diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024-8.txt | 5541 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 85687 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 741819 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024-h/33024-h.htm | 6486 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024-h/images/books.jpg | bin | 0 -> 131839 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 518144 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024.txt | 5541 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 33024.zip | bin | 0 -> 85660 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
11 files changed, 17584 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/33024-8.txt b/33024-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..686bc4d --- /dev/null +++ b/33024-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5541 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Moody's Stories, by Dwight Lyman 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: Moody's Stories + Incidents and Illustrations + +Author: Dwight Lyman Moody + +Release Date: June 29, 2010 [EBook #33024] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOODY'S STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Moody's Stories + INCIDENTS and ILLUSTRATIONS + + [Illustration] + + Copyrighted, 1884, by + F. H. Revel + + Printed in United States of America + + + Moody's Stories + + Being a Second Volume of Anecdotes + Incidents and Illustrations + + By D. L. Moody + + Authorized Collection + + THE MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + CHICAGO + + + + +MOODY'S STORIES + + +Lady Pendulum + +When Mr. Sankey and I were in London a lady who attended our meetings +was brought into the house in her carriage, being unable to walk. At +first she was very skeptical; but one day she said to her servant: + +"Take me into the inquiry room." + +After I had talked with her a good while about her soul she said: + +"But you will go back to America, and it will be all over." + +"Oh, no," said I, "it is going to last forever." + +I couldn't make her believe it. I don't know how many times I talked +with her. At last I used the fable of the pendulum in the clock. The +pendulum figured up the thousands of times it would have to tick, and +got discouraged, and was going to give up. Then it thought, "It is +only a tick at a time," and went on. So it is in the Christian +life--only one step at a time. That helped this lady very much. She +began to see that if she could trust in God for a supply of grace for +only one day, she could go right on in the same way from day to day. +As soon as she saw this, she came out quite decided. But she never +could get done talking about that pendulum. The servants called her +Lady Pendulum. She had a pendulum put up in her room to remind her of +the illustration, and when I went away from London she gave me a +clock--I've got it in my house still. + + +The Greater Mystery + +Dr. Andrew Bonar once said that, although it was a mystery to him how +sin should have come into the world, it was still a greater mystery +how God should have come here to bear the penalty of it Himself. + + +Never Runs Dry + +I remember being in a city where I noticed that the people resorted to +a favorite well in one of the parks. I said to a man one day: + +"Does the well never run dry?" + +The man was drinking of the water out of the well; and as he stopped +drinking, he smacked his lips, and said: + +"They have never been able to pump it dry yet. They tried it a few +years ago. They put the fire-engines to work, and tried all they could +to pump the well dry; but they found there was a river flowing right +under the city." + +Thank God, the well of salvation can never run dry either! + + +He Trusted his Father + +A party of gentlemen in Scotland wanted to get some eggs from a nest +on the side of a precipice, and they tried to persuade a poor boy that +lived near to go over and get them, saying they would hold him by a +rope. They offered him a good deal of money; but they were strangers +to him, and he would not go. They told him they would see that no +accident happened to him; they would hold the rope. + +At last he said: "I will go if my father will hold the rope." + +He trusted his father. + +A man will not trust strangers. I want to get acquainted with a man +before I put my confidence in him. I have known God for forty years, +and I have more confidence in Him now than I ever had before; it +increases every year. + + +Peace Declared + +When France and England were at war once a French vessel had gone off +on a long whaling voyage. When they came back, the crew were short of +water, and being near an English port, they wanted to get water; but +they were afraid that they would be taken prisoners if they went into +that port. Some people in the port saw their signal of distress, and +sent word that they need not be afraid, that the war was over, and +peace had been declared. But they couldn't make those sailors believe +it, and they didn't dare to go into port, although they were out of +water. At last they made up their minds that they had better go in and +surrender their cargo and their lives to their enemies rather than +perish at sea without water; and when they got in, they found out that +what had been told them was true, that peace had been declared. + +There are a great many people who don't believe the glad tidings that +peace has been made by Jesus Christ between God and man, but it is +true. + + +Sawdust or Bread + +If you go out to your garden and throw down some sawdust, the birds +will not take any notice; but if you throw down some crumbs, you will +find they will soon sweep down and pick them up. + +The true child of God can tell the difference (so to speak) between +sawdust and bread. Many so-called Christians are living on the world's +sawdust, instead of being nourished by the Bread that cometh down from +heaven. Nothing can satisfy the longings of the soul but the Word of +the living God. + + +"Baby's Feeding Himself!" + +You know it is always regarded a great event in the family when a +child can feed itself. It is propped up at table, and at first perhaps +it uses the spoon upside down, but by and by it uses it all right, and +mother, or perhaps sister, claps her hands and says: + +"Just see, baby's feeding himself!" + +Well, what we need as Christians is to be able to feed ourselves. How +many there are who sit helpless and listless, with open mouths, hungry +for spiritual things, and the minister has to try to feed them, while +the Bible is a feast prepared, into which they never venture. + + +Should Not Be Postponed + +In 1871 I preached a series of sermons on the life of Christ in old +Farwell hall, Chicago, for five nights. I took Him from the cradle and +followed Him up to the judgment hall, and on that occasion I consider +I made as great a blunder as ever I made in my life. It was upon that +memorable night in October, and the court-house bell was sounding an +alarm of fire, but I paid no attention to it. You know we were +accustomed to hear the fire-bell often, and it didn't disturb us much +when it sounded. I finished the sermon upon "What Shall I Do with +Jesus?" and said to the audience: + +"Now, I want you to take the question with you and think it over, and +next Sunday I want you to come back and tell me what you are going to +do with Him." + +What a mistake! It seems now as if Satan was in my mind when I said +this. Since then I never have dared give an audience a week to think +of their salvation. If they were lost, they might rise up in judgment +against me. "Now is the accepted time." + +I remember Mr. Sankey singing, and how his voice rang when he came to +that pleading verse: + + "To-day the Savior calls, + For refuge fly! + The storm of Justice falls, + And death is nigh!" + +After the meeting we went home. I remember going down La Salle street +with a young man, and saw the glare of flames. I said to the young +man: + +"This means ruin to Chicago." + +About one o'clock Farwell hall was burned; soon the church in which I +had preached went down, and everything was scattered. I never saw that +audience again. + +My friends, we don't know what may happen to-morrow, but there is one +thing I do know, and that is, if you take the gift of God you are +saved. If you have eternal life you need not fear fire, death, or +sickness. Let disease or death come, you can shout triumphantly over +the grave if you have Christ. My friends, what are you going to do +with Him? Will you not decide now? + + +Teaching Willie Faith + +Some years ago I wanted to teach my boy what faith was and so I put +him on a table. He was a little fellow about two years old. I stood +back three or four feet, and said. + +"Willie, jump." + +The little fellow said, "Papa, I'se afraid." + +I said: "Willie, I will catch you. Just look right at me, and jump." + +The little fellow got all ready to jump, and then looked down again, +and said, "I'se afraid." + +"Willie, didn't I tell you I would catch you? Will papa deceive you? +Now, Willie, look me right in the eye, and jump, and I will catch +you." + +The little fellow got all ready the third time to jump, but he looked +on the floor, and said: + +"I'se afraid." + +"Didn't I tell you I would catch you?" + +"Yes." + +At last I said: "Willie, don't take your eyes off me"; and I held the +little fellow's eyes, and said, "Now, jump; don't look at the floor;" +and he leaped into my arms. + +Then he said to me, "Let me jump again." + +I put him back, and the moment he got on the table he jumped, and +after that, when he was on the table and I was standing five or six +feet away I heard him cry, "Papa, I'se coming," and had just time to +rush and catch him. He seemed to put too much confidence in me. But +you cannot put too much confidence in God. + + +Act on Your Belief + +When President Lincoln signed the proclamation of emancipation, copies +of it were sent to all points along the Northern line, where they were +posted. Now, supposing a slave should have seen a copy of that +proclamation and should have learned its contents. He might have +known the fact, he might have assented to its justice, but if he had +still continued to serve his old master as a slave his faith in the +document would not have amounted to anything. + +And so it is with us. A mere knowledge of the historical events of +Christ's life, or a simple intellectual assent to His teachings and +His mission, will be of no help in a man's life unless he adds to them +a trustful surrender to the Lord's loving kindness. + + +"Forty Miles to Liberty" + +A friend of mine went to teach in Natchez before the war. He and a +friend of his went out riding one Saturday in the country. They saw an +old slave coming, and they thought they would have a little fun. They +had just come to a place where there was a fork in the road, and there +was a sign-post which read, "Forty miles to Liberty." + +"Sambo, how old are you?" + +"I don't know, massa. I guess I'se about eighty." + +"Can you read?" + +"No, sah; we don't read in dis country. It's agin the law." + +"Can you tell what is on that sign-post?" + +"Yes, sah; it says forty miles to Liberty." + +"Well, now," said my friend, "why don't you follow that road and get +your liberty? It says there, only 'forty miles to Liberty.' Now, why +don't you take that road and go there?" + +The old man's countenance changed, and he said: "That ar's a sham, +young massa, but if it pointed up thar," and he raised his trembling +hand toward heaven, "to the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free, +that ar wouldn't be no sham." + +The old slave, with all his ignorance, had even then experienced a +liberty in his own soul that these young men, with all their boasted +education, at that time knew nothing of. + + +The Most Important Thing + +A certain John Bacon, once a famous sculptor, left an inscription to +be placed on his tomb in Westminster Abbey: + +"What I was as an artist seemed of some importance to me while I +lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ is the only thing +of importance to me now." + + +Taking the Wrong Boat + +A Methodist minister, on his way to a camp-meeting, through some +mistake took passage on the wrong boat. He found that instead of being +bound for a religious gathering, he was on his way to a horse-race. +His fellow-passengers were betting and discussing the events, and the +whole atmosphere was foreign to his nature. He besought the captain +that he would stop his boat and let him off at the first landing, as +the surroundings were so distasteful to him. + +The story also goes on to relate how, on the same occasion a sporting +man, intending to go to the races, by some mistake found himself on +the wrong boat, bound for the camp-meeting. The conversation about him +was no more intelligible to him than to the man in the first instance, +and he, too, besought the captain to stop and let him off the boat. + +Now what was true in these two cases is practically true with every +one. A true Christian is wretched where there is no fellowship, and an +unregenerate man is not at ease where there are only Christians. A +man's future will be according to what he is here prepared for. If he +is not regenerate, heaven will have no attractions for him. Heaven is +a prepared place for a prepared people. + + +The Best Proof + +"The highest proof of the infallibility of Scripture," said the late +A. J. Gordon, "is the practical one that we have proved it so. As the +coin of the realm has always been found to buy the amount of its +face-value, so the prophecies and promises of Scripture have yielded +their face value to those who have taken the pains to prove them. If +they have not always done so, it is probable that they have not yet +matured. There are multitudes of Christians who have so far proved the +veracity of the Bible that they are ready to trust it without reserve +in all that it pledges for the world yet unseen and the life yet +unrealized." + + +Have Faith. + +I remember a man telling me he preached for a number of years without +any result. He used to say to his wife as they went to church that he +knew the people would not believe anything he said; and there was no +blessing. At last he saw his error; he asked God to help him, and took +courage, and then the blessing came. + +"According to your faith it shall be unto you." This man had expected +nothing and he got just what he expected. Dear friends, let us expect +that God is going to use us. Let us have courage and go forward, +looking to God to do great things. + + +Chasing His Shadow + +When I was a little boy I tried to catch my shadow. I don't know if +you were ever so foolish; but I remember running after it, and trying +to get ahead of it. I could not see why the shadow always kept ahead +of me. Once I happened to be racing with my face to the sun, and I +looked over my head and saw my shadow behind me, and it kept behind me +all the way. + +It is the same with the Sun of Righteousness. Peace and joy will go +with you while you go with your face toward Him, but those who turn +their backs on the Sun are in darkness all the time. Turn to the light +of God, and the reflection will flash in your heart. + + +His Minister's Bible + +If I have a right to cut out a certain portion of the Bible, I don't +know why one of my friends has not a right to cut out another, and +another friend to cut out another part, and so on. You would have a +queer kind of Bible if everybody cut out what he wanted to! Every +adulterer would cut out everything about adultery; every liar would +cut out everything about lying; every drunkard would be cutting out +what he didn't like. + +Once a gentleman took his Bible around to his minister, and said, +"That is your Bible." + +"Why do you call it _my_ Bible?" said the minister. + +"Well," replied the gentleman, "I have been sitting under your +preaching for five years, and when you said that a thing in the Bible +was not authentic, I cut it out." + +He had about a third of the Bible cut out; all of Job, all of +Ecclesiastes and Revelation, and a good deal besides. The minister +wanted him to leave the Bible with him; he didn't want the rest of +his congregation to see it. But the man said: + +"Oh, no! I have the covers left, and I will hold on to them." + +And off he went holding on to the covers. + + +Mocked by his Children + +When I was in St. Louis some years ago, there was an old man who had +been away off on the mountains of an ungodly life, but in his early +manhood he had known Christ. He came into the inquiry-room, literally +broken down. About midnight that old man came trembling before God and +was saved. He wiped away his tears, and started home. + +Next night I saw him in the audience with a terrible look in his face. +As soon as I finished preaching, I went to him and said: + +"My good friend, you haven't gone back into darkness again?" + +Said he: "Oh, Mr. Moody, it has been the most wretched day in my +life." + +"Why so?" + +"Well, this morning as soon as I got my breakfast, I started out. I +have a number of children, married, and in this city, and they have +families; and I have spent the day going around and telling them what +God has done for me. I told them how I had tasted salvation, with the +tears trickling down my face; and, Mr. Moody, I hadn't a child that +didn't mock me!" + +That made me think of Lot down in Sodom. It is an awful thing for a +man who has been a backslider to have his children mock him. But it is +written: "Thy back-slidings shall reprove thee; know, therefore, and +see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the +Lord thy God." + + +No Need to Read Them + +A great many people say, you must hear both sides; but if a man should +write me a most slanderous letter about my wife, I don't think I would +have to read it; I should tear it up and throw it to the winds. Have I +to read all the infidel books that are written, to hear both sides? +Have I to take up a book that is a slander on my Lord and Master, who +has redeemed me with His blood? Ten thousand times no! I will not +touch it. + + +Tolling the Bell + +I well remember how in my native village in New England it used to be +customary, as a funeral procession left the church, for the bell to +toll as many times as the deceased was years old. How anxiously I +would count those strokes of the bell to see how long I might reckon +on living! Sometimes there would be seventy or eighty tolls, and I +would give a sigh of relief to think I had so many years to live. But +at other times there would be only a few years tolled, and then a +horror would seize me as I thought that I, too, might soon be claimed +as a victim by that dread monster, Death. Death and judgment were a +constant source of fear to me till I realized the fact that neither +shall ever have any hold on a child of God. In his letter to the +Romans the apostle Paul has showed, in most direct language, that +there is no condemnation for a child of God, but that he is passed +from under the power of law, and in the Epistle to the Corinthians he +tells us that "there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual +body," "and as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also +bear the image of the heavenly." + + +A Father's Neglect + +A story has gone the round of the American press that made a great +impression upon me as a father. A father took his little child out +into the field one Sabbath, and, it being a hot day, lie lay down +under a beautiful shady tree. The little child ran about gathering +wild flowers and little blades of grass, and coming to its father and +saying: + +"Pretty! pretty!" + +At last the father fell asleep, and while he was sleeping the little +child wandered away. When he awoke, his first thought was: + +"Where is my child?" + +He looked all around, but he could not see him. He shouted at the top +of his voice, but all he heard was the echo. Running to a little hill, +he looked around and shouted again. No response! Then going to a +precipice at some distance, he looked down, and there, upon the rocks +and briars, he saw the mangled form of his loved child. He rushed to +the spot, took up the lifeless corpse, and hugged it to his bosom, and +accused himself of being the murderer of his child. While he was +sleeping his child had wandered over the precipice. + +I thought as I read that, what a picture of the church of God! How +many fathers and mothers, how many Christian men and women, are +sleeping now while their children wander over the terrible precipice +right into the bottomless pit! Father, mother, where is your boy +to-night? + + +Worth Ten Thousand Men + +Let us not give heed to gloomy and discouraging remarks. In the name +of our great Commander let us march on to battle and to victory. There +are some generals whose name alone is worth more than a whole army of +ten thousand men. In our army in the Civil War there were some whose +presence sent a cheer all along the line. As they passed on, cheer +upon cheer went up. The men knew who was going to lead them, and they +were sure of having success. "The boys" liked to fight under such +generals as that. Let us encourage ourselves in the Lord, and +encourage each other; then we shall have good success. + + +"With or Without Power" + +Doctor Gordon of Boston used to say that as you passed along +Washington street of that city, or Broadway, New York, you might see +stores with the card in the window, "To rent, with or without power," +and any one could rent the store, and by paying something extra could +have power furnished from the engine in the rear. Doctor Gordon +thought it would be a good thing to ask men and women when they joined +the church if they wanted to be a member on the "with power" or the +"without power" basis, and if the latter, to tell them there were no +vacancies for that kind in the church, it already had too many members +without power. + + +Turning on the Tap + +A man who lived on the bank of Lake Erie had water pipes laid to his +house from the lake; and when he wanted water all he had to do was to +turn the tap and the water flowed in. If the government had presented +him with the lake he would not have known what to do with it. So we +may say that if God were to give us grace enough for a lifetime, we +should not know how to use it. He has given us the privilege of +drawing on Him day by day--not "forty days after sight." There is +plenty of grace in the bank of heaven; we need not be afraid of its +becoming exhausted. + + +Keep Close! + +The late Dr. Andrew Bonar once remarked in his own quaint fashion that +it was always easy to trace the footprints of a person if we walked +close behind him, but if we were some distance back we might fail to +find them; and accordingly, if we followed close after the Master we +would easily see the way, but if we tried to follow afar off we would +find it difficult to know the path of His will. + + +On Both Knees + +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. + + +Something New + +A great many people seem to think that the Bible is out of date, that +it is an old book, that it has passed its day. They say it was very +good for the dark ages, and that there is some very good history in +it, but it was not intended for the present time; we are living in a +very enlightened age and men can get on very well without it; we have +outgrown it. + +Now, you might just as well say that the sun, which has shone so long, +is now so old that it is out of date, and that whenever a man builds a +house he need not put any windows in it, because we have a newer light +and a better light; we have gaslight and electric light. These are +something new; and I would advise people, if they think the Bible is +too old and worn out, when they build houses, not to put windows in +them, but just to light them with electric light; that is something +new and that is what they are anxious for. + + +Bidding Christ Farewell + +A rule I have had for years is to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a +personal friend. It is not a creed, a mere empty doctrine, but it is +Christ Himself we have. The moment we receive Christ we should receive +Him as a friend. When I go away from home I bid my wife and children +good-bye; I bid my friends and acquaintances good-bye; but I never +heard of a poor backslider going down on his knees and saying: + +"I have been near You for ten years. Your service has become tedious +and monotonous. I have come to bid You farewell. Good-bye, Lord Jesus +Christ!" + +I never heard of one doing this. I will tell you how they go away; +they just run away. + + +Any One Can _Believe_ + +God has put the offer of salvation in such a way that the whole world +can lay hold of it. All men can _believe_. A lame man might not +perhaps be able to visit the sick; but he can _believe_. A blind man, +by reason of his infirmity, cannot do many things; but he can +_believe_. A deaf man can _believe_. A dying man can _believe_. God +has put salvation so simply that young and old, wise and foolish, rich +and poor, can all _believe_ if they will. + + +The Wrath of God Was on Him + +I heard of a rich man who was asked to make a contribution on behalf +of some charitable object. The text was quoted to him--"He that hath +pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given +will He pay him again," He said that the security might be good +enough, but the credit was too long. He was dead within two weeks. + + +The War was Ended + +During the last days of the Civil War, when many men were deserting +the Southern flag, Secretary Stanton sent out a notice from the war +department that no more refugees should be taken into the Union army. + +A Southern soldier who had not seen that order came into the Union +lines, and they read it to him. He didn't know what to do. If he went +back into the Southern army he would be shot as a deserter, and the +Northern army wouldn't have him. So he went into the woods, and stayed +there, living on roots and whatever else he could get, until finally +he was starving. + +One day he saw an officer riding by. He rushed out of the woods, +caught the horse's bridle, and said he would kill the officer if he +didn't help him. The officer asked what was the trouble, and he told +him. + +"But haven't you heard the news?" said the officer. + +"No; what news?" + +"Why, the war is over! Lee has surrendered, and peace has been +declared. Go to the nearest town and get all the food you want." + +The man waved his hat, and went off as fast as he could. + +I want to say that peace has been declared between God and man. Be +reconciled to God. The blood is on the mercy-seat, and the vilest +sinner can be saved for time and eternity. + + +Nearer than he Thought + +I was reading, some time ago, of a young man who had just come out of +a saloon, and had mounted his horse. As a certain deacon passed on his +way to church, he followed and said: + +"Deacon, can you tell me how far it is to hell?" + +The deacon's heart was pained to think that a young man like that +should talk so lightly; but he passed on and said nothing. When he +came round the corner to the church, he found that the horse had +thrown that young man, and he was dead. You, too, may be nearer the +judgment than you think. + + +Its Strength was Underestimated + +Some of the older people can remember when our Civil 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. + + +Seeing the Gospel + +"Have you ever heard the Gospel?" asked a missionary of a Chinaman, +whom he had not seen in his mission before. + +"No," he replied, "but I have seen it. I know a man who used to be the +terror of his neighborhood. He was a bad opium smoker and dangerous as +a wild beast; but he became wholly changed. He is now gentle and good +and has left off opium." + + +Illuminated Christians + +We see very few illuminated Christians now. If every one of us was +illuminated by the Spirit of God, how we could light up the churches! +But to have a lantern without any light, that would be a nuisance. +Many Christians carry along lanterns and say, "I wouldn't give up my +religion for yours." They talk about religion. The religion that has +no fire is like painted fire. They are artificial Christians. Do you +belong to that class? You can tell. If you can't, your friends can. + +There is a fable of an old lantern in a shed, which began to boast +because it had heard its master say he didn't know what he would ever +do without it. But the little candle within spoke up and said: "Yes, +you'd be a great comfort if it wasn't for me! You are nothing; I'm the +one that gives the light." We are nothing, but Christ is everything, +and what we want is to keep in communion with Him and let Christ dwell +in us richly and shine forth through us. + +I have a match box with a phosphorescent front. It draws in the rays +of the sun during the day and then throws them out in the dead hours +of the night, so that I can always see it in the dark. Now, that is +what we ought to be, constantly drawing in the rays of the Sun of +Righteousness and then giving them out. Some one said to some young +converts, "It is all moonshine being converted." They replied, "Thank +you for the compliment. The moon borrows light from the sun, and so we +borrow ours from the Sun of Righteousness." That is what takes place +when we have this illumination. + + +Not Ashamed of his Lord + +A young convert tried to preach in the open air; he could not preach +very well either, but he did the best he could. Some one interrupted +him and said: + +"Young man, you cannot preach; you ought to be ashamed of yourself." + +Said the young man, "So I am, but I am not ashamed of my Lord." + +That is right. Do not be ashamed of Christ--of the Man that bought us +with His own blood. + + +He Silenced the Devil + +If you find yourself getting very miserly, begin to scatter, like a +wealthy farmer in New York state I heard of. He was a noted miser, but +he was converted. Soon after, a poor man who had been burned out and +had no provisions came to him for help. The farmer thought he would be +liberal and give the man a ham from his smoke-house. On his way to get +it, the tempter whispered to him: + +"Give him the smallest one you have." + +He had a struggle whether he would give a large or a small ham, but +finally he took down the largest he could find. + +"You are a fool," the devil said. + +"If you don't keep still," the farmer replied, "I will give him every +ham I have in the smoke-house." + + +Warm the Wax! + +A gentleman in Ireland had a seal made for me. "D.L.M." is on one +side, and on the other, "God is love." If I want to stamp "God is +love" I would not make much headway if the wax was hard and cold. +Many people go to meetings, and it is as hard to make an impression +on them as in pressing a seal on hard wax. But let the wax be warmed +up and an impression is made. If we are willing, every one of us may +be sealed for the day of redemption. "In whom ye also trusted after +that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom +also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of +promise." + + +Draw Nearer + +When I was a boy my mother used to send me out doors to get a birch +stick to whip me with, when I had to be punished. At first I used to +stand off from the rod as far as I could. But I soon found that the +whipping hurt me more that way than any other; and so I went as near +to my mother as I could, and found she could not strike me so hard. +And so when God chastens us let us kiss the rod and draw as near to +Him as we can. + + +The Panorama Looks Brighter + +"When a panorama is to pass before an audience, the artist darkens the +room in which they sit, so that the picture may be more fully seen. So +God sometimes darkens our place on earth, puts out this light and +that, and then before our souls He makes to pass the splendors and +glories of the better land." + + +All Things Work for Good + +There is one passage of Scripture which has always been a great +comfort to me. In the eighth chapter of Romans Paul says: "All things +work together for good to them that love God." Some years ago a child +of mine had scarlet fever. I went to the druggist's to get the +medicine, which the doctor had ordered, and told him to be sure and be +very careful in making up the prescription. The druggist took down one +bottle after another, in any one of which there might be what would be +rank poison for my child; but he stirred them together and mixed them +up, and made just the medicine which my child needed. And so God gives +us a little adversity here, a little prosperity there, and all works +for our good. + + +It Takes Time + +Suppose I should send my little boy, five years old, to school +to-morrow morning, and when he came home in the afternoon, say to him: + +"Willie, can you read? can you write? can you spell? Do you understand +all about algebra, geometry, Hebrew, Latin and Greek?" + +"Why, papa," the little fellow would say, "how funny you talk. I have +been all day trying to learn the A, B, C's!" + +Suppose I should reply: "If you have not finished your education, you +need not go any more." What would you say? Why, you would say I had +gone mad! + +There would be just as much reason in that as in the way that people +talk about the Bible. The men who have studied the Bible for fifty +years have never got down to the depths of it yet. There are truths +there that the church of God has been searching out for the last +nineteen hundred years, but no man has yet fathomed the depths of the +ever-living stream. + + +Something God Cannot Do + +In Ireland, some time ago, a teacher asked a little boy if there was +anything that God could not do. The little fellow said: + +"Yes, He cannot see my sins through the blood of Christ." + + +It Seemed Too Good to be True + +Some time ago I read in one of the daily papers a thing that pleased +me very much. When the new administration of President McKinley went +into office some clerks in one of the departments were promoted. One +young lady was offered a promotion, but she went to see the secretary, +General Butterworth, and said that there was a girl sitting next to +her that had a family to support. A brother who had been supporting +the family had died, or sickened, and it had fallen upon her, and she +asked the general to let her friend that sat next to her have the +promotion in her place. + +The general said that he had heard of such things in other +generations, but he didn't know that it would ever happen in his +generation. He was amazed to find a person on duty in Washington that +was willing to give up her position and take a lower one, and let some +one else have it that she might be able to help her family. + +In Colorado the superintendent of some works told me of a miner that +was promoted, who came to the superintendent, and said: + +"There is a man that has seven children, and I have only three, and he +is having a hard struggle. Don't promote me, but promote him." + +I know of nothing that speaks louder for Christ and Christianity than +to see a man or woman giving up what you call your rights for others, +and "in honor preferring one another." + + +The Scarlet Thread + +In the British Navy there is said to be a scarlet thread running +through every line of cordage, and though a rope be cut into inch +pieces it can be recognized as belonging to the government. So there +is a scarlet thread running all through the Bible--the whole book +points to Christ. + + +The First "Don't Worry Club" + +Mrs. Sangster says that we hear a good deal in this age, as if it were +a novelty, about the futility of being anxious, and people have +established "Don't Worry Clubs." But the first "Don't Worry Club" was +begun by our blessed Lord Himself when He said: "Take no thought for +the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of +itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." He bade us +consider the lilies growing in their beauty and purity without a +thought, and taught us the true way of living without care, without +solicitude, bearing all burdens lightly, and having continual joy on +our faces. Only those who have the indwelling Christ in their hearts +can walk through this world with bright and glad looks, because they +know that, let come what may, their Father is leading them safely. + + +The Story Followed Him + +While I was at a convention in Illinois an old man past seventy years, +got up, and said he remembered but one thing about his father, and +that one thing followed him all through life. He could not remember +his death, he had no recollection of his funeral, but he recollected +his father one winter night taking a little chip, and with his +pocket-knife whittling out a little cross, and with the tears in his +eyes he held up that cross, telling how God in His infinite love sent +His Son down here to redeem us, and how He had died on the cross for +us. The story of the cross followed him through life; and if we tell +children these truths, they will never forget them. + + +The Fatal Sleep + +Some time ago a vessel had been off on a whaling voyage, and had been +gone about three years. The father of one of the sailors had charge of +the light-house, and he was expecting his boy to come home. It was +time for the whaling-vessel to return. One night there came up a +terrible gale. This father fell asleep, and while he slept his light +went out. When he awoke he looked toward the shore and saw a vessel +had been wrecked. He at once went to see if he could not yet save some +one who might be still alive. The first body that came floating toward +the shore was, to his great grief and surprise, the body of his own +boy! He had been watching for that boy for many days. Now the boy had +at last come in sight of home, and had perished because his father had +let his light go out! + +I thought, what an illustration of fathers and mothers to-day that +have let their lights go out! You are not training your children for +God and eternity. You do not live as though there were anything beyond +this life at all. You keep your affections set upon things on the +earth instead of on things above, and the result is that the children +do not believe there is anything in Christianity. Perhaps the very +next step they take may take them into eternity; the next day they +may die without God and without hope. + + +That Love is Spontaneous + +Some time ago, in an inquiry meeting, I said to a young miss who said +that she could not love God, that it was very hard for her to love +Him: + +"Is it hard for you to love your mother? Do you have to learn to love +your mother?" + +She looked up through her tears, and said, "No; I can't help it; that +is spontaneous." + +"Well," I said, "when the Holy Spirit kindles love in your heart, you +can not help loving God; it will be spontaneous." + +When the Spirit of God comes into your heart and mine, it will be easy +to love and serve God. + + +The Summing Up of His Life + +A man was taken into one of our insane asylums a few years ago from +one of the Western cities. He had resolved to be rich. How he turned +every stone to accumulate wealth! All his energy and every faculty +were pushed toward that one end. "Wealth, wealth, wealth! money, +money, money!" was his cry. At last it drove him mad, and they took +him to the mad-house, where he threw himself into a rocking-chair, and +cried: + +"Millions of money, and in a mad-house!" + +That was all there was of his life. Pretty short, wasn't it? Sixty +years gone, millions of money, and in a mad-house; and he died there. +That was the summing up of his life. + + +Beautiful Motion but No Progress + +Many people are working and working, as Rowland Hill said, like +children on a rocking-horse--it is a beautiful motion, but there is no +progress. Those who are working for salvation are like men on a +treadmill, going round and round and round; toiling and toiling and +toiling; but nothing comes of it all. There is no progress, and there +cannot be until you have the motive power within, till the breath of +life comes from God, which can alone give you power to work for +others. + + +Get It into Your Heart + +"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." +An old Scotchman says: "It is a good thing in a good place for a good +purpose." Many people have the Bible in their heads, or in their +pockets; but we need to get it down into our hearts. + + +How the Miners were Saved + +In the north of England they have been digging the coal for a century. +They have gone miles and miles away from the shaft, under the sea, and +there is danger of men getting lost. I heard of two old miners who +lost their way. Their lights went out, and they were in danger of +losing their lives. After wandering around for a long time, they sat +down, and one of them said: + +"Let us sit perfectly quiet, and see if we cannot feel which way the +air is moving, because it always moves toward the shaft." + +There they sat for a long time, when all at once one of them felt a +slight touch on his cheek, and he sprang to his feet and said: + +"I felt it." + +They went in the direction in which the air was moving, and reached +the shaft. + +Sometimes there comes a little breath from God that touches our souls. +It may be so gentle and faint that you barely recognize it; but if you +do, do not disregard it. Thank God that He has spoken to you, and +praise Him for it, and whatever may come do not go in the opposite +direction. Give yourself up to be led by it, and you will come out of +darkness, out of bondage, out of sorrow, into perpetual light and joy. + + +Receiving and Never Giving + +What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving, +never giving out anything. Why is it that many Christians are cold? +Because they are all the time receiving, never giving out anything. + + +Dumb Christians + +It is a very sad thing that so many of God's children are dumb; yet it +is true. Parents would think it a great calamity to have their +children born dumb; they would mourn over it, and weep; and well they +might; but did you ever think of the many dumb children God has? The +churches are full of them; they never speak for Christ. They can talk +about politics, art, and science; they can speak well enough and fast +enough about the fashions of the day; but they have no voice for the +Son of God. + + +Like Siamese Twins + +Covetousness and stealing are almost like Siamese twins--they go +together so often. In fact we might add lying, and make them triplets, +"The covetous person is a thief _in_ the shell. The thief is a +covetous person _out_ of the shell. Let a covetous person see +something that he desires very much; let an opportunity of taking it +be offered; how very soon he will break through the shell and come out +in his true character as a thief." The Greek word translated +"covetousness" means--an inordinate desire of getting. When the Gauls +tasted the sweet wines of Italy, they asked where they came from, and +never rested until they had overrun Italy. + + +Not Troubled with Doubts + +One of the happiest men I ever knew was a man in Dundee, Scotland, who +had fallen and broken his back when he was a boy of fifteen. He had +lain on his bed for about forty years, and could not be moved without +a good deal of pain. Probably not a day had passed in all those years +without acute suffering. But day after day the grace of God had been +granted to him, and when I was in his chamber it seemed as if I was as +near heaven as I could get on earth. I can imagine that when the +angels passed over Dundee, they had to stop there to get refreshed. + +When I saw him, I thought he must be beyond the reach of the tempter, +and I asked him: "Doesn't Satan ever tempt you to doubt God, and to +think that He is a hard Master?" + +"Oh, yes," he said, "he does try to tempt me. I lie here and see my +old schoolmates driving along in their carriages, and Satan says: 'If +God is so good, why does He keep you here all these years? You might +have been a rich man, riding in your own carriage.' Then I see a man +who was young when I was walk by in perfect health, and Satan +whispers: 'If God loved you, couldn't He have kept you from breaking +your back?'" + +"What do you do when Satan tempts you?" + +"Ah, I just take him to Calvary, and I show him Christ, and I point +out those wounds in His hands and feet and side, and say, 'Doesn't He +love me?' and the fact is, he got such a scare there eighteen hundred +years ago that he cannot stand it; he leaves me every time." + +That bedridden saint had not much trouble with doubts; he was too full +of the grace of God. + + +Honey-Dew + +I have sometimes been in a place where the very air seemed to be +charged with the breath of God, like the moisture in the air. I +remember one time as I went through the woods near Mount Hermon school +I heard bees, and asked what it meant. + +"Oh," said one of the men, "they are after the _honey-dew_." + +"What is that?" I asked. + +He took a chestnut leaf and told me to put my tongue to it. I did so, +and the taste was sweet as honey. Upon inquiry I found that all up and +down the Connecticut valley what they call "honey-dew" had fallen, so +that there must have been altogether hundreds of tons of honey-dew in +this region. Where it comes from I don't know. + +Do you suppose that this earth would be worth living on if it were not +for the dew and the rain? So a church that hasn't any of the dew of +heaven, any of the rain that comes down in showers, will be as barren +as the earth would be without the dew and rain. + + +A Personal Matter + +"The life of Christianity," says Luther, "consists of personal +pronouns. It is one thing to say, 'Christ is a Savior.' It is quite +another to say, 'He is _my_ Savior.' The devil can say the first. Only +the true Christian can say the second." + + +They Knew It + +Let me tell you how I had my eyes opened about the theater question. I +had an assistant superintendent of a Sabbath school, a very promising +young man, who seemed to be very happy in the work. A star actor came +to the city, and he went to see him. I knew nothing of it, but the +next Sunday when he came into the Sunday-school all over the building +the boys cried out: + +"Hypocrite! Hypocrite!" + +The perspiration started out of every pore of my body; I thought they +were looking at me. I said to the little newsboys: + +"Who are you calling a hypocrite?" + +They mentioned the assistant's name. I asked the reason, and they +said: + +"We saw him going into the theater." + +I had never said anything about the theater to those children, but +they saw that man going in, and called him a hypocrite. They seemed to +know it was no place for a Christian to go. He lost his influence +entirely, withdrew from the school, and after a while gave up +Christian work altogether. He was just swept along with the tide in +Chicago and his influence was lost. + + +Pull for the Shore + +A vessel was wrecked off the shore. Eager eyes were watching and +strong arms manned the life-boat. For hours they tried to reach that +vessel through the great breakers that raged and foamed on the +sand-bank, but it seemed impossible. The boat appeared to be leaving +the crew to perish. But after a while the captain and sixteen men were +taken off, and the vessel went down. + +"When the life-boat came to you," said a friend, "did you expect it +had brought some tools to repair your old ship?" + +"Oh, no," was the response; "she was a total wreck. Two of her masts +were gone, and if we had stayed mending her only a few minutes, we +must have gone down sir." + +"When once off the old wreck and safe in the life-boat what remained +for you to do?" + +"Nothing, sir, but just to pull for the shore." + +Man can't save himself. He has been wrecked by sin, and his only +safety lies in taking Jesus Christ as his Savior. + + +Easy, and Yet Difficult + +It is the easiest thing in the world to become a Christian, and it is +also the most difficult. You say: "That is a contradiction, a +paradox." I will illustrate what I mean. + +A little nephew of mine, a few years ago, took my Bible and threw it +down on the floor. His mother said, + +"Charlie, pick up uncle's Bible." + +The little fellow said he would not. + +"Charlie, do you know what that word means?" + +She soon found out that he did, and that he was not going to pick up +the Book. His will had come right up against his mother's will. + +I began to be quite interested in the struggle: I knew if she did not +break his will, he would some day break her heart. + +She repeated, "Charlie, go and pick up uncle's Bible, and put it on +the table." + +The little fellow said he could not do it. + +"I will punish you if you do not." + +He saw a strange look in her eye, and the matter began to get serious. +He did not want to be punished, and he knew his mother would punish +him if he did not lift the Bible. So he straightened every bone and +muscle in him, and he said _he could not do it_. I really believe the +little fellow had reasoned himself into the belief that he could not +do it. + +His mother knew he was only deceiving himself, so she kept him right +to the point. At last he went down, put both his arms around the +Bible, and tugged away at it; but he still said he could not do it. +The truth was--he did not want to. He got up again without lifting it. + +The mother said, "Charlie, I am not going to talk to you any more. +This matter has to be settled; pick up that Bible, or I will punish +you." + +At last she broke his will, and then he found it as easy as it is for +me to turn my hand. He picked up the Bible, and laid it on the table. + +So it is with the sinner; if you are really willing to take the Water +of Life, YOU CAN DO IT. + + +No Difference + +During the war, when enlisting was going on, sometimes a man would +come up with a nice silk hat on, patent-leather boots, kid gloves, and +a fine suit of clothes; perhaps the next man who came along would be +a hod-carrier, dressed in the poorest kind of clothes. Both had to +strip alike and put on the regimental uniform. + +When you come and say you are not fit, haven't got good clothes, +haven't got righteousness enough to be a Christian, remember that +Christ will furnish you with the uniform of heaven, and you will be +set down at the marriage feast of the Lamb. I don't care how black and +vile your heart may be, only accept the invitation of Jesus Christ, +and He will make you fit to sit down with the rest at that feast. + + +Drawing a Comparison + +When I was in California I went into a Sunday-school and asked: + +"Have you got some one who can write a plain hand?" + +"Yes." + +We got up the blackboard, and the lesson upon it proved to be the +text, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." + +I said, "Suppose we write upon that board some of the earthly +treasures? We will begin with 'gold.'" + +The teacher readily put down "gold," and they all comprehended it, for +all had run to that country in hope of finding it. + +"Well, we will put down 'houses' next and then 'land.' Next we will +put down 'fast horses.'" + +They all understood what fast horses were--they knew a good deal more +about fast horses than they knew about the kingdom of God. Some of +them, I think, actually made fast horses serve as gods. + +"Next we will put down 'tobacco.'" The teacher seemed to shrink at +this. "Put it down," said I; "many a man thinks more of tobacco than +he does of God. Well, then we will put down 'rum.'" + +He objected to this--didn't like to put it down at all. + +"Down with it! Many a man will sell his reputation, his home, his +wife, his children, everything he has, for rum. It is the god of some +men. Many here are ready to sell their present and their eternal +welfare for it. Put it down," and down it went. + +"Now," said I, "suppose we put down some of the heavenly treasures. +Put down 'Jesus' to head the list, then 'heaven,' then 'River of +Life,' then 'Crown of Glory'," and went on until the column was +filled, and then just drew a line and showed the heavenly and the +earthly things in contrast. + +My friends, they could not stand comparison. If a man does that, he +cannot but see the superiority of the heavenly over the earthly +treasures. + +It turned out that this teacher was not a Christian. He had gone to +California on the usual hunt--gold; and when he saw the two columns +placed side by side, the excellence of the one over the other was +irresistible, and he was the first soul God gave me on that Pacific +coast. He accepted Christ, and that man came to the station when I was +coming away and blessed me for coming to that place. + + +A Legend about Doves + +There is a beautiful legend about a conference held by the doves to +decide where they should make their abode. One suggested that they +should go to the woods; but the objection was made that there they +would be in danger from hawks; another mentioned the cities, but boys +would stone them there, and drive them away or kill them. Presently +some dove suggested that they go and hide in the clefts of the rocks, +and there they were safe. "O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities +and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in +the sides of the hole's mouth." + + Rock of Ages, cleft for me, + Let me hide myself in thee. + + +Look to Christ! + +A leading surgeon I heard of, when he has a bad wound to dress, or a +broken limb to set, tells the patient: + +"Now, look at the wound, see just how it looks, and then look at me!" + +So when you have seen the state your heart is in, look up to Christ, +and nowhere else. + + +Paying Attention to the Preacher + +There was an architect in Chicago who was converted. In giving his +testimony, he said he had been in the habit of attending church for a +great many years, but he could not say that he had really heard a +sermon all the time. He said that when the minister gave out the text +and began to preach, he used to settle himself in the corner of the +pew and work out the plans of some building. He could not tell how +many plans he had prepared while the minister was preaching. He was +the architect for one or two companies; and he used to do all his +planning in that way. + +You see, Satan came in between him and the preacher, and caught away +the good seed of the Word. I have often preached to people, and have +been perfectly amazed to find they could hardly tell one solitary word +of the sermon; even the text had completely gone from them. + + +Better Make Sure + +"I hab hearn folks say, 'Hope I has 'ligion, but I doan know'; but I +neber hearn a man say, 'I hope's I has money, but I doan know.' Dat +sorter 'ligion dat yer hopes ye's got, but doan know, ain't gwine to +do no mo' good dan der money what yer hopes ye's got but doan know." + + +Some Things Quite Plain + +An English army officer in India who had been living an impure life +went round one evening to argue religion with the chaplain. During +their talk the officer said: + +"Religion is all very well, but you must admit that there are +difficulties--about the miracles, for instance." + +The chaplain knew the man and his besetting sin, and quietly looking +him in the face, answered: + +"Yes; there are some things in the Bible not very plain, I admit; but +the seventh commandment is very plain." + + +Your Own Picture There + +The Bible is like an album. I go into a man's house, and while waiting +for him, I take up an album and open it. I look at a picture. "Why, +that looks like a man I know." I turn over and look at another. "Well, +I know that man." I keep turning over the leaves. "Well, there is a +man who lives in the same street as myself--he is my next-door +neighbor." And then I come upon another, and see myself. + +My friends, if you read your Bibles you will find your own pictures +there. It just describes you. You may be a Pharisee; if so, turn to +the third chapter of John, and see what Christ said to the Pharisee: +"Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God." But +you may say: "I am not a Pharisee; I am a poor miserable sinner, too +bad to come to Him." Well, turn to the woman of Samaria, and see what +Christ said to her. + + +"That's Me!" + +While we were in London, Mr. Spurgeon one day in his orphanage told +about the boys--that some of them had aunts and some cousins, and that +nearly every boy had some friend that took an interest in him, and +came to see him and gave him a little pocket money. One day, he said, +while he stood there, a little boy came up to him and said: + +"Mr. Spurgeon, let me speak to you." + +The boy sat down between Mr. Spurgeon and the elder who was with him, +and said: + +"Mr. Spurgeon, suppose your father and mother were dead, and you +didn't have any cousins, or aunts, or uncles or friends to come and +give you pocket money, and give you presents, don't you think you +would feel bad? Because that's me!" + +Said Mr. Spurgeon: "The minute he said that, I put my right hand down +into my pocket and took out some money for him." + + +Queer Ideas of Repentance + +The unconverted have a false idea about repentance; they think God is +going to make them repent. I was once talking with a man on this +subject, and he summed up his whole argument by saying: + +"Moody, it has never struck me yet." + +I said: "What has never struck you." + +"Well," he replied: "Some people it strikes, and some it doesn't. +There was a good deal of interest in our town a few years ago, and +some of my neighbors were converted, but it didn't strike me." + +That man thought that repentance was coming down some day to strike +him like lightning. Another man said he expected some sensation, like +cold chills down his back. + +Repentance isn't feeling. It is turning from sin to God. One of the +best definitions was given by a soldier. Some one asked him how he was +converted. He said: + +"The Lord said to me, _Halt! Attention! Right about face! March!_ and +that was all there was in it." + + +A Good Illustration + +A little child gives a good illustration of faith. Let the wind blow +her hat into the river, and she does not worry; she knows her mother +will get her another. She lives by faith. + + +"Come! Come! Come!" + +A man in one of our meetings had been brought there against his will; +he had come through some personal influence brought to bear upon him. +When he got to the meeting, they were singing the chorus of a hymn: + +/* +Come! oh, come to Me! +Come! oh, come to Me! +Weary, heavy-laden, +Come! oh, come to Me! +*/ + +He said afterward he thought he never saw so many fools together in +his life before. The idea of a number of men standing there singing, +"Come! come! come!" + +When he started home he could not get this little word out of his +head; it kept coming back all the time. He went into a saloon, and +ordered some whisky, thinking to drown it. But he could not; it still +kept coming back. He went into another saloon, and drank some more +whisky; but the words kept ringing in his ears: "Come! come! come!" He +said to himself, "What a fool I am for allowing myself to be troubled +in this way!" He went to a third saloon, had another glass, and +finally got home. + +He went off to bed, but could not sleep; it seemed as if the very +pillow kept whispering the word, "Come! Come!" He began to be angry +with himself: "What a fool I was for ever going to that meeting at +all!" When he got up he took the little hymn book, found the hymn, and +read it over. + +"What nonsense!" he said to himself; "the idea of a rational man being +disturbed by that hymn." + +He set fire to the hymn book, but he could not burn up the little word +"Come!" + +He declared he would never go to another of the meetings; but the next +night he came again. When he got there, strange to say, they were +singing the same hymn. + +"There is that miserable old hymn again," he said; "what a fool I am +for coming!" When the Spirit of God lays hold of a man, he does a good +many things he did not intend to do. + +To make a long story short, that man rose in a meeting of young +converts, and told the story that I have now told you. Pulling out the +little hymn-book--for he had bought another copy--and opening it at +this hymn, he said: + +"I think this hymn is the sweetest and the best in the English +language. God blessed it to the saving of my soul. And yet this was +the very hymn that I despised." + + +Don't Scold + +"He that winneth souls is wise." Do you want to win men? Do not drive +or scold them. Do not try to tear down their prejudices before you +begin to lead them to the truth. Some people think they have to tear +down the scaffolding before they begin on the building. An old +minister once invited a young brother to preach for him. The latter +scolded the people, and when he got home, asked the old minister how +he had done. He said he had an old cow, and when he wanted a good +supply of milk, he fed the cow; he did not scold her. + + +A Long Time to Reap + +A man died in the Columbus penitentiary some years ago who had spent +over thirty years in his cell. He was one of the millionaires of Ohio. +Fifty years ago when they were trying to get a trunk road from Chicago +to New York, they wanted to lay the line through his farm near +Cleveland. He did not want his farm divided by the railroad, so the +case went into court, where commissioners were appointed to pay the +damages and to allow the road to be built. + +One dark night, a train was thrown off the track, and several were +killed. This man was suspected, was tried and found guilty, and was +sent to the penitentiary for life. The farm was soon cut up into city +lots, and the man became a millionaire, but he got no benefit from it. + +It may not have taken him more than an hour to lay the obstruction on +the railroad, but he was over thirty years reaping the result of that +one act! + + +"As a Little Child" + +A little child is the most dependent thing on earth. All its resources +are in its parents' love; all it can do is to cry; and its necessities +explain the meaning to the mother's heart. If we interpret its +language, it means: "Mother, wash me; I cannot wash myself. Mother, +clothe me; I am naked, and cannot clothe myself. Mother, feed me; I +cannot feed myself. Mother, carry me; I cannot walk." It is written, +"A mother may forget her sucking child; yet will not I forget thee." + +This it is to receive the Kingdom of God as a little child--to come to +Jesus in our helplessness, and say: "Lord Jesus, wash me!" "Clothe +me!" "Feed me!" "Carry me!" "Save me, Lord, or I perish."--Rainsford. + + +Following the Lamb + +A friend who lost all his children told me about being in an eastern +country some time ago, and he saw a shepherd going down to a stream, +and he wanted to get his flock across. He went into the water and +called them by name, but they came to the bank and bleated, and were +too afraid to follow. At last he went back, tightened his girdle about +his loins, took up two little lambs, and put one inside his frock, and +another inside his bosom. Then he started into the water, and the old +sheep looked up to the shepherd instead of down into the water. They +wanted to see their little ones. So he got them over the water, and +led them into the green pastures on the other side. + +How many times the Good Shepherd has come down here and taken a little +lamb to the hill-tops of glory, and then the father and mother begin +to look up and follow. + + +Two Pictures + +A friend told me of a poor man who had sent his son to school in the +city. One day the father was hauling some wood into the city, perhaps +to pay his boy's bills. The young man was walking down the street with +two of his school friends, all dressed in the very height of fashion. +His father saw him, and was so glad that he left his wood, and went to +the sidewalk to speak to him. But the boy was ashamed of his father, +who had on his old working clothes, and spurned him, and said: + +"I don't know you." + +Will such a young man ever amount to anything? Never! + +There was a very promising young man in my Sunday-school in Chicago. +His father was a confirmed drunkard, and his mother took in washing to +educate her four children. This was her eldest son, and I thought that +he was going to redeem the whole family. But one day a thing happened +that made him go down in my estimation. + +The boy was in the high school, and was a very bright scholar. One day +he stood with his mother at the cottage door--it was a poor house, but +she could not pay for their schooling and feed and clothe her children +and hire a very good house too out of her earnings. When they were +talking a young man from the high school came up the street, and this +boy walked away from his mother. Next day the young man said: + +"Who was that I saw you talking to yesterday?" + +"Oh, that was my washerwoman." + +I said: "Poor fellow! He will never amount to anything." + +That was a good many years ago. I have kept my eye on him. He has gone +down, down, down, and now he is just a miserable wreck. Of course, he +would go down! Ashamed of his mother that loved him and toiled for +him, and bore so much hardship for him! I cannot tell you the contempt +I had for that one act. + +Let us look at-- + + +A Brighter Picture + +Some years ago I heard of a poor woman who sent her boy to school and +college. When he was to graduate, he wrote his mother to come, but she +sent back word that she could not because her best skirt had already +been turned once. She was so shabby that she was afraid he would be +ashamed of her. He wrote back that he didn't care how she was dressed, +and urged so strongly that she went. He met her at the station, and +took her to a nice place to stay. The day came for his graduation, and +he walked down the broad aisle with that poor mother dressed very +shabbily, and put her into one of the best seats in the house. To her +great surprise he was the valedictorian of the class, and he carried +everything before him. He won a prize, and when it was given to him, +he stepped down before the whole audience and kissed his mother, and +said: + +"Here, mother, here is the prize! It's yours. I would not have won it +if it had not been for you." + +Thank God for such a man! + + +The Folly of Covetousness + +The folly of covetousness is well shown in the following extract: + +"If you should see a man that had a large pond of water, yet living in +continual thirst, nor suffering himself to drink half a draught for +fear of lessening his pond; if you should see him wasting his time and +strength in fetching more water to his pond, always thirsty, yet +always carrying a bucket of water in his hand, watching early and late +to catch the drops of rain, gaping after every cloud, and running +greedily into every mire and mud in hopes of water, and always +studying how to make every ditch empty itself into the pond; if you +should see him grow gray in these anxious labors, and at last end a +thirsty life by falling into his own pond, would you not say that such +a one was not only the author of his own disquiet, but was foolish +enough to be reckoned among madmen? But foolish and absurd as this +character is, it does not represent half the follies and absurd +disquiets of the covetous man." + +I have read of a millionaire in France, who was a miser. In order to +make sure of his wealth, he dug a cave in his wine cellar so large and +deep that he could go down into it with a ladder. The entrance had a +door with a spring lock. After a time, he was missing. Search was +made, but they could find no trace of him. At last his house was sold, +and the purchaser discovered this door in the cellar. He opened it, +went down, and found the miser lying dead on the ground, in the midst +of his riches. The door must have shut accidentally after him, and he +perished miserably. + + +What is Needed + +Nine-tenths, at least, of our church members never think of speaking +for Christ. If they see a man, perhaps a near relative, going right +down to ruin, going rapidly, they never think of speaking to him about +his sinful course and of seeking to win him to Christ. Now certainly +there must be something wrong. And yet when you talk with them you +find they have faith, and you cannot say they are not children of God; +but they have not the power, the liberty, the love that real disciples +of Christ should have. + +A great many think that we need new measures, new churches, new +organs, new choirs, and all these new things. That is not what the +Church of God needs to-day. It is the old power that the apostles had. +If we have that in our churches, there will be new life. + +I remember when in Chicago many were toiling in the work, and it +seemed as though the car of salvation didn't move on, when a minister +began to cry out from the very depths of his heart: + +"Oh, God, put new ministers in every pulpit." + +Next Monday I heard two or three men stand up and say, "We had a new +minister last Sunday--the same old minister, but he had got new +power," and I firmly believe that is what we want to-day all over +America--new ministers in the pulpit and new people in the pews. We +want people quickened by the Spirit of God. + + +Neglecting Church + +A minister rebuked a farmer for not attending church, and said: + +"You know, John, you are never absent from market." + +"Oh," was the reply, "we _must_ go to market." + + +Oratorical Preaching + +My friends, we have too many orators in the pulpit, I am tired and +sick of your "silver-tongued orators." I used to mourn because I +couldn't be an orator. I thought, Oh, if I could only have the gift of +speech like some men! I have heard men with a smooth flow of language +take the audience captive; but they came and they went. Their voice +was like the air--there wasn't any _power_ back of it; they trusted in +their eloquence and their fine speeches. That is what Paul was +thinking of when he wrote to the Corinthians: "My speech and my +preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in +demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not +stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." + +Take a witness in court and let him try his oratorical powers in the +witness-box, and see how quickly the judge will rule him out. It is +the man who tells the plain, simple truth that has the most influence +with the jury. + +Suppose that Moses had prepared a speech for Pharaoh, and had got his +hair all smoothly brushed, and had stood before the looking-glass, or +had gone to an elocutionist to be taught how to make an oratorical +speech and how to make gestures. Suppose that he had buttoned his +coat, put one hand in his chest, had struck an attitude, and begun: + +"The God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has +commanded me to come into the presence of the noble King of Egypt." + +I think they would have taken his head right off! They had Egyptians +who could be as eloquent as Moses. It was not eloquence they wanted. + + +To Which Class Do You Belong? + +Some one has said that there are three classes of people: the "wills," +the "won'ts," and the "can'ts"; the first accomplish everything, the +second oppose everything, and the third fail in everything. + + +Sunday Work + +A Christian man was once urged by his employer to work on Sunday. + +"Does not your Bible say that if your ass falls into a pit on the +Sabbath, you may pull him out?" + +"Yes," replied the other; "but if the ass had the habit of falling +into the same pit every Sabbath, I would either fill up the pit or +sell the ass." + + +There Must Be Roots + +Suppose I hire two men to set out trees, and after a day or two I go +out to see how they are getting along. I find that one man has set out +a hundred trees, and the other only ten. I say: + +"Look here; what does this mean? That man has set out a hundred trees, +and you have set out only ten. What does it mean?" + +"Yes, but he has cut off all the roots, and, just stuck the tops into +the ground." + +I go to the other man, and say: "What does this mean? Why have you +planted all of these trees without roots?" + +"I don't believe in roots; they are of no account. My trees look just +as well as his." + +But when the sun blazes upon the trees, they all wither and die. + +There are a lot of people running around who haven't got any roots. A +good many live on negations. They are always telling what they _don't_ +believe. I want a man to tell me what he _does_ believe, not what he +does not believe. And I like to meet a positive man. We just want to +know what men do believe. We don't want trees that haven't any roots, +for they will dry up when the sun blazes on them. There are a good +many persons that are going on without any foundation; they have no +faith. + + +The Path of Obedience + +Whatsoever He tells you to do, do. But be sure He says it. Don't take +your ideas. Go and live right at home, go and treat your wife and +children right, pay your debts, and do some things of that kind. + +A colored man said he had seen a sign; he said it read, "G. P. C," and +he understood it to mean, "Go preach Christ." + +Another man got up, and said. "No, that ain't it; it is 'Go pick +cotton.'" + +If it is preach the gospel, go preach the gospel; and if it is pick +cotton, then pick cotton. + + +Calling a Man a Liar + +You cannot offer a man a greater insult than to tell him he is a liar. +Unbelief is telling God He is a liar. + +Suppose a man said, "Mr. Moody, I have no faith in you whatever." +Don't you think it would grieve me? There is not anything that would +wound a man much more than to be told that you do not have any faith +in him. + +A great many men say, "Oh, I have profound reverence and respect for +God." + +Yes, profound respect, but not faith. Why, it is a downright insult! + +Suppose a man says, "Mr. Moody, I have profound respect for you, +profound admiration for you, but I do not believe a word you say." + +I wouldn't give much for his respect or admiration; I wouldn't give +much for his friendship. God wants us to put our faith in Him. How it +would wound a mother's feelings to hear her children say, "I do love +mamma so much, but I don't believe what she says." How it would grieve +that mother. And that is about the way a great many of God's professed +children talk. Some men seem to think it is a great misfortune that +they do not have faith. Bear in mind it is not a misfortune, but it is +the damning sin of the world. + + +Bending His Will + +A mother told me up in Minnesota that she had a little child who took +a book and threw it out of the window. She told him to go and pick it +up. The little boy said, "I won't." + +She said, "What?" + +He said again, "I won't." + +She said: "You must. Go and pick up that book." + +He said he couldn't do it. She took him out, and she held him right to +it. Dinner-time came, and he hadn't picked up the book. She took him +to dinner, and after it was over she took him out again. They sat +there until tea-time. When tea-time came she took him in and gave him +his supper, and then took him out and kept him there until bed-time. +The next morning she went out again and kept him there until +dinner-time. He found he was in for a life job, and he picked the book +up. + +She said she never had any trouble with the child afterward. Mothers, +if you don't make your boy obey when he is young, he will break your +heart. + + +How To Find the Thirsty + +When preaching in Chicago, Dr. Monro Gibson once asked in the inquiry +meeting, "Now, how can we find out who is thirsty? I was just thinking +how we could find out. If a boy should come down the aisle, bringing +a good pail full of clear water and a dipper, we would soon find out +who was thirsty. The thirsty men and women would reach out for water; +but if he should walk down the aisle with an empty bucket, we wouldn't +find out. People would look in and see that there was no water, and +say nothing. So," said he, "I think that is the reason we are not more +blessed in our ministry; we are carrying around empty buckets, and the +people see that we have not anything in them, and they don't come +forward." + + +Making Parables + +Stewart Robertson met Marshall, the great politician, and Marshall +said: + +"Why don't you preach in parables like your Master?" + +Robertson said: "I would if I knew enough. I wish you would make me a +few." + +He never could get to see him from that day until one day he met him +on a corner, and he said: + +"Marshall, where are those parables?" + +"I knew you would be after me, but I give it up. I tried, but I +couldn't make them. I didn't know it was so hard." + +People say, "Oh, any one can make up a sermon." But if you think so, +just try it! + + +A Father's Mistake + +The story is told that a man once said he would not talk to his son +about religion; the boy should make his own choice when he grew up, +unprejudiced by him. + +The boy broke his arm, and when the doctor was setting it, he cursed +and swore the whole time. The father was quite grieved and shocked. + +"Ah," said the doctor, "you were afraid to prejudice the boy in the +right way, but the devil had no such prejudice. He has led your son +the other way." + +The idea that a father is to let his children run wild! Nature alone +never brings forth anything but weeds. + + +A Rum-Seller's Son Blows His Brains Out + +Look at that rum-seller. When we talk to him he laughs at us. He tells +you there is no hell, no future--there is no retribution. I've got one +man in my mind now who ruined nearly all the sons in his neighborhood. +Mothers and fathers went to him and begged him not to sell their +children liquor. He told them it was his business to sell liquor, and +he was going to sell liquor to every one who came. The saloon was a +blot upon the place as dark as hell. + +But the man had a father's heart. He had a son. He didn't worship God, +but he worshiped that boy. He didn't remember that whatsoever a man +soweth so shall he reap. My friends, they generally reap what they +sow. It may not come immediately, but the retribution will surely +come. If you ruin other men's sons, some other man will ruin yours. +Bear in mind God is a God of equity; God is a God of justice. He is +not going to allow you to ruin others and escape yourself. If we go +against His laws, we suffer. + +Time rolled on, and that young man became a slave to drink, and his +life became such a burden to him that he put a revolver to his head +and blew his brains out. The father lived a few years, but his life +was as bitter as gall, and then went down to his grave in sorrow. Ah, +my friends, it is hard to kick against the pricks. + + +Mrs. Moody Teaching Her Child + +There was a time when our little boy did not like to go to church, and +would get up in the morning and say to his mother: + +"What day is to-morrow?" + +"Tuesday." + +"Next day?" + +"Wednesday." + +"Next day?" + +"Thursday"; and so on, till he came to the answer, "Sunday." + +"Dear me," he said. + +I said to the mother, "We cannot have our boy grow up to hate Sunday +in this way; that will never do. That is the way I used to feel when I +was a boy. I used to look upon Sunday with a certain amount of dread. +Very few kind words were associated with the day. I don't know that +the minister even noticed me, unless it was when I was asleep in the +gallery, and he had some one wake me up. This kind of thing won't do. +We must make the Sunday the most attractive day of the week; not a day +to be dreaded, but a day of pleasure." + +Well, the mother took the work up with this boy. Bless those mothers +in their work with the children! Sometimes I feel as if I would rather +be the mother of John Wesley or Martin Luther or John Knox than have +all the glories in the world. Those mothers who are faithful with the +children God has given them will not go unrewarded. + +My wife went to work, and took Bible stories and put those blessed +truths in a light that the boy could comprehend, and soon his feeling +for the Sabbath was the other way. + +"What day's to-morrow?" he would ask. + +"Sunday." + +"I am glad." + +If we make Bible truths interesting, and break them up in some shape +so that these children can get at them, then they will begin to enjoy +them. + + +Missed At Last! + +In one of the tenement houses in New York City a doctor was sent for. +He came, and found a young man very sick. When he got to the bedside +the young man said: + +"Doctor, I don't want you to deceive me; I want to know the worst. Is +this illness to prove serious?" + +After the doctor had made an examination, he said, "I am sorry to tell +you you cannot live out the night." + +The young man looked up and said, "Well, then, I have missed it at +last!" + +"Missed what?" + +"I have missed eternal life. I always intended to become a Christian +some day, but I thought I had plenty of time, and put it off." + +The doctor, who was himself a Christian man, said: "It is not too +late. Call on God for mercy." + +"No; I have always had a great contempt for a man who repents when he +is dying; he is a miserable coward. If I were not sick, I would not +have a thought about my soul, and I am not going to insult God now." + +The doctor spent the day with him, read to him out of the Bible, and +tried to get him to lay hold of the promises. The young man said he +would not call on God, and in that state of mind he passed away. Just +as he was dying the doctor saw his lips moving. He reached down, and +all he could hear was the faint whisper: + +"_I have missed it at last!