The Man with the Book Part 16

These divinely influenced persons form the Church of Christ, and of them the sayings of this Book are true: 'And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespa.s.ses and sins.' 'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.'"

The man, who had listened with rapt attention, rose from his seat, and said with emotion, "I see it all, sir, as if scales had fallen from my eyes. I have had my machinery, philosophy, science, Bible, and all sorts of books, but I have never prayed, 'Give me Thy Holy Spirit.'"

"Utter that prayer," said his instructor, "in the name of the well-beloved Son, and you shall be endued with power from on high; for He has said, 'I will give my Holy Spirit to them that ask Me.'"

As the time for setting the machinery in motion had arrived, the visitor promised him a book on infidelity; and after shaking hands with the new acquaintance, made his way through the annex.

Several other visits followed, and as the blessed result, the man believed on the Saviour, and gave evidence of having pa.s.sed from death unto life. A clergyman who visited the place a few months after, wrote of him, "Among others I spoke to a man in charge of machinery; a frank, open-faced, and as I should think, open-hearted Englishman. 'I was, sir,' said he, 'an infidel, until a gentleman spoke to me here, and gave me a Gospel. He then reasoned with me, and lent me a book. I am now persuaded that the Bible is true, and I am trying to be a Christian.' I think he has the root of the matter in him."

The readiness with which this man received the Gospel is exceptional.

With sceptics of his cla.s.s prejudice is usually so strong that to remove it is like working through a granite wall; and, after years of effort, the good frequently appears to be lost upon them. Such an incident is therefore a great encouragement to trust in the power of revealed truth.

The reproving of sin is also a plain Christian duty, and yet how few nerve themselves to do it. Besides, persons who, for instance, are guilty of profane language, not only show their need of good counsel, but their very words give the judicious Christian a kind of introduction to them, which can be used to advantage. We will give two instances in ill.u.s.tration of this use of the Book.

When travelling in Yorkshire, the visitor one morning lost his train at a junction, and had to remain in the waiting-room for some time. Three young men entered, who proved to be a barrister's and two solicitor's clerks. One of them in his disappointment at not being in time, as he had to attend a barrister at the a.s.size, uttered an oath, and another took the Divine Name with worse than lightness upon his lips.

"Be careful, gentlemen," observed the stranger, "or you will never discover the legal t.i.tle."

"What on earth do you mean?" inquired the swearer.

"Just this: there are possessions of present value, and a heavenly inheritance covenanted and held direct from the king, but the profane and corrupt will never be able to prove their legal claim to them."

"It was a slip of the tongue, sir, as I don't swear," said the young man, with some confusion.

"Then be careful," was the reply, "not to contract a habit so vile."

As they had to wait an hour, the reprover produced his pocket Bible, and to interest them in the truth, compared the Old Testament to a court of law--stern law, in which no sinner living can be justified; and the New Testament to a court of equity, in which the highest legal Authority in the universe has p.r.o.nounced sinners, who believe on Jesus, "Justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses." After this, he impressively read the words: "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of G.o.d; and if children, then heirs, heirs of G.o.d, and joint-heirs with Christ." As the train approached the station, the young men thanked their reprover, and there was hearty hand-shaking.

The second instance occurred under exceptional circ.u.mstances, for the conversation took place at the top of an omnibus. Late one fine summer evening a Christian man was seated at that pleasant elevation, when, as they pa.s.sed a club in Pall Mall, a gentleman came out, ascended to the top, and lit his cigar. As they pa.s.sed along, he made a most improper remark concerning some low people who were quarrelling at the corner of a street.

"Your sympathies," observed the man addressed, "are evidently with those persons: as we say in chemistry, there is attraction, an affinity between you."--

"Thanks for the high estimate you have formed of me," said the gentleman in an angry tone.

"A very right way to estimate a stranger," was the reply, "as to judge a man out of his own mouth is a very proper judgment. There are only two orders of men--the natural or corrupt, and those who have been made pure in heart. Had you belonged to the latter, those bad people would have caused a revulsion of feeling within you; instead of that you spoke with sympathy, and I therefore as a moralist come to the conclusion that impurity attracts you instead of holiness."

This remark was followed by a long silence, when the gentleman turned suddenly toward his reprover and inquired,--

"Are you a religious man?"

"Yes: I am."

"Then your reproof of my thoughtless words was very proper; but to unchristianize a fellow for such a remark is really too bad."

"I did not unchristianize you, but gave honestly the impression your words conveyed to my mind. And now by way of apology for the sharp manner in which I spoke, may I return your question: 'Are you a religious man?'"

"Well, yes: I am certainly baptized, and am regular in attendance at church with my family; but after all I am not quite right, as there are mysteries in the faith which trouble me."

"Are you a new creature in Christ Jesus?"

"That doctrine has no doubt a depth of meaning and much beauty in it, but I can only see the beauty. With me it is not a reality, as the longer I live the more difficult it is for me to conceive of the _Almighty G.o.d_ and a vile creature, an unit among hundreds of millions, holding intercourse and affecting a transaction between them."

