The Art of Soul-Winning Part 7

"I know I shall fail." (John vi, 37; 2 Tim. i, 12; iv, 18.)

"I can not now, but will some time." (Luke xiv, 17; Acts xxiv, 25; James iv, 13, 14; Luke xii, 19, 20.)

"I am too great a sinner." (Luke v, 32; xix, 10; 1 Tim. i, 15.)

"My day of grace has past." (Ex. x.x.xiv, 5-7; 2 Chron. x.x.x, 9; Isa. lv, 7.)

"I do not feel concerned." (Rom. xiii, 11; Eph. v, 14; Heb. ii, 3.)

"I can not know that these things are true." (Acts xvii, 11; John v, 39; vii, 17.)

"It will cost me my living." (Matt. vi, 33; Ps. lx.x.xiv, 11; Rom. xiv, 8.)

"It will prevent my becoming rich." (1 Tim. vi, 9, 10; Mark viii, 36, 37; Rev. iii, 17, 18.)

"I can not hold my friends." (Matt. x, 37; xxii, 37; Phil. iii, 8.)

"How may I know that Christ is the Son of G.o.d?" (John xx, 30, 31; x, 23-25; 1 John v, 13, 20; Mark iv, 11.)

"How may I know that the Bible is true?" (John vii, 17.)

"Will not G.o.d save me if I do my best?" (Eph. ii, 9; t.i.tus iii, 5-8.)

"Why must a man believe in Christ to be saved?" (John xiv, 6; Acts iv, 12; Gal. ii, 16; Rom. iii, 23, 26.)

"How may I know I am forgiven?" (Ps. x.x.xii, 5; Prov. xxviii, 13; 1 John i, 7-9.)

STUDY XXVIII.

NO EFFORT IN VAIN.

Memory Verse: "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."--(Isa.

lv, 11.)

Scripture for Meditation: John iv, 36; 1 Cor. xv, 58.

"Some day I hope you will preach the gospel," said an aged minister to a little boy in England. That boy became Charles H. Spurgeon. That great soul-winner, Mark Guy Pea.r.s.e, says that when he was a boy his father took him to see a saintly old lady, who laid her hand upon his head, saying, "G.o.d bless the boy, and make him a minister." Mr. Pea.r.s.e says that, through this aged woman, G.o.d called him to the ministry.

In a college chapel in Pennsylvania a Christian layman sat down beside a boy and talked to him about Christ. That boy became Alfred Cookman, whose name will be held in everlasting remembrance.

An eminent lawyer of Minneapolis, converted a short time since, declares that the earnest question, "Have you found Jesus?" spoken by a young lady to his friend who sat by his side in a revival-meeting, and her startled look, when she was answered roughly, followed him for fifteen years until he was finally converted.

No sincere effort for Christ can fail. To human eyes there may be little encouragement, but his Word shall prevail. Every invitation and entreaty shall in the end be, to those who reject it, the "savor of death unto death," but to those who accept it, "the savor of life unto life." We may go forth now, weeping, bearing precious seed; but some blessed day we shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing our sheaves with us.

Perhaps we are too anxious to see results now. We do like to number the converts, and add to the Church roll. Far better do our best for Christ and souls, then leave the results to G.o.d. He will see that the seed, faithfully planted, is watered, and that _no effort is in vain_.