foolish persons often come up to a man after he has preached and +flatter him. Sometimes ladies do that. Perhaps they will say to +some worker in the church: “You talk a great deal better +than so-and-so”; and he becomes proud, and begins to strut +around as if he was the most important person in the town. I tell +you, we have a wily devil to contend with. If he can’t +overcome you with opposition, he will try flattery or ambition; +and if that doesn’t serve his purpose, perhaps there will +come some affliction or disappointment, and he will overcome in +way. But remember that anyone that has got Christ to help him can +overcome every foe, and overcome them singly or collectively. Let +them come. If we have got Christ within us, we will overthrow +them all. Remember what Christ is able to do. In all the ages men +have stood in greater temptations than you and I will ever have +to meet.</p> +<p class="pn">Now, there is one more thing on this line: I have +either got to overcome the world, or the world is going to +overcome me. I have either got to conquer sin in me—or sin +about me—and get it under my feet, or it is going to +conquer me. A good many people are satisfied with one or two +victories, and think that is all. I tell you, my dear friends, we +have got to do something more than that. It is a battle all the +time. We have this to encourage us: we are assured of victory at +the end. We are promised a glorious triumph.</p> +<h4>Eight “Overcomes.”</h4> +<p class="pn">Let me give you the eight “overcomes” +of Revelation.</p> +<p class="pn">The first is: “<i>To him that overcometh will +I give to eat of the tree of life</i>.” He shall have a +right to the tree of life. When Adam fell, he lost that right. +God turned him out of Eden lest he should eat of the tree of life +and live as he was forever. Perhaps He just took that tree and +transplanted it to the Garden above; and through the second Adam +we are to have the right to eat of it.</p> +<p class="pn">Second: “<i>He that overcometh shall not be +hurt of the second death</i>.” Death has no terrors for +him, it cannot touch him. Why? Because Christ tasted death for +every man. Hence he is on resurrection ground. Death may take +this body, but that is all. This is only the house I live in. We +need have no fear of death if we overcome.</p> +<p class="pn">Third: “<i>To him that overcometh will I give +to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and +in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he +that receiveth it</i>.” If I overcome God will feed me with +bread that the world knows nothing about, and give me a new +name.</p> +<p class="pn">Fourth: “<i>He that overcometh, and keepeth +My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the +nations</i>.” Think of it! What a thing to have; power over +the nations! A man that is able to rule himself is the man that +God can trust with power. Only a man who can govern himself is +fit to govern other men. I have an idea that we are down here in +training, that God is just polishing us for some higher service. +I don’t know where the kingdoms are, but it we are to be +kings and priests we must have kingdoms to reign over.</p> +<p class="pn">Fifth: “<i>He that overcometh, the same shall +be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out +of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My +Father, and before His angels</i>.” He shall present us to +the Father in white garments, without spot or wrinkle. Every +fault and stain shall be taken out, and we be made perfect. He +that overcomes will not be a stranger in heaven.</p> +<p class="pn">Sixth: “<i>Him that overcometh will I make a +pillar in the temple of My God; and he shall go no more out; and +I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city +of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which cometh down out of +heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new +name</i>.” Think of it! No more backsliding, no more +wanderings over the dark mountains of sin, but forever with the +King, and He says, “I will write upon him the name of My +God.” He is going to put His name upon us. Isn’t it +grand? Isn’t it worth fighting for? It is said when Mahomet +came in sight of Damascus and found that they had all left the +city, he said: “If they won’t fight for this city +what will they fight for?” If men won’t fight here +for all this reward, what will they fight for?</p> +<p class="pn">Seventh: “<i>To him that overcometh will I +grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and +am set down with My Father in His throne</i>.” My heart has +often melted as I have looked at that. The Lord of Glory coming +down and saying: “I will grant to you to sit on My throne, +even as I sit on My Father’s throne, if you will just +overcome.” Isn’t it worth a struggle? How many will +fight for a crown that is going to fade away! Yet we are to be +placed above the angels, above the archangels, above the +seraphim, above the cherubim, away up, upon the throne with +Himself, and there we shall be forever with Him. May God put +strength into every one of us to fight the battle of life, so +that we may sit with Him on His throne. When Frederick of Germany +was dying, his own son would not have been allowed to sit with +him on the throne, nor to have let anyone else sit there with +him. Yet we are told that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ, +and that we are to sit with Him in glory!</p> +<p class="pn">And now, the last I like best of all: “<i>He +that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, +and he shall be My son</i>.” My dear friends, isn’t +that a high calling? I used to have my Sabbath-school children +sing—“I want to be an angel”: but I have not +done so for years. We shall be above angels: we shall be sons of +God. Just see what a kingdom we shall come into: we shall inherit +all things! Do you ask me how much I am worth? I don’t +know. The Rothschilds cannot compute their wealth. They +don’t know how many millions they own. That is my +condition—I haven’t the slightest idea how much I am +worth. God has no poor children. If we overcome we shall inherit +all things.</p> +<p class="pn">Oh, my dear friends, what an inheritance! Let us +then get the victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord and +Master.</p> +<h1><a name="results" id="results">RESULTS OF TRUE +REPENTANCE.</a></h1> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="pn">I want to call your attention to what true +repentance leads to. I am not addressing the unconverted only, +because I am one of those who believe that there is a good deal +of repentance to be done by the Church before much good will be +accomplished in the world. I firmly believe that the low standard +of Christian living is keeping a good many in the world and in +their sins. When the ungodly see that Christian people do not +repent, you cannot expect them to repent and turn away from their +sins. I have repented ten thousand times more since I knew Christ +than ever before; and I think most Christians have some things to +repent of.</p> +<p class="pn">So now I want to preach to Christians as well as to +the unconverted; to myself as well as to one who has never +accepted Christ as his Savior.</p> +<p class="pn">There are five things that flow out of true +repentance:</p> +<p class="pn">1. Conviction.</p> +<p class="pn">2. Contrition.</p> +<p class="pn">3. Confession of sin.</p> +<p class="pn">4. Conversion.</p> +<p class="pn">5. Confession of Jesus Christ before the world.</p> +<h4>1. Conviction.</h4> +<p class="pn">When a man is not deeply convicted of sin, it is a +pretty sure sign that he has not truly repented. Experience has +taught me that men who have very slight conviction of sin, sooner +or later lapse back into their old life. For the last few years I +have been a good deal more anxious for a deep and true work in +professing converts than I have for great numbers. If a man +professes to be converted without realizing the heinousness of +his sins, he is likely to be one of those stony ground hearers +who don’t amount to anything. The first breath of +opposition, the first wave of persecution or ridicule, will suck +them back into the world again.</p> +<p class="pn">I believe we are making a woeful mistake in taking +so many people into the Church who have never been truly +convicted of sin. Sin is just as black in a man’s heart +to-day as it ever was. I sometimes think it is blacker. For the +more light a man has, the greater his responsibility, and +therefore the greater need of deep conviction.</p> +<p class="pn">William Dawson once told this story to illustrate +how humble the soul must be before it can find peace.</p> +<p class="pn">He said that at a revival meeting, a little lad who +was used to Methodist ways, went home to his mother and said,</p> +<p class="pn">“Mother, John So-and-so is under conviction +and seeking for peace, but he will not find it to-night, +mother.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Why, William?” said she.</p> +<p class="pn">“Because he is only down on one knee, mother, +and he will never get peace until he is down on both +knees.”</p> +<p class="pn">Until conviction of sin brings us down on both +knees, until we are completely humbled, until we have no hope in +ourselves left, we cannot find the Savior.</p> +<p class="pn">There are three things that lead to conviction: (1) +Conscience; (2) the Word of God; (3) the Holy Spirit. All three +are used by God.</p> +<p class="pn">Long before we had any Word, God dealt with men +through the conscience. That is what made Adam and Eve hide +themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of +the Garden of Eden. That is what convicted Joseph’s +brethren when they said: “We are verily guilty concerning +our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul when he +besought us and we would not hear. Therefore,” said they +(and remember, over twenty years had passed away since they had +sold him into captivity), “therefore is this distress come +upon us.” That is what we must use with our children before +they are old enough to understand about the Word and the Spirit +of God. This is what accuses or excuses the heathen.</p> +<p class="pn">Conscience is “a divinely implanted faculty +in man, telling him that he ought to do right.” Someone has +said that it was born when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden +fruit, when their eyes were opened and they “knew good and +evil.” It passes judgment, without being invited, upon our +thoughts, words, and actions, approving or condemning according +as it judges them to be right or wrong. A man cannot violate his +conscience without being self-condemned.</p> +<p class="pn">But conscience is not a safe guide, because very +often it will not tell you a thing is wrong until you have done +it. It needs illuminating by God because it partakes of our +fallen nature. Many a person does things that are wrong without +being condemned by conscience. Paul said: “I verily thought +with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name +of Jesus of Nazareth.” Conscience itself needs to be +educated.</p> +<p class="pn">Again, conscience is too often like an alarm clock, +which awakens and arouses at first, but after a time the man +becomes used to it, and it loses its effect. Conscience can be +smothered. I think we make a mistake in not preaching more to the +conscience.</p> +<p class="pn">Hence, in due time, conscience was superseded by +the law of God, which in time was fulfilled in Christ.</p> +<p class="pn">In this Christian land, where men have Bibles, +these are the agency by which God produces conviction. The old +Book tells you what is right and wrong before you commit sin, and +what you need is to learn and appropriate its teachings, under +the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Conscience compared with the +Bible is as a rushlight compared with the sun in the heavens.</p> +<p class="pn">See how the truth convicted those Jews on the day +of Pentecost. Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, preached that +“God hath made this same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, +both Lord and Christ.” “Now when they heard this, +they were <i>pricked in their heart</i>, and said unto Peter and +to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we +do?”</p> +<p class="pn">Then, thirdly, the Holy Ghost convicts. I once +heard the late Dr. A. J. Gordon expound that +passage—“And when He (the Comforter) is come, He will +reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; of +sin because they believe not on Me,”—as +follows:—</p> +<p class="pn">“Some commentators say there was no real +conviction of sin in the world until the Holy Ghost came. I think +that foreign missionaries will say that that is not true, that a +heathen who never heard of Christ may have a tremendous +conviction of sin. For notice that God gave conscience first, and +gave the Comforter afterward. Conscience bears witness to the +law, the Comforter bears witness to Christ. Conscience brings +legal conviction, the Comforter brings evangelical conviction. +Conscience brings conviction unto condemnation, and the Comforter +brings conviction unto justification. ‘He shall convince +the world of sin, because they believe not on Me.’ That is +the sin about which He convinces. It does not say that He +convinces men of sin, because they have stolen or lied or +committed adultery; but the Holy Ghost is to convince men of sin +because they have not believed on Jesus Christ. The coming of +Jesus Christ into the world made a sin possible that was not +possible before. Light reveals darkness; it takes whiteness to +bring conviction concerning blackness. There are negroes in +Central Africa who never dreamed that they were black until they +saw the face of a white man; and there are a great many people in +this world that never knew they were sinful until they saw the +face of Jesus Christ in all its purity.</p> +<p class="pn">Jesus Christ now stands between us and the law. He +has fulfilled the law for us. He has settled all claims of the +law, and now whatever claim it had upon us has been transferred +to Him, so that it is no longer the <i>sin</i> question, but the +<i>Son</i> question, that confronts us. And, therefore, you +notice that the first thing Peter does when he begins to preach +after the Holy Ghost has been sent down is about Christ: +‘Him being delivered by the determinate counsel of God, ye +have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.’ +It doesn’t say a word about any other kind of sin. That is +the sin that runs all through Peter’s teaching, and as he +preached, the Holy Ghost came down and convicted them, and they +cried out, ‘What shall we do to be saved?’</p> +<p class="pn">Well, but we had no part in crucifying Christ; +therefore, what is our sin? It is the same sin in another form. +They were convicted of crucifying Christ; we are convicted +because we have not believed on Christ crucified. They were +convicted because they had despised and rejected God’s Son. +The Holy Ghost convicts us because we have not believed in the +Despised and Rejected One. It is really the same sin in both +cases—the sin of unbelief in Christ.”</p> +<p class="pn">Some of the most powerful meetings I have ever been +in were those in which there came a sort of hush over the people, +and it seemed as if an unseen power gripped their consciences. I +remember a man coming to one meeting, and the moment he entered, +he felt that God was there. There came an awe upon him, and that +very hour he was convicted and converted.</p> +<h4>2. Contrition.</h4> +<p class="pn">The next thing is contrition, deep Godly sorrow and +humiliation of heart because of sin. If there is not true +contrition, a man will turn right back into the old sin. That is +the trouble with many Christians.</p> +<p class="pn">A man may get angry, and if there is not much +contrition, the next day he will get angry again. A daughter may +say mean, cutting things to her mother, and then her conscience +troubles her, and she says:</p> +<p class="pn">“Mother, I am sorry: forgive me.”</p> +<p class="pn">But soon there is another outburst of temper, +because the contrition is not deep and real. A husband speaks +sharp words to his wife, and then to ease his conscience, he goes +and buys her a bouquet of flowers. He will not go like a man and +say he has done wrong.</p> +<p class="pn">What God wants is contrition, and if there is not +contrition, there is not full repentance. “The Lord is nigh +to the broken of heart, and saveth such as be contrite of +spirit.” “A broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou +wilt not despise.” Many sinners are sorry for their sins, +sorry that they cannot continue in sin; but they repent only with +hearts that are not broken. I don’t think we know how to +repent now-a-days. We need some John the Baptist, wandering +through the land, crying: “Repent! repent!”</p> +<h4>3. Confession of Sin.</h4> +<p class="pn">If we have true contrition, that will lead us to +confess our sins. I believe that nine-tenths of the trouble in +our Christian life comes from failing to do this. We try to hide +and cover up our sins; there is very little confession of them. +Someone has said: “Unconfessed sin in the soul is like a +bullet in the body.”</p> +<p class="pn">If you have no power, it may be there is some sin +that needs to be confessed, something in your life that needs +straightening out. There is no amount of psalm-singing, no amount +of attending religious meetings, no amount of praying or reading +your Bible that is going to cover up anything of that kind. It +must be confessed, and if I am too proud to confess, I need +expect no mercy from God and no answers to my prayers. The Bible +says: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper.” +He may be a man in the pulpit, a priest behind the altar, a king +on the throne; I don’t care who he is. Man has been trying +it for six thousand years. Adam tried it, and failed. Moses tried +it when he buried the Egyptian whom he killed, but he failed. +“Be sure your sin will find you out.” You cannot bury +your sin so deep but it will have a resurrection by and by, if it +has not been blotted out by the Son of God. What man has failed +to do for six thousand years, you and I had better give up trying +to do.</p> +<p class="pn">There are three ways of confessing sin. All sin is +against God, and must be confessed to Him. There are some sins I +need never confess to anyone on earth. If the sin has been +between myself and God, I may confess it alone in my closet: I +need not whisper it in the ear of any mortal. “Father, I +have sinned against heaven, and before Thee.” +“Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil +in Thy sight.”</p> +<p class="pn">But if I have done some man a wrong, and he knows +that I have wronged him, I must confess that sin not only to God +but also to that man. If I have too much pride to confess it to +him, I need not come to God. I may pray, and I may weep, but it +will do no good. First confess to that man, and then go to God +and see how quickly He will hear you, and send peace. “If +thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy +brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the +altar, and go thy ways. First be reconciled to thy brother, and +then come and offer thy gift.” That is the Scripture +way.</p> +<p class="pn">Then there is another class of sins that must be +confessed publicly. Suppose I have been known as a blasphemer, a +drunkard, or a reprobate. If I repent of my sins, I owe the +public a confession. The confession should be as public as the +transgression. Many a person will say some mean thing about +another in the presence of others, and then try to patch it up by +going to that person alone. The confession should be made so that +all who heard the transgression can hear it.</p> +<p class="pn">We are good at confessing other people’s +sins, but if it is true repentance, we shall have as much as we +can do to look after our own. When a man or woman gets a good +look into God’s looking glass, he is not finding fault with +other people: he has as much as he can do at home.</p> +<p class="pn">“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and +just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all +unrighteousness.” Thank God for the Gospel! Church member, +if there is any sin in your life, make up your mind that you will +confess it, and be forgiven. Do not have any cloud between you +and God. Be able to read your title clear to the mansion Christ +has gone to prepare for you.</p> +<h4>4. Conversion.</h4> +<p class="pn">Confession leads to true conversion, and there is +no conversion at all until these three steps have been taken.</p> +<p class="pn">Now the word “conversion” means two +things. We say a man is “converted” when he is born +again. But it also has a different meaning in the Bible. Peter +said: “Repent, and be converted.” The Revised Version +reads: “Repent, and <i>turn</i>.” Paul said that he +was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but began to preach +to Jews and Gentiles that they should repent and <i>turn</i> to +God. Some old divine has said: “Every man is born with his +back to God. Repentance is a change of one’s course. It is +right about face.”</p> +<p class="pn">Sin is a turning away from God. As someone has +said, it is <i>aversion</i> from God and <i>conversion</i> to the +world: and true repentance means conversion to God and aversion +from the world. When there is true contrition, the heart is +broken <i>for</i> sin; when there is true conversion, the heart +is broken <i>from</i> sin. We leave the old life, we are +translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of +light. Wonderful, isn’t it?</p> +<p class="pn">Unless our repentance includes this conversion, it +is not worth much. If a man continues in sin, it is proof of an +idle profession. It is like pumping away continually at the +ship’s pumps, without stopping the leaks. Solomon +said:—“If they pray, and confess thy name, and turn +from their sin . . .” Prayer and confession would be of no +avail while they continued in sin. Let us heed God’s call; +let us forsake the old wicked way; let us return unto the Lord, +and He will have mercy upon us; and to our God, for He will +abundantly pardon.</p> +<p class="pn">If you have never turned to God, turn now. I have +no sympathy with the idea that it takes six months, or six weeks, +or six hours to be converted. It doesn’t take you very long +to turn around, does it? If you know you are wrong, then turn +right about.</p> +<h4>5. Confession of Christ.</h4> +<p class="pn">If you are converted, the next step is confess it +openly. Listen: “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the +Lord Jesus Christ, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath +raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart +man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession +is made unto salvation.”</p> +<p class="pn">Confession of Christ is the culmination of the work +of true repentance. We owe it to the world, to our +fellow-Christians, to ourselves. He died to redeem us, and shall +we be ashamed or afraid to confess Him? Religion as an +abstraction, as a doctrine, has little interest for the world, +but what people can say from personal experience always has +weight.</p> +<p class="pn">I remember some meetings being held in a locality +where the tide did not rise very quickly, and bitter and +reproachful things were being said about the work. But one day, +one of the most prominent men in the place rose and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I want it to be known that I am a disciple +of Jesus Christ; and if there is any odium to be cast on His +cause, I am prepared to take my share of it.”</p> +<p class="pn">It went through the meeting like an electric +current, and a blessing came at once to his own soul and to the +souls of others.</p> +<p class="pn">Men come to me and say: “Do you mean to +affirm, Mr. Moody, that I’ve got to make a public +confession when I accept Christ; do you mean to say I’ve +got to confess Him in my place of business, and in my family? Am +I to let the whole world know that I am on His side?”</p> +<p class="pn">That is precisely what I mean. A great many are +willing to accept Christ, but they are not willing to publish it, +to confess it. A great many are looking at the lions and the +bears in the way. Now, my friends, the devil’s mountains +are only made of smoke. He can throw a straw into your path and +make a mountain of it. He says to you: “You cannot confess +and pray to your family; why, you’ll break down! You cannot +tell it to your shopmate; he will laugh at you.” But when +you accept Christ, you will have power to confess Him.</p> +<p class="pn">There was a young man in the West—it was the +West in those days—who had been more or less interested +about his soul’s salvation. One afternoon, in his office, +he said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I will accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and +Savior.”</p> +<p class="pn">He went home and told his wife (who was a nominal +professor of religion) that he had made up his mind to serve +Christ; and he added:</p> +<p class="pn">“After supper to-night I am going to take the +company into the drawing-room, and erect the family +altar.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” said his wife, “you know +some of the gentlemen who are coming to tea are sceptics, and +they are older than you are, and don’t you think you had +better wait until after they have gone, or else go out in the +kitchen and have your first prayer with the servants?”</p> +<p class="pn">The young man thought for a few moments, and then +he said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I have asked Jesus Christ into my house for +the first time, and I shall take Him into the best room, not into +the kitchen.”</p> +<p class="pn">So he called his friends into the drawing room. +There was a little sneering, but he read and prayed. That man +afterwards became Chief Justice of the United States Court. Never +be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: it is the power of God unto +salvation.</p> +<p class="pn">A young man enlisted, and was sent to his regiment. +The first night he was in the barracks with about fifteen other +young men who passed the time playing cards and gambling. Before +retiring, he fell on his knees and prayed, and they began to +curse him and jeer at him and throw boots at him.</p> +<p class="pn">So it went on the next night and the next, and +finally the young man went and told the chaplain what had taken +place, and asked what he should do.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” said the chaplain, “you +are not at home now, and the other men have just as much right in +the barracks as you have. It makes them mad to hear you pray, and +the Lord will hear you just as well if you say your prayers in +bed and don’t provoke them.”</p> +<p class="pn">For weeks after the chaplain did not see the young +man again, but one day he met him, and asked—</p> +<p class="pn">“By the way, did you take my +advice?”</p> +<p class="pn">“I did, for two or three nights.”</p> +<p class="pn">“How did it work?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” said the young man, “I +felt like a whipped hound, and the third night I got out of bed, +knelt down and prayed.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” asked the chaplain, “how +did that work?”</p> +<p class="pn">The young soldier answered: “We have a +prayer-meeting there now every night, and three have been +converted, and we are praying for the rest.”</p> +<p class="pn">Oh, friends, I am so tired of weak Christianity. +Let us be out and out for Christ; let us give no uncertain sound. +If the world wants to call us fools, let them do it. It is only a +little while; the crowning day is coming. Thank God for the +privilege we have of confessing Christ.</p> +<h1><a name="wisdom" id="wisdom">TRUE WISDOM.</a></h1> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="pn">“They that be wise shall shine as the +brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to +righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Dan. +12:3.</p> +<p class="pn">That is the testimony of an old man, and one who +had the richest and deepest experience of any man living on the +face of the earth at the time. He was taken down to Babylon when +a young man; some Bible students think he was not more than +twenty years of age. If anyone had said, when this young Hebrew +was carried away into captivity, that he would outrank all the +mighty men of that day—that all the generals who had been +victorious in almost every nation at that time were to be +eclipsed by this young slave—probably no one would have +believed it. Yet for five hundred years no man whose life is +recorded in history shone as did this man. He outshone +Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus, Darius, and all the princes +and mighty monarchs of his day.</p> +<p class="pn">We are not told when he was converted to a +knowledge of the true God, but I think we have good reason to +believe that he had been brought under the influence of Jeremiah +the prophet. Evidently some earnest, godly man, and no worldly +professor, had made a deep impression upon him. Someone had at +any rate taught him how he was to serve God.</p> +<p class="pn">We hear people nowadays talking about the hardness +of the field where they labor; they say their position is a very +peculiar one. Think of the field in which Daniel had to work. He +was not only a slave, but he was held captive by a nation that +detested the Hebrews. The language was unknown to him. There he +was among idolaters; yet he commenced at once to shine. He took +his stand for God from the very first, and so he went on through +his whole life. He gave the dew of his youth to God, and he +continued faithful right on till his pilgrimage was ended.</p> +<p class="pn">Notice that all those who have made a deep +impression on the world, and have shone most brightly have been +men who lived in a dark day. Look at Joseph; he was sold as a +slave into Egypt by the Ishmaelites; yet he took his God with him +into captivity, as Daniel afterwards did. And he remained true to +the last; he did not give up his faith because he had been taken +away from home and placed among idolaters. He stood firm, and God +stood by him.</p> +<p class="pn">Look at Moses who turned his back upon the gilded +palaces of Egypt, and identified himself with his despised and +down-trodden nation. If a man ever had a hard field it was Moses; +yet he shone brightly, and never proved unfaithful to his +God.</p> +<p class="pn">Elijah lived in a far darker day than we do. The +whole nation was going over to idolatry. Ahab and his queen, and +all the royal court were throwing their influence against the +worship of the true God. Yet Elijah stood firm, and shone +brightly in that dark and evil day. How his name stands out on +the page of history!</p> +<p class="pn">Look at John the Baptist. I used to think I would +like to live in the days of the prophets; but I have given up +that idea. You may be sure that when a prophet appears on the +scene, everything is dark, and the professing Church of God has +gone over to the service of the god of this world. So it was when +John the Baptist made his appearance. See how his name shines out +to-day! Eighteen centuries have rolled away, and yet the fame of +that wilderness preacher shines brighter than ever. He was looked +down upon in his day and generation, but he has outlived all his +enemies; his name will be revered and his work remembered as long +as the Church is on the earth.</p> +<p class="pn">Talk about your field being a hard one! See how +Paul shone for God as he went out, the first missionary to the +heathen, telling them of the God whom he served, and who had sent +His Son to die a cruel death in order to save the world. Men +reviled him and his teachings; they laughed him to scorn when he +spoke of the crucified One. But he went on preaching the Gospel +of the Son of God. He was regarded as a poor tent-maker by the +great and mighty ones of his day; but no one can now tell the +name of any of his persecutors, or of those who lived at that +time, unless their names happen to be associated with his, and +they were brought into contact with him.</p> +<p class="pn">Now the fact is, all men like to shine. We may as +well acknowledge it at once. Go into business circles, and see +how men struggle to get into the front rank. Everyone wants to +outshine his neighbor and to stand at the head of his profession. +Go into the political world, and see how there is a struggle +going on as to who shall be the greatest. If you go into a +school, you find that there is a rivalry among the boys and +girls. They all want to stand at the top of the class. When a boy +does reach this position and outranks all the rest, the mother is +very proud of it. She will manage to tell all the neighbors how +Johnnie has got on, and what a number of prizes he has +gained.</p> +<p class="pn">Go into the army and you find the same +thing—one trying to outstrip the other; everyone is very +anxious to shine and rise above his comrades. Go among the young +men in their games, and see how anxious the one is to outdo the +other. So we have all that desire in us; we like to shine above +our fellows.</p> +<p class="pn">And yet there are very few who can really shine in +the world. Once in a while one man will outstrip all his +competitors. Every four years what a struggle goes on throughout +our country as to who shall be the President of the United +States, the battle raging for six months or a year. Yet only one +man can get the prize. There are a good many struggling to get +the place, but many are disappointed, because only one can attain +the coveted prize. But in the kingdom of God the very least and +the very weakest may shine if they will. Not only can <i>one</i> +obtain the prize, but <i>all</i> may have it if they will.</p> +<p class="pn">It does not say in this passage that the statesmen +are going to shine as the brightness of the firmament. The +statesmen of Babylon are gone; their very names are +forgotten.</p> +<p class="pn">It does not say that the nobility are going to +shine. Earth’s nobility are soon forgotten. John Bunyan, +the Bedford tinker, has outlived the whole crowd of those who +were the nobility in his day. They lived for self, and their +memory is blotted out. He lived for God and for souls, and his +name is as fragrant as ever it was.</p> +<p class="pn">We are not told that the merchants are going to +shine. Who can tell the name of any of the millionaires of +Daniel’s day? They were all buried in oblivion a few years +after their death. Who were the mighty conquerors of that day? +But few can tell. It is true that we hear of Nebuchadnezzar, but +probably we should not have known very much about him but of his +relations to the prophet Daniel.</p> +<p class="pn">How different with this faithful prophet of the +Lord! Twenty five centuries have passed away, and his name shines +on, and on, and on, brighter and brighter. And it is going to +shine while the Church of God exists. “They that be wise +shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that +turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and +ever.”</p> +<p class="pn">How quickly the glory of this world fades away! +Eighty years ago the great Napoleon almost made the earth to +tremble. How he blazed and shone as an earthly warrior for a +little while! A few years passed and a little island held that +once proud and mighty conqueror; he died a poor broken-hearted +prisoner. Where is he to-day? Almost forgotten. Who in all the +world will say that Napoleon lives in their heart’s +affections?</p> +<p class="pn">But look at this despised and hated Hebrew prophet. +They wanted to put him into the lions’ den because he was +too sanctimonious and too religious Yet see how green his memory +is to-day! How his name is loved and honored for his faithfulness +to his God.</p> +<p class="pn">Many years ago I was in Paris, at the time of the +Great Exhibition. Napoleon the Third was then in his glory. Cheer +after cheer would rise as he drove along the streets of the city. +A few short years, and he fell from his lofty estate. He died an +exile from his country and his throne, and where is his name +today? Very few think about him at all, and if his name is +mentioned it is not with love and esteem. How empty and short +lived are the glory and the pride of this world! If we are wise, +we will live for God and eternity; we will get outside of +ourselves, and will care nothing for the honor and glory of this +world. In Proverbs we read: “He that winneth souls is +wise.” If any man, woman, or child by a Godly life and +example can win one soul to God, their life will not have been a +failure. They will have outshone all the mighty men of their day, +because they will have set a stream in motion that will flow on +and on forever and ever.</p> +<p class="pn">God has left us down here to shine. We are not here +to buy and sell and get gain, to accumulate wealth, to acquire +worldly position. This earth, if we are Christians, is not our +home; it is up yonder. God has sent us into the world to shine +for Him—to light up this dark world. Christ came to be the +Light of the world, but men put out that light. They took it to +Calvary, and blew it out. Before Christ went up on high, He said +to His disciples: “Ye are the light of the world. Ye are my +witnesses. Go forth and carry the Gospel to the perishing nations +of the earth.”</p> +<p class="pn">So God has called us to shine, just as much as +Daniel was sent into Babylon to shine. Let no man or woman say +that they cannot shine because they have not so much influence as +some others may have. What God wants you to do is to use the +influence you have. Daniel probably did not have much influence +down in Babylon at first, but God soon gave him more, because he +was faithful and used what he had.</p> +<p class="pn">Remember a small light will do a good deal when it +is in a very dark place. Put one little tallow candle in the +middle of a large hall, and it will give a good deal of +light.</p> +<p class="pn">Away out in the prairie regions, when meetings are +held at night in the log schoolhouses, the announcement of the +meeting is given out in this way:</p> +<p class="pn">“A meeting will be held by early +candlelight.”</p> +<p class="pn">The first man who comes brings a tallowdip with +him. It is perhaps all he has; but he brings it, and sets it on +the desk. It does not light the building much; but it is better +than nothing at all. The next man brings his candle; and the next +family bring theirs. By the time the house is full, there is +plenty of light. So if we all shine a little, there will be a +good deal of light. That is what God wants us to do. If we cannot +all be lighthouses, any one of us can at any rate be a tallow +candle.</p> +<p class="pn">A little light will sometimes do a great deal. The +city of Chicago was set on fire by a cow kicking over a lamp, and +a hundred thousand people were burnt out of house and home. Do +not let Satan get the advantage of you, and make you think that +because you cannot do any great thing you cannot do anything at +all.</p> +<p class="pn">Then we must remember that we are to <i>let</i> our +light shine. It does not say, “<i>Make</i> your light +shine.” You do not have to <i>make</i> light to shine; all +you have to do is to <i>let</i> it shine.</p> +<p class="pn">I remember hearing of a man at sea who was very +seasick. If there is a time when a man feels that he cannot do +any work for the Lord it is then—in my opinion. While this +man was sick, he heard that someone had fallen overboard. He was +wondering if he could do anything to help to save the man. He +laid hold of a light, and held it up to the port-hole. The +drowning man was saved. When this man got over his attack of +sickness, he went on deck one day and was talking with the man +who was rescued. The saved man gave this testimony. He said he +had gone down the second time, and was just going down again for +the last time, when he put out his hand. Just then, he said, +someone held a light at the port-hole, and the light fell on it. +A sailor caught him by the hand and pulled him into the +lifeboat.</p> +<p class="pn">It seemed a small thing to do to hold up the light; +yet it saved the man’s life. If you cannot do some great +thing you can hold the light for some poor, perishing drunkard, +who may be won to Christ and delivered from destruction. Let us +take the torch of salvation and go into the dark homes, and hold +up Christ to the people as the Savior of the world. If the +perishing masses are to be reached, we must lay our lives right +alongside theirs, and pray with them and labor for them. I would +not give much for a man’s Christianity if he is saved +himself and is not willing to try and save others. It seems to me +the basest ingratitude if we do not reach out the hand to others +who are down in the same pit from which we were delivered. Who is +able to reach and help drinking men like those who have +themselves been slaves to the intoxicating cup? Will you not go +out this very day and seek to rescue these men? If we were all to +do what we can, we should soon empty the drinking saloons.