[Transcriber's Notes]

Here are the definitions of some unfamiliar (to me) terms. 

antediluvian Person who lived before the Biblical Flood. Very old or old-fashioned. 

cavil Raise irritating and trivial objections; find fault unnecessarily. 

conies Rabbits

Chromo (chromolithograph) Colored print

livery (clothing) Distinctive uniform. 

tares Weedy plants of the genus Vicia, especially the common vetch. Several weedy plants that grow in grain fields. 

[End Transcriber's Notes]

MOODY'SANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 

RELATED IN HIS REVIVAL WORKBY THE GREAT EVANGELISTDWIGHT L. MOODY. 

FULLY ILLUSTRATED FROM GUSTAVE DORE

REVISED EDITION. EDITED BYREV. J. B. McClure. 

CHICAGO:Rhodes & McClure Publishing Co. 1899

Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1896 by theRhodes & McClure Publishing Company, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. All Rights Reserved. 

PREFACE. 

The breathless interest given to Mr. Moody's anecdotes while beingrelated by him before his immense audiences, and their wonderful powerupon the human heart, suggested to the compiler this volume, and led himto believe and trust that, properly classified and arranged in bookform, they would still carry to the general reader a measure of theiroriginal potency for good. The best anecdotes have been selected andcarefully compiled under appropriate headings, alphabetically arranged, making the many stories easily available for the private reader andpublic teacher. Mr. Moody's idiom has been strictly preserved. He tellsthe story. "Gold" will be found scattered through the volume, whichincludes Mr. Moody's terse declarations of many precious and timelytruths. 

The compiler acknowledges the benefit received from the extended reportsof the Tabernacle meetings given in the Daily press of Chicago, also theHippodrome services reported in the New York papers, and the volume ofAddresses revised by Mr. Moody. With the earnest prayer that God'sblessing may accompany the reading of these stories that have blessed somany thousands as they fell from the lips of the great Evangelist, thisvolume is dedicated to the public by the compiler, J. B. McClure Chicago, Ill. 

REVISED EDITION. 

We retain in this, all that was in former editions and give forty pagesadditional of new anecdotes, properly classified, taken from the revivalwork in Boston and elsewhere. We also give engravings of Messrs. Moody, Sankey, Whittle, and the late lamented P. P. Bliss, the four evangelistswho have so long and industriously labored together, and whose namesconjoined, are household words throughout the land. The hearty receptionalready given by the public to this book justifies these improvements, which are gladly made, and which lead the compiler to hope that in thisform the volume may prove yet more interesting and effective for good. 

The engraving of Mr. Moody is from a copyrighted photograph by Gentile, used by permission. That of Mr. Whittle is by the same artist. 

J. B. Mc. 

REVISED EDITION 1896

This edition includes additional anecdotes and many handsome andappropriate illustrations. 

Over one million copies of this book have been sold since the firstissue. No single volume in the history of literature on the Americancontinent has met with such a sale, and probably the only approximatecomparison in the world is that of "Pilgrim's Progress. "

Both of these volumes, it should be noted, derive their merited powerand success from the vital truths of the Holy Scriptures which they soaptly illustrate. May Heaven's blessing follow. 

J. B. McClureChicago, Ill. 

[Illustration: Portrait of D. L. Moody]

DWIGHT L. MOODY

Self-made, and conscious of the absolute truthfulness of every Bibledeclaration, Dwight Lyman Moody is today, perhaps, the most independentand powerful of living evangelists. Man, rather than books, and God, rather than man, have been his study, and made his life intenselyindividual, and one which has constantly increased in good works. In histhirty-five years labor for Christ, from his mission class of fourteenscholars in a Chicago saloon, down to the ten thousand listening soulsin the Halls of Europe and Tabernacles of America, he has been the samefaithful, persevering, original, and pungent D. L. Moody, with anunshaken faith in God, and a burning desire for the conversion of souls. At home Mr. Moody is cheerful and happy; in the social circle he isgenial and companionable; in the pulpit he is Truth on fire. His nativetown is Northfield, Mass. , where he was born February 5th, 1837. He istherefore now, (1896), fifty-nine years old. 

IRA D. SANKEY. 

Ira David Sankey, known throughout the world as the companion of Mr. Moody, was born in Edenburg, Pa. , August 28, 1840. His musical talentswere early developed. Political glee clubs at first monopolized hisgenius, but after his conversion in 1857, the Sunday School and Churchopened wider fields, in which he has since labored with increasingusefulness. In June, 1870, at a Christian Convention in Indianapolis, after a morning service, where Mr. Sankey led the singing, he met, forthe first time, Mr. Moody. "Where do you live! Are you married? Whatbusiness are you in?" at once inquired the Evangelist; "I want you. ""What for?" "To help me in my work in Chicago. " "I cannot leave mybusiness, " replied the now astonished singer. "You must, " said Moody. "Ihave been looking for you for the last eight years. " And thus was Mr. Sankey "called" to be the companion and helper of the great Evangelist. They have been laboring together, for about a score of years. 

[Illustration: Portrait of IRA D. SANKEY]

D. W. WHITTLE. 

For many years D. W. Whittle has been engaged in evangelistic work, giving it all his time, talents and energy. His first effort inconnection with Mr. Bliss, who afterwards became his companion in thecause, was made over twenty years ago in a small town near Chicago. Itwas on this occasion that he told the story, "Hold the Fort, " which the"Singing Evangelist" has rendered immortal. He is in the prime of life, and earnestly devoted to the Master's cause. His discourses are conciseand clear, abounding with Scripture quotations, and, like those of Mr. Moody, interspersed with pointed anecdotes and illustrations. Hispreaching has been signally blessed wherever he has been called tolabor. 

[Illustration: Portrait of D. W. WHITTLE]

P. P. BLISS

Philip Paul Bliss, the "Sweet Singer, " was born in Clearfield County, Pa. , in 1837. It was not until after he had reached the period ofmanhood that he "felt the stirrings of his musical gift. " And then, under the inspiration of his wife, he entered upon the study of musicalscience, and laid the basis of his immortal "hymns, " now sung around theworld. In 1864 he removed to Chicago, where his musical talent andChristian character soon placed him in charge of the choir and SundaySchool of the First Congregational Church, and where he made theacquaintance of D. W. Whittle, with whom, for the last five years of hislife he labored in the great Gospel work. Deep spirituality andpersuasiveness pervade all of Mr. Bliss' musical compositions. It isdoubtful if the world ever heard sweeter hymns. Had he lived longer weshould have heard more, but God, who raised him up for the work, calledhim:

 For those who sleep, And those who weep, Above the portals narrow The mansions rise Beyond the skies-- We're going home to-morrow. 

[Illustration: Portrait of P. P. BLISS]

CONTENTS. 

A

A Blind Man Preaches to 3, 000, 000 PeopleA Boy's Mistake--A Sad ReconciliationA Business Man Confessing ChristA Child at Its Mother's GraveA Child Looking for its Lost MotherA Child's Prayer AnsweredA Child Visits Abraham Lincoln and Saves the Life of a Condemned SoldierA Commercial TravelerA Day of DecisionA Defaulter's ConfessionA Distiller Interrogates MoodyA DreamA Dying Infidel's ConfessionA Father's Love for his BoyA Father's Love Trampled under FootA Father's MistakeAffectionAfflictionA Good ExcuseA Heavy Draw on Alexander the GreatA Little Boy Converts his MotherA Little Boy's ExperienceA Little Child Converts an InfidelAll Right or All WrongA London Doctor Saved after Fifty Years of PrayerA Long Ladder Tumbles to the GroundAlways HappyA Man Drinks up a FarmA Man who Would not Speak to his WifeA Mother Dies that her Boy May LiveA Mother's MistakeAn Emperor Sets Forty Million Slaves FreeAngry at First--Saved at LastAn Infidel who would not Talk Infidelity before his DaughterAn Irishman Leaps into the Life-boatA Remarkable CaseA Rich Father Visits his Dying ProdigalSon in a Garret and Forgives himArthur P. Oxley! Your Mother Wishes to See YouA Rumseller's Son Blows his Brains OutA Sad and Singular StoryAssuranceA Story Moody Never Will ForgetA Voice from the TombA Wife's FaithA Zealous Young Lady

B

BelieveBible StudyBlack-Balled by Man--Saved by ChristBlindBroken HeartsBy the Wayside

C

Calling the Roll of HeavenCast Out but RescuedChild StoriesChristian WorkChristian ZealChrist SavesCondemned to be ShotConfessing ChristConversion

D

DecisionDeliverance"Deluged With Blood"Dr. Arnott's Dog "Rover"

E"Emma. This is Papa's Friend"Engaging Rooms AheadExcused at LastExcuses

F

FaithFaith More Powerful than Gunpowder"Father, Father, Come This Way"Five Million DollarsForgivenessForty-one Little SermonsFour-score and Five"Free"

G

George H. Stewart Visits a Doomed CriminalGet the Key to JobGold (Appears in many pages)Governor Pollock and the Condemned CriminalGrace

H

Heaven"He Will Not Rest""Hold the Fort, for I am Coming"How a Citizen Became a SoldierHow a Little Study Upset the Plans of a few Prominent InfidelsHow a Young Irishman Opened Moody's EyesHow Christ Expounded It"How Funny You Talk"How Moody's Faith Saved an InfidelHow Moody's Mother Forgave her Prodigal SonHow Moody Treated the CommitteesHow Moody was Blessed--Mark your BibleHow Moody was EncouragedHow Three Sunday-School Children Met their Fate

I

I Am not All RightI Am not One of the ElectI Am Trusting Jesus--A Young Lady's Trust. I Can't Feel"I Don't Know""If I Knew"I Have Intellectual Difficulties"I Know"Infidel BooksInfidelityIntemperanceIt's Better Higher Up"It Will Kill Her"

J

Jesus "Wants them All to Come"Johnny, Cling Close to the RockJumping into Father's Arms

L

Lady Ann Erkskine and Rowland Hill"Let the Lower Lights be Burning"LibertyLiberty Now and ForeverLittle FolksLittle JimmyLittle MoodyLoveLove, not the Rattan, Conquers Little MoodyLove's Triumph in John Wannamaker's Sunday-School

MMadness and DeathMoney BlindMoody and his Little WillieMoody and the Dying SoldierMoody and the InfidelMoody and the JudgeMoody Asks a Few QuestionsMoody a Young ConvertMoody in a Billiard Hall--A Remarkable StoryMoody in a California Sunday-SchoolMoody in PrisonMoody on Duty--How he Loves his MotherMoody Puts a Man in his Prophets RoomMoody Visits Prang's Chromo EstablishmentMoody with Gen. Grant's Army In RichmondMoody's DeclarationMoody's First Impulse in Converting SoulsMoody's First Sermon on GraceMoody's Little EmmaMoody's MistakeMothers Are Looking down from Heaven"More to Follow"Mr. Morehouse's IllustrationMrs. Moody Teaching her Child

N

Napoleon and the ConscriptNapoleon and the PrivateNever to see its MotherNote What Jesus Says

O

ObedienceO, EdwardOld Sambo and his MassaOne Book at a TimeOne WordOut of Libby Prison

P

ParentalPeter's ConfessionPraisePrayerPrayer AnsweredPull for the Shore"Pull for the Shore, Sailor"

R

Rational BeliefReapingReaping the WhirlwindRemoving the DifficultiesReuben Johnson Pardoned

S

Sad Ending of a Life that Might Have Been OtherwiseSad Lack of ZealSafe In the ArkSambo and the Infidel JudgeSatan's MatchSaved"Saved"Saved and SavingSnapping the ChainsSong StoriesSowing the TaresSpurgeon and the Little OrphanSpurgeon's ParableStubborn Little SammySudden Conversion (See Conversion)

T

Taking the Prince at his WordTen Years in a Sick Bed--yet Praising GodTerribly in EarnestThat is the Price of my Soul"That is Your Fault"The Arrows of ConvictionThe Artist and the BeggarThe BibleThe Blind BeggarThe BloodThe Cross and CrownThe Cruel Mother--HypotheticalThe Czar and the SoldierThe DemoniacThe Drunken Father and his Praying ChildThe Dying BoyThe Dying ChildThe Eleventh CommandmentThe Faithful Aged WomanThe Faithful London LadyThe Faithful MissionaryThe Family that Hooted at MoodyThe Fettered Bird FreedThe Finest Looking Little Boy Mr. Moody Ever SawThe Horse that was EstablishedThe "I am's, " "I will's, " Etc. The InvitationThe King's PardonThe Little Child and the Big BookThe Little Tow-headed NorwegianThe Loving FatherThe Missing StoneThe Moody and Sankey HumbugThe Most Hopeless Man in New York now a Sunday-school SuperintendentThe Orphan's PrayerThe Place of SafetyThe Praying CrippleThe Praying MotherThe Prodigal SonThe Repentent FatherThe Reporter's StoryThe Rich Man PoorThe Scotch "Draw the Bible" on False DoctrineThe Scotch LassieThe Scotch Lassie and Dr. ChalmersThe Sinner's Prayer HeardThe Skeptical Lady ?The Sleep of DeathThe Stolen Boy--A Mother's LoveThe Two FathersThe Way of the Transgressor is HardThe Young ConvertThe Young French Nobleman and the DoctorThose Hypocrites"Three Cheers"True LoveTrustTwo Young Men

V

Very Hard, yet Very EasyVery Orthodox

W

"We Will Never Surrender"What a Woman DidWhat Moody saw in a Chamber of HorrorWisdomWord PicturesWhy Did he not Take his Wife along?"Won by a Smile"

Y

"You Know me, Moody"Young Moody, Penniless in Boston, is Warned by his Sister to "Beware of Pick-pockets"

D. L. MOODY'SAnecdotes and Illustrations. 

AFFECTION

Love, not the Rattan, Conquers Little Moody. 