_" + +Dear friend, make sure that you do not miss eternal life at last. + + +Choose Now + +A teacher had been relating to his class the parable of the rich man +and Lazarus, and he asked: + +"Now, which would you rather be, boys, the rich man or Lazarus?" + +One boy answered, "I would rather be the rich man while I live, and +Lazarus when I die." + +That cannot be. + + +The Mansion Made Ready + +Once when I was traveling to a city there was a lady in the car with +me. After I had reached the hotel where I was to stay, and had got +comfortable quarters, she came, and said: + +"Oh, sir, I cannot get a room in this hotel; they are quite full! How +ever did you manage to get a room?" + +"Easily enough," I replied; "I just telegraphed on before that I was +coming, to have a room ready for me." + +And it is somewhat similar in regard to gaining admission to heaven. +Your names must be sent on beforehand, and entered in its book, else +you won't get in; but get your names inscribed on its pages, and then +you won't be disappointed. God will have a mansion ready for you when +you ascend to your heavenly home. When you come to its gates, the +guardian angels will refer to the book of life to see if your name is +there. If so, pass in; but if not, admittance will be inexorably +refused. + + +The Promise For All + +Every one of God's proclamations is connected with that word +"whosoever"--"whosoever believeth," "whosoever will." I think it was +Richard Baxter said he thanked God for that "whosoever." He would a +good deal rather have that word "whosoever" than Richard Baxter; for +if it was Richard Baxter, he should have thought it was some other +Richard Baxter who had lived and died before him; but "whosoever" he +knew included him. + +I heard of a woman once that thought there was no promise in the Bible +for her; she thought the promises were for some one else, not for her. +There are a good many of these people in the world. They think it is +too good to be true that they can be saved for nothing. This woman one +day got a letter, and when she opened it she found it was not for her +at all; it was meant for another woman that had the same name; and she +had her eyes opened to the fact that if she should find some promise +in the Bible directed to her name, she would not know whether it meant +her or some one else that bore her name. But you know the word +"whosoever" includes every one in the wide world. + + +Reaping As They Sowed + +Although God forgave the sins of Jacob and David, and the other Old +Testament saints, yet there were certain consequences of their sins +which those saints had to suffer after they were forgiven. + +If a man gets drunk and goes out and breaks his leg, so that it must +be amputated, God will forgive him if he asks it, but he will have to +hop around on one leg all his life. A man may sow thistle-seed with +grain-seed in a moment of pique against his master, and the master +may forgive him, but the man will have to reap the thistles with the +grain. + + +Small Beginnings + +An obscure man preached one Sunday to a few persons in a Methodist +chapel in the South of England. A boy of fifteen years of age was in +the audience, driven into the chapel by a snowstorm. The man took as +his text the words, "Look unto me and be ye saved," and as he stumbled +along as best he could, the light of heaven flashed into that boy's +heart. He went out of the chapel saved, and soon became known as C. H. +Spurgeon, the boy-preacher. + +The parsonage at Epworth, England, caught fire one night, and all the +inmates were rescued except one son. The boy came to a window, and was +brought safely to the ground by two farm-hands, one standing on the +shoulder of the other. The boy was John Wesley. If you would realize +the responsibility of that incident, if you would measure the +consequences of that rescue, ask the millions of Methodists who look +back to John Wesley as the founder of their denomination. + + +Saying and Doing + +A man was once conversing with a Brahmin priest, and he asked: + +"Could _you_ say, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life?'" + +"Yes," replied the priest, "I could say that." + +"_But could you make any one believe it?_" + +Christ proved His superiority right there. His character and His +actions were back of His words. He exhibited His divine power to +silence His enemies. + + +Climb Higher + +I remember being in a meeting after the Civil War had been going on +for about six months. The army of the North had been defeated at Bull +Run; in fact, we had nothing but defeat, and it looked as though the +Republic was going to pieces; so we were much cast down and +discouraged. At this meeting every speaker for a while seemed as if he +had hung his harp upon the willow; it was one of the gloomiest +meetings I ever attended. Finally an old man with beautiful white hair +got up to speak, and his face literally shone. + +"Young men," he said, "you do not talk like sons of the King. Though +it is dark just here, remember it is light somewhere else." Then he +went on to say that if it were dark all over the world, it was light +up around the Throne. + +He told us he had come from the East, where a friend had described to +him how he had been up a mountain to spend the night and see the sun +rise. As the party were climbing up the mountain, and before they had +reached the summit, a storm came on. This friend said to the guide: + +"I will give this up; take me back." + +The guide smiled, and replied: "I think we shall get above the storm +soon." + +On they went; and it was not long before they got up to where it was +as calm as any summer evening. Down in the valley a terrible storm +raged; they could hear the thunder rolling, and see the lightning's +flash; but all was serene on the mountain top. + +"And so, my young friends," continued the old man, "though all is +dark around you, come a little higher, and the darkness will flee +away." + +Often when I have been inclined to get discouraged, I have thought of +what he said. If you are down in the valley amidst the thick fog and +the darkness, get a little higher; get nearer to Christ, and know more +of Him. + + +The Greatest Miracle + +Jesus said, "The works that I do shall ye do also, and greater works +than these shall ye do because I go to the Father." + +I used to stumble over that. I didn't understand it. I thought what +greater work could any man do than Christ had done? How could any one +raise a dead man who had been laid away in the sepulchre for days, and +who had already begun to turn back to dust; how with a word could he +call him forth? + +But the longer I live the more I am convinced it is a greater thing to +influence a man's will; a man whose will is set against God; to have +that will broken and brought into subjection to God's will--or, in +other words, it is a greater thing to have power over a living, +sinning, God-hating man, than to quicken the dead. He who could create +a world could speak a dead soul into life; but I think the greatest +miracle this world has ever seen was the miracle at Pentecost. Here +were men who surrounded the apostles, full of prejudice, full of +malice, full of bitterness, their hands, as it were, dripping with the +blood of the Son of God, and yet an unlettered man, a man whom they +detested, a man whom they hated, stands up and preaches the Gospel, +and three thousand of them are immediately convicted and converted, +and become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. + + +Different Kinds of Murder + +One young man at college, an only son, whose mother wrote to him +remonstrating against his gambling and drinking habits, took the +letters out of the post-office, and when he found that they were from +her, he tore them up without reading them. She said: + +"I thought I would die when I found I had lost my hold on that son." + +If a boy kills his mother by his conduct, you can't call it anything +else than _murder_, and he is as truly guilty of breaking the sixth +commandment as if he drove a dagger to her heart. + + +"It Is Not For You!" + +Commenting on the text: "It is not for you to know the times or the +seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power," Spurgeon said: + +"If I were introduced into a room where a large number of parcels were +stored up, and I was told that there was something good for me, I +should begin to look for that which had my name upon it, and when I +came upon a parcel and I saw in pretty big letters, '_It is not for +you_,' I should leave it alone. Here, then, is a casket of knowledge +marked, '_It is not for you_ to know the times or the seasons, which +the Father hath put in His own power.' Cease to meddle with matters +which are concealed, and be satisfied to know the things which are +clearly revealed." + + +Stolen Goods a Burden + +I heard of a boy who stole a cannon-ball from a navy-yard. He watched +his opportunity, sneaked into the yard, and secured it. But when he +had it, he hardly knew what to do with it. It was heavy, and too +large to conceal in his pocket, so he had to put it under his hat. +When he got home with it, he dared not show it to his parents, because +it would have led at once to his detection. + +He said in after years it was the last thing he ever stole. + +The story is told that a royal diamond valued at $600,000 was stolen +from a window of a jeweler, to whom it had been given to set. A few +months afterward a miserable man died a miserable death in a poor +lodging-house. In his pocket was found the diamond, and a letter +telling how he had not dared to sell it, lest it should lead to his +discovery and imprisonment. It never brought him anything but anxiety +and pain. + + +Unlocked By Prayer + +God's best gifts, like valuable jewels, are kept under lock and key, +and those who want them must, with fervent faith, importunately ask +for them; for God is the rewarder of them that _diligently_ seek Him. + + +The Faithful Promiser + +God is always true to what He promises to do. He made promises to +Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and the others, and did He not fulfill +them? He will fulfill every word of what He has promised; yet how few +take Him at His word! + +When I was a young man I was clerk in the establishment of a man in +Chicago, whom I observed frequently occupied sorting and marking +bills. He explained to me what he had been doing; on some notes he had +marked B, on some D, and on others G; those marked B, he told me, were +bad, those marked D meant they were doubtful, and those with G on +them mean they were _good_; and, said he, you must treat all of them +accordingly. And thus people indorse God's promises, by marking some +as bad and others as doubtful; whereas we ought to take all of them as +_good_, for He has never once broken His word, and all that He says He +will do, will be done in the fullness of time. + + +Throw Out the Ballast + +When men go up in a balloon, they carry with them what they call +ballast--that is, small bags of sand, and when they want to rise +higher they just throw out some of the sand. So we, if we want to rise +nearer heaven, must just throw out some of the sand, and cast aside +every weight. We won't rise higher till we do so. + + +A Mother's Love + +The closest tie on earth is a mother's love for her child. There are a +good many things that will separate a man from his wife, but there +isn't a thing in the wide, wide world that will separate a true mother +from her own child. I will admit that there are unnatural mothers, +that there are mothers that have gone out of their heads, mothers that +are so steeped in sin and iniquity that they will turn against their +own children, but a true mother will never, never turn against her own +child. I have talked with mothers when my blood boiled with +indignation against the sons for their treatment of their mothers, and +I have said: + +"Why don't you cast him off?" + +They have said: "Why, Mr. Moody, I love him still. He is my son." + +I was once preaching for Dr. G. in St. Louis, and when I got through +he said that he wanted to tell me a story. There was a boy who was +very bad. He had a very bad father, who seemed to take delight in +teaching his son everything that was bad. The father died, and the boy +went on from bad to worse until he was arrested for murder. + +When he was on trial, it came out that he had murdered five other +people, and from one end of the city to the other there was a +universal cry going up against him. During his trial they had to guard +the court-house, the indignation was so intense. + +The white-haired mother got just as near her son as she could, and +every witness that went into the court and said anything against him +seemed to hurt her more than her son. When the jury brought in a +verdict of guilty a great shout went up, but the old mother nearly +fainted away; and when the judge pronounced the sentence of death they +thought she would faint away. + +After it was over she threw her arms around him and kissed him, and +there in the court they had to tear him from her embrace. She then +went the length and breadth of the city trying to get men to sign a +petition for his pardon. And when he was hanged, she begged the +governor to let her have the body of her son, that she might bury it. +They say that death has torn down everything in this world, everything +but a mother's love. That is stronger than death itself. The governor +refused to let her have the body, but she cherished the memory of that +boy as long as she lived. + +A few months later she followed her boy, and when she was dying she +sent word to the governor, and begged that her body might be laid +close to her son. That is a mother's love! She wasn't ashamed to have +her grave pointed out for all time as the grave of the mother of the +most noted criminal the State of Vermont ever had. + +The prophet takes hold of that very idea. He says: "Can a mother +forget her child?" But a mother's love is not to be compared to the +love of God. + + +Restitution + +I was preaching in British Columbia some years ago and a young man +came to me, and wanted to become a Christian. He had been smuggling +opium into the States. + +"Well, my friend," I said, "I don't think there is any chance for you +to become a Christian until you make restitution." He said, "If I +attempt to do that, I will fall into the clutches of the law, and I +will go to the penitentiary." "Well," I replied, "you had better do +that than go to the judgment-seat of God with that sin upon your soul, +and have eternal punishment. The Lord will be very merciful if you set +your face to do right." + +He went away sorrowful, but came back the next day, and said: "I have +a young wife and child, and all the furniture in my house I have +bought with money I have got in this dishonest way. If I become a +Christian, that furniture will have to go, and my wife will know it." + +"Better let your wife know it, and better let your home and furniture +go." + +"Would you come up and see my wife?" he asked; "I don't know what she +will say." + +I went up to see her, and when I told her, the tears trickled down her +cheeks, and she said: "Mr. Moody, I will gladly give everything if my +husband can become a true Christian." + +She took out her pocketbook, and handed over her last penny. He had a +piece of land in the United States, which he deeded over to the +government. I do not know, in all my backward track, of any living man +who has had a better testimony for Jesus Christ than that man. He had +been dishonest, but when the truth came to him that he must make it +right before God would help him, he made it right. + +No amount of weeping over sin, and saying that you feel sorry, is +going to help it unless you are willing to confess and make +restitution. + + +Willie and the Bears + +I said to my little family, one morning, a few weeks before the +Chicago fire, "I am coming home this afternoon to give you a ride." + +My little boy clapped his hands. "Oh, papa, will you take me to see +the bears in Lincoln Park?" + +"Yes." + +I had not been gone long when my little boy said, "Mamma, I wish you +would get me ready." + +"Oh," she said, "it will be a long time before papa comes." + +"But I want to get ready, mamma." + +At last he was ready to have the ride, face washed, and clothes all +nice and clean. + +"Now, you must take good care, and not get yourself dirty again," said +mamma. + +Of course, he was going to take care; he wasn't going to get dirty! So +off he ran to watch for me. However, it was a long time yet until the +afternoon, and after a little he began to play. When I got home, I +found him outside, with his face all covered with dirt. + +"I can't take you to the park that way, Willie." + +"Why papa? you said you would take me." + +"Ah, but I can't; you're all over mud. I couldn't be seen with such a +dirty little boy." + +"Why, I'se clean, papa; mamma washed me." + +"Well, you've got dirty again." + +But he began to cry, and I could not convince him that he was dirty. + +"I'se clean; mamma washed me!" he cried. + +Do you think I argued with him? No. I just took him up in my arms, and +carried him into the house, and showed him his face in the +looking-glass. He had not a word to say. He would not take my word for +it; but one look at the glass was enough; he saw it for himself. He +didn't say he wasn't dirty after that! + +Now, the looking-glass showed him that his face was dirty--_but I did +not take the looking-glass to wash it_; of course not. Yet that is +just what thousands of people do. The Law is the looking-glass to see +ourselves in, to show us how vile and worthless we are in the sight of +God; but they take the Law and try to _wash_ themselves with it, +instead of being washed in the blood of the Lamb. + + +Christ For All + +An old Welshwoman said Christ was Welsh, and an Englishman said: + +"No, He was a Jew." + +She declared that she knew He was Welsh, because He spoke so that she +could understand Him. + + +Starting Right + +Many a man is lost because he does not start right. He makes a bad +start. A young man comes from his country home, and enters upon city +life. Temptation arises, and he becomes false to his principles. He +meets with some scoffing, sneering man, who jeers at him because he +goes to a church service; or because he is seen reading his Bible; or +because he is known to pray to God. And the young man proves to be +weak-kneed; he cannot stand the scoffs and the sneers and the jeers of +his companions; and so he becomes untrue to his principles, and gives +them up. + +I want to say here to young men, that when a young man makes a wrong +start, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred it is ruin to him. The +first game of chance; the first betting transaction; the first false +entry in the books; the first quarter-dollar taken from the cash-box +or the till; the first night spent in evil company--either of these +may prove the turning-point; either of these may represent a wrong +start. + + +Napoleon and the Conscript + +There is a well-known story told of Napoleon the First's time. In one +of the conscriptions, during one of his many wars, a man was balloted +as a conscript who did not want to go, but he had a friend who offered +to go in his place. His friend joined the regiment in his name, and +was sent off to the war. By and by a battle came on, in which he was +killed, and they buried him on the battle-field. Some time after, the +Emperor wanted more men, and by some mistake the first man was +balloted a second time. They went to take him, but he remonstrated. + +"You cannot take me." + +"Why not?" + +"I am dead," was the reply. + +"You are not dead; you are alive and well." + +"But I _am_ dead," he said. + +"Why, man, you must be mad. Where did you die?" + +"At such a battle, and you left me buried on such a battle-field." + +"You talk like a madman," they cried; but the man stuck to his point +that he had been dead and buried some months. + +"Look up your books," he said, "and see if it is not so." + +They looked, and found that he was right. They found the man's name +entered as drafted, sent to the war, and marked off as killed. + +"Look here," they said, "you didn't die; you must have got some one to +go for you; it must have been your _substitute_." + +"I know that," he said; "he died in my stead. You cannot touch me; I +died in that man, and I go free. The law has no claim against me." + +They would not recognize the doctrine of substitution, and the case +was carried to the Emperor. He said that the man was right, that he +was dead and buried in the eyes of the law, and that France had no +claim against him. + +This story may or may not be true, but one thing I know is true: Jesus +Christ suffered death for the sinner, and those who accept Him are +free from the Law. + + +Green Fields or Desert? + +When I was out in California, the first time I went down from the +Sierra Nevada Mountains and dropped into the Valley of the Sacramento, +I was surprised to find on one farm that everything about it was +green--all the trees and flowers, everything was blooming, and +everything was green and beautiful, and just across the hedge +everything was dried up, and there was not a green thing there. I +could not understand it. I made inquiries, and I found that the man +that had everything green, irrigated; he just poured the water right +on, and kept everything green, while the fields that were next to his +were as dry as Gideon's fleece without a drop of dew. + +So it is with a great many in the church to-day. They are like these +farms in California--a dreary desert, everything parched and desolate, +and apparently no life in them. They can sit next to a man who is full +of the Spirit of God, who is like a green bay tree, and who is +bringing forth fruit, and yet they will not seek a similar blessing. + +Well, why this difference? Because God has poured water on him that +was thirsty; that is the difference. One has been seeking this +anointing, and he has received it; and when we want this above +everything else God will surely give it to us. + + +Religion In the Home + +What we want is family piety, righteousness in our homes. A young +minister came to me, and said he couldn't get along with his wife, and +what should he do? I told him to get out of the ministry. A man has no +right to be in the pulpit unless he can get along with his family. + + +A Universal Failing + +It is a false idea that all pride is confined to the upper classes. +You will find it in the lanes and alleys. You will find little dirty, +barefooted children who will get a string of shavings, put it round +their necks, and strut down the street as if they were wearing golden +beads. Pride is born and grows in the human heart. You do not plant it +there; it grows there of itself. There is as much pride among the poor +as among the rich; and that is one reason why more of them do not come +to the Lord Jesus Christ: they do not like to be laughed at, scoffed +at, sneered at, and ridiculed. It costs them too much. + + +Words and Actions + +A man may preach with the eloquence of an angel, but if he doesn't +live what he preaches, and act out in his home and his business what +he professes, his testimony goes for naught, and the people say it is +all hypocrisy after all; it is all a sham. Words are very empty, if +there is nothing back of them. Your testimony is poor and worthless, +if there is not a record back of that testimony consistent with what +you profess. What we need is to pray to God to lift us up out of this +low, cold, formal state that we live in, that we may dwell in the +atmosphere of God continually, and that the Lord may lift upon us the +light of His countenance, and that we may shine in this world, +reflecting His grace and glory. + + +The One-Eyed Doe + +There is an old fable that a doe that had but one eye used to graze +near the sea; and in order to be safe, she kept her blind eye toward +the water, from which side she expected no danger, while with the good +eye she watched the country. Some men, noticing this, took a boat and +came upon her from the sea and shot her. With her dying breath, she +said: + +"Oh! hard fate! that I should receive my death wound from that side +whence I expected no harm, and be safe in the part where I looked for +most danger." + + +Lost Opportunities + +If a farmer neglects to plant in the springtime, he can never recover +the lost opportunity; no more can you, if you neglect yours. Youth is +a seed-time, and if it is allowed to pass without good seed being +sown, weeds will spring up and choke the soil. It will take bitter +toil to uproot them. + +An old divine said that when a good farmer sees a weed in his field he +has it pulled up. If it is taken early enough, the blank is soon +filled in, and the crop waves over the whole field. But if allowed to +run too late, the bald patch remains. It would have been better if the +weed had never been allowed to get root. + + +Steer Clear + +A steamboat was stranded in the Mississippi River, and the captain +could not get her off. Eventually a hard-looking fellow came on board, +and said: + +"Captain, I understand you want a pilot to take you out of this +difficulty?" + +The captain said, "Are you a pilot?" + +"Well, they call me one." + +"Do you know where the snags and sand-bars are?" + +"No, sir." + +"Well, how do you expect to take me out of here if you don't know +where the snags and sand-bars are?" + +"I know where they ain't!" was the reply. + +Beware of temptations. "Lead us not into temptation," our Lord taught +us to pray; and again He said, "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into +temptation." We are weak and sinful by nature, and it is a good deal +better for us to pray for deliverance rather than to run into +temptation and then pray for strength to resist. + + +Looking for Revivals + +Men are anxious for a revival in business. There is a great revival in +politics just now. In all departments of life you find that men are +very anxious for a revival in the things that concern them most. + +If this is legitimate--and it is perfectly right in its place--should +not every child of God be praying for and desiring a revival of +godliness in the world at the present time? Do we not need a revival +of downright honesty, of truthfulness, of uprightness, and of +temperance? Are there not many who have become alienated from the +Church of God and from the house of the Lord, who are forming an +attachment to the saloon? Are not our sons being drawn away by +hundreds and thousands, so that while you often find the churches +empty, the liquor shops are crowded every Sabbath afternoon and +evening? I am sure the saloon-keepers are glad if they can have a +revival in their business; they do not object to sell more whisky and +beer. Then surely every true Christian ought to desire that men who +are in danger of perishing eternally should be saved and rescued. + + +Opportunity + +A sculptor once showed a visitor his studio. It was full of statues of +gods. One was very curious. The face was concealed by being covered +with hair, and there were wings on each foot. + +"What is his name?" said the visitor. + +"Opportunity," was the reply. + +"Why is his face hidden?" + +"Because men seldom know him when he comes to them." + +"Why has he wings on his feet?" + +"Because he is soon gone, and once gone can never be overtaken." + +It becomes us, then, to make the most of the opportunities God has +given us. + + +The Usual Way + +I used at one time to read so many chapters of the Bible a day, and if +I did not get through my usual quantity, I thought I was getting cold +and backsliding. But, mind you, if a man had asked me two hours +afterward what I had read, I could not tell him; I had forgotten it +nearly all. + +When I was a boy I used, among other things, to hoe corn on a farm; +and I used to hoe it so badly, in order to get over so much ground, +that at night I had to put down a stick in the ground, so as to know +next morning where I had left off. + +That was somewhat in the same fashion as running through so many +chapters every day. A man will say, "Wife, did I read that chapter?" + +"Well," says she, "I don't remember." + +And neither of them can recollect. And perhaps he reads the same +chapter over and over again; and they call that "studying the Bible." +I do not think there is a book in the world we neglect so much as the +Bible. + + +Getting On Splendidly + +One man said to another, some time ago: "How are you getting on at +your church?" + +"Oh, splendid." + +"Many conversions?" + +"Well--well, on that side we are not getting on so well. But," he +said, "we have rented all our pews and are able to pay all our +running expenses. We are getting on splendidly." + +That is what the godless call "getting on splendidly." They rent the +pews, pay the minister, and meet all the running expenses. + +A man was being shown through one of the cathedrals of Europe; he had +come in from the country. One of the men belonging to the cathedral +was showing him around, when he inquired: + +"Do you have may conversions here?" + +"Many what?" + +"Many conversions here?" + +"Ah, man, this is not a Wesleyan chapel." + +The idea of there being conversions there! And you can go into a good +many churches in this country and ask if they have many conversions +there, and they would not know what it meant, they are so far away +from the Lord; they are not looking for conversions, and don't expect +them. + + +A Hundred Years Hence + +Once, as I was walking down the street, I heard some people laughing +and talking aloud. One of them said: + +"Well, there will be no difference; it will be all the same a hundred +years hence." + +The thought flashed across my mind, "Will there be no difference? +Where will you be a hundred years hence?" + +Young man, just ask yourself the question, "Where shall I be?" Some of +you who are getting on in years may be in eternity ten years hence. +Where will you be, on the left or the right hand of God? I cannot tell +your feelings, but I can my own. I ask you, "Where will you spend +eternity? Where will you be a hundred years hence?" + + +A Free Gift + +Remember, salvation is a free gift, and it is a free gift _for us_. +Can you buy it? It is a free gift, presented to "whosoever" will +accept it. + +Suppose I were to say, I will give this Bible to "whosoever" will take +it; what have you got to do? Why, nothing but take it. But a man comes +forward, and says: + +"I'd like that Bible very much." + +"Well, didn't I say 'whosoever' will can have it?" + +"Yes; but I'd like to have you mention my name." + +"Well, here it is." + +Still he keeps eyeing the Bible, and saying, "I'd like to have that +Bible; but I'd like to give you something for it. I don't like to take +it for nothing." + +"But I am not here to sell Bibles; take it, if you want it." + +"Well, I want it; but I'd like to give you something for it. Let me +give you a cent for it; though, to be sure, it's worth about five +dollars." + +Suppose I accept the cent; the man takes up the Bible and marches away +home with it. + +His wife asks, "Where did you get that Bible?" + +"Oh, I bought it." + +Mark the point; when he gave the penny, it ceased to be a gift. So +with salvation. If you were to pay ever so little, it would not be a +gift. + + +What Seed Are You Sowing? + +Suppose I meet a man who is sowing seed, and say, "Hello, stranger, +what are you sowing?" + +"Seed." + +"What kind of seed?" + +"I don't know." + +"Don't you know whether it is good or bad?" + +"No; I can't tell. But it is seed--that is all I want to know, and I +am sowing it." + +You would say that he was a first-class lunatic, wouldn't you? But he +wouldn't be half so mad as the man who goes on sowing for time and +eternity, and never asks himself what he is sowing or what the harvest +will be. + +Father, what seed are you sowing in your family? Are you setting your +children a good or a bad example? Do you spend your time at the saloon +or the club, until you have become almost a stranger to them? or are +you training them for God and righteousness? + + +Bound Hand and Foot + +When I was speaking to five thousand children in Glasgow some years +ago, I took a spool of thread and said to one of the largest boys: + +"Do you believe I can bind you with that thread?" + +He laughed at the idea. I wound the thread around him a few times, and +he broke it with a single jerk. Then I wound the thread around and +around, and by and by I said: + +"Now get free if you can." + +He couldn't move head or foot. If you are slave to some vile habit, +you must either slay that habit, or it will slay you. + + +Unity + +There is one thing I have noticed as I have traveled in different +countries; I never yet have known the Spirit of God to work where the +Lord's people were divided. Unity is one thing that we must have if +we are to have the Holy Spirit of God to work in our midst. + +If a church is divided, the members should immediately seek unity. Let +the believers come together and get the difficulty out of the way. If +the minister of a church cannot unite the people, if those that were +dissatisfied will not fall in, it would be better for that minister to +retire. I think there are a good many ministers in this country who +are losing their time; they have lost, some of them, months and years; +they have not seen any fruit, and they will not see any fruit, because +they have a divided church. Such a church cannot grow in divine +things. The Spirit of God doesn't work where there is division, and +what we want to-day is the spirit of unity amongst God's children, so +that the Lord may work. + + +Get Inside! + +You have looked at the windows of a grand church erected at the cost +of many thousands of dollars. From the outside they did not seem very +beautiful; but get inside, when the rays of the sun are striking upon +the stained glass, and you begin to understand what others have told +you of their magnificence. So it is when you have come into personal +contact with Christ. You find Him to be the very Savior and friend you +need. You will see in Him what you have never seen before. + + +Hunt For Something + +We must study the Bible thoroughly, and hunt it through, as it were, +for some great truth. + +If a friend were to see me searching about a building, and were to +come up, and say, "Moody, what are you looking for? Have you lost +something?" and I were to say, "No, I haven't lost anything; I'm not +looking for anything particular," I fancy he would just let me go on +by myself, and think me very foolish. But if I were to say, "Yes, I +have lost a dollar," why, then, I might expect him to help me to find +it. + +Read the Bible, my friends, as if you were seeking for something of +value. It is a good deal better to take a single chapter, and spend a +month on it, than to read the Bible at random for a month. + + +"When Ye Think Not" + +McCheyne, the Scotch preacher, once said to some friends, "Do you +think Christ will come to-night?" + +One after another they said, "I think not." + +When all had given this answer, he solemnly repeated this text, "The +Son of Man cometh at an hour _when ye think not_." + + +Home Piety + +If a Christian is unsound in patience or unsound in love, we take no +notice of it; but let him be unsound in faith, and off goes his head. +I do hate to see a minister or professing Christian mean and peevish +to his wife, and yet be as polite as a dancing-master to other women. +I tell you he is not fit to preach the Word of God. I don't want to +have anything to do with him. The home was established before the +church, and he sadly needs more home piety. + + +Constant Watching + +The Persians had an annual festival when they slew all the serpents +and venomous creatures they could find; but they allowed them to swarm +as fast and freely as ever until the festival came round once more. It +was poor policy. Sins, like serpents, breed quickly, and need to be +constantly watched. + + +The Wrong Physician + +I heard once of a man who went to England from the Continent, and +brought letters with him to eminent physicians from the Emperor. The +letters said: + +"This man is a personal friend of mine, and we are afraid he is going +to lose his reason. Do all you can for him." + +The doctor asked him if he had lost any dear friend in his own +country, or any position of importance, or what it was that was +weighing on his mind. + +The young man said: "No; but my father and grandfather and myself were +brought up infidels, and for the last two or three years this thought +has been haunting me, 'Where shall I spend eternity?' And the thought +of it follows me day and night." + +The doctor said, "You have come to the wrong physician, but I will +tell you of One who can cure you"; and he told him of Christ, and read +to him the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, "With His stripes we are +healed." + +The young man said, "Doctor, do you believe that?" + +The doctor told him he did, and prayed and wrestled with him, and at +last the clear light of Calvary shone on his soul. He had settled the +question in his own mind at last, where he would spend eternity. + +I ask you, sinner, to settle if now. It is for you to decide. Shall it +be with the saints and martyrs and prophets, or in the dark caverns of +hell, amidst blackness and darkness forever? Make haste to be wise; +for "how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" + + +Seeking the Lost + +I remember, when we were in London, they found one old woman who was +eighty-five years old, and not a Christian. After the worker had +prayed, she made a prayer herself: + +"O Lord, I thank Thee for going out of Thy way to find me." + +He is all the time going out of His way to find the lost. + + +He Got Time To Think + +I was once preaching on the text, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; +for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." No sooner had I +read it than a man stood right up in the audience and said: + +"I don't believe it." + +I said: "My friend, that doesn't change the fact. Truth is truth, +whether you believe it or not; and a lie is a lie, whether you believe +it or not." + +He didn't want to believe it. When the meeting broke up, an officer +was at the door to arrest him. He was tried and sent to the +penitentiary for twelve months for stealing. I really believe that +when he got into his cell, he believed that he had to reap what he +sowed. + + +The Motherless Child + +Once I heard of a little sick child, whose mother was seriously ill; +and so, in order that she might have quiet, and that the sick child +might be no trouble to her, the little one was taken away to a +friend's house, and placed in charge of a kind lady for a time. The +mother grew worse, and at length died. The father said: + +"We'll not trouble the child about it; she is too young to remember +her mother; just let her remain where she is until the funeral is +over." + +This was done, and in a few days the little girl was brought back to +the house. No mention was made of her mother, or of what had occurred; +but no sooner was she taken to the house than she ran first into one +room, then into another, into the parlor, the dining-room, and all +over the house, and then away into a little room where her mother used +to go to pray alone. + +"Where is mother?" she cried. "I want mother!" + +And when they were compelled to tell her what had happened, she cried +out: + +"Take me away, take me away; I don't want to be here without mother." + +It was the mother made it home to her. And so it is in heaven. It is +not so much the white robes, the golden crown, or the harps of gold, +but it is the society we shall meet there. Who, then, are there? What +company shall we have when we get there? Jesus is there, the Holy +Father is there, the Spirit is there--our Father, our elder Brother, +our Comforter. + + +Converted the Regular Way + +I never yet knew a man converted just in the time and manner he +expected to be. I have heard people say, "Well, if ever I am +converted, it won't be in a Methodist church; you won't catch me +there." I never knew a man say that but, at last, if converted at all, +it was in a Methodist church. + +In Scotland a man was converted at one of our meetings--an employer. +He was very anxious that all his employés should be reached, and he +used to send them one by one to the meetings. But there was one +employé that wouldn't come. We are all more or less troubled with +stubbornness; and the moment this man found that his employer wanted +him to go to the meetings, he made up his mind he wouldn't go. If he +was going to be converted, he said, he was going to be converted by +some ordained minister; he was not going to any meeting that was +conducted by unordained Americans. He believed in conversion, but he +was going to be converted the regular way. He believed in the regular +Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and that was the place for him to be +converted. + +The employer tried every way he could to get him to attend the +meetings, but he wouldn't come. + +After we left that town and went away up to Inverness, the employer +had some business up there, and he sent this employé to attend to it, +in the hope that he would attend some of our meetings. + +One night, as I was preaching on the bank of a river, I happened to +take for my text the words of Naaman: "I thought; I thought." I was +trying to take men's thoughts up and to show the difference between +their thoughts and God's thoughts. This man happened to be walking +along the bank of the river. He saw a great crowd, and heard some one +talking, and he wondered to himself what that man was talking about. +He didn't know who was there, so he drew up to the crowd, and +listened. He heard the sermon, and became convicted and converted +right there. Then he inquired who was the preacher, and he found out +it was the very man that he said he would not hear--the man he +disliked. The very man he had been talking against was the very man +God used to convert him. + + +Crazy from Sin + +I was once preaching in Chicago, and a woman who was nearly out of her +mind came to me. You know there are some people who mock at religious +meetings, and say that religion drives people mad. It is _sin_ that +drives people mad. It is the want of Christ that sinks people into +despair. + +This was the woman's story: + +She had a family of children. One of her neighbors had died, and her +husband had brought home a little child. She said, "I don't want the +child," but her husband said, "You must take it and look after it." +She said she had enough to do with her own, and she told her husband +to take that child away. But he would not. She confessed that she +tried to starve the child; but it lingered on. One night it cried all +night; I suppose it wanted food. At last she took the clothes and +threw them over the child and smothered it. No one saw her; no one +knew anything about it. The child was buried. Years had passed away, +and she said: + +"I hear the voice of that child day and night. It has driven me nearly +mad." + +No one saw the act; but God saw it, and this retribution followed it. +History is full of these things. You need not go to the Bible to find +it out. + + +Don't Swear! + +I was greatly amazed not long ago, in talking to a man who thought he +was a Christian, to find that once in a while, when he got angry, he +would swear. I said: "My friend, I don't see how you can tear down +with one hand what you are trying to build up with the other. I don't +see how you can profess to be a child of God and let those words come +out of your lips." + +He replied: "Mr. Moody, if you knew me, you would understand. I have a +very quick temper. I inherited it from my father and mother, and it is +uncontrollable but my swearing comes only from the lips." + +When God said, "I will not hold him guiltless that takes My name in +vain," He meant what He said, and I don't believe any one can be a +true child of God who takes the name of God in vain. + + +The True Sheep Knows + +I tell you the true sheep know a true shepherd. I got up in Scotland +once and quoted a passage of Scripture a little different from what it +was in the Bible, and an old woman crept up and said: + +"Mr. Moody, you said----." + +I might make forty misquotations in an ordinary audience, and no one +would tell me about them. Like two lawyers: one said in court that the +other didn't know the Lord's Prayer. The other said he did: + +"Now I lay me down to sleep." + +"Well," the first said, "I give it up. I did not think you knew it." + +Didn't either one of them know it, you see. + + +The Father Knew Best + +Dr. Arnot, one of the greatest Scotch divines, was in this country +before he died. His mother died when he was a little boy only three +weeks old, and there was a large family of Arnots. I suppose they +missed the tenderness and love of the mother. They got the impression +that their father was very stern and rigid, and that he had a great +many laws and rules. + +One rule was, that the children should never climb trees. When the +neighbors found out that the Arnot children could not climb trees, +they began to tell them about the wonderful things they could see from +the tops of the trees. Well, tell a boy of twelve years that he +mustn't climb a tree, and he will get up that tree some way. And so +the Arnot children were all the time teasing their father to let them +climb the tree; but the old sire said: + +"No." + +One day he was busy reading his paper, and the boys said: + +"Father is reading his paper. Let's slip down into the lot and climb a +tree." + +One of the little fellows stood on the top of the fence to see that +father did not catch them. When his brother got up on the first +branch, he said: + +"What do you see?" + +"Why! I don't see anything." + +"Then go higher; you haven't got high enough." + +So up he went higher, and again the little boy asked: + +"Well, what do you see now?" + +"I don't see anything." + +"You aren't high enough; go higher." + +And the little fellow went up as high as he could go, but he slipped, +and down he came, and broke his leg. Willie said he tried to get him +into the house, but he couldn't do it. He had to tell his father all +about it. He said he was scared nearly out of his wits. He thought his +father would be very angry. But his father just threw aside the paper, +and started for the lot. When he got there, he picked the boy up in +his arms, and brought him up to the house. Then he sent for the +doctor. And Willie said he got a new view of that father. He found out +the reason why that father was so stern. He said the moment that boy +got hurt, no mother could have been more loving and gentle. + +My dear friends, there is not one commandment that has been given us +which has not been for our highest and best interest. There isn't a +commandment that hasn't come from the loving heart of God, and what He +wants is to have us give up that which is going to mar our happiness +in this life, and in the life to come. + + +"Help Yourself!" + +When I was out on the Pacific coast, in California, some years ago, I +was the guest of a man that had a large vineyard and a large orchard. +One day he said to me: + +"Moody, while you are my guest I want you to make yourself perfectly +at home, and if there is anything in the orchard or in the vineyard +you would like, help yourself." + +Well, when I wanted an orange, I did not go to an orange tree and pray +the oranges to fall into my pocket; but I walked up to a tree, reached +out my hand, and took the oranges. He said "Take," and I took. + +God says, "There is my Son; take Him as your Saviour. The wages of sin +is death; but the gift of God is eternal life." + + +The Rich Husband + +There was a shop-girl in Chicago, a few years ago. One day she could +not have bought five dollars' worth of anything; the next day she +could go and buy a thousand dollar's worth of whatever she wanted. + +What made the difference? + +Why, she had married a rich husband; that was all. She had received +him, and of course all he had became hers. And so we can have all, if +we only receive Christ. + + +Settle It Now! + +Some years ago, in one of the mining districts of England, a young man +attended one of our meetings and refused to go from the place till he +had found peace in the Savior. The next day he went down into the pit, +and the coal fell in upon him. When they took him out, he was broken +and mangled, and had only two or three minutes of life left in him. +His friends gathered about him, saw his lips moving, and, bending down +to catch his words, heard him say: + +"It was a good thing I settled it last night." + +Settle it now, my friends, once for all. Begin now to confess your +sins, and pray the Lord to remember you. He will make you an heir of +His kingdom, if you will accept the gift of salvation. + + +The True Source of Joy + +God doesn't ask us to rejoice over nothing; He gives us ground for our +joy. What would you think of a man who seemed very happy to-day and +full of joy, and couldn't tell you what made him so? Suppose I should +meet a man on the street, and he was so full of joy that he should get +hold of both my hands and say: + +"Bless the Lord, I am so full of joy!" + +"What makes you so full of joy?" + +"Well, I don't know." + +"You don't know!" + +"No, I don't; but I am so joyful that I just want to get out of the +flesh." + +"What makes you feel so joyful?" + +"Well, I don't know." + +Would we not think such a person unreasonable? But there are a great +many people who want to feel that they are Christians before they are +Christians; they want the Christian's experience before they become +Christians; they want to have the joy of the Lord before they receive +Jesus Christ. But this is not the Gospel order. He brings joy when He +comes, and we cannot have joy apart from Him. He is the author of it, +and we find our joy in Him. + + +The Meanest Kind of Murderers + +When I was in England in 1892, I met a gentleman who claimed that they +were ahead of us in the respect they had for the law. "We hang our +murderers," he said, "but there isn't one out of twenty in your +country that is hung." + +I said, "You are greatly mistaken, for they walk about these two +countries unhung." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I will tell you what I mean," I said; "the man that comes into my +house and runs a dagger into my heart for my money is a prince +compared with a son that takes five years to kill me and the wife of +my bosom. A young man who comes home night after night drunk, and when +his mother remonstrates, curses her gray hairs, and kills her by +inches, is the blackest kind of a murderer." + + +Where your Treasure Is + +You can soon tell where a man's treasure is by his talk. If it is in +heaven, he will not be long with you before he's talking about heaven; +his heart is there, and so his speech isn't long in running there, +too. If his heart is in money, he will soon have you deep in talk +about mines, speculation, stocks, bank rate, and so on. If his heart +is in lands, it won't be long before he's talking about real estate, +improvements, houses, and so on. Always the same, wherever a man's +heart is, there his tongue will be sure to go. + +Some one in England said, if you see a man's goods and furniture come +down by the luggage train, you're pretty sure he'll be down by the +next passenger train; he won't be long after; he'll follow his goods. +And so it is with heaven; if your treasure is on before you, you'll be +wanting to follow it; you'll be glad to be on the road thither as soon +as possible. + + +Why his Life was Spared + +Two Americans who were crossing the Atlantic met on Sunday night to +sing hymns in the cabin. As they sang the hymn, "Jesus, Lover of my +Soul," one of them heard an exceedingly rich and beautiful voice +behind him. He looked around, and although he did not know the face he +thought that he recognized the voice. So when the music ceased he +turned around and asked the man if he had not been in the Civil War. +The man replied that he had been a Confederate soldier. + +"Were you at such a place on such a night?" asked the first. + +"Yes," he said, "and a curious thing happened that night; this hymn +recalled it to my mind. I was on sentry duty on the edge of a wood. It +was a dark night and very cold, and I was a little frightened because +the enemy were supposed to be very near at hand. I felt very homesick +and miserable, and about midnight, when everything was very still, I +was beginning to feel very weary and thought that I would comfort +myself by praying and singing a hymn. I remember singing this hymn-- + + 'All my trust on Thee is stayed, + All my help from Thee I bring. + Cover my defenceless head + With the shadow of Thy wing.' + +"After I had sung those words a strange peace came down upon me, and +through the long night I remember having felt no more fear." + +"Now," said the other man, "listen to my story. I was a Union soldier, +and was in the wood that night with a party of scouts. I saw you +standing up, although I didn't see your face, and my men had their +rifles focused upon you waiting the word to fire, but when you sang +out-- + + 'Cover my defenceless head + With the shadow of Thy wing.' + +I said, 'Boys, put down your rifles; we will go home.' I couldn't kill +you after that." + + +The Sinner's Heart + +When I was in Dublin some years ago I got up to go to an early +meeting, and found the servants had not opened the front door; so I +pulled back a bolt, but I could not get the door open. Then I turned a +key, but the door would not open. Then I found there was another bolt +at the top and another bolt at the bottom. Still the door would not +open. Then I found there was a bar, and then I found a night-lock. In +all I found five or six different fastenings. + +I am afraid that door represents every sinner's heart. The door of his +heart is double-locked, double-bolted, and double-barred. Oh, my +friends, pull back the bolts, and let the King of glory in! + + +Nothing Small + +There are a great many different ways of doing good. A lady once +visited a hospital, and noticed with what pleasure the patients would +smell and look at the flowers sent to them. Said she: + +"If I had known that a bunch of flowers would do so much good, I would +have sent some from home." + +As soon as she got home, she sent some flowers out of her garden. It +was a little thing--a bouquet of flowers. It might be a very +insignificant work--very small; but if it was done in the right +spirit, God accepted it. A cup of water given in His name is accepted +as given to Himself. Nothing that is done for God is small. + + +An Anecdote about Tennyson + +It is said that Tennyson once asked an old Christian woman if there +was any news. + +"Why, Mr. Tennyson," she replied, "there's only one piece of news that +I know, and that is--Christ died for all men." + +"That is old news, and good news, and new news," Tennyson responded. + + +On Satan's Ground + +There is a legend that the Apostle John was much distressed over the +fall of a young convert. He summoned Satan before him, and reproached +him for ruining so good a youth. + +"I found your good youth on my ground," said Satan; "so I took him." + +The only safe course is to avoid temptation altogether. + + +Two Bidding for the Soul + +There are two who are bidding for your soul and mine--the Lord Jesus +and Satan. + +Satan bids, and he offers that which he cannot give. He is a liar, and +has been from the foundation of the world. I pity the man who is +living on the promises of the devil. He will never satisfy. But the +Lord Jesus is able to give all that He offers. And what does He +offer? He offers peace and joy and comfort that the world knows not +of. He offers eternal life in the kingdom of God. He offers a seat in +His mansions. We are to sit with Him upon His throne. + +May God help you to make a right choice! Make up your mind you will +not rest until the great question of eternity is settled, until you +have crossed the borderland, and pressed into the kingdom of God. + + +Tried and Proven + +I knew an old lady that marked in the margin of her Bible, opposite +the promises. T. P.; T. for "tried," and P. for "proven." What we want +is to try the Bible and see if it is not true. + + +The Prairie Fire + +Out in the Western country, in the autumn, when men go hunting, and +there has not been any rain for months, sometimes the prairie grass +catches fire, and there comes up a very strong wind, and the flames +just roll along twenty feet high, and travel at the rate of thirty or +forty miles an hour, consuming man and beast. When the hunters see it +coming, what do they do? They know they cannot run as fast as the fire +can run. Not the fleetest horse can escape. They just take a match and +light the grass around them, and let the flames sweep, and then they +get into the burnt district and stand safe. They hear the flames roar +as they come along, they see death coming toward them, but they do not +fear, they do not tremble, because the fire has swept over the place +where they are, and there is no danger. There is nothing for the fire +to burn. + +There is one mountain that the wrath of God has swept over--that is, +Mount Calvary; and the fire spent its fury upon the bosom of the Son +of God. Take your stand by the cross, and you will be safe for time +and eternity. + + +Perfect Order + +A good many people are afraid of doing anything out of the regular +lines--of doing anything out of order. Now, you will find perfect +order in a cemetery. You will find perfect order where there is death. +Where there is life you will find something out of order. + + +Is your Soul Insured? + +"Pa," said a little boy as he climbed to his father's knee, and looked +into his face as earnestly as if he understood the importance of the +subject, "pa, is your soul insured?" + +"What are you thinking about, my son?" replied the agitated father. +"Why do you ask that question?" + +"Why, pa, I heard Uncle George say that you had your house insured, +and your life insured; but he didn't believe you had thought of your +soul, and he was afraid you would lose it; won't you get it insured +right away?" + +The father leaned his head on his hand, and was silent. He owned broad +acres of land that were covered with a bountiful produce; his barns +were even now filled with plenty, his buildings were all well covered +by insurance; and as if that would not suffice for the maintenance of +his wife and only child in case of his decease, he had, the day +before, taken a life-policy for a large amount; yet not one thought +had he given to his own immortal soul. On that which was to waste away +and become part and parcel of its native dust he had spared no pains; +but for that which was to live on and on through the long ages of +eternity he had made no provision. "What shall it profit a man if he +gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" + + +Memory + +I have been twice at the point of death. I was drowning once, and just +as I was going down the third time I was rescued. In the twinkling of +an eye my whole life came flashing across my mind. I cannot tell you +how it was. I cannot tell you how a whole life can be crowded into a +second of time; but everything I had done from my earliest +childhood--it all came flashing across my mind. And I believe that +when God touches the secret spring of memory, every one of our sins +will come back, and if they have not been blotted out by the blood of +the Lord Jesus Christ, they will haunt us as eternal ages roll on. + +We talk about our forgetting, but we cannot forget if God says +"Remember." We talk about the recording angel keeping the record of +our life. I have an idea that when we get to heaven, or into eternity, +we will find that recording angel has been ourselves. God will make +every one of us keep our own record; these memories will keep the +record, and when God shall say, "Son, remember," it will all flash +across our mind. It won't be God who will condemn us; it will be +ourselves. We shall condemn ourselves, and we shall stand before God +speechless. + +There is a man in prison. He has been there five years. Ask that man +what makes the prison so terrible to him. Ask him if it is the walls +and the iron gates--ask him if it is his hard work, and he will tell +you _no_; he will tell you what makes the prison so terrible to him +is _memory_; and I have an idea that if we got down into the lost +world, we would find that is what makes hell so terrible--the +remembrance that they once heard the Gospel, that they once had Christ +offered to them, that they once had the privilege of being saved, but +they made light of the Gospel, they neglected salvation, they rejected +the offer of mercy, and now if they would accept it they could not. + + +Balaam's Ass + +A friend of mine was going back to Scotland, and he heard a couple of +these little modern philosophers discussing the Bible. One said: "The +Bible says that Balaam's ass spoke. Now, I am a scientific man, and I +have taken the pains to examine an ass's mouth, and it is so formed +that it couldn't speak." + +He was going to toss the whole Bible over because Balaam's ass +couldn't speak. + +My friend said he stood it just as long as he could, and finally he +said: + +"Ah, man, you make an ass, and I will make him speak." + +The idea that the God who made the ass couldn't speak through his +mouth! Did you ever hear such stuff? And yet this was one of your +modern philosophers! + + +The Border Apple-Tree + +If you want real peace and rest to your soul, keep separate from the +world. + +I remember when I was a boy in Northfield, right near the old red +schoolhouse there was an apple-tree that bore the earliest apples of +any tree in town. They had a law in that town that fruit on a tree +overhanging the street belonged to the public, and any fruit on the +other side of the fence belonged to the property-holders. Half that +apple-tree was over in the street, and it got more old brooms and +brickbats and handles than any other tree in town. We boys used to +watch to see when an apple was getting red. I never got a ripe apple +from that tree in my life, and I don't believe any one else ever did. +You never went by that tree that you didn't see a lot of broom-handles +and clubs up there. + +Now, take a lot of Christians who want to live right on the line, with +one foot in the world and one foot in the church. They get more clubs +than any one else. The world clubs them. They say, "I don't believe in +that man's religion." And the church clubs them. They get clubs both +sides. It is a good deal better to keep just as far from the line as +you can if you want power. + + +Bad Company + +A friend of mine said he had a beautiful canary bird; he thought it +was the sweetest singer they had ever had. Spring came on, and he felt +it was a pity to keep the poor bird in the house, so he put it under a +tree right in front of his house. He said before he knew it a lot of +these little English sparrows got under that tree (and you know they +cannot sing any more than I can, and I don't know one note from +another), and went, "Chirp, chirp, chirp." Before he knew it, that +little canary had lost all its sweet notes. It had got into bad +company. + +After he found out that he had made a mistake, he took the bird into +the house, but it kept up that "Chirp, chirp, chirp." He bought +another bird, but the canary nearly ruined it. He said that bird never +got back its sweet notes. + +Now, don't you know lots of Christian people who had a fine testimony +several years ago, but they have lost their witness, and all they do +now is talk, talk, talk, talk? Why? Because they are out of communion +with God, and have lost their witness. + + +"Hitch On" and "Cut Behind" + +Some one tells of an incident that happened in a New England town the +other day. All the boys were sleighing. A big sleigh--we call it a +"pung" up there--was being driven through the streets by an old man +who looked like Santa Claus. He was calling out to the small boys to +hitch on, for a pung is like a 'bus, it always holds one more. + +There were already about twenty rollicking boys hitched on, when one +little fellow dropped off behind. He tried, but couldn't catch up +again, and pretty soon he began to look out for another chance for a +ride. A man's sleigh was standing near by, and the boy began to eye +the man. When the man in the sleigh started off, the little fellow +hitched on behind, and the man grabbed his whip and struck him +directly in the eye. It looked as if the eye had been put out, but it +wasn't. + +Now, that's the way we go through this world. Some say, "Hitch on, +hitch on"; others, "Cut behind, cut behind." The hitch-on people fill +the churches, and the cut-behind ones empty them. + + +Known by Name + +A friend of mine was in Syria, and he found a shepherd that kept up +the old custom of naming his sheep. My friend said he wouldn't believe +that the sheep knew him when he called them by name. So he said to the +shepherd: + +"I wish you would just call one or two." + +The shepherd said, "Carl." + +The sheep stopped eating and looked up. + +The shepherd called out, "Come here." + +The sheep came, and stood looking up into his face. + +He called another, and another, and there they stood looking up at the +shepherd. + +"How can you tell them apart?" + +"Oh, there are no two alike. See, that sheep toes in a little; this +sheep is a little bit squint-eyed; that sheep has a black spot on its +nose." + +My friend found that he knew every one of his sheep by their failings. +He didn't have a perfect one in his flock. + +I suppose that is the way the Lord knows you and me. There is a man +that is covetous; he wants to grasp the whole world. He wants a +shepherd to keep down that spirit. There is a woman down there who has +an awful tongue; she keeps the whole neighborhood stirred up. There is +a woman over there who is deceitful, terribly so. She needs the care +of a shepherd to keep her from deceit, for she will ruin all her +children; they will all turn out just like their mother. There is a +father over there who wouldn't swear for all the world before his +children, but sometimes he gets provoked in his business and swears +before he knows it. Doesn't he need a shepherd's care? I would like to +know if there is a man or woman on earth who doesn't need the care of +a shepherd. Haven't we all got failings? If you really want to know +what your failings are, you can find some one who can point them out. +God would never have sent Christ into the world if we didn't need His +care. We are as weak and foolish as sheep. + + +The Right Time for Action + +A man was always telling his servant that he was going to do a great +thing for him. "I am going to remember you in my will." + +Sambo got his expectations up very high. When the man came to die, it +was found that all he had willed Sambo was to be buried in the family +lot. That was the big thing, you know. Sambo said he wished he had +given him ten dollars, and let the lot go. + +If you want to show kindness to a person, show it to him while you are +living. I heard a man say that he didn't want people to throw bouquets +to him after he was dead, and say, "There, smell them." + +Now, this is the time for action. I have got so tired and sick of this +splitting hairs over theology. Man, let us go out and get the fallen +up. Lift them up toward God and heaven. We want a practical kind of +Christianity. + + +Criticising the Sermon + +Very often a man will hear a hundred good things in a sermon, but +there may be one thing that strikes him as a little out of place, and +he will go home and sit down at the table and talk right out before +his children and magnify that one wrong thing, and not say a word +about the hundred good things that were said. That is what people do +who criticise. + + +A Reminiscence + +I remember blaming my mother for sending me to church on the Sabbath. +On one occasion the preacher had to send some one into the gallery to +wake me up. I thought it was hard to have to work in the field all the +week, and then be obliged to go to church and hear a sermon I didn't +understand. I thought I wouldn't go to church any more when I got away +from home; but I had got so in the habit of going that I couldn't stay +away. After one or two Sabbaths, back again to the house of God I +went. There I first found Christ, and I have often said since: + +"Mother, I thank you for making me go to the house of God when I +didn't want to go." + + +Transplanting the Lily + +"It is easy to go when the time comes. There are no ropes thrown out +to pull us ashore; there are no ladders let down to pull us up. Christ +comes and takes us by the hand, and says: + +"'You have had enough of this. Come up higher!' + +"Do you hurt a lily when you pluck it? Is there any rudeness when +Jesus touches the cheek, and the red rose of health whitens into the +lily of immortal purity and gladness?"--Talmage. + + +Election + +How many men fold their arms and say: + +"If I am one of the elect, I will be saved, and if I ain't, I won't. +No use of your bothering about it." + +Why don't some of these merchants say: "If God is going to make me a +successful merchant in Chicago, I will be one whether I like it or +not, and if He isn't I won't." + +If you are sick, and a doctor prescribes for you, don't take the +medicine--throw it out the door. It does not matter, for if God has +decreed you are going to die, you will; if He hasn't, you will get +better. If you use that argument you may as well not walk home from +this tabernacle. If God has said you'll get home, you'll get +home--you'll fly through the air. + +I have an idea that the Lord Jesus saw how men were going to stumble +over this doctrine, so after He had been thirty or forty years in +heaven He came down and spoke to John. One Lord's day in Patmos, He +said to him: + +"Write these things to the churches." + +John kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when +it was nearly finished, said, "John, before you close the book, put in +one more invitation. 