</p> +<p class="pn">I remember reading of a blind man who was found +sitting at the corner of a street in a great city with a lantern +beside him. Someone went up to him and asked what he had the +lantern there for, seeing that he was blind, and the light was +the same to him as the darkness. The blind man replied:</p> +<p class="pn">“I have it so that no one may stumble over +me.”</p> +<p class="pn">Dear friends, let us think of that. Where one man +reads the Bible, a hundred read you and me. That is what Paul +meant when he said we were to be living epistles of Christ, known +and read of all men. I would not give much for all that can be +done by sermons, if we do not preach Christ by our lives. If we +do not commend the Gospel to people by our holy walk and +conversation, we shall not win them to Christ. Some little act of +kindness will perhaps do more to influence them than any number +of long sermons.</p> +<p class="pn">A vessel was caught in a storm on Lake Erie, and +they were trying to make for the harbor of Cleveland. At the +entrance of that port they had what are called the upper lights +and the lower lights. Away back on the bluffs were the upper +lights burning brightly enough; but when they came near the +harbor they could not see the lights showing the entrance to it. +The pilot said he thought they had better get back on the lake +again. The Captain said he was sure they would go down if they +went back, and he urged the pilot to do what he could to gain the +harbor. The pilot said there was very little hope of making the +harbor, as he had nothing to guide him as to how he should steer +the ship. They tried all they could to get her in. She rode on +the top of the waves, and then into the trough of the sea, and at +last they found themselves stranded on the beach, where the +vessel was dashed to pieces. Someone had neglected the lower +lights, and they had gone out.</p> +<p class="pn">Let us take warning. God keeps the upper lights +burning as brightly as ever, but He has left us down here to keep +the lower lights burning. We are to represent Him here, as Christ +represents us up yonder. I sometimes think if we had as poor a +representative in the courts above as God has down here on earth, +we would have a pretty poor chance of heaven. Let us have our +loins girt and our lights brightly burning, so that others may +see the way and not walk in darkness.</p> +<p class="pn">Speaking of a lighthouse reminds me of what I heard +about a man in the State of Minnesota, who, some years ago, was +caught in a fearful storm. That State is cursed with storms which +come sweeping down so suddenly in the winter time that escape is +difficult. The snow will fall and the wind will beat it into the +face of the traveler so that he cannot see two feet ahead. Many a +man has been lost on the prairies when he has got caught in one +of those storms.</p> +<p class="pn">This man was caught and was almost on the point of +giving up, when he saw a little light in a log house. He managed +to get there, and found a shelter from the fury of the tempest. +He is now a wealthy man. As soon as he was able, he bought the +farm, and built a beautiful house on the spot where the log +building stood. On the top of a tower he put a revolving light, +and every night when there comes a storm he lights it up in the +hope that it may be the means of saving someone else.</p> +<p class="pn">That is true gratitude, and that is what God wants +us to do. If He has rescued us and brought us up out of the +horrible pit, let us be always looking to see if there is not +someone else whom we can help to save.</p> +<p class="pn">I remember hearing of two men who had charge of a +revolving light in a lighthouse on a rock-bound and stormy coast. +Somehow the machinery went wrong, and the light did not revolve. +They were so afraid that those at sea should mistake it for some +other light, that they worked all the night through to keep the +light moving round.</p> +<p class="pn">Let us keep our lights in the proper place, so that +the world may see that the religion of Christ is not a sham but a +reality. It is said that in the Grecian sports they had one game +where the men ran with lights. They lit a torch at the altar, and +ran a certain distance; sometimes they were on horseback. If a +man came in with his light still burning, he received a prize; if +his light had gone out, he lost the prize.</p> +<p class="pn">How many there are who, in their old age, have lost +their light and their joy! They were once burning and shining +lights in the family, in the Sunday-school, and in the Church. +But something has come in between them and God—the world or +self—and their light has gone out. Reader, if you are one +who has had this experience, may God help you to come back to the +altar of the Savior’s love and light up your torch anew, so +that you can go out into the lanes and alleys, and let the light +of the Gospel shine in these dark homes.</p> +<p class="pn">As I have already said, if we only lead one soul to +Jesus Christ we may set a stream in motion that will flow on when +we are dead and gone. Away up the mountain side there is a little +spring; it seems so small that an ox might drink it up at a +draught. By and by it becomes a rivulet; other rivulets run into +it. Before long it is a large brook, and then it becomes a broad +river sweeping onward to the sea. On its banks are cities, towns +and villages, where many thousands live. Vegetation flourishes on +every side, and commerce is carried down its stately bosom to +distant lands.</p> +<p class="pn">So if you turn one to Christ, that one may turn a +hundred; they may turn a thousand, and so the stream, small at +first, goes on broadening and deepening as it rolls toward +eternity.</p> +<p class="pn">In the book of Revelation we read: “I heard a +voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead +which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, +that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow +them.”</p> +<p class="pn">There are many mentioned in the Scriptures of whom +we read that they lived so many years and then they died. The +cradle and the grave are brought close together; they lived and +they died, and that is all we know about them. So in these days +you could write on the tombstone of a great many professing +Christians that they were born on such a day and they died on +such a day; there is nothing whatever between.</p> +<p class="pn">But there is one thing you cannot bury with a good +man; his influence still lives. They have not buried Daniel yet: +his influence is as great today as it ever was. Do you tell me +that Joseph is dead? His influence still lives and will continue +to live on and on. You may bury the frail tenement of clay that a +good man lives in, but you cannot get rid of his influence and +example. Paul was never more powerful than he is to-day.</p> +<p class="pn">Do you tell me that John Howard, who went into so +many of the dark prisons in Europe, is dead? Is Henry Martyn, or +Wilberforce, or John Bunyan dead? Go into the Southern States, +and there you will find millions of men and women who once were +slaves. Mention to any of them the name of Wilberforce, and see +how quickly the eye will light up. He lived for something else +besides himself, and his memory will never die out of the hearts +of those for whom he lived and labored.</p> +<p class="pn">Is Wesley or Whitefield dead? The names of those +great evangelists were never more honored than they are now. Is +John Knox dead? You can go to any part of Scotland today, and +feel the power of his influence.</p> +<p class="pn">I will tell you who are dead. The enemies of these +servants of God—those who persecuted them and told lies +about them. But the men themselves have outlived all the lies +that were uttered concerning them. Not only that; they will shine +in another world. How true are the words of the old Book: +“They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the +firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars +forever and ever.”</p> +<p class="pn">Let us go on turning as many as we can to +righteousness. Let us be dead to the world, to its lies, its +pleasures, and its ambitions. Let us live for God, continually +going forth to win souls for Him.</p> +<p class="pn">Let me quote a few words by Dr. Chalmers: +“Thousands of men breathe, move and live, pass off the +stage of life, and are heard no more—Why? They do not +partake of good in the world, and none were blessed by them; none +could point to them as the means of their redemption; not a line +they wrote, not a word they spoke could be recalled; and so they +perished; their light went out in darkness, and they were not +remembered more than insects of yesterday. Will you thus live and +die, O man immortal? Live for something. Do good, and leave +behind you a monument of virtue that the storms of time can never +destroy. Write your name in kindness, love and mercy, on the +hearts of the thousands you come in contact with year by year; +you will never be forgotten. No, your name, your deeds will be as +legible on the hearts you leave behind as the stars on the brow +of evening. Good deeds will shine as the stars of +heaven.”</p> +<h1><a name="come" id="come">“COME THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE +INTO THE ARK.”</a></h1> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="pn">I want to call your attention to a text that you +will find in the seventh chapter of Genesis, first verse. When +God speaks, you and I can afford to listen. It is not man +speaking now, but it is God. “The Lord said unto Noah, Come +thou and all thy house into the ark.”</p> +<p class="pn">Perhaps some sceptic is reading this, and perhaps +some church member will join with him and say,</p> +<p class="pn">“I hope Mr. Moody is not going to preach +about the ark. I thought that was given up by all intelligent +people.”</p> +<p class="pn">But I want to say that I haven’t given it up. +When I do, I am going to give up the whole Bible. There is hardly +any portion of the Old Testament Scripture but that the Son of +God set His seal to it when He was down here in the world.</p> +<p class="pn">Men say, “I don’t believe in the story +of the flood.”</p> +<p class="pn">Christ connected His own return to this world with +that flood: “And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it +be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, +they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day +that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed +them all.”</p> +<p class="pn">I believe the story of the flood just as much as I +do the third chapter of John. I pity any man that is picking the +old Book to pieces. The moment that we give up any one of these +things, we touch the deity of the Son of God. I have noticed that +when a man does begin to pick the Bible to pieces, it +doesn’t take him long to tear it all to pieces. What is the +use of being five years about what you can do in five +minutes?</p> +<h4>A Solemn Message.</h4> +<p class="pn">One hundred and twenty years before God spake the +words of my text, Noah had received the most awful communication +that ever came from heaven to earth. No man up to that time, and +I think no man since, has ever received such a communication. God +said that on account of the wickedness of the world He was going +to destroy the world by water. We can have no idea of the extent +and character of that antediluvian wickedness. The Bible piles +one expression on another, in its effort to emphasize it. +“God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, +and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only +evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man +on the earth, and it grieved him at His heart. . . . The earth +also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with +violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was +corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the +earth.” Men lived five hundred years and more then, and +they had time to mature in their sins.</p> +<h4>How the Message was Received.</h4> +<p class="pn">For one hundred and twenty years God strove with +those antediluvians. He never smites without warning, and they +had their warning. Every time Noah drove a nail into the ark it +was a warning to them. Every sound of the hammer echoed, “I +believe in God.” If they had repented and cried as they did +at Nineveh, I believe God would have heard their cry and spared +them. But there was no cry for mercy. I have no doubt but that +they ridiculed the idea that God was going to destroy the world. +I have no doubt but that there were atheists who said there was +not any God anyhow. I got hold of one of them some time ago. I +said,</p> +<p class="pn">“How do you account for the formation of the +world?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Oh! force and matter work together, and by +chance the world was created.”</p> +<p class="pn">I said, “It is a singular thing that your +tongue isn’t on the top of your head if force and matter +just threw it together in that manner.”</p> +<p class="pn">If I should take out my watch and say that force +and matter worked together, and out came the watch, you would say +I was a lunatic of the first order. Wouldn’t you? And yet +they say that this old world was made by chance! “It threw +itself together!”</p> +<p class="pn">I met a man in Scotland, and he took the ground +that there was no God. I asked him,</p> +<p class="pn">“How do you account for creation, for all +these rocks?” (They have a great many rocks in +Scotland.)</p> +<p class="pn">“Why!” he said, “any school boy +could account for that.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well, how was the first rock +made?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Out of sand.”</p> +<p class="pn">“How was the first sand made?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Out of rock.”</p> +<p class="pn">You see he had it all arranged so nicely. Sand and +rock, rock and sand. I have no doubt but that Noah had these men +to contend with.</p> +<p class="pn">Then there was a class called agnostics, and there +are a good many of their grandchildren, alive to-day. Then there +was another class who said they believed there was a God; they +couldn’t make themselves believe that the world happened by +chance; but God was too merciful to punish sin. He was so full of +compassion and love that He couldn’t punish sin. The +drunkard, the harlot, the gambler, the murderer, the thief and +the libertine would all share alike with the saints at the end. +Supposing the governor of your state was so tender-hearted that +he could not bear to have a man suffer, could not bear to see a +man put in jail, and he should go and set all the prisoners free. +How long would he be governor? You would have him out of office +before the sun set. These very men that talk about God’s +mercy, would be the first to raise a cry against a governor who +would not have a man put in prison when he had done wrong.</p> +<p class="pn">Then another class took the ground that God could +not destroy the world anyway. They might have a great flood which +would rise up to the meadowlands and lowlands, but all it would +be necessary to do would be to go up on the hills and mountains. +That would be a hundred times better than Noah’s ark. Or if +it should come to that, they could build rafts, which would be a +good deal better than that ark. They had never seen such an ugly +looking thing. It was about five hundred feet long, and about +eighty feet wide, and fifty feet high. It had three stories, and +only one small window.</p> +<p class="pn">And then, I suppose there was a large class who +took the ground that Noah must be wrong because he was in such a +minority. That is a great argument now, you know. Noah was +greatly in the minority. But he went on working.</p> +<p class="pn">If they had saloons then, and I don’t doubt +but that they had, for we read that there was “violence in +the land,” and wherever you have alcohol you have violence. +We read also that Noah planted a vineyard and fell into the sin +of intemperance. He was a righteous man, and if he did that, what +must the others have done? Well, if they had saloons, no doubt +they sang ribald songs about Noah and his ark, and if they had +theaters they likely acted it out, and mothers took their +children to see it.</p> +<p class="pn">And if they had the press in those days, every now +and then there would appear a skit about “Noah and his +folly.” Reporters would come and interview him, and if they +had an Associated Press, every few days a dispatch would be sent +out telling how the work on the ark was progressing.</p> +<p class="pn">And perhaps they had excursions, and offered as an +inducement that people could go through the ark. And if Noah +happened to be around they would nudge each other and say:</p> +<p class="pn">“That’s Noah. Don’t you think +there is a strange look in his eye?”</p> +<p class="pn">As a Scotchman would say, they thought him a little +daft. Thank God a man can afford to be mad. A mad man thinks +everyone else mad but himself A drunkard does not call himself +mad when he is drinking up all his means. Those men who stand and +deal out death and damnation to men are not called mad; but a man +is called mad when he gets into the ark, and is saved for time +and eternity. And I expect if the word crank was in use, they +called Noah “an old crank.”</p> +<p class="pn">And so all manner of sport was made of Noah and his +ark. And the business men went on buying and selling, while Noah +went on preaching and toiling. They perhaps had some astronomers, +and they were gazing up at the stars, and saying, +“Don’t you be concerned. There is no sign of a coming +storm in the heavens. We are very wise men, and if there was a +storm coming, we should read it in the heavens.” And they +had geologists digging away, and they said, “There is no +sign in the earth.” Even the carpenters who helped build +the ark might have made fun of him, but they were like lots of +people at the present day, who will help build a church, and +perhaps give money for its support, but will never enter it +themselves.</p> +<p class="pn">Well, things went on as usual. Little lambs skipped +on the hillsides each spring. Men sought after wealth, and if +they had leases, I expect they ran for longer periods than ours +do. We think ninety-nine years a long time, but I don’t +doubt but that theirs ran for nine hundred and ninety nine years. +And when they came to sign a lease they would say with a twinkle +in their eyes:</p> +<p class="pn">“Why, this old Noah says the world is coming +to an end in one hundred and twenty years, and it’s twenty +years since he started the story. But I guess I will sign the +lease and risk it.”</p> +<p class="pn">Someone has said that Noah must have been deaf, or +he could not have stood the jeers and sneers of his countrymen. +But if he was deaf to the voice of men, he heard the voice of God +when He told him to build the ark.</p> +<p class="pn">I can imagine one hundred years have rolled away, +and the work on the ark ceases. Men say, “What has he +stopped work for?” He has gone on a preaching tour, to tell +the people of the coming storm—that God is going to sweep +every man from the face of the earth unless he is in the ark. But +he cannot get a man to believe him except his own family. Some of +the old men have passed away, and they died saying: “Noah +is wrong.” Poor Noah! He must have had a hard time of it. I +don’t think I should have had the grace to work for one +hundred and twenty years without a convert. But he just toiled +on, believing the word of God.</p> +<p class="pn">And now the hundred and twenty years are up. In the +spring of the year Noah did not plant anything, for he knew the +flood was coming, and the people say: “Every year before he +has planted, but this year he thinks the world is going to be +destroyed, and he hasn’t planted anything.”</p> +<h4>Moving in.</h4> +<p class="pn">But I can imagine one beautiful morning, not a +cloud to be seen, Noah has got his communication. He has heard +the voice that he heard one hundred and twenty years +before—the same old voice. Perhaps there had been silence +for one hundred and twenty years. But the voice rang through his +soul once again, “Noah, come thou and all thy house into +the ark.”</p> +<p class="pn">The word “come” occurs about nineteen +hundred times in the Bible, it is said, and this is the first +time. It meant salvation. You can see Noah and all his family +moving into the ark. They are bringing the household +furniture.</p> +<p class="pn">Some of his neighbors say, “Noah, what is +your hurry? you will have plenty of time to get into that old +ark. What is your hurry? There are no windows and you cannot look +out to see when the storm is coming.” But he heard the +voice and obeyed.</p> +<p class="pn">Some of his relatives might have said, “What +are you going to do with the old homestead?”</p> +<p class="pn">Noah says, “I don’t want it. The storm +is coming.” He tells them the day of grace is closing, that +worldly wealth is of no value, and that the ark is the only place +of safety. We must bear in mind that these railroads that we +think so much of, will soon go down; they only run for time, not +for eternity. The heavens will be on fire, and then what will +property, honor, and position in society be worth?</p> +<p class="pn">The first thing that alarms them is, they rise one +morning, and lo! the heavens are filled with the fowls of the +air. They are flying into the ark, two by two. They come from the +desert; they come from the mountain; they come from all parts of +the world. They are going into the ark. It must have been a +strange sight. I can hear the people cry, “Great God! what +is the meaning of this?” And they look down on the earth; +and, with great alarm and surprise, they see little insects +creeping up two by two, coming from all parts of the world. Then +behold! there come cattle and beasts, two by two. The neighbors +cry out, “What does this mean?” They run to their +statesmen and wise men, who have told them there was no sign of a +coming storm, and ask them why it is that those birds, animals, +and creeping things go toward the ark, as if guided by some +unseen hand.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” the statesmen and wise men say, +“We cannot explain it; but give yourselves no trouble; God +is not going to destroy the world. Business was never better than +it is now. Do you think if God was going to destroy the world, He +would let us go on so prosperously as He has? There is no sign of +a coming storm. What has made these creeping insects and these +wild beasts of the forest go into the ark, we do not know. We +cannot understand it; it is very strange. But there is no sign of +anything going to happen. The stars are bright, and the sun +shines as bright as ever it did. Everything moves on as it has +been moving for all time past. You can hear the children playing +in the street. You can hear the voice of the bride and bridegroom +in the land, and all is merry as ever.”</p> +<p class="pn">I imagine the alarm passed away, and they fell into +their regular courses. Noah comes out and says: “The door +is going to be shut. Come in. God is going to destroy the world. +See the animals, how they have come up. The communication has +come to them direct from heaven.” But the people only +mocked on.</p> +<p class="pn">Do you know, when the hundred and twenty years were +up, God gave the world seven days’ grace? Did you ever +notice that? If there had been a cry during those seven days, I +believe it would have been heard. But there was none.</p> +<p class="pn">At length the last day had come, the last hour, the +last minute, ay! the last second. God Almighty came down and shut +the door of that ark. No angel, no man, but God Himself shut that +door, and when once the master of the house has risen and shut to +the door, the doom of the world is sealed; and the doom of that +old world was forever sealed. The sun had gone down upon the +glory of that old world for the last time. You can hear away off +in the distance the mutterings of the storm. You can hear the +thunder rolling. The lightning begins to flash, and the old world +reels. The storm bursts upon them, and that old ark of +Noah’s would have been worth more than the whole world to +them.</p> +<p class="pn">I want to say to any scoffer who reads this, that +you can laugh at the Bible, you can scoff at your mother’s +God, you can laugh at ministers and Christians, but the hour is +coming when one promise in that old Book will be worth more to +you than ten thousand worlds like this.</p> +<p class="pn">The windows of heaven are opened and the fountains +of the great deep are broken up. The waters come bubbling up, and +the sea bursts its bounds and leaps over its walls. The rivers +begin to swell. The people living in the lowlands flee to the +mountains and highlands. They flee up the hillsides. And there is +a wail going up:</p> +<p class="pn">“Noah! Noah! Noah! Let us in.”</p> +<p class="pn">They leave their homes and come to the ark now. +They pound on the ark. Hear them cry:</p> +<p class="pn">“Noah! Let us in. Noah! Have mercy on +us.”</p> +<p class="pn">“I am your nephew.”</p> +<p class="pn">“I am your niece.”</p> +<p class="pn">“I am your uncle.”</p> +<p class="pn">Ah, there is a voice inside, saying: “I would +like to let you in; but God has shut the door, and I cannot open +it!”</p> +<p class="pn">God shut that door! When the door is shut, there is +no hope. Their cry for mercy was too late; their day of grace was +closed. Their last hour had come. God had plead with them; God +had invited them to come in; but they had mocked at the +invitation. They scoffed and ridiculed the idea of a deluge. Now +it is too late.</p> +<p class="pn">God did not permit anyone to survive to tell us how +they perished. When Job lost his family, there came a messenger +to him: but there came no messenger from the antediluvians; not +even Noah himself could see the world perish. If he could, he +would have seen men and women and children dashing against that +ark; the waves rising higher and higher, while those outside were +perishing, dying in unbelief. Some think to escape by climbing +the trees, and think the storm will soon go down; but it rains +on, day and night, for forty days and forty nights, and they are +swept away as the waves dash against them. The statesmen and +astronomers and great men call for mercy; but it is too late. +They had disobeyed the God of mercy. He had called, and they +refused. He had plead with them, but they had laughed and mocked. +But now the time is come for judgment instead of mercy.</p> +<h4>Judgment.</h4> +<p class="pn">The time is coming again when God will deal in +judgment with the world. It is but a little while; we know not +when, but it is sure to come. God’s word has gone forth +that this world shall be rolled together like a scroll, and shall +be on fire. What then will become of your soul? It is a loving +call, “Now come, thou and all thy house, into the +ark.” Twenty four hours before the rain began to fall, +Noah’s ark, if it had been sold at auction, would not have +brought as much as it would be worth for kindling wood. But +twenty four hours after the rain began to fall, Noah’s ark +was worth more than all the world. There was not then a man +living but would have given all he was worth for a seat in the +ark. You may turn away and laugh.</p> +<p class="pn">“I believe in Christ!” you say; +“I would rather be without Him than have Him.”</p> +<p class="pn">But bear in mind, the time is coming when Christ +will be worth more to you than ten thousand worlds like this. +Bear in mind that He is offered to you now. This is a day of +grace; it is a day of mercy. You will find, if you read your +Bible carefully, that God always precedes judgment with grace. +Grace is a forerunner of judgment. He called these men in the +days of Noah in love. They would have been saved if they had +repented in those one hundred and twenty years. When Christ came +to plead with the people in Jerusalem, it was their day of grace; +but they mocked and laughed at Him. He said: “O Jerusalem, +Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which +are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children +together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, +and ye would not!” Forty years afterward, thousands of the +people begged that their lives might be spared; and eleven +hundred thousand perished in that city.</p> +<p class="pn">In 1857 a revival swept over this country in the +east and on to the western cities, clear over to the Pacific +coast. It was God calling the nation to Himself. Half a million +people united with the Church at that time. Then the war broke +out. We were baptized with the Holy Ghost in 1857, and in 1861 we +were baptized in blood. It was a call of mercy, preceding +judgment.</p> +<h4>Are Your Children Safe?</h4> +<p class="pn">The text which I have selected has a special +application to Christian people and to parents. This command of +the Scripture was given to Noah not only for his own safety, but +that of his household, and the question which I put to each +father and mother is this: “Are your children in the ark of +God?” You may scoff at it, but it is a very important +question. Are all your children in? Are all your grandchildren +in? Don’t rest day or night until you get your children in. +I believe my children have fifty temptations where I had one. I +am one of those who believe that in the great cities there is a +snare set upon the corner of every street for our sons and +daughters; and I don’t believe it is our business to spend +our time in accumulating bonds and stocks. Have I done all I can +to get my children in? That is it.</p> +<p class="pn">Now, let me ask another question: What would have +been Noah’s feelings if, when God called him into the ark, +his children would not have gone with him? If he had lived such a +false life that his children had no faith in his word, what would +have been his feelings? He would have said: “There is my +poor boy on the mountain. Would to God I had died in his place! I +would rather have perished than had him perish.” David +cried over his son: “Oh, my son Absalom, my son, my son +Absalom, would God I had died for thee!” Noah loved his +children, and they had confidence in him.</p> +<p class="pn">Someone sent me a paper a number of years ago, +containing an article that was marked. Its title was: “Are +all the children in?” An old wife lay dying. She was nearly +one hundred years of age, and the husband who had taken the +journey with her, sat by her side. She was just breathing +faintly, but suddenly she revived, opened her eyes, and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“Why! it is dark.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes, Janet, it is dark.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Is it night?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Oh, yes! it is midnight.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Are all the children in?”</p> +<p class="pn">There was that old mother living life over again. +Her youngest child had been in the grave twenty years, but she +was traveling back into the old days, and she fell asleep in +Christ asking, “Are all the children in?”</p> +<p class="pn">Dear friend, are they all in? Put the question to +yourself now. Is John in? Is James in? Or is he immersed in +business and pleasure? Is he living a double and dishonest life? +Say! where is your boy, mother? Where is your son, your daughter? +Is it well with your children? Can you say it is?</p> +<p class="pn">After being superintendent of a Sunday school in +Chicago for a number of years, a school of over a thousand +members, children that came from godless homes, having mothers +and fathers working against me, taking the children off on +excursions on Sunday, and doing all they could to break up the +work I was trying to do, I used to think that if I should ever +stand before an audience I would speak to no one but parents; +that would be my chief business. It is an old +saying—“Get the lamb, and you will get the +sheep.” I gave that up years ago. Give me the sheep, and +then I will have someone to nurse the lamb; but get a lamb and +convert him, and if he has a godless father and mother, you will +have little chance with that child. What we want is godly homes. +The home was established long before the Church.</p> +<p class="pn">I have no sympathy with the idea that our children +have to grow up before they are converted. Once I saw a lady with +three daughters at her side, and I stepped up to her and asked +her if she was a Christian.</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes, sir.”</p> +<p class="pn">Then I asked the oldest daughter if she was a +Christian. The chin began to quiver, and the tears came into her +eyes, and she said,</p> +<p class="pn">“I wish I was.”</p> +<p class="pn">The mother looked very angrily at me and said, +“I don’t want you to speak to my children on that +subject. They don’t understand.” And in great rage +she took them all away from me. One daughter was fourteen years +old, one twelve, and the other ten, but they were not old enough +to be talked to about religion. Let them drift into the world and +plunge into worldly amusements, and then see how hard it is to +reach them. Many a mother is mourning to-day because her boy has +gone beyond her reach, and will not allow her to pray with him. +She may pray <i>for</i> him, but he will not let her pray or talk +<i>with</i> him. In those early days when his mind was tender and +young, she might have led him to Christ. Bring them in. +“Suffer the little children to come unto Me.” Is +there a prayerless father reading this? May God let the arrow go +down into your soul! Make up your mind that, God helping you, you +will get the children in. God’s order is to the father +first, but if he isn’t true to his duty, then the mother +should be true, and save the children from the wreck. Now is the +time to do it while you have them under your roof. Exert your +parental influence over them.</p> +<p class="pn">I never speak to parents but I think of two +fathers, one of whom lived on the banks of the Mississippi, the +other in New York. The first one devoted all his time to amassing +wealth. He had a son to whom he was much attached, and one day +the boy was brought home badly injured. The father was informed +that the boy could live but a short time, and he broke the news +to his son as gently as possible.</p> +<p class="pn">“You say I cannot live, father? O! then pray +for my soul,” said the boy.</p> +<p class="pn">In all those years that father had never said a +prayer for that boy, and he told him he couldn’t. Shortly +after, the boy died. That father has said since that he would +give all that he possessed if he could call that boy back only to +offer one short prayer for him.</p> +<p class="pn">The other father had a boy who had been sick some +time, and he came home one day and found his wife weeping. She +said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I cannot help but believe that this is going +to prove fatal.”</p> +<p class="pn">The man started, and said: “If you think so, +I wish you would tell him.”</p> +<p class="pn">But the mother could not tell her boy. The father +went to the sick room, and he saw that death was feeling for the +cords of life, and he said:</p> +<p class="pn">“My son, do you know you are not going to +live?”</p> +<p class="pn">The little fellow looked up and said: “No; is +this death that I feel stealing over me? Will I die +to-day?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes, my son, you cannot live the day +out.”</p> +<p class="pn">And the little fellow smiled and said: “Well, +father, I shall be with Jesus tonight, shan’t I?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes, you will spend the night with the +Lord,” and the father broke down and wept.</p> +<p class="pn">The little fellow saw the tears, and said: +“Don’t weep for me. I will go to Jesus and tell Him +that ever since I can remember you have prayed for me.”</p> +<p class="pn">I have three children, and if God should take them +from me, I would rather have them take such a message home to Him +than to have the wealth of the whole world. Oh! would to God I +could say something to stir you, fathers and mothers, to get your +children into the ark.</p> +<h1><a name="humility" id="humility">HUMILITY.</a></h1> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="pn">“Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in +heart.”—Matthew 11:29.</p> +<p class="pn">There is no harder lesson to learn than the lesson +of humility. It is not taught in the schools of men, only in the +school of Christ. It is the rarest of all the gifts. Very rarely +do we find a man or woman who is following closely the footsteps +of the Master in meekness and in humility. I believe that it is +the hardest lesson which Jesus Christ had to teach His disciples +while He was here upon earth. It almost looked at first as though +He had failed to teach it to the twelve men who had been with Him +almost constantly for three years.</p> +<p class="pn">I believe that if we are humble enough we shall be +sure to get a great blessing. After all, I think that more +depends upon us than upon the Lord, because He is always ready to +give a blessing and give it freely, but we are not always in a +position to receive it. He always blesses the humble, and, if we +can get down in the dust before Him, no one will go away +disappointed. It was Mary at the feet of Jesus, who had chosen +the “better part.”</p> +<p class="pn">Did you ever notice the reason Christ gave for +learning of Him? He might have said: “Learn of me, because +I am the most advanced thinker of the age. I have performed +miracles that no man else has performed. I have shown my +supernatural power in a thousand ways.” But no: the reason +He gave was that He was “meek, and lowly in +heart.”</p> +<p class="pn">We read of the three men in Scripture whose faces +shone, and all three were noted for their meekness and humility. +We are told that the face of Christ shone at His transfiguration; +Moses, after he had been in the mount for forty days, came down +from his communion with God with a shining face; and when Stephen +stood before the Sanhedrim on the day of his death, his face was +lighted up with glory. If our faces are to shine we must get into +the valley of humility; we must go down in the dust before +God.</p> +<p class="pn">Bunyan says that it is hard to get down into the +valley of humiliation, the descent into it is steep and rugged; +but that it is very fruitful and fertile and beautiful when once +we get there. I think that no one will dispute that; almost every +man, even the ungodly, admires meekness.</p> +<p class="pn">Someone asked Augustine, what was the first of the +religious graces, and he said, “Humility.” They asked +him what was the second, and he replied, “Humility.” +They asked him the third, and he said, “Humility.” I +think that if we are humble, we have all the graces.</p> +<p class="pn">Some years ago I saw what is called a sensitive +plant. I happened to breathe on it, and suddenly it drooped its +head; I touched it, and it withered away. Humility is as +sensitive as that; it cannot safely be brought out on exhibition. +A man who is flattering himself that he is humble and is walking +close to the Master, is self-deceived. It consists not in +thinking meanly of ourselves, but in not thinking of ourselves at +all. Moses wist not that his face shone. If humility speaks of +itself, it is gone.</p> +<p class="pn">Someone has said that the grass is an illustration +of this lowly grace. It was created for the lowliest service. Cut +it, and it springs up again. The cattle feed upon it, and yet how +beautiful it is.</p> +<p class="pn">The showers fall upon the mountain peaks, and very +often leave them barren because they rush down into the meadows +and valleys and make the lowly places fertile. If a man is proud +and lifted up, rivers of grace may flow over him and yet leave +him barren and unfruitful, while they bring blessing to the man +who has been brought low by the grace of God.</p> +<p class="pn">A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit +faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it +is very difficult to counterfeit humility. You soon detect mock +humility. They have a saying in the East among the Arabs, that as +the tares and the wheat grow they show which God has blessed. The +ears that God has blessed bow their heads and acknowledge every +grain, and the more fruitful they are the lower their heads are +bowed. The tares which God has sent as a curse, lift up their +heads erect, high above the wheat, but they are only fruitful of +evil. I have a pear tree on my farm which is very beautiful; it +appears to be one of the most beautiful trees on my place. Every +branch seems to be reaching up to the light and stands almost +like a wax candle, but I never get any fruit from it. I have +another tree, which was so full of fruit last year that the +branches almost touched the ground. If we only get down low +enough, my friends, God will use every one of us to His +glory.</p> +<p class="pn">“As the lark that soars the highest builds +her nest the lowest; as the nightingale that sings so sweetly, +sings in the shade when all things rest; as the branches that are +most laden with fruit, bend lowest; as the ship most laden, sinks +deepest in the water;—so the holiest Christians are the +humblest.”