I remember when a boy, I used to go to a certain school in New England, where we had a quick-tempered master, who always kept a rattan. It was, "If you don't do this, and don't do that, I'll punish you. " I remembermany a time of this rattan being laid upon my back. I think I can almostfeel it now. He used to rule that school by the law. But after a whilethere was somebody who began to get up a movement in favor ofcontrolling the school by love. A great many said you can never do thatwith those unruly boys, but after some talk it was at last decided totry it. I remember how we thought of the good time we would have thatwinter when the rattan would be out of the school. We thought we wouldthen have all the fun we wanted. I remember who the teacher was--it wasa lady--and she opened the school with prayer. We hadn't seen it donebefore and we were impressed, especially when she prayed that she mighthave grace and strength to rule the school with love. Well, the schoolwent on for several weeks and we saw no rattan, but at last the ruleswere broken, and I think I was the first boy to break them. She told meto wait till after school and then she would see me. I thought therattan was coming out sure, and stretched myself up in warlike attitude. After school, however, I didn't see the rattan, but she sat down by meand told me how she loved me, and how she had prayed to be able to rulethat school by love, and concluded by saying, "I want to ask you onefavor--that is; if you love me, try and be a good boy;" and I never gaveher trouble again. She just put me under grace. And that is what theLord does. God is love, and He wants us all to love Him. 

True Love. 

One day when I was in Brooklyn, I saw a young man going along the streetwithout any arms. A friend who was with me, pointed him out, and told mehis story. When the war broke out he felt it to be his duty to enlistand go to the front. He was engaged to be married, and while in the armyletters passed frequently between him and his intended wife. After thebattle of the Wilderness the young lady looked anxiously for theaccustomed letter. For a little while no letter was received. At lastone came in a strange hand. She opened it with trembling fingers, andread these words: "We have fought a terrible battle. I have been woundedso awfully that I shall never be able to support you. A friend writesthis for me. I love you more tenderly than ever, but I release you fromyour promise. I will not ask you to join your life with the maimed lifeof mine:" That letter was never answered. The next train that left, theyoung lady was on it. She went to the hospital. She found out the numberof his cot, and she went down the aisle, between the long rows of thewounded men. At last she saw the number, and, hurrying to his side, shethrew her arms around his neck and said: "I'll not desert you. I'll takecare of you. " He did not resist her love. They were married, and thereis no happier couple than this one. We are dependent on one another. Christ says, "I'll take care of you. I'll take you to this bosom ofmine. " That young man could have spurned her love; he could, but hedidn't. Surely you can be saved if you will accept the Saviour's love. If God loves us, my friends, He loves us unto the end. "For God so lovedthe world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believethin Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. "

How a Young Irishman Opened Moody's Eyes. 

I want to tell you how I got my eyes open to the truth that God lovesthe sinner. When I went over to Europe I was preaching in Dublin, when ayoung fellow came up to the platform and said to me that he wanted tocome to America and preach. He had a boyish appearance; did not seem tobe over seventeen years old. I measured him all over, and he repeatedhis request, and asked me when I was going back. I told him I didn'tknow; probably I should not have told him if I had known. I thought hewas too young and inexperienced to be able to preach. In course of timeI sailed for America, and hadn't been here long before I got a letterfrom him, dated New York, saying that he had arrived there. I wrote hima note and thought I would hear no more about him, but soon I gotanother letter from him, saying that he was coming soon to Chicago, andwould like to preach. I sent him another letter, telling him if he cameto call upon me, and closed with a few common-place remarks. I thoughtthat would settle him, and I would hear no more from him. But in a veryfew days after he made his appearance. I didn't know what to do withhim. I was just going off to Iowa, and I went to a friend and said: "Ihave got a young Irishman--I thought he was an Irishman, because I methim in Ireland--and he wants to preach. Let him preach at themeetings--try him, and if he fails, I will take him off your hands whenI come home. " When I got home--I remember it was on Saturday morning--Isaid to my wife: "Did that young man preach at the meetings?" "Yes. ""How did they like him?" "They liked him very much, " she replied: "Hepreaches a little different from you; he preaches that God lovessinners. " I had been preaching that God hated sinners; that he had beenstanding behind the sinners with a double-bladed sword, ready to cut theheads of the sinners off. So I concluded if he preached different fromme, I would not like him. My prejudice was up. Well, I went down to themeeting that night, and saw them coming in with their Bibles with them. I thought it was curious. It was something strange to see the peoplecoming in with Bibles, and listen to the flutter of the leaves. Theyoung man gave out his text, saying: "Let us turn to the third chapterof John, and sixteenth verse: 'For God so loved the world that He gaveHis only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. '" He didn't divide up the text at all. He, went from Genesis to Revelation, giving proof that God loved the sinner, and before he got through two or three of my sermons were spoiled. Ihave never preached them since. 

The following day--Sunday--there was an immense crowd flocking into thehall, and he said, "Let us turn to the third chapter of John, sixteenthverse: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlastinglife;'" and he preached the fourth sermon from this verse. He justseemed to take the whole text and throw it at them, to prove that Godloved the sinner, and that for six thousand years he had been trying toconvince the world of this. I thought I had never heard a better sermonin my life. It seemed to be new revelation to all. Ah, I notice thereare some of you here who remember those times; remember those nights. Igot a new idea of the blessed Bible. On Monday night I went down and theyoung man said, "Turn to the third chapter of John, sixteenth verse;"and he seemed to preach better than ever. Proof after proof was quotedfrom Scripture to show how God loved us. I thought sure he had exhaustedthat text, but on Tuesday he took his Bible in his hand and said: "Turnto the third chapter of John, sixteenth verse, '" and he preached thesixth sermon from that verse. He just seemed to climb over his subject, while he proved that there was nothing on earth like the love of Christ, and he said "If I can only convince men of His love, if I can but bringthem to believe this text; the whole world will be saved. " On Thursdayhe selected the same text, John iii. , 16, and at the conclusion of thesermon he said: "I have been trying to tell you for seven nights now, how Christ loves you, but I cannot do it. If I could borrow Jacob'sladder and climb up to heaven, and could see Gabriel there and ask himto tell me how much God loves me, he would only say, "God so loved theworld that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth inHim should not perish; but have everlasting life. " How a man can go outof this tabernacle after hearing this text, saying, "God does not loveme, " is a mystery to me. 

Love's Triumph in John Wannamaker's Sunday School. 

Mr. John Wannamaker, superintendent of probably one of the largestSunday schools in the world, had a theory that he would never put a boyout of his school for bad conduct. He argued if a boy misbehavedhimself, it was through bad training at home, and that if he put him outof the school no one would take care of him. Well, this theory was putto the test one day. A teacher came to him and said, "I've got a boy inmy class that must be taken out; he breaks the rules continually, heswears and uses obscene language, and I cannot do anything with him. "Mr. Wannamaker did not care about putting the boy out, so he sent theteacher back to his class. But he came again and said that unless theboy was taken from his class, he must leave it. Well, he left, and asecond teacher was appointed. The second teacher came with the samestory, and met with the same reply from Mr. Wannamaker. And he resigned. A third teacher was appointed, and he came with the same story as theothers. Mr. Wannamaker then thought he would be compelled to turn theboy out at last. One day a few teachers were standing about, and Mr. Wannamaker said: "I will bring this boy up and read his name out in theschool, and publicly excommunicate him. " Well, a young lady came up andsaid to him: "I am not doing what I might for Christ, let me have theboy; I will try and save him. " But Mr. Wannamaker said: "If these youngmen cannot do it, you will not. " But she begged to have him, and Mr. Wannamaker consented. 

She was a wealthy young lady, surrounded with all the luxuries of life. The boy went to her class, and for several Sundays he behaved himselfand broke no rule. But one Sunday he broke one; and, in reply tosomething she said, spit in her face. She took out her pocket-handkerchief and wiped her face, but she said nothing. Well, she thoughtupon a plan, and she said to him; "John, "--we will call himJohn, --"John, come home with me. " "No, " says he, "I won't; I won't beseen on the streets with you. " She was fearful of losing him altogetherif he went out of the school that day, and she said to him, "Will youlet me walk home with you?" "No; I won't, " said he, "I won't be seen onthe street with you. " Then she thought upon another plan. She thought onthe "Old Curiosity Shop, " and she said, "I won't be at home tomorrow orTuesday, but if you will come round to the front door on Wednesdaymorning there will be a little bundle for you. " "I don't want it; youmay keep your own bundle. " She went home, but made the bundle up. Shethought that curiosity might make him come. 

Wednesday morning arrived and he had got over his mad fit, and thoughthe would just like to see what was in that bundle. The little fellowknocked at the door, which was opened, and he told his story. She said:"Yes; here is the bundle. " The boy opened it and found a vest and a coatand other clothing, and a little note written by the young lady, whichread something like this:

"DEAR JOHNNIE:--Ever since you have been in my class I have prayed foryou every morning and evening, that you might be a good boy and I wantyou to stop in my class. Do not leave me. "

The next morning, before she was up, the servant came to her and saidthere was a little boy below who wished to see her. She dressed hastily, and went downstairs, and found Johnnie on the sofa weeping. She put herarms around his neck, and he said to her, "My dear teacher, I have nothad any peace since I got this note from you. I want you to forgive me. ""Won't you let me pray for you to come to Jesus?" replied the teacher. And she went down on her knees and prayed. And now Mr. Wananamaker saysthat boy is the best boy in his Sunday-school. And so it was love thatbroke that boy's heart. 

AFFLICTION. 

A Child Visits Abraham Lincoln, and Saves the Life of a Condemned Soldier. 

During the war I remember a young man, not twenty, who wascourt-martialed down in the front and sentenced to be shot; The storywas this: The young fellow had enlisted. He was not obliged to, but hewent off with another young man. They were what we would, call "chums. "One night this companion was ordered out on picket duty, and he askedthe young man to go for him. The next night he was ordered out himself;and having been awake two nights, and not being used to it, fell asleepat his post, and for the offense he was tried and sentenced to death. Itwas right after the order issued by the President that no interferencewould be allowed in cases of this kind. This sort of thing had becometoo frequent, and it must be stopped. When the news reached the fatherand mother in Vermont it nearly broke their hearts. The thought thattheir son should be shot was too great for them. They had no hope thathe would be saved by anything they could do. But they had a littledaughter who had read the life of Abraham Lincoln, and knew how he hadloved his own children, and she said: "If Abraham Lincoln knew how myfather and mother loved my brother he wouldn't let mm he shot. " Thatlittle girl thought this matter over and made up her mind to see thePresident. She went to the White House, and the sentinel, when he sawher imploring looks, passed her in, and when she came to the door andtold the private secretary that she wanted to see the President, hecould not refuse her. She came into the chamber and found AbrahamLincoln surrounded by his generals and counselors, and when he saw thelittle country girl he asked her what she wanted. The little maid toldher plain, simple story--how her brother, whom her father and motherloved very dearly, had been sentenced to be shot; how they were mourningfor him, and if he was to die in that way it would break their hearts. The President's heart was touched with compassion, and he immediatelysent a dispatch canceling the sentence and giving the boy a parole sothat he could come home and see that father and mother. I just tell youthis to show you how Abraham Lincoln's heart was moved by compassion forthe sorrow of that father and mother, and if he showed so much do youthink the Son of God will not have compassion upon you, sinner, if youonly take that crushed, bruised heart to him?

Broken Hearts. 

There is no class of people exempt from broken hearts. The rich and thepoor suffer alike. There was a time when I used to visit the poor that Ithought all the broken hearts were to be found among them, but withinthe last few years I have found there are as many broken hearts amongthe learned as the unlearned, the cultured as the uncultured, the richas the poor. If you could but go up one of our avenues and down anotherand reach the hearts of the people; and get them to tell their wholestory, you would be astonished at the wonderful history of every family. I remember a few years ago I had been out of the city for some weeks. When I returned I started out to make some calls. The first place I wentto I found a mother; her eyes were red with weeping. I tried to find outwhat was troubling her, and she reluctantly opened her heart and told meall. She said: "Last night my only boy came home about midnight, drunk. I didn't know that he was addicted to drunkenness, but this morning Ifound out that he had been drinking for weeks, and, " she continued, "Iwould rather have seen him laid in the grave than have have had himbrought home in the condition I saw him in last night. " I tried tocomfort her as best I could when she told me her sad story. When I wentaway from that house I didn't want to go into any other house wherethere was family trouble. The very next house I went to, however, wheresome of the children who attended my Sunday school resided, I found thatdeath had been there and laid his hand on one of them. The mother spoketo me of her afflictions, and brought to me the playthings and thelittle shoes of the child, and the tears trickled down that mother'scheeks as she related to me her sorrow. I got out as soon as possible, and hoped I would see no more family trouble that day. 

The next visit I made was to a home where I found a wife with a bitterstory. Her husband had been neglecting her for a long time; "and now, "she said, "he has left me, and I don't know where he has gone. Winter iscoming on, and I don't know what is going to become of my family. " Itried to comfort her, and prayed with her, and endeavored to get her tolay all her sorrows on Christ. The next home I entered I found a womancrushed and broken-hearted. She told me her boy had forsaken her, andshe had no idea where he had gone. That afternoon I made five calls, andin every home I found a broken heart. Everyone had a sad tale to tell, and if you visited every house in Chicago you would find the truth inthe saying that "there is a skeleton in every house. " I suppose while Iam talking you are thinking of the great sorrow in your own bosom. I donot know anything about you, but if I were to come around to everyone ofyou, and you were to tell me the truth I would hear a tale of sorrow. The very last man I spoke to last night was a young mercantile man whotold me his load of sorrow had been so great that many times during thelast few weeks he had gone down to the lake and had been tempted toplunge in and end his existence. His burden seemed too much for him. Think of the broken hearts in Chicago tonight! They could be numbered byhundreds--yea, thousands. All over this city are broken hearts. 

If all the sorrow represented in this great city were written in a book, this building couldn't hold that book, and you couldn't read it in along lifetime. This earth is not a stranger to tears, neither is thepresent the only time when they could be found in abundance. From Adam'sdays to ours tears have been shed, and a wail has been going up toheaven from the broken-hearted. And I say it again, it is a mystery tome how all those broken hearts can keep away from Him who has come toheal them. 