'The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him +that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come. And +WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the water of life freely.'" + + +The Mysteries of the Bible + +Dr. Talmage tells the story that one day while he was bothering his +theological professor with questions about the mysteries of the Bible, +the latter turned on him and said: + +"Mr. Talmage, you will have to let God know some things you don't." + + +The Little Lone One + +I sometimes think if an angel were to wing its way to heaven, and tell +them that there was one little child here on earth--it might be a +shoeless, coatless street Arab--with no one to lead it to the cross of +Christ, and if God were to call the angels round His throne and ask +them to go and spend--aye, fifty years, in teaching that child, there +would not be an angel in heaven but would respond gladly to the +appeal. We should see even Gabriel saying, "Let me go and win that +soul to Christ." We should see Paul buckling on his old armor again, +and saying, "Let me go back again to earth, that I may have the joy +of leading that little one to his Saviour." + +Ah! we need rousing; there is too much apathy amongst professing +Christians. Let us pray God that He may send His Holy Spirit to +inspire us with fresh energy and zeal to do His work. + + +Doubting Castle + +It is the privilege of every child of God to know that he is saved, +and yet I find ever so many people living in Doubting Castle. Why, it +is _salvation by doubts_ nowadays, instead of _by faith;_ there are so +few that dare to say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth; I know in whom +I have believed." We find most Christians nowadays shivering and +trembling from head to foot--they do not know whether they are saved +or not. + + +Faith + +Bishop Ryle has very well likened faith to a root whose flower is +assurance. To have the latter, he says, it is necessary that there +must first be the hidden source of faith. + +Faith is the simplest and most universal experience in the world. Call +it by whatever name you may, confidence, trust, or belief, it is +inseparable from the human race. The first sign of a dawning +intelligence in the mind is the exercise of the infant's faith toward +those it knows, and its fear toward those it does not know. We cannot +even remember when we first began to have faith. + + +Confessing Christ at Home + +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 any one 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 Saviour?" + +"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 peace and joy 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 the joy and peace she sought. + + +How to Settle the Theater Question + +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 preëminence, 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. Every one 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. + + +What a Sister Can Do + +I want to say to young ladies, perhaps you have a godless father or +mother, or a skeptical 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 young 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 had 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. + + +How one Man Treated Doubts + +A wild and prodigal young man, who was running a headlong career to +ruin came into one of our meetings in Chicago. Whilst endeavoring to +bring him to Christ, I quoted this verse to him: "Him that cometh unto +me I will in no wise cast out." + +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 vi. 37: 'Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise 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." + + +Use or Lose + +An Eastern allegory runs thus: A merchant, going abroad for a time, +gave respectively to two of his friends two sacks of wheat each, to +take care of against his return. Years passed. When he came back, he +applied for them again. + +The first took him into a storehouse, and showed him his sacks; but +they were mildewed and worthless. + +The other led him out into the open country, and pointed to field +after field of waving wheat, the produce of the two sacks given him. + +Said the merchant: "You have been a faithful friend. Give me two sacks +of that wheat; the rest shall be thine." + +Let us put to good use the talents God has given us. + + +The Anchored Boat + +I once heard of two men who were under the influence of liquor. They +came down at night to where their boat was tied. They wanted to return +home, so they got in and began to row. They pulled away hard all +night, wondering why they never got to the other side of the bay. When +the gray dawn of morning broke, behold! they had never loosed the +mooring line or raised the anchor! + +That's just the way with many who are striving to enter the kingdom of +heaven. They cannot believe, because they are tied to this world. Cut +the cord! Confess and forsake your sins! Cut the cord! Set yourselves +free from the clogging weight of earthly things, and you will soon +rise heavenward. + + +Not Much up There + +A friend of mine was once taken by an old man to see his riches. He +took him to a splendid mansion, and said, "This is all mine." He +pointed to a little town, "That is mine; it is called by my name." He +pointed to a rolling prairie, "That is all mine; the sun never shone +on a finer prairie than that, so fruitful and rich, and it's all +mine." In another direction he showed him fertile farms extending for +thirty miles, "These are all mine." He took him into his grand house, +showed him his beautiful pictures, his costly gold plate, his jewels, +and still he said, "These are all mine. This grand hall I have built; +it is called by my name; there is my insignia on it. And yet I was +once a poor boy. I have made it all myself." + +My friend looked at him. "Well, you've all this on earth; but what +have you got up there?" + +"Up where?" said the old man. + +"Up in heaven." + +"Well, I'm afraid I haven't got much up there." + +"Ah," said my friend, "but you've got to die, to leave this world; +what will you take with you of all these things? You will die a +beggar; for all these riches count as nothing in the kingdom of +heaven. You will be a pauper; for you have no inheritance with the +saints above." The poor old man (he was poor enough in reality, though +rich in all the world's goods) burst into tears. He had no hope for +the future. In four months' time he was dead; and where is he now? He +lived and died without God, and without hope in this world or the +next. + + +Touching the Spot + +When a man has broken his arm, the surgeon must find out the exact +spot where the fracture is. He feels along and presses gently with his +fingers. + +"Is it there?" + +"No," + +"Is it there?" + +"No." + +Presently, when the surgeon touches another spot, "Ouch!" says the +man. + +He has found the broken part, and it hurts. + +It is one thing to hear a man preach down other people's sins. Men +will say, "That is splendid," and will want all their friends to go +and hear the preacher. But let him touch on their individual sin, and +declare, as Nathan did to David, "Thou art the man," and they say, "I +do not like that." The preacher has touched a sore place. + + +The Little Boy and the Big Book + +I like to think of Christ as a burden bearer. + +A minister was one day moving his library upstairs. As he was going up +with a load of books, his little boy came in, and was very anxious to +help his father. So his father just told him to go and get an armful, +and bring them upstairs. When the father came back, he met the little +fellow about half-way up, tugging away at the biggest book in the +library. He couldn't manage to carry it up. It was too big. So he sat +down and cried. + +His father found him, and just took him in his arms, book and all, and +carried him upstairs. So Christ will carry you and all your burdens, +if you will but let Him. + + +The Invitation to a Saloon Opening + +They were going to have a great celebration at the opening of a saloon +and billiard hall in Chicago, in the northern part of the city, where +I lived. It was to be a gateway to death and to hell, one of the worst +places in Chicago. As a joke they sent me an invitation to go to the +opening. I took the invitation, and went down and saw the two men who +had the saloon, and I said: + +"Is that a genuine invitation?" + +They said it was. + +"Thank you," I said; "I will be around, and if there is anything here +I don't like I may have something to say about it." + +They said, "You are not going to _preach_, are you?" + +"I may." + +"We don't want you. We won't let you in." + +"How are you going to keep me out?" I asked. "There is the +invitation." + +"We will put a policeman at the door." + +"What is the policeman going to do with that invitation?" + +"We won't let you in." + +"Well," I said, "I will be there." + +I gave them a good scare, and then I said, "I will compromise the +matter; if you two men will get down here and let me pray with you, I +will let you off." + +I got those two rum-sellers down on their knees, one on one side of me +and the other on the other side, and I prayed God to save their souls +and smite their business. One of them had a Christian mother, and he +seemed to have some conscience left. After I had prayed, I said: + +"How can you do this business? How can you throw this place open to +ruin the young men of Chicago?" + +Within three months the whole thing smashed up, and one of them was +converted shortly after. I have never been invited to a saloon since. + + + +"Too Late!" + +At our church in Chicago I was closing the meeting one day, when a +young soldier got up and entreated the people to decide for Christ at +once. He said he had just come from a dark scene. A comrade of his, +who had enlisted with him, had a father who was always entreating him +to become a Christian, and in reply he always said he would when the +war was over. At last he was wounded, and was put into the hospital, +but got worse, and was gradually sinking. One day, a few hours before +he died, a letter came from his sister, but he was too far gone to +read it. It was such an earnest letter! The comrade read it to him, +but he did not seem to understand it, he was so weak, till it came to +the last sentence, which said: + +"Oh, my dear brother, when you get this letter, will you not accept +your sister's Savior?" + +The dying man sprang up from his cot, and said, "What do you say? what +do you say?" And then, falling back on his pillow, feebly exclaimed, +"_It is too late! It is too late!_" + +My dear friends, thank God it is not _too late_ for you to-day. The +Master is still calling you. Let every one of us, young and old, rich +and poor, come to Christ at once, and He will put all our sins away. +Don't wait any longer for feeling, but obey at once. You can believe, +you can trust, you can lay hold on eternal life, if you will. Will you +not do it now? + + + + +TOPICAL INDEX + + + Assurance, 44 + Atonement, 8, 30, 98 + Attention, 43 + + Backslider, 17, 22 + Balaam's ass, 102 + Bible, 9, 10, 15, 16, 22, 29, 34, 44, 80, 84, 102, 108 + Breath from God, 35 + + + Child, As a, 49 + Choice, 98 + Christ, as Burden-Bearer, 120; + for all, 73; + seeking the lost, 86; + coming of, 67, 85; + in the Bible, 31 + "Come," 46 + Communion with Christ, 21, 65, 84, 103 + Confessing Christ, 26, 27, 35, 52, 77, 109 + Conversion, 25, 80, 88 + Conviction, 21 + Courage, 20 + Covetousness, 27, 35, 51 + Crazy from sin, 89 + Criticising the sermon, 106 + Cross of Christ, 31 + + Death, 18, 24, 107, 118 + Decision, 10, 61, 62, 93, 122 + Don't Worry Clubs, 31 + Doubts, 36, 109, 116 + Doves, Legend about, 42 + Drawing a comparison, 42 + + Election, 107 + Eternity, 81 + + Faith, 12, 14, 23, 55, 109 + Finding the thirsty, 57 + + Giving, 23, 35 + Grace, 20 + + Habit, 83 + Heaven, 14, 62, 87 + "Hitch on" and "Cut behind," 104 + Holy Spirit, 20, 35, 75 + Home Religion, 76, 85 + Honey-dew, 37 + + Illuminated Christians, 26 + Indwelling Christ, 31 + Infidel books, 18 + Is your soul insured? 100 + + Joy, 94 + + Keeping, 8, 76, 99, 104 + + Law, 72 + Liberty, 13 + Look to Christ, 43 + Love, 33, 69 + + Memory, 101 + Money, 33, 95 + Murder, 67, 95 + + Need, 45 + Neglecting church, 53 + No difference, 40 + "Not for you," 67 + + Obedience, 56, 91 + Opportunity, 78, 79 + Oratorical preaching, 53 + + Parables, Making, 58 + Parents, 19, 32, 40, 50, 51, 58, 59 + Peace, 9, 16, 23 + Pendulum, Lady, 7 + Personal religion, 38 + Prayer, 68 + Pride, 76 + Promises, 63, 68, 99 + + Repentance, 45 + Restitution, 71 + Resurrection, 64 + Revivals, 79 + Rich husband, 93 + + Saloon opening, 120 + Salvation, 8, 38, 82, 86, 93 + Scarlet thread, 31 + Sealed for redemption, 27 + Separation, 69, 102, 118 + Sin, 118, 119 + Sinner's heart, 97 + Sowing and reaping, 48, 63, 82, 87 + Small beginnings, 64 + Starting right, 73 + Stealing, 35, 67 + Substitution, 74 + Sunday, 55, 60, 100 + Swearing, 90 + + Temptation, 27, 77, 78, 85, 98 + Theatre, 38, 111 + Time to think, 86 + Trial, 28 + Trust, 8, 11, 46 + + Unbelief, 55, 56 + Unity, 83 + Use or lose, 118 + + Watching, 85 + Work, 15, 24, 34, 48, 97, 106, 108, 114 + Will, 39, 57, 66 + + + + +PSALM 23. + + +The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. + +2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the +still waters. + +3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness +for his name's sake. + +4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will +fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort +me. + +5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; +thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. + +6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: +and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. + + + + +ISAIAH 55: 1--7. + + +Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath +no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without +money and without price. + +2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your +labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and +eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in +fatness. + +3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; +and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure +mercies of David. + +4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and +commander to the people. + +5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations +that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, +and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. + +6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is +near: + +7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his +thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy +upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. + + + + +JOHN 3: 1--16. + + +There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the +Jews: + +2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know +that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these +miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. + +3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, +Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. + +4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can +he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? + +5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be +born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of +God. + +6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of +the Spirit is spirit. + +7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. + +8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound +thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so +is every one that is born of the Spirit. + +9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? + +10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and +knowest not these things? + +11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and +testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. + +12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye +believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? + +13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from +heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. + +14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must +the Son of man be lifted up: + +15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal +life. + +16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have +everlasting life. + + + + +JUST AS I AM. + + + Just as I am, without one plea + But that Thy blood was shed for me, + And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee; + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + Just as I am, and waiting not + To rid my soul of one dark blot, + To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + Just as I am--Thou wilt receive, + Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; + Because Thy promise I believe, + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + Just as I am--Thy love unknown + Has broken ev'ry barrier down; + Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + + + +JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL. + + + Jesus, Lover of my soul, + Let me to Thy bosom fly + While the nearer waters roll, + While the tempest still is high! + Hide me, O my Saviour, hide + Till the storm of life is past; + Safe into the haven guide; + O receive my soul at last! + + Other refuge have I none, + Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; + Leave, O leave me not alone. + Still support and comfort me! + All my trust on Thee is stayed, + All my help from Thee I bring; + Cover my defenceless head + With the shadow of Thy wing! + + Thou, O Christ, art all I want, + More than all in Thee I find! + Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, + Heal the sick, and lead the blind. + just and holy is Thy name, + I am all unrighteousness; + False and full of sin I am, + Thou art full of truth and grace. + + Plenteous grace with Thee is found, + Grace to cover all my sin; + Let the healing streams abound, + Make and keep me pure within; + Thou of life the fountain art, + Freely let me take of Thee; + Spring Thou up within my heart, + Rise to all eternity. + + + + +BEHOLD A STRANGER. + + + Behold a Stranger at the door: + He gently knocks, has knocked before; + Has waited long, is waiting still: + You treat no other friend so ill. + + Oh, lovely attitude! He stands + With melting heart and laden hands; + Oh, matchless kindness! and He shows + This matchless kindness to His foes. + + But will He prove a friend indeed? + He will, the very friend you need-- + The Friend of sinners; yes, 'tis He, + With garments dyed on Calvary. + + Rise, touched with gratitude divine, + Turn out His enemy and thine; + That soul-destroying monster, sin; + And let the heavenly Stranger in. + + + + +GLORY TO HIS NAME! + + + Down at the cross where my Saviour died, + Down where for cleansing from sin I cried, + There to my heart was the blood applied-- + Glory to His name! + + CHORUS: + + Glory to His name, + Glory to His name! + There to my heart was the blood applied-- + Glory to His name! + + I am so wondrously saved from sin,-- + Jesus so sweetly abides within,-- + There at the cross where He took me in-- + Glory to His name! + + O precious fountain that saves from sin, + I am so glad I have entered in; + There Jesus saved me and keeps me clean-- + Glory to His name! + + Come to this fountain so rich and sweet. + Cast thy poor soul at the Saviour's feet. + Plunge in today, and be made complete-- + Glory to His name! + + + + +DEPTH OF MERCY! + + + Depth of mercy! can there be + Mercy still reserved for me? + Can my God His wrath forbear? + Me, the chief of sinners, spare? + + I have long withstood His grace, + Long provoked Him to His face; + Would not hearken to His calls; + Grieved Him by a thousand falls. + + Now incline me to repent, + Let me now my sins lament; + Now my foul revolt deplore, + Weep, believe, and sin no more. + + + + +I WAS A WAND'RING SHEEP. + + + I was a wand'ring sheep, + I did not love the fold: + I did not love my Shepherd's voice, + I would not be controlled. + I was a wayward child, + I did not love my home; + I did not love my Father's voice; + I loved afar to roam. + + The Shepherd sought His sheep, + The Father sought His child, + They followed me o'er vale and hill, + O'er deserts waste and wild; + They found me nigh to death, + Famished and faint, and lone; + They bound me with the bands of love; + They saved the wand'ring one. + + Jesus my Shepherd is, + 'Twas He that loved my soul, + 'Twas He that washed me in His blood, + 'Twas He that made me whole; + 'Twas He that sought the lost, + That found the wand'ring sheep, + 'Twas He that brought me to the fold, + 'Tis He that still doth keep. + + I was a wand'ring sheep, + I would not be controlled; + But now I love the Shepherd's voice, + I love, I love the fold; + I was a wayward child, + I once preferred to roam: + But now I love my Father's voice + I love, I love His home + + + + +WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS! + + + What a Friend we have in Jesus, + All our sins and griefs to bear! + What a privilege to carry + Ev'rything to God in prayer! + O what peace we often forfeit, + O what needless pain we bear, + All because we do not carry + Ey'rything to God in prayer. + + Have we trials and temptations? + Is there trouble anywhere? + We should never be discouraged, + Take it to the Lord in prayer. + Can we find a friend so faithful, + Who will all our sorrows share? + Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness, + Take it to the Lord in prayer. + + Are we weak and heavy laden, + Cumbered with a load of care? + Precious Saviour, still our refuge,-- + Take it to the Lord in prayer. + Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? + Take it to the Lord in prayer, + In His arms He'll take and shield thee + Thou wilt find a solace there. + + + + +O HAPPY DAY! + + + O happy day that fixed my choice + On Thee, my Saviour and my God! + Well may this glowing heart rejoice, + And tell its raptures all abroad. + + CHORUS: + + Happy day, happy day, + When Jesus washed my sins away! + He taught me how to watch and pray, + And live rejoicing every day; + Happy day, happy day, + When Jesus washed my sin away! + + O happy bond that seals my vows + To Him who merits all my love! + Let cheerful anthems fill His house, + While to that sacred shrine I move. + + 'Tis done, the great transaction's done; + I am my Lord's and He is mine; + He drew me, and I followed on, + Charmed to confess the voice divine. + + + + +The Moody COLPORTAGE Library + + Uniform in size and style, attractive paper covers, + 4-3/4 × 6-3/4 inches. 20c each. + + + 1 All of Grace. C. H. Spurgeon + 2 The Way to God. D. L. Moody + 3 Pleasure & Profit in Bible Study. Moody + 4 Life, Warfare and Victory. Whittle + 5 Heaven. D. L. Moody + 6 Prevailing Prayer. D. L. Moody + 7 The Way of Life. Various authors + 8 Secret Power. D. L. Moody + 9 To the Work. D. L. Moody + 10 According to Promise. C. H. Spurgeon + 11 Bible Characters. D. L. Moody + 13 "And Peter." J. W. Chapman + 15 Light on Life's Duties. F. B. Meyer + 18 The Good Shepherd. Life of Christ + 19 Good Tidings. Talmage and others + 20 Sovereign Grace. D. L. Moody + 21 Select Sermons. D. L. Moody + 23 Nobody Loves Me. Mrs. O. F. Walton + 24 The Empty Tomb. Various authors + 26 Sowing and Reaping. D. L. Moody + 28 "Probable Sons." Story. Amy LeFeuvre + 30 Good News. Robert Boyd + 32 The Secret of Guidance. F. B. Meyer + 34 The Second Coming of Christ + 40 The Power of a Surrendered Life, or Kadesh-Barnea. J. W. Chapman + 42 Whiter Than Snow and Little Dot--Stories. Mrs. O. F. Walton + 44 The Overcoming Life. D. L. Moody + 48 The Prodigal. Various authors + 49 The Spirit-Filled Life. John MacNeil + 50 Jessica's First Prayer. Hesba Stretton + 51 The Christ-Life for the Self-Life. Meyer + 54 Absolute Surrender. Andrew Murray + 56 What Is Faith? Spurgeon, Moody, etc. + 57 Christie's Old Organ--A story. Walton + 58 Naaman the Syrian. A. B. Mackay + 60 Weighed and Wanting. D. L. Moody + 61 The Crew of the Dolphin. Hesba Stretton + 63 Meet for the Master's Use. F. B. Meyer + 64 Our Bible. C. Leach and R. A. Torrey + 65 Alone in London. Hesba Stretton + 66 Moody's Anecdotes + 69 Children of the Bible + 70 The Power of Pentecost. Thomas Waugh + 71 Men of the Bible. D. L. Moody + 72 A Peep Behind the Scenes. O. F. Walton + 73 The School of Obedience. A. Murray + 74 Making the Home Happy. R. T. Cross + 76 Moody's Stories + 78 The Robber's Cave--A story. A.L.O.E. + 81 Thoughts for Quiet Hour. D. L. Moody + 83 The Shorter Life of D. L. Moody. Fitt + 85 Revival of a Dead Church. Broughton + 86 Moody's Latest Sermons + 87 A Missionary Penny--A story. L.C.W. + 88 Calvary's Cross. Spurgeon, Whittle, etc. + 89 How to Pray. R. A. Torrey + 90 Little King Davie--Story. Nellie Hellis + 91 Short Talks. D. L. Moody + 93 Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan + 96 Kept for the Master's Use. Havergal + 98 Back to Bethel. F. B. Meyer + 100 Up from Sin. Len G. Broughton + 102 Popular Amusements and the Christian Life. P. W. Sinks + 104 Answers to Prayer. George Muller + 105 The Way Home. D. L. Moody + 109 Life of David Livingstone. Worcester + 114 First Words to Young Christians. Boyd + 115 Rosa's Quest--A Story. Anna P. Wright + 116 Difficulties in the Bible. R. A. Torrey + 119 Practical and Perplexing Questions Answered. R. A. Torrey + 120 Satan and the Saint. James M. Gray + 123 Salvation from Start to Finish. Gray + 125 Life in a Look. Maurice S. Baldwin + 126 Burton Street Folks. Anna P. Wright + 127 Bible Problems Explained. J. M. Gray + 128 Papers on The Lord's Coming. "C.H.M." + 129 Christian: Creed and Conduct. Evans + 130 Intercessory Prayer. J. G. K. McClure + 131 From Death Unto Life. J. H. Brookes + 132 Ruth, the Moabitess. Henry Moorhouse + 134 Forty-Eight Bernard Street. Clark + 135 Deliverance from the Penalty and Power of Sin. O. R. Palmer + 136 Mrs. Mary's Go-Tell. Graham Clark + 137 Bird's-Eye Bible Study. A. Patterson + 138 "I Cried, He Answered." + 141 Later Evangelistic Sermons. Biederwolf + 142 Phil Tyler's Opportunity. F. E. Burnham + 143 Moving Messages. J. C. Massee + 144 The Christ We Know. A. C. Gaebelein + 145 Five "Musts" of the Christian Life. F. B. Meyer + 146 The New Life in Christ Jesus. Scofield + 147 Problems in the Prayer Life. Buswell + 148 When the Song of the Lord Began. W. E. Biederwolf + 149 The Christian Life and How to Live It. W. H. Griffith Thomas + 150 Where Is the Lord God of Elijah? Cox + 151 The Faith that Wins. Roy T. Brumbaugh + 152 God's Way of Holiness. H. Bonar + 153 Souls Set Free. Mission field miracles + 154 Thinking with God. Norman H. Camp + 155 "Charge That to My Account." Ironside + 156 Vera Dickson's Triumph. Sara C. Palmer + 157 Competing Artists. Sara C. Palmer + 158 Antidote to Christian Science. Gray + 159 Is the Bible the Word of God? Scroggie + 160 And God Spake These Words. W. H. Griffith Thomas + 161 Methods of Bible Study. Thomas + 162 Romance of a Doctor's Visits. Wilson + 163 The Little Shepherd. Anna P. Wright + 164 God's Picked Young Men. H. K. Pasma + 165 The Cross of Christ. James H. Todd + 166 By Ways Appointed. Briggs P. Dingman + 167 Miracles in a Doctor's Life. Wilson + 168 The Living Christ. Will H. Houghton + 169 Portraits of Christ. Harold S. Laird + 170 The Doctor's Best Love Story. Wilson + 171 Full Assurance. H. A. Ironside + 172 To Show Thyself Approved. R. A. Torrey + 173 A Sure Remedy. Walter L. Wilson + 174 The Truth About Grace. Chas. C. Cook + 175 Vivid Experiences in Korea. Chisholm + 176 The "True" Mystery Solved. Wright + 177 The Resurrection of the Human Body. Norman H. Camp + 178 On Silver Creek Knob. Story. Cannon + 179 The Princess Beautiful. Story. Cannon + 180 Remarkable New Stories. W. L. Wilson + 181 Rivers of Living Water. Ruth Paxson + 182 "Called Unto Holiness." Ruth Paxson + 183 The Soul-Winner's Fire. John R. Rice + 185 Aunt Hattie's Bible Stories--Genesis. H. I. Fisher + 186 Treasures of Bible Truth. Schweinfurth + 187 In His Hands--Story. Harriet Heine + 188 Great Words of the Gospel. Ironside + 189 So Great Salvation. J. F. Strombeck + + _Ask for descriptive folder._ + + MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + (Dept. MCL) Chicago 10 + + + + +LIFE on the HIGHEST PLANE + +_By_ RUTH PAXSON + +Now, all 3 volumes in one book. 820 pages, #$3.00# + + [Illustration] + + The three volumes, "THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST"; "THE + RELATION BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN"; and "THE + BELIEVER'S RESPONSE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT'S INWORKING" have now + been combined, without revision and with fourteen colored + charts included in one handy volume. + + These Bible studies were first given in embryo to pastors, + evangelists, teachers, and other Christian leaders in + conferences held in China. Later, printed in three volumes, + they brought great blessing to many. + + +Other Books By Ruth Paxson + + GOD'S PLAN OF REDEMPTION + + It will aid one in personal Bible study or provide a practical + outline for study groups. The questions are based on the + teaching in each chapter of "Life on the Highest Plane." Can + be used with or without the larger book. 48 pages, paper, + #25c.# + + CALLED UNTO HOLINESS + + Addresses given at Keswick's Conference in England. Sounds the + clarion call to a more holy life. Here is victory for the + defeated; deliverance for the enslaved; rest for the weary; + peace for the discouraged; and joy for the sorrowing. 126 + pages, paper, #20c.# + + RIVERS OF LIVING WATER + + Studies Setting Forth the Believer's Possession of Christ, How + Obtained--How Maintained. Multitudes of Christians are living + a dry and thirsty existence when the Lord is waiting to give + them His very best--rivers of living water! Perhaps few + Christians have heard or read the Divine plan and purpose for + the life of the believer presented so tersely, simply and + clearly, and withal so lovingly and compellingly. 124 pages, + paper, #20c.# + + The WEALTH, WALK and WARFARE of the CHRISTIAN + + The author finds a "Grand Canyon of Scripture" in Ephesians. + Her threefold message to Christians will be especially welcome + to those who are suffering from spiritual or mental + depression; those who are conscious of their unworthiness, + failure and defeat; those who are passing through terrible + attacks of Satan. 223 pages, cloth, #$1.50.# + + THE MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. + + + + +THE EVANGEL BOOKLETS + + A series of brief, timely messages of supreme importance, + and gospel stories by evangelical preachers and teachers, + Christian workers and laymen. 22-page booklets, self-cover. + + + 1. God Is Love. An appeal to the unsaved. D. L. Moody. + 2. God Reaching Down. Messages to the unconverted. C. H. Spurgeon. + 4. Jack Winsted's Choice. A Gospel story. Lillian E. Andrews. + 6. Ruined, Redeemed, Regenerated. C. H. Mackintosh. + 7. By the Old Mill. Story. Katherine Elise Chapman. + 8. The Day After Thanksgiving. Story. Mrs. S. R. Graham Clark. + 9. True Stories About God's Free Gift. Alexander Marshall. + 10. Lois Dudley Finds Peace. Story. Anna Potter Wright. + 12. The Penitent Thief, and Naaman the Syrian. D. L. Moody. + 13. Adder's Eggs and Spider's Webs. H. A. Ironside. + 14. Samuel Morris. The true story of a Spirit-filled African. + 16. Saved and Safe. Salvation, Assurance and Security. Fred J. Meldau. + 17. "In the Beginning God--" and other Talks. Mark A. Matthews. + 18. Christian Science: Pedigree, Principles, Posterity. Percy W. + Stephens. + 19. Modern Education at the Cross-Roads. M. H. Duncan. + 20. Is the Bible True? Nashville address. Wm. Jennings Bryan. + 21. How to Read the Word of God Effectively. A. T. Pierson. + 22. The Most Important Thing in My Life. The testimony of Dr. Howard + A. Kelly, world-famous surgeon. William S. Dutton. + 23. Where Are the Dead? H. G. Marshall. + 25. Mary Antipas. Story. Howard W. Pope. + 26. Four Old Pals. Story. Frederick Burnham. + 28. Dios es Amor (God Is Love). Spanish edition of No. 1. + 29. Forethought in Creation. W. Bell Dawson. + 30. Bryan's Last Word on Evolution. William Jennings Bryan. + 31. Why I Do Not Believe in the Organic Evolutionary Hypothesis. + James Edward Congdon. + 33. The Double Cure. A Gospel appeal. Melvin E. Trotter. + 35. Old Truths for Young Lives. For children. + 37. How to Have a Happy Home. Harold Francis Branch. + 38. The Peril of Unbelief and the Danger of Doubt. D. L. Moody. + 39. Moody the Evangelist. Joseph B. Bowles. + 40. The Only Begotten Son. H. A. Ironside. + 42. Tom Bennett's Transformation. Story. Howard W. Pope. + 43 Will a God of Love Punish Any of His Creatures Forever? + Alexander Marshall. + 45. Intercession for Revival. Helen C. Alexander Dixon. + 46. With Everlasting Love. Story. Elzoe Prindle Stead. + 47. How the Word Works. Fred J. Meldau. + 48. Why I Believe the Bible. M. H. Duncan. + 49. Caught. Story. C. S. Knight. + 50. The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy. John R. Riebe. + 51. A Life Decision in the Sand Hills. Story. Ronald R. Kratz. + 52. Love's Danger Signal. Doctrine of future retribution. + John G. Reid. + 53. Pictures That Talk, Series One. E. J. Pace. + 54. Pictures That Talk, Series Two. E. J. Pace. + 56. My One Question Answered: Was Jesus Christ a Great Teacher Only? + R. D. Sheldon. + 57. Modern Miracles of Grace. John Wilmot Mahood. + 58. How to Study the Bible. A helpful outline. B. B. Sutcliffe. + 59. What is Your Answer? Oswald J. Smith. + 60. Deus E Amor (God Is Love) Portuguese edition of No. 1. + 61. The True and False in Christian Work and Worship. M. H. Duncan. + 62. What Must I Do to be Saved? George E. Guille. + 63. The Man in the Well. Other religious faiths. Oswald J. Smith. + 64. Why All "Good People" Will Be Lost. J. E. Conant. + 65. Two In One. Believer's two natures. Herbert Lockyer. + 66. The Compromise Road. Story. Paul Hutchens. + 67. An Hundredfold. Stewartship. David McConoughy. + 68. Death or Life, Which? A clear presentation. Oswald J. Smith. + 69. Bernard Enters the Race. Story. Anna Potter Wright. + 70. The Trial of Jesus. Harold F. Branch. + 71. The Christian's Citizenship. M. H. Duncan. + 72. Atheism and the Bible. A startling revelation. Oswald J. Smith. + 73. Galatians. God's answer to legalism. B. B. Sutcliffe. + 74. O Sangue. (The Blood) Portuguese. D. L. Moody. + 75. Who is a Christian? Timely questions answered. Oswald J. Smith. + 76. Broken Life-Line. Story. Paul Hutchens. + 77. Eagle Christians. Harry McCormick Lintz. + 78. Elisha Rice. Man of God--Mountaineer. Helen R. Blankenship. + 79. The Master Touch. Rebuilt Lives. William Seath. + 80. The Bully of Stony Lonesome. Story. Charles S. Knight. + 81. The Stolen Pearl. Story. Paul Hutchens. + + Each, 10c; 12 copies (any assortment), $1.00; 100, $7.00 + Attractive rates on large quantities. + + MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + (Dept. MCL) Chicago 10 + + + + +BIBLE STUDY HELPS + +_by Grace Saxe_ + + + Miss Saxe's BIBLE STUDY BOOKS make folks WANT to study the + Bible and shows them HOW. + + These books are extensively used in mid-week prayer services + and ministers report a great increase in attendance and + interest. + + Sunday school teachers will eagerly welcome a comprehensive, + systematic study of the Bible, book by book. + + Women's Auxiliaries and Missionary Societies organize classes + following these Bible study outlines. + + Neighborhood Bible Classes are being organized in cities, + towns, and rural districts, with these books as their guide. + + Any group of friends can intelligently and profitably carry + on a self study class even without a teacher. + + + + +BOOKS ON BIBLE STUDY + + + #Studies in Genesis# + #Studies in Exodus# + #Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy# + #Studies in Joshua, Judges and Ruth# + #Studies in I and II Samuel# + #Studies in I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles# + #Studies in Psalms# + #Studies in The Major Prophets# + #Studies in The Life of Christ# + #Studies in The Book of Luke# + #Studies in The Book of Acts# + #Studies in Romans# + #Studies in Hebrews# + +#THREE STUDIES: Christian Science and the Bible; The Second Coming of +Christ; The Way of Salvation.# + +#Size 6-5/8 x 9-1/2 inches. Paper binding, each 50 cents. In lots of +25 or more of one or assorted titles, at 20% discount or 40 cents net +each, prepaid to any postoffice address.# + + THE MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: All apparent printer's errors retained. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Moody's Stories, by Dwight Lyman Moody + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOODY'S STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 33024-8.txt or 33024-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/2/33024/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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/33024-8.zip b/33024-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0f3bfe8 --- /dev/null +++ b/33024-8.zip diff --git a/33024-h.zip b/33024-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c25764f --- /dev/null +++ b/33024-h.zip diff --git a/33024-h/33024-h.htm b/33024-h/33024-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc3dc1e --- /dev/null +++ b/33024-h/33024-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6486 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Moody's Stories, by D. L. Moody. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Moody's Stories, by Dwight Lyman 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: Moody's Stories + Incidents and Illustrations + +Author: Dwight Lyman Moody + +Release Date: June 29, 2010 [EBook #33024] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOODY'S STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>Moody's Stories</h1> + +<h3>INCIDENTS and ILLUSTRATIONS</h3> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 70%;"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="100%" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h5> +Copyrighted, 1884, by<br /> +F. H. Revel<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Printed in United States of America<br /> +</h5> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h3><big>Moody's Stories</big><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<small>Being a Second Volume of Anecdotes<br /> +Incidents and Illustrations</small><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +By D. L. Moody<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<small>Authorized Collection</small><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<big>THE MOODY PRESS</big><br /> +153 Institute Place<br /> +<span class="smcap">Chicago</span><br /> +</h3> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span></p> +<h2>MOODY'S STORIES</h2> + + +<h4>Lady Pendulum</h4> + +<p>When Mr. Sankey and I were in London a lady who +attended our meetings was brought into the house in +her carriage, being unable to walk. At first she was +very skeptical; but one day she said to her servant:</p> + +<p>"Take me into the inquiry room."</p> + +<p>After I had talked with her a good while about her +soul she said:</p> + +<p>"But you will go back to America, and it will be all +over."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said I, "it is going to last forever."</p> + +<p>I couldn't make her believe it. I don't know how +many times I talked with her. At last I used the fable +of the pendulum in the clock. The pendulum figured +up the thousands of times it would have to tick, and +got discouraged, and was going to give up. Then it +thought, "It is only a tick at a time," and went on. So +it is in the Christian life—only one step at a time. That +helped this lady very much. She began to see that if +she could trust in God for a supply of grace for only one +day, she could go right on in the same way from day to +day. As soon as she saw this, she came out quite decided. +But she never could get done talking about that pendulum. +The servants called her Lady Pendulum. She had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> +a pendulum put up in her room to remind her of the +illustration, and when I went away from London she +gave me a clock—I've got it in my house still.</p> + + +<h4>The Greater Mystery</h4> + +<p>Dr. Andrew Bonar once said that, although it was a +mystery to him how sin should have come into the world, +it was still a greater mystery how God should have come +here to bear the penalty of it Himself.</p> + + +<h4>Never Runs Dry</h4> + +<p>I remember being in a city where I noticed that +the people resorted to a favorite well in one of the parks. +I said to a man one day:</p> + +<p>"Does the well never run dry?"</p> + +<p>The man was drinking of the water out of the well; +and as he stopped drinking, he smacked his lips, and +said:</p> + +<p>"They have never been able to pump it dry yet. +They tried it a few years ago. They put the fire-engines +to work, and tried all they could to pump the well dry; +but they found there was a river flowing right under the +city."</p> + +<p>Thank God, the well of salvation can never run dry +either!</p> + + +<h4>He Trusted his Father</h4> + +<p>A party of gentlemen in Scotland wanted to get +some eggs from a nest on the side of a precipice, and +they tried to persuade a poor boy that lived near to go +over and get them, saying they would hold him by a +rope. They offered him a good deal of money; but they +were strangers to him, and he would not go. They +told him they would see that no accident happened to +him; they would hold the rope.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> + +<p>At last he said: "I will go if my father will hold +the rope."</p> + +<p>He trusted his father.</p> + +<p>A man will not trust strangers. I want to get +acquainted with a man before I put my confidence in +him. I have known God for forty years, and I have +more confidence in Him now than I ever had before; it +increases every year.</p> + + +<h4>Peace Declared</h4> + +<p>When France and England were at war once a French +vessel had gone off on a long whaling voyage. When +they came back, the crew were short of water, and being +near an English port, they wanted to get water; but they +were afraid that they would be taken prisoners if they +went into that port. Some people in the port saw their +signal of distress, and sent word that they need not be +afraid, that the war was over, and peace had been +declared. But they couldn't make those sailors believe +it, and they didn't dare to go into port, although they +were out of water. At last they made up their minds +that they had better go in and surrender their cargo +and their lives to their enemies rather than perish at sea +without water; and when they got in, they found out +that what had been told them was true, that peace had +been declared.</p> + +<p>There are a great many people who don't believe the +glad tidings that peace has been made by Jesus Christ +between God and man, but it is true.</p> + + +<h4>Sawdust or Bread</h4> + +<p>If you go out to your garden and throw down some +sawdust, the birds will not take any notice; but if you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +throw down some crumbs, you will find they will soon +sweep down and pick them up.</p> + +<p>The true child of God can tell the difference (so to +speak) between sawdust and bread. Many so-called +Christians are living on the world's sawdust, instead of +being nourished by the Bread that cometh down from +heaven. Nothing can satisfy the longings of the soul +but the Word of the living God.</p> + + +<h4>"Baby's Feeding Himself!"</h4> + +<p>You know it is always regarded a great event in the +family when a child can feed itself. It is propped up at +table, and at first perhaps it uses the spoon upside down, +but by and by it uses it all right, and mother, or perhaps +sister, claps her hands and says:</p> + +<p>"Just see, baby's feeding himself!"</p> + +<p>Well, what we need as Christians is to be able to feed +ourselves. How many there are who sit helpless and +listless, with open mouths, hungry for spiritual things, +and the minister has to try to feed them, while the Bible +is a feast prepared, into which they never venture.</p> + + +<h4>Should Not Be Postponed</h4> + +<p>In 1871 I preached a series of sermons on the life of +Christ in old Farwell hall, Chicago, for five nights. I +took Him from the cradle and followed Him up to the +judgment hall, and on that occasion I consider I made +as great a blunder as ever I made in my life. It was upon +that memorable night in October, and the court-house +bell was sounding an alarm of fire, but I paid no attention +to it. You know we were accustomed to hear the +fire-bell often, and it didn't disturb us much when it +sounded. I finished the sermon upon "What Shall I Do +with Jesus?" and said to the audience:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now, I want you to take the question with you and +think it over, and next Sunday I want you to come back +and tell me what you are going to do with Him."</p> + +<p>What a mistake! It seems now as if Satan was in my +mind when I said this. Since then I never have dared +give an audience a week to think of their salvation. If +they were lost, they might rise up in judgment against +me. "Now is the accepted time."</p> + +<p>I remember Mr. Sankey singing, and how his voice +rang when he came to that pleading verse:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"To-day the Savior calls,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">For refuge fly!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The storm of Justice falls,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And death is nigh!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>After the meeting we went home. I remember going +down La Salle street with a young man, and saw the +glare of flames. I said to the young man:</p> + +<p>"This means ruin to Chicago."</p> + +<p>About one o'clock Farwell hall was burned; soon the +church in which I had preached went down, and everything +was scattered. I never saw that audience again.</p> + +<p>My friends, we don't know what may happen to-morrow, +but there is one thing I do know, and that is, if you +take the gift of God you are saved. If you have eternal +life you need not fear fire, death, or sickness. Let disease +or death come, you can shout triumphantly over +the grave if you have Christ. My friends, what are you +going to do with Him? Will you not decide now?</p> + + +<h4>Teaching Willie Faith</h4> + +<p>Some years ago I wanted to teach my boy what faith +was and so I put him on a table. He was a little fellow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +about two years old. I stood back three or four feet, +and said.</p> + +<p>"Willie, jump."</p> + +<p>The little fellow said, "Papa, I'se afraid."</p> + +<p>I said: "Willie, I will catch you. Just look right at +me, and jump."</p> + +<p>The little fellow got all ready to jump, and then +looked down again, and said, "I'se afraid."</p> + +<p>"Willie, didn't I tell you I would catch you? Will +papa deceive you? Now, Willie, look me right in the +eye, and jump, and I will catch you."</p> + +<p>The little fellow got all ready the third time to jump, +but he looked on the floor, and said:</p> + +<p>"I'se afraid."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I tell you I would catch you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>At last I said: "Willie, don't take your eyes off me"; +and I held the little fellow's eyes, and said, "Now, +jump; don't look at the floor;" and he leaped into my +arms.</p> + +<p>Then he said to me, "Let me jump again."</p> + +<p>I put him back, and the moment he got on the table +he jumped, and after that, when he was on the table +and I was standing five or six feet away I heard him cry, +"Papa, I'se coming," and had just time to rush and +catch him. He seemed to put too much confidence in +me. But you cannot put too much confidence in God.</p> + + +<h4>Act on Your Belief</h4> + +<p>When President Lincoln signed the proclamation of +emancipation, copies of it were sent to all points along +the Northern line, where they were posted. Now, supposing +a slave should have seen a copy of that proclama<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>tion +and should have learned its contents. He might +have known the fact, he might have assented to its justice, +but if he had still continued to serve his old master +as a slave his faith in the document would not have +amounted to anything.</p> + +<p>And so it is with us. A mere knowledge of the historical +events of Christ's life, or a simple intellectual +assent to His teachings and His mission, will be of no +help in a man's life unless he adds to them a trustful +surrender to the Lord's loving kindness.</p> + + +<h4>"Forty Miles to Liberty"</h4> + +<p>A friend of mine went to teach in Natchez before the +war. He and a friend of his went out riding one Saturday +in the country. They saw an old slave coming, and +they thought they would have a little fun. They had +just come to a place where there was a fork in the road, +and there was a sign-post which read, "Forty miles to +Liberty."</p> + +<p>"Sambo, how old are you?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, massa. I guess I'se about eighty."</p> + +<p>"Can you read?"</p> + +<p>"No, sah; we don't read in dis country. It's agin +the law."</p> + +<p>"Can you tell what is on that sign-post?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sah; it says forty miles to Liberty."</p> + +<p>"Well, now," said my friend, "why don't you follow +that road and get your liberty? It says there, only +'forty miles to Liberty.' Now, why don't you take that +road and go there?"</p> + +<p>The old man's countenance changed, and he said: +"That ar's a sham, young massa, but if it pointed up +thar," and he raised his trembling hand toward heaven,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> +"to the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free, that ar +wouldn't be no sham."</p> + +<p>The old slave, with all his ignorance, had even then +experienced a liberty in his own soul that these young +men, with all their boasted education, at that time knew +nothing of.</p> + + +<h4>The Most Important Thing</h4> + +<p>A certain John Bacon, once a famous sculptor, left +an inscription to be placed on his tomb in Westminster +Abbey:</p> + +<p>"What I was as an artist seemed of some importance +to me while I lived; but what I was as a believer in +Jesus Christ is the only thing of importance to me now."</p> + + +<h4>Taking the Wrong Boat</h4> + +<p>A Methodist minister, on his way to a camp-meeting, +through some mistake took passage on the wrong boat. +He found that instead of being bound for a religious +gathering, he was on his way to a horse-race. His fellow-passengers +were betting and discussing the events, +and the whole atmosphere was foreign to his nature. He +besought the captain that he would stop his boat and let +him off at the first landing, as the surroundings were so +distasteful to him.</p> + +<p>The story also goes on to relate how, on the same +occasion a sporting man, intending to go to the races, +by some mistake found himself on the wrong boat, bound +for the camp-meeting. The conversation about him was +no more intelligible to him than to the man in the first +instance, and he, too, besought the captain to stop and +let him off the boat.</p> + +<p>Now what was true in these two cases is practically<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +true with every one. A true Christian is wretched where +there is no fellowship, and an unregenerate man is not +at ease where there are only Christians. A man's future +will be according to what he is here prepared for. If he +is not regenerate, heaven will have no attractions for +him. Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people.</p> + + +<h4>The Best Proof</h4> + +<p>"The highest proof of the infallibility of Scripture," +said the late A. J. Gordon, "is the practical one that +we have proved it so. As the coin of the realm has +always been found to buy the amount of its face-value, +so the prophecies and promises of Scripture have yielded +their face value to those who have taken the pains to +prove them. If they have not always done so, it is +probable that they have not yet matured. There are +multitudes of Christians who have so far proved the +veracity of the Bible that they are ready to trust it without +reserve in all that it pledges for the world yet unseen +and the life yet unrealized."</p> + + +<h4>Have Faith.</h4> + +<p>I remember a man telling me he preached for a number +of years without any result. He used to say to his +wife as they went to church that he knew the people +would not believe anything he said; and there was no +blessing. At last he saw his error; he asked God to +help him, and took courage, and then the blessing came.</p> + +<p>"According to your faith it shall be unto you." This +man had expected nothing and he got just what he +expected. Dear friends, let us expect that God is going +to use us. Let us have courage and go forward, looking +to God to do great things.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span></p> +<h4>Chasing His Shadow</h4> + +<p>When I was a little boy I tried to catch my shadow. +I don't know if you were ever so foolish; but I remember +running after it, and trying to get ahead of it. I +could not see why the shadow always kept ahead of me. +Once I happened to be racing with my face to the sun, +and I looked over my head and saw my shadow behind +me, and it kept behind me all the way.</p> + +<p>It is the same with the Sun of Righteousness. Peace +and joy will go with you while you go with your face +toward Him, but those who turn their backs on the Sun +are in darkness all the time. Turn to the light of God, +and the reflection will flash in your heart.</p> + + +<h4>His Minister's Bible</h4> + +<p>If I have a right to cut out a certain portion of the +Bible, I don't know why one of my friends has not a +right to cut out another, and another friend to cut out +another part, and so on. You would have a queer kind +of Bible if everybody cut out what he wanted to! Every +adulterer would cut out everything about adultery; every +liar would cut out everything about lying; every drunkard +would be cutting out what he didn't like.</p> + +<p>Once a gentleman took his Bible around to his minister, +and said, "That is your Bible."</p> + +<p>"Why do you call it <i>my</i> Bible?" said the minister.</p> + +<p>"Well," replied the gentleman, "I have been sitting +under your preaching for five years, and when you said +that a thing in the Bible was not authentic, I cut it out."</p> + +<p>He had about a third of the Bible cut out; all of Job, +all of Ecclesiastes and Revelation, and a good deal +besides. The minister wanted him to leave the Bible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +with him; he didn't want the rest of his congregation to +see it. But the man said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! I have the covers left, and I will hold on +to them."</p> + +<p>And off he went holding on to the covers.</p> + + +<h4>Mocked by his Children</h4> + +<p>When I was in St. Louis some years ago, there was +an old man who had been away off on the mountains of +an ungodly life, but in his early manhood he had known +Christ. He came into the inquiry-room, literally broken +down. About midnight that old man came trembling +before God and was saved. He wiped away his tears, +and started home.</p> + +<p>Next night I saw him in the audience with a terrible +look in his face. As soon as I finished preaching, I went +to him and said:</p> + +<p>"My good friend, you haven't gone back into darkness +again?"</p> + +<p>Said he: "Oh, Mr. Moody, it has been the most +wretched day in my life."</p> + +<p>"Why so?"</p> + +<p>"Well, this morning as soon as I got my breakfast, I +started out. I have a number of children, married, and +in this city, and they have families; and I have spent +the day going around and telling them what God has +done for me. I told them how I had tasted salvation, +with the tears trickling down my face; and, Mr. Moody, +I hadn't a child that didn't mock me!"</p> + +<p>That made me think of Lot down in Sodom. It is an +awful thing for a man who has been a backslider to have +his children mock him. But it is written: "Thy back-slidings +shall reprove thee; know, therefore, and see<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken +the Lord thy God."</p> + + +<h4>No Need to Read Them</h4> + +<p>A great many people say, you must hear both sides; +but if a man should write me a most slanderous letter +about my wife, I don't think I would have to read it; I +should tear it up and throw it to the winds. Have I to +read all the infidel books that are written, to hear both +sides? Have I to take up a book that is a slander on my +Lord and Master, who has redeemed me with His blood? +Ten thousand times no! I will not touch it.</p> + + +<h4>Tolling the Bell</h4> + +<p>I well remember how in my native village in New +England it used to be customary, as a funeral procession +left the church, for the bell to toll as many times as the +deceased was years old. How anxiously I would count +those strokes of the bell to see how long I might reckon +on living! Sometimes there would be seventy or eighty +tolls, and I would give a sigh of relief to think I had so +many years to live. But at other times there would be +only a few years tolled, and then a horror would seize +me as I thought that I, too, might soon be claimed as a +victim by that dread monster, Death. Death and judgment +were a constant source of fear to me till I realized +the fact that neither shall ever have any hold on a +child of God. In his letter to the Romans the apostle +Paul has showed, in most direct language, that there is +no condemnation for a child of God, but that he is +passed from under the power of law, and in the Epistle +to the Corinthians he tells us that "there is a natural +body, and there is a spiritual body," "and as we have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the +image of the heavenly."</p> + + +<h4>A Father's Neglect</h4> + +<p>A story has gone the round of the American press +that made a great impression upon me as a father. A +father took his little child out into the field one Sabbath, +and, it being a hot day, lie lay down under a beautiful +shady tree. The little child ran about gathering wild +flowers and little blades of grass, and coming to its +father and saying:</p> + +<p>"Pretty! pretty!"</p> + +<p>At last the father fell asleep, and while he was sleeping +the little child wandered away. When he awoke, +his first thought was:</p> + +<p>"Where is my child?"</p> + +<p>He looked all around, but he could not see him. He +shouted at the top of his voice, but all he heard was the +echo. Running to a little hill, he looked around and +shouted again. No response! Then going to a precipice +at some distance, he looked down, and there, upon +the rocks and briars, he saw the mangled form of his +loved child. He rushed to the spot, took up the lifeless +corpse, and hugged it to his bosom, and accused himself +of being the murderer of his child. While he was +sleeping his child had wandered over the precipice.</p> + +<p>I thought as I read that, what a picture of the church +of God! How many fathers and mothers, how many +Christian men and women, are sleeping now while their +children wander over the terrible precipice right into the +bottomless pit! Father, mother, where is your boy to-night?</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> +<h4>Worth Ten Thousand Men</h4> + +<p>Let us not give heed to gloomy and discouraging +remarks. In the name of our great Commander let us +march on to battle and to victory. There are some generals +whose name alone is worth more than a whole army +of ten thousand men. In our army in the Civil War +there were some whose presence sent a cheer all along +the line. As they passed on, cheer upon cheer went up. +The men knew who was going to lead them, and they +were sure of having success. "The boys" liked to fight +under such generals as that. Let us encourage ourselves +in the Lord, and encourage each other; then we +shall have good success.</p> + + +<h4>"With or Without Power"</h4> + +<p>Doctor Gordon of Boston used to say that as you +passed along Washington street of that city, or Broadway, +New York, you might see stores with the card in +the window, "To rent, with or without power," and any +one could rent the store, and by paying something extra +could have power furnished from the engine in the rear. +Doctor Gordon thought it would be a good thing to ask +men and women when they joined the church if they +wanted to be a member on the "with power" or the +"without power" basis, and if the latter, to tell them +there were no vacancies for that kind in the church, it +already had too many members without power.</p> + + +<h4>Turning on the Tap</h4> + +<p>A man who lived on the bank of Lake Erie had water +pipes laid to his house from the lake; and when he +wanted water all he had to do was to turn the tap and +the water flowed in. If the government had presented<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +him with the lake he would not have known what to do +with it. So we may say that if God were to give us +grace enough for a lifetime, we should not know how to +use it. He has given us the privilege of drawing on Him +day by day—not "forty days after sight." There is +plenty of grace in the bank of heaven; we need not be +afraid of its becoming exhausted.</p> + + +<h4>Keep Close!</h4> + +<p>The late Dr. Andrew Bonar once remarked in his +own quaint fashion that it was always easy to trace the +footprints of a person if we walked close behind him, but +if we were some distance back we might fail to find +them; and accordingly, if we followed close after the +Master we would easily see the way, but if we tried to +follow afar off we would find it difficult to know the path +of His will.</p> + + +<h4>On Both Knees</h4> + +<p>William Dawson once told this story to illustrate how +humble the soul must be before it can find peace.</p> + +<p>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>"Mother, John So-and-so is under conviction and +seeking for peace, but he will not find it to-night, +mother."</p> + +<p>"Why, William?" said she.</p> + +<p>"Because he is only down on one knee, mother, and +he will never get peace until he is down on both knees."</p> + +<p>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><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> +<h4>Something New</h4> + +<p>A great many people seem to think that the Bible is +out of date, that it is an old book, that it has passed its +day. They say it was very good for the dark ages, and +that there is some very good history in it, but it was not +intended for the present time; we are living in a very +enlightened age and men can get on very well without +it; we have outgrown it.</p> + +<p>Now, you might just as well say that the sun, which +has shone so long, is now so old that it is out of date, +and that whenever a man builds a house he need not put +any windows in it, because we have a newer light and a +better light; we have gaslight and electric light. These +are something new; and I would advise people, if they +think the Bible is too old and worn out, when they build +houses, not to put windows in them, but just to light +them with electric light; that is something new and that +is what they are anxious for.</p> + + +<h4>Bidding Christ Farewell</h4> + +<p>A rule I have had for years is to treat the Lord Jesus +Christ as a personal friend. It is not a creed, a mere +empty doctrine, but it is Christ Himself we have. The +moment we receive Christ we should receive Him as a +friend. When I go away from home I bid my wife and +children good-bye; I bid my friends and acquaintances +good-bye; but I never heard of a poor backslider going +down on his knees and saying:</p> + +<p>"I have been near You for ten years. Your service +has become tedious and monotonous. I have come to +bid You farewell. Good-bye, Lord Jesus Christ!"</p> + +<p>I never heard of one doing this. I will tell you how +they go away; they just run away.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> +<h4>Any One Can <i>Believe</i></h4> + +<p>God has put the offer of salvation in such a way that +the whole world can lay hold of it. All men can <i>believe</i>. +A lame man might not perhaps be able to visit the sick; +but he can <i>believe</i>. A blind man, by reason of his infirmity, +cannot do many things; but he can <i>believe</i>. A deaf +man can <i>believe</i>. A dying man can <i>believe</i>. God has put +salvation so simply that young and old, wise and foolish, +rich and poor, can all <i>believe</i> if they will.</p> + + +<h4>The Wrath of God Was on Him</h4> + +<p>I heard of a rich man who was asked to make a contribution +on behalf of some charitable object. The text +was quoted to him—"He that hath pity upon the poor +lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given +will He pay him again," He said that the security +might be good enough, but the credit was too long. He +was dead within two weeks.</p> + + +<h4>The War was Ended</h4> + +<p>During the last days of the Civil War, when many +men were deserting the Southern flag, Secretary Stanton +sent out a notice from the war department that no more +refugees should be taken into the Union army.</p> + +<p>A Southern soldier who had not seen that order came +into the Union lines, and they read it to him. He didn't +know what to do. If he went back into the Southern +army he would be shot as a deserter, and the Northern +army wouldn't have him. So he went into the woods, +and stayed there, living on roots and whatever else he +could get, until finally he was starving.</p> + +<p>One day he saw an officer riding by. He rushed out +of the woods, caught the horse's bridle, and said he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +would kill the officer if he didn't help him. The officer +asked what was the trouble, and he told him.</p> + +<p>"But haven't you heard the news?" said the officer.</p> + +<p>"No; what news?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the war is over! Lee has surrendered, and +peace has been declared. Go to the nearest town and get +all the food you want."</p> + +<p>The man waved his hat, and went off as fast as he +could.</p> + +<p>I want to say that peace has been declared between +God and man. Be reconciled to God. The blood is on +the mercy-seat, and the vilest sinner can be saved for +time and eternity.</p> + + +<h4>Nearer than he Thought</h4> + +<p>I was reading, some time ago, of a young man who +had just come out of a saloon, and had mounted his +horse. As a certain deacon passed on his way to church, +he followed and said:</p> + +<p>"Deacon, can you tell me how far it is to hell?"</p> + +<p>The deacon's heart was pained to think that a young +man like that should talk so lightly; but he passed on +and said nothing. When he came round the corner to +the church, he found that the horse had thrown that +young man, and he was dead. You, too, may be nearer +the judgment than you think.</p> + + +<h4>Its Strength was Underestimated</h4> + +<p>Some of the older people can remember when our +Civil 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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +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>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> + + +<h4>Seeing the Gospel</h4> + +<p>"Have you ever heard the Gospel?" asked a missionary +of a Chinaman, whom he had not seen in his mission +before.</p> + +<p>"No," he replied, "but I have seen it. I know a +man who used to be the terror of his neighborhood. He +was a bad opium smoker and dangerous as a wild beast; +but he became wholly changed. He is now gentle and +good and has left off opium."</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> +<h4>Illuminated Christians</h4> + +<p>We see very few illuminated Christians now. If +every one of us was illuminated by the Spirit of God, +how we could light up the churches! But to have a lantern +without any light, that would be a nuisance. Many +Christians carry along lanterns and say, "I wouldn't +give up my religion for yours." They talk about religion. +The religion that has no fire is like painted fire. +They are artificial Christians. Do you belong to that +class? You can tell. If you can't, your friends can.</p> + +<p>There is a fable of an old lantern in a shed, which +began to boast because it had heard its master say he +didn't know what he would ever do without it. But the +little candle within spoke up and said: "Yes, you'd be +a great comfort if it wasn't for me! You are nothing; +I'm the one that gives the light." We are nothing, but +Christ is everything, and what we want is to keep in +communion with Him and let Christ dwell in us richly +and shine forth through us.</p> + +<p>I have a match box with a phosphorescent front. It +draws in the rays of the sun during the day and then +throws them out in the dead hours of the night, so that I +can always see it in the dark. Now, that is what we +ought to be, constantly drawing in the rays of the Sun of +Righteousness and then giving them out. Some one said +to some young converts, "It is all moonshine being converted." +They replied, "Thank you for the compliment. +The moon borrows light from the sun, and so we +borrow ours from the Sun of Righteousness." That is +what takes place when we have this illumination.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> +<h4>Not Ashamed of his Lord</h4> + +<p>A young convert tried to preach in the open air; he +could not preach very well either, but he did the best he +could. Some one interrupted him and said:</p> + +<p>"Young man, you cannot preach; you ought to be +ashamed of yourself."</p> + +<p>Said the young man, "So I am, but I am not ashamed +of my Lord."</p> + +<p>That is right. Do not be ashamed of Christ—of the +Man that bought us with His own blood.</p> + + +<h4>He Silenced the Devil</h4> + +<p>If you find yourself getting very miserly, begin to +scatter, like a wealthy farmer in New York state I heard +of. He was a noted miser, but he was converted. Soon +after, a poor man who had been burned out and had no +provisions came to him for help. The farmer thought +he would be liberal and give the man a ham from his +smoke-house. On his way to get it, the tempter whispered +to him:</p> + +<p>"Give him the smallest one you have."</p> + +<p>He had a struggle whether he would give a large or a +small ham, but finally he took down the largest he could +find.</p> + +<p>"You are a fool," the devil said.</p> + +<p>"If you don't keep still," the farmer replied, "I will +give him every ham I have in the smoke-house."</p> + + +<h4>Warm the Wax!</h4> + +<p>A gentleman in Ireland had a seal made for me. +"D.L.M." is on one side, and on the other, "God is love." +If I want to stamp "God is love" I would not make +much headway if the wax was hard and cold. Many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +people go to meetings, and it is as hard to make an +impression on them as in pressing a seal on hard wax. +But let the wax be warmed up and an impression is made. +If we are willing, every one of us may be sealed for the +day of redemption. "In whom ye also trusted after +that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; +in whom also after that ye believed, ye were +sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise."</p> + + +<h4>Draw Nearer</h4> + +<p>When I was a boy my mother used to send me out +doors to get a birch stick to whip me with, when I had +to be punished. At first I used to stand off from the +rod as far as I could. But I soon found that the whipping +hurt me more that way than any other; and so I +went as near to my mother as I could, and found she +could not strike me so hard. And so when God chastens +us let us kiss the rod and draw as near to Him as we can.</p> + + +<h4>The Panorama Looks Brighter</h4> + +<p>"When a panorama is to pass before an audience, the +artist darkens the room in which they sit, so that the +picture may be more fully seen. So God sometimes +darkens our place on earth, puts out this light and that, +and then before our souls He makes to pass the splendors +and glories of the better land."</p> + + +<h4>All Things Work for Good</h4> + +<p>There is one passage of Scripture which has always +been a great comfort to me. In the eighth chapter of +Romans Paul says: "All things work together for good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +to them that love God." Some years ago a child of +mine had scarlet fever. I went to the druggist's to get +the medicine, which the doctor had ordered, and told +him to be sure and be very careful in making up the +prescription. The druggist took down one bottle after +another, in any one of which there might be what would +be rank poison for my child; but he stirred them +together and mixed them up, and made just the medicine +which my child needed. And so God gives us a little +adversity here, a little prosperity there, and all works +for our good.</p> + + +<h4>It Takes Time</h4> + +<p>Suppose I should send my little boy, five years old, +to school to-morrow morning, and when he came home +in the afternoon, say to him:</p> + +<p>"Willie, can you read? can you write? can you spell? +Do you understand all about algebra, geometry, Hebrew, +Latin and Greek?"</p> + +<p>"Why, papa," the little fellow would say, "how funny +you talk. I have been all day trying to learn the +A, B, C's!"</p> + +<p>Suppose I should reply: "If you have not finished +your education, you need not go any more." What +would you say? Why, you would say I had gone mad!</p> + +<p>There would be just as much reason in that as in the +way that people talk about the Bible. The men who +have studied the Bible for fifty years have never got +down to the depths of it yet. There are truths there +that the church of God has been searching out for +the last nineteen hundred years, but no man has yet +fathomed the depths of the ever-living stream.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span></p> +<h4>Something God Cannot Do</h4> + +<p>In Ireland, some time ago, a teacher asked a little +boy if there was anything that God could not do. The +little fellow said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, He cannot see my sins through the blood of +Christ."</p> + + +<h4>It Seemed Too Good to be True</h4> + +<p>Some time ago I read in one of the daily papers a +thing that pleased me very much. When the new administration +of President McKinley went into office some +clerks in one of the departments were promoted. One +young lady was offered a promotion, but she went to see +the secretary, General Butterworth, and said that there +was a girl sitting next to her that had a family to support. +A brother who had been supporting the family had +died, or sickened, and it had fallen upon her, and she +asked the general to let her friend that sat next to her +have the promotion in her place.