</p> +<p class="pn">The <i>London Times</i> some years ago told the +story of a petition that was being circulated for signatures. It +was a time of great excitement, and this petition was intended to +have great influence in the House of Lords; but there was one +word left out. Instead of reading, “We humbly beseech +thee,” it read, “We beseech thee.” So it was +ruled out. My friends, if we want to make an appeal to the God of +Heaven, we must humble ourselves; and if we do humble ourselves +before the Lord, we shall not be disappointed.</p> +<p class="pn">As I have been studying some Bible characters that +illustrate humility, I have been ashamed of myself. If you have +any regard for me, pray that I may have humility. When I put my +life beside the life of some of these men, I say, Shame on the +Christianity of the present day. If you want to get a good idea +of yourself, look at some of the Bible characters that have been +clothed with meekness and humility, and see what a contrast is +your position before God and man.</p> +<p class="pn">One of the meekest characters in history was John +the Baptist. You remember when they sent a deputation to him and +asked if he was Elias, or this prophet, or that prophet, he said, +“No.” Now he might have said some very flattering +things of himself. He might have said:</p> +<p class="pn">“I am the son of the old priest Zacharias. +Haven’t you heard of my fame as a preacher? I have baptized +more people probably, than any man living. The world has never +seen a preacher like myself.”</p> +<p class="pn">I honestly believe that in the present day most men +standing in his position would do that. On the railroad train, +some time ago, I heard a man talking so loud that all the people +in the car could hear him. He said that he had baptized more +people than any man in his denomination. He told how many +thousand miles he had traveled, how many sermons he had preached, +how many open-air services he had held, and this and that, until +I was so ashamed that I had to hide my head. This is the age of +boasting. It is the day of the great “I.”</p> +<p class="pn">My attention was recently called to the fact that +in all the Psalms you cannot find any place where David refers to +his victory over the giant, Goliath. If it had been in the +present day, there would have been a volume written about it at +once; I don’t know how many poems there would be telling of +the great things that this man had done. He would have been in +demand as a lecturer, and would have added a title to his name: +G. G. K.,—Great Giant Killer. That is how it is to-day: +great evangelists, great preachers, great theologians, great +bishops.</p> +<p class="pn">“John,” they asked, “who are +you?”</p> +<p class="pn">“I am nobody. I am to be heard, not to be +seen. I am only a voice.”</p> +<p class="pn">He hadn’t a word to say about himself. I once +heard a little bird faintly singing close by me,—at last it +got clear out of sight, and then its notes were still sweeter. +The higher it flew the sweeter sounded its notes. If we can only +get self out of sight and learn of Him who was meek and lowly in +heart we shall be lifted up into heavenly places.</p> +<p class="pn">Mark tells us, in the first chapter and seventh +verse, that John came and preached saying, “There cometh +one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not +worthy to stoop down and unloose.” Think of that; and bear +in mind that Christ was looked upon as a deceiver, a village +carpenter, and yet here is John, the son of the old priest, who +had a much higher position in the sight of men than that of +Jesus. Great crowds were coming to hear him, and even Herod +attended his meetings.</p> +<p class="pn">When his disciples came and told John that Christ +was beginning to draw crowds, he nobly answered: “A man can +receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye +yourselves bear me witness that I said, I am not the Christ, but +that I am sent before Him. He that hath the bride is the +bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and +heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s +voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but +I must decrease.”</p> +<p class="pn">It is easy to read that, but it is hard for us to +live in the power of it. It is very hard for us to be ready to +decrease, to grow smaller and smaller, that Christ may increase. +The morning star fades away when the sun rises.</p> +<p class="pn">“He that cometh from above is above all: he +that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He +that cometh from heaven is above all, and what He hath seen and +heard, that He testifieth; and no man receiveth His testimony. He +that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is +true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for +God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.”</p> +<p class="pn">Let us now turn the light upon ourselves. Have we +been decreasing of late? Do we think less of ourselves and of our +position than we did a year ago? Are we seeking to obtain some +position of dignity? Are we wanting to hold on to some title, and +are we offended because we are not treated with the courtesy that +we think is due us? Some time ago I heard a man in the pulpit say +that he should take offence if he was not addressed by his title. +My dear friend, are you going to take that position that you must +have a title, and that you must have every letter addressed with +that title or you will be offended? John did not want any title, +and when we are right with God, we shall not be caring about +titles. In one of his early epistles Paul calls himself the +“least of all the apostles.” Later on he claims to be +“less than the least of all saints,” and again, just +before his death, humbly declares that he is the “chief of +sinners.” Notice how he seems to have grown smaller and +smaller in his own estimation. So it was with John. And I do hope +and pray that as the days go by we may feel like hiding +ourselves, and let God have all the honor and glory.</p> +<p class="pn">“When I look back upon my own religious +experience,” says Andrew Murray, “or round upon the +Church of Christ in the world, I stand amazed at the thought of +how little humility is sought after as the distinguishing feature +of the discipleship of Jesus. In preaching and living, in the +daily intercourse of the home and social life, in the more +special fellowship with Christians, in the direction and +performance of work for Christ—alas! how much proof there +is that humility is not esteemed the cardinal virtue, the only +root from which the graces can grow, the one indispensable +condition of true fellowship with Jesus.”</p> +<p class="pn">See what Christ says about John. “He was a +burning and shining light.” Christ gave him the honor that +belonged to him. If you take a humble position, Christ will see +it. If you want God to help you, then take a low position.</p> +<p class="pn">I am afraid that if we had been in John’s +place, many of us would have said: “What did Christ +say,—I am a burning and shining light?” Then we would +have had that recommendation put in the newspapers, and would +have sent them to our friends, with that part marked in blue +pencil. Sometimes I get a letter just full of clippings from the +newspapers, stating that this man is more eloquent than Gough, +etc. And the man wants me to get him some church. Do you think +that a man who has such eloquence would be looking for a church? +No, they would all be looking for him.</p> +<p class="pn">My dear friends, isn’t it humiliating? +Sometimes I think it is a wonder that any man is converted these +days. Let another praise you. Don’t be around praising +yourself. If we want God to lift us up, let us get down. The +lower we get, the higher God will lift us. It is Christ’s +eulogy of John, “Greater than any man born of +woman.”</p> +<p class="pn">There is a story told of Carey, the great +missionary, that he was invited by the Governor-general of India +to go to a dinner party at which were some military officers +belonging to the aristocracy, and who looked down upon +missionaries with scorn and contempt.</p> +<p class="pn">One of these officers said at the table: “I +believe that Carey was a shoemaker, wasn’t he, before he +took up the profession of a missionary?”</p> +<p class="pn">Mr. Carey spoke up and said: “Oh no, I was +only a cobbler. I could mend shoes, and wasn’t ashamed of +it.”</p> +<p class="pn">The one prominent virtue of Christ, next to His +obedience, is His humility; and even His obedience grew out of +His humility. Being in the form of God, He counted it not a thing +to be grasped to be on an equality with God, but He emptied +Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and was made in the +likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled +Himself, and became obedient unto death, yea, the death of the +cross. In His lowly birth, His submission to His earthly parents, +His seclusion during thirty years, His consorting with the poor +and despised, His entire submission and dependence upon His +Father, this virtue that was consummated in His death on the +cross, shines out.</p> +<p class="pn">One day Jesus was on His way to Capernaum, and was +talking about His coming death and suffering, and about His +resurrection, and He heard quite a heated discussion going on +behind Him. When He came into the house at Capernaum, He turned +to His disciples, and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“What was all that discussion +about?”</p> +<p class="pn">I see John look at James, and Peter at +Andrew,—and they all looked ashamed. “Who shall be +the greater?” That discussion has wrecked party after +party, one society after another—“Who shall be the +greatest?”</p> +<p class="pn">The way Christ took to teach them humility was by +putting a little child in their midst and saying: “If you +want to be great, take that little child for an example, and he +who wants to be the greatest, let him be servant of +all.”</p> +<p class="pn">To me, one of the saddest things in all the life of +Jesus Christ was the fact that just before His crucifixion, His +disciples should have been striving to see who should be the +greatest, that night He instituted the Supper, and they ate the +Passover together. It was His last night on earth, and they never +saw Him so sorrowful before. He knew Judas was going to sell Him +for thirty pieces of silver. He knew that Peter would deny Him. +And yet, in addition to this, when going into the very shadow of +the cross, there arose this strife as to who should be the +greatest. He took a towel and girded Himself like a slave, and He +took a basin of water and stooped and washed their feet. That was +another object lesson of humility. He said, “Ye call me +Lord, and ye do well. If you want to be great in my Kingdom, be +servant of all. If you serve, you shall be great.”</p> +<p class="pn">When the Holy Ghost came, and those men were +filled, from that time on mark the difference: Matthew takes up +his pen to write, and he keeps Matthew out of sight. He tells +what Peter and Andrew did, but he calls himself Matthew +“the publican.” He tells how they left all to follow +Christ, but does not mention the feast he gave. Jerome says that +Mark’s gospel is to be regarded as memoirs of Peter’s +discourses, and to have been published by his authority. Yet here +we constantly find that damaging things are mentioned about +Peter, and things to his credit are not referred to. Mark’s +gospel omits all allusion to Peter’s faith in venturing on +the sea, but goes into detail about the story of his fall and +denial of our Lord. Peter put himself down, and lifted others +up.</p> +<p class="pn">If the Gospel of Luke had been written to-day, it +would be signed by the great Dr. Luke, and you would have his +photograph as a frontispiece. But you can’t find +Luke’s name; he keeps out of sight. He wrote two books, and +his name is not to be found in either. John covers himself always +under the expression—“the disciple whom Jesus +loved.” None of the four men whom history and tradition +assert to be the authors of the gospels, lay claim to the +authorship in their writings. Dear man of God, I would that I had +the same spirit, that I could just get out of sight,—hide +myself.</p> +<p class="pns">My dear friends, I believe our only hope is to be +filled with the Spirit of Christ. May God fill us, so that we +shall be filled with meekness and humility. Let us take the hymn, +“O, to be nothing, nothing,” and make it the language +of our hearts. It breathes the spirit of Him who said: “The +Son can do <i>nothing</i> of Himself!”</p> +<p class="p3">Oh to be nothing, nothing!</p> +<p class="p4">Only to lie at His feet,</p> +<p class="p3">A broken and emptied vessel,</p> +<p class="p4">For the Master’s use made meet.</p> +<p class="p3">Emptied, that He might fill me</p> +<p class="p4">As forth to His service I go;</p> +<p class="p3">Broken, that so unhindered,</p> +<p class="p4">His life through me might flow.</p> +<h1><a name="rest" id="rest">REST.</a></h1> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="pn">Some years ago a gentleman came to me and asked me +which I thought was the most precious promise of all those that +Christ left. I took some time to look them over, but I gave it +up. I found that I could not answer the question. It is like a +man with a large family of children, he cannot tell which he +likes best; he loves them all. But if not the best, this is one +of the sweetest promises of all: “<i>Come unto Me, all ye +that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my +yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: +and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and +My burden is light</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">There are a good many people who think the promises +are not going to be fulfilled. There are some that you do see +fulfilled, and you cannot help but believe they are true. Now +remember that all the promises are not given without conditions. +Some are given with, and others without, conditions attached to +them. For instance, it says, “If I regard iniquity in my +heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Now, I need not pray as +long as I am cherishing some known sin. He will not hear me, much +less answer me. The Lord says in the eighty fourth Psalm, +“No good thing will he withhold from them that walk +uprightly.” If I am not walking uprightly I have no claims +under the promise. Again, some of the promises were made to +certain individuals or nations. For instance, God said that He +would make Abraham’s seed to multiply as the stars of +heaven: but that is not a promise for you or me. Some promises +were made to the Jews, and do not apply to the Gentiles.</p> +<p class="pn">Then there are promises without conditions. He +promised Adam and Eve that the world should have a Savior, and +there was no power in earth or perdition that could keep Christ +from coming at the appointed time. When Christ left the world, He +said He would send us the Holy Ghost. He had only been gone ten +days when the Holy Ghost came. And so you can run right through +the Scriptures, and you will find that some of the promises are +with, and some without, conditions; and if we don’t comply +with the conditions we cannot expect them to be fulfilled.</p> +<p class="pn">I believe it will be the experience of every man +and woman on the face of the earth, I believe that everyone will +be obliged to testify in the evening of life, that if they have +complied with the condition, the Lord has fulfilled His word to +the letter. Joshua, the old Hebrew hero, was an illustration. +After having tested God forty years in the Egyptian brick-kilns, +forty years in the desert, and thirty years in the Promised Land, +his dying testimony was: “Not one thing hath failed of all +the good things which the Lord promised.” I believe you +could heave the ocean easier than break one of God’s +promises. So when we come to a promise like the one we have +before us now, I want you to bear in mind that there is no +discount upon it. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are +heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”</p> +<p class="pn">Perhaps you say: “I hope Mr. Moody is not +going to preach on this old text.” Yes: I am. When I take +up an album, it does not interest me if all the photographs are +new; but if I know any of the faces. I stop at once. So with +these old, well-known texts. They have quenched our thirst +before, but the water is still bubbling up—we cannot drink +it dry.</p> +<p class="pn">If you probe the human heart, you will find a want, +and that want is rest. The cry of the world to day is, +“Where can rest be found?” Why are theaters and +places of amusement crowded at night? What is the secret of +Sunday driving, of the saloons and brothels? Some think they are +going to get it in pleasure, others think they are going to get +it in wealth, and others in literature. They are seeking and +finding no rest.</p> +<h4>Where Can Rest be Found?</h4> +<p class="pn">If I wanted to find a person who had rest I would +not go among the very wealthy. The man that we read of in the +twelfth chapter of Luke, thought he was going to get rest by +multiplying his goods, but he was disappointed. “Soul, take +thine ease.” I venture to say that there is not a person in +this wide world who has tried to find rest in that way and found +it.</p> +<p class="pn">Money cannot buy it. Many a millionaire would +gladly give millions if he could purchase it as he does his +stocks and shares. God has made the soul a little too large for +this world. Roll the whole world in, and still there is room. +There is care in getting wealth, and more care in keeping it.</p> +<p class="pn">Nor would I go among the pleasure seekers. They +have a few hours’ enjoyment, but the next day there is +enough sorrow to counterbalance it. They may drink the cup of +pleasure to-day, but the cup of pain comes on to-morrow.</p> +<p class="pn">To find rest I would never go among the +politicians, or among the so-called great. Congress is the last +place on earth that I would go. In the Lower House they want to +go to the Senate; in the Senate they want to go to the Cabinet; +and then they want to go to the White House; and rest has never +been found there. Nor would I go among the halls of learning. +“Much study is a weariness to the flesh.” I would not +go among the upper ten, the “bon-ton,” for they are +constantly chasing after fashion. Have you not noticed their +troubled faces on our streets? And the face is index to the soul. +They have no hopeful look. Their worship of pleasure is slavery. +Solomon tried pleasure, and found bitter disappointment, and down +the ages has come the bitter cry, “All is +vanity.”</p> +<p class="pn">Now, there is no rest in sin. The wicked know +nothing about it. The Scriptures tell us the wicked “are +like the troubled sea that cannot rest.” You have, perhaps +been on the sea when there is a calm, when the water is as clear +as crystal, and it seemed as if the sea were at rest. But if you +looked you would see that the waves came in, and that the calm +was only on the surface. Man, like the sea, has no rest. He has +had no rest since Adam fell, and there is none for him until he +returns to God again, and the light of Christ shines into his +heart.</p> +<p class="pn">Rest cannot be found in the world, and thank God +the world cannot take it from the believing heart! Sin is the +cause of all this unrest. It brought toil and labor and misery +into the world.</p> +<p class="pns">Now for something positive. I would go +successfully to someone who has heard the sweet voice of Jesus, +and has laid his burden down at the cross. There is rest, sweet +rest. Thousands could certify to this blessed fact. They could +say, and truthfully:</p> +<p class="p3">I heard the voice of Jesus say,</p> +<p class="p4">“Come unto me and rest.</p> +<p class="p3">Lay down, thou weary one, lay down,</p> +<p class="p4">Thy head upon my breast.”</p> +<p class="p3">I came to Jesus as I was,</p> +<p class="p4">Weary and worn and sad.</p> +<p class="p3">I found in Him a resting-place,</p> +<p class="p4s">And He hath made me glad.</p> +<p class="pn">Among all his writings St. Augustine has nothing +sweeter than this: “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, +and our heart is restless till it rests in Thee.”</p> +<p class="pn">Do you know that for four thousand years no prophet +or priest or patriarch ever stood up and uttered a text like +this? It would be blasphemy for Moses to have uttered a text like +it. Do you think he had rest when he was teasing the Lord to let +him go into the Promised Land? Do you think Elijah could have +uttered such a text as this, when, under the juniper-tree, he +prayed that he might die? And this is one of the strongest proofs +that Jesus Christ was not only man, but God. He was God-Man, and +this is Heaven’s proclamation, “Come unto Me, and I +will give you rest”. He brought it down from heaven with +Him.</p> +<p class="pn">Now, if this text was not true, don’t you +think it would have been found out by this time? I believe it as +much as I believe in my existence. Why? Because I not only find +it in the Book, but in my own experience. The “I +wills” of Christ have never been broken, and never can +be.</p> +<p class="pn">I thank God for the word “give” in that +passage. He doesn’t sell it. Some of us are so poor that we +could not buy it if it was for sale. Thank God, we can get it for +nothing.</p> +<p class="pn">I like to have a text like this, because it takes +us all in. “Come unto me <span class="sc">all</span> ye +that labor.” That doesn’t mean a select +few—refined ladies and cultured men. It doesn’t mean +good people only. It applies to saint and sinner. Hospitals are +for the sick, not for healthy people. Do you think that Christ +would shut the door in anyone’s face, and say, “I did +not mean <i>all</i>; I only meant certain ones”? If you +cannot come as a saint, come as a sinner. Only come!</p> +<p class="pn">A lady told me once that she was so hard-hearted +she couldn’t come.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I said, “my good woman, +it doesn’t say all ye soft-hearted people come. Black +hearts, vile hearts, hard hearts, soft hearts, all hearts come. +Who can soften your hard heart but Himself?”</p> +<p class="pn">The harder the heart, the more need you have to +come. If my watch stops I don’t take it to a drug store or +to a blacksmith’s shop, but to the watchmaker’s, to +have it repaired. So if the heart gets out of order take it to +its keeper, Christ, to have it set right. If you can prove that +you are a sinner, you are entitled to the promise. Get all the +benefit you can out of it.</p> +<p class="pn">Now, there are a good many believers who think this +text applies only to sinners; It is just the thing for them too. +What do we see to-day? The Church, Christian people, all loaded +down with cares and troubles. “Come unto me all ye that +labor.” All! I believe that includes the Christian whose +heart is burdened with some great sorrow. The Lord wants you to +come.</p> +<h4>Christ the Burden-Bearer.</h4> +<p class="pn">It says in another place, “Casting all your +care upon Him, for He careth for you.” We would have a +victorious Church if we could get Christian people to realize +that. But they have never made the discovery. They agree that +Christ is the sin-bearer, but they do not realize that He is also +the burden-bearer. “Surely He hath borne our griefs and +carried our sorrows.” It is the privilege of every child of +God to walk in unclouded sunlight.</p> +<p class="pn">Some people go back into the past and rake up all +the troubles they ever had, and then they look into the future +and anticipate that they will have still more trouble, and they +go reeling and staggering all through life. They give you the +cold chills every time they meet you. They put on a whining +voice, and tell you what “a hard time they have had.” +I believe they embalm them, and bring out the mummy on every +opportunity. The Lord says, “Cast all your care on Me. I +want to carry your burdens and your troubles.” What we want +is a joyful Church, and we are not going to convert the world +until we have it. We want to get this long-faced Christianity off +the face of the earth.</p> +<p class="pn">Take these people that have some great burden, and +let them come into a meeting. If you can get their attention upon +the singing or preaching, they will say, “Oh, wasn’t +it grand! I forgot all my cares.” And they just drop their +bundle at the end of the pew. But the moment the benediction is +pronounced they grab the bundle again. You laugh, but you do it +yourself. Cast your care on Him.</p> +<p class="pn">Sometimes they go into their closet and close their +door, and they get so carried away and lifted up that they forget +their trouble; but they just take it up again the moment they get +off their knees. Leave your sorrow now; cast all your care upon +Him. If you cannot come to Christ as a saint, come as a sinner. +But if you are a saint with some trouble or care, bring it to +Him. Saint and sinner, come! He wants you all. Don’t let +Satan deceive you into believing that you cannot come if you +will. Christ says, “Ye will not come unto Me.” With +the command comes the power.</p> +<p class="pn">A man in one of our meetings in Europe said he +would like to come, but he was chained, and couldn’t +come.</p> +<p class="pn">A Scotchman said to him, “Ay, man, why +don’t you come chain and all?”</p> +<p class="pn">He said, “I never thought of that.”</p> +<p class="pn">Are you cross and peevish, and do you make things +unpleasant at home? My friend, come to Christ and ask Him to help +you. Whatever the sin is, bring it to Him.</p> +<h4>What Does it Mean to Come?</h4> +<p class="pn">Perhaps you say, “Mr. Moody, I wish you would +tell us what it is to come.” I have given up trying to +explain it. I always feel like the colored minister who said he +was going to <i>confound</i>, instead of <i>expound</i>, the +chapter.</p> +<p class="pn">The best definition is just—come. The more +you try to explain it, the more you are mystified. About the +first thing a mother teaches her child is to look. She takes the +baby to the window, and says, “Look, baby, papa is +coming!” Then she teaches the child to come. She props it +up against a chair, and says, “Come!” and by and by +the little thing pushes the chair along towards mamma. +That’s coming. You don’t need to go to college to +learn how. You don’t need any minister to tell you what it +is. Now will you come to Christ? He said, “Him that cometh +unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.”</p> +<p class="pn">When we have such a promise as this, let us cling +to it, and never give it up. Christ is not mocking us. He wants +us to come with all our sins and backslidings, and throw +ourselves upon His bosom. It is our sins God wants, not our tears +only. They alone do no good. And we cannot come through +resolutions. Action is necessary. How many times at church have +we said, “I will turn over a new leaf,” but the +Monday leaf is worse than the Saturday leaf.</p> +<p class="pn">The way to heaven is straight as a rule, but it is +the way of the cross. Don’t try to get around it. Shall I +tell you what the “yoke” referred to in the text is? +It is the cross which Christians must bear. The only way by which +you can find rest in this dark world is by taking up the yoke of +Christ. I do not know what it may include in your case, beyond +taking up your Christian duties, acknowledging Christ and acting +as becomes one of His disciples. Perhaps it may be to erect a +gamily altar; or to tell a godless husband that you have made up +your mind to serve God; or to tell your parents that you want to +be a Christian. Follow the will of God, and happiness and peace +and rest will come. The way of obedience is always the way of +blessing.</p> +<p class="pn">I was preaching in Chicago to a hall full of women +one Sunday afternoon, and after the meeting was over a lady came +to me and said she wanted to talk to me. She said she would +accept Christ, and after some conversation she went home. I +looked for her for a whole week, but didn’t see her until +the following Sunday afternoon. She came and sat down right in +front of me, and her face had such a sad expression. She seemed +to have entered into the misery, instead of the joy, of the +Lord.</p> +<p class="pn">After the meeting was over I went to her and asked +her what the trouble was.</p> +<p class="pn">She said: “Oh, Mr. Moody, this has been the +most miserable week of my life.”</p> +<p class="pn">I asked her if there was anyone with whom she had +had trouble and whom she could not forgive.</p> +<p class="pn">She said: “No, not that I know of.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well, did you tell your friends about having +found the Savior?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Indeed I didn’t, I have been all the +week trying to keep it from them.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I said, “that is the +reason why you have no peace.”</p> +<p class="pn">She wanted to take the crown, but did not want the +cross. My friends, you must go by the way of Calvary. If you ever +get rest, you must get it at the foot of the cross.</p> +<p class="pn">“Why,” she said, “if I should go +home and tell my infidel husband that I had found Christ I +don’t know what he would do. I think he would turn me +out.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” I said, “go +out.”</p> +<p class="pn">She went away, promising that she would tell him, +timid and pale, but she did not want another wretched week. She +was bound to have peace.</p> +<p class="pn">The next night I gave a lecture to men only, and in +the hall there were eight thousand men and one solitary woman. +When I got through and went into the inquiry meeting, I found +this lady with her husband. She introduced him to me (he was a +doctor, and a very influential man) and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“He wants to become a Christian.”</p> +<p class="pn">I took my Bible and told him all about Christ, and +he accepted Him. I said to her after it was all over:</p> +<p class="pn">“It turned out quite differently from what +you expected, didn’t it?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes,” she replied, “I was never +so scared in my life. I expected he would do something dreadful, +but it has turned out so well.”</p> +<p class="pn">She took God’s way, and got rest.</p> +<p class="pn">I want to say to young ladies, perhaps you have a +godless father or mother, a sceptical brother, who is going down +through drink, and perhaps there is no one who can reach them but +you. How many times a godly, pure young lady has taken the light +into some darkened home! Many a home might be lit up with the +Gospel if the mothers and daughters would only speak the +word.</p> +<p class="pn">The last time Mr. Sankey and myself were in +Edinburgh, there were a father, two sisters and a brother, who +used every morning to take the morning paper and pick my sermon +to pieces. They were indignant to think that the Edinburgh people +should be carried away with such preaching. One day one of the +sisters was going by the hall, and she thought she would drop in +and see what class of people went there. She happened to take a +seat by a godly lady, who said to her:</p> +<p class="pn">“I hope you are interested in this +work.”</p> +<p class="pn">She tossed her head and said: “Indeed I am +not. I am disgusted with everything I have seen and +heard.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” said the lady, “perhaps +you came prejudiced.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes, and the meeting has not removed any of +it, but has rather increased it.”</p> +<p class="pn">“I have received a great deal of good from +them.”</p> +<p class="pn">“There is nothing here for me. I don’t +see how an intellectual person can be interested.”</p> +<p class="pn">To make a long story short, she got the lady to +promise to come back. When the meeting broke up, just a little of +the prejudice had worn away. She promised to come back again the +next day, and then she attended three or four more meetings, and +became quite interested. She said nothing to her family, until +finally the burden became too heavy, and she told them. They +laughed at her, and made her the butt of their ridicule.</p> +<p class="pn">One day the two sisters were together, and the +other said: “Now what have you got at those meetings that +you didn’t have in the first place?”</p> +<p class="pn">“I have a peace that I never knew of before. +I am at peace with God, myself and all the world.” Did you +ever have a little war of your own with your neighbors, in your +own family? And she said: “I have self-control. You know, +sister, if you had said half the mean things before I was +converted that you have said since, I would have been angry and +answered back, but if you remember correctly, I haven’t +answered once since I have been converted.”</p> +<p class="pn">The sister said: “You certainly have +something that I have not.” The other told her it was for +her too, and she brought the sister to the meetings, where she +found peace.</p> +<p class="pn">Like Martha and Mary, they had a brother, but he +was a member of the University of Edinburgh. He be converted? He +go to these meetings? It might do for women, but not for him. One +night they came home and told him that a chum of his own, a +member of the University, had stood up and confessed Christ, and +when he sat down his brother got up and confessed; and so with +the third one.</p> +<p class="pn">When the young man heard it, he said: “Do you +mean to tell me that he has been converted?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” he said, “there must be +something in it.”</p> +<p class="pn">He put on his hat, and coat, and went to see his +friend Black. Black got him down to the meetings, and he was +converted.</p> +<p class="pn">We went through to Glasgow, and had not been there +six weeks when news came that that young man had been stricken +down and died. When he was dying he called his father to his +bedside and said:</p> +<p class="pn">“Wasn’t it a good thing that my sisters +went to those meetings? Won’t you meet me in heaven, +father?”</p> +<p class="pn">“Yes, my son, I am so glad you are a +Christian; that is the only comfort that I have in losing you. I +will become a Christian, and will meet you again.”</p> +<p class="pn">I tell this to encourage some sister to go home and +carry the message of salvation. It may be that your brother may +be taken away in a few months. My dear friends, are we not living +in solemn days? Isn’t it time for us to get our friends +into the Kingdom of God? Come, wife, won’t you tell your +husband? Come, sister, won’t you tell your brother? +Won’t you take up your cross now? The blessing of God will +rest on your soul if you will.</p> +<p class="pn">I was in Wales once, and a lady told me this little +story: An English friend of hers, a mother, had a child that was +sick. At first they considered there was no danger, until one day +the doctor came in and said that the symptoms were very +unfavorable. He took the mother out of the room, and told her +that the child could not live. It came like a thunderbolt. After +the doctor had gone the mother went into the room where the child +lay and began to talk to the child and tried to divert its +mind.</p> +<p class="pn">“Darling, do you know you will soon hear the +music of heaven? You will hear a sweeter song than you have ever +heard on earth. You will hear them sing the song of Moses and the +Lamb. You are very fond of music. Won’t it be sweet, +darling?”</p> +<p class="pn">And the little tired, sick child turned its head +away, and said, “Oh mamma, I am so tired and so sick that I +think it would make me worse to hear all that music.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” the mother said, “you +will soon see Jesus, You will see the seraphim and cherubim and +the streets all paved with gold”; and she went on picturing +heaven as it is described in Revelation.</p> +<p class="pn">The little tired child again turned its head away, +and said, “Oh mamma, I am so tired that I think it would +make me worse to see all those beautiful things!”</p> +<p class="pn">At last the mother took the child up in her arms, +and pressed her to her loving heart. And the little sick one +whispered:</p> +<p class="pn">“Oh mamma, that is what I want. If Jesus will +only take me in His arms and let me rest!”</p> +<p class="pn">Dear friend, are you not tired and weary of sin? +Are you not weary of the turmoil of life? You can end rest on the +bosom of the Son of God.</p> +<h1><a name="seven" id="seven">SEVEN “I WILLS” OF +CHRIST.</a></h1> +<hr style="width:4em;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="pn">A man when he says “I will,” may not +mean much. We very often say “I will,” when we +don’t mean to fulfil what we say; but when we come to the +“I will” of Christ, He means to fulfil it. Everything +He has promised to do, He is able and willing to accomplish; and +He is going to do it. I cannot find any passage in Scripture in +which He says “I will” do this, or “I +will” do that, but it will be done.</p> +<h4>1. The “I Will” of Salvation.</h4> +<p class="pn">The first “I will” to which I want to +direct your attention, is to be found in John’s gospel, +sixth chapter and thirty-seventh verse: “<i>Him that cometh +unto Me I will in no wise cast out.</i>”</p> +<p class="pn">I imagine someone will say, “Well, if I was +what I ought to be, I would come; but when my mind goes over the +past record of my life, it is too dark. I am not fit to +come.”</p> +<p class="pn">You must bear in mind that Jesus Christ came to +save not good people, not the upright and just, but sinners like +you and me, who have gone astray, and sinned and come short of +the glory of God. Listen to this “I will”—it +goes right into the heart—“Him that cometh unto Me, I +will in no wise cast out.” Surely that is broad +enough—is it not? I don’t care who the man or woman +is; I don’t care what their trials, what their troubles, +what their sorrows, or what their sins are, if they will only +come straight to the Master, He will not cast them out. Come +then, poor sinner; come just as you are, and take Him at His +word.</p> +<p class="pn">He is so anxious to save sinners, He will take +everyone who comes. He will take those who are so full of sin +that they are despised by all who know them, who have been +rejected by their fathers and mothers, who have been cast off by +the wives of their bosoms. He will take those who have sunk so +low that upon them no eye of pity is cast. His occupation is to +hear and save. That is what He left heaven and came into the +world for; that is what He left the throne of God for—to +save sinners. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save +that which was lost.” He did not come to condemn the world +but that the world through Him might be saved.</p> +<p class="pn">A wild and prodigal young man, who was running a +headlong career to ruin came into one of our meetings in Chicago. +The Spirit of God got hold of him. Whilst I was conversing with +him, and endeavoring to bring him to Christ, I quoted this verse +to him.</p> +<p class="pn">I asked him: “Do you believe Christ said +that?”</p> +<p class="pn">“I suppose He did.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Suppose He did! do you believe +it?”</p> +<p class="pn">“I hope so.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Hope so! do you believe it? You do your +work, and the Lord will do His. Just come as you are, and throw +yourself upon His bosom, and He will not cast you out.”</p> +<p class="pn">This man thought it was too simple and easy.</p> +<p class="pn">At last light seemed to break in upon him, and he +seemed to find comfort from it. It was past midnight before he +got down on his knees, but down he went, and was converted. I +said:</p> +<p class="pn">“Now, don’t think you are going to get +out of the devil’s territory without trouble. The devil +will come to you to-morrow morning, and say it was all feeling; +that you only imagined you were accepted by God. When he does, +don’t fight him with your own opinions, but fight him with +John 6:37: ‘Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast +out.’ Let that be the ‘sword of the +Spirit.’”</p> +<p class="pn">I don’t believe that any man ever starts to +go to Christ, but the devil strives somehow or other to meet him +and trip him up. And even after he has come to Christ, the devil +tries to assail him with doubts, and make him believe there is +something wrong in it.</p> +<p class="pn">The struggle came sooner than I thought in this +man’s case. When he was on his way home the devil assailed +him. He used this text, but the devil put this thought into his +mind: “How do you know Christ ever said that after all? +Perhaps the translators made a mistake.”</p> +<p class="pn">Into darkness he went again. He was in trouble till +about two in the morning. At last he came to this conclusion. +Said he:</p> +<p class="pn">“I will believe it anyway; and when I get to +heaven, if it isn’t true, I will just tell the Lord +<i>I</i> didn’t make the mistake—the translators made +it.”