"That is Your Fault. "

I remember a mother coming to me and saying, "It is easy enough for youto speak in that way; if you had the burden that I've got, you couldn'tcast it on the Lord. " "Why, is your burden so great that Christ can'tcarry it?" I asked. "No; it isn't too great for Him to carry; but Ican't put it on Him. " "That is your fault, " I replied; and I find agreat many people with burdens who, rather than just come to Him withthem, strap them tighter on their backs and go away struggling undertheir load. I asked her the nature of her trouble, and she told me. "Ihave an only boy who is a wanderer on the face of the earth. I don'tknow where he is. If I only knew where he was I would go around theworld to find him. You don't know how I love that boy. This sorrow iskilling me. " "Why can't you take him to Christ? You can reach Him at thethrone, even though he be at the uttermost part of the world. Go tellGod all about your trouble, and he will take away his sin, and not onlythat, but if you never see him on earth, God can give you faith that youwill see your boy in heaven. " And then I told her of a mother who liveddown in the southern part of Indiana. Some years ago her boy came up tothis city. He was a moralist. My friends, a man has to have more thanmorality to lean upon in this great city. He hadn't been here longbefore he was led astray. A neighbor happened to come up here and foundhim one night in the streets drunk. 

When that neighbor went home, at first he thought he wouldn't sayanything about it to the boy's father, but afterward he thought it washis duty to tell him. So in a crowd in the street of their little townhe just took the father aside, and told him what he had seen in Chicago. It was a terrible blow. When the children had been put to bed that nighthe said to his wife, "Wife, I have bad news. I have heard from Chicagotoday. " The mother dropped her work in an instant and said: "Tell mewhat it is. " "Well, our son has been seen on the streets of Chicago, drunk. " Neither of them slept that night, but they took their burden toChrist, and about daylight the mother said: "I don't know how, I don'tknow when or where, but God has given me faith to believe that our sonwill be saved and will never come to a drunkard's grave. "

One week after, that boy left Chicago. He couldn't tell why--an unseenpower seemed to lead him to his mother's home, and the first thing hesaid on coming over the threshold was, "Mother, I have come home to askyou to pray for me;" and soon after he came back to Chicago a bright andshining light. If you have a burden like this, fathers, mothers, bringit to Him and cast it on Him, and He, the Great Physician, will healyour broken hearts. 

"It will Kill Her. "

I was thinking to-day of the difference between those who knew Christwhen trouble comes upon them and those who knew Him not. I know severalmembers of families who are just stumbling into their graves overtrouble. I know two widows in Chicago who are weeping and mourning overthe death of their husbands, and their grief is just taking them totheir graves. Instead of bringing their burdens to Christ, they mournday and night, and the result will be that in a few weeks or years atmost their sorrow will take them to their graves when they ought to takeit all to the Great Physician. Three years ago a father took his wifeand family on board that ill-fated French steamer. They were going toEurope, and when out on the ocean another vessel ran into her and shewent down. That mother when I was preaching in Chicago used to bring hertwo children to the meetings every night. It was one of the mostbeautiful sights I ever looked on, to see how those little children usedto sit and listen, and to see the tears trickling down their cheeks whenthe Saviour was preached. It seemed as if nobody else in that meetingdrank in the truth as eagerly as those little ones. 

One-night when an invitation had been extended to all to go into theinquiry room, one of these little children said: "Mamma, why can't I goin too?" The mother allowed them to come into the room, and some friendspoke to them, and to all appearances they seemed to understand the planof salvation as well as their elders. When that memorable night camethat mother went down and came up without her two children. Upon readingthe news I said: "It will kill her, " and I quitted my post inEdinburgh--the only time I left my post on the other side--and went downto Liverpool to try and comfort her. But when I got there I found thatthe Son of God had been there before me, and instead of me comfortingher, she comforted me. She told me she could not think of those childrenas being in the sea; it seemed as if Christ had permitted her to takethose children on that vessel only that they might be wafted to Him, andhad saved her life only that she might come back and work a littlelonger for Him. When she got up the other day at a mothers' meeting inFarwell Hall, and told her story, I thought I would tell the mothers ofit the first chance I got. 

So if any of you have had some great affliction, if any of you have losta loving father, mother, brother, husband, or wife, come to Christ, because God has sent Him to heal the broken-hearted. 

"Father, Father, Come This Way. "

I remember a number of years ago I went out of Chicago to try to preach. I went down to a little town where was being held a Sunday-schoolconvention. I was a perfect stranger in the place, and when I arrived aman stepped up to me and asked me if my name was Moody. I told him itwas, and he invited me to his house. When I got there he said he had togo to the convention, and asked me to excuse his wife, as she, nothaving a servant, had to attend to her household duties. He put me intothe parlor, and told me to amuse myself as best I could till he cameback. I sat there, but the room was dark and I could not read, and I gottired. So I thought I would try and get the children and play with them. I listened for some sound of childhood in the house, but could not heara single evidence of the presence of little ones. When my friend cameback I said: "Haven't you any children?" "Yes, " he replied, "'I haveone, but she's in Heaven, and I am glad she is there, Moody. " "Are youglad that your child's dead?" I inquired. 

He went on to tell me how he had worshiped that child; how his wholelife had been bound up in her to the neglect of his Saviour. One day hehad come home and found her dying. Upon her death he accused God ofbeing unjust. He saw some of his neighbors with their children aroundthem. Why hadn't He taken some of them away? He was rebellious. After hecame home from her funeral he said: "All at once I thought I heard, herlittle voice calling me, but the truth came to my heart that she wasgone. Then I thought I heard her feet upon the stairs; but I knew shewas lying in the grave. The thought of her loss almost made me mad. Ithrew myself on my bed and wept bitterly. I fell asleep, and while Islept I had a dream, but it almost seemed to me like a vision. 

"I thought I was going over a barren field, and I came to a river sodark and chill-looking that, I was going to turn away, when all at onceI saw on the opposite bank the most beautiful sight I ever looked at. Ithought death and sorrow could never enter into that lovely region. ThenI began to see beings all so happy looking, and among them I saw mylittle child. She waved her little angel hand to me and cried, 'Father, Father, come this way. ' I thought, her voice sounded much sweeter thanit did on earth. In my dream I thought I went to the water and tried tocross it, but found it deep and the current so rapid that I thought if Ientered it would carry me away from her forever. I tried to find aboatman to take me over, but couldn't, and I walked up and down theriver trying to find a crossing, and still she cried: 'Come this way. 'All at once I heard a voice come rolling down, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me. ' The voice awokeme from my sleep, ' and I knew it was my Saviour calling me, and pointingthe way for me to reach my darling child. 

"I am now superintendent of a Sunday-school; I have made many converts;my wife has been converted, and we will, through Jesus as the way, seeone day our child. "

The Place of Safety. 

My friends, there is one spot on earth where the fear or Death, of Sin, and of Judgment, need never trouble us, the only safe spot on earthwhere the sinner can stand--Calvary. Out in our western country, in theautumn, when men go hunting, and there has not been rain for manymonths, sometimes the prairie grass catches fire. Sometimes, when thewind is strong, the flames maybe seen rolling along, twenty feet high, destroying man and beast in their onward rush. When the frontiersmen seewhat is coming, what do they do to escape? They know they cannot run asfast as that fire can run. Not the fleetest horse can escape it. Theyjust take a match and light the grass around them. The flames sweeponwards; they take their stand in the burnt district and are safe. Theyhear the flames roar as they come along; they see death bearing downupon them with resistless fury, but they do not fear. They do not eventremble as the ocean of flame surges around them, for over the placewhere they stand the fire has already past and there is no danger. Thereis nothing for fire to burn. And there is one spot all earth that Godhas swept over. Eighteen hundred years ago the storm burst on Calvary;the Son of God took it into his own bosom, and now, if we take our standby the Cross, we are safe for time and eternity. 

GOLD. 

-- Christ never preached any funeral sermons. 

-- His is a loving, tender hand, full of sympathy and compassion. 

-- Take your stand on the Rock of Ages. Let death, let the judgment come: the victory is Christ's and yours through Him. 

-- The only man who ever suffered before Christ was that servant who had his ear cut off. But most likely in a moment afterward he had it on, and very likely it was a better ear than ever, because whatever the Lord does He does it well No man ever lost his life with Him. 

-- A great many people wonder why it was that Christ did not come at once to Martha and Mary, whom He loved, whenever He heard of their affliction. It was to try them, and it is the same with His dealings toward us. If He seems not to come to us in our afflictions, it is only to test us. 

-- When the Spirit came to Moses, the plagues came upon Egypt, and he had power to destroy men's lives; when the Spirit came upon Elijah, fire came down from heaven; when the Spirit came upon Gideon, no man could stand before him; and when it came upon Joshua, he moved around the city of Jericho and the whole city fell into his, hands; but when the Spirit came upon the Son of Man, He gave His life; He healed the broken-hearted. 

-- No matter how low down you are; no matter what your disposition has been; you may be low in your thoughts, words, and actions; you may be selfish; your heart may be overflowing with corruption and wickedness; yet Jesus will have compassion upon you. He will speak comforting words to you; not treat you coldly or spurn you, as perhaps those of earth would, but will speak tender words, and words of love and affection and kindness. Just come at once. He is a faithful friend--a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 

ASSURANCE. 

Napoleon and the Private. 

It is said of Napoleon that while he was reviewing his army one day, hishorse became frightened at something, and the Emperor lost his rein, andthe horse went away at full speed, and the Emperor's life was in danger. He could not get hold of the rein, and a private in the ranks saw it, and sprang out of the ranks towards the horse, and was successful ingetting hold of the horse's head at the peril of his own life. TheEmperor was very much pleased. Touching his hat, he said to him, "I makeyou Captain of my Guard. " The soldier didn't take his gun, and walk upthere. He threw it away, stepped out of the ranks of the soldiers, andwent up to where the body-guard stood. The captain of the body-guardordered him back into the ranks, but he said "No! I won't go!" "Whynot?" "Because I am Captain of the Guard. " "You Captain of the Guard?""Yes;" replied the soldier. "Who said it?" and the man, pointing to theEmperor; said, "He said it. " That was enough. Nothing more could besaid. He took the Emperor at his word. My friends, if God says anything, let us take Him at His word. "He that believeth on the Lord Jesus Christshall not perish, but have everlasting life. " Don't you believe it?Don't you believe you have got everlasting life? It can be the privilegeof every child of God to believe and then know that you have got it. 

"Five Million Dollars. "

One thing I know--I cannot speak for others, but can speak for myself; Icannot read other minds and other hearts; I cannot read the Bible andlay hold for others; but I can read for myself, and take God at hisword. The great trouble is that people take everything in general, anddo not take it to themselves. Suppose a man should say to me, "Moody, there was a man in Europe who died last week, and left five milliondollars to a certain individual. " "Well, " I say, "I don't doubt that;it's rather a common thing to happen, " and I don't think anything moreabout it. But suppose he says, "But he left the money to you. " Then Ipay attention; I say, "To me?" "Yes, he left it to you. " I becomesuddenly interested. I want to know all about it. So we are apt to thinkChrist died for sinners; He died for everybody, and for nobody inparticular. But when the truth comes to me that eternal life is mine, and all the glories of Heaven are mine, I begin to be interested. I say, "Where is the chapter and verse where it says I can be saved?" If I putmyself among sinners, I take the place of the sinner, then it is thatsalvation is mine and I am sure of it for time and eternity. 

Engaging Rooms Ahead. 

Mr. Sankey and myself--going about and preaching the gospel, is nothingnew. You will find them away back eighteen hundred years ago, going offtwo by two, like Brothers Bliss and Whittle, and Brothers Needham andStebbins, to different towns and villages. They had gone out, and therehad been great revivals in all the cities, towns, and villages they hadentered. Everywhere they had met with the greatest success. Even thevery devils were subject to them. Disease had fled before them. Whenthey met a lame man they said to him, "You don't want to be lame anylonger, " and he walked. When they met a blind man they but told him toopen his eyes, and behold, he could see. And they came to Christ andrejoiced over their great success, and He just said to them, "I willgive you something to rejoice over. Rejoice that your names are writtenin heaven. "

Now there are a great many people who do not believe in such anassurance as this, "Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. "How are you going to rejoice if your names are not written there? Whilespeaking about this some time ago, a man told me we were preaching avery ridiculous doctrine when we preached this doctrine of assurance. Iask you in all candor what are you going to do with this assurance if wedon't preach it? It is stated that our names are written there; blottedout of the Book of Death and transferred to the Book of Life. 

I remember while in Europe I was traveling with a friend--she is in thishall to-night. On one occasion we were journeying from London toLiverpool, and the question was put as to where we would stop. We saidwe would go to the "Northwestern, " at Lime street, as that was the Hotelwhere Americans generally stopped at. When we got there the house wasfull and they could not let us in. Every room was engaged. But thisfriend said, "I am going to stay here. I engaged a room ahead. I sent atelegram on. " My friends, that is just what the Christians aredoing--sending their names in ahead. They are sending a message upsaying: "Lord Jesus, I want one of those mansions You are preparing; Iwant to be there. " That's what they are doing. 

Every man and woman who wants one, if you have not already got one, hadbetter make up your mind. Send your names up now. I would rather athousand times have my name written in the Lamb's Book than have all thewealth of the world rolling at my feet. 

"He Will Not Rest. "

Suppose a man is going to Cincinnati, and he gets on the cars, but hefeels uneasy lest, the train will take him to St. Louis instead of hisdestination. He will not rest till he knows he is on the right road, andthe idea that we are on the road to eternity as fast as time can takeus, and do not know our destination, is contrary to Scripture. If wewant peace we must know it, and we can know it; it is the Word of God. Look What Peter says: "We know we have an incorruptible dwelling. " Thenin Paul's epistle to the Colossians, i. , 12, "Giving thanks unto theFather which hath made us meet"--hath made us, not going to--"to bepartakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Who hath deliveredus"--not going to deliver us, but He hath delivered us: this is anassurance--"from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into thekingdom of His dear Son. "

"Very Orthodox. "

A person came to me some time ago and said: "Mr. Moody, I wish you wouldgive me a book that preaches assurance, and that tells the children ofGod it is their privilege to know they are accepted. " I said, "Here is abook; it is very orthodox. It was written by John, the most intimatefriend of Jesus while He was on earth. The man who laid his head uponHis bosom. " Turn to John and see what he says in the 5th chapter, "Forin them ye think ye have eternal life. "

"I Don't Know. "

There is no doubt about assurance in the Word of God. A person said tome some time ago: "I think it is great presumption for a person to sayshe is saved. " I asked her if she was saved. "I belong to a church, " shesobbed. "But are you saved?" "I believe it would be presumption in me tosay that I was saved. " "Well I think it is a greater presumption foranyone to say: 'I don't know if I believe in the Lord Jesus Christbecause it is written, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. '"It is clearly stated that we have assurance. 