</p> + +<p>The general said that he had heard of such things in +other generations, but he didn't know that it would ever +happen in his generation. He was amazed to find a +person on duty in Washington that was willing to give +up her position and take a lower one, and let some one +else have it that she might be able to help her family.</p> + +<p>In Colorado the superintendent of some works told me +of a miner that was promoted, who came to the superintendent, +and said:</p> + +<p>"There is a man that has seven children, and I have +only three, and he is having a hard struggle. Don't +promote me, but promote him."</p> + +<p>I know of nothing that speaks louder for Christ and +Christianity than to see a man or woman giving up what<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +you call your rights for others, and "in honor preferring +one another."</p> + + +<h4>The Scarlet Thread</h4> + +<p>In the British Navy there is said to be a scarlet +thread running through every line of cordage, and +though a rope be cut into inch pieces it can be recognized +as belonging to the government. So there is a +scarlet thread running all through the Bible—the whole +book points to Christ.</p> + + +<h4>The First "Don't Worry Club"</h4> + +<p>Mrs. Sangster says that we hear a good deal in this +age, as if it were a novelty, about the futility of being +anxious, and people have established "Don't Worry +Clubs." But the first "Don't Worry Club" was begun +by our blessed Lord Himself when He said: "Take no +thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take +thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day +is the evil thereof." He bade us consider the lilies +growing in their beauty and purity without a thought, +and taught us the true way of living without care, without +solicitude, bearing all burdens lightly, and having +continual joy on our faces. Only those who have the +indwelling Christ in their hearts can walk through this +world with bright and glad looks, because they know +that, let come what may, their Father is leading them +safely.</p> + + +<h4>The Story Followed Him</h4> + +<p>While I was at a convention in Illinois an old man +past seventy years, got up, and said he remembered but +one thing about his father, and that one thing followed +him all through life. He could not remember his death,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +he had no recollection of his funeral, but he recollected +his father one winter night taking a little chip, and with +his pocket-knife whittling out a little cross, and with the +tears in his eyes he held up that cross, telling how God +in His infinite love sent His Son down here to redeem +us, and how He had died on the cross for us. The story +of the cross followed him through life; and if we tell +children these truths, they will never forget them.</p> + + +<h4>The Fatal Sleep</h4> + +<p>Some time ago a vessel had been off on a whaling voyage, +and had been gone about three years. The father +of one of the sailors had charge of the light-house, and +he was expecting his boy to come home. It was time +for the whaling-vessel to return. One night there came +up a terrible gale. This father fell asleep, and while he +slept his light went out. When he awoke he looked +toward the shore and saw a vessel had been wrecked. +He at once went to see if he could not yet save some one +who might be still alive. The first body that came floating +toward the shore was, to his great grief and surprise, +the body of his own boy! He had been watching for +that boy for many days. Now the boy had at last come +in sight of home, and had perished because his father +had let his light go out!</p> + +<p>I thought, what an illustration of fathers and mothers +to-day that have let their lights go out! You are not +training your children for God and eternity. You do not +live as though there were anything beyond this life at +all. You keep your affections set upon things on the +earth instead of on things above, and the result is that +the children do not believe there is anything in Christianity. +Perhaps the very next step they take may take<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span> +them into eternity; the next day they may die without +God and without hope.</p> + + +<h4>That Love is Spontaneous</h4> + +<p>Some time ago, in an inquiry meeting, I said to a +young miss who said that she could not love God, that +it was very hard for her to love Him:</p> + +<p>"Is it hard for you to love your mother? Do you +have to learn to love your mother?"</p> + +<p>She looked up through her tears, and said, "No; I +can't help it; that is spontaneous."</p> + +<p>"Well," I said, "when the Holy Spirit kindles love +in your heart, you can not help loving God; it will be +spontaneous."</p> + +<p>When the Spirit of God comes into your heart and +mine, it will be easy to love and serve God.</p> + + +<h4>The Summing Up of His Life</h4> + +<p>A man was taken into one of our insane asylums a +few years ago from one of the Western cities. He had +resolved to be rich. How he turned every stone to +accumulate wealth! All his energy and every faculty were +pushed toward that one end. "Wealth, wealth, wealth! +money, money, money!" was his cry. At last it drove +him mad, and they took him to the mad-house, where he +threw himself into a rocking-chair, and cried:</p> + +<p>"Millions of money, and in a mad-house!"</p> + +<p>That was all there was of his life. Pretty short, +wasn't it? Sixty years gone, millions of money, and in +a mad-house; and he died there. That was the +summing up of his life.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> +<h4>Beautiful Motion but No Progress</h4> + +<p>Many people are working and working, as Rowland +Hill said, like children on a rocking-horse—it is a beautiful +motion, but there is no progress. Those who are +working for salvation are like men on a treadmill, going +round and round and round; toiling and toiling and +toiling; but nothing comes of it all. There is no progress, +and there cannot be until you have the motive +power within, till the breath of life comes from God, +which can alone give you power to work for others.</p> + + +<h4>Get It into Your Heart</h4> + +<p>"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not +sin against thee." An old Scotchman says: "It is a +good thing in a good place for a good purpose." Many +people have the Bible in their heads, or in their pockets; +but we need to get it down into our hearts.</p> + + +<h4>How the Miners were Saved</h4> + +<p>In the north of England they have been digging the +coal for a century. They have gone miles and miles +away from the shaft, under the sea, and there is danger +of men getting lost. I heard of two old miners who lost +their way. Their lights went out, and they were in danger +of losing their lives. After wandering around for a +long time, they sat down, and one of them said:</p> + +<p>"Let us sit perfectly quiet, and see if we cannot feel +which way the air is moving, because it always moves +toward the shaft."</p> + +<p>There they sat for a long time, when all at once one +of them felt a slight touch on his cheek, and he sprang +to his feet and said:</p> + +<p>"I felt it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>They went in the direction in which the air was moving, +and reached the shaft.</p> + +<p>Sometimes there comes a little breath from God that +touches our souls. It may be so gentle and faint that +you barely recognize it; but if you do, do not disregard +it. Thank God that He has spoken to you, and praise +Him for it, and whatever may come do not go in the +opposite direction. Give yourself up to be led by it, and +you will come out of darkness, out of bondage, out of +sorrow, into perpetual light and joy.</p> + + +<h4>Receiving and Never Giving</h4> + +<p>What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all +the time receiving, never giving out anything. Why is +it that many Christians are cold? Because they are all +the time receiving, never giving out anything.</p> + + +<h4>Dumb Christians</h4> + +<p>It is a very sad thing that so many of God's children +are dumb; yet it is true. Parents would think it a great +calamity to have their children born dumb; they would +mourn over it, and weep; and well they might; but did +you ever think of the many dumb children God has? +The churches are full of them; they never speak for +Christ. They can talk about politics, art, and science; +they can speak well enough and fast enough about the +fashions of the day; but they have no voice for the Son +of God.</p> + + +<h4>Like Siamese Twins</h4> + +<p>Covetousness and stealing are almost like Siamese +twins—they go together so often. In fact we might add +lying, and make them triplets, "The covetous person +is a thief <i>in</i> the shell. The thief is a covetous person<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +<i>out</i> of the shell. Let a covetous person see something +that he desires very much; let an opportunity of taking +it be offered; how very soon he will break through the +shell and come out in his true character as a thief." +The Greek word translated "covetousness" means—an +inordinate desire of getting. When the Gauls tasted +the sweet wines of Italy, they asked where they came +from, and never rested until they had overrun Italy.</p> + + +<h4>Not Troubled with Doubts</h4> + +<p>One of the happiest men I ever knew was a man in +Dundee, Scotland, who had fallen and broken his back +when he was a boy of fifteen. He had lain on his +bed for about forty years, and could not be moved without +a good deal of pain. Probably not a day had passed +in all those years without acute suffering. But day after +day the grace of God had been granted to him, and when +I was in his chamber it seemed as if I was as near heaven +as I could get on earth. I can imagine that when the +angels passed over Dundee, they had to stop there to +get refreshed.</p> + +<p>When I saw him, I thought he must be beyond the +reach of the tempter, and I asked him: "Doesn't Satan +ever tempt you to doubt God, and to think that He is a +hard Master?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," he said, "he does try to tempt me. I lie +here and see my old schoolmates driving along in their +carriages, and Satan says: 'If God is so good, why +does He keep you here all these years? You might have +been a rich man, riding in your own carriage.' Then I +see a man who was young when I was walk by in perfect +health, and Satan whispers: 'If God loved you, couldn't +He have kept you from breaking your back?'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What do you do when Satan tempts you?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, I just take him to Calvary, and I show him +Christ, and I point out those wounds in His hands and +feet and side, and say, 'Doesn't He love me?' and the +fact is, he got such a scare there eighteen hundred years +ago that he cannot stand it; he leaves me every time."</p> + +<p>That bedridden saint had not much trouble with +doubts; he was too full of the grace of God.</p> + + +<h4>Honey-Dew</h4> + +<p>I have sometimes been in a place where the very air +seemed to be charged with the breath of God, like +the moisture in the air. I remember one time as I went +through the woods near Mount Hermon school I heard +bees, and asked what it meant.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said one of the men, "they are after the <i>honey-dew</i>."</p> + +<p>"What is that?" I asked.</p> + +<p>He took a chestnut leaf and told me to put my tongue +to it. I did so, and the taste was sweet as honey. Upon +inquiry I found that all up and down the Connecticut +valley what they call "honey-dew" had fallen, so that +there must have been altogether hundreds of tons of +honey-dew in this region. Where it comes from I don't +know.</p> + +<p>Do you suppose that this earth would be worth living +on if it were not for the dew and the rain? So a church +that hasn't any of the dew of heaven, any of the rain +that comes down in showers, will be as barren as the +earth would be without the dew and rain.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> +<h4>A Personal Matter</h4> + +<p>"The life of Christianity," says Luther, "consists of +personal pronouns. It is one thing to say, 'Christ is a +Savior.' It is quite another to say, 'He is <i>my</i> Savior.' +The devil can say the first. Only the true Christian can +say the second."</p> + + +<h4>They Knew It</h4> + +<p>Let me tell you how I had my eyes opened about the +theater question. I had an assistant superintendent of +a Sabbath school, a very promising young man, who +seemed to be very happy in the work. A star actor +came to the city, and he went to see him. I knew nothing +of it, but the next Sunday when he came into the +Sunday-school all over the building the boys cried out:</p> + +<p>"Hypocrite! Hypocrite!"</p> + +<p>The perspiration started out of every pore of my +body; I thought they were looking at me. I said to the +little newsboys:</p> + +<p>"Who are you calling a hypocrite?"</p> + +<p>They mentioned the assistant's name. I asked the +reason, and they said:</p> + +<p>"We saw him going into the theater."</p> + +<p>I had never said anything about the theater to those +children, but they saw that man going in, and called +him a hypocrite. They seemed to know it was no place +for a Christian to go. He lost his influence entirely, +withdrew from the school, and after a while gave up +Christian work altogether. He was just swept along +with the tide in Chicago and his influence was lost.</p> + + +<h4>Pull for the Shore</h4> + +<p>A vessel was wrecked off the shore. Eager eyes were +watching and strong arms manned the life-boat. For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +hours they tried to reach that vessel through the great +breakers that raged and foamed on the sand-bank, but it +seemed impossible. The boat appeared to be leaving +the crew to perish. But after a while the captain and +sixteen men were taken off, and the vessel went down.</p> + +<p>"When the life-boat came to you," said a friend, +"did you expect it had brought some tools to repair +your old ship?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," was the response; "she was a total wreck. +Two of her masts were gone, and if we had stayed mending +her only a few minutes, we must have gone down +sir."</p> + +<p>"When once off the old wreck and safe in the life-boat +what remained for you to do?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, sir, but just to pull for the shore."</p> + +<p>Man can't save himself. He has been wrecked by +sin, and his only safety lies in taking Jesus Christ as his +Savior.</p> + + +<h4>Easy, and Yet Difficult</h4> + +<p>It is the easiest thing in the world to become a Christian, +and it is also the most difficult. You say: "That +is a contradiction, a paradox." I will illustrate what I +mean.</p> + +<p>A little nephew of mine, a few years ago, took my +Bible and threw it down on the floor. His mother said,</p> + +<p>"Charlie, pick up uncle's Bible."</p> + +<p>The little fellow said he would not.</p> + +<p>"Charlie, do you know what that word means?"</p> + +<p>She soon found out that he did, and that he was not +going to pick up the Book. His will had come right up +against his mother's will.</p> + +<p>I began to be quite interested in the struggle: I knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +if she did not break his will, he would some day break +her heart.</p> + +<p>She repeated, "Charlie, go and pick up uncle's Bible, +and put it on the table."</p> + +<p>The little fellow said he could not do it.</p> + +<p>"I will punish you if you do not."</p> + +<p>He saw a strange look in her eye, and the matter began +to get serious. He did not want to be punished, and he +knew his mother would punish him if he did not lift the +Bible. So he straightened every bone and muscle in +him, and he said <i>he could not do it</i>. I really believe the +little fellow had reasoned himself into the belief that he +could not do it.</p> + +<p>His mother knew he was only deceiving himself, so +she kept him right to the point. At last he went down, +put both his arms around the Bible, and tugged away at +it; but he still said he could not do it. The truth was—he +did not want to. He got up again without lifting it.</p> + +<p>The mother said, "Charlie, I am not going to talk to +you any more. This matter has to be settled; pick up +that Bible, or I will punish you."</p> + +<p>At last she broke his will, and then he found it as +easy as it is for me to turn my hand. He picked up the +Bible, and laid it on the table.</p> + +<p>So it is with the sinner; if you are really willing to +take the Water of Life, <span class="smcap">YOU CAN DO IT</span>.</p> + + +<h4>No Difference</h4> + +<p>During the war, when enlisting was going on, sometimes +a man would come up with a nice silk hat on, +patent-leather boots, kid gloves, and a fine suit of +clothes; perhaps the next man who came along would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +be a hod-carrier, dressed in the poorest kind of clothes. +Both had to strip alike and put on the regimental uniform.</p> + +<p>When you come and say you are not fit, haven't got +good clothes, haven't got righteousness enough to be a +Christian, remember that Christ will furnish you with the +uniform of heaven, and you will be set down at the marriage +feast of the Lamb. I don't care how black and +vile your heart may be, only accept the invitation of +Jesus Christ, and He will make you fit to sit down with +the rest at that feast.</p> + + +<h4>Drawing a Comparison</h4> + +<p>When I was in California I went into a Sunday-school +and asked:</p> + +<p>"Have you got some one who can write a plain hand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>We got up the blackboard, and the lesson upon it +proved to be the text, "Lay up for yourselves treasures +in heaven."</p> + +<p>I said, "Suppose we write upon that board some of +the earthly treasures? We will begin with 'gold.'"</p> + +<p>The teacher readily put down "gold," and they all +comprehended it, for all had run to that country in hope +of finding it.</p> + +<p>"Well, we will put down 'houses' next and then 'land.' +Next we will put down 'fast horses.'"</p> + +<p>They all understood what fast horses were—they +knew a good deal more about fast horses than they knew +about the kingdom of God. Some of them, I think, actually +made fast horses serve as gods.</p> + +<p>"Next we will put down 'tobacco.'" The teacher +seemed to shrink at this. "Put it down," said I;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +"many a man thinks more of tobacco than he does of +God. Well, then we will put down 'rum.'"</p> + +<p>He objected to this—didn't like to put it down at all.</p> + +<p>"Down with it! Many a man will sell his reputation, +his home, his wife, his children, everything he has, for +rum. It is the god of some men. Many here are ready +to sell their present and their eternal welfare for it. Put +it down," and down it went.</p> + +<p>"Now," said I, "suppose we put down some of the +heavenly treasures. Put down 'Jesus' to head the list, +then 'heaven,' then 'River of Life,' then 'Crown of +Glory'," and went on until the column was filled, and +then just drew a line and showed the heavenly and the +earthly things in contrast.</p> + +<p>My friends, they could not stand comparison. If a +man does that, he cannot but see the superiority of the +heavenly over the earthly treasures.</p> + +<p>It turned out that this teacher was not a Christian. +He had gone to California on the usual hunt—gold; and +when he saw the two columns placed side by side, the +excellence of the one over the other was irresistible, and +he was the first soul God gave me on that Pacific coast. +He accepted Christ, and that man came to the station +when I was coming away and blessed me for coming to +that place.</p> + + +<h4>A Legend about Doves</h4> + +<p>There is a beautiful legend about a conference held +by the doves to decide where they should make their +abode. One suggested that they should go to the woods; +but the objection was made that there they would be in +danger from hawks; another mentioned the cities, but +boys would stone them there, and drive them away or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +kill them. Presently some dove suggested that they +go and hide in the clefts of the rocks, and there they +were safe. "O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities +and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh +her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth."</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rock of Ages, cleft for me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let me hide myself in thee.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>Look to Christ!</h4> + +<p>A leading surgeon I heard of, when he has a bad +wound to dress, or a broken limb to set, tells the patient:</p> + +<p>"Now, look at the wound, see just how it looks, and +then look at me!"</p> + +<p>So when you have seen the state your heart is in, +look up to Christ, and nowhere else.</p> + + +<h4>Paying Attention to the Preacher</h4> + +<p>There was an architect in Chicago who was converted. +In giving his testimony, he said he had been in the habit +of attending church for a great many years, but he could +not say that he had really heard a sermon all the time. +He said that when the minister gave out the text and +began to preach, he used to settle himself in the corner +of the pew and work out the plans of some building. He +could not tell how many plans he had prepared while the +minister was preaching. He was the architect for one +or two companies; and he used to do all his planning in +that way.</p> + +<p>You see, Satan came in between him and the preacher, +and caught away the good seed of the Word. I have +often preached to people, and have been perfectly +amazed to find they could hardly tell one solitary word +of the sermon; even the text had completely gone from +them.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p> +<h4>Better Make Sure</h4> + +<p>"I hab hearn folks say, 'Hope I has 'ligion, but I +doan know'; but I neber hearn a man say, 'I hope's I +has money, but I doan know.' Dat sorter 'ligion dat +yer hopes ye's got, but doan know, ain't gwine to do +no mo' good dan der money what yer hopes ye's got but +doan know."</p> + + +<h4>Some Things Quite Plain</h4> + +<p>An English army officer in India who had been living +an impure life went round one evening to argue religion +with the chaplain. During their talk the officer said:</p> + +<p>"Religion is all very well, but you must admit that +there are difficulties—about the miracles, for instance."</p> + +<p>The chaplain knew the man and his besetting sin, and +quietly looking him in the face, answered:</p> + +<p>"Yes; there are some things in the Bible not very +plain, I admit; but the seventh commandment is very +plain."</p> + + +<h4>Your Own Picture There</h4> + +<p>The Bible is like an album. I go into a man's house, +and while waiting for him, I take up an album and open +it. I look at a picture. "Why, that looks like a man +I know." I turn over and look at another. "Well, I +know that man." I keep turning over the leaves. "Well, +there is a man who lives in the same street as myself—he +is my next-door neighbor." And then I come upon +another, and see myself.</p> + +<p>My friends, if you read your Bibles you will find your +own pictures there. It just describes you. You may be +a Pharisee; if so, turn to the third chapter of John, and +see what Christ said to the Pharisee: "Except a man +be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> +But you may say: "I am not a Pharisee; I am a poor +miserable sinner, too bad to come to Him." Well, turn +to the woman of Samaria, and see what Christ said to +her.</p> + + +<h4>"That's Me!"</h4> + +<p>While we were in London, Mr. Spurgeon one day in his +orphanage told about the boys—that some of them had +aunts and some cousins, and that nearly every boy had +some friend that took an interest in him, and came to +see him and gave him a little pocket money. One day, +he said, while he stood there, a little boy came up to +him and said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Spurgeon, let me speak to you."</p> + +<p>The boy sat down between Mr. Spurgeon and the +elder who was with him, and said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Spurgeon, suppose your father and mother were +dead, and you didn't have any cousins, or aunts, or +uncles or friends to come and give you pocket money, +and give you presents, don't you think you would feel +bad? Because that's me!"</p> + +<p>Said Mr. Spurgeon: "The minute he said that, I put +my right hand down into my pocket and took out some +money for him."</p> + + +<h4>Queer Ideas of Repentance</h4> + +<p>The unconverted have a false idea about repentance; +they think God is going to make them repent. I was +once talking with a man on this subject, and he summed +up his whole argument by saying:</p> + +<p>"Moody, it has never struck me yet."</p> + +<p>I said: "What has never struck you."</p> + +<p>"Well," he replied: "Some people it strikes, and +some it doesn't. There was a good deal of interest in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +our town a few years ago, and some of my neighbors +were converted, but it didn't strike me."</p> + +<p>That man thought that repentance was coming down +some day to strike him like lightning. Another man +said he expected some sensation, like cold chills down +his back.</p> + +<p>Repentance isn't feeling. It is turning from sin to +God. One of the best definitions was given by a soldier. +Some one asked him how he was converted. He +said:</p> + +<p>"The Lord said to me, <i>Halt! Attention! Right about +face! March!</i> and that was all there was in it."</p> + + +<h4>A Good Illustration</h4> + +<p>A little child gives a good illustration of faith. Let +the wind blow her hat into the river, and she does not +worry; she knows her mother will get her another. She +lives by faith.</p> + + +<h4>"Come! Come! Come!"</h4> + +<p>A man in one of our meetings had been brought there +against his will; he had come through some personal +influence brought to bear upon him. When he got to +the meeting, they were singing the chorus of a hymn:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Come! oh, come to Me!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come! oh, come to Me!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Weary, heavy-laden,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come! oh, come to Me!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>He said afterward he thought he never saw so many +fools together in his life before. The idea of a number +of men standing there singing, "Come! come! come!"</p> + +<p>When he started home he could not get this little +word out of his head; it kept coming back all the time. +He went into a saloon, and ordered some whisky, think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>ing +to drown it. But he could not; it still kept coming +back. He went into another saloon, and drank some +more whisky; but the words kept ringing in his ears: +"Come! come! come!" He said to himself, "What a +fool I am for allowing myself to be troubled in this way!" +He went to a third saloon, had another glass, and finally +got home.</p> + +<p>He went off to bed, but could not sleep; it seemed as +if the very pillow kept whispering the word, "Come! +Come!" He began to be angry with himself: "What +a fool I was for ever going to that meeting at all!" +When he got up he took the little hymn book, found the +hymn, and read it over.</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" he said to himself; "the idea of a +rational man being disturbed by that hymn."</p> + +<p>He set fire to the hymn book, but he could not burn +up the little word "Come!"</p> + +<p>He declared he would never go to another of the +meetings; but the next night he came again. When he +got there, strange to say, they were singing the same +hymn.</p> + +<p>"There is that miserable old hymn again," he said; +"what a fool I am for coming!" When the Spirit of +God lays hold of a man, he does a good many things he +did not intend to do.</p> + +<p>To make a long story short, that man rose in a meeting +of young converts, and told the story that I have +now told you. Pulling out the little hymn-book—for he +had bought another copy—and opening it at this hymn, +he said:</p> + +<p>"I think this hymn is the sweetest and the best in the +English language. God blessed it to the saving of my +soul. And yet this was the very hymn that I despised."</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> +<h4>Don't Scold</h4> + +<p>"He that winneth souls is wise." Do you want to +win men? Do not drive or scold them. Do not try to +tear down their prejudices before you begin to lead them +to the truth. Some people think they have to tear down +the scaffolding before they begin on the building. An +old minister once invited a young brother to preach for +him. The latter scolded the people, and when he got +home, asked the old minister how he had done. He said +he had an old cow, and when he wanted a good supply +of milk, he fed the cow; he did not scold her.</p> + + +<h4>A Long Time to Reap</h4> + +<p>A man died in the Columbus penitentiary some years +ago who had spent over thirty years in his cell. He was +one of the millionaires of Ohio. Fifty years ago when +they were trying to get a trunk road from Chicago to +New York, they wanted to lay the line through his farm +near Cleveland. He did not want his farm divided by +the railroad, so the case went into court, where commissioners +were appointed to pay the damages and to allow +the road to be built.</p> + +<p>One dark night, a train was thrown off the track, and +several were killed. This man was suspected, was tried +and found guilty, and was sent to the penitentiary for +life. The farm was soon cut up into city lots, and the +man became a millionaire, but he got no benefit from it.</p> + +<p>It may not have taken him more than an hour to lay +the obstruction on the railroad, but he was over thirty +years reaping the result of that one act!</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p> +<h4>"As a Little Child"</h4> + +<p>A little child is the most dependent thing on earth. +All its resources are in its parents' love; all it can do is +to cry; and its necessities explain the meaning to the +mother's heart. If we interpret its language, it means: +"Mother, wash me; I cannot wash myself. Mother, +clothe me; I am naked, and cannot clothe myself. +Mother, feed me; I cannot feed myself. Mother, carry +me; I cannot walk." It is written, "A mother may +forget her sucking child; yet will not I forget thee."</p> + +<p>This it is to receive the Kingdom of God as a little +child—to come to Jesus in our helplessness, and say: +"Lord Jesus, wash me!" "Clothe me!" "Feed me!" +"Carry me!" "Save me, Lord, or I perish."—Rainsford.</p> + + +<h4>Following the Lamb</h4> + +<p>A friend who lost all his children told me about being +in an eastern country some time ago, and he saw a shepherd +going down to a stream, and he wanted to get his +flock across. He went into the water and called them by +name, but they came to the bank and bleated, and were +too afraid to follow. At last he went back, tightened +his girdle about his loins, took up two little lambs, +and put one inside his frock, and another inside his +bosom. Then he started into the water, and the old +sheep looked up to the shepherd instead of down into the +water. They wanted to see their little ones. So he got +them over the water, and led them into the green pastures +on the other side.</p> + +<p>How many times the Good Shepherd has come down +here and taken a little lamb to the hill-tops of glory, and +then the father and mother begin to look up and follow.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span></p> +<h4>Two Pictures</h4> + +<p>A friend told me of a poor man who had sent his son +to school in the city. One day the father was hauling +some wood into the city, perhaps to pay his boy's bills. +The young man was walking down the street with two of +his school friends, all dressed in the very height of fashion. +His father saw him, and was so glad that he left +his wood, and went to the sidewalk to speak to him. But +the boy was ashamed of his father, who had on his old +working clothes, and spurned him, and said:</p> + +<p>"I don't know you."</p> + +<p>Will such a young man ever amount to anything? +Never!</p> + +<p>There was a very promising young man in my Sunday-school +in Chicago. His father was a confirmed drunkard, +and his mother took in washing to educate her four +children. This was her eldest son, and I thought that +he was going to redeem the whole family. But one day +a thing happened that made him go down in my estimation.</p> + +<p>The boy was in the high school, and was a very bright +scholar. One day he stood with his mother at the cottage +door—it was a poor house, but she could not pay +for their schooling and feed and clothe her children and +hire a very good house too out of her earnings. When +they were talking a young man from the high school +came up the street, and this boy walked away from his +mother. Next day the young man said:</p> + +<p>"Who was that I saw you talking to yesterday?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that was my washerwoman."</p> + +<p>I said: "Poor fellow! He will never amount to +anything."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span></p> + +<p>That was a good many years ago. I have kept my eye +on him. He has gone down, down, down, and now he +is just a miserable wreck. Of course, he would go +down! Ashamed of his mother that loved him and +toiled for him, and bore so much hardship for him! I +cannot tell you the contempt I had for that one act.</p> + +<p>Let us look at—</p> + + +<h4>A Brighter Picture</h4> + +<p>Some years ago I heard of a poor woman who sent +her boy to school and college. When he was to graduate, +he wrote his mother to come, but she sent back +word that she could not because her best skirt had +already been turned once. She was so shabby that she +was afraid he would be ashamed of her. He wrote back +that he didn't care how she was dressed, and urged so +strongly that she went. He met her at the station, and +took her to a nice place to stay. The day came for his +graduation, and he walked down the broad aisle with +that poor mother dressed very shabbily, and put her into +one of the best seats in the house. To her great surprise +he was the valedictorian of the class, and he carried +everything before him. He won a prize, and when +it was given to him, he stepped down before the whole +audience and kissed his mother, and said:</p> + +<p>"Here, mother, here is the prize! It's yours. I +would not have won it if it had not been for you."</p> + +<p>Thank God for such a man!</p> + + +<h4>The Folly of Covetousness</h4> + +<p>The folly of covetousness is well shown in the following +extract:</p> + +<p>"If you should see a man that had a large pond of +water, yet living in continual thirst, nor suffering himself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +to drink half a draught for fear of lessening his pond; if +you should see him wasting his time and strength in +fetching more water to his pond, always thirsty, yet +always carrying a bucket of water in his hand, watching +early and late to catch the drops of rain, gaping after +every cloud, and running greedily into every mire and +mud in hopes of water, and always studying how to make +every ditch empty itself into the pond; if you should see +him grow gray in these anxious labors, and at last end +a thirsty life by falling into his own pond, would you not +say that such a one was not only the author of his own +disquiet, but was foolish enough to be reckoned among +madmen? But foolish and absurd as this character is, it +does not represent half the follies and absurd disquiets +of the covetous man."</p> + +<p>I have read of a millionaire in France, who was a +miser. In order to make sure of his wealth, he dug a +cave in his wine cellar so large and deep that he could +go down into it with a ladder. The entrance had a door +with a spring lock. After a time, he was missing. +Search was made, but they could find no trace of him. +At last his house was sold, and the purchaser discovered +this door in the cellar. He opened it, went down, and +found the miser lying dead on the ground, in the midst +of his riches. The door must have shut accidentally +after him, and he perished miserably.</p> + + +<h4>What is Needed</h4> + +<p>Nine-tenths, at least, of our church members never +think of speaking for Christ. If they see a man, perhaps +a near relative, going right down to ruin, going +rapidly, they never think of speaking to him about his +sinful course and of seeking to win him to Christ. Now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +certainly there must be something wrong. And yet +when you talk with them you find they have faith, and +you cannot say they are not children of God; but they +have not the power, the liberty, the love that real disciples +of Christ should have.</p> + +<p>A great many think that we need new measures, new +churches, new organs, new choirs, and all these new +things. That is not what the Church of God needs +to-day. It is the old power that the apostles had. If +we have that in our churches, there will be new life.</p> + +<p>I remember when in Chicago many were toiling in +the work, and it seemed as though the car of salvation +didn't move on, when a minister began to cry out from +the very depths of his heart:</p> + +<p>"Oh, God, put new ministers in every pulpit."</p> + +<p>Next Monday I heard two or three men stand up and +say, "We had a new minister last Sunday—the same old +minister, but he had got new power," and I firmly believe +that is what we want to-day all over America—new ministers +in the pulpit and new people in the pews. We +want people quickened by the Spirit of God.</p> + + +<h4>Neglecting Church</h4> + +<p>A minister rebuked a farmer for not attending church, +and said:</p> + +<p>"You know, John, you are never absent from market."</p> + +<p>"Oh," was the reply, "we <i>must</i> go to market."</p> + + +<h4>Oratorical Preaching</h4> + +<p>My friends, we have too many orators in the pulpit, +I am tired and sick of your "silver-tongued orators." +I used to mourn because I couldn't be an orator. I +thought, Oh, if I could only have the gift of speech like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +some men! I have heard men with a smooth flow of +language take the audience captive; but they came and +they went. Their voice was like the air—there wasn't +any <i>power</i> back of it; they trusted in their eloquence and +their fine speeches. That is what Paul was thinking of +when he wrote to the Corinthians: "My speech and my +preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, +but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that +your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but +in the power of God."</p> + +<p>Take a witness in court and let him try his oratorical +powers in the witness-box, and see how quickly the +judge will rule him out. It is the man who tells the +plain, simple truth that has the most influence with the +jury.</p> + +<p>Suppose that Moses had prepared a speech for Pharaoh, +and had got his hair all smoothly brushed, and had +stood before the looking-glass, or had gone to an elocutionist +to be taught how to make an oratorical speech +and how to make gestures. Suppose that he had buttoned +his coat, put one hand in his chest, had struck an +attitude, and begun:</p> + +<p>"The God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, +Isaac, and Jacob, has commanded me to come into the +presence of the noble King of Egypt."</p> + +<p>I think they would have taken his head right off! +They had Egyptians who could be as eloquent as Moses. +It was not eloquence they wanted.</p> + + +<h4>To Which Class Do You Belong?</h4> + +<p>Some one has said that there are three classes of people: +the "wills," the "won'ts," and the "can'ts"; the +first accomplish everything, the second oppose everything, +and the third fail in everything.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span></p> +<h4>Sunday Work</h4> + +<p>A Christian man was once urged by his employer to +work on Sunday.</p> + +<p>"Does not your Bible say that if your ass falls into a +pit on the Sabbath, you may pull him out?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the other; "but if the ass had the +habit of falling into the same pit every Sabbath, I would +either fill up the pit or sell the ass."</p> + + +<h4>There Must Be Roots</h4> + +<p>Suppose I hire two men to set out trees, and after a +day or two I go out to see how they are getting along. +I find that one man has set out a hundred trees, and the +other only ten. I say:</p> + +<p>"Look here; what does this mean? That man has +set out a hundred trees, and you have set out only ten. +What does it mean?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he has cut off all the roots, and, just stuck +the tops into the ground."</p> + +<p>I go to the other man, and say: "What does this +mean? Why have you planted all of these trees without +roots?"</p> + +<p>"I don't believe in roots; they are of no account. +My trees look just as well as his."</p> + +<p>But when the sun blazes upon the trees, they all +wither and die.</p> + +<p>There are a lot of people running around who haven't +got any roots. A good many live on negations. They +are always telling what they <i>don't</i> believe. I want a +man to tell me what he <i>does</i> believe, not what he does +not believe. And I like to meet a positive man. We +just want to know what men do believe. We don't want +trees that haven't any roots, for they will dry up when<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +the sun blazes on them. There are a good many persons +that are going on without any foundation; they +have no faith.</p> + + +<h4>The Path of Obedience</h4> + +<p>Whatsoever He tells you to do, do. But be sure He +says it. Don't take your ideas. Go and live right at +home, go and treat your wife and children right, pay your +debts, and do some things of that kind.</p> + +<p>A colored man said he had seen a sign; he said it +read, "G. P. C," and he understood it to mean, "Go +preach Christ."</p> + +<p>Another man got up, and said. "No, that ain't it; it +is 'Go pick cotton.'"</p> + +<p>If it is preach the gospel, go preach the gospel; and if +it is pick cotton, then pick cotton.</p> + + +<h4>Calling a Man a Liar</h4> + +<p>You cannot offer a man a greater insult than to tell +him he is a liar. Unbelief is telling God He is a liar.</p> + +<p>Suppose a man said, "Mr. Moody, I have no faith in +you whatever." Don't you think it would grieve me? +There is not anything that would wound a man much +more than to be told that you do not have any faith in +him.</p> + +<p>A great many men say, "Oh, I have profound reverence +and respect for God."</p> + +<p>Yes, profound respect, but not faith. Why, it is a +downright insult!</p> + +<p>Suppose a man says, "Mr. Moody, I have profound +respect for you, profound admiration for you, but I do +not believe a word you say."</p> + +<p>I wouldn't give much for his respect or admiration; +I wouldn't give much for his friendship. God wants us<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +to put our faith in Him. How it would wound a mother's +feelings to hear her children say, "I do love mamma so +much, but I don't believe what she says." How it would +grieve that mother. And that is about the way a great +many of God's professed children talk. Some men +seem to think it is a great misfortune that they do not +have faith. Bear in mind it is not a misfortune, but it +is the damning sin of the world.</p> + + +<h4>Bending His Will</h4> + +<p>A mother told me up in Minnesota that she had a little +child who took a book and threw it out of the window. +She told him to go and pick it up. The little +boy said, "I won't."</p> + +<p>She said, "What?"</p> + +<p>He said again, "I won't."</p> + +<p>She said: "You must. Go and pick up that book."</p> + +<p>He said he couldn't do it. She took him out, and +she held him right to it. Dinner-time came, and he +hadn't picked up the book. She took him to dinner, +and after it was over she took him out again. They sat +there until tea-time. When tea-time came she took him +in and gave him his supper, and then took him out and +kept him there until bed-time. The next morning she +went out again and kept him there until dinner-time. He +found he was in for a life job, and he picked the book up.</p> + +<p>She said she never had any trouble with the child +afterward. Mothers, if you don't make your boy obey +when he is young, he will break your heart.</p> + + +<h4>How To Find the Thirsty</h4> + +<p>When preaching in Chicago, Dr. Monro Gibson once +asked in the inquiry meeting, "Now, how can we find +out who is thirsty? I was just thinking how we could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +find out. If a boy should come down the aisle, bringing +a good pail full of clear water and a dipper, we would +soon find out who was thirsty. The thirsty men and +women would reach out for water; but if he should walk +down the aisle with an empty bucket, we wouldn't find +out. People would look in and see that there was no +water, and say nothing. So," said he, "I think that is +the reason we are not more blessed in our ministry; we +are carrying around empty buckets, and the people see +that we have not anything in them, and they don't come +forward."</p> + + +<h4>Making Parables</h4> + +<p>Stewart Robertson met Marshall, the great politician, +and Marshall said:</p> + +<p>"Why don't you preach in parables like your Master?"</p> + +<p>Robertson said: "I would if I knew enough. I wish +you would make me a few."</p> + +<p>He never could get to see him from that day until one +day he met him on a corner, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Marshall, where are those parables?"</p> + +<p>"I knew you would be after me, but I give it up. +I tried, but I couldn't make them. I didn't know it +was so hard."</p> + +<p>People say, "Oh, any one can make up a sermon." +But if you think so, just try it!</p> + + +<h4>A Father's Mistake</h4> + +<p>The story is told that a man once said he would not +talk to his son about religion; the boy should make his +own choice when he grew up, unprejudiced by him.</p> + +<p>The boy broke his arm, and when the doctor was +setting it, he cursed and swore the whole time. The +father was quite grieved and shocked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah," said the doctor, "you were afraid to prejudice +the boy in the right way, but the devil had no such +prejudice. He has led your son the other way."</p> + +<p>The idea that a father is to let his children run +wild! Nature alone never brings forth anything but +weeds.</p> + + +<h4>A Rum-Seller's Son Blows His Brains Out</h4> + +<p>Look at that rum-seller. When we talk to him he +laughs at us. He tells you there is no hell, no future—there +is no retribution. I've got one man in my mind +now who ruined nearly all the sons in his neighborhood. +Mothers and fathers went to him and begged him not to +sell their children liquor. He told them it was his business +to sell liquor, and he was going to sell liquor to +every one who came. The saloon was a blot upon the +place as dark as hell.</p> + +<p>But the man had a father's heart. He had a son. +He didn't worship God, but he worshiped that boy. He +didn't remember that whatsoever a man soweth so shall +he reap. My friends, they generally reap what they sow. +It may not come immediately, but the retribution will +surely come. If you ruin other men's sons, some other +man will ruin yours. Bear in mind God is a God of +equity; God is a God of justice. He is not going to +allow you to ruin others and escape yourself. If we go +against His laws, we suffer.</p> + +<p>Time rolled on, and that young man became a slave +to drink, and his life became such a burden to him that +he put a revolver to his head and blew his brains out. +The father lived a few years, but his life was as bitter as +gall, and then went down to his grave in sorrow. Ah, +my friends, it is hard to kick against the pricks.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p> +<h4>Mrs. Moody Teaching Her Child</h4> + +<p>There was a time when our little boy did not like to +go to church, and would get up in the morning and say +to his mother:</p> + +<p>"What day is to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>"Tuesday."</p> + +<p>"Next day?"</p> + +<p>"Wednesday."</p> + +<p>"Next day?"</p> + +<p>"Thursday"; and so on, till he came to the answer, +"Sunday."</p> + +<p>"Dear me," he said.</p> + +<p>I said to the mother, "We cannot have our boy grow +up to hate Sunday in this way; that will never do. That +is the way I used to feel when I was a boy. I used to +look upon Sunday with a certain amount of dread. Very +few kind words were associated with the day. I don't +know that the minister even noticed me, unless it was +when I was asleep in the gallery, and he had some one +wake me up. This kind of thing won't do. We must +make the Sunday the most attractive day of the week; +not a day to be dreaded, but a day of pleasure."</p> + +<p>Well, the mother took the work up with this boy. +Bless those mothers in their work with the children! +Sometimes I feel as if I would rather be the mother of +John Wesley or Martin Luther or John Knox than have +all the glories in the world. Those mothers who are +faithful with the children God has given them will not +go unrewarded.</p> + +<p>My wife went to work, and took Bible stories and put +those blessed truths in a light that the boy could comprehend, +and soon his feeling for the Sabbath was the +other way.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What day's to-morrow?" he would ask.</p> + +<p>"Sunday."</p> + +<p>"I am glad."</p> + +<p>If we make Bible truths interesting, and break them +up in some shape so that these children can get at them, +then they will begin to enjoy them.</p> + + +<h4>Missed At Last!</h4> + +<p>In one of the tenement houses in New York City a +doctor was sent for. He came, and found a young man +very sick. When he got to the bedside the young man +said:</p> + +<p>"Doctor, I don't want you to deceive me; I want to +know the worst. Is this illness to prove serious?"</p> + +<p>After the doctor had made an examination, he said, +"I am sorry to tell you you cannot live out the +night."</p> + +<p>The young man looked up and said, "Well, then, I +have missed it at last!"</p> + +<p>"Missed what?"</p> + +<p>"I have missed eternal life. I always intended to +become a Christian some day, but I thought I had plenty +of time, and put it off."</p> + +<p>The doctor, who was himself a Christian man, said: +"It is not too late. Call on God for mercy."</p> + +<p>"No; I have always had a great contempt for a man +who repents when he is dying; he is a miserable coward. +If I were not sick, I would not have a thought about my +soul, and I am not going to insult God now."</p> + +<p>The doctor spent the day with him, read to him out +of the Bible, and tried to get him to lay hold of the +promises. The young man said he would not call on +God, and in that state of mind he passed away. Just as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span> +he was dying the doctor saw his lips moving. He reached +down, and all he could hear was the faint whisper:</p> + +<p>"<i>I have missed it at last!</i>"</p> + +<p>Dear friend, make sure that you do not miss eternal +life at last.</p> + + +<h4>Choose Now</h4> + +<p>A teacher had been relating to his class the parable +of the rich man and Lazarus, and he asked:</p> + +<p>"Now, which would you rather be, boys, the rich man +or Lazarus?"</p> + +<p>One boy answered, "I would rather be the rich man +while I live, and Lazarus when I die."</p> + +<p>That cannot be.</p> + + +<h4>The Mansion Made Ready</h4> + +<p>Once when I was traveling to a city there was a lady +in the car with me. After I had reached the hotel where +I was to stay, and had got comfortable quarters, she +came, and said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir, I cannot get a room in this hotel; they are +quite full! How ever did you manage to get a room?"</p> + +<p>"Easily enough," I replied; "I just telegraphed on +before that I was coming, to have a room ready for me."</p> + +<p>And it is somewhat similar in regard to gaining +admission to heaven. Your names must be sent on +beforehand, and entered in its book, else you won't get +in; but get your names inscribed on its pages, and then +you won't be disappointed. God will have a mansion +ready for you when you ascend to your heavenly home. +When you come to its gates, the guardian angels will +refer to the book of life to see if your name is there. If +so, pass in; but if not, admittance will be inexorably +refused.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span></p> +<h4>The Promise For All</h4> + +<p>Every one of God's proclamations is connected with +that word "whosoever"—"whosoever believeth," "whosoever +will." I think it was Richard Baxter said he +thanked God for that "whosoever." He would a good +deal rather have that word "whosoever" than Richard +Baxter; for if it was Richard Baxter, he should have +thought it was some other Richard Baxter who had lived +and died before him; but "whosoever" he knew included +him.</p> + +<p>I heard of a woman once that thought there was no +promise in the Bible for her; she thought the promises +were for some one else, not for her. There are a good +many of these people in the world. They think it is too +good to be true that they can be saved for nothing. +This woman one day got a letter, and when she opened it +she found it was not for her at all; it was meant for +another woman that had the same name; and she had +her eyes opened to the fact that if she should find some +promise in the Bible directed to her name, she would not +know whether it meant her or some one else that bore +her name. But you know the word "whosoever" includes +every one in the wide world.</p> + + +<h4>Reaping As They Sowed</h4> + +<p>Although God forgave the sins of Jacob and David, +and the other Old Testament saints, yet there were certain +consequences of their sins which those saints had +to suffer after they were forgiven.</p> + +<p>If a man gets drunk and goes out and breaks his leg, +so that it must be amputated, God will forgive him if he +asks it, but he will have to hop around on one leg all his +life. A man may sow thistle-seed with grain-seed in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +moment of pique against his master, and the master may +forgive him, but the man will have to reap the thistles +with the grain.</p> + + +<h4>Small Beginnings</h4> + +<p>An obscure man preached one Sunday to a few persons +in a Methodist chapel in the South of England. A +boy of fifteen years of age was in the audience, driven +into the chapel by a snowstorm. The man took as his +text the words, "Look unto me and be ye saved," and +as he stumbled along as best he could, the light of +heaven flashed into that boy's heart. He went out of +the chapel saved, and soon became known as C. H. +Spurgeon, the boy-preacher.</p> + +<p>The parsonage at Epworth, England, caught fire one +night, and all the inmates were rescued except one son. +The boy came to a window, and was brought safely to +the ground by two farm-hands, one standing on the +shoulder of the other. The boy was John Wesley. If +you would realize the responsibility of that incident, if +you would measure the consequences of that rescue, ask +the millions of Methodists who look back to John Wesley +as the founder of their denomination.</p> + + +<h4>Saying and Doing</h4> + +<p>A man was once conversing with a Brahmin priest, +and he asked:</p> + +<p>"Could <i>you</i> say, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life?'"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the priest, "I could say that."</p> + +<p>"<i>But could you make any one believe it?</i>"</p> + +<p>Christ proved His superiority right there. His character +and His actions were back of His words. He +exhibited His divine power to silence His enemies.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> +<h4>Climb Higher</h4> + +<p>I remember being in a meeting after the Civil War +had been going on for about six months. The army of +the North had been defeated at Bull Run; in fact, we +had nothing but defeat, and it looked as though the +Republic was going to pieces; so we were much cast +down and discouraged. At this meeting every speaker +for a while seemed as if he had hung his harp upon the +willow; it was one of the gloomiest meetings I ever +attended. Finally an old man with beautiful white hair +got up to speak, and his face literally shone.</p> + +<p>"Young men," he said, "you do not talk like sons of +the King. Though it is dark just here, remember it is +light somewhere else." Then he went on to say that if +it were dark all over the world, it was light up around +the Throne.</p> + +<p>He told us he had come from the East, where a friend +had described to him how he had been up a mountain to +spend the night and see the sun rise. As the party were +climbing up the mountain, and before they had reached +the summit, a storm came on. This friend said to the +guide:</p> + +<p>"I will give this up; take me back."</p> + +<p>The guide smiled, and replied: "I think we shall get +above the storm soon."</p> + +<p>On they went; and it was not long before they got up +to where it was as calm as any summer evening. Down +in the valley a terrible storm raged; they could hear the +thunder rolling, and see the lightning's flash; but all was +serene on the mountain top.</p> + +<p>"And so, my young friends," continued the old man,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> +"though all is dark around you, come a little higher, +and the darkness will flee away."</p> + +<p>Often when I have been inclined to get discouraged, I +have thought of what he said. If you are down in the +valley amidst the thick fog and the darkness, get a little +higher; get nearer to Christ, and know more of Him.</p> + + +<h4>The Greatest Miracle</h4> + +<p>Jesus said, "The works that I do shall ye do also, and +greater works than these shall ye do because I go to the +Father."</p> + +<p>I used to stumble over that. I didn't understand it. +I thought what greater work could any man do than +Christ had done? How could any one raise a dead man +who had been laid away in the sepulchre for days, and +who had already begun to turn back to dust; how with a +word could he call him forth?</p> + +<p>But the longer I live the more I am convinced it is a +greater thing to influence a man's will; a man whose will +is set against God; to have that will broken and brought +into subjection to God's will—or, in other words, it is a +greater thing to have power over a living, sinning, God-hating +man, than to quicken the dead. He who could +create a world could speak a dead soul into life; but I +think the greatest miracle this world has ever seen was +the miracle at Pentecost. Here were men who surrounded +the apostles, full of prejudice, full of malice, full of bitterness, +their hands, as it were, dripping with the blood +of the Son of God, and yet an unlettered man, a man +whom they detested, a man whom they hated, stands up +and preaches the Gospel, and three thousand of them are +immediately convicted and converted, and become disciples +of the Lord Jesus Christ.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> +<h4>Different Kinds of Murder</h4> + +<p>One young man at college, an only son, whose mother +wrote to him remonstrating against his gambling and +drinking habits, took the letters out of the post-office, +and when he found that they were from her, he tore +them up without reading them. She said:</p> + +<p>"I thought I would die when I found I had lost my +hold on that son."</p> + +<p>If a boy kills his mother by his conduct, you can't call +it anything else than <i>murder</i>, and he is as truly guilty of +breaking the sixth commandment as if he drove a dagger +to her heart.</p> + + +<h4>"It Is Not For You!"</h4> + +<p>Commenting on the text: "It is not for you to know +the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in +His own power," Spurgeon said:</p> + +<p>"If I were introduced into a room where a large number +of parcels were stored up, and I was told that there +was something good for me, I should begin to look for +that which had my name upon it, and when I came upon +a parcel and I saw in pretty big letters, '<i>It is not for you</i>,' +I should leave it alone. Here, then, is a casket of knowledge +marked, '<i>It is not for you</i> to know the times or the +seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.' +Cease to meddle with matters which are concealed, and +be satisfied to know the things which are clearly revealed."</p> + + +<h4>Stolen Goods a Burden</h4> + +<p>I heard of a boy who stole a cannon-ball from a navy-yard. +He watched his opportunity, sneaked into the +yard, and secured it. But when he had it, he hardly +knew what to do with it. It was heavy, and too large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +to conceal in his pocket, so he had to put it under his +hat. When he got home with it, he dared not show it to +his parents, because it would have led at once to his +detection.</p> + +<p>He said in after years it was the last thing he ever +stole.</p> + +<p>The story is told that a royal diamond valued at +$600,000 was stolen from a window of a jeweler, to +whom it had been given to set. A few months afterward +a miserable man died a miserable death in a poor lodging-house. +In his pocket was found the diamond, and a +letter telling how he had not dared to sell it, lest it +should lead to his discovery and imprisonment. It +never brought him anything but anxiety and pain.</p> + + +<h4>Unlocked By Prayer</h4> + +<p>God's best gifts, like valuable jewels, are kept under +lock and key, and those who want them must, with fervent +faith, importunately ask for them; for God is the +rewarder of them that <i>diligently</i> seek Him.</p> + + +<h4>The Faithful Promiser</h4> + +<p>God is always true to what He promises to do. He +made promises to Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and +the others, and did He not fulfill them? He will fulfill +every word of what He has promised; yet how few take +Him at His word!</p> + +<p>When I was a young man I was clerk in the establishment +of a man in Chicago, whom I observed frequently +occupied sorting and marking bills. He explained to me +what he had been doing; on some notes he had marked +B, on some D, and on others G; those marked B, he +told me, were bad, those marked D meant they were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +doubtful, and those with G on them mean they were +<i>good</i>; and, said he, you must treat all of them accordingly. +And thus people indorse God's promises, by +marking some as bad and others as doubtful; whereas +we ought to take all of them as <i>good</i>, for He has never +once broken His word, and all that He says He will do, +will be done in the fullness of time.</p> + + +<h4>Throw Out the Ballast</h4> + +<p>When men go up in a balloon, they carry with them +what they call ballast—that is, small bags of sand, and +when they want to rise higher they just throw out some +of the sand. So we, if we want to rise nearer heaven, +must just throw out some of the sand, and cast aside +every weight. We won't rise higher till we do so.</p> + + +<h4>A Mother's Love</h4> + +<p>The closest tie on earth is a mother's love for her +child. There are a good many things that will separate +a man from his wife, but there isn't a thing in the wide, +wide world that will separate a true mother from her own +child. I will admit that there are unnatural mothers, +that there are mothers that have gone out of their heads, +mothers that are so steeped in sin and iniquity that they +will turn against their own children, but a true mother +will never, never turn against her own child. I have +talked with mothers when my blood boiled with indignation +against the sons for their treatment of their mothers, +and I have said:</p> + +<p>"Why don't you cast him off?"</p> + +<p>They have said: "Why, Mr. Moody, I love him still. +He is my son."</p> + +<p>I was once preaching for Dr. G. in St. Louis, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +when I got through he said that he wanted to tell me a +story. There was a boy who was very bad. He had a +very bad father, who seemed to take delight in teaching +his son everything that was bad. The father died, and +the boy went on from bad to worse until he was arrested +for murder.</p> + +<p>When he was on trial, it came out that he had murdered +five other people, and from one end of the city to +the other there was a universal cry going up against him. +During his trial they had to guard the court-house, the +indignation was so intense.</p> + +<p>The white-haired mother got just as near her son as +she could, and every witness that went into the court +and said anything against him seemed to hurt her more +than her son. When the jury brought in a verdict of +guilty a great shout went up, but the old mother nearly +fainted away; and when the judge pronounced the sentence +of death they thought she would faint away.</p> + +<p>After it was over she threw her arms around him and +kissed him, and there in the court they had to tear him +from her embrace. She then went the length and +breadth of the city trying to get men to sign a petition +for his pardon. And when he was hanged, she begged +the governor to let her have the body of her son, that +she might bury it. They say that death has torn down +everything in this world, everything but a mother's love. +That is stronger than death itself. The governor refused +to let her have the body, but she cherished the memory +of that boy as long as she lived.</p> + +<p>A few months later she followed her boy, and when +she was dying she sent word to the governor, and begged +that her body might be laid close to her son. That is a +mother's love! She wasn't ashamed to have her grave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +pointed out for all time as the grave of the mother of the +most noted criminal the State of Vermont ever had.</p> + +<p>The prophet takes hold of that very idea. He says: +"Can a mother forget her child?" But a mother's love +is not to be compared to the love of God.</p> + + +<h4>Restitution</h4> + +<p>I was preaching in British Columbia some years ago +and a young man came to me, and wanted to become a +Christian. He had been smuggling opium into the +States.</p> + +<p>"Well, my friend," I said, "I don't think there is any +chance for you to become a Christian until you make +restitution." He said, "If I attempt to do that, I will +fall into the clutches of the law, and I will go to the +penitentiary." "Well," I replied, "you had better do +that than go to the judgment-seat of God with that sin +upon your soul, and have eternal punishment. The +Lord will be very merciful if you set your face to do +right."</p> + +<p>He went away sorrowful, but came back the next day, +and said: "I have a young wife and child, and all the +furniture in my house I have bought with money I have +got in this dishonest way. If I become a Christian, that +furniture will have to go, and my wife will know it."</p> + +<p>"Better let your wife know it, and better let your +home and furniture go."</p> + +<p>"Would you come up and see my wife?" he asked; "I +don't know what she will say."</p> + +<p>I went up to see her, and when I told her, the tears +trickled down her cheeks, and she said: "Mr. Moody, +I will gladly give everything if my husband can become +a true Christian."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<p>She took out her pocketbook, and handed over her +last penny. He had a piece of land in the United +States, which he deeded over to the government. I do +not know, in all my backward track, of any living man +who has had a better testimony for Jesus Christ than +that man. He had been dishonest, but when the truth +came to him that he must make it right before God +would help him, he made it right.</p> + +<p>No amount of weeping over sin, and saying that you +feel sorry, is going to help it unless you are willing to +confess and make restitution.</p> + + +<h4>Willie and the Bears</h4> + +<p>I said to my little family, one morning, a few weeks +before the Chicago fire, "I am coming home this afternoon +to give you a ride."</p> + +<p>My little boy clapped his hands. "Oh, papa, will +you take me to see the bears in Lincoln Park?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>I had not been gone long when my little boy said, +"Mamma, I wish you would get me ready."</p> + +<p>"Oh," she said, "it will be a long time before papa +comes."</p> + +<p>"But I want to get ready, mamma."</p> + +<p>At last he was ready to have the ride, face washed, +and clothes all nice and clean.</p> + +<p>"Now, you must take good care, and not get yourself +dirty again," said mamma.</p> + +<p>Of course, he was going to take care; he wasn't going +to get dirty! So off he ran to watch for me. However, +it was a long time yet until the afternoon, and after a +little he began to play. When I got home, I found him +outside, with his face all covered with dirt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I can't take you to the park that way, Willie."</p> + +<p>"Why papa? you said you would take me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but I can't; you're all over mud. I couldn't +be seen with such a dirty little boy."</p> + +<p>"Why, I'se clean, papa; mamma washed me."</p> + +<p>"Well, you've got dirty again."</p> + +<p>But he began to cry, and I could not convince him +that he was dirty.</p> + +<p>"I'se clean; mamma washed me!" he cried.</p> + +<p>Do you think I argued with him? No. I just took +him up in my arms, and carried him into the house, and +showed him his face in the looking-glass. He had not a +word to say. He would not take my word for it; but +one look at the glass was enough; he saw it for himself. +He didn't say he wasn't dirty after that!</p> + +<p>Now, the looking-glass showed him that his face was +dirty—<i>but I did not take the looking-glass to wash it</i>; of +course not. Yet that is just what thousands of people +do. The Law is the looking-glass to see ourselves in, +to show us how vile and worthless we are in the sight of +God; but they take the Law and try to <i>wash</i> themselves +with it, instead of being washed in the blood of the +Lamb.</p> + + +<h4>Christ For All</h4> + +<p>An old Welshwoman said Christ was Welsh, and an +Englishman said:</p> + +<p>"No, He was a Jew."</p> + +<p>She declared that she knew He was Welsh, because +He spoke so that she could understand Him.</p> + + +<h4>Starting Right</h4> + +<p>Many a man is lost because he does not start right. +He makes a bad start. A young man comes from his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +country home, and enters upon city life. Temptation +arises, and he becomes false to his principles. He meets +with some scoffing, sneering man, who jeers at him +because he goes to a church service; or because he is +seen reading his Bible; or because he is known to pray +to God. And the young man proves to be weak-kneed; +he cannot stand the scoffs and the sneers and the jeers +of his companions; and so he becomes untrue to his +principles, and gives them up.</p> + +<p>I want to say here to young men, that when a young +man makes a wrong start, in ninety-nine cases out of a +hundred it is ruin to him. The first game of chance; +the first betting transaction; the first false entry in the +books; the first quarter-dollar taken from the cash-box +or the till; the first night spent in evil company—either +of these may prove the turning-point; either of these +may represent a wrong start.</p> + + +<h4>Napoleon and the Conscript</h4> + +<p>There is a well-known story told of Napoleon the +First's time. In one of the conscriptions, during one of +his many wars, a man was balloted as a conscript who +did not want to go, but he had a friend who offered to +go in his place. His friend joined the regiment in his +name, and was sent off to the war. By and by a battle +came on, in which he was killed, and they buried him on +the battle-field. Some time after, the Emperor wanted +more men, and by some mistake the first man was +balloted a second time. They went to take him, but he +remonstrated.</p> + +<p>"You cannot take me."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"I am dead," was the reply.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are not dead; you are alive and well."</p> + +<p>"But I <i>am</i> dead," he said.</p> + +<p>"Why, man, you must be mad. Where did you die?"</p> + +<p>"At such a battle, and you left me buried on such a +battle-field."</p> + +<p>"You talk like a madman," they cried; but the man +stuck to his point that he had been dead and buried some +months.</p> + +<p>"Look up your books," he said, "and see if it is not +so."</p> + +<p>They looked, and found that he was right. They +found the man's name entered as drafted, sent to the +war, and marked off as killed.</p> + +<p>"Look here," they said, "you didn't die; you must +have got some one to go for you; it must have been +your <i>substitute</i>."</p> + +<p>"I know that," he said; "he died in my stead. You +cannot touch me; I died in that man, and I go free. +The law has no claim against me."</p> + +<p>They would not recognize the doctrine of substitution, +and the case was carried to the Emperor. He said that +the man was right, that he was dead and buried in the +eyes of the law, and that France had no claim against +him.</p> + +<p>This story may or may not be true, but one thing I +know is true: Jesus Christ suffered death for the sinner, +and those who accept Him are free from the Law.</p> + + +<h4>Green Fields or Desert?</h4> + +<p>When I was out in California, the first time I went +down from the Sierra Nevada Mountains and dropped +into the Valley of the Sacramento, I was surprised to +find on one farm that everything about it was green—all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +the trees and flowers, everything was blooming, and +everything was green and beautiful, and just across the +hedge everything was dried up, and there was not a +green thing there. I could not understand it. I made +inquiries, and I found that the man that had everything +green, irrigated; he just poured the water right on, and +kept everything green, while the fields that were next to +his were as dry as Gideon's fleece without a drop of dew.</p> + +<p>So it is with a great many in the church to-day. They +are like these farms in California—a dreary desert, everything +parched and desolate, and apparently no life in +them. They can sit next to a man who is full of the +Spirit of God, who is like a green bay tree, and who is +bringing forth fruit, and yet they will not seek a similar +blessing.