</p> +<p class="pn">The kings and princes of this world, when they +issue invitations, call round them the rich, the mighty and +powerful, the honorable and the wise; but the Lord, when He was +on earth; called round Him the vilest of the vile. That was the +principal fault the people found with Him. Those self-righteous +Pharisees were not going to associate with harlots and publicans. +The principal charge against Him was: “This man receiveth +sinners and eateth with them.” Who would have such a man +around him as John Bunyan in his time? He, a Bedford tinker, +couldn’t get inside one of the princely castles. I was very +much amused when I was over on the other side. They had erected a +monument to John Bunyan, and it was unveiled by lords and dukes +and great men. While he was on earth, they would not have allowed +him inside the walls of their castles. Yet he was made one of the +mightiest instruments in the spread of the Gospel. No book that +has ever been written comes so near the Bible as John +Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress.” And he was +a poor Bedford tinker. So it is with God. He picks up some poor, +lost tramp, and makes him an instrument to turn hundreds and +thousands to Christ.</p> +<p class="pn">George Whitefield, standing in his tabernacle in +London, and with a multitude gathered about him, cried out: +“The Lord Jesus will save the devil’s +castaways!”</p> +<p class="pn">Two poor abandoned wretches standing outside in the +street, heard him, as his silvery voice rang out on the air. +Looking into each other’s faces, they said: “That +must mean you and me.” They wept and rejoiced. They drew +near and looked in at the door, at the face of the earnest +messenger, the tears streaming from his eyes as he plead with the +people to give their hearts to God. One of them wrote him a +little note and sent it to him.</p> +<p class="pn">Later that day, as he sat at the table of Lady +Huntington, who was his special friend, someone present said:</p> +<p class="pn">“Mr. Whitefield, did you not go a little too +far to-day when you said that the Lord would save the +devil’s castaways?”</p> +<p class="pn">Taking the note from his pocket he gave it to the +lady, and said: “Will you read that note aloud?”</p> +<p class="pn">She read: “Mr. Whitefield: Two poor lost +women stood outside your tabernacle to-day, and heard you say +that the Lord would save the devil’s castaways. We seized +upon that as our last hope, and we write you this to tell you +that we rejoice now in believing in Him, and from this good hour +we shall endeavor to serve Him, who has done so much for +us.”</p> +<h4>2. The “I Will” of Cleansing.</h4> +<p class="pn">The next “I will” is found in Luke, +fifth chapter. We read of a leper who came to Christ, and said: +“Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” The +Lord touched him, saying, “<i>I will: be thou +clean</i>”; and immediately the leprosy left him.</p> +<p class="pn">Now if any man or woman full of the leprosy of sin +read this, if you will but go to the Master and tell all your +case to Him, He will speak to you as He did to that poor leper +and say. “I will: be thou clean,” and the leprosy of +your sins will flee away from you. It is the Lord, and the Lord +alone, who can forgive sins. If you say to Him, “Lord, I am +full of sin; Thou canst make me clean”; “Lord, I have +a terrible temper; Thou canst make me clean”; “Lord, +I have a deceitful heart. Cleanse me, O Lord; give me a new +heart. O Lord, give me the power to overcome the flesh, and the +snares of the devil!”; “Lord, I am full of unclean +habits”; if you come to Him with a sincere spirit, you will +hear the voice, “I will; be thou clean.” It will be +done. Do you think that the God who created the world out of +nothing, who by a breath put life into the world—do you +think that if He says, “Thou shalt be clean,” you +will not?</p> +<p class="pn">Now, you can make a wonderful exchange to-day. You +can have health in the place of sickness; you can get rid of +everything that is vile and hateful in the sight of God. The Son +of God comes down, and says, “I will take away your +leprosy, and give you health in its stead. I will take away that +terrible disease that is ruining your body and soul, and give you +my righteousness in its stead. I will clothe you with the +garments of salvation.”</p> +<p class="pn">Is it not wonderful? That’s what He means +when He says—<i>I will</i>. Oh, lay hold of this “I +will!”</p> +<h4>3. The “I Will” of Confession.</h4> +<p class="pn">Now turn to Matthew, tenth chapter, thirty-second +verse: “<i>Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, +him will I confess also before my Father which is in +heaven</i>.” There’s the “I will” of +confession.</p> +<p class="pn">Now, that’s the next thing that takes place +after a man is saved. When we have been washed in the blood of +the Lamb, the next thing is to get our mouths opened. We have to +confess Christ here in this dark world, and tell His love to +others. We are not to be ashamed of the Son of God.</p> +<p class="pn">A man thinks it a great honor when he has achieved +a victory that causes his name to be mentioned in the English +Parliament, or in the presence of the Queen and her court. How +excited we used to be during the war, when some general did +something extraordinary, and someone got up in Congress to +confess his exploits; how the papers used to talk about it! In +China, we read, the highest ambition of the successful soldier is +to have his name written in the palace or temple of Confucius. +But just think of having your name mentioned in the kingdom of +heaven by the Prince of Glory, by the Son of God, because you +confess Him here on earth! You confess Him here; He will confess +you yonder.</p> +<p class="pn">If you wish to be brought into the clear light of +liberty, you must take your stand on Christ’s side. I have +known many Christians go groping about in darkness, and never get +into the clear light of the kingdom, because they were ashamed to +confess the Son of God. We are living in a day when men want a +religion without the cross. They want the crown, but not the +cross. But if we are to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we have to +take up our crosses <i>daily</i>—not once a year, or on the +Sabbath, but daily. And if we take up our crosses and follow Him, +we shall be blessed in the very act.</p> +<p class="pn">I remember a man in New York who used to come and +pray with me. He had his cross. He was afraid to confess Christ. +It seemed that down at the bottom of his trunk he had a Bible. He +wanted to get it out and read it to the companion with whom he +lived, but he was ashamed to do it. For a whole week that was his +cross; and after he had carried the burden that long, and after a +terrible struggle, he made up his mind. He said, “I will +take my Bible out tonight and read it.” He took it out, and +soon he heard the footsteps of his mate coming upstairs.</p> +<p class="pn">His first impulse was to put it away again, but +then he thought he would not—he would face his companion +with it. His mate came in, and seeing him at his Bible, said,</p> +<p class="pn">“John, are you interested in these +things?” “Yes,” he replied.</p> +<p class="pn">“How long has this been, then?” asked +his companion.</p> +<p class="pn">“Exactly a week,” he answered; +“for a whole week I have tried to get out my Bible to read +to you, but I have never done so till now.”</p> +<p class="pn">“Well,” said his friend, “it is a +strange thing. <i>I was converted on the some night</i>, and I +too was ashamed to take my Bible out.”</p> +<p class="pn">You are ashamed to take your Bible out and say, +“I have lived a godless life for all these years, but I +will commence now to live a life of righteousness.” You are +ashamed to open your Bible and read that blessed Psalm, +“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” You are +ashamed to be seen on your knees. No man can be a disciple of +Jesus Christ without bearing His cross. A great many people want +to know how it is Jesus Christ has so few disciples, whilst +Mahomet has so many. The reason is that Mahomet gives no cross to +bear. There are so few men who will come out to take their +stand.</p> +<p class="pn">I was struck during the American war with the fact +that there were so many men who could go to the cannon’s +mouth without trembling, but who had not courage to take up their +Bibles to read them at night. They were ashamed of the Gospel of +Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation. +“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will +I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever +shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father +which is in heaven.”</p> +<h4>4. The “I Will” of Service.</h4> +<p class="pn">The next <i>I will</i> is the “I will” +of service.</p> +<p class="pn">There are a good many Christians who have been +quickened and aroused to say, “I want to do some service +for Christ.”</p> +<p class="pn">Well, Christ says, “<i>Follow Me, and I will +make you fishers of men</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">There is no Christian who cannot help to bring +someone to the Savior. Christ says, “And I, if I be lifted +up, will draw all men unto Me”; and our business is just to +lift up Christ.</p> +<p class="pn">Our Lord said, “Follow Me, Peter, and I will +make you a fisher of men”; and Peter simply obeyed Him, and +there, on that day of Pentecost, we see the result. Peter had a +good haul on the day of Pentecost. I doubt if he ever caught so +many fish in one day as he did men on that day. It would have +broken every net they had on board, if they had had to drag up +three thousand fishes.</p> +<p class="pn">I read some time ago of a man who took passage in a +stage coach. There were first, second and third-class passengers. +But when he looked into the coach, he saw all the passengers +sitting together without distinction. He could not understand it +till by-and-by they came to a hill, and the coach stopped, and +the driver called out, “First-class passengers keep their +seats, second-class passengers get out and walk, third class +passengers get behind and push.” Now in the Church we have +no room for first-class passengers—people who think that +salvation means an easy ride all the way to heaven. We have no +room for second class passengers—people who are carried +most of the time, and who, when they must work out their own +salvation, go trudging on giving never a thought to helping their +fellows along. All church members ought to be third class +passengers—ready to dismount and push all together, and +push with a will. That was John Wesley’s definition of a +church—“All at it, and always at it.” Every +Christian ought to be a worker. He need not be a preacher, he +need not be an evangelist, to be useful. He may be useful in +business. See what power an employer has, if he likes! How he +could labor with his employees, and in his business relations! +Often a man can be far more useful in a business sphere than he +could in another.</p> +<p class="pn">There is one reason, and a great reason, why so +many do not succeed. I have been asked by a great many good men, +“Why is it we don’t have any results? We work hard, +pray hard, and preach hard, and yet the success does not +come.” I will tell you. It is because they spend all their +time mending their nets. No wonder they never catch anything.</p> +<p class="pn">The great matter is to hold inquiry meetings, and +thus pull the net in, and see if you have caught anything. If you +are always mending and setting the net, you won’t catch +many fish. Whoever heard of a man going out to fish, and setting +his net, and then letting it stop there, and never pulling it in? +Everybody would laugh at the man’s folly.</p> +<p class="pn">A minister in England came to me one day, and said, +“I wish you would tell me why we ministers don’t +succeed better than we do.”</p> +<p class="pn">I brought before him this idea of pulling in the +net, and I said, “You ought to pull in your nets. There are +many ministers in Manchester who can preach much better than I +can, but I pull in the net.”</p> +<p class="pn">Many people have objections to inquiry meetings, +but I urged upon him the importance of them, and the minister +said,</p> +<p class="pn">“I never did pull in my net, but I will try +next Sunday.”</p> +<p class="pn">He did so, and eight persons, anxious inquirers, +went into his study. The next Sunday he came down to see me, and +said he had never had such a Sunday in his life. He had met with +marvelous blessing. The next time he drew the net there were +forty, and when he came to see me later, he said to me +joyfully,</p> +<p class="pn">“Moody, <span class="sc">I have had eight +hundred conversions this last year</span>! It is a great mistake +I did not begin earlier to pull in the net.”</p> +<p class="pn">So, my friends, if you want to catch men, just pull +in the net. If you only catch one, it will be something. It may +be a little child, but I have known a little child to convert a +whole family. You don’t know what is in that little +dull-headed boy in the inquiry-room; he may become a Martin +Luther, a reformer that shall make the world tremble—you +cannot tell. God uses the weak things of this world to confound +the mighty. God’s promise is as good as a bank +note—“I promise to pay So-and-So,” and here is +one of Christ’s promissory notes—“If you follow +Me, I will make you fishers of men.” Will you not lay hold +of the promise, and trust it, and follow Him now?</p> +<p class="pn">If a man preaches the Gospel, and preaches it +faithfully, he ought to expect results then and there. I believe +it is the privilege of God’s children to reap the fruit of +their labor three hundred and sixty five days in the year.</p> +<p class="pn">“Well, but,” say some, “is there +not a sowing time as well as harvest?”</p> +<p class="pn">Yes, it is true, there is; but then, you can sow +with one hand, and reap with the other. What would you think of a +farmer who went on sowing all the year round, and never thought +of reaping? I repeat it, we want to sow with one hand, and reap +with the other; and if we look for the fruit of our labors, we +shall see it. “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto +Me.” We must lift Christ up, and then seek men out, and +bring them to Him.</p> +<p class="pn">You must use the right kind of bait. A good many +don’t do this, and then they wonder they are not +successful. You see them getting up all kinds of entertainments +with which to try and catch men. They go the wrong way to work. +This perishing world wants Christ, and Him crucified. +There’s a void in every man’s bosom that wants +filling up, and if we only approach him with the right kind of +bait, we shall catch him. This poor world needs a Savior; and if +we are going to be successful in catching men, we must preach +Christ crucified—not His life only but His death. And if we +are only faithful in doing this, we shall succeed. And why? +Because there is His promise: “If you follow Me, I will +make you fishers of men.” That promise holds just as good +to you and me as it did to His disciples, and is as true now as +it was in their time.</p> +<p class="pn">Think of Paul up yonder. People are going up every +day and every hour, men and women who have been brought to Christ +through his writings. He set streams in motion that have flowed +on for more than a thousand years. I can imagine men going up +there, and saying, “Paul, I thank you for writing that +letter to the Ephesians; I found Christ in that.” +“Paul, I thank you for writing that epistle to the +Corinthians.” “Paul, I found Christ in that epistle +to the Philippians.” “I thank you, Paul, for that +epistle to the Galatians; I found Christ in that.” And so, +I suppose, they are going up still, thanking Paul all the while +for what he had done. Ah, when Paul was put in prison he did not +fold his hands and sit down in idleness! No, he began to write; +and his epistles have come down through the long ages of time, +and brought thousands on thousands to a knowledge of Christ +crucified. Yes, Christ said to Paul, “I will make you a +fisher of men if you will follow Me,” and he has been +fishing for souls ever since. The devil thought he had done a +very wise thing when he got Paul into prison, but he was very +much mistaken; he overdid it for once. I have no doubt Paul has +thanked God ever since for that Philippian gaol, and his stripes +and imprisonment there. I am sure the world has made more by it +than we shall ever know till we get to heaven.</p> +<h4>5. The “I Will” of Comfort.</h4> +<p class="pn">The next “I will” is in John, +fourteenth chapter, verse eighteen: “<i>I will not leave +you comfortless</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">To me it is a sweet thought that Christ has not +left us alone in this dark wilderness here below. Although He has +gone up on high, and taken His seat by the Father’s throne, +He has not left us comfortless. The better translation is, +“I will not leave you <i>orphans</i>.” He did not +leave Joseph when they cast him into prison. “God was with +him.” When Daniel was cast into the den of lions, they had +to put the Almighty in with him. They were so bound together that +they could not be separated, and so God went down into the den of +lions with Daniel.</p> +<p class="pn">If we have got Christ with us, we can do all +things. Do not let us be thinking how weak we are. Let us lift up +our eyes to Him, and think of Him as our Elder Brother, who has +all power given to Him in heaven and on earth. He says: +“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the +world.” Some of our children and friends leave us, and it +is a very sad hour. But, thank God, the believer and Christ shall +never be separated! He is with us here, and we shall be with Him +in person by and by, and shall see Him in His beauty. But not +only is He with us, but He has sent us the Holy Ghost. Let us +honor the Holy Ghost by acknowledging that He is here in our +midst. He has power to give sight to the blind, liberty to the +captive, and to open the ears of the deaf that they may hear the +glorious words of the Gospel.</p> +<h4>6. The “I Will” of Resurrection.</h4> +<p class="pn">Then there is another <i>I will</i> in John, sixth +chapter, verse forty; it occurs four times in the chapter: +“<i>I will raise him up at the last day</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">I rejoice to think that I have a Savior who has +power over death. My blessed Master holds the keys him, and I got +more comfort out of that promise “I will raise him up at +the last day,” than anything else in the Bible. How it +cheered me! How it lighted up my path! And as I went into the +room and looked upon the lovely face of that brother, how that +passage ran through my soul: “Thy brother shall rise +again.” I said, “Thank God for that promise.” +It was worth more than the world to me.</p> +<p class="pn">When we laid him in the grave, it seemed as if I +could hear the voice of Jesus Christ saying, “Thy brother +shall rise again.” Blessed promise of the resurrection! +Blessed “I will!” “I will raise him up at the +last day.”</p> +<h4>7. The “I Will” of Glory.</h4> +<p class="pn">Now the next <i>I will</i> is in John, seventeenth +chapter, twenty-fourth verse: “<i>Father, I will that they +also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I +am</i>.”</p> +<p class="pn">This was in His last prayer in the guest-chamber, +on the last night before He was crucified and died that terrible +death on Calvary. Many a believer’s countenance begins to +light up at the thought that he shall see the King in His beauty +by and by. Yes; there is a glorious day before us in the future. +Some think that on the first day we are converted we have got +everything. To be sure, we get salvation for the past and peace +for the present; but then there is the glory for the future in +store. That’s what kept Paul rejoicing. He said, +“These light afflictions, these few stripes, these few +brickbats and stones that they throw at me—why, the glory +that is beyond excels them so much that I count them as nothing, +nothing at all, so that I may win Christ.” And so, when +things go against us, let us cheer up; let us remember that the +night will soon pass away, and the morning dawn upon us. Death +never comes there. It is banished from that heavenly land. +Sickness, and pain, and sorrow, come not there to mar that grand +and glorious home where we shall be by and by with the Master. +God’s family will be all together there. Glorious future, +my friends! Yes, glorious day! and it may be a great deal nearer +than many of us think. During these few days we are here let us +stand steadfast and firm, and by and by we shall be in the +unbroken circle in yon world of light, and have the King in our +midst.</p> +<hr style="margin-top:5em;margin-bottom:7em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:142%; letter-spacing:0.1em; margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0.2em"> +THE RED LIBRARY</p> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:83%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1.0em"> +16M0, CLOTH, EACH NET. 30 CTS.</p> +<hr style="width:15em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p class="p0s">Weighed and Wanting.</p> +<p class="p0s">Men of the Bible.</p> +<p class="p0s">Bible Characters.</p> +<p class="p0s">Select Sermons.</p> +<p class="p0s">Moody’s Anecdotes.</p> +<p class="p0s">The Overcoming Life.</p> +<p class="p0s">The Way to God.</p> +<p class="p0s">Thoughts for the Quiet Hour.</p> +<p class="p0s">Moody’s Latest Sermons</p> +<p class="p0s">Short Talks by D. L. Moody.</p> +<p class="p0s">Pleasure and Profit in Bible Study.</p> +<p class="p0s">Sowing and Reaping.</p> +<p class="p0s">Heaven.</p> +<p class="p0s">Moody’s Stories.</p> +<p class="p0s">To the Work!</p> +<p class="p0s">Sovereign Grace.</p> +<p class="p0s">Prevailing Prayer.</p> +<p class="p0s">Secret Power.</p> +<p class="p2"><i>The above eighteen volumes are all by D. L. +Moody, and are published as “The Moody Library,” in +boxed set, net, $5.40</i>.</p> +<p class="p0">The True Estimate of Life.</p> +<p class="p1s">By G. C<span class="sc">ampbell Morgan</span>.</p> +<p class="p0">All of Grace.</p> +<p class="p1s">By C. H. S<span class="sc">purgeon</span>.</p> +<p class="p0">According to Promise.</p> +<p class="p1s">BY C. H. S<span class="sc">purgeon</span>.</p> +<p class="p0">John Ploughman’s Talks.</p> +<p class="p1s">By C. H. S<span class="sc">purgeon</span>.</p> +<p class="p0">John Ploughman’s Pictures.</p> +<p class="p1s">By C. H. S<span class="sc">purgeon</span>.</p> +<p class="p0s">Good Tidings.</p> +<p class="p0s">Recitation Poems.</p> +<p class="p0s">The Way of Life.</p> +<p class="p0s">Tales of Adventure from the Old Book.</p> +<p class="p0s">Resurrection.</p> +<p class="p0s">Select Poems for the Silent Hour.</p> +<p class="p0s">Up from Sin.</p> +<p class="p0s">The Revival of a Dead Church.</p> +<hr style="width:17em;margin-top:1.7em;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:100%;letter-spacing:0.1em;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0.2em"> +<span class="sc">Fleming H. Revell Company</span></p> +<p style= +"text-align:center;font-size:75%;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1.5em"> +CHICAGO NEW YORK TORONTO<br> +PUBLISHERS OF EVANGELICAL LITERATURE</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Overcoming Life, by Dwight Moody + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OVERCOMING LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 33015-h.htm or 33015-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/1/33015/ + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/33015-h/images/Divider.png b/33015-h/images/Divider.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa3f86d --- /dev/null +++ b/33015-h/images/Divider.png diff --git a/33015.txt b/33015.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ba4d653 --- /dev/null +++ b/33015.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4064 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Overcoming Life, by Dwight Moody + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Overcoming Life + and Other Sermons + +Author: Dwight Moody + +Release Date: June 28, 2010 [EBook #33015] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OVERCOMING LIFE *** + + + + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + + + + + + + +THE OVERCOMING LIFE + +AND OTHER SERMONS + + +By D. L. MOODY. + +"_This is the victory that overcometh the, world, even our faith_." + + +FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY + +New York Chicago Toronto + +_Publishers of Evangelical Literature_ + + + +COPYRIGHTED 1896, BY Fleming H. Revell Company. + + + +CONTENTS. + +THE OVERCOMING LIFE + +PART I. THE CHRISTIAN'S WARFARE + +PART II. INTERNAL FOES + +PART III. EXTERNAL FOES + +RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE + +TRUE WISDOM + +"COME THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE INTO THE ARK" + +HUMILITY + +REST + +SEVEN "I WILLS" OF CHRIST + + + +THE OVERCOMING LIFE. + +PART I. + +THE CHRISTIAN'S WARFARE. + +I would like to have you open your Bible at the first epistle of John, +fifth chapter, fourth and fifth verses: "Whatsoever is born of God +overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the +world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he +that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" + +When a battle is fought, all are anxious to know who are the victors. +In these verses we are told who is to gain the victory in life. When I +was converted I made this mistake: I thought the battle was already +mine, the victory already won, the crown already in my grasp. I +thought that old things had passed away, that all things had become +new; that my old corrupt nature, the Adam life, was gone. But I found +out, after serving Christ for a few months, that conversion was only +like enlisting in the army, that there was a battle on hand, and that +if I was to get a crown, I had to work for it and fight for it. + +Salvation is a gift, as free as the air we breathe. It is to be +obtained, like any other gift, without money and without price: there +are no other terms. "To him that worketh not, but believeth." But on +the other hand, if we are to gain a crown, we must work for it. Let me +quote a few verses in First Corinthians: "For other foundation can no +man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if any man +buildeth on the foundation gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, +stubble; each man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall +declare it, because it is revealed in fire: and the fire itself shall +prove each man's work, of what sort it is. If any man's work shall +abide, which he built thereon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's +work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be +saved; yet so as through fire." + +We see clearly from this that we may be saved, but all our works +burned up. I may have a wretched, miserable voyage through life, with +no victory, and no reward at the end; saved, yet so as by fire, or as +Job puts it, "with the skin of my teeth." I believe that a great many +men will barely get to heaven as Lot got out of Sodom, burned out, +nothing left, works and everything else destroyed. + +It is like this: when a man enters the army, he is a member of the +army the moment he enlists; he is just as much a member as a man who +has been in the army ten or twenty years. But enlisting is one thing, +and participating in a battle another. Young converts are like those +just enlisted. + +It is folly for any man to attempt to fight in his own strength. The +world, the flesh and the devil are too much for any man. But if we are +linked to Christ by faith, and He is formed in us the hope of glory, +then we shall get the victory over every enemy. It is believers who +are the overcomers. "Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to +triumph in Christ." Through Him we shall be more than conquerors. + +I wouldn't think of talking to unconverted men about overcoming the +world, for it is utterly impossible. They might as well try to cut +down the American forest with their penknives. But a good many +Christian people make this mistake: they think the battle is already +fought and won. They have an idea that all they have to do is to put +the oars down in the bottom of the boat, and the current will drift +them into the ocean of God's eternal love. But we have to cross the +current. We have to learn how to watch and fight, and how to overcome. +The battle is only just commenced. The Christian life is a conflict +and a warfare, and the quicker we find it out the better. There is not +a blessing in this world that God has not linked Himself to. All the +great and higher blessings God associates with Himself. When God and +man work together, then it is that there is going to be victory. We +are coworkers with Him. You might take a mill, and put it forty feet +above a river, and there isn't capital enough in the States to make +that river turn the mill; but get it down about forty feet, and away +it works. We want to keep in mind that if we are going to overcome the +world, we have got to work with God. It is His power that makes all +the means of grace effectual. + +The story is told that Frederick Douglas, the great slave orator, once +said in a mournful speech when things looked dark for his race:-- + +"The white man is against us, governments are against us, the spirit +of the times is against us. I see no hope for the colored race. I am +full of sadness." + +Just then a poor old colored woman rose in the audience, and said.-- + +"Frederick, is God dead?" + +My friend, it makes a difference when you count God in. + +Now many a young believer is discouraged and disheartened when he +realizes this warfare. He begins to think that God has forsaken him, +that Christianity is not all that it professes to be. But he should +rather regard it as an encouraging sign. No sooner has a soul escaped +from his snare than the great Adversary takes steps to ensnare it +again. He puts forth all his power to recapture his lost prey. The +fiercest attacks are made on the strongest forts, and the fiercer the +battle the young believer is called on to wage, the surer evidence it +is of the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart. God will not desert +him in his time of need, any more than He deserted His people of old +when they were hard pressed by their foes. + +The Only Complete Victor. + +This brings me to the fourth verse of the fourth chapter of the same +epistle: "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: +because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." +The only man that ever conquered this world--was complete victor--was +Jesus Christ. When He shouted on the cross, "It is finished!" it was +the shout of a conqueror. He had overcome every enemy. He had met sin +and death. He had met every foe that you and I have got to meet, and +had come off victor. Now if I have got the spirit of Christ, if I have +got that same life in me, then it is that I have got a power that is +greater than any power in the world, and with that same power I +overcome the world. + +Notice that everything human in this world fails. Every man, the +moment he takes his eye off God, has failed. Every man has been a +failure at some period of his life. Abraham failed. Moses failed. +Elijah failed. Take the men that have become so famous and that were +so mighty--the moment they got their eye off God, they were weak like +other men; and it is a very singular thing that those men failed on +the strongest point in their character. I suppose it was because they +were not on the watch. Abraham was noted for his faith, and he failed +right there--he denied his wife. Moses was noted for his meekness and +humility, and he failed right there--he got angry. God kept him out of +the promised land because he lost his temper. I know he was called +"the servant of God," and that he was a mighty man, and had power with +God, but humanly speaking, he failed, and was kept out of the promised +land. Elijah was noted for his power in prayer and for his courage, +yet he became a coward. He was the boldest man of his day, and stood +before Ahab, and the royal court, and all the prophets of Baal; yet +when he heard that Jezebel had threatened his life, he ran away to the +desert, and under a juniper tree prayed that he might die. Peter was +noted for his boldness, and a little maid scared him nearly out of his +wits. As soon as she spoke to him, he began to tremble, and he swore +that he didn't know Christ. I have often said to myself that I'd like +to have been there on the day of Pentecost alongside of that maid when +she saw Peter preaching. + +"Why," I suppose she said, "what has come over that man? He was afraid +of _me_ only a few weeks ago, and now he stands up before all +Jerusalem and charges these very Jews with the murder of Jesus." + +The moment he got his eye off the Master he failed; and every man, I +don't care who he is--even the strongest--every man that hasn't Christ +in him, is a failure. John, the beloved disciple, was noted for his +meekness; and yet we hear of him wanting to call fire down from heaven +on a little town because it had refused the common hospitalities. + +Triumphs of Faith. + +Now, how are we to get the victory over all our enemies? Turn to +Galatians, second chapter, verse twenty: "I am crucified with Christ; +nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life +which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, +who loved me and gave Himself for me." We live by faith. We get this +life by faith, and become linked to Immanuel--"God with us." If I have +God for me, I am going to overcome. How do we gain this mighty power? +By faith. + +The next passage I want to call your attention to is Romans, chapter +eleven, verse twenty: "Because of unbelief they were broken off; and +thou standest by faith." The Jews were cut off on account of their +unbelief: we were grafted in on account of our belief. So notice: We +live by faith, and we stand by faith. + +Next: We walk by faith. Second Corinthians, chapter five, verse seven: +"For we walk by faith, not by sight." The most faulty Christians I +know are those who want to walk by sight. They want to see the +end--how a thing is going to come out. That isn't walking by faith at +all--that is walking by sight. + +I think the characters that best represent this difference are Joseph +and Jacob. Jacob was a man who walked with God by sight. You remember +his vow at Bethel:--"If God will be with me, and will keep me in this +way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, +so that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the +Lord be my God." And you remember how his heart revived when he saw +the wagons Joseph sent him from Egypt. He sought after signs. He never +could have gone through the temptations and trials that his son Joseph +did. Joseph represents a higher type of Christian. He could walk in +the dark. He could survive thirteen years of misfortune, in spite of +his dreams, and then ascribe it all to the goodness and providence of +God. + +Lot and Abraham are a good illustration Lot turned away from Abraham +and tented on the plains of Sodom. He got a good stretch of pasture +land, but he had bad neighbors. He was a weak character and he should +have kept with Abraham in order to get strong. A good many men are +just like that. As long as their mothers are living, or they are +bolstered up by some godly person, they get along very well; but they +can't stand alone. Lot walked by sight; but Abraham walked by faith; +he went out in the footsteps of God. "By faith Abraham, when he was +called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an +inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By +faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, +dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of +the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, +whose builder and maker is God." And again: We fight by faith. +Ephesians, sixth chapter, verse sixteen: "Above all, taking the shield +of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of +the wicked." Every dart Satan can fire at us we can quench by faith, +By faith we can overcome the Evil One. To fear is to have more faith +in your antagonist than in Christ. + +Some of the older people can remember when our war broke out. +Secretary Seward, who was Lincoln's Secretary of State--a long-headed +and shrewd politician--prophesied that the war would be over in ninety +days; and young men in thousands and hundreds of thousands came +forward and volunteered to go down to Dixie and whip the South. They +thought they would be back in ninety days; but the war lasted four +years, and cost about half a million of lives. What was the matter? +Why, the South was a good deal stronger than the North supposed. Its +strength was underestimated. + +Jesus Christ makes no mistake of that kind. When He enlists a man in +His service, He shows him the dark side; He lets him know that he must +live a life of self-denial. If a man is not willing to go to heaven by +the way of Calvary, he cannot go at all. Many men want a religion in +which there is no cross, but they cannot enter heaven that way. If we +are to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we must deny ourselves and take +up our cross and follow Him. So let us sit down and count the cost. Do +not think that you will have no battles if you follow the Nazarene, +because many battles are before you. Yet if I had ten thousand lives, +Jesus Christ should have every one of them. Men do not object to a +battle if they are confident that they will have victory, and, thank +God, every one of us may have the victory if we will. + +The reason why so many Christians fail all through life is just +this--they under-estimate the strength of the enemy. My dear friend; +you and I have got a terrible enemy to contend with. Don't let Satan +deceive you. Unless you are spiritually dead, it means warfare. Nearly +everything around tends to draw us away from God. We do not step clear +out of Egypt on to the throne of God. There is the wilderness journey, +and there are enemies in the land. + +Don't let any man or woman think all he or she has to do is to join +the church. That will not save you. The question is, are you +overcoming the world, or is the world overcoming you? Are you more +patient than you were five years ago? Are you more amiable? If you are +not, the world is overcoming you, even if you are a church member. +That epistle that Paul wrote to Titus says that we are to be sound in +patience, faith and charity. We have got Christians, a good many of +them, that are good in spots, but mighty poor in other spots. Just a +little bit of them seems to be saved, you know. They are not rounded +out in their characters. It is just because they haven't been taught +that they have a terrible foe to overcome. + +If I wanted to find out whether a Man was a Christian, I wouldn't go +to his minister. I would go and ask his wife. I tell you, we want more +_home piety_ just now. If a man doesn't treat his wife right, I don't +want to hear him talk about Christianity. What is the use of his +talking about salvation for the next life, if he has no salvation for +this? We want a Christianity that goes into our homes and everyday +lives. Some men's religion just repels me. They put on a whining voice +and a sort of a religious tone, and talk so sanctimoniously on Sunday +that you would think they were wonderful saints. But on Monday they +are quite different. They put their religion away with their clothes, +and you don't see any more of it until the next Sunday. You laugh, but +let us look out that we don't belong to that class. My friend, we have +got to have a higher type of Christianity, or the Church is gone. It +is wrong for a man or woman to profess what they don't possess. If you +are not overcoming temptations, the world is overcoming you. Just get +on your knees and ask God to help you. My dear friends, let us go to +God and ask Him to search us. Let us ask Him to wake us up, and let us +not think that just because we are church members we are all right. We +are all wrong if we are not getting victory over sin. + + + +PART II. + +INTERNAL FOES. + +Now if we are going to overcome, we must begin inside. God always +begins there. An enemy inside the fort is far more dangerous than one +outside. + +Scripture teaches that in every believer there are two natures warring +against each other. Paul says in his epistle to the Romans:--"For we +know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For +that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what +I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto +the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin +that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) +dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to +perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do +not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I +would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I +find then a law, that when I would do good, evil is present with me. +For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see +another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and +bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." +Again, in the Epistle to the Galatians, he says: "For the flesh +lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and +these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the +things that ye would." + +When we are born of God, we get His nature, but He does not +immediately take away all the old nature. Each species of animal and +bird is true to its nature. You can tell the nature of the dove or +canary bird. The horse is true to his nature, the cow is true to hers. +But a man has two natures, and do not let the world or Satan make you +think that the old nature is extinct, because