"If I Knew. "

Many think that assurance is not to be had while traveling through thisworld--they must wait till they get before the terrible judgment seat toknow whether they are accepted or not. And I find some ministers preachthis precious doctrine from their pulpits. I heard of a minister who, while on his way to the burial of a man, began to talk upon the subjectof assurance. "Why, " said he, "if I knew for a certainty that I wassaved the carriage couldn't hold me. I would have to jump out with joy. "A man should be convinced that he has the gospel, before he preaches itto anyone else. Why, a man need not try to pull a man out of the riverif he is in it himself. A man need not try to lift a man out of a pit ifhe is there too. No man can preach salvation till he knows he is saved. 

"I Know!"

The man of God who has fixed his feet on the rock of salvation can saywith certainty, "I know. " If you have not got assurance and want it, just believe God's Word. If you go down South and ask those threemillion colored people how they think they are free, they won't talkabout their feelings; they just believe that Abraham Lincoln made themfree. They believe the proclamation, and so we must believe theproclamation God has made in the Bible. "One thing thou teachest, " thatis salvation. 

[Illustration: The Journey To Emmaus; GUSTAVE DORE. Luke xxiv, 13-32]

[Illustration: Jesus Questioning The Doctors; GUSTAVE DORE. Luke ii, 41-51]

Moody's Declaration. 

A great many people say, "Mr. Moody, I would like to know whether I am aChristian or not. I would like to know if I am saved. " The longer I livethe more I am convinced that it is one of the greatest privileges of achild of God to know--to be able to say, "I am saved. " The idea ofwalking through life without knowing this until we get to the greatwhite throne is exploded. If the Bible don't teach assurance it don'tteach justification by faith; if it don't teach assurance it don't teachredemption. The doctrine of assurance is as clear as any doctrine in theBible. 

How many people in the Tabernacle when I ask them if they areChristians, say, "Well, I hope so, "--in a sort of a hesitating way. Another class say, "I am trying to be. " This is a queer kind oftestimony, my friends. I notice no man is willing to go into the inquiryroom till he has got a step beyond that. That class of Christians don'tamount to much. The real Christian puts it, "I believe; I believe thatmy Redeemer liveth; I believe that if this building of flesh weredestroyed, I have a building not made with hands, eternal in theheavens. " No hoping and trusting with them. It is, "I know. " Hope isassured to the Christian. It is a sure hope; it isn't a doubting hope. Suppose a man asked me if my name was Moody, and I said, "Well, I hopeso, " wouldn't it sound rather strange? "I hope it is;" or, "I'm tryingto be Moody. " Now, if a man asks you if you are a Christian, you oughtto be able to give a reason. 

GOLD. 

-- There cannot be any peace where there is uncertainty. 

-- There is no knowledge like that of a man who knows he is saved, who can look up and see his "title clear to mansions in the skies. "

-- I believe hundreds of Christian people are being deceived by Satan, now on this point, that they have not got the assurance of salvation just because they are not willing to take God at His word. 

-- "But, " a man said to me, "no one has come back, and we don't know what is in the future. It is all dark, and how can we be sure?" Thank God! Christ came down from heaven, and I would rather have Him coming as he does right from the bosom of the Father, than anyone else. We can rely on what Christ says, and He says, "He that believeth on Me shall not perish, but have everlasting life. " Not that we are going to have it when we die, but right here to-day. 

-- Now, I find a great many people who want some evidence that they have accepted the Son of God. My friends, if you want any evidence, take God's word for it. You can't find better evidence than that. You know that when the Angel Gabriel came down and told Zachariah he should have a son he wanted a further token than the angel's word. He asked Gabriel for it and he answered, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Lord. " He had never been doubted, and he thundered out this to Zachariah. But he wanted a further token, and Gabriel said, "You shall have a token: you shall be dumb till your son shall be given you. "

BELIEVE. 

Moody and the Dying Soldier. 

After the battle of Pittsburgh Landing and Murfreesboro' I was in ahospital at Murfreesboro'. And one night after midnight, I was woke upand told that there was a man in one of the wards who wanted to see me. I went to him and he called me "chaplain!"--I wasn't a chaplain--and hesaid he wanted me to help him die. And I said, "I'd take you right up inmy arms and carry you into the kingdom of God if I could; but, I can'tdo it; I can't help you to die. " And he said, "Who can?" I said: "TheLord Jesus Christ can--He came for that purpose. " He shook his head andsaid, "He can't save me; I have sinned all my life. " And I said, "But Hecame to save sinners. " I thought of his mother in the North, and I knewthat she was anxious that he should die right, and I thought I'd staywith him. I prayed two or three times, and repeated all the promises Icould, and I knew that in a few hours he would be gone. I said I wantedto read him a conversation that Christ had with a man who was anxiousabout his soul. I turned to the third chapter of John. His eyes wereriveted on me, and when I came to the 14th and 15th verses, he caught upthe words, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even somust the Son of Man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth on Him shouldnot perish, but have eternal life. " He stopped me and said, "Is thatthere?" I said "Yes, " and he asked me to read it again, and I did so. Heleaned his elbows on the cot and clasped his hands together and said, "That's good; won't you read it again. "

I read it the third time, and then went on with the rest of the chapter. When I finished, his eyes were closed, his hands were folded, and therewas a smile on his face. Oh! how it was lit up! What a change had comeover it! I saw hits lips quivering, and I leaned over him and heard, ina faint whisper; "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, somust the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth on Him shouldnot perish, but have eternal life. " He opened his eyes and said, "That'senough; don't read any more. " He lingered a few hours and then pillowedhis head on those two verses, and then went up in one of Christ'schariots and took his seat in the Kingdom of God. 

You may spurn God's remedy and perish; but I tell you God don't want youto perish. He says, "As I live I have no pleasure in the death of thewicked. " "Turn ye, turn ye, for why will ye die?"

A Child at its Mother's Grave. 

I remember seeing a story some time ago in print. It has been in thepapers, but it will not hurt us to hear it again. A family in a Southerncity were stricken down with yellow fever. It was raging there, andthere were very stringent sanitary rules. The moment anybody died, acart went around and took the coffin away. The father was taken sick anddied and was buried, and the mother was at last stricken down. Theneighbors were afraid of the plague, and none dared go into the house. The mother had a little son and was anxious about her boy, and afraid hewould be neglected when she was called away, so she called the littlefellow to her bedside, and said, "My boy, I am going to leave you, butJesus will come to you when I am gone. " The mother died, the cart camealong and she was laid in the grave. The neighbors would have liked totake the boy, but were afraid of the pestilence. He wandered about andfinally started up to the place where they had laid his mother and satdown on the grave, and wept himself to sleep. Next morning he awoke andrealized his position--alone and hungry. A stranger came along andseeing the little fellow sitting on the ground, asked him what he waswaiting for. The boy remembered what his mother had told him, andanswered, "I am waiting for Jesus, " and told him the whole story. Theman's heart was touched, tears trickled down his cheeks and he said, "Jesus has sent me, " to which the boy replied, "You have been a goodwhile coming, sir. " He was provided for. So it is with us. To wait forresults, we must have courage and patience and God will help us. 

"You Know Me, Moody. "

Well, let me illustrate it then, and perhaps you will be able tounderstand it. Suppose I am dying with consumption; which I inheritedfrom my father or mother. I did not get it by any fault of my own, byany neglect of my health; I inherited it, let us suppose. Well, I go tomy physician, and to the best physicians, and they all give me up. Theysay I am incurable; I must die; I have not thirty days to live. Well, afriend happens to come along and looks at me and says: "Moody, you havegot the consumption. " "I know it very well; I don't want any one to tellme that. " "But, " he says, "There is a remedy--a remedy, I tell you. Letme have your attention. I want to call your attention to it. I tell youthere is a remedy. " "But sir, I don't believe it. I have tried theleading physicians in this country and in Europe, and they tell me thereis no hope. " "But you know me, Moody; you have known me for years. ""Yes, sir. " "Do you think, then, I would tell you a falsehood?" "No. ""Well, ten years ago I was far gone. I was given up by the physicians todie, but I took this medicine and it cured me, I am perfectly well--lookat me;" I say that it is a very strange case. "Yes, it may be strange, but it is a fact. That medicine cured me; take this medicine and it willcure you. Although it has cost me a great deal, it shall not cost youanything. Although the salvation of Jesus Christ is as free as the air, it cost God the richest jewel of heaven. He had to give his only Son;give all He had; He had only one Son, and He gave Him. Do not make lightof it, then, I beg of you. " "Well" I say, "I would like to believe you, but this is contrary to my reason. " Hearing this, my friend goes awayand brings another friend to me and he testifies to the same thing. Heagain goes away when I do not yet believe, and brings in another, andanother; and another, and they all testify to the same thing. They saythey were as bad as myself; and they took the same medicine that hasbeen offered to me, and it cured them. He then hands me the medicine. Idash it to the ground; I do not believe in its saving power: I die. Thereason is, then, that I spurned the remedy. 

So it will not be because Adam fell, but that you spurn the remedyoffered to you to save you. You will have darkness rather than light. How, then, shall ye escape if ye neglect so great salvation? There is nohope for you if you neglect the remedy. 

Rational Belief. 

Once there were a couple of men arranging a balloon ascension. Theythought they had two ropes fastened to the car, but one of them only wasfastened, and they unfastened that one rope, and the balloon started togo up. One of the men seized hold of the car, and the other seized holdof the rope. Up went the balloon, and the man who seized hold of the carwent up with it, and was lost. The man who laid hold of the rope wasjust as sincere as the man who laid hold of the car. There was just asmuch reason to say that the man who laid hold of that would be savedbecause he was sincere as the man who believed in a lie because he issincere in his belief. I like a man to be able to give a reason for thefaith that is in him. Once I asked a man what he believed, and he saidhe believed what his church believed. I asked him what his churchbelieved, and he said he supposed his church believed what he did; andthat was all I could get out of him. And so men believe what otherpeople believe and what their church believes, without really knowingwhat their church and other people do believe. 

GOLD. 

-- God is truth. 

-- What grounds have we for not believing God?

THE BIBLE. 

"How Funny You Talk. "

No book in the world has been so misjudged as the Bible. Men judge itwithout reading it. Or perhaps they read a bit here and a bit there, andthen close it saying, "It is so dark and mysterious!" You take a book, now-a-days, and read it. Some one asks you what you think about it. "Well, " you say, "I have only read it through once, not very carefully, and I should not like to give an opinion. " Yet people take up God'sbook, read a few pages, and condemn the whole of it. Of all the skepticsand infidels I have ever met speaking against the Bible, I have nevermet one who read it through. There may be such men, but I have never metthem. It is simply an excuse. There is no man living who will stand upbefore God and say that kept him out of the kingdom. It is the devil'swork trying to make us believe it is not true, and that it is dark andmysterious. The only way to overcome the great enemy of souls is by thewritten Word of God. He knows that, and so tries to make men disbelieveit. As soon as a man is a true believer in the Word of God, he is aconqueror over Satan. Young man! the Bible is true. What have theseinfidels to give you in its place? What has made England but the openBible? Every nation that exalteth the Word of God is exalted, and everynation that casteth it down is cast down. Oh, let us cling close to theBible. Of course, we shall not understand it all at once. But men arenot to condemn it on that account. Suppose I should send my little boy, five years old, to school tomorrow morning, and when he came home in theafternoon, say to him, "Willie, can you read? can you write? can youspell? Do you understand all about Algebra, Geometry; Hebrew, Latin, andGreek?" "Why, papa, " the little fellow would say, "hew funny you talk. Ihave been all day trying to learn the A B C!" Well; suppose I shouldreply, "If you have not finished your education, you need not go anymore. " What would you say? Why, you would say, I had gone mad. Therewould he just as much reason in that, as in the way that people talkabout the Bible. My friends, the men who have studied the Bible forfifty years--the wise men and the scholars, the great theologians--havenever got down to the depths of it yet. There are truths there that theChurch of God has been searching out for the last eighteen hundredyears, but no man has fathomed the depths of that ever-living stream. 

"How Christ Expounded It. "

You will find Christ, after He had risen, again speaking about the OldTestament prophets: "And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, heexpounded unto them in all the Scripture the things concerning Himself. "Concerning Himself. Don't that settle the question? I tell you I amconvinced in my mind that the Old Testament is as true as the New. "AndHe began at Moses and all the prophets. " Mark that, "all the prophets. "Then in the forty-fourth verse: "And He said unto them, these are thewords which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all thingsmust be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and in theprophets and in the psalms concerning Me. Then opened He theirunderstanding that they might understand the Scripture. "

The Scotch "Draw the Bible" on False Doctrine. 

There is no place I have ever been in where people so thoroughlyunderstand their Bibles as in Scotland. Why, little boys could quoteScripture and take me up on a text. They have the whole nation justeducated, as it were, with the Word of God. Infidelity cannot comethere. A man got up in Glasgow, at a corner, and began to preachuniversal salvation. "Oh, sir, " said an old woman, "that will never savethe like of me. " She had heard enough preaching to know that it wouldnever save her. If a man comes among them with any false doctrine, theseScotchmen instantly draw their Bibles on him. I had to keep my eyes openand be careful what I said there. They knew their Bibles a good dealbetter than I did. And so if the preachers could get the people to readthe Word of God more carefully, and note what they heard, there wouldnot be so much infidelity among us. 

Moody and the Infidel. 