</p> + +<p>Well, why this difference? Because God has poured +water on him that was thirsty; that is the difference. +One has been seeking this anointing, and he has received +it; and when we want this above everything else God will +surely give it to us.</p> + + +<h4>Religion In the Home</h4> + +<p>What we want is family piety, righteousness in our +homes. A young minister came to me, and said he +couldn't get along with his wife, and what should he do? +I told him to get out of the ministry. A man has no +right to be in the pulpit unless he can get along with his +family.</p> + + +<h4>A Universal Failing</h4> + +<p>It is a false idea that all pride is confined to the upper +classes. You will find it in the lanes and alleys. You +will find little dirty, barefooted children who will get a +string of shavings, put it round their necks, and strut<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +down the street as if they were wearing golden beads. +Pride is born and grows in the human heart. You do +not plant it there; it grows there of itself. There is as +much pride among the poor as among the rich; and that +is one reason why more of them do not come to the Lord +Jesus Christ: they do not like to be laughed at, scoffed +at, sneered at, and ridiculed. It costs them too much.</p> + + +<h4>Words and Actions</h4> + +<p>A man may preach with the eloquence of an angel, +but if he doesn't live what he preaches, and act out in his +home and his business what he professes, his testimony +goes for naught, and the people say it is all hypocrisy +after all; it is all a sham. Words are very empty, if +there is nothing back of them. Your testimony is poor +and worthless, if there is not a record back of that testimony +consistent with what you profess. What we need +is to pray to God to lift us up out of this low, cold, formal +state that we live in, that we may dwell in the atmosphere +of God continually, and that the Lord may lift +upon us the light of His countenance, and that we may +shine in this world, reflecting His grace and glory.</p> + + +<h4>The One-Eyed Doe</h4> + +<p>There is an old fable that a doe that had but one eye +used to graze near the sea; and in order to be safe, she +kept her blind eye toward the water, from which side she +expected no danger, while with the good eye she watched +the country. Some men, noticing this, took a boat and +came upon her from the sea and shot her. With her +dying breath, she said:</p> + +<p>"Oh! hard fate! that I should receive my death +wound from that side whence I expected no harm, and +be safe in the part where I looked for most danger."</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span></p> +<h4>Lost Opportunities</h4> + +<p>If a farmer neglects to plant in the springtime, he +can never recover the lost opportunity; no more can +you, if you neglect yours. Youth is a seed-time, and if +it is allowed to pass without good seed being sown, +weeds will spring up and choke the soil. It will take +bitter toil to uproot them.</p> + +<p>An old divine said that when a good farmer sees a +weed in his field he has it pulled up. If it is taken early +enough, the blank is soon filled in, and the crop waves +over the whole field. But if allowed to run too late, the +bald patch remains. It would have been better if the +weed had never been allowed to get root.</p> + + +<h4>Steer Clear</h4> + +<p>A steamboat was stranded in the Mississippi River, +and the captain could not get her off. Eventually a +hard-looking fellow came on board, and said:</p> + +<p>"Captain, I understand you want a pilot to take you +out of this difficulty?"</p> + +<p>The captain said, "Are you a pilot?"</p> + +<p>"Well, they call me one."</p> + +<p>"Do you know where the snags and sand-bars are?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, how do you expect to take me out of here if +you don't know where the snags and sand-bars are?"</p> + +<p>"I know where they ain't!" was the reply.</p> + +<p>Beware of temptations. "Lead us not into temptation," +our Lord taught us to pray; and again He said, +"Watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation." We +are weak and sinful by nature, and it is a good deal better +for us to pray for deliverance rather than to run into +temptation and then pray for strength to resist.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span></p> +<h4>Looking for Revivals</h4> + +<p>Men are anxious for a revival in business. There is a +great revival in politics just now. In all departments +of life you find that men are very anxious for a revival +in the things that concern them most.</p> + +<p>If this is legitimate—and it is perfectly right in its +place—should not every child of God be praying for and +desiring a revival of godliness in the world at the present +time? Do we not need a revival of downright honesty, +of truthfulness, of uprightness, and of temperance? Are +there not many who have become alienated from the +Church of God and from the house of the Lord, who are +forming an attachment to the saloon? Are not our sons +being drawn away by hundreds and thousands, so that +while you often find the churches empty, the liquor +shops are crowded every Sabbath afternoon and evening? +I am sure the saloon-keepers are glad if they can have +a revival in their business; they do not object to sell +more whisky and beer. Then surely every true Christian +ought to desire that men who are in danger of perishing +eternally should be saved and rescued.</p> + + +<h4>Opportunity</h4> + +<p>A sculptor once showed a visitor his studio. It was +full of statues of gods. One was very curious. The +face was concealed by being covered with hair, and there +were wings on each foot.</p> + +<p>"What is his name?" said the visitor.</p> + +<p>"Opportunity," was the reply.</p> + +<p>"Why is his face hidden?"</p> + +<p>"Because men seldom know him when he comes to +them."</p> + +<p>"Why has he wings on his feet?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Because he is soon gone, and once gone can never +be overtaken."</p> + +<p>It becomes us, then, to make the most of the opportunities +God has given us.</p> + + +<h4>The Usual Way</h4> + +<p>I used at one time to read so many chapters of the +Bible a day, and if I did not get through my usual +quantity, I thought I was getting cold and backsliding. +But, mind you, if a man had asked me two hours afterward +what I had read, I could not tell him; I had forgotten +it nearly all.</p> + +<p>When I was a boy I used, among other things, to hoe +corn on a farm; and I used to hoe it so badly, in order +to get over so much ground, that at night I had to put +down a stick in the ground, so as to know next morning +where I had left off.</p> + +<p>That was somewhat in the same fashion as running +through so many chapters every day. A man will say, +"Wife, did I read that chapter?"</p> + +<p>"Well," says she, "I don't remember."</p> + +<p>And neither of them can recollect. And perhaps he +reads the same chapter over and over again; and they +call that "studying the Bible." I do not think there is +a book in the world we neglect so much as the Bible.</p> + + +<h4>Getting On Splendidly</h4> + +<p>One man said to another, some time ago: "How are +you getting on at your church?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, splendid."</p> + +<p>"Many conversions?"</p> + +<p>"Well—well, on that side we are not getting on so +well. But," he said, "we have rented all our pews and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> +are able to pay all our running expenses. We are getting +on splendidly."</p> + +<p>That is what the godless call "getting on splendidly." +They rent the pews, pay the minister, and meet all the +running expenses.</p> + +<p>A man was being shown through one of the cathedrals +of Europe; he had come in from the country. One of +the men belonging to the cathedral was showing him +around, when he inquired:</p> + +<p>"Do you have may conversions here?"</p> + +<p>"Many what?"</p> + +<p>"Many conversions here?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, man, this is not a Wesleyan chapel."</p> + +<p>The idea of there being conversions there! And you +can go into a good many churches in this country and +ask if they have many conversions there, and they would +not know what it meant, they are so far away from the +Lord; they are not looking for conversions, and don't +expect them.</p> + + +<h4>A Hundred Years Hence</h4> + +<p>Once, as I was walking down the street, I heard +some people laughing and talking aloud. One of them +said:</p> + +<p>"Well, there will be no difference; it will be all the +same a hundred years hence."</p> + +<p>The thought flashed across my mind, "Will there be +no difference? Where will you be a hundred years +hence?"</p> + +<p>Young man, just ask yourself the question, "Where +shall I be?" Some of you who are getting on in years +may be in eternity ten years hence. Where will you be, +on the left or the right hand of God? I cannot tell your<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +feelings, but I can my own. I ask you, "Where will +you spend eternity? Where will you be a hundred years +hence?"</p> + + +<h4>A Free Gift</h4> + +<p>Remember, salvation is a free gift, and it is a free +gift <i>for us</i>. Can you buy it? It is a free gift, presented +to "whosoever" will accept it.</p> + +<p>Suppose I were to say, I will give this Bible to "whosoever" +will take it; what have you got to do? Why, +nothing but take it. But a man comes forward, and says:</p> + +<p>"I'd like that Bible very much."</p> + +<p>"Well, didn't I say 'whosoever' will can have it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but I'd like to have you mention my name."</p> + +<p>"Well, here it is."</p> + +<p>Still he keeps eyeing the Bible, and saying, "I'd like +to have that Bible; but I'd like to give you something for +it. I don't like to take it for nothing."</p> + +<p>"But I am not here to sell Bibles; take it, if you +want it."</p> + +<p>"Well, I want it; but I'd like to give you something +for it. Let me give you a cent for it; though, to be +sure, it's worth about five dollars."</p> + +<p>Suppose I accept the cent; the man takes up the Bible +and marches away home with it.</p> + +<p>His wife asks, "Where did you get that Bible?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I bought it."</p> + +<p>Mark the point; when he gave the penny, it ceased to +be a gift. So with salvation. If you were to pay ever +so little, it would not be a gift.</p> + + +<h4>What Seed Are You Sowing?</h4> + +<p>Suppose I meet a man who is sowing seed, and say, +"Hello, stranger, what are you sowing?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Seed."</p> + +<p>"What kind of seed?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know."</p> + +<p>"Don't you know whether it is good or bad?"</p> + +<p>"No; I can't tell. But it is seed—that is all I want +to know, and I am sowing it."</p> + +<p>You would say that he was a first-class lunatic, +wouldn't you? But he wouldn't be half so mad as the +man who goes on sowing for time and eternity, and never +asks himself what he is sowing or what the harvest will be.</p> + +<p>Father, what seed are you sowing in your family? +Are you setting your children a good or a bad example? +Do you spend your time at the saloon or the club, until +you have become almost a stranger to them? or are you +training them for God and righteousness?</p> + + +<h4>Bound Hand and Foot</h4> + +<p>When I was speaking to five thousand children in +Glasgow some years ago, I took a spool of thread and +said to one of the largest boys:</p> + +<p>"Do you believe I can bind you with that thread?"</p> + +<p>He laughed at the idea. I wound the thread around +him a few times, and he broke it with a single jerk. +Then I wound the thread around and around, and by +and by I said:</p> + +<p>"Now get free if you can."</p> + +<p>He couldn't move head or foot. If you are slave to +some vile habit, you must either slay that habit, or it will +slay you.</p> + + +<h4>Unity</h4> + +<p>There is one thing I have noticed as I have traveled in +different countries; I never yet have known the Spirit of +God to work where the Lord's people were divided.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +Unity is one thing that we must have if we are to have +the Holy Spirit of God to work in our midst.</p> + +<p>If a church is divided, the members should immediately +seek unity. Let the believers come together and +get the difficulty out of the way. If the minister of a +church cannot unite the people, if those that were dissatisfied +will not fall in, it would be better for that minister +to retire. I think there are a good many ministers in +this country who are losing their time; they have lost, +some of them, months and years; they have not seen any +fruit, and they will not see any fruit, because they have a +divided church. Such a church cannot grow in divine +things. The Spirit of God doesn't work where there is +division, and what we want to-day is the spirit of unity +amongst God's children, so that the Lord may work.</p> + + +<h4>Get Inside!</h4> + +<p>You have looked at the windows of a grand church +erected at the cost of many thousands of dollars. From +the outside they did not seem very beautiful; but get +inside, when the rays of the sun are striking upon the +stained glass, and you begin to understand what others +have told you of their magnificence. So it is when you +have come into personal contact with Christ. You find +Him to be the very Savior and friend you need. You +will see in Him what you have never seen before.</p> + + +<h4>Hunt For Something</h4> + +<p>We must study the Bible thoroughly, and hunt it +through, as it were, for some great truth.</p> + +<p>If a friend were to see me searching about a building, +and were to come up, and say, "Moody, what are you +looking for? Have you lost something?" and I were to +say, "No, I haven't lost anything; I'm not looking for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +anything particular," I fancy he would just let me go on +by myself, and think me very foolish. But if I were to +say, "Yes, I have lost a dollar," why, then, I might +expect him to help me to find it.</p> + +<p>Read the Bible, my friends, as if you were seeking +for something of value. It is a good deal better to take +a single chapter, and spend a month on it, than to read +the Bible at random for a month.</p> + + +<h4>"When Ye Think Not"</h4> + +<p>McCheyne, the Scotch preacher, once said to some +friends, "Do you think Christ will come to-night?"</p> + +<p>One after another they said, "I think not."</p> + +<p>When all had given this answer, he solemnly repeated +this text, "The Son of Man cometh at an hour <i>when ye +think not</i>."</p> + + +<h4>Home Piety</h4> + +<p>If a Christian is unsound in patience or unsound in +love, we take no notice of it; but let him be unsound in +faith, and off goes his head. I do hate to see a minister +or professing Christian mean and peevish to his wife, +and yet be as polite as a dancing-master to other women. +I tell you he is not fit to preach the Word of God. I +don't want to have anything to do with him. The home +was established before the church, and he sadly needs +more home piety.</p> + + +<h4>Constant Watching</h4> + +<p>The Persians had an annual festival when they slew +all the serpents and venomous creatures they could find; +but they allowed them to swarm as fast and freely as +ever until the festival came round once more. It was +poor policy. Sins, like serpents, breed quickly, and +need to be constantly watched.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span></p> +<h4>The Wrong Physician</h4> + +<p>I heard once of a man who went to England from the +Continent, and brought letters with him to eminent physicians +from the Emperor. The letters said:</p> + +<p>"This man is a personal friend of mine, and we are +afraid he is going to lose his reason. Do all you can for +him."</p> + +<p>The doctor asked him if he had lost any dear friend +in his own country, or any position of importance, or +what it was that was weighing on his mind.</p> + +<p>The young man said: "No; but my father and grandfather +and myself were brought up infidels, and for the +last two or three years this thought has been haunting +me, 'Where shall I spend eternity?' And the thought of +it follows me day and night."</p> + +<p>The doctor said, "You have come to the wrong physician, +but I will tell you of One who can cure you"; and +he told him of Christ, and read to him the fifty-third +chapter of Isaiah, "With His stripes we are healed."</p> + +<p>The young man said, "Doctor, do you believe that?"</p> + +<p>The doctor told him he did, and prayed and wrestled +with him, and at last the clear light of Calvary shone on +his soul. He had settled the question in his own mind +at last, where he would spend eternity.</p> + +<p>I ask you, sinner, to settle if now. It is for you to +decide. Shall it be with the saints and martyrs and +prophets, or in the dark caverns of hell, amidst blackness +and darkness forever? Make haste to be wise; for +"how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?"</p> + + +<h4>Seeking the Lost</h4> + +<p>I remember, when we were in London, they found one +old woman who was eighty-five years old, and not a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> +Christian. After the worker had prayed, she made a +prayer herself:</p> + +<p>"O Lord, I thank Thee for going out of Thy way to +find me."</p> + +<p>He is all the time going out of His way to find the lost.</p> + + +<h4>He Got Time To Think</h4> + +<p>I was once preaching on the text, "Be not deceived; +God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that +shall he also reap." No sooner had I read it than a man +stood right up in the audience and said:</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it."</p> + +<p>I said: "My friend, that doesn't change the fact. +Truth is truth, whether you believe it or not; and a lie +is a lie, whether you believe it or not."</p> + +<p>He didn't want to believe it. When the meeting +broke up, an officer was at the door to arrest him. He +was tried and sent to the penitentiary for twelve months +for stealing. I really believe that when he got into his +cell, he believed that he had to reap what he sowed.</p> + + +<h4>The Motherless Child</h4> + +<p>Once I heard of a little sick child, whose mother was +seriously ill; and so, in order that she might have quiet, +and that the sick child might be no trouble to her, the +little one was taken away to a friend's house, and placed +in charge of a kind lady for a time. The mother grew +worse, and at length died. The father said:</p> + +<p>"We'll not trouble the child about it; she is too +young to remember her mother; just let her remain +where she is until the funeral is over."</p> + +<p>This was done, and in a few days the little girl was +brought back to the house. No mention was made of +her mother, or of what had occurred; but no sooner was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +she taken to the house than she ran first into one room, +then into another, into the parlor, the dining-room, and +all over the house, and then away into a little room +where her mother used to go to pray alone.</p> + +<p>"Where is mother?" she cried. "I want mother!"</p> + +<p>And when they were compelled to tell her what had +happened, she cried out:</p> + +<p>"Take me away, take me away; I don't want to be +here without mother."</p> + +<p>It was the mother made it home to her. And so it +is in heaven. It is not so much the white robes, the +golden crown, or the harps of gold, but it is the society +we shall meet there. Who, then, are there? What company +shall we have when we get there? Jesus is there, +the Holy Father is there, the Spirit is there—our Father, +our elder Brother, our Comforter.</p> + + +<h4>Converted the Regular Way</h4> + +<p>I never yet knew a man converted just in the time +and manner he expected to be. I have heard people +say, "Well, if ever I am converted, it won't be in a +Methodist church; you won't catch me there." I never +knew a man say that but, at last, if converted at all, it +was in a Methodist church.</p> + +<p>In Scotland a man was converted at one of our meetings—an +employer. He was very anxious that all his +employés should be reached, and he used to send them +one by one to the meetings. But there was one employé +that wouldn't come. We are all more or less +troubled with stubbornness; and the moment this man +found that his employer wanted him to go to the meetings, +he made up his mind he wouldn't go. If he was +going to be converted, he said, he was going to be con<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>verted +by some ordained minister; he was not going to +any meeting that was conducted by unordained Americans. +He believed in conversion, but he was going to be +converted the regular way. He believed in the regular +Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and that was the +place for him to be converted.</p> + +<p>The employer tried every way he could to get him to +attend the meetings, but he wouldn't come.</p> + +<p>After we left that town and went away up to Inverness, +the employer had some business up there, and he +sent this employé to attend to it, in the hope that he +would attend some of our meetings.</p> + +<p>One night, as I was preaching on the bank of a river, +I happened to take for my text the words of Naaman: +"I thought; I thought." I was trying to take men's +thoughts up and to show the difference between their +thoughts and God's thoughts. This man happened to be +walking along the bank of the river. He saw a great +crowd, and heard some one talking, and he wondered to +himself what that man was talking about. He didn't +know who was there, so he drew up to the crowd, and +listened. He heard the sermon, and became convicted +and converted right there. Then he inquired who was +the preacher, and he found out it was the very man that +he said he would not hear—the man he disliked. The +very man he had been talking against was the very man +God used to convert him.</p> + + +<h4>Crazy from Sin</h4> + +<p>I was once preaching in Chicago, and a woman who +was nearly out of her mind came to me. You know +there are some people who mock at religious meetings, +and say that religion drives people mad. It is <i>sin</i> that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +drives people mad. It is the want of Christ that sinks +people into despair.</p> + +<p>This was the woman's story:</p> + +<p>She had a family of children. One of her neighbors +had died, and her husband had brought home a little +child. She said, "I don't want the child," but her husband +said, "You must take it and look after it." She +said she had enough to do with her own, and she told +her husband to take that child away. But he would not. +She confessed that she tried to starve the child; but it +lingered on. One night it cried all night; I suppose it +wanted food. At last she took the clothes and threw +them over the child and smothered it. No one saw her; +no one knew anything about it. The child was buried. +Years had passed away, and she said:</p> + +<p>"I hear the voice of that child day and night. It has +driven me nearly mad."</p> + +<p>No one saw the act; but God saw it, and this retribution +followed it. History is full of these things. You +need not go to the Bible to find it out.</p> + + +<h4>Don't Swear!</h4> + +<p>I was greatly amazed not long ago, in talking to a +man who thought he was a Christian, to find that once +in a while, when he got angry, he would swear. I said: +"My friend, I don't see how you can tear down with +one hand what you are trying to build up with the other. +I don't see how you can profess to be a child of God and +let those words come out of your lips."</p> + +<p>He replied: "Mr. Moody, if you knew me, you would +understand. I have a very quick temper. I inherited +it from my father and mother, and it is uncontrollable +but my swearing comes only from the lips."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p>When God said, "I will not hold him guiltless that +takes My name in vain," He meant what He said, and +I don't believe any one can be a true child of God who +takes the name of God in vain.</p> + + +<h4>The True Sheep Knows</h4> + +<p>I tell you the true sheep know a true shepherd. I +got up in Scotland once and quoted a passage of Scripture +a little different from what it was in the Bible, and +an old woman crept up and said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Moody, you said——."</p> + +<p>I might make forty misquotations in an ordinary +audience, and no one would tell me about them. Like +two lawyers: one said in court that the other didn't know +the Lord's Prayer. The other said he did:</p> + +<p>"Now I lay me down to sleep."</p> + +<p>"Well," the first said, "I give it up. I did not think +you knew it."</p> + +<p>Didn't either one of them know it, you see.</p> + + +<h4>The Father Knew Best</h4> + +<p>Dr. Arnot, one of the greatest Scotch divines, was in +this country before he died. His mother died when he +was a little boy only three weeks old, and there was a +large family of Arnots. I suppose they missed the tenderness +and love of the mother. They got the impression +that their father was very stern and rigid, and that +he had a great many laws and rules.</p> + +<p>One rule was, that the children should never climb +trees. When the neighbors found out that the Arnot +children could not climb trees, they began to tell them +about the wonderful things they could see from the tops +of the trees. Well, tell a boy of twelve years that he +mustn't climb a tree, and he will get up that tree some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +way. And so the Arnot children were all the time teasing +their father to let them climb the tree; but the old +sire said:</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>One day he was busy reading his paper, and the boys +said:</p> + +<p>"Father is reading his paper. Let's slip down into +the lot and climb a tree."</p> + +<p>One of the little fellows stood on the top of the fence +to see that father did not catch them. When his +brother got up on the first branch, he said:</p> + +<p>"What do you see?"</p> + +<p>"Why! I don't see anything."</p> + +<p>"Then go higher; you haven't got high enough."</p> + +<p>So up he went higher, and again the little boy asked:</p> + +<p>"Well, what do you see now?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see anything."</p> + +<p>"You aren't high enough; go higher."</p> + +<p>And the little fellow went up as high as he could go, +but he slipped, and down he came, and broke his leg. +Willie said he tried to get him into the house, but he +couldn't do it. He had to tell his father all about it. +He said he was scared nearly out of his wits. He thought +his father would be very angry. But his father just +threw aside the paper, and started for the lot. When +he got there, he picked the boy up in his arms, and +brought him up to the house. Then he sent for the doctor. +And Willie said he got a new view of that father. +He found out the reason why that father was so stern. +He said the moment that boy got hurt, no mother could +have been more loving and gentle.</p> + +<p>My dear friends, there is not one commandment that +has been given us which has not been for our highest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> +and best interest. There isn't a commandment that +hasn't come from the loving heart of God, and what He +wants is to have us give up that which is going to mar +our happiness in this life, and in the life to come.</p> + + +<h4>"Help Yourself!"</h4> + +<p>When I was out on the Pacific coast, in California, +some years ago, I was the guest of a man that had a +large vineyard and a large orchard. One day he said to +me:</p> + +<p>"Moody, while you are my guest I want you to make +yourself perfectly at home, and if there is anything in +the orchard or in the vineyard you would like, help +yourself."</p> + +<p>Well, when I wanted an orange, I did not go to an +orange tree and pray the oranges to fall into my pocket; +but I walked up to a tree, reached out my hand, and +took the oranges. He said "Take," and I took.</p> + +<p>God says, "There is my Son; take Him as your +Saviour. The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God +is eternal life."</p> + + +<h4>The Rich Husband</h4> + +<p>There was a shop-girl in Chicago, a few years ago. +One day she could not have bought five dollars' worth of +anything; the next day she could go and buy a thousand +dollar's worth of whatever she wanted.</p> + +<p>What made the difference?</p> + +<p>Why, she had married a rich husband; that was all. +She had received him, and of course all he had became +hers. And so we can have all, if we only receive Christ.</p> + + +<h4>Settle It Now!</h4> + +<p>Some years ago, in one of the mining districts of +England, a young man attended one of our meetings and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +refused to go from the place till he had found peace in +the Savior. The next day he went down into the pit, +and the coal fell in upon him. When they took him out, +he was broken and mangled, and had only two or three +minutes of life left in him. His friends gathered about +him, saw his lips moving, and, bending down to catch +his words, heard him say:</p> + +<p>"It was a good thing I settled it last night."</p> + +<p>Settle it now, my friends, once for all. Begin now to +confess your sins, and pray the Lord to remember you. +He will make you an heir of His kingdom, if you will +accept the gift of salvation.</p> + + +<h4>The True Source of Joy</h4> + +<p>God doesn't ask us to rejoice over nothing; He gives +us ground for our joy. What would you think of a man +who seemed very happy to-day and full of joy, and +couldn't tell you what made him so? Suppose I should +meet a man on the street, and he was so full of joy that +he should get hold of both my hands and say:</p> + +<p>"Bless the Lord, I am so full of joy!"</p> + +<p>"What makes you so full of joy?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know."</p> + +<p>"You don't know!"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't; but I am so joyful that I just want to +get out of the flesh."</p> + +<p>"What makes you feel so joyful?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know."</p> + +<p>Would we not think such a person unreasonable? But +there are a great many people who want to feel that +they are Christians before they are Christians; they want +the Christian's experience before they become Christians; +they want to have the joy of the Lord before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +they receive Jesus Christ. But this is not the Gospel +order. He brings joy when He comes, and we cannot +have joy apart from Him. He is the author of it, and +we find our joy in Him.</p> + + +<h4>The Meanest Kind of Murderers</h4> + +<p>When I was in England in 1892, I met a gentleman +who claimed that they were ahead of us in the respect +they had for the law. "We hang our murderers," he +said, "but there isn't one out of twenty in your country +that is hung."</p> + +<p>I said, "You are greatly mistaken, for they walk +about these two countries unhung."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I will tell you what I mean," I said; "the man that +comes into my house and runs a dagger into my heart +for my money is a prince compared with a son that takes +five years to kill me and the wife of my bosom. A +young man who comes home night after night drunk, and +when his mother remonstrates, curses her gray hairs, +and kills her by inches, is the blackest kind of a murderer."</p> + + +<h4>Where your Treasure Is</h4> + +<p>You can soon tell where a man's treasure is by his +talk. If it is in heaven, he will not be long with you +before he's talking about heaven; his heart is there, and +so his speech isn't long in running there, too. If his +heart is in money, he will soon have you deep in talk +about mines, speculation, stocks, bank rate, and so on. +If his heart is in lands, it won't be long before he's +talking about real estate, improvements, houses, and so +on. Always the same, wherever a man's heart is, there +his tongue will be sure to go.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>Some one in England said, if you see a man's goods +and furniture come down by the luggage train, you're +pretty sure he'll be down by the next passenger train; +he won't be long after; he'll follow his goods. And so +it is with heaven; if your treasure is on before you, +you'll be wanting to follow it; you'll be glad to be on +the road thither as soon as possible.</p> + + +<h4>Why his Life was Spared</h4> + +<p>Two Americans who were crossing the Atlantic met +on Sunday night to sing hymns in the cabin. As they +sang the hymn, "Jesus, Lover of my Soul," one of them +heard an exceedingly rich and beautiful voice behind +him. He looked around, and although he did not know +the face he thought that he recognized the voice. So +when the music ceased he turned around and asked the +man if he had not been in the Civil War. The man +replied that he had been a Confederate soldier.</p> + +<p>"Were you at such a place on such a night?" asked +the first.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "and a curious thing happened that +night; this hymn recalled it to my mind. I was on +sentry duty on the edge of a wood. It was a dark night +and very cold, and I was a little frightened because the +enemy were supposed to be very near at hand. I felt +very homesick and miserable, and about midnight, when +everything was very still, I was beginning to feel very +weary and thought that I would comfort myself by praying +and singing a hymn. I remember singing this +hymn—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'All my trust on Thee is stayed,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">All my help from Thee I bring.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cover my defenceless head<br /></span> +<span class="i1">With the shadow of Thy wing.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +"After I had sung those words a strange peace came +down upon me, and through the long night I remember +having felt no more fear."</p> + +<p>"Now," said the other man, "listen to my story. I +was a Union soldier, and was in the wood that night with +a party of scouts. I saw you standing up, although I +didn't see your face, and my men had their rifles +focused upon you waiting the word to fire, but when +you sang out—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Cover my defenceless head<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With the shadow of Thy wing.'<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>I said, 'Boys, put down your rifles; we will go home.' I +couldn't kill you after that."</p> + + +<h4>The Sinner's Heart</h4> + +<p>When I was in Dublin some years ago I got up to go +to an early meeting, and found the servants had not +opened the front door; so I pulled back a bolt, but I +could not get the door open. Then I turned a key, but +the door would not open. Then I found there was +another bolt at the top and another bolt at the bottom. +Still the door would not open. Then I found there was +a bar, and then I found a night-lock. In all I found +five or six different fastenings.</p> + +<p>I am afraid that door represents every sinner's heart. +The door of his heart is double-locked, double-bolted, +and double-barred. Oh, my friends, pull back the bolts, +and let the King of glory in!</p> + + +<h4>Nothing Small</h4> + +<p>There are a great many different ways of doing good. +A lady once visited a hospital, and noticed with what +pleasure the patients would smell and look at the flowers +sent to them. Said she:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I had known that a bunch of flowers would do so +much good, I would have sent some from home."</p> + +<p>As soon as she got home, she sent some flowers out of +her garden. It was a little thing—a bouquet of flowers. +It might be a very insignificant work—very small; but if +it was done in the right spirit, God accepted it. A cup +of water given in His name is accepted as given to Himself. +Nothing that is done for God is small.</p> + + +<h4>An Anecdote about Tennyson</h4> + +<p>It is said that Tennyson once asked an old Christian +woman if there was any news.</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Tennyson," she replied, "there's only +one piece of news that I know, and that is—Christ died +for all men."</p> + +<p>"That is old news, and good news, and new news," +Tennyson responded.</p> + + +<h4>On Satan's Ground</h4> + +<p>There is a legend that the Apostle John was much +distressed over the fall of a young convert. He summoned +Satan before him, and reproached him for ruining +so good a youth.</p> + +<p>"I found your good youth on my ground," said Satan; +"so I took him."</p> + +<p>The only safe course is to avoid temptation altogether.</p> + + +<h4>Two Bidding for the Soul</h4> + +<p>There are two who are bidding for your soul and +mine—the Lord Jesus and Satan.</p> + +<p>Satan bids, and he offers that which he cannot give. +He is a liar, and has been from the foundation of the +world. I pity the man who is living on the promises of +the devil. He will never satisfy. But the Lord Jesus is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +able to give all that He offers. And what does He offer? +He offers peace and joy and comfort that the world +knows not of. He offers eternal life in the kingdom of +God. He offers a seat in His mansions. We are to sit +with Him upon His throne.</p> + +<p>May God help you to make a right choice! Make +up your mind you will not rest until the great question +of eternity is settled, until you have crossed the borderland, +and pressed into the kingdom of God.</p> + + +<h4>Tried and Proven</h4> + +<p>I knew an old lady that marked in the margin of her +Bible, opposite the promises. T. P.; T. for "tried," and +P. for "proven." What we want is to try the Bible and +see if it is not true.</p> + + +<h4>The Prairie Fire</h4> + +<p>Out in the Western country, in the autumn, when men +go hunting, and there has not been any rain for months, +sometimes the prairie grass catches fire, and there comes +up a very strong wind, and the flames just roll along +twenty feet high, and travel at the rate of thirty or +forty miles an hour, consuming man and beast. When +the hunters see it coming, what do they do? They know +they cannot run as fast as the fire can run. Not the +fleetest horse can escape. They just take a match and +light the grass around them, and let the flames sweep, +and then they get into the burnt district and stand safe. +They hear the flames roar as they come along, they see +death coming toward them, but they do not fear, they +do not tremble, because the fire has swept over the place +where they are, and there is no danger. There is nothing +for the fire to burn.</p> + +<p>There is one mountain that the wrath of God has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +swept over—that is, Mount Calvary; and the fire spent +its fury upon the bosom of the Son of God. Take your +stand by the cross, and you will be safe for time and +eternity.</p> + + +<h4>Perfect Order</h4> + +<p>A good many people are afraid of doing anything out +of the regular lines—of doing anything out of order. +Now, you will find perfect order in a cemetery. You +will find perfect order where there is death. Where +there is life you will find something out of order.</p> + + +<h4>Is your Soul Insured?</h4> + +<p>"Pa," said a little boy as he climbed to his father's +knee, and looked into his face as earnestly as if he understood +the importance of the subject, "pa, is your soul +insured?"</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking about, my son?" replied the +agitated father. "Why do you ask that question?"</p> + +<p>"Why, pa, I heard Uncle George say that you had +your house insured, and your life insured; but he didn't +believe you had thought of your soul, and he was afraid +you would lose it; won't you get it insured right away?"</p> + +<p>The father leaned his head on his hand, and was +silent. He owned broad acres of land that were covered +with a bountiful produce; his barns were even now filled +with plenty, his buildings were all well covered by insurance; +and as if that would not suffice for the maintenance +of his wife and only child in case of his decease, he had, +the day before, taken a life-policy for a large amount; +yet not one thought had he given to his own immortal +soul. On that which was to waste away and become +part and parcel of its native dust he had spared no +pains; but for that which was to live on and on through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +the long ages of eternity he had made no provision. +"What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world +and lose his own soul?"</p> + + +<h4>Memory</h4> + +<p>I have been twice at the point of death. I was +drowning once, and just as I was going down the third +time I was rescued. In the twinkling of an eye my +whole life came flashing across my mind. I cannot tell +you how it was. I cannot tell you how a whole life can +be crowded into a second of time; but everything I had +done from my earliest childhood—it all came flashing +across my mind. And I believe that when God touches +the secret spring of memory, every one of our sins will +come back, and if they have not been blotted out by the +blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, they will haunt us as +eternal ages roll on.</p> + +<p>We talk about our forgetting, but we cannot forget if +God says "Remember." We talk about the recording +angel keeping the record of our life. I have an idea +that when we get to heaven, or into eternity, we will find +that recording angel has been ourselves. God will make +every one of us keep our own record; these memories +will keep the record, and when God shall say, "Son, +remember," it will all flash across our mind. It won't +be God who will condemn us; it will be ourselves. We +shall condemn ourselves, and we shall stand before God +speechless.</p> + +<p>There is a man in prison. He has been there five +years. Ask that man what makes the prison so terrible +to him. Ask him if it is the walls and the iron gates—ask +him if it is his hard work, and he will tell you <i>no</i>; he +will tell you what makes the prison so terrible to him is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +<i>memory</i>; and I have an idea that if we got down into the +lost world, we would find that is what makes hell so terrible—the +remembrance that they once heard the Gospel, +that they once had Christ offered to them, that they +once had the privilege of being saved, but they made +light of the Gospel, they neglected salvation, they +rejected the offer of mercy, and now if they would +accept it they could not.</p> + + +<h4>Balaam's Ass</h4> + +<p>A friend of mine was going back to Scotland, and he +heard a couple of these little modern philosophers discussing +the Bible. One said: "The Bible says that +Balaam's ass spoke. Now, I am a scientific man, and I +have taken the pains to examine an ass's mouth, and it +is so formed that it couldn't speak."</p> + +<p>He was going to toss the whole Bible over because +Balaam's ass couldn't speak.</p> + +<p>My friend said he stood it just as long as he could, +and finally he said:</p> + +<p>"Ah, man, you make an ass, and I will make him +speak."</p> + +<p>The idea that the God who made the ass couldn't +speak through his mouth! Did you ever hear such +stuff? And yet this was one of your modern philosophers!</p> + + +<h4>The Border Apple-Tree</h4> + +<p>If you want real peace and rest to your soul, keep separate +from the world.</p> + +<p>I remember when I was a boy in Northfield, right +near the old red schoolhouse there was an apple-tree +that bore the earliest apples of any tree in town. They +had a law in that town that fruit on a tree overhanging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +the street belonged to the public, and any fruit on the +other side of the fence belonged to the property-holders. +Half that apple-tree was over in the street, and it got +more old brooms and brickbats and handles than any +other tree in town. We boys used to watch to see when +an apple was getting red. I never got a ripe apple from +that tree in my life, and I don't believe any one else ever +did. You never went by that tree that you didn't see a +lot of broom-handles and clubs up there.</p> + +<p>Now, take a lot of Christians who want to live right +on the line, with one foot in the world and one foot in +the church. They get more clubs than any one else. +The world clubs them. They say, "I don't believe in +that man's religion." And the church clubs them. +They get clubs both sides. It is a good deal better to +keep just as far from the line as you can if you want +power.</p> + + +<h4>Bad Company</h4> + +<p>A friend of mine said he had a beautiful canary bird; +he thought it was the sweetest singer they had ever had. +Spring came on, and he felt it was a pity to keep the +poor bird in the house, so he put it under a tree right in +front of his house. He said before he knew it a lot of +these little English sparrows got under that tree (and +you know they cannot sing any more than I can, and I +don't know one note from another), and went, "Chirp, +chirp, chirp." Before he knew it, that little canary had +lost all its sweet notes. It had got into bad company.</p> + +<p>After he found out that he had made a mistake, he +took the bird into the house, but it kept up that "Chirp, +chirp, chirp." He bought another bird, but the canary +nearly ruined it. He said that bird never got back its +sweet notes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now, don't you know lots of Christian people who +had a fine testimony several years ago, but they have +lost their witness, and all they do now is talk, talk, talk, +talk? Why? Because they are out of communion with +God, and have lost their witness.</p> + + +<h4>"Hitch On" and "Cut Behind"</h4> + +<p>Some one tells of an incident that happened in a +New England town the other day. All the boys were +sleighing. A big sleigh—we call it a "pung" up there—was +being driven through the streets by an old man +who looked like Santa Claus. He was calling out to +the small boys to hitch on, for a pung is like a 'bus, it +always holds one more.</p> + +<p>There were already about twenty rollicking boys +hitched on, when one little fellow dropped off behind. +He tried, but couldn't catch up again, and pretty soon +he began to look out for another chance for a ride. A +man's sleigh was standing near by, and the boy began +to eye the man. When the man in the sleigh started off, +the little fellow hitched on behind, and the man grabbed +his whip and struck him directly in the eye. It looked as +if the eye had been put out, but it wasn't.</p> + +<p>Now, that's the way we go through this world. Some +say, "Hitch on, hitch on"; others, "Cut behind, cut +behind." The hitch-on people fill the churches, and the +cut-behind ones empty them.</p> + + +<h4>Known by Name</h4> + +<p>A friend of mine was in Syria, and he found a shepherd +that kept up the old custom of naming his sheep. My +friend said he wouldn't believe that the sheep knew him +when he called them by name. So he said to the shepherd:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wish you would just call one or two."</p> + +<p>The shepherd said, "Carl."</p> + +<p>The sheep stopped eating and looked up.</p> + +<p>The shepherd called out, "Come here."</p> + +<p>The sheep came, and stood looking up into his face.</p> + +<p>He called another, and another, and there they stood +looking up at the shepherd.</p> + +<p>"How can you tell them apart?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, there are no two alike. See, that sheep toes in +a little; this sheep is a little bit squint-eyed; that sheep +has a black spot on its nose."</p> + +<p>My friend found that he knew every one of his sheep +by their failings. He didn't have a perfect one in his +flock.</p> + +<p>I suppose that is the way the Lord knows you and me. +There is a man that is covetous; he wants to grasp +the whole world. He wants a shepherd to keep down +that spirit. There is a woman down there who has an +awful tongue; she keeps the whole neighborhood stirred +up. There is a woman over there who is deceitful, terribly +so. She needs the care of a shepherd to keep her +from deceit, for she will ruin all her children; they will +all turn out just like their mother. There is a father +over there who wouldn't swear for all the world before +his children, but sometimes he gets provoked in his business +and swears before he knows it. Doesn't he need a +shepherd's care? I would like to know if there is a man +or woman on earth who doesn't need the care of a shepherd. +Haven't we all got failings? If you really want +to know what your failings are, you can find some one +who can point them out. God would never have sent +Christ into the world if we didn't need His care. We +are as weak and foolish as sheep.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> +<h4>The Right Time for Action</h4> + +<p>A man was always telling his servant that he was +going to do a great thing for him. "I am going to +remember you in my will."</p> + +<p>Sambo got his expectations up very high. When the +man came to die, it was found that all he had willed +Sambo was to be buried in the family lot. That was +the big thing, you know. Sambo said he wished he had +given him ten dollars, and let the lot go.</p> + +<p>If you want to show kindness to a person, show it to +him while you are living. I heard a man say that he +didn't want people to throw bouquets to him after he +was dead, and say, "There, smell them."</p> + +<p>Now, this is the time for action. I have got so tired +and sick of this splitting hairs over theology. Man, let +us go out and get the fallen up. Lift them up toward +God and heaven. We want a practical kind of Christianity.</p> + + +<h4>Criticising the Sermon</h4> + +<p>Very often a man will hear a hundred good things in +a sermon, but there may be one thing that strikes him +as a little out of place, and he will go home and sit +down at the table and talk right out before his children +and magnify that one wrong thing, and not say a word +about the hundred good things that were said. That is +what people do who criticise.</p> + + +<h4>A Reminiscence</h4> + +<p>I remember blaming my mother for sending me to +church on the Sabbath. On one occasion the preacher +had to send some one into the gallery to wake me up. +I thought it was hard to have to work in the field all the +week, and then be obliged to go to church and hear a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +sermon I didn't understand. I thought I wouldn't go to +church any more when I got away from home; but I had +got so in the habit of going that I couldn't stay away. +After one or two Sabbaths, back again to the house of +God I went. There I first found Christ, and I have +often said since:</p> + +<p>"Mother, I thank you for making me go to the house +of God when I didn't want to go."</p> + + +<h4>Transplanting the Lily</h4> + +<p>"It is easy to go when the time comes. There are no +ropes thrown out to pull us ashore; there are no ladders +let down to pull us up. Christ comes and takes us by +the hand, and says:</p> + +<p>"'You have had enough of this. Come up higher!'</p> + +<p>"Do you hurt a lily when you pluck it? Is there any +rudeness when Jesus touches the cheek, and the red +rose of health whitens into the lily of immortal purity +and gladness?"—Talmage.</p> + + +<h4>Election</h4> + +<p>How many men fold their arms and say:</p> + +<p>"If I am one of the elect, I will be saved, and if I +ain't, I won't. No use of your bothering about it."</p> + +<p>Why don't some of these merchants say: "If God is +going to make me a successful merchant in Chicago, I +will be one whether I like it or not, and if He isn't +I won't."</p> + +<p>If you are sick, and a doctor prescribes for you, don't +take the medicine—throw it out the door. It does not +matter, for if God has decreed you are going to die, you +will; if He hasn't, you will get better. If you use that +argument you may as well not walk home from this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> +tabernacle. If God has said you'll get home, you'll get +home—you'll fly through the air.</p> + +<p>I have an idea that the Lord Jesus saw how men were +going to stumble over this doctrine, so after He had +been thirty or forty years in heaven He came down and +spoke to John. One Lord's day in Patmos, He said to +him:</p> + +<p>"Write these things to the churches."</p> + +<p>John kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And +then the Lord, when it was nearly finished, said, "John, +before you close the book, put in one more invitation. +'The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that +heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come. +And <span class="smcap">WHOSOEVER WILL</span>, let him take the water of life +freely.'"</p> + + +<h4>The Mysteries of the Bible</h4> + +<p>Dr. Talmage tells the story that one day while he was +bothering his theological professor with questions about +the mysteries of the Bible, the latter turned on him +and said:</p> + +<p>"Mr. Talmage, you will have to let God know some +things you don't."</p> + + +<h4>The Little Lone One</h4> + +<p>I sometimes think if an angel were to wing its way to +heaven, and tell them that there was one little child here +on earth—it might be a shoeless, coatless street Arab—with +no one to lead it to the cross of Christ, and if God +were to call the angels round His throne and ask them +to go and spend—aye, fifty years, in teaching that child, +there would not be an angel in heaven but would respond +gladly to the appeal. We should see even Gabriel saying, +"Let me go and win that soul to Christ." We +should see Paul buckling on his old armor again, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +saying, "Let me go back again to earth, that I may have +the joy of leading that little one to his Saviour."</p> + +<p>Ah! we need rousing; there is too much apathy +amongst professing Christians. Let us pray God that +He may send His Holy Spirit to inspire us with fresh +energy and zeal to do His work.</p> + + +<h4>Doubting Castle</h4> + +<p>It is the privilege of every child of God to know that +he is saved, and yet I find ever so many people living in +Doubting Castle. Why, it is <i>salvation by doubts</i> nowadays, +instead of <i>by faith;</i> there are so few that dare to +say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth; I know in whom +I have believed." We find most Christians nowadays +shivering and trembling from head to foot—they do not +know whether they are saved or not.</p> + + +<h4>Faith</h4> + +<p>Bishop Ryle has very well likened faith to a root +whose flower is assurance. To have the latter, he says, +it is necessary that there must first be the hidden source +of faith.</p> + +<p>Faith is the simplest and most universal experience in +the world. Call it by whatever name you may, confidence, +trust, or belief, it is inseparable from the human +race. The first sign of a dawning intelligence in the +mind is the exercise of the infant's faith toward those it +knows, and its fear toward those it does not know. We +cannot even remember when we first began to have faith.</p> + + +<h4>Confessing Christ at Home</h4> + +<p>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 conversa<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>tion +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>After the meeting was over I went to her and asked +her what the trouble was.</p> + +<p>She said, "Oh, Mr. Moody, this has been the most +miserable week of my life."</p> + +<p>I asked her if there was any one with whom she had +had trouble and whom she could not forgive.</p> + +<p>She said, "No, not that I know of."</p> + +<p>"Well, did you tell your friends about having found +the Saviour?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed I didn't. I have been all the week trying to +keep it from them."</p> + +<p>"Well," I said, "that is the reason why you have no +peace."</p> + +<p>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 peace and joy you must get it at the foot +of the cross.</p> + +<p>"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>"Well," I said, "go out."</p> + +<p>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>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 intro<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>duced +him to me (he was a doctor and a very influential +man), and said:</p> + +<p>"He wants to become a Christian."</p> + +<p>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>"It turned out quite differently from what you +expected, didn't it?"</p> + +<p>"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>She took God's way, and got the joy and peace she +sought.</p> + + +<h4>How to Settle the Theater Question</h4> + +<p>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>"Well," I asked, "have I got any peculiar kind? +What is the matter with my Christianity?"</p> + +<p>"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>"Well," I said, "did you ever hear me say anything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +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>She said, "No."</p> + +<p>"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>No, she hadn't.</p> + +<p>"Well," I said, "what made you bring them up?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I supposed you didn't believe in theaters."</p> + +<p>"What made you think that?"</p> + +<p>"Why," she said, "do you ever go?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you go?"</p> + +<p>"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>"Why!" she said; "I don't understand."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," I said. "When Jesus Christ has the +preëminence, 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>"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>I said, "Please don't mention them again. I don't +want to talk about theaters. I want to talk to you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +about Christ." So I took my Bible, and I read to her +about Christ.</p> + +<p>But she said again, "Mr. Moody, can I go to the theater +if I become a Christian?"</p> + +<p>"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>"Well," she said, "I am glad you are not so narrow-minded +as some."</p> + +<p>She felt quite relieved to think that she could go to +the theaters and be a Christian. But I said:</p> + +<p>"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>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>"I am not going to give up the theater."</p> + +<p>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. +Every one 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>Now, the theater hadn't changed, but she had got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> +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>What a Sister Can Do</h4> + +<p>I want to say to young ladies, perhaps you have a +godless father or mother, or a skeptical 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>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>"I hope you are interested in this work,"</p> + +<p>She tossed her head and said: "Indeed I am not. +I am disgusted with everything I have seen and heard."</p> + +<p>"Well," said the lady, "perhaps you came prejudiced."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and the meeting has not removed any of it, but +has rather increased it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have received a great deal of good from them."</p> + +<p>"There is nothing here for me. I don't see how an +intellectual person can be interested."</p> + +<p>To make a long story short, she got the young 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>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>"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>The sister said, "You certainly have something that +I have not."</p> + +<p>The other told her it was for her, too, and she brought +the sister to the meetings, where she found peace.</p> + +<p>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<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +he sat down his brother got up and confessed; and so +with the third one.</p> + +<p>When the young man heard it, he said: "Do you +mean to tell me that he has been converted?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well," he said, "there must be something in it."</p> + +<p>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>We went through to Glasgow, and had not been there +six weeks when news came that that young man had been +stricken down, and had died. When he was dying he +called his father to his bedside and said:</p> + +<p>"Wasn't it a good thing that my sisters went to those +meetings? Won't you meet me in heaven, father?"</p> + +<p>"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>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.</p> + + +<h4>How one Man Treated Doubts</h4> + +<p>A wild and prodigal young man, who was running a +headlong career to ruin came into one of our meetings +in Chicago. Whilst endeavoring to bring him to Christ, +I quoted this verse to him: "Him that cometh unto me +I will in no wise cast out."</p> + +<p>I asked him: "Do you believe Christ said that?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose He did."</p> + +<p>"Suppose He did! do you believe it?"</p> + +<p>"I hope so."</p> + +<p>"Hope so! do you believe it? You do your work,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span> +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>This man thought it was too simple and easy.</p> + +<p>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>"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 vi. 37: 'Him that cometh to Me +I will in nowise cast out.' Let that be 'the sword of the +Spirit.'"</p> + +<p>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>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:</p> + +<p>"How do you know Christ ever said that after all? +Perhaps the translators made a mistake."</p> + +<p>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>"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><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> +<h4>Use or Lose</h4> + +<p>An Eastern allegory runs thus: A merchant, going +abroad for a time, gave respectively to two of his friends +two sacks of wheat each, to take care of against his +return. Years passed. When he came back, he applied +for them again.</p> + +<p>The first took him into a storehouse, and showed +him his sacks; but they were mildewed and worthless.</p> + +<p>The other led him out into the open country, and +pointed to field after field of waving wheat, the produce +of the two sacks given him.</p> + +<p>Said the merchant: "You have been a faithful friend. +Give me two sacks of that wheat; the rest shall be thine."</p> + +<p>Let us put to good use the talents God has given us.</p> + + +<h4>The Anchored Boat</h4> + +<p>I once heard of two men who were under the influence +of liquor. They came down at night to where their +boat was tied. They wanted to return home, so they +got in and began to row. They pulled away hard all +night, wondering why they never got to the other side of +the bay. When the gray dawn of morning broke, +behold! they had never loosed the mooring line or raised +the anchor!</p> + +<p>That's just the way with many who are striving to +enter the kingdom of heaven. They cannot believe, +because they are tied to this world. Cut the cord! +Confess and forsake your sins! Cut the cord! Set yourselves +free from the clogging weight of earthly things, +and you will soon rise heavenward.</p> + + +<h4>Not Much up There</h4> + +<p>A friend of mine was once taken by an old man to +see his riches. He took him to a splendid mansion, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +said, "This is all mine." He pointed to a little town, +"That is mine; it is called by my name." He pointed +to a rolling prairie, "That is all mine; the sun never +shone on a finer prairie than that, so fruitful and rich, +and it's all mine." In another direction he showed him +fertile farms extending for thirty miles, "These are all +mine." He took him into his grand house, showed him +his beautiful pictures, his costly gold plate, his jewels, +and still he said, "These are all mine. This grand hall +I have built; it is called by my name; there is my +insignia on it. And yet I was once a poor boy. I have +made it all myself."</p> + +<p>My friend looked at him. "Well, you've all this on +earth; but what have you got up there?"</p> + +<p>"Up where?" said the old man.</p> + +<p>"Up in heaven."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm afraid I haven't got much up there."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said my friend, "but you've got to die, to +leave this world; what will you take with you of all these +things? You will die a beggar; for all these riches +count as nothing in the kingdom of heaven. You will +be a pauper; for you have no inheritance with the saints +above." The poor old man (he was poor enough in +reality, though rich in all the world's goods) burst into +tears. He had no hope for the future. In four months' +time he was dead; and where is he now? He lived and +died without God, and without hope in this world or the +next.</p> + + +<h4>Touching the Spot</h4> + +<p>When a man has broken his arm, the surgeon must +find out the exact spot where the fracture is. He feels +along and presses gently with his fingers.</p> + +<p>"Is it there?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No,"</p> + +<p>"Is it there?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>Presently, when the surgeon touches another spot, +"Ouch!" says the man.</p> + +<p>He has found the broken part, and it hurts.</p> + +<p>It is one thing to hear a man preach down other people's +sins. Men will say, "That is splendid," and will +want all their friends to go and hear the preacher. But +let him touch on their individual sin, and declare, as +Nathan did to David, "Thou art the man," and they +say, "I do not like that." The preacher has touched a +sore place.</p> + + +<h4>The Little Boy and the Big Book</h4> + +<p>I like to think of Christ as a burden bearer.</p> + +<p>A minister was one day moving his library upstairs. +As he was going up with a load of books, his little +boy came in, and was very anxious to help his father. +So his father just told him to go and get an armful, and +bring them upstairs. When the father came back, he met +the little fellow about half-way up, tugging away at +the biggest book in the library. He couldn't manage +to carry it up. It was too big. So he sat down and +cried.</p> + +<p>His father found him, and just took him in his arms, +book and all, and carried him upstairs. So Christ will +carry you and all your burdens, if you will but let Him.</p> + + +<h4>The Invitation to a Saloon Opening</h4> + +<p>They were going to have a great celebration at the +opening of a saloon and billiard hall in Chicago, in the +northern part of the city, where I lived. It was to be a +gateway to death and to hell, one of the worst places in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span> +Chicago. As a joke they sent me an invitation to go to +the opening. I took the invitation, and went down and +saw the two men who had the saloon, and I said:</p> + +<p>"Is that a genuine invitation?"</p> + +<p>They said it was.</p> + +<p>"Thank you," I said; "I will be around, and if there +is anything here I don't like I may have something to +say about it."</p> + +<p>They said, "You are not going to <i>preach</i>, are you?"</p> + +<p>"I may."</p> + +<p>"We don't want you. We won't let you in."</p> + +<p>"How are you going to keep me out?" I asked. +"There is the invitation."</p> + +<p>"We will put a policeman at the door."</p> + +<p>"What is the policeman going to do with that invitation?"</p> + +<p>"We won't let you in."</p> + +<p>"Well," I said, "I will be there."</p> + +<p>I gave them a good scare, and then I said, "I will +compromise the matter; if you two men will get down +here and let me pray with you, I will let you off."</p> + +<p>I got those two rum-sellers down on their knees, one +on one side of me and the other on the other side, and +I prayed God to save their souls and smite their business. +One of them had a Christian mother, and he +seemed to have some conscience left. After I had +prayed, I said:</p> + +<p>"How can you do this business? How can you throw +this place open to ruin the young men of Chicago?"</p> + +<p>Within three months the whole thing smashed up, and +one of them was converted shortly after. I have never +been invited to a saloon since.</p> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p> +<h4>"Too Late!"</h4> + +<p>At our church in Chicago I was closing the meeting +one day, when a young soldier got up and entreated the +people to decide for Christ at once. He said he had +just come from a dark scene. A comrade of his, who had +enlisted with him, had a father who was always entreating +him to become a Christian, and in reply he always +said he would when the war was over. At last he was +wounded, and was put into the hospital, but got worse, +and was gradually sinking. One day, a few hours before +he died, a letter came from his sister, but he was too far +gone to read it. It was such an earnest letter! The +comrade read it to him, but he did not seem to understand +it, he was so weak, till it came to the last sentence, +which said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my dear brother, when you get this letter, will +you not accept your sister's Savior?"</p> + +<p>The dying man sprang up from his cot, and said, +"What do you say? what do you say?" And then, falling +back on his pillow, feebly exclaimed, "<i>It is too late! It +is too late!</i>"</p> + +<p>My dear friends, thank God it is not <i>too late</i> for you +to-day. The Master is still calling you. Let every one +of us, young and old, rich and poor, come to Christ at +once, and He will put all our sins away. Don't wait +any longer for feeling, but obey at once. You can +believe, you can trust, you can lay hold on eternal life, if +you will. Will you not do it now?</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> +<h2>TOPICAL INDEX</h2> + + + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +Assurance, <a href="#Page_44">44</a><br /> +Atonement, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /> +Attention, <a href="#Page_43">43</a><br /> +<br /> +Backslider, <a href="#Page_17">17</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a><br /> +Balaam's ass, <a href="#Page_102">102</a><br /> +Bible, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_22">22</a>, <a href="#Page_29">29</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a><br /> +Breath from God, <a href="#Page_35">35</a><br /> +<br /> +Child, As a, <a href="#Page_49">49</a><br /> +Choice, <a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /> +Christ, as Burden-Bearer, <a href="#Page_120">120</a>;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">for all, <a href="#Page_73">73</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">seeking the lost, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">coming of, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>;</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">in the Bible, <a href="#Page_31">31</a></span><br /> +"Come," <a href="#Page_46">46</a><br /> +Communion with Christ, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_65">65</a>, <a href="#Page_84">84</a>, <a href="#Page_103">103</a><br /> +Confessing Christ, <a href="#Page_26">26</a>, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a><br /> +Conversion, <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, <a href="#Page_80">80</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a><br /> +Conviction, <a href="#Page_21">21</a><br /> +Courage, <a href="#Page_20">20</a><br /> +Covetousness, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a><br /> +Crazy from sin, <a href="#Page_89">89</a><br /> +Criticising the sermon, <a href="#Page_106">106</a><br /> +Cross of Christ, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> +<br /> +Death, <a href="#Page_18">18</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_107">107</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a><br /> +Decision, <a href="#Page_10">10</a>, <a href="#Page_61">61</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_122">122</a><br /> +Don't Worry Clubs, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> +Doubts, <a href="#Page_36">36</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a>, <a href="#Page_116">116</a><br /> +Doves, Legend about, <a href="#Page_42">42</a><br /> +Drawing a comparison, <a href="#Page_42">42</a><br /> +<br /> +Election, <a href="#Page_107">107</a><br /> +Eternity, <a href="#Page_81">81</a><br /> +<br /> +Faith, <a href="#Page_12">12</a>, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_109">109</a><br /> +Finding the thirsty, <a href="#Page_57">57</a><br /> +<br /> +Giving, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a><br /> +Grace, <a href="#Page_20">20</a><br /> +<br /> +Habit, <a href="#Page_83">83</a><br /> +Heaven, <a href="#Page_14">14</a>, <a href="#Page_62">62</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a><br /> +"Hitch on" and "Cut behind," <a href="#Page_104">104</a><br /> +Holy Spirit, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_75">75</a><br /> +Home Religion, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a><br /> +Honey-dew, <a href="#Page_37">37</a><br /> +<br /> +Illuminated Christians, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> +Indwelling Christ, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> +Infidel books, <a href="#Page_18">18</a><br /> +Is your soul insured? <a href="#Page_100">100</a><br /> +<br /> +Joy, <a href="#Page_94">94</a><br /> +<br /> +Keeping, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a>, <a href="#Page_104">104</a><br /> +<br /> +Law, <a href="#Page_72">72</a><br /> +Liberty, <a href="#Page_13">13</a><br /> +Look to Christ, <a href="#Page_43">43</a><br /> +Love, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a><br /> +<br /> +Memory, <a href="#Page_101">101</a><br /> +Money, <a href="#Page_33">33</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a><br /> +Murder, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a><br /> +<br /> +Need, <a href="#Page_45">45</a><br /> +Neglecting church, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +No difference, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> +"Not for you," <a href="#Page_67">67</a><br /> +<br /> +Obedience, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a><br /> +Opportunity, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_79">79</a><br /> +Oratorical preaching, <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +Parables, Making, <a href="#Page_58">58</a><br /> +Parents, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_32">32</a>, <a href="#Page_40">40</a>, <a href="#Page_50">50</a>, <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, <a href="#Page_58">58</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a><br /> +Peace, <a href="#Page_9">9</a>, <a href="#Page_16">16</a>, <a href="#Page_23">23</a><br /> +Pendulum, Lady, <a href="#Page_7">7</a><br /> +Personal religion, <a href="#Page_38">38</a><br /> +Prayer, <a href="#Page_68">68</a><br /> +Pride, <a href="#Page_76">76</a><br /> +Promises, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_68">68</a>, <a href="#Page_99">99</a><br /> +<br /> +Repentance, <a href="#Page_45">45</a><br /> +Restitution, <a href="#Page_71">71</a><br /> +Resurrection, <a href="#Page_64">64</a><br /> +Revivals, <a href="#Page_79">79</a><br /> +Rich husband, <a href="#Page_93">93</a><br /> +<br /> +Saloon opening, <a href="#Page_120">120</a><br /> +Salvation, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_86">86</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a><br /> +Scarlet thread, <a href="#Page_31">31</a><br /> +Sealed for redemption, <a href="#Page_27">27</a><br /> +Separation, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_102">102</a>, <a href="#Page_118">118</a><br /> +Sin, <a href="#Page_118">118</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a><br /> +Sinner's heart, <a href="#Page_97">97</a><br /> +Sowing and reaping, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_63">63</a>, <a href="#Page_82">82</a>, <a href="#Page_87">87</a><br /> +Small beginnings, <a href="#Page_64">64</a><br /> +Starting right, <a href="#Page_73">73</a><br /> +Stealing, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a><br /> +Substitution, <a href="#Page_74">74</a><br /> +Sunday, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_60">60</a>, <a href="#Page_100">100</a><br /> +Swearing, <a href="#Page_90">90</a><br /> +<br /> +Temptation, <a href="#Page_27">27</a>, <a href="#Page_77">77</a>, <a href="#Page_78">78</a>, <a href="#Page_85">85</a>, <a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /> +Theatre, <a href="#Page_38">38</a>, <a href="#Page_111">111</a><br /> +Time to think, <a href="#Page_86">86</a><br /> +Trial, <a href="#Page_28">28</a><br /> +Trust, <a href="#Page_8">8</a>, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_46">46</a><br /> +<br /> +Unbelief, <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, <a href="#Page_56">56</a><br /> +Unity, <a href="#Page_83">83</a><br /> +Use or lose, <a href="#Page_118">118</a><br /> +<br /> +Watching, <a href="#Page_85">85</a><br /> +Work, <a href="#Page_15">15</a>, <a href="#Page_24">24</a>, <a href="#Page_34">34</a>, <a href="#Page_48">48</a>, <a href="#Page_97">97</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_108">108</a>, <a href="#Page_114">114</a><br /> +Will, <a href="#Page_39">39</a>, <a href="#Page_57">57</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> +</p></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> +<h4>PSALM 23.