it is not. "Reckon ye +yourselves dead"; but if you were dead, you wouldn't need to reckon +yourselves dead, would you? The dead self would be dropped out of the +reckoning. "I keep my body under"; if it were dead, Paul wouldn't have +needed to keep it under. I am judicially dead, but the old nature is +alive, and therefore if I don't keep my body under and crucify the +flesh with its affections, this lower nature will gain the advantage, +and I shall be in bondage. Many men live all their lives in bondage to +the old nature, when they might have liberty if they would only live +this overcoming life. The old Adam never dies. It remains corrupt. +"From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in +it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been +closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment." + +A gentleman in India once got a tiger-cub, and tamed it so that it +became a pet. One day when it had grown up, it tasted blood, and the +old tiger-nature flashed out, and it had to be killed. So with the old +nature in the believer. It never dies, though it is subdued: and +unless he is watchful and prayerful, it will gain the upper hand, and +rush him into sin. Someone has pointed out that "I" is the centre of +S-I-N. It is the medium through which Satan acts. + +And so the worst enemy you have to overcome, after all, is _yourself_. +When Capt. T-- became converted in London, he was a great society man. +After he had been a Christian some months, he was asked; + +"What have you found to be your greatest enemy since you began to be a +Christian?" + +After a few minutes of deep thought he said, "Well, I think it is +myself." + +"Ah!" said the lady, "the King has taken you into His presence, for it +is only in His presence that we are taught these truths." + +I have had more trouble with D. L. Moody than with any other man who +has crossed my path. If I can only keep him right, I don't have any +trouble with other people. A good many have trouble with servants. Did +you ever think that the trouble lies with you instead of the servants? +If one member of the family is constantly snapping, he will have the +whole family snapping. It is true whether you believe it or not. You +speak quickly and snappishly to people and they will do the same to +you. + +Appetite. + +Now take _appetite_. That is an enemy inside. How many young men are +ruined by the appetite for strong drink! Many a young man has grown up +to be a curse to his father and mother, instead of a blessing. Not +long ago the body of a young suicide was discovered in one of our +large cities. In his pocket was found a paper on which he had written: +"I have done this myself. Don't tell anyone. It is all through drink." +An intimation of these facts in the public press drew two hundred and +forty six letters from two hundred and forty six families, each of +whom had a prodigal son who, it was feared, might be the suicide. + +Strong drink is an enemy, both to body and soul. It is reported that +Sir Andrew Clarke, the celebrated London physician, once made the +following statement: "Now let me say that I am speaking solemnly and +carefully when I tell you that I am considerably within the mark in +saying that within the rounds of my hospital wards today, seven out of +every ten that lie there in their beds owe their ill health to +alcohol. I do not say that seventy in every hundred are drunkards; I +do not know that one of them is; but they use alcohol. So soon as a +man begins to take one drop, then the desire begotten in him becomes a +part of his nature, and that nature, formed by his acts, inflicts +curses inexpressible when handed down to the generations that are to +follow him as part and parcel of their being. When I think of this I +am disposed to give up my profession--to give up everything--and to go +forth upon a holy crusade to preach to all men, 'Beware of this enemy +of the race!'" + +It is the most destructive agency in the world today. It kills more +than the bloodiest wars. It is the fruitful parent of crime and +idleness and poverty and disease. It spoils a man for this world, and +damns him for the next. The Word of God has declared it: "Be not +deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, . . . +nor _drunkards_ . . . shall inherit the Kingdom of God." + +How can we overcome this enemy? Bitter experience proves that man is +not powerful enough in his own strength. The only cure for the +accursed appetite is regeneration--a new life--the power of the risen +Christ within us. Let a man that is given to strong drink look to God +for help, and He will give him victory over his appetite. Jesus Christ +came to destroy the works of the devil, and He will take away that +appetite if you will let Him. + +Temper. + +Then there is _temper_. I wouldn't give much for a man that hasn't +temper. Steel isn't good for anything if it hasn't got temper. But +when temper gets the mastery over me I am its slave, and it is a +source of weakness. It may be made a great power for good all through +my life, and help me; or it may become my greatest enemy from within, +and rob me of power. The current in some rivers is so strong as to +make them useless for navigation. + +Someone has said that a preacher will never miss the people when he +speaks of temper. It is astonishing how little mastery even professing +Christians have over it. A friend of mine in England was out visiting, +and while sitting in the parlor, heard an awful noise in the hall. He +asked what it meant, and was told that it was only the doctor throwing +his boots downstairs because they were not properly blacked. "Many +Christians," said an old divine, "who bore the loss of a child or of +all their property with the most heroic Christian fortitude, are +entirely vanquished by the breaking of a dish or the blunders of a +servant." + +I have had people say to me, "Mr. Moody, how can I get control of my +temper?" + +If you really want to get control, I will tell you how, but you won't +like the medicine. Treat it as a sin and confess it. People look upon +it as a sort of a misfortune, and one lady told me she inherited it +from her father and mother. Supposing she did. That is no excuse for +her. + +When you get angry again and speak unkindly to a person, and when you +realize it, go and ask that person to forgive you. You won't get mad +with that person for the next twenty-four hours. You might do it in +about forty eight hours, but go the second time, and after you have +done it about half-a-dozen times, you will get out of the business, +because it makes the old flesh burn. + +A lady said to me once, "I have got so in the habit of exaggerating +that my friends accuse me of exaggerating so that they don't +understand me." + +She said, "Can you help me? What can I do to overcome it?" + +"Well," I said, "the next time you catch yourself lying, go right to +that party and say you have lied, and tell him you are sorry. Say it +is a lie; stamp it out, root and branch; that is what you want to do." + +"Oh," she said, "I wouldn't like to call it _lying_." But that is what +it was. + +Christianity isn't worth a snap of your finger if it doesn't +straighten out your character. I have got tired of all mere gush and +sentiment. If people can't tell when you are telling the truth, there +is something radically wrong, and you had better straighten it out +right away. Now, are you ready to do it? Bring yourself to it whether +you want to or not. Do you find someone who has been offended by +something you have done? Go right to them and tell them you are sorry. +You say you are not to blame. Never mind, go right to them, and tell +them you are sorry. I have had to do it a good many times. An +impulsive man like myself has to do it often, but I sleep all the +sweeter at night when I get things straightened out. Confession never +fails to bring a blessing. I have sometimes had to get off the +platform and go down and ask a man's forgiveness before I could go on +preaching. A Christian man ought to be a gentleman every time; but if +he is not, and he finds he has wounded or hurt someone, he ought to go +and straighten it out at once. You know there are a great many people +who want just Christianity enough to make them respectable. They don't +think about this overcoming life that gets the victory all the time. +They have their blue days and their cross days, and the children say, + +"Mother is cross to-day, and you will have to be very careful." + +We don't want any of these touchy blue days; these ups and downs. If +we are overcoming, that is the effect our life is going to have on +others, they will have confidence in our Christianity. The reason that +many a man has no power, is that there is some cursed sin covered up. +There will not be a drop of dew until that sin is brought to light. +Get right inside. Then we can go out like giants and conquer the world +if everything is right within. + +Paul says that we are to be sound in faith, in patience, and in love. +If a man is unsound in his faith, the clergy take the ecclesiastical +sword and cut him off at once. But he may be ever so unsound in +charity, in patience, and nothing is said about that. We must be sound +in faith, in love, and in patience if we are to be true to God. + +How delightful it is to meet a man who can control his temper! It is +said of Wilberforce that a friend once found him in the greatest +agitation, looking for a dispatch he had mislaid, for which one of the +royal family was waiting. Just then, as if to make it still more +trying, a disturbance was heard in the nursery. + +"Now," thought the friend, "surely his temper will give way." + +The thought had hardly passed through his mind when Wilberforce turned +to him and said: + +"What a blessing it is to hear those dear children! Only think what a +relief, among other hurries, to hear their voices and know they are +well." + +Covetousness. + +Take the sin of _covetousness_. There is more said in the Bible +against it than against drunkenness. I must get it out of me--destroy +it, root and branch--and not let it have dominion over me. We think +that a man who gets drunk is a horrid monster, but a covetous man will +often be received into the church, and put into office, who is as vile +and black in the sight of God as any drunkard. + +The most dangerous thing about this sin is that it is not generally +regarded as very heinous. Of course we all have a contempt for misers, +but all covetous men are not misers. Another thing to be noted about +it is that it fastens upon the old rather than upon the young. + +Let us see what the Bible says about covetousness:-- + +"Mortify therefore your members . . . covetousness, which is +idolatry." + +"No covetous man hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God." + +"They that will be (that is, desire to be) rich fall into temptation +and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men +in destruction and perdition. + +For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some +coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves +through with many sorrows." + +"The wicked blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth." + +Covetousness enticed Lot into Sodom. It caused the destruction of +Achan and all his house. It was the iniquity of Balaam. It was the sin +of Samuel's sons. It left Gehazi a leper. It sent the rich young ruler +away sorrowful. It led Judas to sell his Master and Lord. It brought +about the death of Ananias and Sapphira. It was the blot in the +character of Felix. What victims it has had in all ages! + +Do you say: "How am I going to check covetousness?" + +Well,--I don't think there is any difficulty about that. If you find +yourself getting very covetous--very miserly--wanting to get +everything you can into your possession--just begin to scatter. Just +say to covetousness that you will strangle it, and rid it out of your +disposition. + +A wealthy farmer in New York state, who had been a noted miser, a very +selfish man, was converted. Soon after his conversion a poor man came +to him one day to ask for help. He had been burned out, and had no +provisions. This young convert thought he would be liberal and give +him a ham from his smoke house. He started toward the smoke-house, and +on the way the tempter said, + +"Give him the smallest one you have." + +He struggled all the way as to whether he would give a large or a +small one. In order to overcome his selfishness, he took down the +biggest ham and gave it to the man. + +The tempter said, "You are a fool." + +But he replied, "If you don't keep still, I will give him every ham I +have in the smoke-house." + +If you find that you are selfish, give something. Determine to +overcome that spirit of selfishness, and to keep your body under, no +matter what it may cost. + +Mr. Durant told me he was engaged by Goodyear to defend the rubber +patent, and he was to have half of the money that came from the +patent, if he succeeded. One day he woke up to find that he was a rich +man, and he said that the greatest struggle of his life then took +place as to whether he would let money be his master, or he be master +of money, whether he would be its slave, or make it a slave to him. At +last he got the victory, and that is how Wellesley College was built. + +Are You Jealous, Envious? + +Go and do a good turn for that person of whom you are jealous. That is +the way to cure jealousy; it will kill it. Jealousy is a devil, it is +a horrid monster. The poets imagined that Envy dwelt in a dark cave, +being pale and thin, looking asquint, never rejoicing except in the +misfortune of others, and hurting himself continually. + +There is a fable of an eagle which could outfly another, and the other +didn't like it. The latter saw a sportsman one day, and said to him, + +"I wish you would bring down that eagle." + +The sportsman replied that he would if he only had some feathers to +put into the arrow. So the eagle pulled one out of his wing. The arrow +was shot, but didn't quite reach the rival eagle; it was flying too +high. The envious eagle pulled out more feathers, and kept pulling +them out until he lost so many that he couldn't fly, and then the +sportsman turned around and killed him. My friend, if you are jealous, +the only man you can hurt is yourself. + +There were two business men--merchants--and there was great rivalry +between them, a great deal of bitter feeling. One of them was +converted. He went to his minister and said, + +"I am still jealous of that man, and I do not know how to overcome +it." + +"Well," he said, "if a man comes into your store to buy goods, and you +cannot supply him, just send him over to your neighbor." + +He said he wouldn't like to do that. + +"Well," the minister said, "you do it and you will kill jealousy." + +He said he would, and when a customer came into his store for goods +which he did not have, he would tell him to go across the street to +his neighbor's. By and by the other began to send his customers over +to this man's store, and the breach was healed. + +Pride. + +Then there is _pride_. This is another of those sins which the Bible +so strongly condemns, but which the world hardly reckons as a sin at +all. "An high look and a proud heart is sin." "Everyone that is proud +in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though hand join in hand, he +shall not be unpunished." Christ included pride among those evil +things which, proceeding out of the heart of a man, defile him. + +People have an idea that it is just the wealthy who are proud. But go +down on some of the back streets, and you will find that some of the +very poorest are as proud as the richest. It is the heart, you know. +People that haven't any money are just as proud as those that have. We +have got to crush it out. It is an enemy. You needn't be proud of your +face, for there is not one but that after ten days in the grave the +worms would be eating your body. There is nothing to be proud of--is +there? Let us ask God to deliver us from pride. + +You can't fold your arms and say, "Lord, take it out of me"; but just +go and work with Him. + +Mortify your pride by cultivating humility. "Put on, therefore," says +Paul, "as the elect of God, holy and beloved, . . . humbleness of +mind." "Be clothed with humility," says Peter. "Blessed are the poor +in spirit." + + + +PART III. + +EXTERNAL FOES. + +What are our enemies without? What does James say? "Know ye not that +the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore +will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." And John? "Love +not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man +love the world, the love of the Father is not in him." + +Now, people want to know what is _the world_. When you talk with them +they say: + +"Well, when you say 'the world,' what do you mean?" + +Here we have the answer in the next verse: "For all that is in the +world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride +of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world +passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God +abideth forever." + +"The world" does not mean nature around us. God nowhere tells us that +the material world is an enemy to be overcome. On the contrary, we +read: "The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, +and they that dwell therein." "The heavens declare the glory of God; +and the firmament sheweth His handywork." + +It means "human life and society as far as alienated from God, through +being centered on material aims and objects, and thus opposed to God's +Spirit and kingdom." Christ said: "If the world hate you, ye know that +it hated Me before it hated you . . . the world hath hated them +because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." +Love of the world means the forgetfulness of the eternal future by +reason of love for passing things. + +How can the world be overcome? Not by education, not by experience; +only by faith. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even +our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth +that Jesus is the Son of God?" + +Worldly Habits and Fashions. + +For one thing we must fight _worldly habits and fashions_. We must +often go against the customs of the world. I have great respect for a +man who can stand up for what he believes is right against all the +world. He who can stand alone is a hero. + +Suppose it is the custom for young men to do certain things you +wouldn't like your mother to know of--things that your mother taught +you are wrong. You may have to stand up alone among all your +companions. + +They will say: "You can't get away from your mother, eh? Tied to your +mother's apron strings!" + +But just you say: "Yes! I have some respect for my mother. She taught +me what is right, and she is the best friend I have. I believe that is +wrong, and I am going to stand for the right." If you have to stand +alone, _stand_. Enoch did it, and Joseph, and Elisha, and Paul. God +has kept such men in all ages. + +Someone says: "I move in society where they have wine parties. I know +it is rather a dangerous thing because my son is apt to follow me. But +I can stop just where I want to; perhaps my son hasn't got the same +power as I have, and he may go over the dam. But it is the custom in +the society where I move." + +Once I got into a place where I had to get up and leave. I was invited +into a home, and they had a late supper, and there were seven kinds of +liquor on the table. I am ashamed to say they were Christian people. A +deacon urged a young lady to drink until her face flushed. I rose from +the table and went out; I felt that it was no place for me. They +considered me very rude. That was going against custom; that was +entering a protest against such an infernal thing. Let us go against +custom, when it leads astray. + +I was told in a southern college, some years ago, that no man was +considered a first class gentleman who did not drink. Of course it is +not so now. + +Pleasure. + +Another enemy is _worldly pleasure_. A great many people are just +drowned in pleasure. They have no time for any meditation at all. Many +a man has been lost to society, and lost to his family, by giving +himself up to the god of pleasure. God wants His children to be happy, +but in a way that will help and not hinder them. + +A lady came to me once and said: "Mr. Moody, I wish you would tell me +how I can become a Christian." The tears were rolling down her cheeks, +and she was in a very favorable mood; "but," she said, "I don't want +to be one of your kind." + +"Well," I asked, "have I got any peculiar kind? What is the matter +with my Christianity?" + +"Well," she said, "my father was a doctor, and had a large practice, +and he used to get so tired that he used to take us to the theater. +There was a large family of girls, and we had tickets for the theaters +three or four times a week. I suppose we were there a good deal +oftener than we were in church. I am married to a lawyer, and he has a +large practice. He gets so tired that he takes us out to the theater," +and she said, "I am far better acquainted with the theater and theater +people than with the church and church people, and I don't want to +give up the theater." + +"Well," I said, "did you ever hear me say anything about theaters? +There have been reporters here every day for all the different papers, +and they are giving my sermons verbatim in one paper. Have you ever +seen anything in the sermons against the theaters?" + +She said, "No." + +"Well," I said, "I have seen you in the audience every afternoon for +several weeks and have you heard me say anything against theaters?" + +No, she hadn't. + +"Well," I said, "what made you bring them up?" "Why, I supposed you +didn't believe in theaters." "What made you think that?" + +"Why," she said, "Do you ever go?" + +"No." + +"Why don't you go?" + +"Because I have got something better. I would sooner go out into the +street and eat dirt than do some of the things I used to do before I +became a Christian." + +"Why!" she said, "I don't understand." + +"Never mind," I said. "When Jesus Christ has the pre-eminence, you +will understand it all. He didn't come down here and say we shouldn't +go here and we shouldn't go there, and lay down a lot of rules; but He +laid down great principles. Now, He says if you love Him you will take +delight in pleasing Him." And I began to preach Christ to her. The +tears started again. She said: + +"I tell you, Mr. Moody, that sermon on the indwelling Christ yesterday +afternoon just broke my heart. I admire Him, and I want to be a +Christian, but I don't want to give up the theaters." + +I said, "Please don't mention them again. I don't want to talk about +theaters. I want to talk to you about Christ." So I took my Bible, and +I read to her about Christ. + +But she said again, "Mr. Moody, can I go to the theater if I become a +Christian?" + +"Yes," I said, "you can go to the theater just as much as you like if +you are a real, true Christian, and can go with His blessing." + +"Well," she said, "I am glad you are not so narrow-minded as some." + +She felt quite relieved to think that she could go to the theaters and +be a Christian. But I said, + +"If you can go to the theater for the glory of God, keep on going; +only be sure that you go for the glory of God. If you are a Christian +you will be glad to do whatever will please Him." + +I really think she became a Christian that day. The burden had gone, +there was joy; but just as she was leaving me at the door, she said, + +"I am not going to give up the theater." + +In a few days she came back to me and said, "Mr. Moody, I understand +all about that theater business now. I went the other night. There was +a large party at our house, and my husband wanted us to go, and we +went; but when the curtain lifted, everything looked so different. I +said to my husband, 'This is no place for me; this is horrible. I am +not going to stay here, I am going home.' He said, 'Don't make a fool +of yourself. Everyone has heard that you have been converted in the +Moody meetings, and if you go out, it will be all through fashionable +society, I beg of you don't make a fool of yourself by getting up and +going out.' But I said, 'I have been making a fool of myself all of my +life.'" + +Now, the theater hadn't changed, but she had got something better and +she was going to overcome the world. "They that are after the flesh do +mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the +things of the Spirit." When Christ has the first place in your heart +you are going to get victory. Just do whatever you know will please +Him. The great objection I have to these things is that they get the +mastery, and become a hindrance to spiritual growth. + +Business. + +It may be that we have got to overcome in _business_. Perhaps it is +business morning, noon and night, and Sundays, too. When a man will +drive like Jehu all the week and like a snail on Sunday, isn't there +something wrong with him? Now, business is legitimate; and a man is +not, I think, a good citizen that will not go out and earn his bread +by the sweat of his brow; and he ought to be a good business man, and +whatever he does, do thoroughly. At the same time, if he lays his +whole heart on his business, and makes a god of it, and thinks more of +it than anything else, then the world has come in. It may be very +legitimate in its place--like fire, which, in its place, is one of the +best friends of man; out of place, is one of the worst enemies of +man;--like water, which we cannot live without; and yet, when not in +place, it becomes an enemy. + +So my friends, that is the question for you and me to settle. Now look +at yourself. Are you getting the victory? Are you growing more even in +your disposition? are you getting mastery over the world and the +flesh? + +And bear this in mind: Every temptation you overcome makes you +stronger to overcome others, while every temptation that defeats you +makes you weaker. You can become weaker and weaker, or you can become +stronger and stronger. Sin takes the pith out of your sinews, but +virtue makes you stronger. How many men have been overcome by some +little thing! Turn a moment to the Song of Solomon, the second +chapter, fifteenth verse: "Take us the foxes, the little foxes that +spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." A great many +people seem to think these little things--getting out of patience, +using little deceits, telling white lies (as they call them), and when +somebody calls on you sending word by the servant you are not at +home--all these are little things. Sometimes you can brace yourself up +against a great temptation; and almost before you know it you fall +before some little thing. A great many men are overcome by a little +_persecution_. + +Persecution. + +Do you know, I don't think we have enough persecution now-a-days. Some +people say we have persecution that is just as hard to bear as in the +Dark Ages. Anyway, I think it would be a good thing if we had a little +of the old fashioned kind just now. It would bring out the strongest +characters, and make us all healthier. I have heard men get up in +prayer-meeting, and say they were going to make a few remarks, and +then keep on till you would think they were going to talk all week. If +we had a little persecution, people of that kind wouldn't talk so +much. Spurgeon used to say some Christians would make good martyrs; +they would burn well, they are so dry. If there were a few stakes for +burning Christians, I think it would take all the piety out of some +men. I admit they haven't got much; but then if they are not willing +to suffer a little persecution for Christ, they are not fit to be His +disciples. We are told: "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus +shall suffer persecution." Make up your mind to this: If the world has +nothing to say against you, Jesus Christ will have nothing to say for +you. + +The most glorious triumphs of the Church have been won in times of +persecution. The early church was persecuted for about three hundred +years after the crucifixion, and they were years of growth and +progress. But then, as Saint Augustine has said, the cross passed from +the scene of public executions to the diadem of the Caesars, and the +down-grade movement began. When the Church has joined hands with the +State, it has invariably retrograded in spirituality and +effectiveness; but the opposition of the State has only served to +purify it of all dross. It was persecution that gave Scotland to +Presbyterianism. It was persecution that gave this country to civil +and religious freedom. + +How are we to overcome in time of persecution? Hear the words of +Christ: "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer: +I have overcome the world." Paul could testify that though persecuted, +he was never forsaken; that the Lord stood by him, and strengthened +him, and delivered him out of all his persecutions and afflictions. + +A great many shrink from the Christian life because they will be +_sneered at_. And then, sometimes when persecution won't bring a man +down, _flattery_ will. Foolish persons often come up to a man after he +has preached and flatter him. Sometimes ladies do that. Perhaps they +will say to some worker in the church: "You talk a great deal better +than so-and-so"; and he becomes proud, and begins to strut around as +if he was the most important person in the town. I tell you, we have a +wily devil to contend with. If he can't overcome you with opposition, +he will try flattery or ambition; and if that doesn't serve his +purpose, perhaps there will come some affliction or disappointment, +and he will overcome in way. But remember that anyone that has got +Christ to help him can overcome every foe, and overcome them singly or +collectively. Let them come. If we have got Christ within us, we will +overthrow them all. Remember what Christ is able to do. In all the +ages men have stood in greater temptations than you and I will ever +have to meet. + +Now, there is one more thing on this line: I have either got to +overcome the world, or the world is going to overcome me. I have +either got to conquer sin in me--or sin about me--and get it under my +feet, or it is going to conquer me. A good many people are satisfied +with one or two victories, and think that is all. I tell you, my dear +friends, we have got to do something more than that. It is a battle +all the time. We have this to encourage us: we are assured of victory +at the end. We are promised a glorious triumph. + +Eight "Overcomes." + +Let me give you the eight "overcomes" of Revelation. + +The first is: "_To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree +of life_." He shall have a right to the tree of life. When Adam fell, +he lost that right. God turned him out of Eden lest he should eat of +the tree of life and live as he was forever. Perhaps He just took that +tree and transplanted it to the Garden above; and through the second +Adam we are to have the right to eat of it. + +Second: "_He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death_." +Death has no terrors for him, it cannot touch him. Why? Because Christ +tasted death for every man. Hence he is on resurrection ground. Death +may take this body, but that is all. This is only the house I live in. +We need have no fear of death if we overcome. + +Third: "_To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden +manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name +written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it_." If I +overcome God will feed me with bread that the world knows nothing +about, and give me a new name. + +Fourth: "_He that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to +him will I give power over the nations_." Think of it! What a thing to +have; power over the nations! A man that is able to rule himself is +the man that God can trust with power. Only a man who can govern +himself is fit to govern other men. I have an idea that we are down +here in training, that God is just polishing us for some higher +service. I don't know where the kingdoms are, but it we are to be +kings and priests we must have kingdoms to reign over. + +Fifth: "_He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white +raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but +I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels_." He +shall present us to the Father in white garments, without spot or +wrinkle. Every fault and stain shall be taken out, and we be made +perfect. He that overcomes will not be a stranger in heaven. + +Sixth: "_Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My +God; and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the name +of My God and the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, +which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him +My new name_." Think of it! No more backsliding, no more wanderings +over the dark mountains of sin, but forever with the King, and He +says, "I will write upon him the name of My God." He is going to put +His name upon us. Isn't it grand? Isn't it worth fighting for? It is +said when Mahomet came in sight of Damascus and found that they had +all left the city, he said: "If they won't fight for this city what +will they fight for?" If men won't fight here for all this reward, +what will they fight for? + +Seventh: "_To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My +throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His +throne_." My heart has often melted as I have looked at that. The Lord +of Glory coming down and saying: "I will grant to you to sit on My +throne, even as I sit on My Father's throne, if you will just +overcome." Isn't it worth a struggle? How many will fight for a crown +that is going to fade away! Yet we are to be placed above the angels, +above the archangels, above the seraphim, above the cherubim, away up, +upon the throne with Himself, and there we shall be forever with Him. +May God put strength into every one of us to fight the battle of life, +so that we may sit with Him on His throne. When Frederick of Germany +was dying, his own son would not have been allowed to sit with him on +the throne, nor to have let anyone else sit there with him. Yet we are +told that we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ, and that we are to sit +with Him in glory! + +And now, the last I like best of all: "_He that overcometh shall +inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son_." +My dear friends, isn't that a high calling? I used to have my +Sabbath-school children sing--"I want to be an angel": but I have not +done so for years. We shall be above angels: we shall be sons of God. +Just see what a kingdom we shall come into: we shall inherit all +things! Do you ask me how much I am worth? I don't know. The +Rothschilds cannot compute their wealth. They don't know how many +millions they own. That is my condition--I haven't the slightest idea +how much I am worth. God has no poor children. If we overcome we shall +inherit all things. + +Oh, my dear friends, what an inheritance! Let us then get the victory, +through Jesus Christ our Lord and Master. + + + +RESULTS OF TRUE REPENTANCE. + +I want to call your attention to what true repentance leads to. I am +not addressing the unconverted only, because I am one of those who +believe that there is a good deal of repentance to be done by the +Church before much good will be accomplished in the world. I firmly +believe that the low standard of Christian living is keeping a good +many in the world and in their sins. When the ungodly see that +Christian people do not repent, you cannot expect them to repent and +turn away from their sins. I have repented ten thousand times more +since I knew Christ than ever before; and I think most Christians have +some things to repent of. + +So now I want to preach to Christians as well as to the unconverted; +to myself as well as to one who has never accepted Christ as his +Savior. + +There are five things that flow out of true repentance: + +1. Conviction. + +2. Contrition. + +3. Confession of sin. + +4. Conversion. + +5. Confession of Jesus Christ before the world. + +1. Conviction. + +When a man is not deeply convicted of sin, it is a pretty sure sign +that he has not truly repented. Experience has taught me that men who +have very slight conviction of sin, sooner or later lapse back into +their old life. For the last few years I have been a good deal more +anxious for a deep and true work in professing converts than I have +for great numbers. If a man professes to be converted without +realizing the heinousness of his sins, he is likely to be one of those +stony ground hearers who don't amount to anything. The first breath of +opposition, the first wave of persecution or ridicule, will suck them +back into the world again. + +I believe we are making a woeful mistake in taking so many people into +the Church who have never been truly convicted of sin. Sin is just as +black in a man's heart to-day as it ever was. I sometimes think it is +blacker. For the more light a man has, the greater his responsibility, +and therefore the greater need of deep conviction. + +William Dawson once told this story to illustrate how humble the soul +must be before it can find peace. + +He said that at a revival meeting, a little lad who was used to +Methodist ways, went home to his mother and said, + +"Mother, John So-and-so is under conviction and seeking for peace, but +he will not find it to-night, mother." + +"Why, William?" said she. + +"Because he is only down on one knee, mother, and he will never get +peace until he is down on both knees." + +Until conviction of sin brings us down on both knees, until we are +completely humbled, until we have no hope in ourselves left, we cannot +find the Savior. + +There are three things that lead to conviction: (1) Conscience; (2) +the Word of God; (3) the Holy Spirit. All three are used by God. + +Long before we had any Word, God dealt with men through the +conscience. That is what made Adam and Eve hide themselves from the +presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the Garden of Eden. That +is what convicted Joseph's brethren when they said: "We are verily +guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the anguish of his soul +when he besought us and we would not hear. Therefore," said they (and +remember, over twenty years had passed away since they had sold him +into captivity), "therefore is this distress come upon us." That is +what we must use with our children before they are old enough to +understand about the Word and the Spirit of God. This is what accuses +or excuses the heathen. + +Conscience is "a divinely implanted faculty in man, telling him that +he ought to do right." Someone has said that it was born when Adam and +Eve ate of the forbidden fruit, when their eyes were opened and they +"knew good and evil." It passes judgment, without being invited, upon +our thoughts, words, and actions, approving or condemning according as +it judges them to be right or wrong. A man cannot violate his +conscience without being self-condemned. + +But conscience is not a safe guide, because very often it will not +tell you a thing is wrong until you have done it. It needs +illuminating by God because it partakes of our fallen nature. Many a +person does things that are wrong without being condemned by +conscience. Paul said: "I verily thought with myself that I ought to +do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." Conscience +itself needs to be educated. + +Again, conscience is too often like an alarm clock, which awakens and +arouses at first, but after a time the man becomes used to it, and it +loses its effect. Conscience can be smothered. I think we make a +mistake in not preaching more to the conscience. + +Hence, in due time, conscience was superseded by the law of God, which +in time was fulfilled in Christ. + +In this Christian land, where men have Bibles, these are the agency by +which God produces conviction. The old Book tells you what is right +and wrong before you commit sin, and what you need is to learn and +appropriate its teachings, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. +Conscience compared with the Bible is as a rushlight compared with the +sun in the heavens. + +See how the truth convicted those Jews on the day of Pentecost. Peter, +filled with the Holy Ghost, preached that "God hath made this same +Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." "Now when they +heard this, they were _pricked in their heart_, and said unto Peter +and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?" + +Then, thirdly, the Holy Ghost convicts. I once heard the late Dr. A. +J. Gordon expound that passage--"And when He (the Comforter) is come, +He will reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; +of sin because they believe not on Me,"--as follows:-- + +"Some commentators say there was no real conviction of sin in the +world until the Holy Ghost came. I think that foreign missionaries +will say that that is not true, that a heathen who never heard of +Christ may have a tremendous conviction of sin. For notice that God +gave conscience first, and gave the Comforter afterward. Conscience +bears witness to the law, the Comforter bears witness to Christ. +Conscience brings legal conviction, the Comforter brings evangelical +conviction. Conscience brings conviction unto condemnation, and the +Comforter brings conviction unto justification. 