An infidel had come the other day, to one of our meetings, and when Italked with him, he replied that he didn't believe one-twelfth part ofthe Bible, but I kept on quoting Scripture, feeling that if the mandidn't believe, God could do what He chose with His word, and make itquick and powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword. The man keptsaying that he did not believe what the Bible said, and I kept onquoting passage after passage of Scripture, and the man, who, two hoursbefore, had entered the hall an infidel, went out of it a converted man, and a short time after his conversion he left the City for Boston, aChristian, to join his family in Europe. Before this gentleman wentaway, I asked him if he believed the Bible, and his reply was: "Fromback to back, every word of it. "

"Deluged with Blood. "

A good many years ago there was a convention held in France, and thosewho held it wanted to get the country to deny a God, to burn the Bible, wanted to say that men passed away like a dog and a dumb animal. Whatwas the result! Not long since, that country was filled with blood. Didyou ever think what would take place if we could vote the Bible and theministers of the gospel and God out from among the people? My friends, the country would be deluged with blood. Your life and mine would not besafe in this City to-night. We could not walk through these streets withsafety. We don't know how much we owe God and the influence of Hisgospel among even ungodly men. 

[Illustration: The Dumb Man Possessed; GUSTAVE DORE. Matthew, ix, 32. ]

[Illustration: The Burial Of Jesus; GUSTAVE DORE. John, xix, 38-42. ]

GOLD. 

-- There are over two hundred passages in the Old Testament which prophesied about Christ, and every one of them has come true. 

-- God didn't give the world two different Bibles; they are one, and must be believed from back to back, from Genesis to Revelations, or not at all. 

-- I haven't found the first man who ever read the Bible from back to back carefully who remained an infidel. My friends, the Bible of our mothers and fathers is true. 

-- The Word of God may be darkened to the natural man, but the way of Salvation is written so plain, that the little child six years old can understand it if she will. 

-- Set more and more store by the Bible. Then troubles in your Christian life will pass away like a morning cloud. You will feed and live on the Word of God, and it will become the joy of your soul. 

-- There are dark and mysterious things in the Bible now, but when you begin to trust Christ your eyes will be opened and the Bible will be a new book to you. It will become the Book of books to you. 

-- I notice if a man goes to cut up the Bible and comes to you with one truth and says, "I don't believe this, and I don't believe that, "--I notice when he begins to doubt portions of the Word Of God he soon doubts it all. 

-- If you will show me a Bible Christian living on the Word of God, I will show you a joyful man. He is mounting up all the time. He has got new truths that lift him up over every obstacle, and he mounts over difficulties higher and higher, like a man I once heard of who had a bag of gas fastened on either side, and if he just touched the ground with his foot, over a wall or a hedge he would go; and so these truths make us so light that we bound over every obstacle. 

BIBLE STUDY. 

How Moody was Blessed--"Mark Your Bible. "

I want to tell you how I was blessed a few years ago, upon hearing adiscourse upon the thirtieth chapter of Proverbs. The speaker said thechildren of God were like four things. The first thing was: "The antsare a people not strong, " and he went on to compare the children of Godto ants. He said the people of God were like, ants. They pay noattention to the things of the present, but go on steadily preparing forthe future. The next thing he compared them to was the conies. "Theconies are but a feeble folk. " It is a very weak little thing. "Well, "said I, "I wouldn't like to be as a coney. " But he went on to say thatit built upon a rock. The children of God were very weak, but they laidtheir foundation upon a rock. "Well, " said I, "I will be like a coneyand build my hopes upon a rock. " Like the Irishman who said he trembledhimself, but the rock upon which his house was built never did. The nextthing the speaker compared them to was a locust. I didn't think much oflocusts; and I thought I wouldn't care about being like one. But he wenton to read, "They have no king, yet they go forth all of them by bands. "There were the Congregationalist, the Presbyterian, the Methodist bandsgoing forth without a king, but by and by our King will come back again, and these bands will fly to Him. "Well, I will be like a locust; my Kingis away, " I thought. The next comparison was a spider. I didn't likethis at all, but he said if we went into a gilded palace filled withluxury, we might see a spider holding on to something, oblivious to allthe luxury below. It was laying hold of the things above. "Well, " saidI, "I would like to be a spider. " I heard this a good many years ago, and I just put the speaker's name to it, and it makes a sermon. But takeyour Bibles and mark them. Don't think of wearing them out. It is a rarething to find a man wearing his Bible out now-a-days--and Bibles arecheap, too. You are living in a land where they are plenty. Study themand mark them, and don't be afraid of wearing them. 

Moody Visits Prang's Chromo Establishment. 

When I went to Boston, I went into Mr. Prang's chromo establishment. Iwanted to know how the work was done. He took me to a stone several feetsquare, where he took the first impression, but when he took the paperoff the stone I could see no sign of a man's face there. "Wait alittle, " he said. He took me to another stone, but when the paper waslifted I couldn't see any impression yet. He took me up, up to eight, nine, ten stones, and then I could see just the faintest outlines of aman's face. He went on till he got up to about the twentieth stone, andI could see the impression of a face, but he said it was not verycorrect yet. Well, he went on till he got up, I think, to thetwenty-eighth stone, and a perfect face appeared, and it looked as ifall it had to do was to speak and it would be human. If you read achapter of the Bible and don't see anything in it, read it a secondtime, and if you cannot see anything in it read it a third time. Digdeep. Read it again and again, and even if you have to read ittwenty-eight times do so, and you will see the Man Christ Jesus, for Heis in every page of the Word. 

Get the Key to Job. 

An Englishman asked me some time ago, "Do you know much about Job?""Well, I know a little, " I replied. "If you've got the key of Job, you've got the key to the whole Bible. " "What?" I replied, "I thought itwas a poetical book. " "Well, " said he, "I will just divide Job intoseven heads. The first is the perfect man--untried; and that is Adam andEve before they fell. The second head is tried by adversity--Adam afterthe fall. The third is the wisdom of the world--the three friends whocame to try to help Job out of his difficulties. They had no power tohelp him at all. " He could stand his scolding wife, but he could notstand them. The fourth head takes the form of the Mediator, and in thefifth head God speaks at last. He heard him before by the ear, but hehears Him now by the soul, and he fell down flat upon his face. A goodmany men in Chicago are like Job. They think they are mighty good men, but the moment they hear the voice of God they know they are sinners, they are in the dust. There isn't much talk about their goodness then. Here he was with his face down. Job learned his lesson. That was thesixth head, and in these heads were the burdens of Adam's sin. Theseventh head was when God showed him His face. Well, I learned the keyto the Bible. I cannot tell how this helped me. I told it to anotherman, and he asked me if I ever thought how he got his property back andhis sheep back. He gave Job double what he had and gave him ten childrenbesides, so that he should have ten in heaven besides his ten on earth. 

[Illustration: Jesus Blessing Children; GUSTAVE DORE. Mark, x, 13-16]

One Book at a time. 

I have found it a good plan to take up one book at a time. It is a gooddeal better to study one book at a time than to run through the Bible. If we study one book and get its key, it will, perhaps, open up others. Take up the book of Genesis, and you will find eight beginnings; or, inother words, you pick up the key of several books. The gospel waswritten that man might believe on Jesus Christ, and every chapter speaksof Him. Now, take the book of Genesis; it says it is the book ofbeginnings. That is the key; then the book of Exodus--it is the book ofredemption; that is the key word of the whole. Take up the book ofLeviticus, and we find that it is the book of sacrifices. And so onthrough all the different books; you will find each one with a key. Another thing: We must study it unbiased. A great many people believecertain things. They believe in certain creeds and doctrines, and theyrun through the book to get Scripture in accordance with them. If a manis a Calvinistic man he wants to find something in accordance with hisdoctrine. But if we go to seek truth the Spirit of God will come. Don'tseek it in the blue light of Presbyterianism, in the red light ofMethodism; or in the light of Episcopalianism, but study it in the lightof Calvary. 

Note what Jesus Says. 

Some people say to me, "Moody, you don't believe in the flood. All thescientific men tell us it is absurd. " Let them tell us. Jesus tells usof it, and I would rather take the word of Jesus than that of any otherone. I haven't got much respect for those men who dig down for stoneswith shovels, in order to take away the word of God. Men don't believein the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, but we have it sealed in the NewTestament. "As, it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. " They don'tbelieve in Lot's wife, but He says, "Remember Lot's wife. " So there isnot a thing that men to-day cavil at but the Son of God indorses. Theydon't believe, in the swallowing of Jonah. They say it is impossiblethat a whale could swallow Jonah--its throat is too small. They forgetthat the whale was prepared for Jonah; as the colored woman said, "Why, God could prepare a man to swallow a whale, let alone a whale to swallowa man. "

One Word. 

I remember I took up the word "love, " and turned to the Scriptures andstudied it, and got so that I felt I loved everybody, I got full of it. When I went on the street, I felt as if I loved everybody I saw. It ranout of my fingers. Suppose you take up the subject of love and study itup. You will get so full of it that all you have got to do is to openyour lips and a flood of the love of God flows upon the meeting. If yougo into a court you will find a lawyer pleading a case. He getseverything bearing upon one point, heaped up so as to carry his argumentwith all the force he can, in order to convince the jury. Now it seemsto me a man should do the same in talking to an audience; just thinkthat he has a jury before him, and he wants to convict a sinner. If itis love, get all you can upon the subject and talk love, love. 

The "I Ams, " "I Wills, " Etc. 

A favorite way to study the Bible with me, is first to take up oneexpression, and run through the different places where they are found. Take the "I ams" of John; "I am the bread of life;" "I am the water oflife;" "I am the way, the truth, and the life;" "I am the resurrection;""I am all, and in all. " God gives to His children a blank; and on itthey can write whatever they most want and He will fill the bill. Andthen the promises. A Scotchman found out thirty one thousand distinctpromises in the Word of God. There is not a despondent soul but God hasa promise just to suit him. 

GOLD. 

-- The best truths are got by digging deep for them. 

-- When we know our Bible, then it is that God can use us. 

-- When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful. 

-- When a man is filled with the Word of God you cannot keep him still. If man has got the Word, he must speak or die. 

-- Let us have one day exclusively to study and read the Word of God. If we can't take time during the week, we will have Sunday uninterrupted. 

-- Now, as old Dr. Bonner, of Glasgow, said, "The Lord didn't tell Joshua how to use the sword, but He told him how he should meditate on the Lord day and night, and then he would have good success. "

-- One thing I have noticed in studying the Word of God, and that is, when a man is filled with the Spirit he deals largely with the Word of God, whereas the man who is filled with his own ideas refers rarely to the Word of God. He gets along without it, and you seldom see it mentioned in his discourses. 

BLIND. 

A Mother's Mistake. 

While I was attending a meeting in a certain city sometime ago a ladycame to me and said: "I want you to go home with me; I have something tosay to you. " When we reached her home, there were some friends there;After they had retired, she put her arms on the table, and tears beganto come into her eyes, but with an effort she repressed her emotion. After a struggle she went on to say that she was going to tell mesomething which she had never told any other living person. I should nottell it now; but she has gone to another world. She said she had a sonin Chicago, and she was very anxious about him. When he was young he gotinterested in religion at the rooms of the young Men's ChristianAssociation. He used to go out in the street and circulate tracts. Hewas her only son, and she was very ambitious that he should make a namein the world, and wanted him to get into the very highest circles. Oh, what a mistake people make about these highest circles. Society isfalse; it is a sham. She was deceived like a good many more votaries offashion and hunters after wealth at the present time. She thought it wasbeneath her son to go down and associate with those young men who hadn'tmuch money. She tried to get him away from them, but they had moreinfluence than she had, and, finally, to break his whole association, she packed him off to a boarding-school. He went soon to Yale College, and she supposed he got into one of those miserable secret societiesthere that have ruined so many young men; and the next thing she heardwas that the boy had gone astray. 

She began to write letters urging him to come into the Kingdom of God, but she heard that he tore the letters up without reading them. She wentto him to try and regain whatever influence she possessed over him, buther efforts were useless, and she came home with a broken heart. He leftNew Haven, and for two years they heard nothing of him. At last theyheard he was in Chicago, and his father found him and gave him $30, 000to start in business. They thought it would change him, but it didn't. They asked me when I went back to Chicago to try and use my influencewith him. I got a friend to invite him to his house one night, where Iintended to meet him, but he heard I was to be there, and did not comenear, like a good many other young men, who seem to be afraid of me. Itried many times to reach him, but could not. While I was traveling oneday on the New Haven Railroad, I bought a New York paper, and in it Isaw a dispatch saying he had been drowned in Lake Michigan. His fathercame on to find his body, and, after considerable searching, theydiscovered it. All his clothes and his body were covered with sand. Thebody was taken home to that broken-hearted mother. She said "If Ithought he was in heaven I would have peace. " Her disobedience of God'slaw came back upon her. 

So, my friends, if you have a boy impressed with the gospel, help him tocome to Christ. Bring him in the arms of your faith, and He will uniteyou closer to him. 

"Pull for the Shore. "

Look at that man in a boat on Niagara River. He is only about a milefrom the rapids. A man on the bank shouts to him, "Young man, young man, the rapids are not far away; you'd better pull for the shore. " "Youattend to your own business; I will take care of myself, " he replies. Like a great many people here, and ministers, too, they don't want anyevangelist here--don't want any help, however great the danger ahead. Onhe goes; sitting coolly in his boat. Now he has got a little nearer, anda man from the bank of the river sees his danger, and shouts: "Stranger, you'd better pull for the shore; if you go further, you'll be lost. Youcan be saved now if you pull in. " "Mind your business, and you'll haveenough to do; I'll take care of myself. " Like a good many men, they areasleep to the danger that's hanging over them while they are in thecurrent. And I say, drinking young man, don't you think you are standingstill. You are in the current, and if you don't pull for a rock ofsafety you will go over the precipice. On he goes. I can see him in theboat laughing at the danger. A man on the bank is looking at him, and helifts up his voice and cries, "Stranger, stranger, pull for the shore;if you don't you'll lose your life;" and the young man laughs athim--mocks him. That is the way with hundreds in Chicago. If you go tothem and point out their danger, they will jest and joke at you. By andby he says: "I think I hear the rapids--yes, I hear them roar;" and heseizes his oars and pulls with all his strength, but the current is toogreat, and nearer and nearer he is drawn on to that abyss, until hegives one unearthly scream, and over he goes. Ah, my friends, this isthe case with hundreds in this city. They are in the current of richesof pleasure, of drink, that will take them to the whirlpool. 