"And yet such is the fact, established by the verities of the Truth Himself, who has said, 'Your heavenly Father will give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.'" And then pressing the arm of the gentleman, the speaker continued, "It is thus: just as matter can influence matter, so can spirit influence spirit. Your body feels the grasp of my hand, and it is as possible for your soul to be touched by the Holy Spirit of G.o.d and to be made conscious of that blessed influence."

The conversation was continued, and deepened in interest until the omnibus came to the end of its journey in the suburb. The pa.s.sengers alighted, and then the gentleman in a most graceful way said, "You have, sir, reproved me wisely, and made the truth, which for years has disturbed me, so plain, that duty to myself requires me to ask your friendship, certainly for the favour of another long conversation."

"I am much occupied," was the reply, "but will gladly spare an hour or so to-morrow evening, should you be disengaged."

"Then I will give you my card, and will remain at home to receive you. I have only to ask you as a point of honour not to mention my foolish remark."

The promise was given, and the gentleman handed his card to the religious teacher, who was startled at the rank of the man to whom he had spoken so faithfully; but addressing him by his t.i.tle, he endeavoured to fix the Scripture in his mind: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things have pa.s.sed away; behold, all things have become new."

Upon the next evening the promised visit was paid, and the stranger was introduced by his new friend to the family circle. For a time his lady was reserved (as well she might be), but after an hour's converse about "things spiritual," she became genial and kind. Before he left, the servants were called in, and the Missionary read and gave a short exposition of the chapter commencing with the words: "And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespa.s.ses and sins;" after which he engaged in extempore prayer.

This was the first of many pleasant visits, and the commencement of a friendship with the family which had its proof of blessing,--certainly with its head, who received the doctrine of regeneration in its fulness.

When a believer is impressed with the duty of witnessing for G.o.d, opportunities for doing so are sure to occur, and if he keeps simply to the Bible, good will of necessity result. He may speak with conscious feebleness, but his infirmity has nothing to do with the matter. The secret of success in Christian work is humility before G.o.d and meekness of wisdom before men, united with firm faith in the truth and power of the Divine Word. That Word can be spoken by, but can gain no improvement or strength from man. All experience gives proof of this, and we add two narratives, in confirmation of others, which show that the lodgment of pa.s.sages from the Holy Scriptures is sufficient to accomplish the purposes of grace.

A Christian man was in the studio of a celebrated sculptor, fixing upon designs for the first drinking-fountains erected in London. When the order was given for cutting pa.s.sages of Scripture in the solid granite, the sculptor objected, upon the ground of "leading the vulgar to despise the Scriptures, by making its words common." The point was reasoned with him, and the position taken, "that any word of G.o.d may lead the thoughts of men up to Him, and that the honouring of His truth must therefore be attended with beneficial results." The order was carried out, and for years the drinking-fountains of London have at the same time refreshed the people with pure water, and instructed them in words of heavenly wisdom. Upon one of them, in the Edgeware Road, is the Proverb, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life." One evening two young men pa.s.sed it. The eldest was a barman, and the other was his youngest brother, who had just come up from the country. They had planned the robbery of the master in this way: the youth was to enter the bar as a stranger, to call for liquor, and to hand his brother sixpence; change for a sovereign or half-sovereign, according to the money in the till, was then to be handed back to him. This was to be repeated several times during the evening, and next day they were to meet and divide the spoil.

As they pa.s.sed the fountain the eye of the youth caught the inscription, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life," and he gazed at it with riveted attention. The teaching received at Sunday-school and a succession of corresponding Scriptures flashed into his mind. Turning to his brother, he said, "G.o.d will see us, and I dare not do this thieving." Next Sunday he attended a meeting of "The Young Men's Christian a.s.sociation," and soon after became a decided Christian. Who can tell how many have been thus blessed by Wisdom making her voice heard in the public ways!

The other instance was that of an opportunity being embraced of speaking faithfully to eighteen highly intelligent young men. They had a.s.sembled in a cla.s.sroom at the Royal Polytechnic, to receive instruction from a professor in chemistry. A Christian man had occasion to enter the room, and upon being informed that several of the young men were telegraph clerks, he reminded them that the word "religion" in Latin really meant "binding again,--the re-uniting of a broken communication;" and added, "This is the condition of us all in our natural estate. Communication is cut off between the sinner and the _Almighty Creator_. Faith in the Lord Jesus and the reception of the Holy Spirit are the only means by which communication can be re-established between the creature on earth and the offended Majesty of heaven; as it is written, 'Ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.'"