</h4> + +<p>The Lord is my shepherd; I shall +not want.</p> + +<p>2 He maketh me to lie down in +green pastures: he leadeth me beside +the still waters.</p> + +<p>3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth +me in the paths of righteousness for +his name's sake.</p> + +<p>4 Yea, though I walk through the +valley of the shadow of death, I will +fear no evil: for thou art with me; +thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.</p> + +<p>5 Thou preparest a table before me +in the presence of mine enemies; thou +anointest my head with oil; my cup +runneth over.</p> + +<p>6 Surely goodness and mercy shall +follow me all the days of my life: and +I will dwell in the house of the Lord +forever.</p> + + +<h4>ISAIAH 55: 1—7.</h4> + +<p>Ho, every one that thirsteth, come +ye to the waters, and he that hath +no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, +come, buy wine and milk without +money and without price.</p> + +<p>2 Wherefore do ye spend money for +that which is not bread? and your +labour for that which satisfieth not? +hearken diligently unto me, and eat +ye that which is good, and let your +soul delight itself in fatness.</p> + +<p>3 Incline your ear, and come unto +me: hear, and your soul shall live; +and I will make an everlasting covenant +with you, even the sure mercies +of David.</p> + +<p>4 Behold, I have given him for a +witness to the people, a leader and +commander to the people.</p> + +<p>5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation +that thou knowest not, and nations +that knew not thee shall run unto +thee, because of the Lord thy God, +and for the Holy One of Israel; for he +hath glorified thee.</p> + +<p>6 Seek ye the Lord while he may +be found, call ye upon him while he +is near:</p> + +<p>7 Let the wicked forsake his way, +and the unrighteous man his thoughts: +and let him return unto the Lord, and +he will have mercy upon him; and to +our God, for he will abundantly pardon.</p> + + +<h4>JOHN 3: 1—16.</h4> + +<p>There was a man of the Pharisees, +named Nicodemus, a ruler of the +Jews:</p> + +<p>2 The same came to Jesus by night, +and said unto him, Rabbi, we know +that thou art a teacher come from +God; for no man can do these miracles +that thou doest, except God be with +him.</p> + +<p>3 Jesus answered and said unto him, +Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except +a man be born again, he cannot see +the kingdom of God.</p> + +<p>4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How +can a man be born when he is old? +can he enter the second time into his +mother's womb, and be born?</p> + +<p>5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I +say unto thee, Except a man be born +of water and of the Spirit, he cannot +enter into the kingdom of God.</p> + +<p>6 That which is born of the flesh is +flesh; and that which is born of the +Spirit is spirit.</p> + +<p>7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, +Ye must be born again.</p> + +<p>8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, +and thou hearest the sound thereof, +but canst not tell whence it cometh, +and whither it goeth; so is every one +that is born of the Spirit.</p> + +<p>9 Nicodemus answered and said unto +him, How can these things be?</p> + +<p>10 Jesus answered and said unto +him, Art thou a master of Israel, and +knowest not these things?</p> + +<p>11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, +We speak that we do know, and testify +that we have seen; and ye receive not +our witness.</p> + +<p>12 If I have told you earthly things, +and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, +if I tell you of heavenly things?</p> + +<p>13 And no man hath ascended up +to heaven, but he that came down +from heaven, even the Son of man +which is in heaven.</p> + +<p>14 And as Moses lifted up the +serpent in the wilderness, even so +must the Son of man be lifted up:</p> + +<p>15 That whosoever believeth in him +should not perish, but have eternal life.</p> + +<p>16 For God so loved the world, that +he gave his only begotten Son, that +whosoever believeth in him should +not perish, but have everlasting life.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p> +<h4>JUST AS I AM.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Just as I am, without one plea<br /></span> +<span class="i1">But that Thy blood was shed for me,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O Lamb of God, I come, I come!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Just as I am, and waiting not<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To rid my soul of one dark blot,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O Lamb of God, I come, I come!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Just as I am—Thou wilt receive,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Because Thy promise I believe,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O Lamb of God, I come, I come!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Just as I am—Thy love unknown<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Has broken ev'ry barrier down;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O Lamb of God, I come, I come!<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Jesus, Lover of my soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Let me to Thy bosom fly<br /></span> +<span class="i0">While the nearer waters roll,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">While the tempest still is high!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Hide me, O my Saviour, hide<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Till the storm of life is past;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Safe into the haven guide;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O receive my soul at last!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Other refuge have I none,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Hangs my helpless soul on Thee;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Leave, O leave me not alone.<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Still support and comfort me!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All my trust on Thee is stayed,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">All my help from Thee I bring;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cover my defenceless head<br /></span> +<span class="i1">With the shadow of Thy wing!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Thou, O Christ, art all I want,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">More than all in Thee I find!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Heal the sick, and lead the blind.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">just and holy is Thy name,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I am all unrighteousness;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">False and full of sin I am,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thou art full of truth and grace.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Plenteous grace with Thee is found,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Grace to cover all my sin;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let the healing streams abound,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Make and keep me pure within;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Thou of life the fountain art,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Freely let me take of Thee;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Spring Thou up within my heart,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Rise to all eternity.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>BEHOLD A STRANGER.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Behold a Stranger at the door:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He gently knocks, has knocked before;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Has waited long, is waiting still:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">You treat no other friend so ill.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Oh, lovely attitude! He stands<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With melting heart and laden hands;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Oh, matchless kindness! and He shows<br /></span> +<span class="i0">This matchless kindness to His foes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">But will He prove a friend indeed?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He will, the very friend you need—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The Friend of sinners; yes, 'tis He,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">With garments dyed on Calvary.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Rise, touched with gratitude divine,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Turn out His enemy and thine;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That soul-destroying monster, sin;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And let the heavenly Stranger in.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>GLORY TO HIS NAME!</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Down at the cross where my Saviour died,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Down where for cleansing from sin I cried,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There to my heart was the blood applied—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Glory to His name!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><b>CHORUS:</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glory to His name,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glory to His name!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There to my heart was the blood applied—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Glory to His name!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I am so wondrously saved from sin,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Jesus so sweetly abides within,—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There at the cross where He took me in—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Glory to His name!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O precious fountain that saves from sin,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I am so glad I have entered in;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">There Jesus saved me and keeps me clean—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Glory to His name!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Come to this fountain so rich and sweet.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Cast thy poor soul at the Saviour's feet.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Plunge in today, and be made complete—<br /></span> +<span class="i4">Glory to His name!<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p> + +<h4>DEPTH OF MERCY!</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Depth of mercy! can there be<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Mercy still reserved for me?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can my God His wrath forbear?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Me, the chief of sinners, spare?<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I have long withstood His grace,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Long provoked Him to His face;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Would not hearken to His calls;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Grieved Him by a thousand falls.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Now incline me to repent,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let me now my sins lament;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now my foul revolt deplore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Weep, believe, and sin no more.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>I WAS A WAND'RING SHEEP.</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I was a wand'ring sheep,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I did not love the fold:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I did not love my Shepherd's voice,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I would not be controlled.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I was a wayward child,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I did not love my home;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I did not love my Father's voice;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I loved afar to roam.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The Shepherd sought His sheep,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">The Father sought His child,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They followed me o'er vale and hill,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O'er deserts waste and wild;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They found me nigh to death,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Famished and faint, and lone;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">They bound me with the bands of love;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">They saved the wand'ring one.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Jesus my Shepherd is,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Twas He that loved my soul,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas He that washed me in His blood,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Twas He that made me whole;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas He that sought the lost,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">That found the wand'ring sheep,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Twas He that brought me to the fold,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">'Tis He that still doth keep.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I was a wand'ring sheep,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I would not be controlled;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But now I love the Shepherd's voice,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I love, I love the fold;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">I was a wayward child,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I once preferred to roam:<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But now I love my Father's voice<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I love, I love His home<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">What a Friend we have in Jesus,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">All our sins and griefs to bear!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">What a privilege to carry<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Ev'rything to God in prayer!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">O what peace we often forfeit,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">O what needless pain we bear,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">All because we do not carry<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Ey'rything to God in prayer.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Have we trials and temptations?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Is there trouble anywhere?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We should never be discouraged,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Take it to the Lord in prayer.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Can we find a friend so faithful,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Who will all our sorrows share?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Take it to the Lord in prayer.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Are we weak and heavy laden,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Cumbered with a load of care?<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Precious Saviour, still our refuge,—<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Take it to the Lord in prayer.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Take it to the Lord in prayer,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">In His arms He'll take and shield thee<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Thou wilt find a solace there.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<h4>O HAPPY DAY!</h4> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O happy day that fixed my choice<br /></span> +<span class="i1">On Thee, my Saviour and my God!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Well may this glowing heart rejoice,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And tell its raptures all abroad.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i2"><b>CHORUS:</b><br /></span> +<span class="i0">Happy day, happy day,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">When Jesus washed my sins away!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He taught me how to watch and pray,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">And live rejoicing every day;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Happy day, happy day,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">When Jesus washed my sin away!<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">O happy bond that seals my vows<br /></span> +<span class="i1">To Him who merits all my love!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let cheerful anthems fill His house,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">While to that sacred shrine I move.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">'Tis done, the great transaction's done;<br /></span> +<span class="i1">I am my Lord's and He is mine;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He drew me, and I followed on,<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Charmed to confess the voice divine<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> +<div class="bbox"> +<h2>The Moody COLPORTAGE Library</h2> + +<h4>Uniform in size and style, attractive paper covers, 4¾ × 6¾ inches. 20c each.</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> +1 All of Grace. C. H. Spurgeon<br /> +2 The Way to God. D. L. Moody<br /> +3 Pleasure & Profit in Bible Study. Moody<br /> +4 Life, Warfare and Victory. Whittle<br /> +5 Heaven. D. L. Moody<br /> +6 Prevailing Prayer. D. L. Moody<br /> +7 The Way of Life. Various authors<br /> +8 Secret Power. D. L. Moody<br /> +9 To the Work. D. L. Moody<br /> +10 According to Promise. C. H. Spurgeon<br /> +11 Bible Characters. D. L. Moody<br /> +13 "And Peter." J. W. Chapman<br /> +15 Light on Life's Duties. F. B. Meyer<br /> +18 The Good Shepherd. Life of Christ<br /> +19 Good Tidings. Talmage and others<br /> +20 Sovereign Grace. D. L. Moody<br /> +21 Select Sermons. D. L. Moody<br /> +23 Nobody Loves Me. Mrs. O. F. Walton<br /> +24 The Empty Tomb. Various authors<br /> +26 Sowing and Reaping. D. L. Moody<br /> +28 "Probable Sons." Story. Amy LeFeuvre<br /> +30 Good News. Robert Boyd<br /> +32 The Secret of Guidance. F. B. Meyer<br /> +34 The Second Coming of Christ<br /> +40 The Power of a Surrendered Life, or Kadesh-Barnea. J. W. Chapman<br /> +42 Whiter Than Snow and Little Dot—Stories. Mrs. O. F. Walton<br /> +44 The Overcoming Life. D. L. Moody<br /> +48 The Prodigal. Various authors<br /> +49 The Spirit-Filled Life. John MacNeil<br /> +50 Jessica's First Prayer. Hesba Stretton<br /> +51 The Christ-Life for the Self-Life. Meyer<br /> +54 Absolute Surrender. Andrew Murray<br /> +56 What Is Faith? Spurgeon, Moody, etc.<br /> +57 Christie's Old Organ—A story. Walton<br /> +58 Naaman the Syrian. A. B. Mackay<br /> +60 Weighed and Wanting. D. L. Moody<br /> +61 The Crew of the Dolphin. Hesba Stretton<br /> +63 Meet for the Master's Use. F. B. Meyer<br /> +64 Our Bible. C. Leach and R. A. Torrey<br /> +65 Alone in London. Hesba Stretton<br /> +66 Moody's Anecdotes<br /> +69 Children of the Bible<br /> +70 The Power of Pentecost. Thomas Waugh<br /> +71 Men of the Bible. D. L. Moody<br /> +72 A Peep Behind the Scenes. O. F. Walton<br /> +73 The School of Obedience. A. Murray<br /> +74 Making the Home Happy. R. T. Cross<br /> +76 Moody's Stories<br /> +78 The Robber's Cave—A story. A.L.O.E.<br /> +81 Thoughts for Quiet Hour. D. L. Moody<br /> +83 The Shorter Life of D. L. Moody. Fitt<br /> +85 Revival of a Dead Church. Broughton<br /> +86 Moody's Latest Sermons<br /> +87 A Missionary Penny—A story. L.C.W.<br /> +88 Calvary's Cross. Spurgeon, Whittle, etc.<br /> +89 How to Pray. R. A. Torrey<br /> +90 Little King Davie—Story. Nellie Hellis<br /> +91 Short Talks. D. L. Moody<br /> +93 Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan<br /> + +96 Kept for the Master's Use. Havergal<br /> + +98 Back to Bethel. F. B. Meyer<br /> + +100 Up from Sin. Len G. Broughton<br /> + +102 Popular Amusements and the Christian Life. P. W. Sinks<br /> + +104 Answers to Prayer. George Muller<br /> + +105 The Way Home. D. L. Moody<br /> + +109 Life of David Livingstone. Worcester<br /> + +114 First Words to Young Christians. Boyd<br /> + +115 Rosa's Quest—A Story. Anna P. Wright<br /> + +116 Difficulties in the Bible. R. A. Torrey<br /> + +119 Practical and Perplexing Questions Answered. R. A. Torrey<br /> + +120 Satan and the Saint. James M. Gray<br /> + +123 Salvation from Start to Finish. Gray<br /> + +125 Life in a Look. Maurice S. Baldwin<br /> + +126 Burton Street Folks. Anna P. Wright<br /> + +127 Bible Problems Explained. J. M. Gray<br /> + +128 Papers on The Lord's Coming. "C.H.M."<br /> + +129 Christian: Creed and Conduct. Evans<br /> + +130 Intercessory Prayer. J. G. K. McClure<br /> + +131 From Death Unto Life. J. H. Brookes<br /> + +132 Ruth, the Moabitess. Henry Moorhouse<br /> + +134 Forty-Eight Bernard Street. Clark<br /> + +135 Deliverance from the Penalty and Power of Sin. O. R. Palmer<br /> + +136 Mrs. Mary's Go-Tell. Graham Clark<br /> + +137 Bird's-Eye Bible Study. A. Patterson<br /> + +138 "I Cried, He Answered."<br /> + +141 Later Evangelistic Sermons. Biederwolf<br /> + +142 Phil Tyler's Opportunity. F. E. Burnham<br /> + +143 Moving Messages. J. C. Massee<br /> + +144 The Christ We Know. A. C. Gaebelein<br /> + +145 Five "Musts" of the Christian Life. F. B. Meyer<br /> + +146 The New Life in Christ Jesus. Scofield<br /> + +147 Problems in the Prayer Life. Buswell<br /> + +148 When the Song of the Lord Began. W. E. Biederwolf<br /> + +149 The Christian Life and How to Live It. W. H. Griffith Thomas<br /> + +150 Where Is the Lord God of Elijah? Cox<br /> + +151 The Faith that Wins. Roy T. Brumbaugh<br /> + +152 God's Way of Holiness. H. Bonar<br /> + +153 Souls Set Free. Mission field miracles<br /> + +154 Thinking with God. Norman H. Camp<br /> + +155 "Charge That to My Account." Ironside<br /> + +156 Vera Dickson's Triumph. Sara C. Palmer<br /> + +157 Competing Artists. Sara C. Palmer<br /> + +158 Antidote to Christian Science. Gray<br /> + +159 Is the Bible the Word of God? Scroggie<br /> + +160 And God Spake These Words. W. H. Griffith Thomas<br /> + +161 Methods of Bible Study. Thomas<br /> + +162 Romance of a Doctor's Visits. Wilson<br /> + +163 The Little Shepherd. Anna P. Wright<br /> + +164 God's Picked Young Men. H. K. Pasma<br /> + +165 The Cross of Christ. James H. Todd<br /> + +166 By Ways Appointed. Briggs P. Dingman<br /> + +167 Miracles in a Doctor's Life. Wilson<br /> + +168 The Living Christ. Will H. Houghton<br /> + +169 Portraits of Christ. Harold S. Laird<br /> + +170 The Doctor's Best Love Story. Wilson<br /> + +171 Full Assurance. H. A. Ironside<br /> + +172 To Show Thyself Approved. R. A. Torrey<br /> + +173 A Sure Remedy. Walter L. Wilson<br /> + +174 The Truth About Grace. Chas. C. Cook<br /> + +175 Vivid Experiences in Korea. Chisholm<br /> + +176 The "True" Mystery Solved. Wright<br /> + +177 The Resurrection of the Human Body. Norman H. Camp<br /> + +178 On Silver Creek Knob. Story. Cannon<br /> + +179 The Princess Beautiful. Story. Cannon<br /> + +180 Remarkable New Stories. W. L. Wilson<br /> + +181 Rivers of Living Water. Ruth Paxson<br /> + +182 "Called Unto Holiness." Ruth Paxson<br /> + +183 The Soul-Winner's Fire. John R. Rice<br /> + +185 Aunt Hattie's Bible Stories—Genesis. H. I. Fisher<br /> + +186 Treasures of Bible Truth. Schweinfurth<br /> + +187 In His Hands—Story. Harriet Heine<br /> + +188 Great Words of the Gospel. Ironside<br /> + +189 So Great Salvation. J. F. Strombeck<br /> +</p></div> + +<h4><i>Ask for descriptive folder.</i></h4> + +<h3>MOODY PRESS<br /> +<small>153 Institute Place<br /> +(Dept. MCL) Chicago 10</small></h3> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> +<div class="bbox"> +<h2>LIFE on the HIGHEST PLANE</h2> + +<h4><i>By</i> <span class="smcap">Ruth Paxson</span><br /> +Now, all 3 volumes in one book. 820 pages, <b>$3.00</b></h4> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 20%;"> +<img src="images/books.jpg" width="100%" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The three volumes, "<span class="smcap">The Person and +Work of Christ</span>"; "<span class="smcap">The Relation Between +Christ and the Christian</span>"; and +"<span class="smcap">The Believer's Response to the Holy +Spirit's Inworking</span>" have now been combined, +without revision and with fourteen +colored charts included in one handy volume.</p> + +<p>These Bible studies were first given in +embryo to pastors, evangelists, teachers, and +other Christian leaders in conferences held +in China. Later, printed in three volumes, +they brought great blessing to many.</p></div> + + +<h3>Other Books By Ruth Paxson</h3> + +<h4>GOD'S PLAN OF REDEMPTION</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>It will aid one in personal Bible study or provide a practical outline for +study groups. The questions are based on the teaching in each chapter of +"Life on the Highest Plane." Can be used with or without the larger book. +48 pages, paper, <b>25c.</b></p></div> + +<h4>CALLED UNTO HOLINESS</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Addresses given at Keswick's Conference in England. Sounds the clarion call +to a more holy life. Here is victory for the defeated; deliverance for the enslaved; +rest for the weary; peace for the discouraged; and joy for the sorrowing. +126 pages, paper, <b>20c.</b></p></div> + +<h4>RIVERS OF LIVING WATER</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Studies Setting Forth the Believer's Possession of Christ, How Obtained—How +Maintained. Multitudes of Christians are living a dry and thirsty existence +when the Lord is waiting to give them His very best—rivers of living +water! Perhaps few Christians have heard or read the Divine plan and purpose +for the life of the believer presented so tersely, simply and clearly, and withal +so lovingly and compellingly. 124 pages, paper, <b>20c.</b></p></div> + +<h4>The WEALTH, WALK and WARFARE of the CHRISTIAN</h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>The author finds a "Grand Canyon of Scripture" in Ephesians. Her threefold +message to Christians will be especially welcome to those who are suffering +from spiritual or mental depression; those who are conscious of their unworthiness, +failure and defeat; those who are passing through terrible attacks +of Satan. 223 pages, cloth, <b>$1.50.</b></p></div> + +<h3>THE MOODY PRESS<br /> +<small>153 Institute Place Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.</small></h3> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span></p> +<div class="bbox"> +<h2>THE EVANGEL BOOKLETS</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p><b>A series of brief, timely messages of supreme importance, and gospel stories +by evangelical preachers and teachers, Christian workers and laymen. +22-page booklets, self-cover.</b></p> + +<p> +1. God Is Love. An appeal to the unsaved. D. L. Moody.<br /> + +2. God Reaching Down. Messages to the unconverted. C. H. Spurgeon.<br /> + +4. Jack Winsted's Choice. A Gospel story. Lillian E. Andrews.<br /> + +6. Ruined, Redeemed, Regenerated. C. H. Mackintosh.<br /> + +7. By the Old Mill. Story. Katherine Elise Chapman.<br /> + +8. The Day After Thanksgiving. Story. Mrs. S. R. Graham Clark.<br /> + +9. True Stories About God's Free Gift. Alexander Marshall.<br /> + +10. Lois Dudley Finds Peace. Story. Anna Potter Wright.<br /> + +12. The Penitent Thief, and Naaman the Syrian. D. L. Moody.<br /> + +13. Adder's Eggs and Spider's Webs. H. A. Ironside.<br /> + +14. Samuel Morris. The true story of a Spirit-filled African.<br /> + +16. Saved and Safe. Salvation, Assurance and Security. Fred J. Meldau.<br /> + +17. "In the Beginning God—" and other Talks. Mark A. Matthews.<br /> + +18. Christian Science: Pedigree, Principles, Posterity. Percy W. Stephens.<br /> + +19. Modern Education at the Cross-Roads. M. H. Duncan.<br /> + +20. Is the Bible True? Nashville address. Wm. Jennings Bryan.<br /> + +21. How to Read the Word of God Effectively. A. T. Pierson.<br /> + +22. The Most Important Thing in My Life. The testimony of Dr. Howard A. Kelly, world-famous surgeon. William S. Dutton.<br /> + +23. Where Are the Dead? H. G. Marshall.<br /> + +25. Mary Antipas. Story. Howard W. Pope.<br /> + +26. Four Old Pals. Story. Frederick Burnham.<br /> + +28. Dios es Amor (God Is Love). Spanish edition of No. 1.<br /> + +29. Forethought in Creation. W. Bell Dawson.<br /> + +30. Bryan's Last Word on Evolution. William Jennings Bryan.<br /> + +31. Why I Do Not Believe in the Organic Evolutionary Hypothesis. James Edward Congdon.<br /> + +33. The Double Cure. A Gospel appeal. Melvin E. Trotter.<br /> + +35. Old Truths for Young Lives. For children.<br /> + +37. How to Have a Happy Home. Harold Francis Branch.<br /> + +38. The Peril of Unbelief and the Danger of Doubt. D. L. Moody.<br /> + +39. Moody the Evangelist. Joseph B. Bowles.<br /> + +40. The Only Begotten Son. H. A. Ironside.<br /> + +42. Tom Bennett's Transformation. Story. Howard W. Pope.<br /> + +43 Will a God of Love Punish Any of His Creatures Forever? Alexander Marshall.<br /> + +45. Intercession for Revival. Helen C. Alexander Dixon.<br /> + +46. With Everlasting Love. Story. Elzoe Prindle Stead.<br /> + +47. How the Word Works. Fred J. Meldau.<br /> + +48. Why I Believe the Bible. M. H. Duncan.<br /> + +49. Caught. Story. C. S. Knight.<br /> + +50. The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy. John R. Riebe.<br /> + +51. A Life Decision in the Sand Hills. Story. Ronald R. Kratz.<br /> + +52. Love's Danger Signal. Doctrine of future retribution. John G. Reid.<br /> + +53. Pictures That Talk, Series One. E. J. Pace.<br /> + +54. Pictures That Talk, Series Two. E. J. Pace.<br /> + +56. My One Question Answered: Was Jesus Christ a Great Teacher +Only? R. D. Sheldon.<br /> + +57. Modern Miracles of Grace. John Wilmot Mahood.<br /> + +58. How to Study the Bible. A helpful outline. B. B. Sutcliffe.<br /> + +59. What is Your Answer? Oswald J. Smith.<br /> + +60. Deus E Amor (God Is Love) Portuguese edition of No. 1.<br /> + +61. The True and False in Christian Work and Worship. M. H. Duncan.<br /> + +62. What Must I Do to be Saved? George E. Guille.<br /> + +63. The Man in the Well. Other religious faiths. Oswald J. Smith.<br /> + +64. Why All "Good People" Will Be Lost. J. E. Conant.<br /> + +65. Two In One. Believer's two natures. Herbert Lockyer.<br /> + +66. The Compromise Road. Story. Paul Hutchens.<br /> + +67. An Hundredfold. Stewartship. David McConoughy.<br /> + +68. Death or Life, Which? A clear presentation. Oswald J. Smith.<br /> + +69. Bernard Enters the Race. Story. Anna Potter Wright.<br /> + +70. The Trial of Jesus. Harold F. Branch.<br /> + +71. The Christian's Citizenship. M. H. Duncan.<br /> + +72. Atheism and the Bible. A startling revelation. Oswald J. Smith.<br /> + +73. Galatians. God's answer to legalism. B. B. Sutcliffe.<br /> + +74. O Sangue. (The Blood) Portuguese. D. L. Moody.<br /> + +75. Who is a Christian? Timely questions answered. Oswald J. Smith.<br /> + +76. Broken Life-Line. Story. Paul Hutchens.<br /> + +77. Eagle Christians. Harry McCormick Lintz.<br /> + +78. Elisha Rice. Man of God—Mountaineer. Helen R. Blankenship.<br /> + +79. The Master Touch. Rebuilt Lives. William Seath.<br /> + +80. The Bully of Stony Lonesome. Story. Charles S. Knight.<br /> + +81. The Stolen Pearl. Story. Paul Hutchens.<br /> +</p></div> + +<h4>Each, 10c; 12 copies (any assortment), $1.00; 100, $7.00<br /> +Attractive rates on large quantities.</h4> + +<h3>MOODY PRESS<br /> +<small>153 Institute Place<br /> +(Dept. MCL) Chicago 10</small></h3> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span></p> +<div class="bbox"> +<h2>BIBLE STUDY HELPS</h2> + +<h4><i>by Grace Saxe</i></h4> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>Miss Saxe's BIBLE STUDY BOOKS make folks +WANT to study the Bible and shows them HOW.</p> + +<p>These books are extensively used in mid-week prayer +services and ministers report a great increase in attendance +and interest.</p> + +<p>Sunday school teachers will eagerly welcome a comprehensive, +systematic study of the Bible, book by book.</p> + +<p>Women's Auxiliaries and Missionary Societies organize +classes following these Bible study outlines.</p> + +<p>Neighborhood Bible Classes are being organized in +cities, towns, and rural districts, with these books as +their guide.</p> + +<p>Any group of friends can intelligently and profitably +carry on a self study class even without a teacher.</p></div> + + +<h2>BOOKS ON BIBLE STUDY</h2> + +<div class="blockquot"><p> + <b>Studies in Genesis</b><br /> + <b>Studies in Exodus</b><br /> + <b>Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy</b><br /> + <b>Studies in Joshua, Judges and Ruth</b><br /> + <b>Studies in I and II Samuel</b><br /> + <b>Studies in I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles</b><br /> + <b>Studies in Psalms</b><br /> + <b>Studies in The Major Prophets</b><br /> + <b>Studies in The Life of Christ</b><br /> + <b>Studies in The Book of Luke</b><br /> + <b>Studies in The Book of Acts</b><br /> + <b>Studies in Romans</b><br /> + <b>Studies in Hebrews</b><br /> +</p> + +<p><b>THREE STUDIES: Christian Science and the Bible; The Second +Coming of Christ; The Way of Salvation.</b></p> + +<p><b>Size 6⅝ x 9½ inches. Paper binding, each 50 cents. In lots of 25 or +more of one or assorted titles, at 20% discount or 40 cents net +each, prepaid to any postoffice address.</b></p> +</div> + +<h3>THE MOODY PRESS<br /> +<small>153 Institute Place Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.</small></h3> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><b>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:</b> All apparent printer's errors retained.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Moody's Stories, by Dwight Lyman Moody + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOODY'S STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 33024-h.htm or 33024-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/2/33024/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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/33024-h/images/books.jpg b/33024-h/images/books.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f29939e --- /dev/null +++ b/33024-h/images/books.jpg diff --git a/33024-h/images/cover.jpg b/33024-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7149f3e --- /dev/null +++ b/33024-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/33024.txt b/33024.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3e8a22 --- /dev/null +++ b/33024.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5541 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Moody's Stories, by Dwight Lyman 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: Moody's Stories + Incidents and Illustrations + +Author: Dwight Lyman Moody + +Release Date: June 29, 2010 [EBook #33024] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOODY'S STORIES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Moody's Stories + INCIDENTS and ILLUSTRATIONS + + [Illustration] + + Copyrighted, 1884, by + F. H. Revel + + Printed in United States of America + + + Moody's Stories + + Being a Second Volume of Anecdotes + Incidents and Illustrations + + By D. L. Moody + + Authorized Collection + + THE MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + CHICAGO + + + + +MOODY'S STORIES + + +Lady Pendulum + +When Mr. Sankey and I were in London a lady who attended our meetings +was brought into the house in her carriage, being unable to walk. At +first she was very skeptical; but one day she said to her servant: + +"Take me into the inquiry room." + +After I had talked with her a good while about her soul she said: + +"But you will go back to America, and it will be all over." + +"Oh, no," said I, "it is going to last forever." + +I couldn't make her believe it. I don't know how many times I talked +with her. At last I used the fable of the pendulum in the clock. The +pendulum figured up the thousands of times it would have to tick, and +got discouraged, and was going to give up. Then it thought, "It is +only a tick at a time," and went on. So it is in the Christian +life--only one step at a time. That helped this lady very much. She +began to see that if she could trust in God for a supply of grace for +only one day, she could go right on in the same way from day to day. +As soon as she saw this, she came out quite decided. But she never +could get done talking about that pendulum. The servants called her +Lady Pendulum. She had a pendulum put up in her room to remind her of +the illustration, and when I went away from London she gave me a +clock--I've got it in my house still. + + +The Greater Mystery + +Dr. Andrew Bonar once said that, although it was a mystery to him how +sin should have come into the world, it was still a greater mystery +how God should have come here to bear the penalty of it Himself. + + +Never Runs Dry + +I remember being in a city where I noticed that the people resorted to +a favorite well in one of the parks. I said to a man one day: + +"Does the well never run dry?" + +The man was drinking of the water out of the well; and as he stopped +drinking, he smacked his lips, and said: + +"They have never been able to pump it dry yet. They tried it a few +years ago. They put the fire-engines to work, and tried all they could +to pump the well dry; but they found there was a river flowing right +under the city." + +Thank God, the well of salvation can never run dry either! + + +He Trusted his Father + +A party of gentlemen in Scotland wanted to get some eggs from a nest +on the side of a precipice, and they tried to persuade a poor boy that +lived near to go over and get them, saying they would hold him by a +rope. They offered him a good deal of money; but they were strangers +to him, and he would not go. They told him they would see that no +accident happened to him; they would hold the rope. + +At last he said: "I will go if my father will hold the rope." + +He trusted his father. + +A man will not trust strangers. I want to get acquainted with a man +before I put my confidence in him. I have known God for forty years, +and I have more confidence in Him now than I ever had before; it +increases every year. + + +Peace Declared + +When France and England were at war once a French vessel had gone off +on a long whaling voyage. When they came back, the crew were short of +water, and being near an English port, they wanted to get water; but +they were afraid that they would be taken prisoners if they went into +that port. Some people in the port saw their signal of distress, and +sent word that they need not be afraid, that the war was over, and +peace had been declared. But they couldn't make those sailors believe +it, and they didn't dare to go into port, although they were out of +water. At last they made up their minds that they had better go in and +surrender their cargo and their lives to their enemies rather than +perish at sea without water; and when they got in, they found out that +what had been told them was true, that peace had been declared. + +There are a great many people who don't believe the glad tidings that +peace has been made by Jesus Christ between God and man, but it is +true. + + +Sawdust or Bread + +If you go out to your garden and throw down some sawdust, the birds +will not take any notice; but if you throw down some crumbs, you will +find they will soon sweep down and pick them up. + +The true child of God can tell the difference (so to speak) between +sawdust and bread. Many so-called Christians are living on the world's +sawdust, instead of being nourished by the Bread that cometh down from +heaven. Nothing can satisfy the longings of the soul but the Word of +the living God. + + +"Baby's Feeding Himself!" + +You know it is always regarded a great event in the family when a +child can feed itself. It is propped up at table, and at first perhaps +it uses the spoon upside down, but by and by it uses it all right, and +mother, or perhaps sister, claps her hands and says: + +"Just see, baby's feeding himself!" + +Well, what we need as Christians is to be able to feed ourselves. How +many there are who sit helpless and listless, with open mouths, hungry +for spiritual things, and the minister has to try to feed them, while +the Bible is a feast prepared, into which they never venture. + + +Should Not Be Postponed + +In 1871 I preached a series of sermons on the life of Christ in old +Farwell hall, Chicago, for five nights. I took Him from the cradle and +followed Him up to the judgment hall, and on that occasion I consider +I made as great a blunder as ever I made in my life. It was upon that +memorable night in October, and the court-house bell was sounding an +alarm of fire, but I paid no attention to it. You know we were +accustomed to hear the fire-bell often, and it didn't disturb us much +when it sounded. I finished the sermon upon "What Shall I Do with +Jesus?" and said to the audience: + +"Now, I want you to take the question with you and think it over, and +next Sunday I want you to come back and tell me what you are going to +do with Him." + +What a mistake! It seems now as if Satan was in my mind when I said +this. Since then I never have dared give an audience a week to think +of their salvation. If they were lost, they might rise up in judgment +against me. "Now is the accepted time." + +I remember Mr. Sankey singing, and how his voice rang when he came to +that pleading verse: + + "To-day the Savior calls, + For refuge fly! + The storm of Justice falls, + And death is nigh!" + +After the meeting we went home. I remember going down La Salle street +with a young man, and saw the glare of flames. I said to the young +man: + +"This means ruin to Chicago." + +About one o'clock Farwell hall was burned; soon the church in which I +had preached went down, and everything was scattered. I never saw that +audience again. + +My friends, we don't know what may happen to-morrow, but there is one +thing I do know, and that is, if you take the gift of God you are +saved. If you have eternal life you need not fear fire, death, or +sickness. Let disease or death come, you can shout triumphantly over +the grave if you have Christ. My friends, what are you going to do +with Him? Will you not decide now? + + +Teaching Willie Faith + +Some years ago I wanted to teach my boy what faith was and so I put +him on a table. He was a little fellow about two years old. I stood +back three or four feet, and said. + +"Willie, jump." + +The little fellow said, "Papa, I'se afraid." + +I said: "Willie, I will catch you. Just look right at me, and jump." + +The little fellow got all ready to jump, and then looked down again, +and said, "I'se afraid." + +"Willie, didn't I tell you I would catch you? Will papa deceive you? +Now, Willie, look me right in the eye, and jump, and I will catch +you." + +The little fellow got all ready the third time to jump, but he looked +on the floor, and said: + +"I'se afraid." + +"Didn't I tell you I would catch you?" + +"Yes." + +At last I said: "Willie, don't take your eyes off me"; and I held the +little fellow's eyes, and said, "Now, jump; don't look at the floor;" +and he leaped into my arms. + +Then he said to me, "Let me jump again." + +I put him back, and the moment he got on the table he jumped, and +after that, when he was on the table and I was standing five or six +feet away I heard him cry, "Papa, I'se coming," and had just time to +rush and catch him. He seemed to put too much confidence in me. But +you cannot put too much confidence in God. + + +Act on Your Belief + +When President Lincoln signed the proclamation of emancipation, copies +of it were sent to all points along the Northern line, where they were +posted. Now, supposing a slave should have seen a copy of that +proclamation and should have learned its contents. He might have +known the fact, he might have assented to its justice, but if he had +still continued to serve his old master as a slave his faith in the +document would not have amounted to anything. + +And so it is with us. A mere knowledge of the historical events of +Christ's life, or a simple intellectual assent to His teachings and +His mission, will be of no help in a man's life unless he adds to them +a trustful surrender to the Lord's loving kindness. + + +"Forty Miles to Liberty" + +A friend of mine went to teach in Natchez before the war. He and a +friend of his went out riding one Saturday in the country. They saw an +old slave coming, and they thought they would have a little fun. They +had just come to a place where there was a fork in the road, and there +was a sign-post which read, "Forty miles to Liberty." + +"Sambo, how old are you?" + +"I don't know, massa. I guess I'se about eighty." + +"Can you read?" + +"No, sah; we don't read in dis country. It's agin the law." + +"Can you tell what is on that sign-post?" + +"Yes, sah; it says forty miles to Liberty." + +"Well, now," said my friend, "why don't you follow that road and get +your liberty? It says there, only 'forty miles to Liberty.' Now, why +don't you take that road and go there?" + +The old man's countenance changed, and he said: "That ar's a sham, +young massa, but if it pointed up thar," and he raised his trembling +hand toward heaven, "to the liberty wherewith Christ makes us free, +that ar wouldn't be no sham." + +The old slave, with all his ignorance, had even then experienced a +liberty in his own soul that these young men, with all their boasted +education, at that time knew nothing of. + + +The Most Important Thing + +A certain John Bacon, once a famous sculptor, left an inscription to +be placed on his tomb in Westminster Abbey: + +"What I was as an artist seemed of some importance to me while I +lived; but what I was as a believer in Jesus Christ is the only thing +of importance to me now." + + +Taking the Wrong Boat + +A Methodist minister, on his way to a camp-meeting, through some +mistake took passage on the wrong boat. He found that instead of being +bound for a religious gathering, he was on his way to a horse-race. +His fellow-passengers were betting and discussing the events, and the +whole atmosphere was foreign to his nature. He besought the captain +that he would stop his boat and let him off at the first landing, as +the surroundings were so distasteful to him. + +The story also goes on to relate how, on the same occasion a sporting +man, intending to go to the races, by some mistake found himself on +the wrong boat, bound for the camp-meeting. The conversation about him +was no more intelligible to him than to the man in the first instance, +and he, too, besought the captain to stop and let him off the boat. + +Now what was true in these two cases is practically true with every +one. A true Christian is wretched where there is no fellowship, and an +unregenerate man is not at ease where there are only Christians. A +man's future will be according to what he is here prepared for. If he +is not regenerate, heaven will have no attractions for him. Heaven is +a prepared place for a prepared people. + + +The Best Proof + +"The highest proof of the infallibility of Scripture," said the late +A. J. Gordon, "is the practical one that we have proved it so. As the +coin of the realm has always been found to buy the amount of its +face-value, so the prophecies and promises of Scripture have yielded +their face value to those who have taken the pains to prove them. If +they have not always done so, it is probable that they have not yet +matured. There are multitudes of Christians who have so far proved the +veracity of the Bible that they are ready to trust it without reserve +in all that it pledges for the world yet unseen and the life yet +unrealized." + + +Have Faith. + +I remember a man telling me he preached for a number of years without +any result. He used to say to his wife as they went to church that he +knew the people would not believe anything he said; and there was no +blessing. At last he saw his error; he asked God to help him, and took +courage, and then the blessing came. + +"According to your faith it shall be unto you." This man had expected +nothing and he got just what he expected. Dear friends, let us expect +that God is going to use us. Let us have courage and go forward, +looking to God to do great things. + + +Chasing His Shadow + +When I was a little boy I tried to catch my shadow. I don't know if +you were ever so foolish; but I remember running after it, and trying +to get ahead of it. I could not see why the shadow always kept ahead +of me. Once I happened to be racing with my face to the sun, and I +looked over my head and saw my shadow behind me, and it kept behind me +all the way. + +It is the same with the Sun of Righteousness. Peace and joy will go +with you while you go with your face toward Him, but those who turn +their backs on the Sun are in darkness all the time. Turn to the light +of God, and the reflection will flash in your heart. + + +His Minister's Bible + +If I have a right to cut out a certain portion of the Bible, I don't +know why one of my friends has not a right to cut out another, and +another friend to cut out another part, and so on. You would have a +queer kind of Bible if everybody cut out what he wanted to! Every +adulterer would cut out everything about adultery; every liar would +cut out everything about lying; every drunkard would be cutting out +what he didn't like. + +Once a gentleman took his Bible around to his minister, and said, +"That is your Bible." + +"Why do you call it _my_ Bible?" said the minister. + +"Well," replied the gentleman, "I have been sitting under your +preaching for five years, and when you said that a thing in the Bible +was not authentic, I cut it out." + +He had about a third of the Bible cut out; all of Job, all of +Ecclesiastes and Revelation, and a good deal besides. The minister +wanted him to leave the Bible with him; he didn't want the rest of +his congregation to see it. But the man said: + +"Oh, no! I have the covers left, and I will hold on to them." + +And off he went holding on to the covers. + + +Mocked by his Children + +When I was in St. Louis some years ago, there was an old man who had +been away off on the mountains of an ungodly life, but in his early +manhood he had known Christ. He came into the inquiry-room, literally +broken down. About midnight that old man came trembling before God and +was saved. He wiped away his tears, and started home. + +Next night I saw him in the audience with a terrible look in his face. +As soon as I finished preaching, I went to him and said: + +"My good friend, you haven't gone back into darkness again?" + +Said he: "Oh, Mr. Moody, it has been the most wretched day in my +life." + +"Why so?" + +"Well, this morning as soon as I got my breakfast, I started out. I +have a number of children, married, and in this city, and they have +families; and I have spent the day going around and telling them what +God has done for me. I told them how I had tasted salvation, with the +tears trickling down my face; and, Mr. Moody, I hadn't a child that +didn't mock me!" + +That made me think of Lot down in Sodom. It is an awful thing for a +man who has been a backslider to have his children mock him. But it is +written: "Thy back-slidings shall reprove thee; know, therefore, and +see that it is an evil thing and bitter that thou hast forsaken the +Lord thy God." + + +No Need to Read Them + +A great many people say, you must hear both sides; but if a man should +write me a most slanderous letter about my wife, I don't think I would +have to read it; I should tear it up and throw it to the winds. Have I +to read all the infidel books that are written, to hear both sides? +Have I to take up a book that is a slander on my Lord and Master, who +has redeemed me with His blood? Ten thousand times no! I will not +touch it. + + +Tolling the Bell + +I well remember how in my native village in New England it used to be +customary, as a funeral procession left the church, for the bell to +toll as many times as the deceased was years old. How anxiously I +would count those strokes of the bell to see how long I might reckon +on living! Sometimes there would be seventy or eighty tolls, and I +would give a sigh of relief to think I had so many years to live. But +at other times there would be only a few years tolled, and then a +horror would seize me as I thought that I, too, might soon be claimed +as a victim by that dread monster, Death. Death and judgment were a +constant source of fear to me till I realized the fact that neither +shall ever have any hold on a child of God. In his letter to the +Romans the apostle Paul has showed, in most direct language, that +there is no condemnation for a child of God, but that he is passed +from under the power of law, and in the Epistle to the Corinthians he +tells us that "there is a natural body, and there is a spiritual +body," "and as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also +bear the image of the heavenly." + + +A Father's Neglect + +A story has gone the round of the American press that made a great +impression upon me as a father. A father took his little child out +into the field one Sabbath, and, it being a hot day, lie lay down +under a beautiful shady tree. The little child ran about gathering +wild flowers and little blades of grass, and coming to its father and +saying: + +"Pretty! pretty!" + +At last the father fell asleep, and while he was sleeping the little +child wandered away. When he awoke, his first thought was: + +"Where is my child?" + +He looked all around, but he could not see him. He shouted at the top +of his voice, but all he heard was the echo. Running to a little hill, +he looked around and shouted again. No response! Then going to a +precipice at some distance, he looked down, and there, upon the rocks +and briars, he saw the mangled form of his loved child. He rushed to +the spot, took up the lifeless corpse, and hugged it to his bosom, and +accused himself of being the murderer of his child. While he was +sleeping his child had wandered over the precipice. + +I thought as I read that, what a picture of the church of God! How +many fathers and mothers, how many Christian men and women, are +sleeping now while their children wander over the terrible precipice +right into the bottomless pit! Father, mother, where is your boy +to-night? + + +Worth Ten Thousand Men + +Let us not give heed to gloomy and discouraging remarks. In the name +of our great Commander let us march on to battle and to victory. There +are some generals whose name alone is worth more than a whole army of +ten thousand men. In our army in the Civil War there were some whose +presence sent a cheer all along the line. As they passed on, cheer +upon cheer went up. The men knew who was going to lead them, and they +were sure of having success. "The boys" liked to fight under such +generals as that. Let us encourage ourselves in the Lord, and +encourage each other; then we shall have good success. + + +"With or Without Power" + +Doctor Gordon of Boston used to say that as you passed along +Washington street of that city, or Broadway, New York, you might see +stores with the card in the window, "To rent, with or without power," +and any one could rent the store, and by paying something extra could +have power furnished from the engine in the rear. Doctor Gordon +thought it would be a good thing to ask men and women when they joined +the church if they wanted to be a member on the "with power" or the +"without power" basis, and if the latter, to tell them there were no +vacancies for that kind in the church, it already had too many members +without power. + + +Turning on the Tap + +A man who lived on the bank of Lake Erie had water pipes laid to his +house from the lake; and when he wanted water all he had to do was to +turn the tap and the water flowed in. If the government had presented +him with the lake he would not have known what to do with it. So we +may say that if God were to give us grace enough for a lifetime, we +should not know how to use it. He has given us the privilege of +drawing on Him day by day--not "forty days after sight." There is +plenty of grace in the bank of heaven; we need not be afraid of its +becoming exhausted. + + +Keep Close! + +The late Dr. Andrew Bonar once remarked in his own quaint fashion that +it was always easy to trace the footprints of a person if we walked +close behind him, but if we were some distance back we might fail to +find them; and accordingly, if we followed close after the Master we +would easily see the way, but if we tried to follow afar off we would +find it difficult to know the path of His will. + + +On Both Knees + +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. + + +Something New + +A great many people seem to think that the Bible is out of date, that +it is an old book, that it has passed its day. They say it was very +good for the dark ages, and that there is some very good history in +it, but it was not intended for the present time; we are living in a +very enlightened age and men can get on very well without it; we have +outgrown it. + +Now, you might just as well say that the sun, which has shone so long, +is now so old that it is out of date, and that whenever a man builds a +house he need not put any windows in it, because we have a newer light +and a better light; we have gaslight and electric light. These are +something new; and I would advise people, if they think the Bible is +too old and worn out, when they build houses, not to put windows in +them, but just to light them with electric light; that is something +new and that is what they are anxious for. + + +Bidding Christ Farewell + +A rule I have had for years is to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a +personal friend. It is not a creed, a mere empty doctrine, but it is +Christ Himself we have. The moment we receive Christ we should receive +Him as a friend. When I go away from home I bid my wife and children +good-bye; I bid my friends and acquaintances good-bye; but I never +heard of a poor backslider going down on his knees and saying: + +"I have been near You for ten years. Your service has become tedious +and monotonous. I have come to bid You farewell. Good-bye, Lord Jesus +Christ!" + +I never heard of one doing this. I will tell you how they go away; +they just run away. + + +Any One Can _Believe_ + +God has put the offer of salvation in such a way that the whole world +can lay hold of it. All men can _believe_. A lame man might not +perhaps be able to visit the sick; but he can _believe_. A blind man, +by reason of his infirmity, cannot do many things; but he can +_believe_. A deaf man can _believe_. A dying man can _believe_. God +has put salvation so simply that young and old, wise and foolish, rich +and poor, can all _believe_ if they will. + + +The Wrath of God Was on Him + +I heard of a rich man who was asked to make a contribution on behalf +of some charitable object. The text was quoted to him--"He that hath +pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given +will He pay him again," He said that the security might be good +enough, but the credit was too long. He was dead within two weeks. + + +The War was Ended + +During the last days of the Civil War, when many men were deserting +the Southern flag, Secretary Stanton sent out a notice from the war +department that no more refugees should be taken into the Union army. + +A Southern soldier who had not seen that order came into the Union +lines, and they read it to him. He didn't know what to do. If he went +back into the Southern army he would be shot as a deserter, and the +Northern army wouldn't have him. So he went into the woods, and stayed +there, living on roots and whatever else he could get, until finally +he was starving. + +One day he saw an officer riding by. He rushed out of the woods, +caught the horse's bridle, and said he would kill the officer if he +didn't help him. The officer asked what was the trouble, and he told +him. + +"But haven't you heard the news?" said the officer. + +"No; what news?" + +"Why, the war is over! Lee has surrendered, and peace has been +declared. Go to the nearest town and get all the food you want." + +The man waved his hat, and went off as fast as he could. + +I want to say that peace has been declared between God and man. Be +reconciled to God. The blood is on the mercy-seat, and the vilest +sinner can be saved for time and eternity. + + +Nearer than he Thought + +I was reading, some time ago, of a young man who had just come out of +a saloon, and had mounted his horse. As a certain deacon passed on his +way to church, he followed and said: + +"Deacon, can you tell me how far it is to hell?" + +The deacon's heart was pained to think that a young man like that +should talk so lightly; but he passed on and said nothing. When he +came round the corner to the church, he found that the horse had +thrown that young man, and he was dead. You, too, may be nearer the +judgment than you think. + + +Its Strength was Underestimated + +Some of the older people can remember when our Civil 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. + + +Seeing the Gospel + +"Have you ever heard the Gospel?" asked a missionary of a Chinaman, +whom he had not seen in his mission before. + +"No," he replied, "but I have seen it. I know a man who used to be the +terror of his neighborhood. He was a bad opium smoker and dangerous as +a wild beast; but he became wholly changed. He is now gentle and good +and has left off opium." + + +Illuminated Christians + +We see very few illuminated Christians now. If every one of us was +illuminated by the Spirit of God, how we could light up the churches! +But to have a lantern without any light, that would be a nuisance. +Many Christians carry along lanterns and say, "I wouldn't give up my +religion for yours." They talk about religion. The religion that has +no fire is like painted fire. They are artificial Christians. Do you +belong to that class? You can tell. If you can't, your friends can. + +There is a fable of an old lantern in a shed, which began to boast +because it had heard its master say he didn't know what he would ever +do without it. But the little candle within spoke up and said: "Yes, +you'd be a great comfort if it wasn't for me! You are nothing; I'm the +one that gives the light." We are nothing, but Christ is everything, +and what we want is to keep in communion with Him and let Christ dwell +in us richly and shine forth through us. + +I have a match box with a phosphorescent front. It draws in the rays +of the sun during the day and then throws them out in the dead hours +of the night, so that I can always see it in the dark. Now, that is +what we ought to be, constantly drawing in the rays of the Sun of +Righteousness and then giving them out. Some one said to some young +converts, "It is all moonshine being converted." They replied, "Thank +you for the compliment. The moon borrows light from the sun, and so we +borrow ours from the Sun of Righteousness." That is what takes place +when we have this illumination. + + +Not Ashamed of his Lord + +A young convert tried to preach in the open air; he could not preach +very well either, but he did the best he could. Some one interrupted +him and said: + +"Young man, you cannot preach; you ought to be ashamed of yourself." + +Said the young man, "So I am, but I am not ashamed of my Lord." + +That is right. Do not be ashamed of Christ--of the Man that bought us +with His own blood. + + +He Silenced the Devil + +If you find yourself getting very miserly, begin to scatter, like a +wealthy farmer in New York state I heard of. He was a noted miser, but +he was converted. Soon after, a poor man who had been burned out and +had no provisions came to him for help. The farmer thought he would be +liberal and give the man a ham from his smoke-house. On his way to get +it, the tempter whispered to him: + +"Give him the smallest one you have." + +He had a struggle whether he would give a large or a small ham, but +finally he took down the largest he could find. + +"You are a fool," the devil said. + +"If you don't keep still," the farmer replied, "I will give him every +ham I have in the smoke-house." + + +Warm the Wax! + +A gentleman in Ireland had a seal made for me. "D.L.M." is on one +side, and on the other, "God is love." If I want to stamp "God is +love" I would not make much headway if the wax was hard and cold. +Many people go to meetings, and it is as hard to make an impression +on them as in pressing a seal on hard wax. But let the wax be warmed +up and an impression is made. If we are willing, every one of us may +be sealed for the day of redemption. "In whom ye also trusted after +that ye heard the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in whom +also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of +promise." + + +Draw Nearer + +When I was a boy my mother used to send me out doors to get a birch +stick to whip me with, when I had to be punished. At first I used to +stand off from the rod as far as I could. But I soon found that the +whipping hurt me more that way than any other; and so I went as near +to my mother as I could, and found she could not strike me so hard. +And so when God chastens us let us kiss the rod and draw as near to +Him as we can. + + +The Panorama Looks Brighter + +"When a panorama is to pass before an audience, the artist darkens the +room in which they sit, so that the picture may be more fully seen. So +God sometimes darkens our place on earth, puts out this light and +that, and then before our souls He makes to pass the splendors and +glories of the better land." + + +All Things Work for Good + +There is one passage of Scripture which has always been a great +comfort to me. In the eighth chapter of Romans Paul says: "All things +work together for good to them that love God." Some years ago a child +of mine had scarlet fever. I went to the druggist's to get the +medicine, which the doctor had ordered, and told him to be sure and be +very careful in making up the prescription. The druggist took down one +bottle after another, in any one of which there might be what would be +rank poison for my child; but he stirred them together and mixed them +up, and made just the medicine which my child needed. And so God gives +us a little adversity here, a little prosperity there, and all works +for our good. + + +It Takes Time + +Suppose I should send my little boy, five years old, to school +to-morrow morning, and when he came home in the afternoon, say to him: + +"Willie, can you read? can you write? can you spell? Do you understand +all about algebra, geometry, Hebrew, Latin and Greek?" + +"Why, papa," the little fellow would say, "how funny you talk. I have +been all day trying to learn the A, B, C's!" + +Suppose I should reply: "If you have not finished your education, you +need not go any more." What would you say? Why, you would say I had +gone mad! + +There would be just as much reason in that as in the way that people +talk about the Bible. The men who have studied the Bible for fifty +years have never got down to the depths of it yet. There are truths +there that the church of God has been searching out for the last +nineteen hundred years, but no man has yet fathomed the depths of the +ever-living stream. + + +Something God Cannot Do + +In Ireland, some time ago, a teacher asked a little boy if there was +anything that God could not do. The little fellow said: + +"Yes, He cannot see my sins through the blood of Christ." + + +It Seemed Too Good to be True + +Some time ago I read in one of the daily papers a thing that pleased +me very much. When the new administration of President McKinley went +into office some clerks in one of the departments were promoted. One +young lady was offered a promotion, but she went to see the secretary, +General Butterworth, and said that there was a girl sitting next to +her that had a family to support. A brother who had been supporting +the family had died, or sickened, and it had fallen upon her, and she +asked the general to let her friend that sat next to her have the +promotion in her place. + +The general said that he had heard of such things in other +generations, but he didn't know that it would ever happen in his +generation. He was amazed to find a person on duty in Washington that +was willing to give up her position and take a lower one, and let some +one else have it that she might be able to help her family. + +In Colorado the superintendent of some works told me of a miner that +was promoted, who came to the superintendent, and said: + +"There is a man that has seven children, and I have only three, and he +is having a hard struggle. Don't promote me, but promote him." + +I know of nothing that speaks louder for Christ and Christianity than +to see a man or woman giving up what you call your rights for others, +and "in honor preferring one another." + + +The Scarlet Thread + +In the British Navy there is said to be a scarlet thread running +through every line of cordage, and though a rope be cut into inch +pieces it can be recognized as belonging to the government. So there +is a scarlet thread running all through the Bible--the whole book +points to Christ. + + +The First "Don't Worry Club" + +Mrs. Sangster says that we hear a good deal in this age, as if it were +a novelty, about the futility of being anxious, and people have +established "Don't Worry Clubs." But the first "Don't Worry Club" was +begun by our blessed Lord Himself when He said: "Take no thought for +the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of +itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." He bade us +consider the lilies growing in their beauty and purity without a +thought, and taught us the true way of living without care, without +solicitude, bearing all burdens lightly, and having continual joy on +our faces. Only those who have the indwelling Christ in their hearts +can walk through this world with bright and glad looks, because they +know that, let come what may, their Father is leading them safely. + + +The Story Followed Him + +While I was at a convention in Illinois an old man past seventy years, +got up, and said he remembered but one thing about his father, and +that one thing followed him all through life. He could not remember +his death, he had no recollection of his funeral, but he recollected +his father one winter night taking a little chip, and with his +pocket-knife whittling out a little cross, and with the tears in his +eyes he held up that cross, telling how God in His infinite love sent +His Son down here to redeem us, and how He had died on the cross for +us. The story of the cross followed him through life; and if we tell +children these truths, they will never forget them. + + +The Fatal Sleep + +Some time ago a vessel had been off on a whaling voyage, and had been +gone about three years. The father of one of the sailors had charge of +the light-house, and he was expecting his boy to come home. It was +time for the whaling-vessel to return. One night there came up a +terrible gale. This father fell asleep, and while he slept his light +went out. When he awoke he looked toward the shore and saw a vessel +had been wrecked. He at once went to see if he could not yet save some +one who might be still alive. The first body that came floating toward +the shore was, to his great grief and surprise, the body of his own +boy! He had been watching for that boy for many days. Now the boy had +at last come in sight of home, and had perished because his father had +let his light go out! + +I thought, what an illustration of fathers and