A Blind Man Preaches to 3, 000, 000 People. 

I was at a meeting in London, when I was there, and I heard a manspeaking with wonderful power and earnestness. "Who is that man?" Iasked, my curiosity being excited. "Why, that is Dr. ----. He is blind. "I felt some interest in this man and at the close of the meeting, Isought an interview, and he told me that he had been stricken blind whenvery young. His mother took him to a doctor, and asked him about hissight. "You must give up all hope, " the doctor said. "Your boy is blind, and will be forever. " "What, do you think my boy will never see?" askedhis mother. "Never again. " The mother took her boy to her bosom andcried, "Oh, my boy, ''Who will take care of you when I am gone? Who willlook to you?"--forgetting the faithfulness of that God she had taughthim to love. He became a servant of the Lord and was permitted to printthe Bible in twelve different languages, printed in the raised letters, so that all the blind people could read the Scriptures themselves. Hehad a congregation, my friends, of three millions of people, and Ithink that blind man was one of the happiest beings in all London. Hewas naturally blind, but he had eyes to his soul, and could see a brighteternity in the future. He had built his foundation upon the living God. We pity those who have not their natural sight; but how you should pityyourself if you are spiritually blind. 

Money Blind. 

I heard of a man who had accumulated great wealth, and death came uponhim suddenly, and he realized, as the saying is, that "there was no bankin the shroud, " that he couldn't take anything away with him; we mayhave all the money on earth, but we must leave it behind us. He called alawyer in and commenced to will away his property before he went away. His little girl couldn't understand exactly where he was going, and shesaid: "Father, have you got a home in that land you are going to?" Thearrow went down to his soul. "Got a home there?" The rich man had hurledaway God and neglected to secure a home there for the sake of his money, and he found it was now too late. He was money mad, he was money blind. 

GOLD. 

-- Now I am no prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but one thing I can predict; that every one of our new converts that goes to studying his Bible, and loves this book above every other book, is sure to hold out. The world will have no charm for him; he will get the world under his feet, because in this book he will find something better than the world can give him. 

-- What can botanists tell you of the lily of the valley? You must study this book for that. What can geologists tell you of the Rock of Ages, or mere astronomers about the Bright Morning Star? In those pages we find all knowledge unto salvation; here we read of the ruin of man by nature, redemption by the blood, and regeneration by the Holy Ghost. These three things run all through and through them. 

THE BLOOD. 

A Mother Dies that her Boy may Live. 

When the California gold fever broke out, a man went there, leavinghis wife in New England with his boy. As soon as he got on and wassuccessful he was to send for them. It was a long time before hesucceeded, but at last he got money enough to send for them. The wife'sheart leaped for joy. She took her boy to New York, got on board aPacific steamer, and sailed away to San Francisco. They had not beenlong at sea before the cry of "Fire! fire!" rang through the ship, andrapidly it gained on them. There was a powder magazine on board, and thecaptain knew the moment the fire reached the powder, every man, woman, and child must perish. They got out the life-boats, but they were toosmall! In a minute they were overcrowded. The last one was just pushingaway, when the mother pled with them to take her and her boy. "No, " theysaid, "we have got as many as we can hold. " She entreated them soearnestly, that at last they said they would take one more. Do you thinkshe leaped into that boat and left her boy to die? No! She seized herboy, gave him one last hug, kissed him, and dropped him over into theboat. "My boy, " she said, "if you live to see your father, tell him thatI died in your place. " That is a faint type of what Christ has done forus. He laid down his life for us. He died that we might live. Now willyou not love Him? What would you say of that young man if he shouldspeak contemptuously of such a mother! She went down to a watery graveto save her son. Well, shall we speak contemptuously of such a Saviour?May God make us loyal to Christ! My friends, you will need Him one day. You will need Him when you come to cross the swellings of Jordan. Youwill need Him when you stand at the bar of God. May God forbid that whendeath draws nigh it should find you making light of the precious bloodof Christ!

A Man Drinks up a Farm. 

A few years ago, I was going away to preach one Sunday morning, when ayoung man drove up in front of us. He had an aged woman with him. "Whois that young man?" I asked. "Do you see that beautiful meadow?" said myfriend, "and that land there with the house upon it?" "Yes" "His fatherdrank that all up, " said he. Then he went on to tell me all about him. His father was a great drunkard, squandered his property, died, and lefthis wife in the poor-house. "And that young man, " he said, "is one ofthe finest young men I ever knew. He has toiled hard and earned money, and bought back the land; he has taken his mother out of the poor-house, and now he is taking her to church. " I thought, that is an illustrationfor me. The first Adam in Eden sold us for naught, but the Messiah, thesecond Adam, came and bought us back again. The first Adam brought us tothe poor-house, as it were; the second Adam makes us kings and priestsunto God. That is redemption. We get in Christ all that Adam lost, andmore. Men look on the blood of Christ with scorn and contempt, but thetime is coming when the blood of Christ will be worth more than all thekingdoms of the world. 

All Right or all Wrong. 

I remember when in the old country a young man came to me--aminister--and said he wanted to talk with me. He said to me: "Mr. Moody, you are either all right and I am all wrong, or else I am right, and youare all wrong. " "Well, sir, " said I, "You have the advantage of me. Youhave heard me preach, and you know what doctrines I hold, whereas I havenot heard you, and don't know what you preach. " "Well, " said he, "thedifference between your preaching and mine is that you make out thatsalvation is got by Christ's death, and I make out that it is attainedby His life. " "Now, what do you do with the passages bearing upon thedeath?" and I quoted the passages, "Without the shedding of blood thereis no remission, " and "He Himself bore our own sins by His own body onthe tree, " and asked him what he did with them, for instance. "Neverpreach them at all. " I quoted a number of passages more, and he gave methe same answer. "Well, what do you preach?" I finally asked. "Moralessays, " he replied. Said I, "Did you ever know anybody to be saved bythat kind of thing, did you ever convert anybody by them?" "I neveraimed at that kind of conversion; I meant to get men to heaven byculture--by refinement. " "Well, " said I, "If I didn't preach thosetexts, and only preached culture, the whole thing would be a sham. " "Andit is a sham to me, " was his reply. I tell you the moment a man breaksaway from this doctrine of blood, religion becomes a sham, because thewhole teaching of this book is of one story, and this is, that Christcame into the world and died for our sins. 

The Fettered Bird Freed. 

A friend in Ireland once met a little Irish boy who had caught asparrow. The poor little bird was trembling in his hand, and seemed veryanxious to escape. The gentleman begged the boy to let it go, as thebird could not do him any good; but the boy said he would not; for hehad chased it three hours before he could catch it. He tried to reasonit out with the boy, but in vain. At last he offered to buy the bird;the boy agreed to the price, and it was paid. Then the gentleman tookthe poor little thing and held it out on his hand. The boy had beenholding it very fast, for the boy was stronger than the bird, just asSatan is stronger than we, and there it sat for a time, scarcely able torealize the fact that it had got liberty; but in a little while it flewaway, chirping, as if to say to the gentleman, "Thank you! thank you!you have redeemed me. " That is what redemption is--buying back andsetting free. So Christ came back to break the fetters of sin, to openthe prison doors and set the sinner free. This is the good news, thegospel of Christ--"Ye are not redeemed with corruptible things, assilver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ. "

GOLD. 

-- The most solemn truth in the gospel is that the only thing Christ left down here is His blood. 

-- A man who covers up the cross, though he may be an intellectual man, and draw large crowds, will have no life there, and his church will be but a gilded sepulcher. 

-- There is either of two things we must do. One is to send back the message to heaven that we don't want the blood of Christ to cleanse us of our sin, or else accept it. 

-- Into every house where the blood was not sprinkled, the destroying angel came. But wherever the blood was on door-post and lintel, whether they had worked much, or whether they had worked none, God passed them over. 

-- A man who has not realized what the blood has done for him has not the token of salvation. It is told of Julian, the apostate, that while he was fighting he received an arrow in his side. He pulled it out, and, taking a handful of blood threw it into the air and cried, "Galilean, Galilean, thou hast conquered. "

-- Look at that Roman soldier as he pushed his spear into the very heart of the God-man. What a hellish deed! But what was the next thing that took place? Blood covered the spear! Oh! thank God, the blood covers sin. There was the blood covering that spear--the very point of it. The very crowning act of sin brought out the crowning act of love; the crowning act of wickedness was the crowning act of grace. 

-- It Is said that old Dr. Alexander, of Princeton College, when a young student used to start out to preach, always gave them a piece of advice. The old man would stand with his gray locks and his venerable face and say: "Young man, make much of the blood in your ministry. " Now, I have traveled considerable during the past few years, and never met a minister who made much of the blood and much of the atonement but God had blessed his ministry, and souls were born into the light by it. 

CHILD STORIES. 

"Little Moody. "

I remember when I was a boy I went several miles from home with an olderbrother. That seemed to me the longest visit of my life. It seemed thatI was then further away from home than I had ever been before, or haveever been since. While we were walking down the street we saw an old mancoming toward us, and my brother said, "There is a man that will giveyou a cent. He gives every new boy that comes into this town a cent. "That was my first visit to the town, and when the old man got oppositeto us he looked around, and my brother not wishing me to lose the cent, and to remind the old man that I had not received it, told him that Iwas a new boy in the town. The old man, taking off my hat, placed histrembling hand on my head, and told me I had a Father in heaven. It wasa kind, simple act, but I feel the pressure of the old man's hand uponmy head to-day. You don't know how much you may do by just speakingkindly. 

"Won by a Smile. "

In London, in 1872, one Sunday morning a minister said to me, "I wantyou to notice that family there in one of the front seats, and when wego home I want to tell you their story. " When we got home I asked himfor the story, and he said, "All that family were won by a smile. ""Why, " said I, "how's that?" "Well, " said he, "as I was walking down astreet one day I saw a child at a window; it smiled, and I smiled, andwe bowed. So it was the second time; I bowed, she bowed. It was not longbefore there was another child, and I had got in a habit of looking andbowing, and pretty soon the group grew, and at last, as I went by, alady was with them. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to bow toher, but I knew the children expected it, and so I bowed to them all. And the mother saw I was a minister, because I carried a Bible everySunday morning. So the children followed me the next Sunday and found Iwas a minister. And they thought I was the greatest preacher, and theirparents must hear me. A minister who is kind to a child and gives him apat on the head, why the children will think he is the greatest preacherin the world. Kindness goes a great way. And to make a long story short, the father and mother and five children were converted, and they aregoing to join our church next Sunday. "

Won to Christ by a smile! We must get the wrinkles out of our brows, andwe must have smiling faces. 

A Little Boy's Experience. 

One day as a young lady was walking up the street, she saw a little boyrunning out of a shoemaker's shop, and behind him was the old shoemakerchasing him with a wooden last in his hand. He had not run far until thelast was thrown at him, and he was struck in the back. The boy stoppedand began to cry. The Spirit of the Lord touched that young lady'sheart, and she went to where he was. She stepped up to him, and askedhim if he was hurt. He told her it was none of her business. She went towork then to win that boy's confidence. She asked him if he went toschool. He said, "No. " "Well, why don't you go to school?" "Don't wantto. " She asked him if he would not like to go to Sunday school. "If youwill come, " she said, "I will tell you beautiful stories and read nicebooks. " She coaxed and pleaded with him, and at last said that if hewould consent to go, she would meet him on the corner of a street whichthey should agree upon. He at last consented, and the next Sunday, trueto his promise, he waited for her at the place designated. She took himby the hand and led him into the Sabbath-school "Can you give me a placeto teach this little boy?" she asked of the superintendent. 

He looked at the boy, but they didn't have any such looking little onesin the school. A place was found, however, and she sat down in thecorner and tried to win that soul for Christ. Many would look upon thatwith contempt, but she had got something to do for the Master. Thelittle boy had never heard anybody sing so sweetly before. When he wenthome he was asked where he had been. "Been among the angels, " he toldhis mother. He said he had been to the Protestant Sabbath-school, buthis father and mother told him he must not go there any more or he wouldget a flogging. The next Sunday he went, and when he came home he gotthe promised flogging. He went the second time and got a flogging, andalso a third time with the same result. At last he said to his father, "I wish you would flog me before I go, and then I won't have to think ofit when I am there. " The father said, "If you go to that Sabbath-schoolagain I will kill you. " It was the father's custom to send his son outon the street to sell articles to the passers-by, and he told the boythat he might have the profits of what he sold on Saturday. The littlefellow hastened to the young lady's house and said to her, "Father saidthat he would give me every Saturday to myself, and if you will justteach me, then I will come to your house every Saturday afternoon. " Iwonder how many young ladies there are that would give up their Saturdayafternoons just to lead one boy into the kingdom of God. Every Saturdayafternoon that little boy was there at her house, and she tried to tellhim the way to Christ. She labored with him, and at last the light ofGod's spirit broke upon his heart. 

One day while he was selling his wares at the railroad station, a trainof cars approached unnoticed and passed over both his legs. A physicianwas summoned, and the first thing after he arrived, the little suffererlooked up into his face and said, "Doctor, will I live to get home?""No, " said the doctor, "you are dying. " "Will you tell my mother andfather that I died a Christian?" They bore home the boy's corpse andwith it the last message that he died a Christian. Oh, what a noble workwas that young lady's in saving that little wanderer! How precious theremembrance to her! When she goes to heaven she will not be a strangerthere. He will take her by the hand and lead her to the throne ofChrist. She did the work cheerfully. Oh, may God teach us what our workis that we may do it for His glory. 

Love. 