More than a year after this circ.u.mstance a young man lay upon his death-bed. A rapid consumption had reduced him to a shadow, and when he felt the end drawing nigh, he sent for the Christian visitor, to thank him for speaking so clearly of Jesus in the hall of many sciences. He was at that time "far off," but by faith in the risen Lord he had obtained mercy, and a blessed hope of everlasting life. He spoke of "the comfort of prayer," and "his sweet antic.i.p.ation of glory," as proofs that communication had been established between him and the Father of his spirit. Soon after this he fell asleep in Jesus. In him the great object of the Church in all her labours was accomplished. Being ignorant, he was instructed in saving truth. Being separated from his _G.o.d_, he was drawn by the cords of Divine love; and then, being a.s.sured of resurrection life in Jesus, he laid down his mortal body that he might follow with the ransomed of the Lord, who enter Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads.

This great good resulted from one Scripture being fixed in the mind of that young man, "But now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." To every Christian the Word is committed, and it is the duty of all to use it for the spiritual enlightenment of others. All whose communication with heaven has not been re-established, must be instructed in the saving truths of Holy Scripture. Opportunities to instruct the intellectual and the higher social cla.s.ses in the grand but simple truths of salvation must not be lost; but to the poor the Gospel must be preached. They were and ever will be the objects of the deep solicitude of our Lord. He in a special manner was their Teacher: for them as for others He lived and agonized and died. They must not be permitted, as in our great cities, to continue in ignorance and sin, and with mult.i.tudes to die the death that is eternal. The Church universal must answer, "No!" She must gird on her strength, and convey the Book of G.o.d, which sheds the light of His salvation, into every dark dwelling,--that redemption's work may spread, and the people learn righteousness, to their salvation and to the praise of the glory of Divine grace.

APPENDIX.

CAN YOU INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST?

To a large extent it is believed that you can! G.o.d in His providence _has brought within your_ reach representatives of the various nations of the Globe; and has placed them in the best possible position to influence the whole earth; so that _if you act upon them, you act upon the world_!

But where is this great gathering of the representatives of the nations to be found? Our minds at once advert to London, the Metropolis of the United Kingdom and of the whole earth!--the Modern Babylon!--a city which now contains nearly four millions of inhabitants!

Are you a Scotchman? There are about as many Scotch people and their descendants in London, as there are in Edinburgh? Are you an Irishman?

There are more Irish and their descendants in London, than there are in Dublin! Are you a Welshman? The Welsh and their descendants living in London about equal the united populations of six of the princ.i.p.al Welsh towns? Or are you an Englishman? The population of six, eight, or ten towns in some of the English counties, represent the number of persons _born in those counties_, who now live in the great city! You may thus act upon almost every city, town, and village in the United Kingdom by means of their own representatives now living in London.

And if you should specially pity the poor Jew, because he rejects the great Messiah;--then you should remember that there are more Jews in London than there are in Palestine! If, again, you regard Popery as the great Antichrist; you are reminded that there are more Roman Catholics in London than there are in Rome! Its 2,000 ITALIANS can here be prepared to carry home to their countrymen the glad tidings of a completed salvation! Are German Neology and French Infidelity the foes to the Redeemer which you would oppose? It is affirmed that above 60,000 GERMANS, or their descendants, and about 40,000 FRENCH and their children, are now to be found in London! The mighty Russian Empire, with its Sclavonian races, sunk in ignorance, or in the corruptions of the Greek Church, is numerously represented in London! Some 6,000 MOHAMMEDANS AND EAST INDIAN idolaters are also found yearly in London!

and _there_, with perfect safety, can be taught that there is one G.o.d, and one atoning sacrifice. _There_ also are found vast numbers of Danes, Dutch, Swedes, Swiss, Spaniards, Portuguese, Greeks, Turks, Africans, Arabians, Persians, Chinese, Brazilians, Americans, American Indians, West-Indian, and South Sea Islanders, and probably from every other nation under heaven! These are brought together by Divine Providence, no doubt, that they may be instructed in the wonderful works of G.o.d. THESE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH ARE BROUGHT WITHIN YOUR REACH; AND THROUGH THEM, BY THE AID OF THE LONDON CITY MISSION, YOU CAN INFLUENCE THE WORLD FOR CHRIST. Alas, that these representative bodies should have entered a city in which a million and three-quarters of its people cannot find room to worship G.o.d in its Protestant Churches and Chapels!--a city in which myriads of its inhabitants are addicted to crime.

THE LONDON CITY MISSION enables Christians to act on individuals of every cla.s.s and nation resident in this most important spot of the earth, this _diseased_ HEART _of the body politic of the world_. The simple object of the Society is to take the Gospel to every house, garret, and cellar, and to beseech men to be reconciled to G.o.d. It knows nothing of sects nor parties, nor does it seek to proselytize in any other way than to make the wicked holy, and the worthless valuable members of society. Its Missionaries, 450 in number, communicate the Gospel in twenty-three languages, each to about 2,000 persons. But if each Missionary employed continues to have about 2,000 persons to visit, AT LEAST 400 MORE MISSIONARIES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE MONSTER CITY. Who then is willing to endeavour--by personal consecration, or by helping an agency that is ready at hand, fitted for the work, and blessed in the doing of it--to _influence the world for Christ_?