'He shall convince the +world of sin, because they believe not on Me.' That is the sin about +which He convinces. It does not say that He convinces men of sin, +because they have stolen or lied or committed adultery; but the Holy +Ghost is to convince men of sin because they have not believed on +Jesus Christ. The coming of Jesus Christ into the world made a sin +possible that was not possible before. Light reveals darkness; it +takes whiteness to bring conviction concerning blackness. There are +negroes in Central Africa who never dreamed that they were black until +they saw the face of a white man; and there are a great many people in +this world that never knew they were sinful until they saw the face of +Jesus Christ in all its purity. + +Jesus Christ now stands between us and the law. He has fulfilled the +law for us. He has settled all claims of the law, and now whatever +claim it had upon us has been transferred to Him, so that it is no +longer the _sin_ question, but the _Son_ question, that confronts us. +And, therefore, you notice that the first thing Peter does when he +begins to preach after the Holy Ghost has been sent down is about +Christ: 'Him being delivered by the determinate counsel of God, ye +have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.' It doesn't +say a word about any other kind of sin. That is the sin that runs all +through Peter's teaching, and as he preached, the Holy Ghost came down +and convicted them, and they cried out, 'What shall we do to be +saved?' + +Well, but we had no part in crucifying Christ; therefore, what is our +sin? It is the same sin in another form. They were convicted of +crucifying Christ; we are convicted because we have not believed on +Christ crucified. They were convicted because they had despised and +rejected God's Son. The Holy Ghost convicts us because we have not +believed in the Despised and Rejected One. It is really the same sin +in both cases--the sin of unbelief in Christ." + +Some of the most powerful meetings I have ever been in were those in +which there came a sort of hush over the people, and it seemed as if +an unseen power gripped their consciences. I remember a man coming to +one meeting, and the moment he entered, he felt that God was there. +There came an awe upon him, and that very hour he was convicted and +converted. + +2. Contrition. + +The next thing is contrition, deep Godly sorrow and humiliation of +heart because of sin. If there is not true contrition, a man will turn +right back into the old sin. That is the trouble with many Christians. + +A man may get angry, and if there is not much contrition, the next day +he will get angry again. A daughter may say mean, cutting things to +her mother, and then her conscience troubles her, and she says: + +"Mother, I am sorry: forgive me." + +But soon there is another outburst of temper, because the contrition +is not deep and real. A husband speaks sharp words to his wife, and +then to ease his conscience, he goes and buys her a bouquet of +flowers. He will not go like a man and say he has done wrong. + +What God wants is contrition, and if there is not contrition, there is +not full repentance. "The Lord is nigh to the broken of heart, and +saveth such as be contrite of spirit." "A broken and a contrite heart, +O God, Thou wilt not despise." Many sinners are sorry for their sins, +sorry that they cannot continue in sin; but they repent only with +hearts that are not broken. I don't think we know how to repent +now-a-days. We need some John the Baptist, wandering through the land, +crying: "Repent! repent!" + +3. Confession of Sin. + +If we have true contrition, that will lead us to confess our sins. I +believe that nine-tenths of the trouble in our Christian life comes +from failing to do this. We try to hide and cover up our sins; there +is very little confession of them. Someone has said: "Unconfessed sin +in the soul is like a bullet in the body." + +If you have no power, it may be there is some sin that needs to be +confessed, something in your life that needs straightening out. There +is no amount of psalm-singing, no amount of attending religious +meetings, no amount of praying or reading your Bible that is going to +cover up anything of that kind. It must be confessed, and if I am too +proud to confess, I need expect no mercy from God and no answers to my +prayers. The Bible says: "He that covereth his sins shall not +prosper." He may be a man in the pulpit, a priest behind the altar, a +king on the throne; I don't care who he is. Man has been trying it for +six thousand years. Adam tried it, and failed. Moses tried it when he +buried the Egyptian whom he killed, but he failed. "Be sure your sin +will find you out." You cannot bury your sin so deep but it will have +a resurrection by and by, if it has not been blotted out by the Son of +God. What man has failed to do for six thousand years, you and I had +better give up trying to do. + +There are three ways of confessing sin. All sin is against God, and +must be confessed to Him. There are some sins I need never confess to +anyone on earth. If the sin has been between myself and God, I may +confess it alone in my closet: I need not whisper it in the ear of any +mortal. "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee." +"Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy +sight." + +But if I have done some man a wrong, and he knows that I have wronged +him, I must confess that sin not only to God but also to that man. If +I have too much pride to confess it to him, I need not come to God. I +may pray, and I may weep, but it will do no good. First confess to +that man, and then go to God and see how quickly He will hear you, and +send peace. "If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there +rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy +gift before the altar, and go thy ways. First be reconciled to thy +brother, and then come and offer thy gift." That is the Scripture way. + +Then there is another class of sins that must be confessed publicly. +Suppose I have been known as a blasphemer, a drunkard, or a reprobate. +If I repent of my sins, I owe the public a confession. The confession +should be as public as the transgression. Many a person will say some +mean thing about another in the presence of others, and then try to +patch it up by going to that person alone. The confession should be +made so that all who heard the transgression can hear it. + +We are good at confessing other people's sins, but if it is true +repentance, we shall have as much as we can do to look after our own. +When a man or woman gets a good look into God's looking glass, he is +not finding fault with other people: he has as much as he can do at +home. + +"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our +sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Thank God for the +Gospel! Church member, if there is any sin in your life, make up your +mind that you will confess it, and be forgiven. Do not have any cloud +between you and God. Be able to read your title clear to the mansion +Christ has gone to prepare for you. + +4. Conversion. + +Confession leads to true conversion, and there is no conversion at all +until these three steps have been taken. + +Now the word "conversion" means two things. We say a man is +"converted" when he is born again. But it also has a different meaning +in the Bible. Peter said: "Repent, and be converted." The Revised +Version reads: "Repent, and _turn_." Paul said that he was not +disobedient unto the heavenly vision, but began to preach to Jews and +Gentiles that they should repent and _turn_ to God. Some old divine +has said: "Every man is born with his back to God. Repentance is a +change of one's course. It is right about face." + +Sin is a turning away from God. As someone has said, it is _aversion_ +from God and _conversion_ to the world: and true repentance means +conversion to God and aversion from the world. When there is true +contrition, the heart is broken _for_ sin; when there is true +conversion, the heart is broken _from_ sin. We leave the old life, we +are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of +light. Wonderful, isn't it? + +Unless our repentance includes this conversion, it is not worth much. +If a man continues in sin, it is proof of an idle profession. It is +like pumping away continually at the ship's pumps, without stopping +the leaks. Solomon said:--"If they pray, and confess thy name, and +turn from their sin . . ." Prayer and confession would be of no avail +while they continued in sin. Let us heed God's call; let us forsake +the old wicked way; let us return unto the Lord, and He will have +mercy upon us; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. + +If you have never turned to God, turn now. I have no sympathy with the +idea that it takes six months, or six weeks, or six hours to be +converted. It doesn't take you very long to turn around, does it? If +you know you are wrong, then turn right about. + +5. Confession of Christ. + +If you are converted, the next step is confess it openly. Listen: "If +thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and shalt +believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou +shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, +and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." + +Confession of Christ is the culmination of the work of true +repentance. We owe it to the world, to our fellow-Christians, to +ourselves. He died to redeem us, and shall we be ashamed or afraid to +confess Him? Religion as an abstraction, as a doctrine, has little +interest for the world, but what people can say from personal +experience always has weight. + +I remember some meetings being held in a locality where the tide did +not rise very quickly, and bitter and reproachful things were being +said about the work. But one day, one of the most prominent men in the +place rose and said: + +"I want it to be known that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ; and if +there is any odium to be cast on His cause, I am prepared to take my +share of it." + +It went through the meeting like an electric current, and a blessing +came at once to his own soul and to the souls of others. + +Men come to me and say: "Do you mean to affirm, Mr. Moody, that I've +got to make a public confession when I accept Christ; do you mean to +say I've got to confess Him in my place of business, and in my family? +Am I to let the whole world know that I am on His side?" + +That is precisely what I mean. A great many are willing to accept +Christ, but they are not willing to publish it, to confess it. A great +many are looking at the lions and the bears in the way. Now, my +friends, the devil's mountains are only made of smoke. He can throw a +straw into your path and make a mountain of it. He says to you: "You +cannot confess and pray to your family; why, you'll break down! You +cannot tell it to your shopmate; he will laugh at you." But when you +accept Christ, you will have power to confess Him. + +There was a young man in the West--it was the West in those days--who +had been more or less interested about his soul's salvation. One +afternoon, in his office, he said: + +"I will accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior." + +He went home and told his wife (who was a nominal professor of +religion) that he had made up his mind to serve Christ; and he added: + +"After supper to-night I am going to take the company into the +drawing-room, and erect the family altar." + +"Well," said his wife, "you know some of the gentlemen who are coming +to tea are sceptics, and they are older than you are, and don't you +think you had better wait until after they have gone, or else go out +in the kitchen and have your first prayer with the servants?" + +The young man thought for a few moments, and then he said: + +"I have asked Jesus Christ into my house for the first time, and I +shall take Him into the best room, not into the kitchen." + +So he called his friends into the drawing room. There was a little +sneering, but he read and prayed. That man afterwards became Chief +Justice of the United States Court. Never be ashamed of the Gospel of +Christ: it is the power of God unto salvation. + +A young man enlisted, and was sent to his regiment. The first night he +was in the barracks with about fifteen other young men who passed the +time playing cards and gambling. Before retiring, he fell on his knees +and prayed, and they began to curse him and jeer at him and throw +boots at him. + +So it went on the next night and the next, and finally the young man +went and told the chaplain what had taken place, and asked what he +should do. + +"Well," said the chaplain, "you are not at home now, and the other men +have just as much right in the barracks as you have. It makes them mad +to hear you pray, and the Lord will hear you just as well if you say +your prayers in bed and don't provoke them." + +For weeks after the chaplain did not see the young man again, but one +day he met him, and asked-- + +"By the way, did you take my advice?" + +"I did, for two or three nights." + +"How did it work?" + +"Well," said the young man, "I felt like a whipped hound, and the +third night I got out of bed, knelt down and prayed." + +"Well," asked the chaplain, "how did that work?" + +The young soldier answered: "We have a prayer-meeting there now every +night, and three have been converted, and we are praying for the +rest." + +Oh, friends, I am so tired of weak Christianity. Let us be out and out +for Christ; let us give no uncertain sound. If the world wants to call +us fools, let them do it. It is only a little while; the crowning day +is coming. Thank God for the privilege we have of confessing Christ. + + + +TRUE WISDOM. + +"They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and +they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." +Dan. 12:3. + +That is the testimony of an old man, and one who had the richest and +deepest experience of any man living on the face of the earth at the +time. He was taken down to Babylon when a young man; some Bible +students think he was not more than twenty years of age. If anyone had +said, when this young Hebrew was carried away into captivity, that he +would outrank all the mighty men of that day--that all the generals +who had been victorious in almost every nation at that time were to be +eclipsed by this young slave--probably no one would have believed it. +Yet for five hundred years no man whose life is recorded in history +shone as did this man. He outshone Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus, +Darius, and all the princes and mighty monarchs of his day. + +We are not told when he was converted to a knowledge of the true God, +but I think we have good reason to believe that he had been brought +under the influence of Jeremiah the prophet. Evidently some earnest, +godly man, and no worldly professor, had made a deep impression upon +him. Someone had at any rate taught him how he was to serve God. + +We hear people nowadays talking about the hardness of the field where +they labor; they say their position is a very peculiar one. Think of +the field in which Daniel had to work. He was not only a slave, but he +was held captive by a nation that detested the Hebrews. The language +was unknown to him. There he was among idolaters; yet he commenced at +once to shine. He took his stand for God from the very first, and so +he went on through his whole life. He gave the dew of his youth to +God, and he continued faithful right on till his pilgrimage was ended. + +Notice that all those who have made a deep impression on the world, +and have shone most brightly have been men who lived in a dark day. +Look at Joseph; he was sold as a slave into Egypt by the Ishmaelites; +yet he took his God with him into captivity, as Daniel afterwards did. +And he remained true to the last; he did not give up his faith because +he had been taken away from home and placed among idolaters. He stood +firm, and God stood by him. + +Look at Moses who turned his back upon the gilded palaces of Egypt, +and identified himself with his despised and down-trodden nation. If a +man ever had a hard field it was Moses; yet he shone brightly, and +never proved unfaithful to his God. + +Elijah lived in a far darker day than we do. The whole nation was +going over to idolatry. Ahab and his queen, and all the royal court +were throwing their influence against the worship of the true God. Yet +Elijah stood firm, and shone brightly in that dark and evil day. How +his name stands out on the page of history! + +Look at John the Baptist. I used to think I would like to live in the +days of the prophets; but I have given up that idea. You may be sure +that when a prophet appears on the scene, everything is dark, and the +professing Church of God has gone over to the service of the god of +this world. So it was when John the Baptist made his appearance. See +how his name shines out to-day! Eighteen centuries have rolled away, +and yet the fame of that wilderness preacher shines brighter than +ever. He was looked down upon in his day and generation, but he has +outlived all his enemies; his name will be revered and his work +remembered as long as the Church is on the earth. + +Talk about your field being a hard one! See how Paul shone for God as +he went out, the first missionary to the heathen, telling them of the +God whom he served, and who had sent His Son to die a cruel death in +order to save the world. Men reviled him and his teachings; they +laughed him to scorn when he spoke of the crucified One. But he went +on preaching the Gospel of the Son of God. He was regarded as a poor +tent-maker by the great and mighty ones of his day; but no one can now +tell the name of any of his persecutors, or of those who lived at that +time, unless their names happen to be associated with his, and they +were brought into contact with him. + +Now the fact is, all men like to shine. We may as well acknowledge it +at once. Go into business circles, and see how men struggle to get +into the front rank. Everyone wants to outshine his neighbor and to +stand at the head of his profession. Go into the political world, and +see how there is a struggle going on as to who shall be the greatest. +If you go into a school, you find that there is a rivalry among the +boys and girls. They all want to stand at the top of the class. When a +boy does reach this position and outranks all the rest, the mother is +very proud of it. She will manage to tell all the neighbors how +Johnnie has got on, and what a number of prizes he has gained. + +Go into the army and you find the same thing--one trying to outstrip +the other; everyone is very anxious to shine and rise above his +comrades. Go among the young men in their games, and see how anxious +the one is to outdo the other. So we have all that desire in us; we +like to shine above our fellows. + +And yet there are very few who can really shine in the world. Once in +a while one man will outstrip all his competitors. Every four years +what a struggle goes on throughout our country as to who shall be the +President of the United States, the battle raging for six months or a +year. Yet only one man can get the prize. There are a good many +struggling to get the place, but many are disappointed, because only +one can attain the coveted prize. But in the kingdom of God the very +least and the very weakest may shine if they will. Not only can _one_ +obtain the prize, but _all_ may have it if they will. + +It does not say in this passage that the statesmen are going to shine +as the brightness of the firmament. The statesmen of Babylon are gone; +their very names are forgotten. + +It does not say that the nobility are going to shine. Earth's nobility +are soon forgotten. John Bunyan, the Bedford tinker, has outlived the +whole crowd of those who were the nobility in his day. They lived for +self, and their memory is blotted out. He lived for God and for souls, +and his name is as fragrant as ever it was. + +We are not told that the merchants are going to shine. Who can tell +the name of any of the millionaires of Daniel's day? They were all +buried in oblivion a few years after their death. Who were the mighty +conquerors of that day? But few can tell. It is true that we hear of +Nebuchadnezzar, but probably we should not have known very much about +him but of his relations to the prophet Daniel. + +How different with this faithful prophet of the Lord! Twenty five +centuries have passed away, and his name shines on, and on, and on, +brighter and brighter. And it is going to shine while the Church of +God exists. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the +firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars +forever and ever." + +How quickly the glory of this world fades away! Eighty years ago the +great Napoleon almost made the earth to tremble. How he blazed and +shone as an earthly warrior for a little while! A few years passed and +a little island held that once proud and mighty conqueror; he died a +poor broken-hearted prisoner. Where is he to-day? Almost forgotten. +Who in all the world will say that Napoleon lives in their heart's +affections? + +But look at this despised and hated Hebrew prophet. They wanted to put +him into the lions' den because he was too sanctimonious and too +religious Yet see how green his memory is to-day! How his name is +loved and honored for his faithfulness to his God. + +Many years ago I was in Paris, at the time of the Great Exhibition. +Napoleon the Third was then in his glory. Cheer after cheer would rise +as he drove along the streets of the city. A few short years, and he +fell from his lofty estate. He died an exile from his country and his +throne, and where is his name today? Very few think about him at all, +and if his name is mentioned it is not with love and esteem. How empty +and short lived are the glory and the pride of this world! If we are +wise, we will live for God and eternity; we will get outside of +ourselves, and will care nothing for the honor and glory of this +world. In Proverbs we read: "He that winneth souls is wise." If any +man, woman, or child by a Godly life and example can win one soul to +God, their life will not have been a failure. They will have outshone +all the mighty men of their day, because they will have set a stream +in motion that will flow on and on forever and ever. + +God has left us down here to shine. We are not here to buy and sell +and get gain, to accumulate wealth, to acquire worldly position. This +earth, if we are Christians, is not our home; it is up yonder. God has +sent us into the world to shine for Him--to light up this dark world. +Christ came to be the Light of the world, but men put out that light. +They took it to Calvary, and blew it out. Before Christ went up on +high, He said to His disciples: "Ye are the light of the world. Ye are +my witnesses. Go forth and carry the Gospel to the perishing nations +of the earth." + +So God has called us to shine, just as much as Daniel was sent into +Babylon to shine. Let no man or woman say that they cannot shine +because they have not so much influence as some others may have. What +God wants you to do is to use the influence you have. Daniel probably +did not have much influence down in Babylon at first, but God soon +gave him more, because he was faithful and used what he had. + +Remember a small light will do a good deal when it is in a very dark +place. Put one little tallow candle in the middle of a large hall, and +it will give a good deal of light. + +Away out in the prairie regions, when meetings are held at night in +the log schoolhouses, the announcement of the meeting is given out in +this way: + +"A meeting will be held by early candlelight." + +The first man who comes brings a tallowdip with him. It is perhaps all +he has; but he brings it, and sets it on the desk. It does not light +the building much; but it is better than nothing at all. The next man +brings his candle; and the next family bring theirs. By the time the +house is full, there is plenty of light. So if we all shine a little, +there will be a good deal of light. That is what God wants us to do. +If we cannot all be lighthouses, any one of us can at any rate be a +tallow candle. + +A little light will sometimes do a great deal. The city of Chicago was +set on fire by a cow kicking over a lamp, and a hundred thousand +people were burnt out of house and home. Do not let Satan get the +advantage of you, and make you think that because you cannot do any +great thing you cannot do anything at all. + +Then we must remember that we are to _let_ our light shine. It does +not say, "_Make_ your light shine." You do not have to _make_ light to +shine; all you have to do is to _let_ it shine. + +I remember hearing of a man at sea who was very seasick. If there is a +time when a man feels that he cannot do any work for the Lord it is +then--in my opinion. While this man was sick, he heard that someone +had fallen overboard. He was wondering if he could do anything to help +to save the man. He laid hold of a light, and held it up to the +port-hole. The drowning man was saved. When this man got over his +attack of sickness, he went on deck one day and was talking with the +man who was rescued. The saved man gave this testimony. He said he had +gone down the second time, and was just going down again for the last +time, when he put out his hand. Just then, he said, someone held a +light at the port-hole, and the light fell on it. A sailor caught him +by the hand and pulled him into the lifeboat. + +It seemed a small thing to do to hold up the light; yet it saved the +man's life. If you cannot do some great thing you can hold the light +for some poor, perishing drunkard, who may be won to Christ and +delivered from destruction. Let us take the torch of salvation and go +into the dark homes, and hold up Christ to the people as the Savior of +the world. If the perishing masses are to be reached, we must lay our +lives right alongside theirs, and pray with them and labor for them. I +would not give much for a man's Christianity if he is saved himself +and is not willing to try and save others. It seems to me the basest +ingratitude if we do not reach out the hand to others who are down in +the same pit from which we were delivered. Who is able to reach and +help drinking men like those who have themselves been slaves to the +intoxicating cup? Will you not go out this very day and seek to rescue +these men? If we were all to do what we can, we should soon empty the +drinking saloons. + +I remember reading of a blind man who was found sitting at the corner +of a street in a great city with a lantern beside him. Someone went up +to him and asked what he had the lantern there for, seeing that he was +blind, and the light was the same to him as the darkness. The blind +man replied: + +"I have it so that no one may stumble over me." + +Dear friends, let us think of that. Where one man reads the Bible, a +hundred read you and me. That is what Paul meant when he said we were +to be living epistles of Christ, known and read of all men. I would +not give much for all that can be done by sermons, if we do not preach +Christ by our lives. If we do not commend the Gospel to people by our +holy walk and conversation, we shall not win them to Christ. Some +little act of kindness will perhaps do more to influence them than any +number of long sermons. + +A vessel was caught in a storm on Lake Erie, and they were trying to +make for the harbor of Cleveland. At the entrance of that port they +had what are called the upper lights and the lower lights. Away back +on the bluffs were the upper lights burning brightly enough; but when +they came near the harbor they could not see the lights showing the +entrance to it. The pilot said he thought they had better get back on +the lake again. The Captain said he was sure they would go down if +they went back, and he urged the pilot to do what he could to gain the +harbor. The pilot said there was very little hope of making the +harbor, as he had nothing to guide him as to how he should steer the +ship. They tried all they could to get her in. She rode on the top of +the waves, and then into the trough of the sea, and at last they found +themselves stranded on the beach, where the vessel was dashed to +pieces. Someone had neglected the lower lights, and they had gone out. + +Let us take warning. God keeps the upper lights burning as brightly as +ever, but He has left us down here to keep the lower lights burning. +We are to represent Him here, as Christ represents us up yonder. I +sometimes think if we had as poor a representative in the courts above +as God has down here on earth, we would have a pretty poor chance of +heaven. Let us have our loins girt and our lights brightly burning, so +that others may see the way and not walk in darkness. + +Speaking of a lighthouse reminds me of what I heard about a man in the +State of Minnesota, who, some years ago, was caught in a fearful +storm. That State is cursed with storms which come sweeping down so +suddenly in the winter time that escape is difficult. The snow will +fall and the wind will beat it into the face of the traveler so that +he cannot see two feet ahead. Many a man has been lost on the prairies +when he has got caught in one of those storms. + +This man was caught and was almost on the point of giving up, when he +saw a little light in a log house. He managed to get there, and found +a shelter from the fury of the tempest. He is now a wealthy man. As +soon as he was able, he bought the farm, and built a beautiful house +on the spot where the log building stood. On the top of a tower he put +a revolving light, and every night when there comes a storm he lights +it up in the hope that it may be the means of saving someone else. + +That is true gratitude, and that is what God wants us to do. If He has +rescued us and brought us up out of the horrible pit, let us be always +looking to see if there is not someone else whom we can help to save. + +I remember hearing of two men who had charge of a revolving light in a +lighthouse on a rock-bound and stormy coast. Somehow the machinery +went wrong, and the light did not revolve. They were so afraid that +those at sea should mistake it for some other light, that they worked +all the night through to keep the light moving round. + +Let us keep our lights in the proper place, so that the world may see +that the religion of Christ is not a sham but a reality. It is said +that in the Grecian sports they had one game where the men ran with +lights. They lit a torch at the altar, and ran a certain distance; +sometimes they were on horseback. If a man came in with his light +still burning, he received a prize; if his light had gone out, he lost +the prize. + +How many there are who, in their old age, have lost their light and +their joy! They were once burning and shining lights in the family, in +the Sunday-school, and in the Church. But something has come in +between them and God--the world or self--and their light has gone out. +Reader, if you are one who has had this experience, may God help you +to come back to the altar of the Savior's love and light up your torch +anew, so that you can go out into the lanes and alleys, and let the +light of the Gospel shine in these dark homes. + +As I have already said, if we only lead one soul to Jesus Christ we +may set a stream in motion that will flow on when we are dead and +gone. Away up the mountain side there is a little spring; it seems so +small that an ox might drink it up at a draught. By and by it becomes +a rivulet; other rivulets run into it. Before long it is a large +brook, and then it becomes a broad river sweeping onward to the sea. +On its banks are cities, towns and villages, where many thousands +live. Vegetation flourishes on every side, and commerce is carried +down its stately bosom to distant lands. + +So if you turn one to Christ, that one may turn a hundred; they may +turn a thousand, and so the stream, small at first, goes on broadening +and deepening as it rolls toward eternity. + +In the book of Revelation we read: "I heard a voice from heaven saying +unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from +henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their +labors; and their works do follow them." + +There are many mentioned in the Scriptures of whom we read that they +lived so many years and then they died. The cradle and the grave are +brought close together; they lived and they died, and that is all we +know about them. So in these days you could write on the tombstone of +a great many professing Christians that they were born on such a day +and they died on such a day; there is nothing whatever between. + +But there is one thing you cannot bury with a good man; his influence +still lives. They have not buried Daniel yet: his influence is as +great today as it ever was. Do you tell me that Joseph is dead? His +influence still lives and will continue to live on and on. You may +bury the frail tenement of clay that a good man lives in, but you +cannot get rid of his influence and example. Paul was never more +powerful than he is to-day. + +Do you tell me that John Howard, who went into so many of the dark +prisons in Europe, is dead? Is Henry Martyn, or Wilberforce, or John +Bunyan dead? Go into the Southern States, and there you will find +millions of men and women who once were slaves. Mention to any of them +the name of Wilberforce, and see how quickly the eye will light up. He +lived for something else besides himself, and his memory will never +die out of the hearts of those for whom he lived and labored. + +Is Wesley or Whitefield dead? The names of those great evangelists +were never more honored than they are now. Is John Knox dead? You can +go to any part of Scotland today, and feel the power of his influence. + +I will tell you who are dead. The enemies of these servants of +God--those who persecuted them and told lies about them. But the men +themselves have outlived all the lies that were uttered concerning +them. Not only that; they will shine in another world. How true are +the words of the old Book: "They that be wise shall shine as the +brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness +as the stars forever and ever." + +Let us go on turning as many as we can to righteousness. Let us be +dead to the world, to its lies, its pleasures, and its ambitions. Let +us live for God, continually going forth to win souls for Him. + +Let me quote a few words by Dr. Chalmers: "Thousands of men breathe, +move and live, pass off the stage of life, and are heard no more--Why? +They do not partake of good in the world, and none were blessed by +them; none could point to them as the means of their redemption; not a +line they wrote, not a word they spoke could be recalled; and so they +perished; their light went out in darkness, and they were not +remembered more than insects of yesterday. Will you thus live and die, +O man immortal? Live for something. Do good, and leave behind you a +monument of virtue that the storms of time can never destroy. Write +your name in kindness, love and mercy, on the hearts of the thousands +you come in contact with year by year; you will never be forgotten. +No, your name, your deeds will be as legible on the hearts you leave +behind as the stars on the brow of evening. Good deeds will shine as +the stars of heaven." + + + +"COME THOU AND ALL THY HOUSE INTO THE ARK." + +I want to call your attention to a text that you will find in the +seventh chapter of Genesis, first verse. When God speaks, you and I +can afford to listen. It is not man speaking now, but it is God. "The +Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark." + +Perhaps some sceptic is reading this, and perhaps some church member +will join with him and say, + +"I hope Mr. Moody is not going to preach about the ark. I thought that +was given up by all intelligent people." + +But I want to say that I haven't given it up. When I do, I am going to +give up the whole Bible. There is hardly any portion of the Old +Testament Scripture but that the Son of God set His seal to it when He +was down here in the world. + +Men say, "I don't believe in the story of the flood." + +Christ connected His own return to this world with that flood: "And as +it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son +of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given +in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the +flood came, and destroyed them all." + +I believe the story of the flood just as much as I do the third +chapter of John. I pity any man that is picking the old Book to +pieces. The moment that we give up any one of these things, we touch +the deity of the Son of God. I have noticed that when a man does begin +to pick the Bible to pieces, it doesn't take him long to tear it all +to pieces. What is the use of being five years about what you can do +in five minutes? + +A Solemn Message. + +One hundred and twenty years before God spake the words of my text, +Noah had received the most awful communication that ever came from +heaven to earth. No man up to that time, and I think no man since, has +ever received such a communication. God said that on account of the +wickedness of the world He was going to destroy the world by water. We +can have no idea of the extent and character of that antediluvian +wickedness. The Bible piles one expression on another, in its effort +to emphasize it. "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the +earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was +only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man +on the earth, and it grieved him at His heart. . . . The earth also +was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And +God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh +had corrupted his way upon the earth." Men lived five hundred years +and more then, and they had time to mature in their sins. + +How the Message was Received. + +For one hundred and twenty years God strove with those antediluvians. +He never smites without warning, and they had their warning. Every +time Noah drove a nail into the ark it was a warning to them. Every +sound of the hammer echoed, "I believe in God." If they had repented +and cried as they did at Nineveh, I believe God would have heard their +cry and spared them. But there was no cry for mercy. I have no doubt +but that they ridiculed the idea that God was going to destroy the +world. I have no doubt but that there were atheists who said there was +not any God anyhow. I got hold of one of them some time ago. I said, + +"How do you account for the formation of the world?" + +"Oh! force and matter work together, and by chance the world was +created." + +I said, "It is a singular thing that your tongue isn't on the top of +your head if force and matter just threw it together in that manner." + +If I should take out my watch and say that force and matter worked +together, and out came the watch, you would say I was a lunatic of the +first order. Wouldn't you? And yet they say that this old world was +made by chance! "It threw itself together!" + +I met a man in Scotland, and he took the ground that there was no God. +I asked him, + +"How do you account for creation, for all these rocks?" (They have a +great many rocks in Scotland.) + +"Why!" he said, "any school boy could account for that." + +"Well, how was the first rock made?" + +"Out of sand." + +"How was the first sand made?" + +"Out of rock." + +You see he had it all arranged so nicely. Sand and rock, rock and +sand. I have no doubt but that Noah had these men to contend with. + +Then there was a class called agnostics, and there are a good many of +their grandchildren, alive to-day. Then there was another class who +said they believed there was a God; they couldn't make themselves +believe that the world happened by chance; but God was too merciful to +punish sin. He was so full of compassion and love that He couldn't +punish sin. The drunkard, the harlot, the gambler, the murderer, the +thief and the libertine would all share alike with the saints at the +end. Supposing the governor of your state was so tender-hearted that +he could not bear to have a man suffer, could not bear to see a man +put in jail, and he should go and set all the prisoners free. How long +would he be governor? You would have him out of office before the sun +set. These very men that talk about God's mercy, would be the first to +raise a cry against a governor who would not have a man put in prison +when he had done wrong. + +Then another class took the ground that God could not destroy the +world anyway. They might have a great flood which would rise up to the +meadowlands and lowlands, but all it would be necessary to do would be +to go up on the hills and mountains. That would be a hundred times +better than Noah's ark. Or if it should come to that, they could build +rafts, which would be a good deal better than that ark. They had never +seen such an ugly looking thing. It was about five hundred feet long, +and about eighty feet wide, and fifty feet high. It had three stories, +and only one small window. + +And then, I suppose there was a large class who took the ground that +Noah must be wrong because he was in such a minority. That is a great +argument now, you know. Noah was greatly in the minority. But he went +on working. + +If they had saloons then, and I don't doubt but that they had, for we +read that there was "violence in the land," and wherever you have +alcohol you have violence. We read also that Noah planted a vineyard +and fell into the sin of intemperance. He was a righteous man, and if +he did that, what must the others have done? Well, if they had +saloons, no doubt they sang ribald songs about Noah and his ark, and +if they had theaters they likely acted it out, and mothers took their +children to see it. + +And if they had the press in those days, every now and then there +would appear a skit