In our city a few years ago there was a little boy who went to one ofthe mission Sunday-schools. His father moved to another part of the cityabout five miles away, and every Sunday that boy came past thirty orforty Sunday-schools to the one he attended. And one Sunday a lady whowas out collecting scholars for a Sunday-school met him and asked why hewent so far, past so many schools. "There are plenty of others, " saidshe, "just as good. " He said, "They may be as good but they are not sogood for me. " "Why not?" she asked "Because they love a fellow overthere, " he answered. Ah! love won him. "Because they love a fellow overthere!" How easy it is to reach people through love! Sunday-schoolteachers should win the affections of their scholars if they wish tolead them to Christ. 

A Little Boy Converts his Mother. 

I remember when on the North Side I tried to reach a family time andagain and failed. One night in the meeting, I noticed one of the littleboys of that family. He hadn't come for any good, however; he wassticking pins in the backs of the other boys. I thought if I could gethold of him it would do good. I used always to go to the door and shakehands with the boys, and when I got to the door and saw this little boycoming out, I shook hands with him, and patted him on the head, and saidI was glad to see him, and hoped he would come again. He hung his headand went away. The next night, however, he came back, and he behavedbetter than he did the previous night. He came two or three times after, and then asked us to pray for him that he might become a Christian. Thatwas a happy night for me. He became a Christian and a good one. Onenight I saw him weeping. I wondered if his old temper had got hold orhim again, and when he got up I wondered what he was going to say. "Iwish you would pray for my mother, " he said. When the meeting was over Iwent to him and asked, "Have you ever spoken to your mother or tried topray with her?" "Well, you know, Mr. Moody, " he replied, "I never had anopportunity; she don't believe, and won't hear me. " "Now, " I said, "Iwant you to talk to your mother to-night. " For years I had been tryingto reach her and couldn't do it. 

So I urged him to talk to her that night, and I said "I will pray foryou both. " When he got to the sitting-room he found some people there, and he sat waiting for an opportunity, when his mother said it was timefor him to go to bed. He went to the door undecided. He took a step, stopped, and turned around, and hesitated for a minute, then ran to hismother and threw his arms around her neck, and buried his face in herbosom. "What is the matter?" she asked--she thought he was sick. Betweenhis sobs he told his mother how for five weeks he had wanted to be aChristian; how he had stopped swearing; how he was trying to be obedientto her, and how happy he would be if she would be a Christian, and thenwent off to bed. She sat for a few minutes, but couldn't stand it, andwent up to his room. When she got to the door she heard him weeping andpraying, "Oh, God, convert my dear mother. " She came down again, butcouldn't sleep that night. Next day she told the boy to go and ask Mr. Moody to come over and see her. He called at my place of business--I wasin business then--and I went over as quick as I could. I found hersitting in a rocking chair weeping. "Mr. Moody, " she said, "I want tobecome a Christian. " "What has brought that change over you. I thoughtyou didn't believe in it?" Then she told me how her boy had come to her, and how she hadn't slept any all night, and how her sin rose up beforeher like a dark mountain. The next Sunday that boy came and led thatmother into the Sabbath-school, and she became a Christian worker. 

Oh, little children, if you find Christ tell it to your fathers andmothers. Throw your arms around their necks and lead them to Jesus. 

A Father's Mistake. 

There is a little story that has gone the round of the American pressthat made a great impression upon me as a father. A father took hislittle child out into the field one Sabbath, and, it being a hot day, helay down under a beautiful shady tree. The little child ran aboutgathering wild flowers and little blades of grass, and coming to itsfather and saying, "Pretty! pretty!" At last the father fell asleep, andwhile he was sleeping the little child wandered away. When he awoke, hisfirst thought was, "Where is my child?" He looked all around, but hecould not see him. He shouted at the top of his voice, but all he heardwas the echo of his own voice. Running to a little hill, he lookedaround and shouted again. No response! Then going to a precipice at somedistance, he looked down, and there, upon the rocks and briars, he sawthe mangled form of his loved child. He rushed to the spot, took up thelifeless corpse, and hugged it to his bosom, and accused himself ofbeing the murderer of his child. While he was sleeping his child hadwandered over the precipice. I thought as I heard that, what a pictureof the church of God!

How many fathers and mothers, how many Christian men, are sleeping nowwhile their children wander over the terrible precipice right into thebottomless pit. Father, where is your boy to-night?

A Boy's Mistake--A Sad Reconciliation. 

There was an Englishman who had an only son; and only sons are oftenpetted, and humored, and ruined. This boy became very headstrong, andvery often he and his father had trouble. One day they had a quarrel andthe father was very angry, and so was the son; and the father said hewished the boy would leave home and never come back. The boy said hewould go, and would not come into his father's house again till he sentfor him. The father said he would never send for him. Well, away wentthe boy. But when a father gives up a boy, a mother does not. Youmothers will understand that, but the fathers may not. You know there isno love on earth so strong as a mother's love. A great many things mayseparate a man and his wife; a great many things may separate a fatherfrom his son; but there is nothing in the wide world that can everseparate a true mother from her child. To be sure, there are somemothers that have drank so much liquor that they have drunk up all theiraffection. But I am talking about a true mother; and she would nevercast off her boy. 

Well, the mother began to write and plead with the boy to write to hisfather first, and he would forgive him; but the boy said, "I will nevergo home till father asks me. " Then she pled with the father, but thefather said, "No, I will never ask him. " At last the mother came down toher sick-bed, broken-hearted, and when she was given up by thephysicians to die, the husband, anxious to gratify her last wish, wantedto know if there was nothing he could do for her before she died. Themother gave him a look; he well knew what it meant. Then she said, "Yes, there is one thing you can do. You can send for my boy. That is the onlywish on earth you can gratify. If you do not pity him and love him whenI am dead and gone, who will?" "Well, " said the father, "I will sendword to him that you want to see him. " "No, " she says, "you know he willnot come for me. If ever I see him you must send for him. "

At last the father went to his office and wrote a dispatch in his ownname, asking the boy to come home. As soon as he got the invitation fromhis father he started off to see his dying mother. When he opened thedoor to go in he found his mother dying, and his father by the bedside. The father heard the door open, and saw the boy, but instead of going tomeet him, he went to another part of the room, and refused to speak tohim. His mother seized his hand--how she had longed to press it! Shekissed him, and then said, "Now, my son, just speak to your father. Youspeak first, and it will all be over. " But the boy said, "No, mother, Iwill not speak to him until he speaks to me. " She took her husband'shand in one hand and the boy's in the other, and spent her dying momentsin trying to bring about a reconciliation. Then just as she wasexpiring--she could not speak--so she put the hand of the wayward boyinto the hand of the father, and passed away! The boy looked at themother, and the father at the wife, and at last the father's heartbroke, and he opened his arms, and took that boy to his bosom, and bythat body they were reconciled. Sinner, that is only a faint type, apoor illustration, because God is not angry with you. 

I bring you to-night to the dead body of Christ. I ask you to look atthe wounds in his hands and feet, and the wound in his side. And I askyou, "Will you not be reconciled?"

Moody and his Little Willie. 

I said to my little family, one morning, a few weeks before the Chicagofire, "I am coming home this afternoon to give you a ride. " My littleboy clapped his hands. "Oh, papa, will you take me to see the bears inLincoln Park?" "Yes. " You know boys are very fond of seeing bears. I hadnot been gone long when my little boy said, "Mamma, I wish you would getme 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 goodcare and not get yourself dirty again, " said mamma. Oh, of course he wasgoing to take care; he wasn't going to get dirty. So off he ran to watchfor me. However, it was a long time yet until the afternoon, and after alittle he began to play. When I got home, I found him outside, with hisface 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 dirtysince. " But he began to cry, and I could not convince him that he wasdirty. "I'se clean; mamma washed me!" he cried. Do you think I arguedwith him? No. I just took him up in my arms, and carried him into thehouse, and showed him his face in the looking-glass. He had not a wordto say. He could not take my word for it; but one look at the glass wasenough; 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 nottake the looking-glass to wash it; of course not. Yet that is just whatthousands of people do. The law is the looking-glass to see ourselvesin, to show us how vile and worthless we are in the sight of God; butthey take the law and try to wash themselves with it. 

Jesus "Wants them All to Come. "

I heard of a Sunday-school concert at which a little child of eight wasgoing to recite. Her mother had taught her, and when the night came thelittle thing was trembling so she could scarcely speak. She commenced, "Jesus said, " and completely broke down. Again she tried it: "Jesus saidsuffer, " but she stopped once more. A third attempt was made by her, "Suffer little children--and don't anybody stop them, for He wants themall to come, " and that is the truth. There is not a child who has aparent in the Tabernacle but He wants, and if you but bring them in thearms of your faith and ask the Son of God to bless them and train themin the knowledge of God, and teach them as you walk your way, as you liedown at night, as you rise up in the morning, they will be blessed. 

Never to See its Mother. 

I was in an infirmary not long since, and a mother brought a littlechild in. She said, "Doctor, my little child's eyes have not been openedfor several days, and I would just like you to do something for them. "The doctor got some ointment and put it first on one and then on theother, and just pulled them open. "Your child is blind, " said thedoctor; "perfectly blind; it will never see again. " At first the mothercouldn't take it in, but after a little she cast an appealing look uponthat physician, and in a voice full of emotion, said, "Doctor, you don'tmean to say that my child will never see again?" "Yes, " replied thedoctor, "your child has lost its sight, and will never see again. " Andthat mother just gave a scream, and drew that child to her bosom. "O mydarling child, " sobbed the woman, "are you never to see the mother thatgave you birth? never to see the world again?" I could not keep back thetears when I saw the terrible agony of that woman when she realized themisfortune that had come upon her child. That was a terrible calamity, to grope in total darkness through this world; never to look upon thebright sky, the green fields; never to see the faces of loved ones; butwhat was it in comparison to the loss of a soul? I would rather have myeyes plucked out of my head and go down to my grave in total blindnessthan lose my soul. 

A Little Child Converts an Infidel. 

I remember hearing of a Sabbath-school teacher who had led every one ofher children to Christ. She was a faithful teacher. Then she tried toget her children to go out and bring other children into the school. Oneday one of them came and said she had been trying to get the children ofa family to come to the school, but the father was an infidel, and hewouldn't allow it. "What is an infidel?" asked the child. She had neverheard of an infidel before. The teacher went on to tell her what aninfidel man was, and she was perfectly shocked. A few mornings after thegirl happened to be going past the post-office on her way to school, andshe saw the infidel father coming out. She went up to him and said, "Whydon't you love Jesus?" If it had been a man who had said that to himprobably he would have knocked him down. He looked at her and walked on. A second time she put the question, "Why don't you love Jesus?" He putout his hand to put her gently away from him, when, on looking down, hesaw her tears. "Please, sir, tell me why you don't love Jesus?" Hepushed her aside and away he went. When he got to his office he couldn'tget this question out of his mind. All the letters seemed to read, "Whydon't you love Jesus?" All men in his place of business seemed to say, "Why don't you love Jesus?" When he tried to write his pen seemed toshape the words, "Why don't you love Jesus?" He couldn't rest, and onthe street he went to mingle with the business men, but he seemed tohear a voice continually asking him, "Why don't you love Jesus?" Hethought when night came and he got home with his family, he would forgetit; but he couldn't. He complained that he wasn't well, and went to bed. But when he laid his head on the pillow that voice kept whispering, "Whydon't you love Jesus?" He couldn't sleep. By and by, about midnight, hegot up and said, "I will get a Bible and find where Christ contradictshimself, and then I'll have a reason, " and he turned to the book ofJohn. My friends, if you want a reason for not loving Christ, don't turnto John. He knew Him too long. I don't believe a man can read the gospelof John without being turned to Christ. Well, he read through, and foundno reason why he shouldn't love Him, but he found many reasons why heshould. He read this book, and before morning he was on his knees, andthat question put by that little child led to his conversion. 

The Dying Child. 

A lady had a little child that was dying. She thought it was restingsweetly in the arms of Jesus. She went into the room and the child askedher: "What are those clouds and mountains that I see so dark?" "Why, Eddy, " said his mother, "there are no clouds or mountains, you must bemistaken. " "Why, yes, I see great mountains and dark clouds, and I wantyou to take me in your arms and carry me over the mountains. " "Ah, "said the mother, "you must pray to Jesus, He will carry you safely, "and, my friends, the sainted mother, the praying wife, may come to yourbedside and wipe the damp sweat from your brow, but they cannot carryyou over the Jordan when the hour comes. This mother said to her littleboy, "I am afraid that it is unbelief that is coming upon you, my child, and you must pray that the Lord will be with you in your dying moments. "And the two prayed, but the boy turned to her and said: "Don't you hearthe angels, mother, over the mountains, and calling for me, and I cannotgo?" "My dear boy, pray to Jesus, and He will come; He only can takeyou. " And the boy closed his eyes and prayed, and when he opened them aheavenly smile overspread his face as he said, "Jesus has come to carryme over the mountains. "

Dear sinner, Jesus is ready and willing to carry you over the mountainsof sin, and over your mountains of unbelief. Give yourself to Him. 

The Finest Looking Little Boy Mr. Moody ever Saw. 

A few years ago I was in a town down in our state, the guest of a familythat had a little boy about thirteen years, who did not bear the familyname, yet was treated like the rest. Every night when he retired, thelady of the home kissed him and treated him in every respect like allthe other children. I said to the lady of the house, "I don't understandit. " I think he was the finest looking boy I have ever seen. I said toher, "I don't understand it. " She says, "I want to tell you about thatboy. That boy is the son of a missionary. His father and mother weremissionaries in India, but they found they had got to bring theirchildren back to this country to educate them. So they gave up theirmission field and came back to educate their children and to find somemissionary work to do in this country. But they were not prospered hereas they had been in India, and the father said, "I will go back toIndia;" and the mother said, "If God has called you to go I am sure itwill be my duty to go and my privilege to go, and I will go with you. "The father said, "you have never been separated from the children, andit will be hard for you to be separated from them; perhaps you hadbetter stay and take care of them. "

But after prayer they decided to leave their children to be educated, and they left for India. This lady heard of it and sent a letter to theparents, in which she stated if they left one child at her house shewould treat it like one of her own children. She said the mother cameand spent a few days at her house, and being satisfied that her boywould receive proper care, consented to leave him, and the night beforeshe was to leave him, the missionary said to the Western lady: "I wantto leave my boy tomorrow morning without a tear;" said she, "I may neversee him again. " But she didn't want him to think she was weeping foranything she was doing for the Master. The lady said to herself, "Shewon't leave that boy without a tear. " But the next day when the carriagedrove up to the door, the lady went up stairs and she heard the motherin prayer, crying, "Oh God, give me strength for this hour. Help me togo away from my boy without a tear. " When she came down there was asmile upon her face. She hugged him and she kissed him, but she smiledas she did it. She gave up all her five or six children without sheddinga tear, went back to India and in about a year there came a voice, "Comeup hither. " Do you think she would be a stranger in the Lord's world?Don't you think she will be known there as a mother that loved herchild?