mothers to-day that +have let their lights go out! You are not training your children for +God and eternity. You do not live as though there were anything beyond +this life at all. You keep your affections set upon things on the +earth instead of on things above, and the result is that the children +do not believe there is anything in Christianity. Perhaps the very +next step they take may take them into eternity; the next day they +may die without God and without hope. + + +That Love is Spontaneous + +Some time ago, in an inquiry meeting, I said to a young miss who said +that she could not love God, that it was very hard for her to love +Him: + +"Is it hard for you to love your mother? Do you have to learn to love +your mother?" + +She looked up through her tears, and said, "No; I can't help it; that +is spontaneous." + +"Well," I said, "when the Holy Spirit kindles love in your heart, you +can not help loving God; it will be spontaneous." + +When the Spirit of God comes into your heart and mine, it will be easy +to love and serve God. + + +The Summing Up of His Life + +A man was taken into one of our insane asylums a few years ago from +one of the Western cities. He had resolved to be rich. How he turned +every stone to accumulate wealth! All his energy and every faculty +were pushed toward that one end. "Wealth, wealth, wealth! money, +money, money!" was his cry. At last it drove him mad, and they took +him to the mad-house, where he threw himself into a rocking-chair, and +cried: + +"Millions of money, and in a mad-house!" + +That was all there was of his life. Pretty short, wasn't it? Sixty +years gone, millions of money, and in a mad-house; and he died there. +That was the summing up of his life. + + +Beautiful Motion but No Progress + +Many people are working and working, as Rowland Hill said, like +children on a rocking-horse--it is a beautiful motion, but there is no +progress. Those who are working for salvation are like men on a +treadmill, going round and round and round; toiling and toiling and +toiling; but nothing comes of it all. There is no progress, and there +cannot be until you have the motive power within, till the breath of +life comes from God, which can alone give you power to work for +others. + + +Get It into Your Heart + +"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee." +An old Scotchman says: "It is a good thing in a good place for a good +purpose." Many people have the Bible in their heads, or in their +pockets; but we need to get it down into our hearts. + + +How the Miners were Saved + +In the north of England they have been digging the coal for a century. +They have gone miles and miles away from the shaft, under the sea, and +there is danger of men getting lost. I heard of two old miners who +lost their way. Their lights went out, and they were in danger of +losing their lives. After wandering around for a long time, they sat +down, and one of them said: + +"Let us sit perfectly quiet, and see if we cannot feel which way the +air is moving, because it always moves toward the shaft." + +There they sat for a long time, when all at once one of them felt a +slight touch on his cheek, and he sprang to his feet and said: + +"I felt it." + +They went in the direction in which the air was moving, and reached +the shaft. + +Sometimes there comes a little breath from God that touches our souls. +It may be so gentle and faint that you barely recognize it; but if you +do, do not disregard it. Thank God that He has spoken to you, and +praise Him for it, and whatever may come do not go in the opposite +direction. Give yourself up to be led by it, and you will come out of +darkness, out of bondage, out of sorrow, into perpetual light and joy. + + +Receiving and Never Giving + +What makes the Dead Sea dead? Because it is all the time receiving, +never giving out anything. Why is it that many Christians are cold? +Because they are all the time receiving, never giving out anything. + + +Dumb Christians + +It is a very sad thing that so many of God's children are dumb; yet it +is true. Parents would think it a great calamity to have their +children born dumb; they would mourn over it, and weep; and well they +might; but did you ever think of the many dumb children God has? The +churches are full of them; they never speak for Christ. They can talk +about politics, art, and science; they can speak well enough and fast +enough about the fashions of the day; but they have no voice for the +Son of God. + + +Like Siamese Twins + +Covetousness and stealing are almost like Siamese twins--they go +together so often. In fact we might add lying, and make them triplets, +"The covetous person is a thief _in_ the shell. The thief is a +covetous person _out_ of the shell. Let a covetous person see +something that he desires very much; let an opportunity of taking it +be offered; how very soon he will break through the shell and come out +in his true character as a thief." The Greek word translated +"covetousness" means--an inordinate desire of getting. When the Gauls +tasted the sweet wines of Italy, they asked where they came from, and +never rested until they had overrun Italy. + + +Not Troubled with Doubts + +One of the happiest men I ever knew was a man in Dundee, Scotland, who +had fallen and broken his back when he was a boy of fifteen. He had +lain on his bed for about forty years, and could not be moved without +a good deal of pain. Probably not a day had passed in all those years +without acute suffering. But day after day the grace of God had been +granted to him, and when I was in his chamber it seemed as if I was as +near heaven as I could get on earth. I can imagine that when the +angels passed over Dundee, they had to stop there to get refreshed. + +When I saw him, I thought he must be beyond the reach of the tempter, +and I asked him: "Doesn't Satan ever tempt you to doubt God, and to +think that He is a hard Master?" + +"Oh, yes," he said, "he does try to tempt me. I lie here and see my +old schoolmates driving along in their carriages, and Satan says: 'If +God is so good, why does He keep you here all these years? You might +have been a rich man, riding in your own carriage.' Then I see a man +who was young when I was walk by in perfect health, and Satan +whispers: 'If God loved you, couldn't He have kept you from breaking +your back?'" + +"What do you do when Satan tempts you?" + +"Ah, I just take him to Calvary, and I show him Christ, and I point +out those wounds in His hands and feet and side, and say, 'Doesn't He +love me?' and the fact is, he got such a scare there eighteen hundred +years ago that he cannot stand it; he leaves me every time." + +That bedridden saint had not much trouble with doubts; he was too full +of the grace of God. + + +Honey-Dew + +I have sometimes been in a place where the very air seemed to be +charged with the breath of God, like the moisture in the air. I +remember one time as I went through the woods near Mount Hermon school +I heard bees, and asked what it meant. + +"Oh," said one of the men, "they are after the _honey-dew_." + +"What is that?" I asked. + +He took a chestnut leaf and told me to put my tongue to it. I did so, +and the taste was sweet as honey. Upon inquiry I found that all up and +down the Connecticut valley what they call "honey-dew" had fallen, so +that there must have been altogether hundreds of tons of honey-dew in +this region. Where it comes from I don't know. + +Do you suppose that this earth would be worth living on if it were not +for the dew and the rain? So a church that hasn't any of the dew of +heaven, any of the rain that comes down in showers, will be as barren +as the earth would be without the dew and rain. + + +A Personal Matter + +"The life of Christianity," says Luther, "consists of personal +pronouns. It is one thing to say, 'Christ is a Savior.' It is quite +another to say, 'He is _my_ Savior.' The devil can say the first. Only +the true Christian can say the second." + + +They Knew It + +Let me tell you how I had my eyes opened about the theater question. I +had an assistant superintendent of a Sabbath school, a very promising +young man, who seemed to be very happy in the work. A star actor came +to the city, and he went to see him. I knew nothing of it, but the +next Sunday when he came into the Sunday-school all over the building +the boys cried out: + +"Hypocrite! Hypocrite!" + +The perspiration started out of every pore of my body; I thought they +were looking at me. I said to the little newsboys: + +"Who are you calling a hypocrite?" + +They mentioned the assistant's name. I asked the reason, and they +said: + +"We saw him going into the theater." + +I had never said anything about the theater to those children, but +they saw that man going in, and called him a hypocrite. They seemed to +know it was no place for a Christian to go. He lost his influence +entirely, withdrew from the school, and after a while gave up +Christian work altogether. He was just swept along with the tide in +Chicago and his influence was lost. + + +Pull for the Shore + +A vessel was wrecked off the shore. Eager eyes were watching and +strong arms manned the life-boat. For hours they tried to reach that +vessel through the great breakers that raged and foamed on the +sand-bank, but it seemed impossible. The boat appeared to be leaving +the crew to perish. But after a while the captain and sixteen men were +taken off, and the vessel went down. + +"When the life-boat came to you," said a friend, "did you expect it +had brought some tools to repair your old ship?" + +"Oh, no," was the response; "she was a total wreck. Two of her masts +were gone, and if we had stayed mending her only a few minutes, we +must have gone down sir." + +"When once off the old wreck and safe in the life-boat what remained +for you to do?" + +"Nothing, sir, but just to pull for the shore." + +Man can't save himself. He has been wrecked by sin, and his only +safety lies in taking Jesus Christ as his Savior. + + +Easy, and Yet Difficult + +It is the easiest thing in the world to become a Christian, and it is +also the most difficult. You say: "That is a contradiction, a +paradox." I will illustrate what I mean. + +A little nephew of mine, a few years ago, took my Bible and threw it +down on the floor. His mother said, + +"Charlie, pick up uncle's Bible." + +The little fellow said he would not. + +"Charlie, do you know what that word means?" + +She soon found out that he did, and that he was not going to pick up +the Book. His will had come right up against his mother's will. + +I began to be quite interested in the struggle: I knew if she did not +break his will, he would some day break her heart. + +She repeated, "Charlie, go and pick up uncle's Bible, and put it on +the table." + +The little fellow said he could not do it. + +"I will punish you if you do not." + +He saw a strange look in her eye, and the matter began to get serious. +He did not want to be punished, and he knew his mother would punish +him if he did not lift the Bible. So he straightened every bone and +muscle in him, and he said _he could not do it_. I really believe the +little fellow had reasoned himself into the belief that he could not +do it. + +His mother knew he was only deceiving himself, so she kept him right +to the point. At last he went down, put both his arms around the +Bible, and tugged away at it; but he still said he could not do it. +The truth was--he did not want to. He got up again without lifting it. + +The mother said, "Charlie, I am not going to talk to you any more. +This matter has to be settled; pick up that Bible, or I will punish +you." + +At last she broke his will, and then he found it as easy as it is for +me to turn my hand. He picked up the Bible, and laid it on the table. + +So it is with the sinner; if you are really willing to take the Water +of Life, YOU CAN DO IT. + + +No Difference + +During the war, when enlisting was going on, sometimes a man would +come up with a nice silk hat on, patent-leather boots, kid gloves, and +a fine suit of clothes; perhaps the next man who came along would be +a hod-carrier, dressed in the poorest kind of clothes. Both had to +strip alike and put on the regimental uniform. + +When you come and say you are not fit, haven't got good clothes, +haven't got righteousness enough to be a Christian, remember that +Christ will furnish you with the uniform of heaven, and you will be +set down at the marriage feast of the Lamb. I don't care how black and +vile your heart may be, only accept the invitation of Jesus Christ, +and He will make you fit to sit down with the rest at that feast. + + +Drawing a Comparison + +When I was in California I went into a Sunday-school and asked: + +"Have you got some one who can write a plain hand?" + +"Yes." + +We got up the blackboard, and the lesson upon it proved to be the +text, "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." + +I said, "Suppose we write upon that board some of the earthly +treasures? We will begin with 'gold.'" + +The teacher readily put down "gold," and they all comprehended it, for +all had run to that country in hope of finding it. + +"Well, we will put down 'houses' next and then 'land.' Next we will +put down 'fast horses.'" + +They all understood what fast horses were--they knew a good deal more +about fast horses than they knew about the kingdom of God. Some of +them, I think, actually made fast horses serve as gods. + +"Next we will put down 'tobacco.'" The teacher seemed to shrink at +this. "Put it down," said I; "many a man thinks more of tobacco than +he does of God. Well, then we will put down 'rum.'" + +He objected to this--didn't like to put it down at all. + +"Down with it! Many a man will sell his reputation, his home, his +wife, his children, everything he has, for rum. It is the god of some +men. Many here are ready to sell their present and their eternal +welfare for it. Put it down," and down it went. + +"Now," said I, "suppose we put down some of the heavenly treasures. +Put down 'Jesus' to head the list, then 'heaven,' then 'River of +Life,' then 'Crown of Glory'," and went on until the column was +filled, and then just drew a line and showed the heavenly and the +earthly things in contrast. + +My friends, they could not stand comparison. If a man does that, he +cannot but see the superiority of the heavenly over the earthly +treasures. + +It turned out that this teacher was not a Christian. He had gone to +California on the usual hunt--gold; and when he saw the two columns +placed side by side, the excellence of the one over the other was +irresistible, and he was the first soul God gave me on that Pacific +coast. He accepted Christ, and that man came to the station when I was +coming away and blessed me for coming to that place. + + +A Legend about Doves + +There is a beautiful legend about a conference held by the doves to +decide where they should make their abode. One suggested that they +should go to the woods; but the objection was made that there they +would be in danger from hawks; another mentioned the cities, but boys +would stone them there, and drive them away or kill them. Presently +some dove suggested that they go and hide in the clefts of the rocks, +and there they were safe. "O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities +and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in +the sides of the hole's mouth." + + Rock of Ages, cleft for me, + Let me hide myself in thee. + + +Look to Christ! + +A leading surgeon I heard of, when he has a bad wound to dress, or a +broken limb to set, tells the patient: + +"Now, look at the wound, see just how it looks, and then look at me!" + +So when you have seen the state your heart is in, look up to Christ, +and nowhere else. + + +Paying Attention to the Preacher + +There was an architect in Chicago who was converted. In giving his +testimony, he said he had been in the habit of attending church for a +great many years, but he could not say that he had really heard a +sermon all the time. He said that when the minister gave out the text +and began to preach, he used to settle himself in the corner of the +pew and work out the plans of some building. He could not tell how +many plans he had prepared while the minister was preaching. He was +the architect for one or two companies; and he used to do all his +planning in that way. + +You see, Satan came in between him and the preacher, and caught away +the good seed of the Word. I have often preached to people, and have +been perfectly amazed to find they could hardly tell one solitary word +of the sermon; even the text had completely gone from them. + + +Better Make Sure + +"I hab hearn folks say, 'Hope I has 'ligion, but I doan know'; but I +neber hearn a man say, 'I hope's I has money, but I doan know.' Dat +sorter 'ligion dat yer hopes ye's got, but doan know, ain't gwine to +do no mo' good dan der money what yer hopes ye's got but doan know." + + +Some Things Quite Plain + +An English army officer in India who had been living an impure life +went round one evening to argue religion with the chaplain. During +their talk the officer said: + +"Religion is all very well, but you must admit that there are +difficulties--about the miracles, for instance." + +The chaplain knew the man and his besetting sin, and quietly looking +him in the face, answered: + +"Yes; there are some things in the Bible not very plain, I admit; but +the seventh commandment is very plain." + + +Your Own Picture There + +The Bible is like an album. I go into a man's house, and while waiting +for him, I take up an album and open it. I look at a picture. "Why, +that looks like a man I know." I turn over and look at another. "Well, +I know that man." I keep turning over the leaves. "Well, there is a +man who lives in the same street as myself--he is my next-door +neighbor." And then I come upon another, and see myself. + +My friends, if you read your Bibles you will find your own pictures +there. It just describes you. You may be a Pharisee; if so, turn to +the third chapter of John, and see what Christ said to the Pharisee: +"Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God." But +you may say: "I am not a Pharisee; I am a poor miserable sinner, too +bad to come to Him." Well, turn to the woman of Samaria, and see what +Christ said to her. + + +"That's Me!" + +While we were in London, Mr. Spurgeon one day in his orphanage told +about the boys--that some of them had aunts and some cousins, and that +nearly every boy had some friend that took an interest in him, and +came to see him and gave him a little pocket money. One day, he said, +while he stood there, a little boy came up to him and said: + +"Mr. Spurgeon, let me speak to you." + +The boy sat down between Mr. Spurgeon and the elder who was with him, +and said: + +"Mr. Spurgeon, suppose your father and mother were dead, and you +didn't have any cousins, or aunts, or uncles or friends to come and +give you pocket money, and give you presents, don't you think you +would feel bad? Because that's me!" + +Said Mr. Spurgeon: "The minute he said that, I put my right hand down +into my pocket and took out some money for him." + + +Queer Ideas of Repentance + +The unconverted have a false idea about repentance; they think God is +going to make them repent. I was once talking with a man on this +subject, and he summed up his whole argument by saying: + +"Moody, it has never struck me yet." + +I said: "What has never struck you." + +"Well," he replied: "Some people it strikes, and some it doesn't. +There was a good deal of interest in our town a few years ago, and +some of my neighbors were converted, but it didn't strike me." + +That man thought that repentance was coming down some day to strike +him like lightning. Another man said he expected some sensation, like +cold chills down his back. + +Repentance isn't feeling. It is turning from sin to God. One of the +best definitions was given by a soldier. Some one asked him how he was +converted. He said: + +"The Lord said to me, _Halt! Attention! Right about face! March!_ and +that was all there was in it." + + +A Good Illustration + +A little child gives a good illustration of faith. Let the wind blow +her hat into the river, and she does not worry; she knows her mother +will get her another. She lives by faith. + + +"Come! Come! Come!" + +A man in one of our meetings had been brought there against his will; +he had come through some personal influence brought to bear upon him. +When he got to the meeting, they were singing the chorus of a hymn: + +/* +Come! oh, come to Me! +Come! oh, come to Me! +Weary, heavy-laden, +Come! oh, come to Me! +*/ + +He said afterward he thought he never saw so many fools together in +his life before. The idea of a number of men standing there singing, +"Come! come! come!" + +When he started home he could not get this little word out of his +head; it kept coming back all the time. He went into a saloon, and +ordered some whisky, thinking to drown it. But he could not; it still +kept coming back. He went into another saloon, and drank some more +whisky; but the words kept ringing in his ears: "Come! come! come!" He +said to himself, "What a fool I am for allowing myself to be troubled +in this way!" He went to a third saloon, had another glass, and +finally got home. + +He went off to bed, but could not sleep; it seemed as if the very +pillow kept whispering the word, "Come! Come!" He began to be angry +with himself: "What a fool I was for ever going to that meeting at +all!" When he got up he took the little hymn book, found the hymn, and +read it over. + +"What nonsense!" he said to himself; "the idea of a rational man being +disturbed by that hymn." + +He set fire to the hymn book, but he could not burn up the little word +"Come!" + +He declared he would never go to another of the meetings; but the next +night he came again. When he got there, strange to say, they were +singing the same hymn. + +"There is that miserable old hymn again," he said; "what a fool I am +for coming!" When the Spirit of God lays hold of a man, he does a good +many things he did not intend to do. + +To make a long story short, that man rose in a meeting of young +converts, and told the story that I have now told you. Pulling out the +little hymn-book--for he had bought another copy--and opening it at +this hymn, he said: + +"I think this hymn is the sweetest and the best in the English +language. God blessed it to the saving of my soul. And yet this was +the very hymn that I despised." + + +Don't Scold + +"He that winneth souls is wise." Do you want to win men? Do not drive +or scold them. Do not try to tear down their prejudices before you +begin to lead them to the truth. Some people think they have to tear +down the scaffolding before they begin on the building. An old +minister once invited a young brother to preach for him. The latter +scolded the people, and when he got home, asked the old minister how +he had done. He said he had an old cow, and when he wanted a good +supply of milk, he fed the cow; he did not scold her. + + +A Long Time to Reap + +A man died in the Columbus penitentiary some years ago who had spent +over thirty years in his cell. He was one of the millionaires of Ohio. +Fifty years ago when they were trying to get a trunk road from Chicago +to New York, they wanted to lay the line through his farm near +Cleveland. He did not want his farm divided by the railroad, so the +case went into court, where commissioners were appointed to pay the +damages and to allow the road to be built. + +One dark night, a train was thrown off the track, and several were +killed. This man was suspected, was tried and found guilty, and was +sent to the penitentiary for life. The farm was soon cut up into city +lots, and the man became a millionaire, but he got no benefit from it. + +It may not have taken him more than an hour to lay the obstruction on +the railroad, but he was over thirty years reaping the result of that +one act! + + +"As a Little Child" + +A little child is the most dependent thing on earth. All its resources +are in its parents' love; all it can do is to cry; and its necessities +explain the meaning to the mother's heart. If we interpret its +language, it means: "Mother, wash me; I cannot wash myself. Mother, +clothe me; I am naked, and cannot clothe myself. Mother, feed me; I +cannot feed myself. Mother, carry me; I cannot walk." It is written, +"A mother may forget her sucking child; yet will not I forget thee." + +This it is to receive the Kingdom of God as a little child--to come to +Jesus in our helplessness, and say: "Lord Jesus, wash me!" "Clothe +me!" "Feed me!" "Carry me!" "Save me, Lord, or I perish."--Rainsford. + + +Following the Lamb + +A friend who lost all his children told me about being in an eastern +country some time ago, and he saw a shepherd going down to a stream, +and he wanted to get his flock across. He went into the water and +called them by name, but they came to the bank and bleated, and were +too afraid to follow. At last he went back, tightened his girdle about +his loins, took up two little lambs, and put one inside his frock, and +another inside his bosom. Then he started into the water, and the old +sheep looked up to the shepherd instead of down into the water. They +wanted to see their little ones. So he got them over the water, and +led them into the green pastures on the other side. + +How many times the Good Shepherd has come down here and taken a little +lamb to the hill-tops of glory, and then the father and mother begin +to look up and follow. + + +Two Pictures + +A friend told me of a poor man who had sent his son to school in the +city. One day the father was hauling some wood into the city, perhaps +to pay his boy's bills. The young man was walking down the street with +two of his school friends, all dressed in the very height of fashion. +His father saw him, and was so glad that he left his wood, and went to +the sidewalk to speak to him. But the boy was ashamed of his father, +who had on his old working clothes, and spurned him, and said: + +"I don't know you." + +Will such a young man ever amount to anything? Never! + +There was a very promising young man in my Sunday-school in Chicago. +His father was a confirmed drunkard, and his mother took in washing to +educate her four children. This was her eldest son, and I thought that +he was going to redeem the whole family. But one day a thing happened +that made him go down in my estimation. + +The boy was in the high school, and was a very bright scholar. One day +he stood with his mother at the cottage door--it was a poor house, but +she could not pay for their schooling and feed and clothe her children +and hire a very good house too out of her earnings. When they were +talking a young man from the high school came up the street, and this +boy walked away from his mother. Next day the young man said: + +"Who was that I saw you talking to yesterday?" + +"Oh, that was my washerwoman." + +I said: "Poor fellow! He will never amount to anything." + +That was a good many years ago. I have kept my eye on him. He has gone +down, down, down, and now he is just a miserable wreck. Of course, he +would go down! Ashamed of his mother that loved him and toiled for +him, and bore so much hardship for him! I cannot tell you the contempt +I had for that one act. + +Let us look at-- + + +A Brighter Picture + +Some years ago I heard of a poor woman who sent her boy to school and +college. When he was to graduate, he wrote his mother to come, but she +sent back word that she could not because her best skirt had already +been turned once. She was so shabby that she was afraid he would be +ashamed of her. He wrote back that he didn't care how she was dressed, +and urged so strongly that she went. He met her at the station, and +took her to a nice place to stay. The day came for his graduation, and +he walked down the broad aisle with that poor mother dressed very +shabbily, and put her into one of the best seats in the house. To her +great surprise he was the valedictorian of the class, and he carried +everything before him. He won a prize, and when it was given to him, +he stepped down before the whole audience and kissed his mother, and +said: + +"Here, mother, here is the prize! It's yours. I would not have won it +if it had not been for you." + +Thank God for such a man! + + +The Folly of Covetousness + +The folly of covetousness is well shown in the following extract: + +"If you should see a man that had a large pond of water, yet living in +continual thirst, nor suffering himself to drink half a draught for +fear of lessening his pond; if you should see him wasting his time and +strength in fetching more water to his pond, always thirsty, yet +always carrying a bucket of water in his hand, watching early and late +to catch the drops of rain, gaping after every cloud, and running +greedily into every mire and mud in hopes of water, and always +studying how to make every ditch empty itself into the pond; if you +should see him grow gray in these anxious labors, and at last end a +thirsty life by falling into his own pond, would you not say that such +a one was not only the author of his own disquiet, but was foolish +enough to be reckoned among madmen? But foolish and absurd as this +character is, it does not represent half the follies and absurd +disquiets of the covetous man." + +I have read of a millionaire in France, who was a miser. In order to +make sure of his wealth, he dug a cave in his wine cellar so large and +deep that he could go down into it with a ladder. The entrance had a +door with a spring lock. After a time, he was missing. Search was +made, but they could find no trace of him. At last his house was sold, +and the purchaser discovered this door in the cellar. He opened it, +went down, and found the miser lying dead on the ground, in the midst +of his riches. The door must have shut accidentally after him, and he +perished miserably. + + +What is Needed + +Nine-tenths, at least, of our church members never think of speaking +for Christ. If they see a man, perhaps a near relative, going right +down to ruin, going rapidly, they never think of speaking to him about +his sinful course and of seeking to win him to Christ. Now certainly +there must be something wrong. And yet when you talk with them you +find they have faith, and you cannot say they are not children of God; +but they have not the power, the liberty, the love that real disciples +of Christ should have. + +A great many think that we need new measures, new churches, new +organs, new choirs, and all these new things. That is not what the +Church of God needs to-day. It is the old power that the apostles had. +If we have that in our churches, there will be new life. + +I remember when in Chicago many were toiling in the work, and it +seemed as though the car of salvation didn't move on, when a minister +began to cry out from the very depths of his heart: + +"Oh, God, put new ministers in every pulpit." + +Next Monday I heard two or three men stand up and say, "We had a new +minister last Sunday--the same old minister, but he had got new +power," and I firmly believe that is what we want to-day all over +America--new ministers in the pulpit and new people in the pews. We +want people quickened by the Spirit of God. + + +Neglecting Church + +A minister rebuked a farmer for not attending church, and said: + +"You know, John, you are never absent from market." + +"Oh," was the reply, "we _must_ go to market." + + +Oratorical Preaching + +My friends, we have too many orators in the pulpit, I am tired and +sick of your "silver-tongued orators." I used to mourn because I +couldn't be an orator. I thought, Oh, if I could only have the gift of +speech like some men! I have heard men with a smooth flow of language +take the audience captive; but they came and they went. Their voice +was like the air--there wasn't any _power_ back of it; they trusted in +their eloquence and their fine speeches. That is what Paul was +thinking of when he wrote to the Corinthians: "My speech and my +preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in +demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not +stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." + +Take a witness in court and let him try his oratorical powers in the +witness-box, and see how quickly the judge will rule him out. It is +the man who tells the plain, simple truth that has the most influence +with the jury. + +Suppose that Moses had prepared a speech for Pharaoh, and had got his +hair all smoothly brushed, and had stood before the looking-glass, or +had gone to an elocutionist to be taught how to make an oratorical +speech and how to make gestures. Suppose that he had buttoned his +coat, put one hand in his chest, had struck an attitude, and begun: + +"The God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, has +commanded me to come into the presence of the noble King of Egypt." + +I think they would have taken his head right off! They had Egyptians +who could be as eloquent as Moses. It was not eloquence they wanted. + + +To Which Class Do You Belong? + +Some one has said that there are three classes of people: the "wills," +the "won'ts," and the "can'ts"; the first accomplish everything, the +second oppose everything, and the third fail in everything. + + +Sunday Work + +A Christian man was once urged by his employer to work on Sunday. + +"Does not your Bible say that if your ass falls into a pit on the +Sabbath, you may pull him out?" + +"Yes," replied the other; "but if the ass had the habit of falling +into the same pit every Sabbath, I would either fill up the pit or +sell the ass." + + +There Must Be Roots + +Suppose I hire two men to set out trees, and after a day or two I go +out to see how they are getting along. I find that one man has set out +a hundred trees, and the other only ten. I say: + +"Look here; what does this mean? That man has set out a hundred trees, +and you have set out only ten. What does it mean?" + +"Yes, but he has cut off all the roots, and, just stuck the tops into +the ground." + +I go to the other man, and say: "What does this mean? Why have you +planted all of these trees without roots?" + +"I don't believe in roots; they are of no account. My trees look just +as well as his." + +But when the sun blazes upon the trees, they all wither and die. + +There are a lot of people running around who haven't got any roots. A +good many live on negations. They are always telling what they _don't_ +believe. I want a man to tell me what he _does_ believe, not what he +does not believe. And I like to meet a positive man. We just want to +know what men do believe. We don't want trees that haven't any roots, +for they will dry up when the sun blazes on them. There are a good +many persons that are going on without any foundation; they have no +faith. + + +The Path of Obedience + +Whatsoever He tells you to do, do. But be sure He says it. Don't take +your ideas. Go and live right at home, go and treat your wife and +children right, pay your debts, and do some things of that kind. + +A colored man said he had seen a sign; he said it read, "G. P. C," and +he understood it to mean, "Go preach Christ." + +Another man got up, and said. "No, that ain't it; it is 'Go pick +cotton.'" + +If it is preach the gospel, go preach the gospel; and if it is pick +cotton, then pick cotton. + + +Calling a Man a Liar + +You cannot offer a man a greater insult than to tell him he is a liar. +Unbelief is telling God He is a liar. + +Suppose a man said, "Mr. Moody, I have no faith in you whatever." +Don't you think it would grieve me? There is not anything that would +wound a man much more than to be told that you do not have any faith +in him. + +A great many men say, "Oh, I have profound reverence and respect for +God." + +Yes, profound respect, but not faith. Why, it is a downright insult! + +Suppose a man says, "Mr. Moody, I have profound respect for you, +profound admiration for you, but I do not believe a word you say." + +I wouldn't give much for his respect or admiration; I wouldn't give +much for his friendship. God wants us to put our faith in Him. How it +would wound a mother's feelings to hear her children say, "I do love +mamma so much, but I don't believe what she says." How it would grieve +that mother. And that is about the way a great many of God's professed +children talk. Some men seem to think it is a great misfortune that +they do not have faith. Bear in mind it is not a misfortune, but it is +the damning sin of the world. + + +Bending His Will + +A mother told me up in Minnesota that she had a little child who took +a book and threw it out of the window. She told him to go and pick it +up. The little boy said, "I won't." + +She said, "What?" + +He said again, "I won't." + +She said: "You must. Go and pick up that book." + +He said he couldn't do it. She took him out, and she held him right to +it. Dinner-time came, and he hadn't picked up the book. She took him +to dinner, and after it was over she took him out again. They sat +there until tea-time. When tea-time came she took him in and gave him +his supper, and then took him out and kept him there until bed-time. +The next morning she went out again and kept him there until +dinner-time. He found he was in for a life job, and he picked the book +up. + +She said she never had any trouble with the child afterward. Mothers, +if you don't make your boy obey when he is young, he will break your +heart. + + +How To Find the Thirsty + +When preaching in Chicago, Dr. Monro Gibson once asked in the inquiry +meeting, "Now, how can we find out who is thirsty? I was just thinking +how we could find out. If a boy should come down the aisle, bringing +a good pail full of clear water and a dipper, we would soon find out +who was thirsty. The thirsty men and women would reach out for water; +but if he should walk down the aisle with an empty bucket, we wouldn't +find out. People would look in and see that there was no water, and +say nothing. So," said he, "I think that is the reason we are not more +blessed in our ministry; we are carrying around empty buckets, and the +people see that we have not anything in them, and they don't come +forward." + + +Making Parables + +Stewart Robertson met Marshall, the great politician, and Marshall +said: + +"Why don't you preach in parables like your Master?" + +Robertson said: "I would if I knew enough. I wish you would make me a +few." + +He never could get to see him from that day until one day he met him +on a corner, and he said: + +"Marshall, where are those parables?" + +"I knew you would be after me, but I give it up. I tried, but I +couldn't make them. I didn't know it was so hard." + +People say, "Oh, any one can make up a sermon." But if you think so, +just try it! + + +A Father's Mistake + +The story is told that a man once said he would not talk to his son +about religion; the boy should make his own choice when he grew up, +unprejudiced by him. + +The boy broke his arm, and when the doctor was setting it, he cursed +and swore the whole time. The father was quite grieved and shocked. + +"Ah," said the doctor, "you were afraid to prejudice the boy in the +right way, but the devil had no such prejudice. He has led your son +the other way." + +The idea that a father is to let his children run wild! Nature alone +never brings forth anything but weeds. + + +A Rum-Seller's Son Blows His Brains Out + +Look at that rum-seller. When we talk to him he laughs at us. He tells +you there is no hell, no future--there is no retribution. I've got one +man in my mind now who ruined nearly all the sons in his neighborhood. +Mothers and fathers went to him and begged him not to sell their +children liquor. He told them it was his business to sell liquor, and +he was going to sell liquor to every one who came. The saloon was a +blot upon the place as dark as hell. + +But the man had a father's heart. He had a son. He didn't worship God, +but he worshiped that boy. He didn't remember that whatsoever a man +soweth so shall he reap. My friends, they generally reap what they +sow. It may not come immediately, but the retribution will surely +come. If you ruin other men's sons, some other man will ruin yours. +Bear in mind God is a God of equity; God is a God of justice. He is +not going to allow you to ruin others and escape yourself. If we go +against His laws, we suffer. + +Time rolled on, and that young man became a slave to drink, and his +life became such a burden to him that he put a revolver to his head +and blew his brains out. The father lived a few years, but his life +was as bitter as gall, and then went down to his grave in sorrow. Ah, +my friends, it is hard to kick against the pricks. + + +Mrs. Moody Teaching Her Child + +There was a time when our little boy did not like to go to church, and +would get up in the morning and say to his mother: + +"What day is to-morrow?" + +"Tuesday." + +"Next day?" + +"Wednesday." + +"Next day?" + +"Thursday"; and so on, till he came to the answer, "Sunday." + +"Dear me," he said. + +I said to the mother, "We cannot have our boy grow up to hate Sunday +in this way; that will never do. That is the way I used to feel when I +was a boy. I used to look upon Sunday with a certain amount of dread. +Very few kind words were associated with the day. I don't know that +the minister even noticed me, unless it was when I was asleep in the +gallery, and he had some one wake me up. This kind of thing won't do. +We must make the Sunday the most attractive day of the week; not a day +to be dreaded, but a day of pleasure." + +Well, the mother took the work up with this boy. Bless those mothers +in their work with the children! Sometimes I feel as if I would rather +be the mother of John Wesley or Martin Luther or John Knox than have +all the glories in the world. Those mothers who are faithful with the +children God has given them will not go unrewarded. + +My wife went to work, and took Bible stories and put those blessed +truths in a light that the boy could comprehend, and soon his feeling +for the Sabbath was the other way. + +"What day's to-morrow?" he would ask. + +"Sunday." + +"I am glad." + +If we make Bible truths interesting, and break them up in some shape +so that these children can get at them, then they will begin to enjoy +them. + + +Missed At Last! + +In one of the tenement houses in New York City a doctor was sent for. +He came, and found a young man very sick. When he got to the bedside +the young man said: + +"Doctor, I don't want you to deceive me; I want to know the worst. Is +this illness to prove serious?" + +After the doctor had made an examination, he said, "I am sorry to tell +you you cannot live out the night." + +The young man looked up and said, "Well, then, I have missed it at +last!" + +"Missed what?" + +"I have missed eternal life. I always intended to become a Christian +some day, but I thought I had plenty of time, and put it off." + +The doctor, who was himself a Christian man, said: "It is not too +late. Call on God for mercy." + +"No; I have always had a great contempt for a man who repents when he +is dying; he is a miserable coward. If I were not sick, I would not +have a thought about my soul, and I am not going to insult God now." + +The doctor spent the day with him, read to him out of the Bible, and +tried to get him to lay hold of the promises. The young man said he +would not call on God, and in that state of mind he passed away. Just +as he was dying the doctor saw his lips moving. He reached down, and +all he could hear was the faint whisper: + +"_I have missed it at last!_" + +Dear friend, make sure that you do not miss eternal life at last. + + +Choose Now + +A teacher had been relating to his class the parable of the rich man +and Lazarus, and he asked: + +"Now, which would you rather be, boys, the rich man or Lazarus?" + +One boy answered, "I would rather be the rich man while I live, and +Lazarus when I die." + +That cannot be. + + +The Mansion Made Ready + +Once when I was traveling to a city there was a lady in the car with +me. After I had reached the hotel where I was to stay, and had got +comfortable quarters, she came, and said: + +"Oh, sir, I cannot get a room in this hotel; they are quite full! How +ever did you manage to get a room?" + +"Easily enough," I replied; "I just telegraphed on before that I was +coming, to have a room ready for me." + +And it is somewhat similar in regard to gaining admission to heaven. +Your names must be sent on beforehand, and entered in its book, else +you won't get in; but get your names inscribed on its pages, and then +you won't be disappointed. God will have a mansion ready for you when +you ascend to your heavenly home. When you come to its gates, the +guardian angels will refer to the book of life to see if your name is +there. If so, pass in; but if not, admittance will be inexorably +refused. + + +The Promise For All + +Every one of God's proclamations is connected with that word +"whosoever"--"whosoever believeth," "whosoever will." I think it was +Richard Baxter said he thanked God for that "whosoever." He would a +good deal rather have that word "whosoever" than Richard Baxter; for +if it was Richard Baxter, he should have thought it was some other +Richard Baxter who had lived and died before him; but "whosoever" he +knew included him. + +I heard of a woman once that thought there was no promise in the Bible +for her; she thought the promises were for some one else, not for her. +There are a good many of these people in the world. They think it is +too good to be true that they can be saved for nothing. This woman one +day got a letter, and when she opened it she found it was not for her +at all; it was meant for another woman that had the same name; and she +had her eyes opened to the fact that if she should find some promise +in the Bible directed to her name, she would not know whether it meant +her or some one else that bore her name. But you know the word +"whosoever" includes every one in the wide world. + + +Reaping As They Sowed + +Although God forgave the sins of Jacob and David, and the other Old +Testament saints, yet there were certain consequences of their sins +which those saints had to suffer after they were forgiven. + +If a man gets drunk and goes out and breaks his leg, so that it must +be amputated, God will forgive him if he asks it, but he will have to +hop around on one leg all his life. A man may sow thistle-seed with +grain-seed in a moment of pique against his master, and the master +may forgive him, but the man will have to reap the thistles with the +grain. + + +Small Beginnings + +An obscure man preached one Sunday to a few persons in a Methodist +chapel in the South of England. A boy of fifteen years of age was in +the audience, driven into the chapel by a snowstorm. The man took as +his text the words, "Look unto me and be ye saved," and as he stumbled +along as best he could, the light of heaven flashed into that boy's +heart. He went out of the chapel saved, and soon became known as C. H. +Spurgeon, the boy-preacher. + +The parsonage at Epworth, England, caught fire one night, and all the +inmates were rescued except one son. The boy came to a window, and was +brought safely to the ground by two farm-hands, one standing on the +shoulder of the other. The boy was John Wesley. If you would realize +the responsibility of that incident, if you would measure the +consequences of that rescue, ask the millions of Methodists who look +back to John Wesley as the founder of their denomination. + + +Saying and Doing + +A man was once conversing with a Brahmin priest, and he asked: + +"Could _you_ say, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life?'" + +"Yes," replied the priest, "I could say that." + +"_But could you make any one believe it?_" + +Christ proved His superiority right there. His character and His +actions were back of His words. He exhibited His divine power to +silence His enemies. + + +Climb Higher + +I remember being in a meeting after the Civil War had been going on +for about six months. The army of the North had been defeated at Bull +Run; in fact, we had nothing but defeat, and it looked as though the +Republic was going to pieces; so we were much cast down and +discouraged. At this meeting every speaker for a while seemed as if he +had hung his harp upon the willow; it was one of the gloomiest +meetings I ever attended. Finally an old man with beautiful white hair +got up to speak, and his face literally shone. + +"Young men," he said, "you do not talk like sons of the King. Though +it is dark just here, remember it is light somewhere else." Then he +went on to say that if it were dark all over the world, it was light +up around the Throne. + +He told us he had come from the East, where a friend had described to +him how he had been up a mountain to spend the night and see the sun +rise. As the party were climbing up the mountain, and before they had +reached the summit, a storm came on. This friend said to the guide: + +"I will give this up; take me back." + +The guide smiled, and replied: "I think we shall get above the storm +soon." + +On they went; and it was not long before they got up to where it was +as calm as any summer evening. Down in the valley a terrible storm +raged; they could hear the thunder rolling, and see the lightning's +flash; but all was serene on the mountain top. + +"And so, my young friends," continued the old man, "though all is +dark around you, come a little higher, and the darkness will flee +away." + +Often when I have been inclined to get discouraged, I have thought of +what he said. If you are down in the valley amidst the thick fog and +the darkness, get a little higher; get nearer to Christ, and know more +of Him. + + +The Greatest Miracle + +Jesus said, "The works that I do shall ye do also, and greater works +than these shall ye do because I go to the Father." + +I used to stumble over that. I didn't understand it. I thought what +greater work could any man do than Christ had done? How could any one +raise a dead man who had been laid away in the sepulchre for days, and +who had already begun to turn back to dust; how with a word could he +call him forth? + +But the longer I live the more I am convinced it is a greater thing to +influence a man's will; a man whose will is set against God; to have +that will broken and brought into subjection to God's will--or, in +other words, it is a greater thing to have power over a living, +sinning, God-hating man, than to quicken the dead. He who could create +a world could speak a dead soul into life; but I think the greatest +miracle this world has ever seen was the miracle at Pentecost. Here +were men who surrounded the apostles, full of prejudice, full of +malice, full of bitterness, their hands, as it were, dripping with the +blood of the Son of God, and yet an unlettered man, a man whom they +detested, a man whom they hated, stands up and preaches the Gospel, +and three thousand of them are immediately convicted and converted, +and become disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. + + +Different Kinds of Murder + +One young man at college, an only son, whose mother wrote to him +remonstrating against his gambling and drinking habits, took the +letters out of the post-office, and when he found that they were from +her, he tore them up without reading them. She said: + +"I thought I would die when I found I had lost my hold on that son." + +If a boy kills his mother by his conduct, you can't call it anything +else than _murder_, and he is as truly guilty of breaking the sixth +commandment as if he drove a dagger to her heart. + + +"It Is Not For You!" + +Commenting on the text: "It is not for you to know the times or the +seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power," Spurgeon said: + +"If I were introduced into a room where a large number of parcels were +stored up, and I was told that there was something good for me, I +should begin to look for that which had my name upon it, and when I +came upon a parcel and I saw in pretty big letters, '_It is not for +you_,' I should leave it alone. Here, then, is a casket of knowledge +marked, '_It is not for you_ to know the times or the seasons, which +the Father hath put in His own power.' Cease to meddle with matters +which are concealed, and be satisfied to know the things which are +clearly revealed." + + +Stolen Goods a Burden + +I heard of a boy who stole a cannon-ball from a navy-yard. He watched +his opportunity, sneaked into the yard, and secured it. But when he +had it, he hardly knew what to do with it. It was heavy, and too +large to conceal in his pocket, so he had to put it under his hat. +When he got home with it, he dared not show it to his parents, because +it would have led at once to his detection. + +He said in after years it was the last thing he ever stole. + +The story is told that a royal diamond valued at $600,000 was stolen +from a window of a jeweler, to whom it had been given to set. A few +months afterward a miserable man died a miserable death in a poor +lodging-house. In his pocket was found the diamond, and a letter +telling how he had not dared to sell it, lest it should lead to his +discovery and imprisonment. It never brought him anything but anxiety +and pain. + + +Unlocked By Prayer + +God's best gifts, like valuable jewels, are kept under lock and key, +and those who want them must, with fervent faith, importunately ask +for them; for God is the rewarder of them that _diligently_ seek Him. + + +The Faithful Promiser + +God is always true to what He promises to do. He made promises to +Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, and the others, and did He not fulfill +them? He will fulfill every word of what He has promised; yet how few +take Him at His word! + +When I was a young man I was clerk in the establishment of a man in +Chicago, whom I observed frequently occupied sorting and marking +bills. He explained to me what he had been doing; on some notes he had +marked B, on some D, and on others G; those marked B, he told me, were +bad, those marked D meant they were doubtful, and those with G on +them mean they were _good_; and, said he, you must treat all of them +accordingly. And thus people indorse God's promises, by marking some +as bad and others as doubtful; whereas we ought to take all of them as +_good_, for He has never once broken His word, and all that He says He +will do, will be done in the fullness of time. + + +Throw Out the Ballast + +When men go up in a balloon, they carry with them what they call +ballast--that is, small bags of sand, and when they want to rise +higher they just throw out some of the sand. So we, if we want to rise +nearer heaven, must just throw out some of the sand, and cast aside +every weight. We won't rise higher till we do so. + + +A Mother's Love + +The closest tie on earth is a mother's love for her child. There are a +good many things that will separate a man from his wife, but there +isn't a thing in the wide, wide world that will separate a true mother +from her own child. I will admit that there are unnatural mothers, +that there are mothers that have gone out of their heads, mothers that +are so steeped in sin and iniquity that they will turn against their +own children, but a true mother will never, never turn against her own +child. I have talked with mothers when my blood boiled with +indignation against the sons for their treatment of their mothers, and +I have said: + +"Why don't you cast him off?" + +They have said: "Why, Mr. Moody, I love him still. He is my son." + +I was once preaching for Dr. G. in St. Louis, and when I got through +he said that he wanted to tell me a story. There was a boy who was +very bad. He had a very bad father, who seemed to take delight in +teaching his son everything that was bad. The father died, and the boy +went on from bad to worse until he was arrested for murder. + +When he was on trial, it came out that he had murdered five other +people, and from one end of the city to the other there was a +universal cry going up against him. During his trial they had to guard +the court-house, the indignation was so intense. + +The white-haired mother got just as near her son as she could, and +every witness that went into the court and said anything against him +seemed to hurt her more than her son. When the jury brought in a +verdict of guilty a great shout went up, but the old mother nearly +fainted away; and when the judge pronounced the sentence of death they +thought she would faint away. + +After it was over she threw her arms around him and kissed him, and +there in the court they had to tear him from her embrace. She then +went the length and breadth of the city trying to get men to sign a +petition for his pardon. And when he was hanged, she begged the +governor to let her have the body of her son, that she might bury it. +They say that death has torn down everything in this world, everything +but a mother's love. That is stronger than death itself. The governor +refused to let her have the body, but she cherished the memory of that +boy as long as she lived. + +A few months later she followed her boy, and when she was dying she +sent word to the governor, and begged that her body might be laid +close to her son. That is a mother's love! She wasn't ashamed to have +her grave pointed out for all time as the grave of the mother of the +most noted criminal the State of Vermont ever had. + +The prophet takes hold of that very idea. He says: "Can a mother +forget her child?" But a mother's love is not to be compared to the +love of God. + + +Restitution + +I was preaching in British Columbia some years ago and a young man +came to me, and wanted to become a Christian. He had been smuggling +opium into the States. + +"Well, my friend," I said, "I don't think there is any chance for you +to become a Christian until you make restitution." He said, "If I +attempt to do that, I will fall into the clutches of the law, and I +will go to the penitentiary." "Well," I replied, "you had better do +that than go to the judgment-seat of God with that sin upon your soul, +and have eternal punishment. The Lord will be very merciful if you set +your face to do right." + +He went away sorrowful, but came back the next day, and said: "I have +a young wife and child, and all the furniture in my house I have +bought with money I have got in this dishonest way. If I become a +Christian, that furniture will have to go, and my wife will know it." + +"Better let your wife know it, and better let your home and furniture +go." + +"Would you come up and see my wife?" he asked; "I don't know what she +will say." + +I went up to see her, and when I told her, the tears trickled down her +cheeks, and she said: "Mr. Moody, I will gladly give everything if my +husband can become a true Christian." + +She took out her pocketbook, and handed over her last penny. He had a +piece of land in the United States, which he deeded over to the +government. I do not know, in all my backward track, of any living man +who has had a better testimony for Jesus Christ than that man. He had +been dishonest, but when the truth came to him that he must make it +right before God would help him, he made it right. + +No amount of weeping over sin, and saying that you feel sorry, is +going to help it unless you are willing to confess and make +restitution. + + +Willie and the Bears + +I said to my little family, one morning, a few weeks before the +Chicago fire, "I am coming home this afternoon to give you a ride." + +My little boy clapped his hands. "Oh, papa, will you take me to see +the bears in Lincoln Park?" + +"Yes." + +I had not been gone long when my little boy said, "Mamma, I wish you +would get me ready." + +"Oh," she said, "it will be a long time before papa comes." + +"But I want to get ready, mamma." + +At last he was ready to have the ride, face washed, and clothes all +nice and clean. + +"Now, you must take good care, and not get yourself dirty again," said +mamma. + +Of course, he was going to take care; he wasn't going to get dirty! So +off he ran to watch for me. However, it was a long time yet until the +afternoon, and after a little he began to play. When I got home, I +found him outside, with his face all covered with dirt. + +"I can't take you to the park that way, Willie." + +"Why papa? you said you would take me." + +"Ah, but I can't; you're all over mud. I couldn't be seen with such a +dirty little boy." + +"Why, I'se clean, papa; mamma washed me." + +"Well, you've got dirty again." + +But he began to cry, and I could not convince him that he was dirty. + +"I'se clean; mamma washed me!" he cried. + +Do you think I argued with him? No. I just took him up in my arms, and +carried him into the house, and showed him his face in the +looking-glass. He had not a word to say. He would not take my word for +it; but one look at the glass was enough; he saw it for himself. He +didn't say he wasn't dirty after that! + +Now, the looking-glass showed him that his face was dirty--_but I did +not take the looking-glass to wash it_; of course not. Yet that is +just what thousands of people do. The Law is the looking-glass to see +ourselves in, to show us how vile and worthless we are in the sight of +God; but they take the Law and try to _wash_ themselves with it, +instead of being washed in the blood of the Lamb. + + +Christ For All + +An old Welshwoman said Christ was Welsh, and an Englishman said: + +"No, He was a Jew." + +She declared that she knew He was Welsh, because He spoke so that she +could understand Him. + + +Starting Right + +Many a man is lost because he does not start right. He makes a bad +start. A young man comes from his country home, and enters upon city +life. Temptation arises, and he becomes false to his principles. He +meets with some scoffing, sneering man, who jeers at him because he +goes to a church service; or because he is seen reading his Bible; or +because he is known to pray to God. And the young man proves to be +weak-kneed; he cannot stand the scoffs and the sneers and the jeers of +his companions; and so he becomes untrue to his principles, and gives +them up. + +I want to say here to young men, that when a young man makes a wrong +start, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred it is ruin to him. The +first game of chance; the first betting transaction; the first false +entry in the books; the first quarter-dollar taken from the cash-box +or the till; the first night spent in evil company--either of these +may prove the turning-point; either of these may represent a wrong +start. + + +Napoleon and the Conscript + +There is a well-known story told of Napoleon the First's time. In one +of the conscriptions, during one of his many wars, a man was balloted +as a conscript who did not want to go, but he had a friend who offered +to go in his place. His friend joined the regiment in his name, and +was sent off to the war. By and by a battle came on, in which he was +killed, and they buried him on the battle-field. Some time after, the +Emperor wanted more men, and by some mistake the first man was +balloted a second time. They went to take him, but he remonstrated. + +"You cannot take me." + +"Why not?" + +"I am dead," was the reply. + +"You are not dead; you are alive and well." + +"But I _am_ dead," he said. + +"Why, man, you must be mad. Where did you die?" + +"At such a battle, and you left me buried on such a battle-field." + +"You talk like a madman," they cried; but the man stuck to his point +that he had been dead and buried some months. + +"Look up your books," he said, "and see if it is not so." + +They looked, and found that he was right. They found the man's name +entered as drafted, sent to the war, and marked off as killed. + +"Look here," they said, "you didn't die; you must have got some one to +go for you; it must have been your _substitute_." + +"I know that," he said; "he died in my stead. You cannot touch me; I +died in that man, and I go free. The law has no claim against me." + +They would not recognize the doctrine of substitution, and the case +was carried to the Emperor. He said that the man was right, that he +was dead and buried in the eyes of the law, and that France had no +claim against him. + +This story may or may not be true, but one thing I know is true: Jesus +Christ suffered death for the sinner, and those who accept Him are +free from the Law. + + +Green Fields or Desert? + +When I was out in California, the first time I went down from the +Sierra Nevada Mountains and dropped into the Valley of the Sacramento, +I was surprised to find on one farm that everything about it was +green--all the trees and flowers, everything was blooming, and +everything was green and beautiful, and just across the hedge +everything was dried up, and there was not a green thing there. I +could not understand it. I made inquiries, and I found that the man +that had everything green, irrigated; he just poured the water right +on, and kept everything green, while the fields that were next to his +were as dry as Gideon's fleece without a drop of dew. + +So it is with a great many in the church to-day. They are like these +farms in California--a dreary desert, everything parched and desolate, +and apparently no life in them. They can sit next to a man who is full +of the Spirit of God, who is like a green bay tree, and who is +bringing forth fruit, and yet they will not seek a similar blessing. + +Well, why this difference? Because God has poured water on him that +was thirsty; that is the difference. One has been seeking this +anointing, and he has received it; and when we want this above +everything else God will surely give it to us. + + +Religion In the Home + +What we want is family piety, righteousness in our homes. A young +minister came to me, and said he couldn't get along with his wife, and +what should he do? I told him to get out of the ministry. A man has no +right to be in the pulpit unless he can get along with his family. + + +A Universal Failing + +It is a false idea that all pride is confined to the upper classes. +You will find it in the lanes and alleys. You will find little dirty, +barefooted children who will get a string of shavings, put it round +their necks, and strut down the street as if they were wearing golden +beads. Pride is born and grows in the human heart. You do not plant it +there; it grows there of itself. There is as much pride among the poor +as among the rich; and that is one reason why more of them do not come +to the Lord Jesus Christ: they do not like to be laughed at, scoffed +at, sneered at, and ridiculed. It costs them too much. + + +Words and Actions + +A man may preach with the eloquence of an angel, but if he doesn't +live what he preaches, and act out in his home and his business what +he professes, his testimony goes for naught, and the people say it is +all hypocrisy after all; it is all a sham. Words are very empty, if +there is nothing back of them. Your testimony is poor and worthless, +if there is not a record back of that testimony consistent with what +you profess. What we need is to pray to God to lift us up out of this +low, cold, formal state that we live in, that we may dwell in the +atmosphere of God continually, and that the Lord may lift upon us the +light of His countenance, and that we may shine in this world, +reflecting His grace and glory. + + +The One-Eyed Doe + +There is an old fable that a doe that had but one eye used to graze +near the sea; and in order to be safe, she kept her blind eye toward +the water, from which side she expected no danger, while with the good +eye she watched the country. Some men, noticing this, took a boat and +came upon her from the sea and shot her. With her dying breath, she +said: + +"Oh! hard fate! that I should receive my death wound from that side +whence I expected no harm, and be safe in the part where I looked for +most danger." + + +Lost Opportunities + +If a farmer neglects to plant in the springtime, he can never recover +the lost opportunity; no more can you, if you neglect yours. Youth is +a seed-time, and if it is allowed to pass without good seed being +sown, weeds will spring up and choke the soil. It will take bitter +toil to uproot them. + +An old divine said that when a good farmer sees a weed in his field he +has it pulled up. If it is taken early enough, the blank is soon +filled in, and the crop waves over the whole field. But if allowed to +run too late, the bald patch remains. It would have been better if the +weed had never been allowed to get root. + + +Steer Clear + +A steamboat was stranded in the Mississippi River, and the captain +could not get her off. Eventually a hard-looking fellow came on board, +and said: + +"Captain, I understand you want a pilot to take you out of this +difficulty?" + +The captain said, "Are you a pilot?" + +"Well, they call me one." + +"Do you know where the snags and sand-bars are?" + +"No, sir." + +"Well, how do you expect to take me out of here if you don't know +where the snags and sand-bars are?" + +"I know where they ain't!" was the reply. + +Beware of temptations. "Lead us not into temptation," our Lord taught +us to pray; and again He said, "Watch and pray, lest ye enter into +temptation." We are weak and sinful by nature, and it is a good deal +better for us to pray for deliverance rather than to run into +temptation and then pray for strength to resist. + + +Looking for Revivals + +Men are anxious for a revival in business. There is a great revival in +politics just now. In all departments of life you find that men are +very anxious for a revival in the things that concern them most. + +If this is legitimate--and it is perfectly right in its place--should +not every child of God be praying for and desiring a revival of +godliness in the world at the present time? Do we not need a revival +of downright honesty, of truthfulness, of uprightness, and of +temperance? Are there not many who have become alienated from the +Church of God and from the house of the Lord, who are forming an +attachment to the saloon? Are not our sons being drawn away by +hundreds and thousands, so that while you often find the churches +empty, the liquor shops are crowded every Sabbath afternoon and +evening? I am sure the saloon-keepers are glad if they can have a +revival in their business; they do not object to sell more whisky and +beer. Then surely every true Christian ought to desire that men who +are in danger of perishing eternally should be saved and rescued. + + +Opportunity + +A sculptor once showed a visitor his studio. It was full of statues of +gods. One was very curious. The face was concealed by being covered +with hair, and there were wings on each foot. + +"What is his name?" said the visitor. + +"Opportunity," was the reply. + +"Why is his face hidden?" + +"Because men seldom know him when he comes to them." + +"Why has he wings on his feet?" + +"Because he is soon gone, and once gone can never be overtaken." + +It becomes us, then, to make the most of the opportunities God has +given us. + + +The Usual Way + +I used at one time to read so many chapters of the Bible a day, and if +I did not get through my usual quantity, I thought I was getting cold +and backsliding. But, mind you, if a man had asked me two hours +afterward what I had read, I could not tell him; I had forgotten it +nearly all. + +When I was a boy I used, among other things, to hoe corn on a farm; +and I used to hoe it so badly, in order to get over so much ground, +that at night I had to put down a stick in the ground, so as to know +next morning where I had left off. + +That was somewhat in the same fashion as running through so many +chapters every day. A man will say, "Wife, did I read that chapter?" + +"Well," says she, "I don't remember." + +And neither of them can recollect. And perhaps he reads the same +chapter over and over again; and they call that "studying the Bible." +I do not think there is a book in the world we neglect so much as the +Bible. + + +Getting On Splendidly + +One man said to another, some time ago: "How are you getting on at +your church?" + +"Oh, splendid." + +"Many conversions?" + +"Well--well, on that side we are not getting on so well. But," he +said, "we have rented all our pews and are able to pay all our +running expenses. We are getting on splendidly." + +That is what the godless call "getting on splendidly." They rent the +pews, pay the minister, and meet all the running expenses. + +A man was being shown through one of the cathedrals of Europe; he had +come in from the country. One of the men belonging to the cathedral +was showing him around, when he inquired: + +"Do you have may conversions here?" + +"Many what?" + +"Many conversions here?" + +"Ah, man, this is not a Wesleyan chapel." + +The idea of there being conversions there! And you can go into a good +many churches in this country and ask if they have many conversions +there, and they would not know what it meant, they are so far away +from the Lord; they are not looking for conversions, and don't expect +them. + + +A Hundred Years Hence + +Once, as I was walking down the street, I heard some people laughing +and talking aloud. One of them said: + +"Well, there will be no difference; it will be all the same a hundred +years hence." + +The thought flashed across my mind, "Will there be no difference? +Where will you be a hundred years hence?" + +Young man, just ask yourself the question, "Where shall I be?" Some of +you who are getting on in years may be in eternity ten years hence. +Where will you be, on the left or the right hand of God? I cannot tell +your feelings, but I can my own. I ask you, "Where will you spend +eternity? Where will you be a hundred years hence?" + + +A Free Gift + +Remember, salvation is a free gift, and it is a free gift _for us_. +Can you buy it? It is a free gift, presented to "whosoever" will +accept it. + +Suppose I were to say, I will give this Bible to "whosoever" will take +it; what have you got to do? Why, nothing but take it. But a man comes +forward, and says: + +"I'd like that Bible very much." + +"Well, didn't I say 'whosoever' will can have it?" + +"Yes; but I'd like to have you mention my name." + +"Well, here it is." + +Still he keeps eyeing the Bible, and saying, "I'd like to have that +Bible; but I'd like to give you something for it. I don't like to take +it for nothing." + +"But I am not here to sell Bibles; take it, if you want it." + +"Well, I want it; but I'd like to give you something for it. Let me +give you a cent for it; though, to be sure, it's worth about five +dollars." + +Suppose I accept the cent; the man takes up the Bible and marches away +home with it. + +His wife asks, "Where did you get that Bible?" + +"Oh, I bought it." + +Mark the point; when he gave the penny, it ceased to be a gift. So +with salvation. If you were to pay ever so little, it would not be a +gift. + + +What Seed Are You Sowing? + +Suppose I meet a man who is sowing seed, and say, "Hello, stranger, +what are you sowing?" + +"Seed." + +"What kind of seed?" + +"I don't know." + +"Don't you know whether it is good or bad?" + +"No; I can't tell. But it is seed--that is all I want to know, and I +am sowing it." + +You would say that he was a first-class lunatic, wouldn't you? But he +wouldn't be half so mad as the man who goes on sowing for time and +eternity, and never asks himself what he is sowing or what the harvest +will be. + +Father, what seed are you sowing in your family? Are you setting your +children a good or a bad example? Do you spend your time at the saloon +or the club, until you have become almost a stranger to them? or are +you