about "Noah and his folly." Reporters would come +and interview him, and if they had an Associated Press, every few days +a dispatch would be sent out telling how the work on the ark was +progressing. + +And perhaps they had excursions, and offered as an inducement that +people could go through the ark. And if Noah happened to be around +they would nudge each other and say: + +"That's Noah. Don't you think there is a strange look in his eye?" + +As a Scotchman would say, they thought him a little daft. Thank God a +man can afford to be mad. A mad man thinks everyone else mad but +himself A drunkard does not call himself mad when he is drinking up +all his means. Those men who stand and deal out death and damnation to +men are not called mad; but a man is called mad when he gets into the +ark, and is saved for time and eternity. And I expect if the word +crank was in use, they called Noah "an old crank." + +And so all manner of sport was made of Noah and his ark. And the +business men went on buying and selling, while Noah went on preaching +and toiling. They perhaps had some astronomers, and they were gazing +up at the stars, and saying, "Don't you be concerned. There is no sign +of a coming storm in the heavens. We are very wise men, and if there +was a storm coming, we should read it in the heavens." And they had +geologists digging away, and they said, "There is no sign in the +earth." Even the carpenters who helped build the ark might have made +fun of him, but they were like lots of people at the present day, who +will help build a church, and perhaps give money for its support, but +will never enter it themselves. + +Well, things went on as usual. Little lambs skipped on the hillsides +each spring. Men sought after wealth, and if they had leases, I expect +they ran for longer periods than ours do. We think ninety-nine years a +long time, but I don't doubt but that theirs ran for nine hundred and +ninety nine years. And when they came to sign a lease they would say +with a twinkle in their eyes: + +"Why, this old Noah says the world is coming to an end in one hundred +and twenty years, and it's twenty years since he started the story. +But I guess I will sign the lease and risk it." + +Someone has said that Noah must have been deaf, or he could not have +stood the jeers and sneers of his countrymen. But if he was deaf to +the voice of men, he heard the voice of God when He told him to build +the ark. + +I can imagine one hundred years have rolled away, and the work on the +ark ceases. Men say, "What has he stopped work for?" He has gone on a +preaching tour, to tell the people of the coming storm--that God is +going to sweep every man from the face of the earth unless he is in +the ark. But he cannot get a man to believe him except his own family. +Some of the old men have passed away, and they died saying: "Noah is +wrong." Poor Noah! He must have had a hard time of it. I don't think I +should have had the grace to work for one hundred and twenty years +without a convert. But he just toiled on, believing the word of God. + +And now the hundred and twenty years are up. In the spring of the year +Noah did not plant anything, for he knew the flood was coming, and the +people say: "Every year before he has planted, but this year he thinks +the world is going to be destroyed, and he hasn't planted anything." + +Moving in. + +But I can imagine one beautiful morning, not a cloud to be seen, Noah +has got his communication. He has heard the voice that he heard one +hundred and twenty years before--the same old voice. Perhaps there had +been silence for one hundred and twenty years. But the voice rang +through his soul once again, "Noah, come thou and all thy house into +the ark." + +The word "come" occurs about nineteen hundred times in the Bible, it +is said, and this is the first time. It meant salvation. You can see +Noah and all his family moving into the ark. They are bringing the +household furniture. + +Some of his neighbors say, "Noah, what is your hurry? you will have +plenty of time to get into that old ark. What is your hurry? There are +no windows and you cannot look out to see when the storm is coming." +But he heard the voice and obeyed. + +Some of his relatives might have said, "What are you going to do with +the old homestead?" + +Noah says, "I don't want it. The storm is coming." He tells them the +day of grace is closing, that worldly wealth is of no value, and that +the ark is the only place of safety. We must bear in mind that these +railroads that we think so much of, will soon go down; they only run +for time, not for eternity. The heavens will be on fire, and then what +will property, honor, and position in society be worth? + +The first thing that alarms them is, they rise one morning, and lo! +the heavens are filled with the fowls of the air. They are flying into +the ark, two by two. They come from the desert; they come from the +mountain; they come from all parts of the world. They are going into +the ark. It must have been a strange sight. I can hear the people cry, +"Great God! what is the meaning of this?" And they look down on the +earth; and, with great alarm and surprise, they see little insects +creeping up two by two, coming from all parts of the world. Then +behold! there come cattle and beasts, two by two. The neighbors cry +out, "What does this mean?" They run to their statesmen and wise men, +who have told them there was no sign of a coming storm, and ask them +why it is that those birds, animals, and creeping things go toward the +ark, as if guided by some unseen hand. + +"Well," the statesmen and wise men say, "We cannot explain it; but +give yourselves no trouble; God is not going to destroy the world. +Business was never better than it is now. Do you think if God was +going to destroy the world, He would let us go on so prosperously as +He has? There is no sign of a coming storm. What has made these +creeping insects and these wild beasts of the forest go into the ark, +we do not know. We cannot understand it; it is very strange. But there +is no sign of anything going to happen. The stars are bright, and the +sun shines as bright as ever it did. Everything moves on as it has +been moving for all time past. You can hear the children playing in +the street. You can hear the voice of the bride and bridegroom in the +land, and all is merry as ever." + +I imagine the alarm passed away, and they fell into their regular +courses. Noah comes out and says: "The door is going to be shut. Come +in. God is going to destroy the world. See the animals, how they have +come up. The communication has come to them direct from heaven." But +the people only mocked on. + +Do you know, when the hundred and twenty years were up, God gave the +world seven days' grace? Did you ever notice that? If there had been a +cry during those seven days, I believe it would have been heard. But +there was none. + +At length the last day had come, the last hour, the last minute, ay! +the last second. God Almighty came down and shut the door of that ark. +No angel, no man, but God Himself shut that door, and when once the +master of the house has risen and shut to the door, the doom of the +world is sealed; and the doom of that old world was forever sealed. +The sun had gone down upon the glory of that old world for the last +time. You can hear away off in the distance the mutterings of the +storm. You can hear the thunder rolling. The lightning begins to +flash, and the old world reels. The storm bursts upon them, and that +old ark of Noah's would have been worth more than the whole world to +them. + +I want to say to any scoffer who reads this, that you can laugh at the +Bible, you can scoff at your mother's God, you can laugh at ministers +and Christians, but the hour is coming when one promise in that old +Book will be worth more to you than ten thousand worlds like this. + +The windows of heaven are opened and the fountains of the great deep +are broken up. The waters come bubbling up, and the sea bursts its +bounds and leaps over its walls. The rivers begin to swell. The people +living in the lowlands flee to the mountains and highlands. They flee +up the hillsides. And there is a wail going up: + +"Noah! Noah! Noah! Let us in." + +They leave their homes and come to the ark now. They pound on the ark. +Hear them cry: + +"Noah! Let us in. Noah! Have mercy on us." + +"I am your nephew." + +"I am your niece." + +"I am your uncle." + +Ah, there is a voice inside, saying: "I would like to let you in; but +God has shut the door, and I cannot open it!" + +God shut that door! When the door is shut, there is no hope. Their cry +for mercy was too late; their day of grace was closed. Their last hour +had come. God had plead with them; God had invited them to come in; +but they had mocked at the invitation. They scoffed and ridiculed the +idea of a deluge. Now it is too late. + +God did not permit anyone to survive to tell us how they perished. +When Job lost his family, there came a messenger to him: but there +came no messenger from the antediluvians; not even Noah himself could +see the world perish. If he could, he would have seen men and women +and children dashing against that ark; the waves rising higher and +higher, while those outside were perishing, dying in unbelief. Some +think to escape by climbing the trees, and think the storm will soon +go down; but it rains on, day and night, for forty days and forty +nights, and they are swept away as the waves dash against them. The +statesmen and astronomers and great men call for mercy; but it is too +late. They had disobeyed the God of mercy. He had called, and they +refused. He had plead with them, but they had laughed and mocked. But +now the time is come for judgment instead of mercy. + +Judgment. + +The time is coming again when God will deal in judgment with the +world. It is but a little while; we know not when, but it is sure to +come. God's word has gone forth that this world shall be rolled +together like a scroll, and shall be on fire. What then will become of +your soul? It is a loving call, "Now come, thou and all thy house, +into the ark." Twenty four hours before the rain began to fall, Noah's +ark, if it had been sold at auction, would not have brought as much as +it would be worth for kindling wood. But twenty four hours after the +rain began to fall, Noah's ark was worth more than all the world. +There was not then a man living but would have given all he was worth +for a seat in the ark. You may turn away and laugh. + +"I believe in Christ!" you say; "I would rather be without Him than +have Him." + +But bear in mind, the time is coming when Christ will be worth more to +you than ten thousand worlds like this. Bear in mind that He is +offered to you now. This is a day of grace; it is a day of mercy. You +will find, if you read your Bible carefully, that God always precedes +judgment with grace. Grace is a forerunner of judgment. He called +these men in the days of Noah in love. They would have been saved if +they had repented in those one hundred and twenty years. When Christ +came to plead with the people in Jerusalem, it was their day of grace; +but they mocked and laughed at Him. He said: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, +thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto +thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a +hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Forty +years afterward, thousands of the people begged that their lives might +be spared; and eleven hundred thousand perished in that city. + +In 1857 a revival swept over this country in the east and on to the +western cities, clear over to the Pacific coast. It was God calling +the nation to Himself. Half a million people united with the Church at +that time. Then the war broke out. We were baptized with the Holy +Ghost in 1857, and in 1861 we were baptized in blood. It was a call of +mercy, preceding judgment. + +Are Your Children Safe? + +The text which I have selected has a special application to Christian +people and to parents. This command of the Scripture was given to Noah +not only for his own safety, but that of his household, and the +question which I put to each father and mother is this: "Are your +children in the ark of God?" You may scoff at it, but it is a very +important question. Are all your children in? Are all your +grandchildren in? Don't rest day or night until you get your children +in. I believe my children have fifty temptations where I had one. I am +one of those who believe that in the great cities there is a snare set +upon the corner of every street for our sons and daughters; and I +don't believe it is our business to spend our time in accumulating +bonds and stocks. Have I done all I can to get my children in? That is +it. + +Now, let me ask another question: What would have been Noah's feelings +if, when God called him into the ark, his children would not have gone +with him? If he had lived such a false life that his children had no +faith in his word, what would have been his feelings? He would have +said: "There is my poor boy on the mountain. Would to God I had died +in his place! I would rather have perished than had him perish." David +cried over his son: "Oh, my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom, would +God I had died for thee!" Noah loved his children, and they had +confidence in him. + +Someone sent me a paper a number of years ago, containing an article +that was marked. Its title was: "Are all the children in?" An old wife +lay dying. She was nearly one hundred years of age, and the husband +who had taken the journey with her, sat by her side. She was just +breathing faintly, but suddenly she revived, opened her eyes, and +said: + +"Why! it is dark." + +"Yes, Janet, it is dark." + +"Is it night?" + +"Oh, yes! it is midnight." + +"Are all the children in?" + +There was that old mother living life over again. Her youngest child +had been in the grave twenty years, but she was traveling back into +the old days, and she fell asleep in Christ asking, "Are all the +children in?" + +Dear friend, are they all in? Put the question to yourself now. Is +John in? Is James in? Or is he immersed in business and pleasure? Is +he living a double and dishonest life? Say! where is your boy, mother? +Where is your son, your daughter? Is it well with your children? Can +you say it is? + +After being superintendent of a Sunday school in Chicago for a number +of years, a school of over a thousand members, children that came from +godless homes, having mothers and fathers working against me, taking +the children off on excursions on Sunday, and doing all they could to +break up the work I was trying to do, I used to think that if I should +ever stand before an audience I would speak to no one but parents; +that would be my chief business. It is an old saying--"Get the lamb, +and you will get the sheep." I gave that up years ago. Give me the +sheep, and then I will have someone to nurse the lamb; but get a lamb +and convert him, and if he has a godless father and mother, you will +have little chance with that child. What we want is godly homes. The +home was established long before the Church. + +I have no sympathy with the idea that our children have to grow up +before they are converted. Once I saw a lady with three daughters at +her side, and I stepped up to her and asked her if she was a +Christian. + +"Yes, sir." + +Then I asked the oldest daughter if she was a Christian. The chin +began to quiver, and the tears came into her eyes, and she said, + +"I wish I was." + +The mother looked very angrily at me and said, "I don't want you to +speak to my children on that subject. They don't understand." And in +great rage she took them all away from me. One daughter was fourteen +years old, one twelve, and the other ten, but they were not old enough +to be talked to about religion. Let them drift into the world and +plunge into worldly amusements, and then see how hard it is to reach +them. Many a mother is mourning to-day because her boy has gone beyond +her reach, and will not allow her to pray with him. She may pray _for_ +him, but he will not let her pray or talk _with_ him. In those early +days when his mind was tender and young, she might have led him to +Christ. Bring them in. "Suffer the little children to come unto Me." +Is there a prayerless father reading this? May God let the arrow go +down into your soul! Make up your mind that, God helping you, you will +get the children in. God's order is to the father first, but if he +isn't true to his duty, then the mother should be true, and save the +children from the wreck. Now is the time to do it while you have them +under your roof. Exert your parental influence over them. + +I never speak to parents but I think of two fathers, one of whom lived +on the banks of the Mississippi, the other in New York. The first one +devoted all his time to amassing wealth. He had a son to whom he was +much attached, and one day the boy was brought home badly injured. The +father was informed that the boy could live but a short time, and he +broke the news to his son as gently as possible. + +"You say I cannot live, father? O! then pray for my soul," said the +boy. + +In all those years that father had never said a prayer for that boy, +and he told him he couldn't. Shortly after, the boy died. That father +has said since that he would give all that he possessed if he could +call that boy back only to offer one short prayer for him. + +The other father had a boy who had been sick some time, and he came +home one day and found his wife weeping. She said: + +"I cannot help but believe that this is going to prove fatal." + +The man started, and said: "If you think so, I wish you would tell +him." + +But the mother could not tell her boy. The father went to the sick +room, and he saw that death was feeling for the cords of life, and he +said: + +"My son, do you know you are not going to live?" + +The little fellow looked up and said: "No; is this death that I feel +stealing over me? Will I die to-day?" + +"Yes, my son, you cannot live the day out." + +And the little fellow smiled and said: "Well, father, I shall be with +Jesus tonight, shan't I?" + +"Yes, you will spend the night with the Lord," and the father broke +down and wept. + +The little fellow saw the tears, and said: "Don't weep for me. I will +go to Jesus and tell Him that ever since I can remember you have +prayed for me." + +I have three children, and if God should take them from me, I would +rather have them take such a message home to Him than to have the +wealth of the whole world. Oh! would to God I could say something to +stir you, fathers and mothers, to get your children into the ark. + + + +HUMILITY. + +"Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart."--Matthew 11:29. + +There is no harder lesson to learn than the lesson of humility. It is +not taught in the schools of men, only in the school of Christ. It is +the rarest of all the gifts. Very rarely do we find a man or woman who +is following closely the footsteps of the Master in meekness and in +humility. I believe that it is the hardest lesson which Jesus Christ +had to teach His disciples while He was here upon earth. It almost +looked at first as though He had failed to teach it to the twelve men +who had been with Him almost constantly for three years. + +I believe that if we are humble enough we shall be sure to get a great +blessing. After all, I think that more depends upon us than upon the +Lord, because He is always ready to give a blessing and give it +freely, but we are not always in a position to receive it. He always +blesses the humble, and, if we can get down in the dust before Him, no +one will go away disappointed. It was Mary at the feet of Jesus, who +had chosen the "better part." + +Did you ever notice the reason Christ gave for learning of Him? He +might have said: "Learn of me, because I am the most advanced thinker +of the age. I have performed miracles that no man else has performed. +I have shown my supernatural power in a thousand ways." But no: the +reason He gave was that He was "meek, and lowly in heart." + +We read of the three men in Scripture whose faces shone, and all three +were noted for their meekness and humility. We are told that the face +of Christ shone at His transfiguration; Moses, after he had been in +the mount for forty days, came down from his communion with God with a +shining face; and when Stephen stood before the Sanhedrim on the day +of his death, his face was lighted up with glory. If our faces are to +shine we must get into the valley of humility; we must go down in the +dust before God. + +Bunyan says that it is hard to get down into the valley of +humiliation, the descent into it is steep and rugged; but that it is +very fruitful and fertile and beautiful when once we get there. I +think that no one will dispute that; almost every man, even the +ungodly, admires meekness. + +Someone asked Augustine, what was the first of the religious graces, +and he said, "Humility." They asked him what was the second, and he +replied, "Humility." They asked him the third, and he said, +"Humility." I think that if we are humble, we have all the graces. + +Some years ago I saw what is called a sensitive plant. I happened to +breathe on it, and suddenly it drooped its head; I touched it, and it +withered away. Humility is as sensitive as that; it cannot safely be +brought out on exhibition. A man who is flattering himself that he is +humble and is walking close to the Master, is self-deceived. It +consists not in thinking meanly of ourselves, but in not thinking of +ourselves at all. Moses wist not that his face shone. If humility +speaks of itself, it is gone. + +Someone has said that the grass is an illustration of this lowly +grace. It was created for the lowliest service. Cut it, and it springs +up again. The cattle feed upon it, and yet how beautiful it is. + +The showers fall upon the mountain peaks, and very often leave them +barren because they rush down into the meadows and valleys and make +the lowly places fertile. If a man is proud and lifted up, rivers of +grace may flow over him and yet leave him barren and unfruitful, while +they bring blessing to the man who has been brought low by the grace +of God. + +A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can +counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it is very difficult to +counterfeit humility. You soon detect mock humility. They have a +saying in the East among the Arabs, that as the tares and the wheat +grow they show which God has blessed. The ears that God has blessed +bow their heads and acknowledge every grain, and the more fruitful +they are the lower their heads are bowed. The tares which God has sent +as a curse, lift up their heads erect, high above the wheat, but they +are only fruitful of evil. I have a pear tree on my farm which is very +beautiful; it appears to be one of the most beautiful trees on my +place. Every branch seems to be reaching up to the light and stands +almost like a wax candle, but I never get any fruit from it. I have +another tree, which was so full of fruit last year that the branches +almost touched the ground. If we only get down low enough, my friends, +God will use every one of us to His glory. + +"As the lark that soars the highest builds her nest the lowest; as the +nightingale that sings so sweetly, sings in the shade when all things +rest; as the branches that are most laden with fruit, bend lowest; as +the ship most laden, sinks deepest in the water;--so the holiest +Christians are the humblest." + +The _London Times_ some years ago told the story of a petition that +was being circulated for signatures. It was a time of great +excitement, and this petition was intended to have great influence in +the House of Lords; but there was one word left out. Instead of +reading, "We humbly beseech thee," it read, "We beseech thee." So it +was ruled out. My friends, if we want to make an appeal to the God of +Heaven, we must humble ourselves; and if we do humble ourselves before +the Lord, we shall not be disappointed. + +As I have been studying some Bible characters that illustrate +humility, I have been ashamed of myself. If you have any regard for +me, pray that I may have humility. When I put my life beside the life +of some of these men, I say, Shame on the Christianity of the present +day. If you want to get a good idea of yourself, look at some of the +Bible characters that have been clothed with meekness and humility, +and see what a contrast is your position before God and man. + +One of the meekest characters in history was John the Baptist. You +remember when they sent a deputation to him and asked if he was Elias, +or this prophet, or that prophet, he said, "No." Now he might have +said some very flattering things of himself. He might have said: + +"I am the son of the old priest Zacharias. Haven't you heard of my +fame as a preacher? I have baptized more people probably, than any man +living. The world has never seen a preacher like myself." + +I honestly believe that in the present day most men standing in his +position would do that. On the railroad train, some time ago, I heard +a man talking so loud that all the people in the car could hear him. +He said that he had baptized more people than any man in his +denomination. He told how many thousand miles he had traveled, how +many sermons he had preached, how many open-air services he had held, +and this and that, until I was so ashamed that I had to hide my head. +This is the age of boasting. It is the day of the great "I." + +My attention was recently called to the fact that in all the Psalms +you cannot find any place where David refers to his victory over the +giant, Goliath. If it had been in the present day, there would have +been a volume written about it at once; I don't know how many poems +there would be telling of the great things that this man had done. He +would have been in demand as a lecturer, and would have added a title +to his name: G. G. K.,--Great Giant Killer. That is how it is to-day: +great evangelists, great preachers, great theologians, great bishops. + +"John," they asked, "who are you?" + +"I am nobody. I am to be heard, not to be seen. I am only a voice." + +He hadn't a word to say about himself. I once heard a little bird +faintly singing close by me,--at last it got clear out of sight, and +then its notes were still sweeter. The higher it flew the sweeter +sounded its notes. If we can only get self out of sight and learn of +Him who was meek and lowly in heart we shall be lifted up into +heavenly places. + +Mark tells us, in the first chapter and seventh verse, that John came +and preached saying, "There cometh one mightier than I after me, the +latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose." +Think of that; and bear in mind that Christ was looked upon as a +deceiver, a village carpenter, and yet here is John, the son of the +old priest, who had a much higher position in the sight of men than +that of Jesus. Great crowds were coming to hear him, and even Herod +attended his meetings. + +When his disciples came and told John that Christ was beginning to +draw crowds, he nobly answered: "A man can receive nothing, except it +be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness that I said, I +am not the Christ, but that I am sent before Him. He that hath the +bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which +standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the +bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must +increase, but I must decrease." + +It is easy to read that, but it is hard for us to live in the power of +it. It is very hard for us to be ready to decrease, to grow smaller +and smaller, that Christ may increase. The morning star fades away +when the sun rises. + +"He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is +earthly, and speaketh of the earth: He that cometh from heaven is +above all, and what He hath seen and heard, that He testifieth; and no +man receiveth His testimony. He that hath received His testimony hath +set to his seal that God is true. For He whom God hath sent speaketh +the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him." + +Let us now turn the light upon ourselves. Have we been decreasing of +late? Do we think less of ourselves and of our position than we did a +year ago? Are we seeking to obtain some position of dignity? Are we +wanting to hold on to some title, and are we offended because we are +not treated with the courtesy that we think is due us? Some time ago I +heard a man in the pulpit say that he should take offence if he was +not addressed by his title. My dear friend, are you going to take that +position that you must have a title, and that you must have every +letter addressed with that title or you will be offended? John did not +want any title, and when we are right with God, we shall not be caring +about titles. In one of his early epistles Paul calls himself the +"least of all the apostles." Later on he claims to be "less than the +least of all saints," and again, just before his death, humbly +declares that he is the "chief of sinners." Notice how he seems to +have grown smaller and smaller in his own estimation. So it was with +John. And I do hope and pray that as the days go by we may feel like +hiding ourselves, and let God have all the honor and glory. + +"When I look back upon my own religious experience," says Andrew +Murray, "or round upon the Church of Christ in the world, I stand +amazed at the thought of how little humility is sought after as the +distinguishing feature of the discipleship of Jesus. In preaching and +living, in the daily intercourse of the home and social life, in the +more special fellowship with Christians, in the direction and +performance of work for Christ--alas! how much proof there is that +humility is not esteemed the cardinal virtue, the only root from which +the graces can grow, the one indispensable condition of true +fellowship with Jesus." + +See what Christ says about John. "He was a burning and shining light." +Christ gave him the honor that belonged to him. If you take a humble +position, Christ will see it. If you want God to help you, then take a +low position. + +I am afraid that if we had been in John's place, many of us would have +said: "What did Christ say,--I am a burning and shining light?" Then +we would have had that recommendation put in the newspapers, and would +have sent them to our friends, with that part marked in blue pencil. +Sometimes I get a letter just full of clippings from the newspapers, +stating that this man is more eloquent than Gough, etc. And the man +wants me to get him some church. Do you think that a man who has such +eloquence would be looking for a church? No, they would all be looking +for him. + +My dear friends, isn't it humiliating? Sometimes I think it is a +wonder that any man is converted these days. Let another praise you. +Don't be around praising yourself. If we want God to lift us up, let +us get down. The lower we get, the higher God will lift us. It is +Christ's eulogy of John, "Greater than any man born of woman." + +There is a story told of Carey, the great missionary, that he was +invited by the Governor-general of India to go to a dinner party at +which were some military officers belonging to the aristocracy, and +who looked down upon missionaries with scorn and contempt. + +One of these officers said at the table: "I believe that Carey was a +shoemaker, wasn't he, before he took up the profession of a +missionary?" + +Mr. Carey spoke up and said: "Oh no, I was only a cobbler. I could +mend shoes, and wasn't ashamed of it." + +The one prominent virtue of Christ, next to His obedience, is His +humility; and even His obedience grew out of His humility. Being in +the form of God, He counted it not a thing to be grasped to be on an +equality with God, but He emptied Himself, taking the form of a +bond-servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in +fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, +yea, the death of the cross. In His lowly birth, His submission to His +earthly parents, His seclusion during thirty years, His consorting +with the poor and despised, His entire submission and dependence upon +His Father, this virtue that was consummated in His death on the +cross, shines out. + +One day Jesus was on His way to Capernaum, and was talking about His +coming death and suffering, and about His resurrection, and He heard +quite a heated discussion going on behind Him. When He came into the +house at Capernaum, He turned to His disciples, and said: + +"What was all that discussion about?" + +I see John look at James, and Peter at Andrew,--and they all looked +ashamed. "Who shall be the greater?" That discussion has wrecked party +after party, one society after another--"Who shall be the greatest?" + +The way Christ took to teach them humility was by putting a little +child in their midst and saying: "If you want to be great, take that +little child for an example, and he who wants to be the greatest, let +him be servant of all." + +To me, one of the saddest things in all the life of Jesus Christ was +the fact that just before His crucifixion, His disciples should have +been striving to see who should be the greatest, that night He +instituted the Supper, and they ate the Passover together. It was His +last night on earth, and they never saw Him so sorrowful before. He +knew Judas was going to sell Him for thirty pieces of silver. He knew +that Peter would deny Him. And yet, in addition to this, when going +into the very shadow of the cross, there arose this strife as to who +should be the greatest. He took a towel and girded Himself like a +slave, and He took a basin of water and stooped and washed their feet. +That was another object lesson of humility. He said, "Ye call me Lord, +and ye do well. If you want to be great in my Kingdom, be servant of +all. If you serve, you shall be great." + +When the Holy Ghost came, and those men were filled, from that time on +mark the difference: Matthew takes up his pen to write, and he keeps +Matthew out of sight. He tells what Peter and Andrew did, but he calls +himself Matthew "the publican." He tells how they left all to follow +Christ, but does not mention the feast he gave. Jerome says that +Mark's gospel is to be regarded as memoirs of Peter's discourses, and +to have been published by his authority. Yet here we constantly find +that damaging things are mentioned about Peter, and things to his +credit are not referred to. Mark's gospel omits all allusion to +Peter's faith in venturing on the sea, but goes into detail about the +story of his fall and denial of our Lord. Peter put himself down, and +lifted others up. + +If the Gospel of Luke had been written to-day, it would be signed by +the great Dr. Luke, and you would have his photograph as a +frontispiece. But you can't find Luke's name; he keeps out of sight. +He wrote two books, and his name is not to be found in either. John +covers himself always under the expression--"the disciple whom Jesus +loved." None of the four men whom history and tradition assert to be +the authors of the gospels, lay claim to the authorship in their +writings. Dear man of God, I would that I had the same spirit, that I +could just get out of sight,--hide myself. + +My dear friends, I believe our only hope is to be filled with the +Spirit of Christ. May God fill us, so that we shall be filled with +meekness and humility. Let us take the hymn, "O, to be nothing, +nothing," and make it the language of our hearts. It breathes the +spirit of Him who said: "The Son can do _nothing_ of Himself!" + + Oh to be nothing, nothing! + Only to lie at His feet, + A broken and emptied vessel, + For the Master's use made meet. + Emptied, that He might fill me + As forth to His service I go; + Broken, that so unhindered, + His life through me might flow. + + + +REST. + +Some years ago a gentleman came to me and asked me which I thought was +the most precious promise of all those that Christ left. I took some +time to look them over, but I gave it up. I found that I could not +answer the question. It is like a man with a large family of children, +he cannot tell which he likes best; he loves them all. But if not the +best, this is one of the sweetest promises of all: "_Come unto Me, all +ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my +yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and +ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and My burden +is light_." + +There are a good many people who think the promises are not going to +be fulfilled. There are some that you do see fulfilled, and you cannot +help but believe they are true. Now remember that all the promises are +not given without conditions. Some are given with, and others without, +conditions attached to them. For instance, it says, "If I regard +iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Now, I need not pray +as long as I am cherishing some known sin. He will not hear me, much +less answer me. The Lord says in the eighty fourth Psalm, "No good +thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." If I am not +walking uprightly I have no claims under the promise. Again, some of +the promises were made to certain individuals or nations. For +instance, God said that He would make Abraham's seed to multiply as +the stars of heaven: but that is not a promise for you or me. Some +promises were made to the Jews, and do not apply to the Gentiles. + +Then there are promises without conditions. He promised Adam and Eve +that the world should have a Savior, and there was no power in earth +or perdition that could keep Christ from coming at the appointed time. +When Christ left the world, He said He would send us the Holy Ghost. +He had only been gone ten days when the Holy Ghost came. And so you +can run right through the Scriptures, and you will find that some of +the promises are with, and some without, conditions; and if we don't +comply with the conditions we cannot expect them to be fulfilled. + +I believe it will be the experience of every man and woman on the face +of the earth, I believe that everyone will be obliged to testify in +the evening of life, that if they have complied with the condition, +the Lord has fulfilled His word to the letter. Joshua, the old Hebrew +hero, was an illustration. After having tested God forty years in the +Egyptian brick-kilns, forty years in the desert, and thirty years in +the Promised Land, his dying testimony was: "Not one thing hath failed +of all the good things which the Lord promised." I believe you could +heave the ocean easier than break one of God's promises. So when we +come to a promise like the one we have before us now, I want you to +bear in mind that there is no discount upon it. "Come unto Me, all ye +that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." + +Perhaps you say: "I hope Mr. Moody is not going to preach on this old +text." Yes: I am. When I take up an album, it does not interest me if +all the photographs are new; but if I know any of the faces. I stop at +once. So with these old, well-known texts. They have quenched our +thirst before, but the water is still bubbling up--we cannot drink it +dry. + +If you probe the human heart, you will find a want, and that want is +rest. The cry of the world to day is, "Where can rest be found?" Why +are theaters and places of amusement crowded at night? What is the +secret of Sunday driving, of the saloons and brothels? Some think they +are going to get it in pleasure, others think they are going to get it +in wealth, and others in literature. They are seeking and finding no +rest. + +Where Can Rest be Found? + +If I wanted to find a person who had rest I would not go among the +very wealthy. The man that we read of in the twelfth chapter of Luke, +thought he was going to get rest by multiplying his goods, but he was +disappointed. "Soul, take thine ease." I venture to say that there is +not a person in this wide world who has tried to find rest in that way +and found it. + +Money cannot buy it. Many a millionaire would gladly give millions if +he could purchase it as he does his stocks and shares. God has made +the soul a little too large for this world. Roll the whole world in, +and still there is room. There is care in getting wealth, and more +care in keeping it. + +Nor would I go among the pleasure seekers. They have a few hours' +enjoyment, but the next day there is enough sorrow to counterbalance +it. They may drink the cup of pleasure to-day, but the cup of pain +comes on to-morrow. + +To find rest I would never go among the politicians, or among the +so-called great. Congress is the last place on earth that I would go. +In the Lower House they want to go to the Senate; in the Senate they +want to go to the Cabinet; and then they want to go to the White +House; and rest has never been found there. Nor would I go among the +halls of learning. "Much study is a weariness to the flesh." I would +not go among the upper ten, the "bon-ton," for they are constantly +chasing after fashion. Have you not noticed their troubled faces on +our streets? And the face is index to the soul. They have no hopeful +look. Their worship of pleasure is slavery. Solomon tried pleasure, +and found bitter disappointment, and down the ages has come the bitter +cry, "All is vanity." + +Now, there is no rest in sin. The wicked know nothing about it. The +Scriptures tell us the wicked "are like the troubled sea that cannot +rest." You have, perhaps been on the sea when there is a calm, when +the water is as clear as crystal, and it seemed as if the sea were at +rest. But if you looked you would see that the waves came in, and that +the calm was only on the surface. Man, like the sea, has no rest. He +has had no rest since Adam fell, and there is none for him until he +returns to God again, and the light of Christ shines into his heart. + +Rest cannot be found in the world, and thank God the world cannot take +it from the believing heart! Sin is the cause of all this unrest. It +brought toil and labor and misery into the world. + +Now for something positive. I would go successfully to someone who has +heard the sweet voice of Jesus, and has laid his burden down at the +cross. There is rest, sweet rest. Thousands could certify to this +blessed fact. They could say, and truthfully: + + I heard the voice of Jesus say, + "Come unto me and rest. + Lay down, thou weary one, lay down, + Thy head upon my breast." + I came to Jesus as I was, + Weary and worn and sad. + I found in Him a resting-place, + And He hath made me glad. + +Among all his writings St. Augustine has nothing sweeter than this: +"Thou hast made us for Thyself, O God, and our heart is restless till +it rests in Thee." + +Do you know that for four thousand years no prophet or priest or +patriarch ever stood up and uttered a text like this? It would be +blasphemy for Moses to have uttered a text like it. Do you think he +had rest when he was teasing the Lord to let him go into the Promised +Land? Do you think Elijah could have uttered such a text as this, +when, under the juniper-tree, he prayed that he might die? And this is +one of the strongest proofs that Jesus Christ was not only man, but +God. He was God-Man, and this is Heaven's proclamation, "Come unto Me, +and I will give you rest". He brought it down from heaven with Him. + +Now, if this text was not true, don't you think it would have been +found out by this time? I believe it as much as I believe in my +existence. Why? Because I not only find it in the Book, but in my own +experience. The "I wills" of Christ have never been broken, and never +can be. + +I thank God for the word "give" in that passage. He doesn't sell it. +Some of us are so poor that we could not buy it if it was for sale. +Thank God, we can get it for nothing. + +I like to have a text like this, because it takes us all in. "Come +unto me all ye that labor." That doesn't mean a select few--refined +ladies and cultured men. It doesn't mean good people only. It applies +to saint and sinner. Hospitals are for the sick, not for healthy +people. Do you think that Christ would shut the door in anyone's face, +and say, "I did not mean _all_; I only meant certain ones"? If you +cannot come as a saint, come as a sinner. Only come! + +A lady told me once that she was so hard-hearted she couldn't come. + +"Well," I said, "my good woman, it doesn't say all ye soft-hearted +people come. Black hearts, vile hearts, hard hearts, soft hearts, all +hearts come. Who can soften your hard heart but Himself?" + +The harder the heart, the more need you have to come. If my watch +stops I don't take it to a drug store or to a blacksmith's shop, but +to the watchmaker's, to have it repaired. So if the heart gets out of +order take it to its keeper, Christ, to have it set right. If you can +prove that you are a sinner, you are entitled to the promise. Get all +the benefit you can out of it. + +Now, there are a good many believers who think this text applies only +to sinners; It is just the thing for them too. What do we see to-day? +The Church, Christian people, all loaded down with cares and troubles. +"Come unto me all ye that labor." All! I believe that includes the +Christian whose heart is burdened with some great sorrow. The Lord +wants you to come. + +Christ the Burden-Bearer. + +It says in another place, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He +careth for you." We would have a victorious Church if we could get +Christian people to realize that. But they have never made the +discovery. They agree that Christ is the sin-bearer, but they do not +realize that He is also the burden-bearer. "Surely He hath borne our +griefs and carried our sorrows." It is the privilege of every child of +God to walk in unclouded sunlight. + +Some people go back into the past and rake up all the troubles they +ever had, and then they look into the future and anticipate that they +will have still more trouble, and they go reeling and staggering all +through life. They give you the cold chills every time they meet you. +They put on a whining voice, and tell you what "a hard time they have +had." I believe they embalm them, and bring out the mummy on every +opportunity. The Lord says, "Cast all your care on Me. I want to carry +your burdens and your troubles." What we want is a joyful Church, and +we are not going to convert the world until we have it. We want to get +this long-faced Christianity off the face of the earth. + +Take these people that have some great burden, and let them come into +a meeting. If you can get their attention upon the singing or +preaching, they will say, "Oh, wasn't it grand! I forgot all my +cares." And they just drop their bundle at the end of the pew. But the +moment the benediction is pronounced they grab the bundle again. You +laugh, but you do it yourself. Cast your care on Him. + +Sometimes they go into their closet and close their door, and they get +so carried away and lifted up that they forget their trouble; but they +just take it up again the moment they get off their knees. Leave your +sorrow now; cast all your care upon Him. If you cannot come to Christ +as a saint, come as a sinner. But if you are a saint with some trouble +or care, bring it to Him. Saint and sinner, come! He wants you all. +Don't let Satan deceive you into believing that you cannot come if you +will. Christ says, "Ye will not come unto Me." With the command comes +the power. + +A man in one of our meetings in Europe said he would like to come, but +he was chained, and couldn't come. + +A Scotchman said to him, "Ay, man, why don't you come chain and all?" + +He said, "I never thought of that." + +Are you cross and peevish, and do you make things unpleasant at home? +My friend, come to Christ and ask Him to help you. Whatever the sin +is, bring it to Him. + +What Does it Mean to Come? + +Perhaps you say, "Mr. Moody, I wish you would tell us what it is to +come." I have given up trying to explain it. I always feel like the +colored minister who said he was going to _confound_, instead of +_expound_, the chapter. + +The best definition is just--come. The more you try to explain it, the +more you are mystified. About the first thing a mother teaches her +child is to look. She takes the baby to the window, and says, "Look, +baby, papa is coming!" Then she teaches the child to come. She props +it up against a chair, and says, "Come!" and by and by the little +thing pushes the chair along towards mamma. That's coming. You don't +need to go to college to learn how. You don't need any minister to +tell you what it is. Now will you come to Christ? He said, "Him that +cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out." + +When we have such a promise as this, let us cling to it, and never +give it up. Christ is not mocking us. He wants us to come with all our +sins and backslidings, and throw ourselves upon His bosom. It is our +sins God wants, not our tears only. They alone do no good. And we +cannot come through resolutions. Action is necessary. How many times +at church have we said, "I will turn over a new leaf," but the Monday +leaf is worse than the Saturday leaf. + +The way to heaven is straight as a rule, but it is the way of the +cross. Don't try to get around it. Shall I tell you what the "yoke" +referred to in the text is? It is the cross which Christians must +bear. The only way by which you can find rest in this dark world is by +taking up the yoke of Christ. I do not know what it may include in +your case, beyond taking up your Christian duties, acknowledging +Christ and acting as becomes one of His disciples. Perhaps it may be +to erect a gamily altar; or to tell a godless husband that you have +made up your mind to serve God; or to tell your parents that you want +to be a Christian. Follow the will of God, and happiness and peace and +rest will come. The way of obedience is always the way of blessing. + +I was preaching in Chicago to a hall full of women one Sunday +afternoon, and after the meeting was over a lady came to me and said +she wanted to talk to me. She said she would accept Christ, and after +some conversation she went home. I looked for her for a whole week, +but didn't see her until the following Sunday afternoon. She came and +sat down right in front of me, and her face had such a sad expression. +She seemed to have entered into the misery, instead of the joy, of the +Lord. + +After the meeting was over I went to her and asked her what the +trouble was. + +She said: "Oh, Mr. Moody, this has been the most miserable week of my +life." + +I asked her if there was anyone with whom she had had trouble and whom +she could not forgive. + +She said: "No, not that I know of." + +"Well, did you tell your friends about having found the Savior?" + +"Indeed I didn't, I have been all the week trying to keep it from +them." + +"Well," I said, "that is the reason why you have no peace." + +She wanted to take the crown, but did not want the cross. My friends, +you must go by the way of Calvary. If you ever get rest, you must get +it at the foot of the cross. + +"Why," she said, "if I should go home and tell my infidel husband that +I had found Christ I don't know what he would do. I think he would +turn me out." + +"Well," I said, "go out." + +She went away, promising that she would tell him, timid and pale, but +she did not want another wretched week. She was bound to have peace. + +The next night I gave a lecture to men only, and in the hall there +were eight thousand men and one solitary woman. When I got through and +went into the inquiry meeting, I found this lady with her husband. She +introduced him to me (he was a doctor, and a very influential man) and +said: + +"He wants to become a Christian." + +I took my Bible and told him all about Christ, and he accepted Him. I +said to her after it was all over: + +"It turned out quite differently from what you expected, didn't it?" + +"Yes," she replied, "I was never so scared in my life. I expected he +would do something dreadful, but it has turned out so well." + +She took God's way, and got rest. + +I want to say to young ladies, perhaps you have a godless father or +mother, a sceptical brother, who is going down through drink, and +perhaps there is no one who can reach them but you. How many times a +godly, pure young lady has taken the light into some darkened home! +Many a home might be lit up with the Gospel if the mothers and +daughters would only speak the word. + +The last time Mr. Sankey and myself were in Edinburgh, there were a +father, two sisters and a brother, who used every morning to take the +morning paper and pick my sermon to pieces. They were indignant to +think that the Edinburgh people should be carried away with such +preaching. One day one of the sisters was going by the hall, and she +thought she would drop in and see what class of people went there. She +happened to take a seat by a godly lady, who said to her: + +"I hope you are interested in this work." + +She tossed her head and said: "Indeed I am not. I am disgusted with +everything I have seen and heard." + +"Well," said the lady, "perhaps you came prejudiced." + +"Yes, and the meeting has not removed any of it, but has rather +increased it." + +"I have received a great deal of good from them." + +"There is nothing here for me. I don't see how an intellectual person +can be interested." + +To make a long story short, she got the lady to promise to come back. +When the meeting broke up, just a little of the prejudice had worn +away. She promised to come back again the next day, and then she +attended three or four more meetings, and became quite interested. She +said nothing to her family, until finally the burden became too heavy, +and she told them. They laughed at her, and made her the butt of their +ridicule. + +One day the two sisters were together, and the other said: "Now what +have you got at those meetings that you didn't have in the first +place?" + +"I have a peace that I never knew of before. I am at peace with God, +myself and all the world." Did you ever have a little war of your own +with your neighbors, in your own family? And she said: "I have +self-control. You know, sister, if you had said half the mean things +before I was converted that you have said since, I would have been +angry and answered back, but if you remember correctly, I haven't +answered once since I have been converted." + +The sister said: "You certainly have something that I have not." The +other told her it was for her too, and she brought the sister to the +meetings, where she found peace. + +Like Martha and Mary, they had a brother, but he was a member of the +University of Edinburgh. He be converted? He go to these meetings? It +might do for women, but not for him. One night they came home and told +him that a chum of his own, a member of the University, had stood up +and confessed Christ, and when he sat down his brother got up and +confessed; and so with the third one. + +When the young man heard it, he said: "Do you mean to tell me that he +has been converted?" + +"Yes." + +"Well," he said, "there must be something in it." + +He put on his hat, and coat, and went to see his friend Black. Black +got him down to the meetings, and he was converted. + +We went through to Glasgow, and had not been there six weeks when news +came that that young man had been stricken down and died. When he was +dying he called his father to his bedside and said: + +"Wasn't it a good thing that my sisters went to those meetings? Won't +you meet me in heaven, father?" + +"Yes, my son, I am so glad you are a Christian; that is the only +comfort that I have in losing you. I will become a Christian, and will +meet you again." + +I tell this to encourage some sister to go home and carry the message +of salvation. It may be that your brother may be taken away in a few +months. My dear friends, are we not living in solemn days? Isn't it +time for us to get our friends into the Kingdom of God? Come, wife, +won't you tell your husband? Come, sister, won't you tell your +brother? Won't you take up your cross now? The blessing of God will +rest on your soul if you will. + +I was in Wales once, and a lady told me this little story: An English +friend of hers, a mother, had a child that was sick. At first they +considered there was no danger, until one day the doctor came in and +said that the symptoms were very unfavorable. He took the mother out +of the room, and told her that the child could not live. It came like +a thunderbolt. After the doctor had gone the mother went into the room +where the child lay and began to talk to the child and tried to divert +its mind. + +"Darling, do you know you will soon hear the music of heaven? You will +hear a sweeter song than you have ever heard on earth. You will hear +them sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. You are very fond of music. +Won't it be sweet, darling?" + +And the little tired, sick child turned its head away, and said, "Oh +mamma, I am so tired and so sick that I think it would make me worse +to hear all that music." + +"Well," the mother said, "you will soon see Jesus, You will see the +seraphim and cherubim and the streets all paved with gold"; and she +went on picturing heaven as it is described in Revelation. + +The little tired child again turned its head away, and said, "Oh +mamma, I am so tired that I think it would make me worse to see all +those beautiful things!" + +At last the mother took the child up in her arms, and pressed her to +her loving heart. And the little sick one whispered: + +"Oh mamma, that is what I want. If Jesus will only take me in His arms +and let me rest!" + +Dear friend, are you not tired and weary of sin? Are you not weary of +the turmoil of life? You can end rest on the bosom of the Son of God. + + + +SEVEN "I WILLS" OF CHRIST. + +A man when he says "I will," may not mean much. We very often say "I +will," when we don't mean to fulfil what we say; but when we come to +the "I will" of Christ, He means to fulfil it. Everything He has +promised to do, He is able and willing to accomplish; and He is going +to do it. I cannot find any passage in Scripture in which He says "I +will" do this, or "I will" do that, but it will be done. + +1. The "I Will" of Salvation. + +The first "I will" to which I want to direct your attention, is to be +found in John's gospel, sixth chapter and thirty-seventh verse: "_Him +that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out._" + +I imagine someone will say, "Well, if I was what I ought to be, I +would come; but when my mind goes over the past record of my life, it +is too dark. I am not fit to come." + +You must bear in mind that Jesus Christ came to save not good people, +not the upright and just, but sinners like you and me, who have gone +astray, and sinned and come short of the glory of God. Listen to this +"I will"--it goes right into the heart--"Him that cometh unto Me, I +will in no wise cast out." Surely that is broad enough--is it not? I +don't care who the man or woman is; I don't care what their trials, +what their troubles, what their sorrows, or what their sins are, if +they will only come straight to the Master, He will not cast them out. +Come then, poor sinner; come just as you are, and take Him at His +word. + +He is so anxious to save sinners, He will take everyone who comes. He +will take those who are so full of sin that they are despised by all +who know them, who have been rejected by their fathers and mothers, +who have been cast off by the wives of their bosoms. He will take +those who have sunk so low that upon them no eye of pity is cast. His +occupation is to hear and save. That is what He left heaven and came +into the world for; that is what He left the throne of God for--to +save sinners. "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which +was lost." He did not come to condemn the world but that the world +through Him might be saved. + +A wild and prodigal young man, who was running a headlong career to +ruin came into one of our meetings in Chicago. The Spirit of God got +hold of him. Whilst I was conversing with him, and endeavoring to +bring him to Christ, I quoted this verse to him. + +I asked him: "Do you believe Christ said that?" + +"I suppose He did." + +"Suppose He did! do you believe it?" + +"I hope so." + +"Hope so! do you believe it? You do your work, and the Lord will do +His. Just come as you are, and throw yourself upon His bosom, and He +will not cast you out." + +This man thought it was too simple and easy. + +At last light seemed to break in upon him, and he seemed to find +comfort from it. It was past midnight before he got down on his knees, +but down he went, and was converted. I said: + +"Now, don't think you are going to get out of the devil's territory +without trouble. The devil will come to you to-morrow morning, and say +it was all feeling; that you only imagined you were accepted by God. +When he does, don't fight him with your own opinions, but fight him +with John 6:37: 'Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.' +Let that be the 'sword of the Spirit.'" + +I don't believe that any man ever starts to go to Christ, but the +devil strives somehow or other to meet him and trip him up. And even +after he has come to Christ, the devil tries to assail him with +doubts, and make him believe there is something wrong in it. + +The struggle came sooner than I thought in this man's case. When he +was on his way home the devil assailed him. He used this text, but the +devil put this thought into his mind: "How do you know Christ ever +said that after all? Perhaps the translators made a mistake." + +Into darkness he went again. He was in trouble till about two in the +morning. At last he came to this conclusion. Said he: + +"I will believe it anyway; and when I get to heaven, if it isn't true, +I will just tell the Lord _I_ didn't make the mistake--the translators +made it." + +The kings and princes of this world, when they issue invitations, call +round them the rich, the mighty and powerful, the honorable and the +wise; but the Lord, when He was on earth; called round Him the vilest +of the vile. That was the principal fault the people found with Him. +Those self-righteous Pharisees were not going to associate with +harlots and publicans. The principal charge against Him was: "This man +receiveth sinners and eateth with them." Who would have such a man +around him as John Bunyan in his time? He, a Bedford tinker, couldn't +get inside one of the princely castles. I was very much amused when I +was over on the other side. They had erected a monument to John +Bunyan, and it was unveiled by lords and dukes and great men. While he +was on earth, they would not have allowed him inside the walls of +their castles. Yet he was made one of the mightiest instruments in the +spread of the Gospel. No book that has ever been written comes so near +the Bible as John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." And he was a poor +Bedford tinker. So it is with God. He picks up some poor, lost tramp, +and makes him an instrument to turn hundreds and thousands to Christ. + +George Whitefield, standing in his tabernacle in London, and with a +multitude gathered about him, cried out: "The Lord Jesus will save the +devil's castaways!" + +Two poor abandoned wretches standing outside in the street, heard him, +as his silvery voice rang out on the air. Looking into each other's +faces, they said: "That must mean you and me." They wept and rejoiced. +They drew near and looked in at the door, at the face of the earnest +messenger, the tears streaming from his eyes as he plead with the +people to give their hearts to God. One of them wrote him a little +note and sent it to him. + +Later that day, as he sat at the table of Lady Huntington, who was his +special friend, someone present said: + +"Mr. Whitefield, did you not go a little too far to-day when you said +that the Lord would save the devil's castaways?" + +Taking the note from his pocket he gave it to the lady, and said: +"Will you read that note aloud?" + +She read: "Mr. Whitefield: Two poor lost women stood outside your +tabernacle to-day, and heard you say that the Lord would save the +devil's castaways. We seized upon that as our last hope, and we write +you this to tell you that we rejoice now in believing in Him, and from +this good hour we shall endeavor to serve Him, who has done so much +for us." + +2. The "I Will" of Cleansing. + +The next "I will" is found in Luke, fifth chapter. We read of a leper +who came to Christ, and said: "Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me +clean." The Lord touched him, saying, "_I will: be thou clean_"; and +immediately the leprosy left him. + +Now if any man or woman full of the leprosy of sin read this, if you +will but go to the Master and tell all your case to Him, He will speak +to you as He did to that poor leper and say. "I will: be thou clean," +and the leprosy of your sins will flee away from you. It is the Lord, +and the Lord alone, who can forgive sins. If you say to Him, "Lord, I +am full of sin; Thou canst make me clean"; "Lord, I have a terrible +temper; Thou canst make me clean"; "Lord, I have a deceitful heart. +Cleanse me, O Lord; give me a new heart. O Lord, give me the power to +overcome the flesh, and the snares of the devil!"; "Lord, I am full of +unclean habits"; if you come to Him with a sincere spirit, you will +hear the voice, "I will; be thou clean." It will be done. Do you think +that the God who created the world out of nothing, who by a breath put +life into the world--do you think that if He says, "Thou shalt be +clean," you will not? + +Now, you can make a wonderful exchange to-day. You can have health in +the place of sickness; you can get rid of everything that is vile and +hateful in the sight of God. The Son of God comes down, and says, "I +will take away your leprosy, and give you health in its stead. I will +take away that terrible disease that is ruining your body and soul, +and give you my righteousness in its stead. I will clothe you with the +garments of salvation." + +Is it not wonderful? That's what He means when He says--_I will_. Oh, +lay hold of this "I will!" + +3. The "I Will" of Confession. + +Now turn to Matthew, tenth chapter, thirty-second verse: "_Whosoever +therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before +my Father which is in heaven_." There's the "I will" of confession. + +Now, that's the next thing that takes place after a man is saved. When +we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, the next thing is to get +our mouths opened. We have to confess Christ here in this dark world, +and tell His love to others. We are not to be ashamed of the Son of +God. + +A man thinks it a great honor when he has achieved a victory that +causes his name to be mentioned in the English Parliament, or in the +presence of the Queen and her court. How excited we used to be during +the war, when some general did something extraordinary, and someone +got up in Congress to confess his exploits; how the papers used to +talk about it! In China, we read, the highest ambition of the +successful soldier is to have his name written in the palace or temple +of Confucius. But just think of having your name mentioned in the +kingdom of heaven by the Prince of Glory, by the Son of God, because +you confess Him here on earth! You confess Him here; He will confess +you yonder. + +If you wish to be brought into the clear light of liberty, you must +take your stand on Christ's side. I have known many Christians go +groping about in darkness, and never get into the clear light of the +kingdom, because they were ashamed to confess the Son of God. We are +living in a day when men want a religion without the cross. They want +the crown, but not the cross. But if we are to be disciples of Jesus +Christ, we have to take up our crosses _daily_--not once a year, or on +the Sabbath, but daily. And if we take up our crosses and follow Him, +we shall be blessed in the very act. + +I remember a man in New York who used to come and pray with me. He had +his cross. He was afraid to confess Christ. It seemed that down at the +bottom of his trunk he had a Bible. He wanted to get it out and read +it to the companion with whom he lived, but he was ashamed to do it. +For a whole week that was his cross; and after he had carried the +burden that long, and after a terrible struggle, he made up his mind. +He said, "I will take my Bible out tonight and read it." He took it +out, and soon he heard the footsteps of his mate coming upstairs. + +His first impulse was to put it away again, but then he thought he +would not--he would face his companion with it. His mate came in, and +seeing him at his Bible, said, + +"John, are you interested in these things?" "Yes," he replied. + +"How long has this been, then?" asked his companion. + +"Exactly a week," he answered; "for a whole week I have tried to get +out my Bible to read to you, but I have never done so till now." + +"Well," said his friend, "it is a strange thing. _I was converted on +the some night_, and I too was ashamed to take my Bible out." + +You are ashamed to take your Bible out and say, "I have lived a +godless life for all these years, but I will commence now to live a +life of righteousness." You are ashamed to open your Bible and read +that blessed Psalm, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." You +are ashamed to be seen on your knees. No man can be a disciple of +Jesus Christ without bearing His cross. A great many people want to +know how it is Jesus Christ has so few disciples, whilst Mahomet has +so many. The reason is that Mahomet gives no cross to bear. There are +so few men who will come out to take their stand. + +I was struck during the American war with the fact that there were so +many men who could go to the cannon's mouth without trembling, but who +had not courage to take up their Bibles to read them at night. They +were ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God +unto salvation. "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him +will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever +shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which +is in heaven." + +4. The "I Will" of Service. + +The next _I will_ is the "I will" of service. + +There are a good many Christians who have been quickened and aroused +to say, "I want to do some service for Christ." + +Well, Christ says, "_Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men_." + +There is no Christian who cannot help to bring someone to the Savior. +Christ says, "And I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me"; +and our business is just to lift up Christ. + +Our Lord said, "Follow Me, Peter, and I will make you a fisher of +men"; and Peter simply obeyed Him, and there, on that day of +Pentecost, we see the result. Peter had a good haul on the day of +Pentecost. I doubt if he ever caught so many fish in one day as he did +men on that day. It would have broken every net they had on board, if +they had had to drag up three thousand fishes. + +I read some time ago of a man who took passage in a stage coach. There +were first, second and third-class passengers. But when he looked into +the coach, he saw all the passengers sitting together without +distinction. He could not understand it till by-and-by they came to a +hill, and the coach stopped, and the driver called out, "First-class +passengers keep their seats, second-class passengers get out and walk, +third class passengers get behind and push." Now in the Church we have +no room for first-class passengers--people who think that salvation +means an easy ride all the way to heaven. We have no room for second +class passengers--people who are carried most of the time, and who, +when they must work out their own salvation, go trudging on giving +never a thought to helping their fellows along. All church members +ought to be third class passengers--ready to dismount and push all +together, and push with a will. That was John Wesley's definition of a +church--"All at it, and always at it." Every Christian ought to be a +worker. He need not be a preacher, he need not be an evangelist, to be +useful. He may be useful in business. See what power an employer has, +if he likes! How he could labor with his employees, and in his +business relations! Often a man can be far more useful in a business +sphere than he could in another. + +There is one reason, and a great reason, why so many do not succeed. I +have been asked by a great many good men, "Why is it we don't have any +results? We work hard, pray hard, and preach hard, and yet the success +does not come." I will tell you. It is because they spend all their +time mending their nets. No wonder they never catch anything. + +The great matter is to hold inquiry meetings, and thus pull the net +in, and see if you have caught anything. If you are always mending and +setting the net, you won't catch many fish. Whoever heard of a man +going out to fish, and setting his net, and then letting it stop +there, and never pulling it in? Everybody would laugh at the man's +folly. + +A minister in England came to me one day, and said, "I wish you would +tell me why we ministers don't succeed better than we do." + +I brought before him this idea of pulling in the net, and I said, "You +ought to pull in your nets. There are many ministers in Manchester who +can preach much better than I can, but I pull in the net." + +Many people have objections to inquiry meetings, but I urged upon him +the importance of them, and the minister said, + +"I never did pull in my net, but I will try next Sunday." + +He did so, and eight persons, anxious inquirers, went into his study. +The next Sunday he came down to see me, and said he had never had such +a Sunday in his life. He had met with marvelous blessing. The next +time he drew the net there were forty, and when he came to see me +later, he said to me joyfully, + +"Moody, I have had eight hundred conversions this last year! It is a +great mistake I did not begin earlier to pull in the net." + +So, my friends, if you want to catch men, just pull in the net. If you +only catch one, it will be something. It may be a little child, but I +have known a little child to convert a whole family. You don't know +what is in that little dull-headed boy in the inquiry-room; he may +become a Martin Luther, a reformer that shall make the world +tremble--you cannot tell. God uses the weak things of this world to +confound the mighty. God's promise is as good as a bank note--"I +promise to pay So-and-So," and here is one of Christ's promissory +notes--"If you follow Me, I will make you fishers of men." Will you +not lay hold of the promise, and trust it, and follow Him now? + +If a man preaches the Gospel, and preaches it faithfully, he ought to +expect results then and there. I believe it is the privilege of God's +children to reap the fruit of their labor three hundred and sixty five +days in the year. + +"Well, but," say some, "is there not a sowing time as well as +harvest?" + +Yes, it is true, there is; but then, you can sow with one hand, and +reap with the other. What would you think of a farmer who went on +sowing all the year round, and never thought of reaping? I repeat it, +we want to sow with one hand, and reap with the other; and if we look +for the fruit of our labors, we shall see it. "I, if I be lifted up, +will draw all men unto Me." We must lift Christ up, and then seek men +out, and bring them to Him. + +You must use the right kind of bait. A good many don't do this, and +then they wonder they are not successful. You see them getting up all +kinds of entertainments with which to try and catch men. They go the +wrong way to work. This perishing world wants Christ, and Him +crucified. There's a void in every man's bosom that wants filling up, +and if we only approach him with the right kind of bait, we shall +catch him. This poor world needs a Savior; and if we are going to be +successful in catching men, we must preach Christ crucified--not His +life only but His death. And if we are only faithful in doing this, we +shall succeed. And why? Because there is His promise: "If you follow +Me, I will make you fishers of men." That promise holds just as good +to you and me as it did to His disciples, and is as true now as it was +in their time. + +Think of Paul up yonder. People are going up every day and every hour, +men and women who have been brought to Christ through his writings. He +set streams in motion that have flowed on for more than a thousand +years. I can imagine men going up there, and saying, "Paul, I thank +you for writing that letter to the Ephesians; I found Christ in that." +"Paul, I thank you for writing that epistle to the Corinthians." +"Paul, I found Christ in that epistle to the Philippians." "I thank +you, Paul, for that epistle to the Galatians; I found Christ in that." +And so, I suppose, they are going up still, thanking Paul all the +while for what he had done. Ah, when Paul was put in prison he did not +fold his hands and sit down in idleness! No, he began to write; and +his epistles have come down through the long ages of time, and brought +thousands on thousands to a knowledge of Christ crucified. Yes, Christ +said to Paul, "I will make you a fisher of men if you will follow Me," +and he has been fishing for souls ever since. The devil thought he had +done a very wise thing when he got Paul into prison, but he was very +much mistaken; he overdid it for once. I have no doubt Paul has +thanked God ever since for that Philippian gaol, and his stripes and +imprisonment there. I am sure the world has made more by it than we +shall ever know till we get to heaven. + +5. The "I Will" of Comfort. + +The next "I will" is in John, fourteenth chapter, verse eighteen: "_I +will not leave you comfortless_." + +To me it is a sweet thought that Christ has not left us alone in this +dark wilderness here below. Although He has gone up on high, and taken +His seat by the Father's throne, He has not left us comfortless. The +better translation is, "I will not leave you _orphans_." He did not +leave Joseph when they cast him into prison. "God was with him." When +Daniel was cast into the den of lions, they had to put the Almighty in +with him. They were so bound together that they could not be +separated, and so God went down into the den of lions with Daniel. + +If we have got Christ with us, we can do all things. Do not let us be +thinking how weak we are. Let us lift up our eyes to Him, and think of +Him as our Elder Brother, who has all power given to Him in heaven and +on earth. He says: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the +world." Some of our children and friends leave us, and it is a very +sad hour. But, thank God, the believer and Christ shall never be +separated! He is with us here, and we shall be with Him in person by +and by, and shall see Him in His beauty. But not only is He with us, +but He has sent us the Holy Ghost. Let us honor the Holy Ghost by +acknowledging that He is here in our midst. He has power to give sight +to the blind, liberty to the captive, and to open the ears of the deaf +that they may hear the glorious words of the Gospel. + +6. The "I Will" of Resurrection. + +Then there is another _I will_ in John, sixth chapter, verse forty; it +occurs four times in the chapter: "_I will raise him up at the last +day_." + +I rejoice to think that I have a Savior who has power over death. My +blessed Master holds the keys him, and I got more comfort out of that +promise "I will raise him up at the last day," than anything else in +the Bible. How it cheered me! How it lighted up my path! And as I went +into the room and looked upon the lovely face of that brother, how +that passage ran through my soul: "Thy brother shall rise again." I +said, "Thank God for that promise." It was worth more than the world +to me. + +When we laid him in the grave, it seemed as if I could hear the voice +of Jesus Christ saying, "Thy brother shall rise again." Blessed +promise of the resurrection! Blessed "I will!" "I will raise him up at +the last day." + +7. The "I Will" of Glory. + +Now the next _I will_ is in John, seventeenth chapter, twenty-fourth +verse: "_Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be +with Me where I am_." + +This was in His last prayer in the guest-chamber, on the last night +before He was crucified and died that terrible death on Calvary. Many +a believer's countenance begins to light up at the thought that he +shall see the King in His beauty by and by. Yes; there is a glorious +day before us in the future. Some think that on the first day we are +converted we have got everything. To be sure, we get salvation for the +past and peace for the present; but then there is the glory for the +future in store. That's what kept Paul rejoicing. He said, "These +light afflictions, these few stripes, these few brickbats and stones +that they throw at me--why, the glory that is beyond excels them so +much that I count them as nothing, nothing at all, so that I may win +Christ." And so, when things go against us, let us cheer up; let us +remember that the night will soon pass away, and the morning dawn upon +us. Death never comes there. It is banished from that heavenly land. +Sickness, and pain, and sorrow, come not there to mar that grand and +glorious home where we shall be by and by with the Master. God's +family will be all together there. Glorious future, my friends! Yes, +glorious day! and it may be a great deal nearer than many of us think. +During these few days we are here let us stand steadfast and firm, and +by and by we shall be in the unbroken circle in yon world of light, +and have the King in our midst. + + + +THE RED LIBRARY + +16MO, CLOTH, EACH NET. 30 CTS. + +Weighed and Wanting. + +Men of the Bible. + +Bible Characters. + +Select Sermons. + +Moody's Anecdotes. + +The Overcoming Life. + +The Way to God. + +Thoughts for the Quiet Hour. + +Moody's Latest Sermons + +Short Talks by D. L. Moody. + +Pleasure and Profit in Bible Study. + +Sowing and Reaping. + +Heaven. + +Moody's Stories. + +To the Work! + +Sovereign Grace. + +Prevailing Prayer. + +Secret Power. + +_The above eighteen volumes are all by D. L. Moody, and are published +as "The Moody Library," in boxed set, net, $5.40_. + +The True Estimate of Life. + + By G. Campbell Morgan. + +All of Grace. + + By C. H. Spurgeon. + +According to Promise. + + BY C. H. Spurgeon. + +John Ploughman's Talks. + + By C. H. Spurgeon. + +John Ploughman's Pictures. + + By C. H. Spurgeon. + +Good Tidings. + +Recitation Poems. + +The Way of Life. + +Tales of Adventure from the Old Book. + +Resurrection. + +Select Poems for the Silent Hour. + +Up from Sin. + +The Revival of a Dead Church. + + + +Fleming H. Revell Company + +CHICAGO NEW YORK TORONTO + +PUBLISHERS OF EVANGELICAL LITERATURE + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Overcoming Life, by Dwight Moody + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE OVERCOMING LIFE *** + +***** This file should be named 33015.txt or 33015.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/1/33015/ + +Produced by Keith G. Richardson + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/33015.zip b/33015.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6088e04 --- /dev/null +++ b/33015.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..738933f --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #33015 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33015) |