training them for God and righteousness? + + +Bound Hand and Foot + +When I was speaking to five thousand children in Glasgow some years +ago, I took a spool of thread and said to one of the largest boys: + +"Do you believe I can bind you with that thread?" + +He laughed at the idea. I wound the thread around him a few times, and +he broke it with a single jerk. Then I wound the thread around and +around, and by and by I said: + +"Now get free if you can." + +He couldn't move head or foot. If you are slave to some vile habit, +you must either slay that habit, or it will slay you. + + +Unity + +There is one thing I have noticed as I have traveled in different +countries; I never yet have known the Spirit of God to work where the +Lord's people were divided. Unity is one thing that we must have if +we are to have the Holy Spirit of God to work in our midst. + +If a church is divided, the members should immediately seek unity. Let +the believers come together and get the difficulty out of the way. If +the minister of a church cannot unite the people, if those that were +dissatisfied will not fall in, it would be better for that minister to +retire. I think there are a good many ministers in this country who +are losing their time; they have lost, some of them, months and years; +they have not seen any fruit, and they will not see any fruit, because +they have a divided church. Such a church cannot grow in divine +things. The Spirit of God doesn't work where there is division, and +what we want to-day is the spirit of unity amongst God's children, so +that the Lord may work. + + +Get Inside! + +You have looked at the windows of a grand church erected at the cost +of many thousands of dollars. From the outside they did not seem very +beautiful; but get inside, when the rays of the sun are striking upon +the stained glass, and you begin to understand what others have told +you of their magnificence. So it is when you have come into personal +contact with Christ. You find Him to be the very Savior and friend you +need. You will see in Him what you have never seen before. + + +Hunt For Something + +We must study the Bible thoroughly, and hunt it through, as it were, +for some great truth. + +If a friend were to see me searching about a building, and were to +come up, and say, "Moody, what are you looking for? Have you lost +something?" and I were to say, "No, I haven't lost anything; I'm not +looking for anything particular," I fancy he would just let me go on +by myself, and think me very foolish. But if I were to say, "Yes, I +have lost a dollar," why, then, I might expect him to help me to find +it. + +Read the Bible, my friends, as if you were seeking for something of +value. It is a good deal better to take a single chapter, and spend a +month on it, than to read the Bible at random for a month. + + +"When Ye Think Not" + +McCheyne, the Scotch preacher, once said to some friends, "Do you +think Christ will come to-night?" + +One after another they said, "I think not." + +When all had given this answer, he solemnly repeated this text, "The +Son of Man cometh at an hour _when ye think not_." + + +Home Piety + +If a Christian is unsound in patience or unsound in love, we take no +notice of it; but let him be unsound in faith, and off goes his head. +I do hate to see a minister or professing Christian mean and peevish +to his wife, and yet be as polite as a dancing-master to other women. +I tell you he is not fit to preach the Word of God. I don't want to +have anything to do with him. The home was established before the +church, and he sadly needs more home piety. + + +Constant Watching + +The Persians had an annual festival when they slew all the serpents +and venomous creatures they could find; but they allowed them to swarm +as fast and freely as ever until the festival came round once more. It +was poor policy. Sins, like serpents, breed quickly, and need to be +constantly watched. + + +The Wrong Physician + +I heard once of a man who went to England from the Continent, and +brought letters with him to eminent physicians from the Emperor. The +letters said: + +"This man is a personal friend of mine, and we are afraid he is going +to lose his reason. Do all you can for him." + +The doctor asked him if he had lost any dear friend in his own +country, or any position of importance, or what it was that was +weighing on his mind. + +The young man said: "No; but my father and grandfather and myself were +brought up infidels, and for the last two or three years this thought +has been haunting me, 'Where shall I spend eternity?' And the thought +of it follows me day and night." + +The doctor said, "You have come to the wrong physician, but I will +tell you of One who can cure you"; and he told him of Christ, and read +to him the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, "With His stripes we are +healed." + +The young man said, "Doctor, do you believe that?" + +The doctor told him he did, and prayed and wrestled with him, and at +last the clear light of Calvary shone on his soul. He had settled the +question in his own mind at last, where he would spend eternity. + +I ask you, sinner, to settle if now. It is for you to decide. Shall it +be with the saints and martyrs and prophets, or in the dark caverns of +hell, amidst blackness and darkness forever? Make haste to be wise; +for "how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" + + +Seeking the Lost + +I remember, when we were in London, they found one old woman who was +eighty-five years old, and not a Christian. After the worker had +prayed, she made a prayer herself: + +"O Lord, I thank Thee for going out of Thy way to find me." + +He is all the time going out of His way to find the lost. + + +He Got Time To Think + +I was once preaching on the text, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; +for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." No sooner had I +read it than a man stood right up in the audience and said: + +"I don't believe it." + +I said: "My friend, that doesn't change the fact. Truth is truth, +whether you believe it or not; and a lie is a lie, whether you believe +it or not." + +He didn't want to believe it. When the meeting broke up, an officer +was at the door to arrest him. He was tried and sent to the +penitentiary for twelve months for stealing. I really believe that +when he got into his cell, he believed that he had to reap what he +sowed. + + +The Motherless Child + +Once I heard of a little sick child, whose mother was seriously ill; +and so, in order that she might have quiet, and that the sick child +might be no trouble to her, the little one was taken away to a +friend's house, and placed in charge of a kind lady for a time. The +mother grew worse, and at length died. The father said: + +"We'll not trouble the child about it; she is too young to remember +her mother; just let her remain where she is until the funeral is +over." + +This was done, and in a few days the little girl was brought back to +the house. No mention was made of her mother, or of what had occurred; +but no sooner was she taken to the house than she ran first into one +room, then into another, into the parlor, the dining-room, and all +over the house, and then away into a little room where her mother used +to go to pray alone. + +"Where is mother?" she cried. "I want mother!" + +And when they were compelled to tell her what had happened, she cried +out: + +"Take me away, take me away; I don't want to be here without mother." + +It was the mother made it home to her. And so it is in heaven. It is +not so much the white robes, the golden crown, or the harps of gold, +but it is the society we shall meet there. Who, then, are there? What +company shall we have when we get there? Jesus is there, the Holy +Father is there, the Spirit is there--our Father, our elder Brother, +our Comforter. + + +Converted the Regular Way + +I never yet knew a man converted just in the time and manner he +expected to be. I have heard people say, "Well, if ever I am +converted, it won't be in a Methodist church; you won't catch me +there." I never knew a man say that but, at last, if converted at all, +it was in a Methodist church. + +In Scotland a man was converted at one of our meetings--an employer. +He was very anxious that all his employes should be reached, and he +used to send them one by one to the meetings. But there was one +employe that wouldn't come. We are all more or less troubled with +stubbornness; and the moment this man found that his employer wanted +him to go to the meetings, he made up his mind he wouldn't go. If he +was going to be converted, he said, he was going to be converted by +some ordained minister; he was not going to any meeting that was +conducted by unordained Americans. He believed in conversion, but he +was going to be converted the regular way. He believed in the regular +Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and that was the place for him to be +converted. + +The employer tried every way he could to get him to attend the +meetings, but he wouldn't come. + +After we left that town and went away up to Inverness, the employer +had some business up there, and he sent this employe to attend to it, +in the hope that he would attend some of our meetings. + +One night, as I was preaching on the bank of a river, I happened to +take for my text the words of Naaman: "I thought; I thought." I was +trying to take men's thoughts up and to show the difference between +their thoughts and God's thoughts. This man happened to be walking +along the bank of the river. He saw a great crowd, and heard some one +talking, and he wondered to himself what that man was talking about. +He didn't know who was there, so he drew up to the crowd, and +listened. He heard the sermon, and became convicted and converted +right there. Then he inquired who was the preacher, and he found out +it was the very man that he said he would not hear--the man he +disliked. The very man he had been talking against was the very man +God used to convert him. + + +Crazy from Sin + +I was once preaching in Chicago, and a woman who was nearly out of her +mind came to me. You know there are some people who mock at religious +meetings, and say that religion drives people mad. It is _sin_ that +drives people mad. It is the want of Christ that sinks people into +despair. + +This was the woman's story: + +She had a family of children. One of her neighbors had died, and her +husband had brought home a little child. She said, "I don't want the +child," but her husband said, "You must take it and look after it." +She said she had enough to do with her own, and she told her husband +to take that child away. But he would not. She confessed that she +tried to starve the child; but it lingered on. One night it cried all +night; I suppose it wanted food. At last she took the clothes and +threw them over the child and smothered it. No one saw her; no one +knew anything about it. The child was buried. Years had passed away, +and she said: + +"I hear the voice of that child day and night. It has driven me nearly +mad." + +No one saw the act; but God saw it, and this retribution followed it. +History is full of these things. You need not go to the Bible to find +it out. + + +Don't Swear! + +I was greatly amazed not long ago, in talking to a man who thought he +was a Christian, to find that once in a while, when he got angry, he +would swear. I said: "My friend, I don't see how you can tear down +with one hand what you are trying to build up with the other. I don't +see how you can profess to be a child of God and let those words come +out of your lips." + +He replied: "Mr. Moody, if you knew me, you would understand. I have a +very quick temper. I inherited it from my father and mother, and it is +uncontrollable but my swearing comes only from the lips." + +When God said, "I will not hold him guiltless that takes My name in +vain," He meant what He said, and I don't believe any one can be a +true child of God who takes the name of God in vain. + + +The True Sheep Knows + +I tell you the true sheep know a true shepherd. I got up in Scotland +once and quoted a passage of Scripture a little different from what it +was in the Bible, and an old woman crept up and said: + +"Mr. Moody, you said----." + +I might make forty misquotations in an ordinary audience, and no one +would tell me about them. Like two lawyers: one said in court that the +other didn't know the Lord's Prayer. The other said he did: + +"Now I lay me down to sleep." + +"Well," the first said, "I give it up. I did not think you knew it." + +Didn't either one of them know it, you see. + + +The Father Knew Best + +Dr. Arnot, one of the greatest Scotch divines, was in this country +before he died. His mother died when he was a little boy only three +weeks old, and there was a large family of Arnots. I suppose they +missed the tenderness and love of the mother. They got the impression +that their father was very stern and rigid, and that he had a great +many laws and rules. + +One rule was, that the children should never climb trees. When the +neighbors found out that the Arnot children could not climb trees, +they began to tell them about the wonderful things they could see from +the tops of the trees. Well, tell a boy of twelve years that he +mustn't climb a tree, and he will get up that tree some way. And so +the Arnot children were all the time teasing their father to let them +climb the tree; but the old sire said: + +"No." + +One day he was busy reading his paper, and the boys said: + +"Father is reading his paper. Let's slip down into the lot and climb a +tree." + +One of the little fellows stood on the top of the fence to see that +father did not catch them. When his brother got up on the first +branch, he said: + +"What do you see?" + +"Why! I don't see anything." + +"Then go higher; you haven't got high enough." + +So up he went higher, and again the little boy asked: + +"Well, what do you see now?" + +"I don't see anything." + +"You aren't high enough; go higher." + +And the little fellow went up as high as he could go, but he slipped, +and down he came, and broke his leg. Willie said he tried to get him +into the house, but he couldn't do it. He had to tell his father all +about it. He said he was scared nearly out of his wits. He thought his +father would be very angry. But his father just threw aside the paper, +and started for the lot. When he got there, he picked the boy up in +his arms, and brought him up to the house. Then he sent for the +doctor. And Willie said he got a new view of that father. He found out +the reason why that father was so stern. He said the moment that boy +got hurt, no mother could have been more loving and gentle. + +My dear friends, there is not one commandment that has been given us +which has not been for our highest and best interest. There isn't a +commandment that hasn't come from the loving heart of God, and what He +wants is to have us give up that which is going to mar our happiness +in this life, and in the life to come. + + +"Help Yourself!" + +When I was out on the Pacific coast, in California, some years ago, I +was the guest of a man that had a large vineyard and a large orchard. +One day he said to me: + +"Moody, while you are my guest I want you to make yourself perfectly +at home, and if there is anything in the orchard or in the vineyard +you would like, help yourself." + +Well, when I wanted an orange, I did not go to an orange tree and pray +the oranges to fall into my pocket; but I walked up to a tree, reached +out my hand, and took the oranges. He said "Take," and I took. + +God says, "There is my Son; take Him as your Saviour. The wages of sin +is death; but the gift of God is eternal life." + + +The Rich Husband + +There was a shop-girl in Chicago, a few years ago. One day she could +not have bought five dollars' worth of anything; the next day she +could go and buy a thousand dollar's worth of whatever she wanted. + +What made the difference? + +Why, she had married a rich husband; that was all. She had received +him, and of course all he had became hers. And so we can have all, if +we only receive Christ. + + +Settle It Now! + +Some years ago, in one of the mining districts of England, a young man +attended one of our meetings and refused to go from the place till he +had found peace in the Savior. The next day he went down into the pit, +and the coal fell in upon him. When they took him out, he was broken +and mangled, and had only two or three minutes of life left in him. +His friends gathered about him, saw his lips moving, and, bending down +to catch his words, heard him say: + +"It was a good thing I settled it last night." + +Settle it now, my friends, once for all. Begin now to confess your +sins, and pray the Lord to remember you. He will make you an heir of +His kingdom, if you will accept the gift of salvation. + + +The True Source of Joy + +God doesn't ask us to rejoice over nothing; He gives us ground for our +joy. What would you think of a man who seemed very happy to-day and +full of joy, and couldn't tell you what made him so? Suppose I should +meet a man on the street, and he was so full of joy that he should get +hold of both my hands and say: + +"Bless the Lord, I am so full of joy!" + +"What makes you so full of joy?" + +"Well, I don't know." + +"You don't know!" + +"No, I don't; but I am so joyful that I just want to get out of the +flesh." + +"What makes you feel so joyful?" + +"Well, I don't know." + +Would we not think such a person unreasonable? But there are a great +many people who want to feel that they are Christians before they are +Christians; they want the Christian's experience before they become +Christians; they want to have the joy of the Lord before they receive +Jesus Christ. But this is not the Gospel order. He brings joy when He +comes, and we cannot have joy apart from Him. He is the author of it, +and we find our joy in Him. + + +The Meanest Kind of Murderers + +When I was in England in 1892, I met a gentleman who claimed that they +were ahead of us in the respect they had for the law. "We hang our +murderers," he said, "but there isn't one out of twenty in your +country that is hung." + +I said, "You are greatly mistaken, for they walk about these two +countries unhung." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I will tell you what I mean," I said; "the man that comes into my +house and runs a dagger into my heart for my money is a prince +compared with a son that takes five years to kill me and the wife of +my bosom. A young man who comes home night after night drunk, and when +his mother remonstrates, curses her gray hairs, and kills her by +inches, is the blackest kind of a murderer." + + +Where your Treasure Is + +You can soon tell where a man's treasure is by his talk. If it is in +heaven, he will not be long with you before he's talking about heaven; +his heart is there, and so his speech isn't long in running there, +too. If his heart is in money, he will soon have you deep in talk +about mines, speculation, stocks, bank rate, and so on. If his heart +is in lands, it won't be long before he's talking about real estate, +improvements, houses, and so on. Always the same, wherever a man's +heart is, there his tongue will be sure to go. + +Some one in England said, if you see a man's goods and furniture come +down by the luggage train, you're pretty sure he'll be down by the +next passenger train; he won't be long after; he'll follow his goods. +And so it is with heaven; if your treasure is on before you, you'll be +wanting to follow it; you'll be glad to be on the road thither as soon +as possible. + + +Why his Life was Spared + +Two Americans who were crossing the Atlantic met on Sunday night to +sing hymns in the cabin. As they sang the hymn, "Jesus, Lover of my +Soul," one of them heard an exceedingly rich and beautiful voice +behind him. He looked around, and although he did not know the face he +thought that he recognized the voice. So when the music ceased he +turned around and asked the man if he had not been in the Civil War. +The man replied that he had been a Confederate soldier. + +"Were you at such a place on such a night?" asked the first. + +"Yes," he said, "and a curious thing happened that night; this hymn +recalled it to my mind. I was on sentry duty on the edge of a wood. It +was a dark night and very cold, and I was a little frightened because +the enemy were supposed to be very near at hand. I felt very homesick +and miserable, and about midnight, when everything was very still, I +was beginning to feel very weary and thought that I would comfort +myself by praying and singing a hymn. I remember singing this hymn-- + + 'All my trust on Thee is stayed, + All my help from Thee I bring. + Cover my defenceless head + With the shadow of Thy wing.' + +"After I had sung those words a strange peace came down upon me, and +through the long night I remember having felt no more fear." + +"Now," said the other man, "listen to my story. I was a Union soldier, +and was in the wood that night with a party of scouts. I saw you +standing up, although I didn't see your face, and my men had their +rifles focused upon you waiting the word to fire, but when you sang +out-- + + 'Cover my defenceless head + With the shadow of Thy wing.' + +I said, 'Boys, put down your rifles; we will go home.' I couldn't kill +you after that." + + +The Sinner's Heart + +When I was in Dublin some years ago I got up to go to an early +meeting, and found the servants had not opened the front door; so I +pulled back a bolt, but I could not get the door open. Then I turned a +key, but the door would not open. Then I found there was another bolt +at the top and another bolt at the bottom. Still the door would not +open. Then I found there was a bar, and then I found a night-lock. In +all I found five or six different fastenings. + +I am afraid that door represents every sinner's heart. The door of his +heart is double-locked, double-bolted, and double-barred. Oh, my +friends, pull back the bolts, and let the King of glory in! + + +Nothing Small + +There are a great many different ways of doing good. A lady once +visited a hospital, and noticed with what pleasure the patients would +smell and look at the flowers sent to them. Said she: + +"If I had known that a bunch of flowers would do so much good, I would +have sent some from home." + +As soon as she got home, she sent some flowers out of her garden. It +was a little thing--a bouquet of flowers. It might be a very +insignificant work--very small; but if it was done in the right +spirit, God accepted it. A cup of water given in His name is accepted +as given to Himself. Nothing that is done for God is small. + + +An Anecdote about Tennyson + +It is said that Tennyson once asked an old Christian woman if there +was any news. + +"Why, Mr. Tennyson," she replied, "there's only one piece of news that +I know, and that is--Christ died for all men." + +"That is old news, and good news, and new news," Tennyson responded. + + +On Satan's Ground + +There is a legend that the Apostle John was much distressed over the +fall of a young convert. He summoned Satan before him, and reproached +him for ruining so good a youth. + +"I found your good youth on my ground," said Satan; "so I took him." + +The only safe course is to avoid temptation altogether. + + +Two Bidding for the Soul + +There are two who are bidding for your soul and mine--the Lord Jesus +and Satan. + +Satan bids, and he offers that which he cannot give. He is a liar, and +has been from the foundation of the world. I pity the man who is +living on the promises of the devil. He will never satisfy. But the +Lord Jesus is able to give all that He offers. And what does He +offer? He offers peace and joy and comfort that the world knows not +of. He offers eternal life in the kingdom of God. He offers a seat in +His mansions. We are to sit with Him upon His throne. + +May God help you to make a right choice! Make up your mind you will +not rest until the great question of eternity is settled, until you +have crossed the borderland, and pressed into the kingdom of God. + + +Tried and Proven + +I knew an old lady that marked in the margin of her Bible, opposite +the promises. T. P.; T. for "tried," and P. for "proven." What we want +is to try the Bible and see if it is not true. + + +The Prairie Fire + +Out in the Western country, in the autumn, when men go hunting, and +there has not been any rain for months, sometimes the prairie grass +catches fire, and there comes up a very strong wind, and the flames +just roll along twenty feet high, and travel at the rate of thirty or +forty miles an hour, consuming man and beast. When the hunters see it +coming, what do they do? They know they cannot run as fast as the fire +can run. Not the fleetest horse can escape. They just take a match and +light the grass around them, and let the flames sweep, and then they +get into the burnt district and stand safe. They hear the flames roar +as they come along, they see death coming toward them, but they do not +fear, they do not tremble, because the fire has swept over the place +where they are, and there is no danger. There is nothing for the fire +to burn. + +There is one mountain that the wrath of God has swept over--that is, +Mount Calvary; and the fire spent its fury upon the bosom of the Son +of God. Take your stand by the cross, and you will be safe for time +and eternity. + + +Perfect Order + +A good many people are afraid of doing anything out of the regular +lines--of doing anything out of order. Now, you will find perfect +order in a cemetery. You will find perfect order where there is death. +Where there is life you will find something out of order. + + +Is your Soul Insured? + +"Pa," said a little boy as he climbed to his father's knee, and looked +into his face as earnestly as if he understood the importance of the +subject, "pa, is your soul insured?" + +"What are you thinking about, my son?" replied the agitated father. +"Why do you ask that question?" + +"Why, pa, I heard Uncle George say that you had your house insured, +and your life insured; but he didn't believe you had thought of your +soul, and he was afraid you would lose it; won't you get it insured +right away?" + +The father leaned his head on his hand, and was silent. He owned broad +acres of land that were covered with a bountiful produce; his barns +were even now filled with plenty, his buildings were all well covered +by insurance; and as if that would not suffice for the maintenance of +his wife and only child in case of his decease, he had, the day +before, taken a life-policy for a large amount; yet not one thought +had he given to his own immortal soul. On that which was to waste away +and become part and parcel of its native dust he had spared no pains; +but for that which was to live on and on through the long ages of +eternity he had made no provision. "What shall it profit a man if he +gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" + + +Memory + +I have been twice at the point of death. I was drowning once, and just +as I was going down the third time I was rescued. In the twinkling of +an eye my whole life came flashing across my mind. I cannot tell you +how it was. I cannot tell you how a whole life can be crowded into a +second of time; but everything I had done from my earliest +childhood--it all came flashing across my mind. And I believe that +when God touches the secret spring of memory, every one of our sins +will come back, and if they have not been blotted out by the blood of +the Lord Jesus Christ, they will haunt us as eternal ages roll on. + +We talk about our forgetting, but we cannot forget if God says +"Remember." We talk about the recording angel keeping the record of +our life. I have an idea that when we get to heaven, or into eternity, +we will find that recording angel has been ourselves. God will make +every one of us keep our own record; these memories will keep the +record, and when God shall say, "Son, remember," it will all flash +across our mind. It won't be God who will condemn us; it will be +ourselves. We shall condemn ourselves, and we shall stand before God +speechless. + +There is a man in prison. He has been there five years. Ask that man +what makes the prison so terrible to him. Ask him if it is the walls +and the iron gates--ask him if it is his hard work, and he will tell +you _no_; he will tell you what makes the prison so terrible to him +is _memory_; and I have an idea that if we got down into the lost +world, we would find that is what makes hell so terrible--the +remembrance that they once heard the Gospel, that they once had Christ +offered to them, that they once had the privilege of being saved, but +they made light of the Gospel, they neglected salvation, they rejected +the offer of mercy, and now if they would accept it they could not. + + +Balaam's Ass + +A friend of mine was going back to Scotland, and he heard a couple of +these little modern philosophers discussing the Bible. One said: "The +Bible says that Balaam's ass spoke. Now, I am a scientific man, and I +have taken the pains to examine an ass's mouth, and it is so formed +that it couldn't speak." + +He was going to toss the whole Bible over because Balaam's ass +couldn't speak. + +My friend said he stood it just as long as he could, and finally he +said: + +"Ah, man, you make an ass, and I will make him speak." + +The idea that the God who made the ass couldn't speak through his +mouth! Did you ever hear such stuff? And yet this was one of your +modern philosophers! + + +The Border Apple-Tree + +If you want real peace and rest to your soul, keep separate from the +world. + +I remember when I was a boy in Northfield, right near the old red +schoolhouse there was an apple-tree that bore the earliest apples of +any tree in town. They had a law in that town that fruit on a tree +overhanging the street belonged to the public, and any fruit on the +other side of the fence belonged to the property-holders. Half that +apple-tree was over in the street, and it got more old brooms and +brickbats and handles than any other tree in town. We boys used to +watch to see when an apple was getting red. I never got a ripe apple +from that tree in my life, and I don't believe any one else ever did. +You never went by that tree that you didn't see a lot of broom-handles +and clubs up there. + +Now, take a lot of Christians who want to live right on the line, with +one foot in the world and one foot in the church. They get more clubs +than any one else. The world clubs them. They say, "I don't believe in +that man's religion." And the church clubs them. They get clubs both +sides. It is a good deal better to keep just as far from the line as +you can if you want power. + + +Bad Company + +A friend of mine said he had a beautiful canary bird; he thought it +was the sweetest singer they had ever had. Spring came on, and he felt +it was a pity to keep the poor bird in the house, so he put it under a +tree right in front of his house. He said before he knew it a lot of +these little English sparrows got under that tree (and you know they +cannot sing any more than I can, and I don't know one note from +another), and went, "Chirp, chirp, chirp." Before he knew it, that +little canary had lost all its sweet notes. It had got into bad +company. + +After he found out that he had made a mistake, he took the bird into +the house, but it kept up that "Chirp, chirp, chirp." He bought +another bird, but the canary nearly ruined it. He said that bird never +got back its sweet notes. + +Now, don't you know lots of Christian people who had a fine testimony +several years ago, but they have lost their witness, and all they do +now is talk, talk, talk, talk? Why? Because they are out of communion +with God, and have lost their witness. + + +"Hitch On" and "Cut Behind" + +Some one tells of an incident that happened in a New England town the +other day. All the boys were sleighing. A big sleigh--we call it a +"pung" up there--was being driven through the streets by an old man +who looked like Santa Claus. He was calling out to the small boys to +hitch on, for a pung is like a 'bus, it always holds one more. + +There were already about twenty rollicking boys hitched on, when one +little fellow dropped off behind. He tried, but couldn't catch up +again, and pretty soon he began to look out for another chance for a +ride. A man's sleigh was standing near by, and the boy began to eye +the man. When the man in the sleigh started off, the little fellow +hitched on behind, and the man grabbed his whip and struck him +directly in the eye. It looked as if the eye had been put out, but it +wasn't. + +Now, that's the way we go through this world. Some say, "Hitch on, +hitch on"; others, "Cut behind, cut behind." The hitch-on people fill +the churches, and the cut-behind ones empty them. + + +Known by Name + +A friend of mine was in Syria, and he found a shepherd that kept up +the old custom of naming his sheep. My friend said he wouldn't believe +that the sheep knew him when he called them by name. So he said to the +shepherd: + +"I wish you would just call one or two." + +The shepherd said, "Carl." + +The sheep stopped eating and looked up. + +The shepherd called out, "Come here." + +The sheep came, and stood looking up into his face. + +He called another, and another, and there they stood looking up at the +shepherd. + +"How can you tell them apart?" + +"Oh, there are no two alike. See, that sheep toes in a little; this +sheep is a little bit squint-eyed; that sheep has a black spot on its +nose." + +My friend found that he knew every one of his sheep by their failings. +He didn't have a perfect one in his flock. + +I suppose that is the way the Lord knows you and me. There is a man +that is covetous; he wants to grasp the whole world. He wants a +shepherd to keep down that spirit. There is a woman down there who has +an awful tongue; she keeps the whole neighborhood stirred up. There is +a woman over there who is deceitful, terribly so. She needs the care +of a shepherd to keep her from deceit, for she will ruin all her +children; they will all turn out just like their mother. There is a +father over there who wouldn't swear for all the world before his +children, but sometimes he gets provoked in his business and swears +before he knows it. Doesn't he need a shepherd's care? I would like to +know if there is a man or woman on earth who doesn't need the care of +a shepherd. Haven't we all got failings? If you really want to know +what your failings are, you can find some one who can point them out. +God would never have sent Christ into the world if we didn't need His +care. We are as weak and foolish as sheep. + + +The Right Time for Action + +A man was always telling his servant that he was going to do a great +thing for him. "I am going to remember you in my will." + +Sambo got his expectations up very high. When the man came to die, it +was found that all he had willed Sambo was to be buried in the family +lot. That was the big thing, you know. Sambo said he wished he had +given him ten dollars, and let the lot go. + +If you want to show kindness to a person, show it to him while you are +living. I heard a man say that he didn't want people to throw bouquets +to him after he was dead, and say, "There, smell them." + +Now, this is the time for action. I have got so tired and sick of this +splitting hairs over theology. Man, let us go out and get the fallen +up. Lift them up toward God and heaven. We want a practical kind of +Christianity. + + +Criticising the Sermon + +Very often a man will hear a hundred good things in a sermon, but +there may be one thing that strikes him as a little out of place, and +he will go home and sit down at the table and talk right out before +his children and magnify that one wrong thing, and not say a word +about the hundred good things that were said. That is what people do +who criticise. + + +A Reminiscence + +I remember blaming my mother for sending me to church on the Sabbath. +On one occasion the preacher had to send some one into the gallery to +wake me up. I thought it was hard to have to work in the field all the +week, and then be obliged to go to church and hear a sermon I didn't +understand. I thought I wouldn't go to church any more when I got away +from home; but I had got so in the habit of going that I couldn't stay +away. After one or two Sabbaths, back again to the house of God I +went. There I first found Christ, and I have often said since: + +"Mother, I thank you for making me go to the house of God when I +didn't want to go." + + +Transplanting the Lily + +"It is easy to go when the time comes. There are no ropes thrown out +to pull us ashore; there are no ladders let down to pull us up. Christ +comes and takes us by the hand, and says: + +"'You have had enough of this. Come up higher!' + +"Do you hurt a lily when you pluck it? Is there any rudeness when +Jesus touches the cheek, and the red rose of health whitens into the +lily of immortal purity and gladness?"--Talmage. + + +Election + +How many men fold their arms and say: + +"If I am one of the elect, I will be saved, and if I ain't, I won't. +No use of your bothering about it." + +Why don't some of these merchants say: "If God is going to make me a +successful merchant in Chicago, I will be one whether I like it or +not, and if He isn't I won't." + +If you are sick, and a doctor prescribes for you, don't take the +medicine--throw it out the door. It does not matter, for if God has +decreed you are going to die, you will; if He hasn't, you will get +better. If you use that argument you may as well not walk home from +this tabernacle. If God has said you'll get home, you'll get +home--you'll fly through the air. + +I have an idea that the Lord Jesus saw how men were going to stumble +over this doctrine, so after He had been thirty or forty years in +heaven He came down and spoke to John. One Lord's day in Patmos, He +said to him: + +"Write these things to the churches." + +John kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when +it was nearly finished, said, "John, before you close the book, put in +one more invitation. 'The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him +that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst, come. And +WHOSOEVER WILL, let him take the water of life freely.'" + + +The Mysteries of the Bible + +Dr. Talmage tells the story that one day while he was bothering his +theological professor with questions about the mysteries of the Bible, +the latter turned on him and said: + +"Mr. Talmage, you will have to let God know some things you don't." + + +The Little Lone One + +I sometimes think if an angel were to wing its way to heaven, and tell +them that there was one little child here on earth--it might be a +shoeless, coatless street Arab--with no one to lead it to the cross of +Christ, and if God were to call the angels round His throne and ask +them to go and spend--aye, fifty years, in teaching that child, there +would not be an angel in heaven but would respond gladly to the +appeal. We should see even Gabriel saying, "Let me go and win that +soul to Christ." We should see Paul buckling on his old armor again, +and saying, "Let me go back again to earth, that I may have the joy +of leading that little one to his Saviour." + +Ah! we need rousing; there is too much apathy amongst professing +Christians. Let us pray God that He may send His Holy Spirit to +inspire us with fresh energy and zeal to do His work. + + +Doubting Castle + +It is the privilege of every child of God to know that he is saved, +and yet I find ever so many people living in Doubting Castle. Why, it +is _salvation by doubts_ nowadays, instead of _by faith;_ there are so +few that dare to say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth; I know in whom +I have believed." We find most Christians nowadays shivering and +trembling from head to foot--they do not know whether they are saved +or not. + + +Faith + +Bishop Ryle has very well likened faith to a root whose flower is +assurance. To have the latter, he says, it is necessary that there +must first be the hidden source of faith. + +Faith is the simplest and most universal experience in the world. Call +it by whatever name you may, confidence, trust, or belief, it is +inseparable from the human race. The first sign of a dawning +intelligence in the mind is the exercise of the infant's faith toward +those it knows, and its fear toward those it does not know. We cannot +even remember when we first began to have faith. + + +Confessing Christ at Home + +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 any one 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 Saviour?" + +"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 peace and joy 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 the joy and peace she sought. + + +How to Settle the Theater Question + +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 preeminence, 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. Every one 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. + + +What a Sister Can Do + +I want to say to young ladies, perhaps you have a godless father or +mother, or a skeptical 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 young 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 had 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. + + +How one Man Treated Doubts + +A wild and prodigal young man, who was running a headlong career to +ruin came into one of our meetings in Chicago. Whilst endeavoring to +bring him to Christ, I quoted this verse to him: "Him that cometh unto +me I will in no wise cast out." + +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 vi. 37: 'Him that cometh to Me I will in nowise 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." + + +Use or Lose + +An Eastern allegory runs thus: A merchant, going abroad for a time, +gave respectively to two of his friends two sacks of wheat each, to +take care of against his return. Years passed. When he came back, he +applied for them again. + +The first took him into a storehouse, and showed him his sacks; but +they were mildewed and worthless. + +The other led him out into the open country, and pointed to field +after field of waving wheat, the produce of the two sacks given him. + +Said the merchant: "You have been a faithful friend. Give me two sacks +of that wheat; the rest shall be thine." + +Let us put to good use the talents God has given us. + + +The Anchored Boat + +I once heard of two men who were under the influence of liquor. They +came down at night to where their boat was tied. They wanted to return +home, so they got in and began to row. They pulled away hard all +night, wondering why they never got to the other side of the bay. When +the gray dawn of morning broke, behold! they had never loosed the +mooring line or raised the anchor! + +That's just the way with many who are striving to enter the kingdom of +heaven. They cannot believe, because they are tied to this world. Cut +the cord! Confess and forsake your sins! Cut the cord! Set yourselves +free from the clogging weight of earthly things, and you will soon +rise heavenward. + + +Not Much up There + +A friend of mine was once taken by an old man to see his riches. He +took him to a splendid mansion, and said, "This is all mine." He +pointed to a little town, "That is mine; it is called by my name." He +pointed to a rolling prairie, "That is all mine; the sun never shone +on a finer prairie than that, so fruitful and rich, and it's all +mine." In another direction he showed him fertile farms extending for +thirty miles, "These are all mine." He took him into his grand house, +showed him his beautiful pictures, his costly gold plate, his jewels, +and still he said, "These are all mine. This grand hall I have built; +it is called by my name; there is my insignia on it. And yet I was +once a poor boy. I have made it all myself." + +My friend looked at him. "Well, you've all this on earth; but what +have you got up there?" + +"Up where?" said the old man. + +"Up in heaven." + +"Well, I'm afraid I haven't got much up there." + +"Ah," said my friend, "but you've got to die, to leave this world; +what will you take with you of all these things? You will die a +beggar; for all these riches count as nothing in the kingdom of +heaven. You will be a pauper; for you have no inheritance with the +saints above." The poor old man (he was poor enough in reality, though +rich in all the world's goods) burst into tears. He had no hope for +the future. In four months' time he was dead; and where is he now? He +lived and died without God, and without hope in this world or the +next. + + +Touching the Spot + +When a man has broken his arm, the surgeon must find out the exact +spot where the fracture is. He feels along and presses gently with his +fingers. + +"Is it there?" + +"No," + +"Is it there?" + +"No." + +Presently, when the surgeon touches another spot, "Ouch!" says the +man. + +He has found the broken part, and it hurts. + +It is one thing to hear a man preach down other people's sins. Men +will say, "That is splendid," and will want all their friends to go +and hear the preacher. But let him touch on their individual sin, and +declare, as Nathan did to David, "Thou art the man," and they say, "I +do not like that." The preacher has touched a sore place. + + +The Little Boy and the Big Book + +I like to think of Christ as a burden bearer. + +A minister was one day moving his library upstairs. As he was going up +with a load of books, his little boy came in, and was very anxious to +help his father. So his father just told him to go and get an armful, +and bring them upstairs. When the father came back, he met the little +fellow about half-way up, tugging away at the biggest book in the +library. He couldn't manage to carry it up. It was too big. So he sat +down and cried. + +His father found him, and just took him in his arms, book and all, and +carried him upstairs. So Christ will carry you and all your burdens, +if you will but let Him. + + +The Invitation to a Saloon Opening + +They were going to have a great celebration at the opening of a saloon +and billiard hall in Chicago, in the northern part of the city, where +I lived. It was to be a gateway to death and to hell, one of the worst +places in Chicago. As a joke they sent me an invitation to go to the +opening. I took the invitation, and went down and saw the two men who +had the saloon, and I said: + +"Is that a genuine invitation?" + +They said it was. + +"Thank you," I said; "I will be around, and if there is anything here +I don't like I may have something to say about it." + +They said, "You are not going to _preach_, are you?" + +"I may." + +"We don't want you. We won't let you in." + +"How are you going to keep me out?" I asked. "There is the +invitation." + +"We will put a policeman at the door." + +"What is the policeman going to do with that invitation?" + +"We won't let you in." + +"Well," I said, "I will be there." + +I gave them a good scare, and then I said, "I will compromise the +matter; if you two men will get down here and let me pray with you, I +will let you off." + +I got those two rum-sellers down on their knees, one on one side of me +and the other on the other side, and I prayed God to save their souls +and smite their business. One of them had a Christian mother, and he +seemed to have some conscience left. After I had prayed, I said: + +"How can you do this business? How can you throw this place open to +ruin the young men of Chicago?" + +Within three months the whole thing smashed up, and one of them was +converted shortly after. I have never been invited to a saloon since. + + + +"Too Late!" + +At our church in Chicago I was closing the meeting one day, when a +young soldier got up and entreated the people to decide for Christ at +once. He said he had just come from a dark scene. A comrade of his, +who had enlisted with him, had a father who was always entreating him +to become a Christian, and in reply he always said he would when the +war was over. At last he was wounded, and was put into the hospital, +but got worse, and was gradually sinking. One day, a few hours before +he died, a letter came from his sister, but he was too far gone to +read it. It was such an earnest letter! The comrade read it to him, +but he did not seem to understand it, he was so weak, till it came to +the last sentence, which said: + +"Oh, my dear brother, when you get this letter, will you not accept +your sister's Savior?" + +The dying man sprang up from his cot, and said, "What do you say? what +do you say?" And then, falling back on his pillow, feebly exclaimed, +"_It is too late! It is too late!_" + +My dear friends, thank God it is not _too late_ for you to-day. The +Master is still calling you. Let every one of us, young and old, rich +and poor, come to Christ at once, and He will put all our sins away. +Don't wait any longer for feeling, but obey at once. You can believe, +you can trust, you can lay hold on eternal life, if you will. Will you +not do it now? + + + + +TOPICAL INDEX + + + Assurance, 44 + Atonement, 8, 30, 98 + Attention, 43 + + Backslider, 17, 22 + Balaam's ass, 102 + Bible, 9, 10, 15, 16, 22, 29, 34, 44, 80, 84, 102, 108 + Breath from God, 35 + + + Child, As a, 49 + Choice, 98 + Christ, as Burden-Bearer, 120; + for all, 73; + seeking the lost, 86; + coming of, 67, 85; + in the Bible, 31 + "Come," 46 + Communion with Christ, 21, 65, 84, 103 + Confessing Christ, 26, 27, 35, 52, 77, 109 + Conversion, 25, 80, 88 + Conviction, 21 + Courage, 20 + Covetousness, 27, 35, 51 + Crazy from sin, 89 + Criticising the sermon, 106 + Cross of Christ, 31 + + Death, 18, 24, 107, 118 + Decision, 10, 61, 62, 93, 122 + Don't Worry Clubs, 31 + Doubts, 36, 109, 116 + Doves, Legend about, 42 + Drawing a comparison, 42 + + Election, 107 + Eternity, 81 + + Faith, 12, 14, 23, 55, 109 + Finding the thirsty, 57 + + Giving, 23, 35 + Grace, 20 + + Habit, 83 + Heaven, 14, 62, 87 + "Hitch on" and "Cut behind," 104 + Holy Spirit, 20, 35, 75 + Home Religion, 76, 85 + Honey-dew, 37 + + Illuminated Christians, 26 + Indwelling Christ, 31 + Infidel books, 18 + Is your soul insured? 100 + + Joy, 94 + + Keeping, 8, 76, 99, 104 + + Law, 72 + Liberty, 13 + Look to Christ, 43 + Love, 33, 69 + + Memory, 101 + Money, 33, 95 + Murder, 67, 95 + + Need, 45 + Neglecting church, 53 + No difference, 40 + "Not for you," 67 + + Obedience, 56, 91 + Opportunity, 78, 79 + Oratorical preaching, 53 + + Parables, Making, 58 + Parents, 19, 32, 40, 50, 51, 58, 59 + Peace, 9, 16, 23 + Pendulum, Lady, 7 + Personal religion, 38 + Prayer, 68 + Pride, 76 + Promises, 63, 68, 99 + + Repentance, 45 + Restitution, 71 + Resurrection, 64 + Revivals, 79 + Rich husband, 93 + + Saloon opening, 120 + Salvation, 8, 38, 82, 86, 93 + Scarlet thread, 31 + Sealed for redemption, 27 + Separation, 69, 102, 118 + Sin, 118, 119 + Sinner's heart, 97 + Sowing and reaping, 48, 63, 82, 87 + Small beginnings, 64 + Starting right, 73 + Stealing, 35, 67 + Substitution, 74 + Sunday, 55, 60, 100 + Swearing, 90 + + Temptation, 27, 77, 78, 85, 98 + Theatre, 38, 111 + Time to think, 86 + Trial, 28 + Trust, 8, 11, 46 + + Unbelief, 55, 56 + Unity, 83 + Use or lose, 118 + + Watching, 85 + Work, 15, 24, 34, 48, 97, 106, 108, 114 + Will, 39, 57, 66 + + + + +PSALM 23. + + +The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. + +2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the +still waters. + +3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness +for his name's sake. + +4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will +fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort +me. + +5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; +thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. + +6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: +and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. + + + + +ISAIAH 55: 1--7. + + +Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath +no money; come ye, buy and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without +money and without price. + +2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your +labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and +eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in +fatness. + +3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; +and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure +mercies of David. + +4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and +commander to the people. + +5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations +that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of the Lord thy God, +and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. + +6 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is +near: + +7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his +thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy +upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. + + + + +JOHN 3: 1--16. + + +There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the +Jews: + +2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know +that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these +miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. + +3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, +Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. + +4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can +he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? + +5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be +born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of +God. + +6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of +the Spirit is spirit. + +7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. + +8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound +thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so +is every one that is born of the Spirit. + +9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? + +10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and +knowest not these things? + +11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and +testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. + +12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye +believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? + +13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from +heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. + +14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must +the Son of man be lifted up: + +15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal +life. + +16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, +that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have +everlasting life. + + + + +JUST AS I AM. + + + Just as I am, without one plea + But that Thy blood was shed for me, + And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee; + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + Just as I am, and waiting not + To rid my soul of one dark blot, + To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + Just as I am--Thou wilt receive, + Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve; + Because Thy promise I believe, + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + Just as I am--Thy love unknown + Has broken ev'ry barrier down; + Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, + O Lamb of God, I come, I come! + + + + +JESUS, LOVER OF MY SOUL. + + + Jesus, Lover of my soul, + Let me to Thy bosom fly + While the nearer waters roll, + While the tempest still is high! + Hide me, O my Saviour, hide + Till the storm of life is past; + Safe into the haven guide; + O receive my soul at last! + + Other refuge have I none, + Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; + Leave, O leave me not alone. + Still support and comfort me! + All my trust on Thee is stayed, + All my help from Thee I bring; + Cover my defenceless head + With the shadow of Thy wing! + + Thou, O Christ, art all I want, + More than all in Thee I find! + Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, + Heal the sick, and lead the blind. + just and holy is Thy name, + I am all unrighteousness; + False and full of sin I am, + Thou art full of truth and grace. + + Plenteous grace with Thee is found, + Grace to cover all my sin; + Let the healing streams abound, + Make and keep me pure within; + Thou of life the fountain art, + Freely let me take of Thee; + Spring Thou up within my heart, + Rise to all eternity. + + + + +BEHOLD A STRANGER. + + + Behold a Stranger at the door: + He gently knocks, has knocked before; + Has waited long, is waiting still: + You treat no other friend so ill. + + Oh, lovely attitude! He stands + With melting heart and laden hands; + Oh, matchless kindness! and He shows + This matchless kindness to His foes. + + But will He prove a friend indeed? + He will, the very friend you need-- + The Friend of sinners; yes, 'tis He, + With garments dyed on Calvary. + + Rise, touched with gratitude divine, + Turn out His enemy and thine; + That soul-destroying monster, sin; + And let the heavenly Stranger in. + + + + +GLORY TO HIS NAME! + + + Down at the cross where my Saviour died, + Down where for cleansing from sin I cried, + There to my heart was the blood applied-- + Glory to His name! + + CHORUS: + + Glory to His name, + Glory to His name! + There to my heart was the blood applied-- + Glory to His name! + + I am so wondrously saved from sin,-- + Jesus so sweetly abides within,-- + There at the cross where He took me in-- + Glory to His name! + + O precious fountain that saves from sin, + I am so glad I have entered in; + There Jesus saved me and keeps me clean-- + Glory to His name! + + Come to this fountain so rich and sweet. + Cast thy poor soul at the Saviour's feet. + Plunge in today, and be made complete-- + Glory to His name! + + + + +DEPTH OF MERCY! + + + Depth of mercy! can there be + Mercy still reserved for me? + Can my God His wrath forbear? + Me, the chief of sinners, spare? + + I have long withstood His grace, + Long provoked Him to His face; + Would not hearken to His calls; + Grieved Him by a thousand falls. + + Now incline me to repent, + Let me now my sins lament; + Now my foul revolt deplore, + Weep, believe, and sin no more. + + + + +I WAS A WAND'RING SHEEP. + + + I was a wand'ring sheep, + I did not love the fold: + I did not love my Shepherd's voice, + I would not be controlled. + I was a wayward child, + I did not love my home; + I did not love my Father's voice; + I loved afar to roam. + + The Shepherd sought His sheep, + The Father sought His child, + They followed me o'er vale and hill, + O'er deserts waste and wild; + They found me nigh to death, + Famished and faint, and lone; + They bound me with the bands of love; + They saved the wand'ring one. + + Jesus my Shepherd is, + 'Twas He that loved my soul, + 'Twas He that washed me in His blood, + 'Twas He that made me whole; + 'Twas He that sought the lost, + That found the wand'ring sheep, + 'Twas He that brought me to the fold, + 'Tis He that still doth keep. + + I was a wand'ring sheep, + I would not be controlled; + But now I love the Shepherd's voice, + I love, I love the fold; + I was a wayward child, + I once preferred to roam: + But now I love my Father's voice + I love, I love His home + + + + +WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS! + + + What a Friend we have in Jesus, + All our sins and griefs to bear! + What a privilege to carry + Ev'rything to God in prayer! + O what peace we often forfeit, + O what needless pain we bear, + All because we do not carry + Ey'rything to God in prayer. + + Have we trials and temptations? + Is there trouble anywhere? + We should never be discouraged, + Take it to the Lord in prayer. + Can we find a friend so faithful, + Who will all our sorrows share? + Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness, + Take it to the Lord in prayer. + + Are we weak and heavy laden, + Cumbered with a load of care? + Precious Saviour, still our refuge,-- + Take it to the Lord in prayer. + Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? + Take it to the Lord in prayer, + In His arms He'll take and shield thee + Thou wilt find a solace there. + + + + +O HAPPY DAY! + + + O happy day that fixed my choice + On Thee, my Saviour and my God! + Well may this glowing heart rejoice, + And tell its raptures all abroad. + + CHORUS: + + Happy day, happy day, + When Jesus washed my sins away! + He taught me how to watch and pray, + And live rejoicing every day; + Happy day, happy day, + When Jesus washed my sin away! + + O happy bond that seals my vows + To Him who merits all my love! + Let cheerful anthems fill His house, + While to that sacred shrine I move. + + 'Tis done, the great transaction's done; + I am my Lord's and He is mine; + He drew me, and I followed on, + Charmed to confess the voice divine. + + + + +The Moody COLPORTAGE Library + + Uniform in size and style, attractive paper covers, + 4-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches. 20c each. + + + 1 All of Grace. C. H. Spurgeon + 2 The Way to God. D. L. Moody + 3 Pleasure & Profit in Bible Study. Moody + 4 Life, Warfare and Victory. Whittle + 5 Heaven. D. L. Moody + 6 Prevailing Prayer. D. L. Moody + 7 The Way of Life. Various authors + 8 Secret Power. D. L. Moody + 9 To the Work. D. L. Moody + 10 According to Promise. C. H. Spurgeon + 11 Bible Characters. D. L. Moody + 13 "And Peter." J. W. Chapman + 15 Light on Life's Duties. F. B. Meyer + 18 The Good Shepherd. Life of Christ + 19 Good Tidings. Talmage and others + 20 Sovereign Grace. D. L. Moody + 21 Select Sermons. D. L. Moody + 23 Nobody Loves Me. Mrs. O. F. Walton + 24 The Empty Tomb. Various authors + 26 Sowing and Reaping. D. L. Moody + 28 "Probable Sons." Story. Amy LeFeuvre + 30 Good News. Robert Boyd + 32 The Secret of Guidance. F. B. Meyer + 34 The Second Coming of Christ + 40 The Power of a Surrendered Life, or Kadesh-Barnea. J. W. Chapman + 42 Whiter Than Snow and Little Dot--Stories. Mrs. O. F. Walton + 44 The Overcoming Life. D. L. Moody + 48 The Prodigal. Various authors + 49 The Spirit-Filled Life. John MacNeil + 50 Jessica's First Prayer. Hesba Stretton + 51 The Christ-Life for the Self-Life. Meyer + 54 Absolute Surrender. Andrew Murray + 56 What Is Faith? Spurgeon, Moody, etc. + 57 Christie's Old Organ--A story. Walton + 58 Naaman the Syrian. A. B. Mackay + 60 Weighed and Wanting. D. L. Moody + 61 The Crew of the Dolphin. Hesba Stretton + 63 Meet for the Master's Use. F. B. Meyer + 64 Our Bible. C. Leach and R. A. Torrey + 65 Alone in London. Hesba Stretton + 66 Moody's Anecdotes + 69 Children of the Bible + 70 The Power of Pentecost. Thomas Waugh + 71 Men of the Bible. D. L. Moody + 72 A Peep Behind the Scenes. O. F. Walton + 73 The School of Obedience. A. Murray + 74 Making the Home Happy. R. T. Cross + 76 Moody's Stories + 78 The Robber's Cave--A story. A.L.O.E. + 81 Thoughts for Quiet Hour. D. L. Moody + 83 The Shorter Life of D. L. Moody. Fitt + 85 Revival of a Dead Church. Broughton + 86 Moody's Latest Sermons + 87 A Missionary Penny--A story. L.C.W. + 88 Calvary's Cross. Spurgeon, Whittle, etc. + 89 How to Pray. R. A. Torrey + 90 Little King Davie--Story. Nellie Hellis + 91 Short Talks. D. L. Moody + 93 Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan + 96 Kept for the Master's Use. Havergal + 98 Back to Bethel. F. B. Meyer + 100 Up from Sin. Len G. Broughton + 102 Popular Amusements and the Christian Life. P. W. Sinks + 104 Answers to Prayer. George Muller + 105 The Way Home. D. L. Moody + 109 Life of David Livingstone. Worcester + 114 First Words to Young Christians. Boyd + 115 Rosa's Quest--A Story. Anna P. Wright + 116 Difficulties in the Bible. R. A. Torrey + 119 Practical and Perplexing Questions Answered. R. A. Torrey + 120 Satan and the Saint. James M. Gray + 123 Salvation from Start to Finish. Gray + 125 Life in a Look. Maurice S. Baldwin + 126 Burton Street Folks. Anna P. Wright + 127 Bible Problems Explained. J. M. Gray + 128 Papers on The Lord's Coming. "C.H.M." + 129 Christian: Creed and Conduct. Evans + 130 Intercessory Prayer. J. G. K. McClure + 131 From Death Unto Life. J. H. Brookes + 132 Ruth, the Moabitess. Henry Moorhouse + 134 Forty-Eight Bernard Street. Clark + 135 Deliverance from the Penalty and Power of Sin. O. R. Palmer + 136 Mrs. Mary's Go-Tell. Graham Clark + 137 Bird's-Eye Bible Study. A. Patterson + 138 "I Cried, He Answered." + 141 Later Evangelistic Sermons. Biederwolf + 142 Phil Tyler's Opportunity. F. E. Burnham + 143 Moving Messages. J. C. Massee + 144 The Christ We Know. A. C. Gaebelein + 145 Five "Musts" of the Christian Life. F. B. Meyer + 146 The New Life in Christ Jesus. Scofield + 147 Problems in the Prayer Life. Buswell + 148 When the Song of the Lord Began. W. E. Biederwolf + 149 The Christian Life and How to Live It. W. H. Griffith Thomas + 150 Where Is the Lord God of Elijah? Cox + 151 The Faith that Wins. Roy T. Brumbaugh + 152 God's Way of Holiness. H. Bonar + 153 Souls Set Free. Mission field miracles + 154 Thinking with God. Norman H. Camp + 155 "Charge That to My Account." Ironside + 156 Vera Dickson's Triumph. Sara C. Palmer + 157 Competing Artists. Sara C. Palmer + 158 Antidote to Christian Science. Gray + 159 Is the Bible the Word of God? Scroggie + 160 And God Spake These Words. W. H. Griffith Thomas + 161 Methods of Bible Study. Thomas + 162 Romance of a Doctor's Visits. Wilson + 163 The Little Shepherd. Anna P. Wright + 164 God's Picked Young Men. H. K. Pasma + 165 The Cross of Christ. James H. Todd + 166 By Ways Appointed. Briggs P. Dingman + 167 Miracles in a Doctor's Life. Wilson + 168 The Living Christ. Will H. Houghton + 169 Portraits of Christ. Harold S. Laird + 170 The Doctor's Best Love Story. Wilson + 171 Full Assurance. H. A. Ironside + 172 To Show Thyself Approved. R. A. Torrey + 173 A Sure Remedy. Walter L. Wilson + 174 The Truth About Grace. Chas. C. Cook + 175 Vivid Experiences in Korea. Chisholm + 176 The "True" Mystery Solved. Wright + 177 The Resurrection of the Human Body. Norman H. Camp + 178 On Silver Creek Knob. Story. Cannon + 179 The Princess Beautiful. Story. Cannon + 180 Remarkable New Stories. W. L. Wilson + 181 Rivers of Living Water. Ruth Paxson + 182 "Called Unto Holiness." Ruth Paxson + 183 The Soul-Winner's Fire. John R. Rice + 185 Aunt Hattie's Bible Stories--Genesis. H. I. Fisher + 186 Treasures of Bible Truth. Schweinfurth + 187 In His Hands--Story. Harriet Heine + 188 Great Words of the Gospel. Ironside + 189 So Great Salvation. J. F. Strombeck + + _Ask for descriptive folder._ + + MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + (Dept. MCL) Chicago 10 + + + + +LIFE on the HIGHEST PLANE + +_By_ RUTH PAXSON + +Now, all 3 volumes in one book. 820 pages, #$3.00# + + [Illustration] + + The three volumes, "THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST"; "THE + RELATION BETWEEN CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN"; and "THE + BELIEVER'S RESPONSE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT'S INWORKING" have now + been combined, without revision and with fourteen colored + charts included in one handy volume. + + These Bible studies were first given in embryo to pastors, + evangelists, teachers, and other Christian leaders in + conferences held in China. Later, printed in three volumes, + they brought great blessing to many. + + +Other Books By Ruth Paxson + + GOD'S PLAN OF REDEMPTION + + It will aid one in personal Bible study or provide a practical + outline for study groups. The questions are based on the + teaching in each chapter of "Life on the Highest Plane." Can + be used with or without the larger book. 48 pages, paper, + #25c.# + + CALLED UNTO HOLINESS + + Addresses given at Keswick's Conference in England. Sounds the + clarion call to a more holy life. Here is victory for the + defeated; deliverance for the enslaved; rest for the weary; + peace for the discouraged; and joy for the sorrowing. 126 + pages, paper, #20c.# + + RIVERS OF LIVING WATER + + Studies Setting Forth the Believer's Possession of Christ, How + Obtained--How Maintained. Multitudes of Christians are living + a dry and thirsty existence when the Lord is waiting to give + them His very best--rivers of living water! Perhaps few + Christians have heard or read the Divine plan and purpose for + the life of the believer presented so tersely, simply and + clearly, and withal so lovingly and compellingly. 124 pages, + paper, #20c.# + + The WEALTH, WALK and WARFARE of the CHRISTIAN + + The author finds a "Grand Canyon of Scripture" in Ephesians. + Her threefold message to Christians will be especially welcome + to those who are suffering from spiritual or mental + depression; those who are conscious of their unworthiness, + failure and defeat; those who are passing through terrible + attacks of Satan. 223 pages, cloth, #$1.50.# + + THE MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. + + + + +THE EVANGEL BOOKLETS + + A series of brief, timely messages of supreme importance, + and gospel stories by evangelical preachers and teachers, + Christian workers and laymen. 22-page booklets, self-cover. + + + 1. God Is Love. An appeal to the unsaved. D. L. Moody. + 2. God Reaching Down. Messages to the unconverted. C. H. Spurgeon. + 4. Jack Winsted's Choice. A Gospel story. Lillian E. Andrews. + 6. Ruined, Redeemed, Regenerated. C. H. Mackintosh. + 7. By the Old Mill. Story. Katherine Elise Chapman. + 8. The Day After Thanksgiving. Story. Mrs. S. R. Graham Clark. + 9. True Stories About God's Free Gift. Alexander Marshall. + 10. Lois Dudley Finds Peace. Story. Anna Potter Wright. + 12. The Penitent Thief, and Naaman the Syrian. D. L. Moody. + 13. Adder's Eggs and Spider's Webs. H. A. Ironside. + 14. Samuel Morris. The true story of a Spirit-filled African. + 16. Saved and Safe. Salvation, Assurance and Security. Fred J. Meldau. + 17. "In the Beginning God--" and other Talks. Mark A. Matthews. + 18. Christian Science: Pedigree, Principles, Posterity. Percy W. + Stephens. + 19. Modern Education at the Cross-Roads. M. H. Duncan. + 20. Is the Bible True? Nashville address. Wm. Jennings Bryan. + 21. How to Read the Word of God Effectively. A. T. Pierson. + 22. The Most Important Thing in My Life. The testimony of Dr. Howard + A. Kelly, world-famous surgeon. William S. Dutton. + 23. Where Are the Dead? H. G. Marshall. + 25. Mary Antipas. Story. Howard W. Pope. + 26. Four Old Pals. Story. Frederick Burnham. + 28. Dios es Amor (God Is Love). Spanish edition of No. 1. + 29. Forethought in Creation. W. Bell Dawson. + 30. Bryan's Last Word on Evolution. William Jennings Bryan. + 31. Why I Do Not Believe in the Organic Evolutionary Hypothesis. + James Edward Congdon. + 33. The Double Cure. A Gospel appeal. Melvin E. Trotter. + 35. Old Truths for Young Lives. For children. + 37. How to Have a Happy Home. Harold Francis Branch. + 38. The Peril of Unbelief and the Danger of Doubt. D. L. Moody. + 39. Moody the Evangelist. Joseph B. Bowles. + 40. The Only Begotten Son. H. A. Ironside. + 42. Tom Bennett's Transformation. Story. Howard W. Pope. + 43 Will a God of Love Punish Any of His Creatures Forever? + Alexander Marshall. + 45. Intercession for Revival. Helen C. Alexander Dixon. + 46. With Everlasting Love. Story. Elzoe Prindle Stead. + 47. How the Word Works. Fred J. Meldau. + 48. Why I Believe the Bible. M. H. Duncan. + 49. Caught. Story. C. S. Knight. + 50. The Fruit of the Spirit Is Joy. John R. Riebe. + 51. A Life Decision in the Sand Hills. Story. Ronald R. Kratz. + 52. Love's Danger Signal. Doctrine of future retribution. + John G. Reid. + 53. Pictures That Talk, Series One. E. J. Pace. + 54. Pictures That Talk, Series Two. E. J. Pace. + 56. My One Question Answered: Was Jesus Christ a Great Teacher Only? + R. D. Sheldon. + 57. Modern Miracles of Grace. John Wilmot Mahood. + 58. How to Study the Bible. A helpful outline. B. B. Sutcliffe. + 59. What is Your Answer? Oswald J. Smith. + 60. Deus E Amor (God Is Love) Portuguese edition of No. 1. + 61. The True and False in Christian Work and Worship. M. H. Duncan. + 62. What Must I Do to be Saved? George E. Guille. + 63. The Man in the Well. Other religious faiths. Oswald J. Smith. + 64. Why All "Good People" Will Be Lost. J. E. Conant. + 65. Two In One. Believer's two natures. Herbert Lockyer. + 66. The Compromise Road. Story. Paul Hutchens. + 67. An Hundredfold. Stewartship. David McConoughy. + 68. Death or Life, Which? A clear presentation. Oswald J. Smith. + 69. Bernard Enters the Race. Story. Anna Potter Wright. + 70. The Trial of Jesus. Harold F. Branch. + 71. The Christian's Citizenship. M. H. Duncan. + 72. Atheism and the Bible. A startling revelation. Oswald J. Smith. + 73. Galatians. God's answer to legalism. B. B. Sutcliffe. + 74. O Sangue. (The Blood) Portuguese. D. L. Moody. + 75. Who is a Christian? Timely questions answered. Oswald J. Smith. + 76. Broken Life-Line. Story. Paul Hutchens. + 77. Eagle Christians. Harry McCormick Lintz. + 78. Elisha Rice. Man of God--Mountaineer. Helen R. Blankenship. + 79. The Master Touch. Rebuilt Lives. William Seath. + 80. The Bully of Stony Lonesome. Story. Charles S. Knight. + 81. The Stolen Pearl. Story. Paul Hutchens. + + Each, 10c; 12 copies (any assortment), $1.00; 100, $7.00 + Attractive rates on large quantities. + + MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + (Dept. MCL) Chicago 10 + + + + +BIBLE STUDY HELPS + +_by Grace Saxe_ + + + Miss Saxe's BIBLE STUDY BOOKS make folks WANT to study the + Bible and shows them HOW. + + These books are extensively used in mid-week prayer services + and ministers report a great increase in attendance and + interest. + + Sunday school teachers will eagerly welcome a comprehensive, + systematic study of the Bible, book by book. + + Women's Auxiliaries and Missionary Societies organize classes + following these Bible study outlines. + + Neighborhood Bible Classes are being organized in cities, + towns, and rural districts, with these books as their guide. + + Any group of friends can intelligently and profitably carry + on a self study class even without a teacher. + + + + +BOOKS ON BIBLE STUDY + + + #Studies in Genesis# + #Studies in Exodus# + #Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy# + #Studies in Joshua, Judges and Ruth# + #Studies in I and II Samuel# + #Studies in I and II Kings and I and II Chronicles# + #Studies in Psalms# + #Studies in The Major Prophets# + #Studies in The Life of Christ# + #Studies in The Book of Luke# + #Studies in The Book of Acts# + #Studies in Romans# + #Studies in Hebrews# + +#THREE STUDIES: Christian Science and the Bible; The Second Coming of +Christ; The Way of Salvation.# + +#Size 6-5/8 x 9-1/2 inches. Paper binding, each 50 cents. In lots of +25 or more of one or assorted titles, at 20% discount or 40 cents net +each, prepaid to any postoffice address.# + + THE MOODY PRESS + 153 Institute Place + Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: All apparent printer's errors retained. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Moody's Stories, by Dwight Lyman Moody + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MOODY'S STORIES *** + +***** This file should be named 33024.txt or 33024.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/0/2/33024/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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/33024.zip b/33024.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..25fe9f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/33024.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..d7b0b7d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #33024 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33024) |