"Emma, this is Papa's Friend. "

A gentleman one day came to my office for the purpose of getting meinterested in a young man who had just got out of the penitentiary. "Hesays, " said the gentleman, "he don't want to go to the office, but Iwant your permission to bring him in and introduce him. " I said, "Bringhim in. " The gentleman brought him in and introduced him, and I took himby the hand and told him I was glad to see him. I invited him up to myhouse, and when I took him into my family I introduced him as a friend. When my little daughter came into the room, I said, "Emma, this ispapa's friend. " And she went up and kissed him, and the man sobbedaloud. After the child left the room, I said, "What is the matter?" "Osir, " he said, "I have not had a kiss for years. The last kiss I had wasfrom my mother, and she was dying. I thought I would never have anotherone again. " His heart was broken. 

Moody's Little Emma. 

I remember one time my little girl was teasing her mother to get her amuff, and so one day her mother brought a muff home, and, although itwas storming, she very naturally wanted to go out in order to try hernew muff. So she tried to get me to go out with her. I went out withher, and I said, "Emma, better let me take your hand. " She wanted tokeep her hands in her muff, and so she refused to take my hand. Well, byand by she came to an icy place, her little feet slipped, and down shewent. When I helped her up she said, "Papa, you may give me your littlefinger. " "No, my daughter, just take my hand. " "No, no, papa, give meyour little finger. " Well, I gave my finger to her, and for a little wayshe got along nicely, but pretty soon we came to another icy place, andagain she fell. This time she hurt herself a little, and she said, "Papa, give me your hand, " and I gave her my hand, and closed my fingersabout her wrist, and held her up so that she could not fall. Just so Godis our keeper. He is wiser than we. 

Little Jimmy. 

A friend of mine in Chicago took his Sabbath-school out on the carsonce. A little boy was allowed to sit on the platform of the car, whenby some mischance he fell, and the whole train passed over him. They hadto go on a half a mile before they could stop. They went back to him andfound that the poor little fellow had been cut and mangled all topieces. Two of the teachers went back with the remains to Chicago. Thencame the terrible task of telling the parents about it. When they got tothe house they dared not go in. They were waiting there for five minutesbefore anyone had the courage to tell the story. But at last theyventured in. They found the family at dinner. The father was calledout--they thought they would tell the father first. He came out with thenapkin in his hand. My friend said to him: "I have got very bad news totell you. Your little Jimmy has got run over by the cars. " The poor manturned deathly pale and rushed into the room crying out, "Dead, dead. "The mother sprang to her feet and came out of the sitting-room where theteachers were. When she heard the sad story she fainted dead away attheir feet. "Moody, " said my friend, "I wouldn't be the messenger ofsuch tidings again if you would give me the whole of Chicago. I neversuffered so much. " I have got a son dearer to me than my life, and yet Iwould rather have a train a mile long run over him than that he shoulddie without God and without hope. What is the loss of a child to theloss of a soul?

Stubborn Little Sammy. 

At one time my sister had trouble with her little boy, and the fathersaid, "'Why, Sammy, you must go now and ask your mothers forgiveness. "The little fellow said he wouldn't. The father says, "You must. If youdon't go and ask your mothers forgiveness I shall have to undress youand put you to bed. " He was a bright, nervous little fellow, never stilla moment, and the father thought he would have such a dread of beingundressed and put to bed. But the little fellow wouldn't, so theyundressed him and put him to bed. The father went to his business, andwhen he came home at noon he said to his wife: "Has Sammy asked yourforgiveness?" "No, " she said, "he hasn't. " So the father went to him andsaid, "Why, Sammy, why don't you ask your mother's forgiveness?" Thelittle fellow shook his head, "Won't do it. " "But, Sammy, you have gotto. " "Couldn't. " The father went down to his office, and stayed all theafternoon, and when he came home he asked his wife, "Has Sammy askedyour forgiveness?" "No, I took something up to him and tried to have himeat, but he wouldn't. " So the father went up to see him, and said, "Now, Sammy, just ask your mother's forgiveness, and you may be dressed andcome down to supper with us. " "Couldn't do it, " The father coaxed, butthe little fellow "couldn't do it. " That was all they could get out ofhim. You know very well he could, but he didn't want to. Now, thehardest thing a man has to do is to become a Christian, and it is theeasiest. That may seem a contradiction, but it isn't. The hard point isbecause he don't want to. 

The hardest thing for a man to do is to give up his will. That nightthey retired, and they thought surely early in the morning, he will beready to ask his mothers forgiveness. The father went to him--that wasFriday morning--to see if he was ready to ask his mother's forgiveness, but he "couldn't. " The father and mother felt so bad about it theycouldn't eat; they thought it was to darken their whole life. Perhapsthat boy thought that father and mother didn't love him. Just what manysinners think because God won't let them have their own way. The fatherwent to his business, and when he came home he said to his wife, "HasSammy asked your forgiveness?" "No. " So he went to the little fellow andsaid, "'Now, Sammy, are you not going to ask your mother's forgiveness?""Can't, " and that was all they could get out of him. The father couldn'teat any dinner; it was like death in the house. It seemed as if the boywas going to conquer his father and mother. Instead of his little willbeing broken, it looked very much as if he was going to break theirs. Late Friday afternoon, "Mother, mother, forgive, " says Sammy--"me. " Andthe little fellow said "me, " and he sprang to his feet and said: "I havesaid it, I have said it. Now dress me, and take me down to see father. He will be so glad to know I have said it. " And she took him down, andwhen the little fellow came in he said, "I've said it, I've said it. "

Oh, my friends, it is so easy to say, "I will arise and go to my God. "It is the most reasonable thing you can do. Isn't an unreasonable thingto hold out? Come right to God just this very hour. "Believe on the LordJesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. "

Spurgeon and the Little Orphan. 

While we were in London, Mr. Spurgeon one day took Mr. Sankey and myselfto his orphan asylum, and he was telling about them--that some of themhad aunts and some cousins, and that every boy had some friend that tookan interest in him, and came to see him and gave him a little pocketmoney, and one day he said while he stood there, a little boy came up tohim and said, "Mr. Spurgeon, let me speak to you, " and the boy sat downbetween Mr. Spurgeon and the elder, who was with the clergyman, andsaid, "Mr. Spurgeon, suppose your father and mother were dead, and youdidn't have any cousins, or aunts, or uncles, or friends to come andgive you pocket money, and give you presents, don't you think you wouldfeel bad--because that's me?" Said Mr. Spurgeon, "the minute he askedthat, I put my right hand down into my pocket and took out the money. "Because that's me! And so with the Gospel; we must say to those who havesinned, the Gospel is offered to them. 

A Child Looking for its Lost Mother. 

A little child, whose mother was dying, was taken away to live with somefriends because it was thought she did not understand what death is. Allthe while the child wanted to go home and see her mother. At last, whenthe funeral was over, and she was taken home, she ran all over thehouse, searching the sitting room, the parlor, the library, and thebedrooms. She went from one end of the house to the other, and when shecould not find her mother, she wished to be taken back to where theybrought her from. Home had lost its attractions for the child when hermother was not there. My friends, the great attraction in heaven willnot be its pearly gates, its golden streets, nor its choir of angels, but it will be Christ. Heaven would be no heaven if Christ were notthere. But we know that He is at the right hand of the Father, and theseeyes shall gaze on Him by-and-by; and we shall be satisfied when weawake with his likeness. 

CHRIST SAVES. 

Moody in Prison. 

I have good news to tell you--Christ is come after you. I was at theFulton-street prayer-meeting, a good many years ago, one Saturday night, and when the meeting was over, a man came to me and said, "I would liketo have you go down to the city prison to-morrow, and preach to theprisoners. I said I would be very glad to go. There was no chapel inconnection with that prison, and I was to preach to them in their cells. I had to stand at a little iron railing and talk down a great, longnarrow passageway, to some three or four hundred of them, I suppose, allout of sight. It was pretty difficult work; I never preached to the barewalls before. When it was over I thought I would like to see to whom Ihad been preaching, and how they had received the gospel. I went to thefirst door, where the inmates could have heard me best, and looked in ata little window, and there were some men playing cards. I suppose theyhad been playing all the while. "How is it with you here?" I said. "Well, stranger, we don't want you to get a bad idea of us. Falsewitnesses swore a lie, and that is how we are here. " "Oh, " I said, "Christ cannot save anybody here; there is nobody lost. " I went to thenext cell. "Well, friend, how is it with you?" "Oh, " said the prisoner, "the man that did the deed looked very much like me, so they caught meand I am here. " He was innocent, too! I passed along to the next cell. "How is it with you?'" "Well, we got into bad company, and the man thatdid it got clear, and we got taken up, but we never did anything. " Iwent along to the next cell "How is it with you?" "Our trial comes onnext week, but they have nothing against us, and we'll get free. " I wentround to nearly every cell but the answer was always the same--they hadnever done anything. Why, I never saw so many innocent men together inmy life. There was nobody to blame but the magistrates, according totheir way of it. These men were wrapping their filthy rags ofself-righteousness about them. And that has been the story for sixthousand years. I got discouraged as I went through the prison, on, andon, and on, cell after cell, and every man had an excuse. If he hadn'tone, the devil helped him to make one. I had got almost through theprison, when I came to a cell and found a man with his elbows on hisknees, and his head in his hands. Two little streams of tears wererunning down his cheeks; they did not come by drops that time. 

"What's the trouble?" I said. He looked up, the picture of remorse anddespair. "Oh, my sins are more than I can bear. " "Thank God for that, " Ireplied. "What, " said he, "you are the man that has been preaching tous, ain't you?" "Yes. " "I think you said you were a friend?" "I am. ""And yet you are glad that my sins are more than I can bear!" "I willexplain, " I said "If your sins are more than you can bear, won't youcast them on One who will bear them for you?" "Who's that?" "The LordJesus. " "He won't bear my sins. " "Why not?" "I have sinned against Himall my life. " "I don't care if you have; the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses from all sin. " Then I told him how Christ had cometo seek and save that which was lost; to open the prison doors and setthe captives free. It was like a cup of refreshment to find a man whobelieved he was lost, so I stood there, and held up a crucified Saviourto him. "Christ was delivered for our offenses, died for our sins, roseagain for our justification. " For a long time the man could not believethat such a miserable wretch could be saved. He went on to enumerate hissins, and I told him that the blood of Christ could cover them all. After I had talked with him I said, "Now let us pray. " He got down onhis knees inside the cell, and I got down outside, and I said, "Youpray. " "Why, " he said, "it would be blasphemy for me to call on God. ""You call on God, " I said. He knelt down, and, like the poor publican, he lifted up his voice and said, "God be merciful to me, a vile wretch!"I put my hand through the window, and as I shook hands with him a tearfell on my hand that burned down into my soul. It was a tear ofrepentance. He believed he was lost. Then I tried to get him to believethat Christ had come to save him. I left him still in darkness. "I willbe at the hotel, " I said, "between nine and ten o'clock, and I will prayfor you. " Next morning, I felt so much interested, that I thought I mustsee him before I went back to Chicago. No sooner had my eye lighted onhis face, than I saw that remorse and despair had fled away, and hiscountenance was beaming with celestial light; the tears of joy had comeinto his eyes, and the tears of despair were gone. The sun ofRighteousness had broken out across his path; his soul was leapingwithin him for joy; he had received Christ as Zaccheus did--joyfully. "Tell me about it, " I said. "Well, I do not know what time it was; Ithink it was about midnight. I had been in distress a long time, whenall at once my great burden fell off, and now, I believe I am thehappiest man in New York. " I think he was the happiest man I saw fromthe time I left Chicago till I got back again. His face was lighted upwith the light that comes from the celestial hills. I bade him good-by, and I expect to meet him in another world. 

Can you tell me why the Son of God came down to that prison that night, and, passing cell after cell, went to that one, and set the captivefree? It was because the man believed he was lost. 

A Father's Love for his Boy. 

A number of years ago, before any railway came into Chicago, they usedto bring in the grain from the Western prairies in wagons for hundredsof miles, so as to have it shipped off by the lakes. There was a fatherwho had a large farm out there, and who used to preach the gospel aswell as to attend to his farm. One day, when church business engagedhim, he sent his son to Chicago with grain. He waited and waited for hisboy to return, but he did not come home. At last he could wait nolonger, so he saddled his horse and rode to the place where his son hadsold the grain. He found that he had been there and got the money forhis grain; then he began to fear that his boy had been murdered androbbed. At last, with the aid of a detective, they tracked him to agambling den, where they found that he had gambled away the whole of hismoney. In hopes of winning it back again, he then had sold his team, andlost that money too. He had fallen among thieves, and like the man whowas going to Jericho, they stripped him, and then they cared no moreabout him. What could he do? He was ashamed to go home to meet hisfather, and he fled. The father knew what it all meant. He knew the boythought he would be very angry with him. He was grieved to think thathis boy should have such feelings toward him. That is just exactly likethe sinner. He thinks because he has sinned, God will have nothing to dowith him. But what did that father do? Did he say, "Let the boy go"? No;he went after him. He arranged his business, and started after the boy. That man went from town to town, from city to city. He would get theministers to let him preach, and at the close he would tell his story. "I have got a boy who is a wanderer on the face of the earth somewhere. "He would describe his boy, and say, "If you ever hear of him or see him, will you not write to me?" At last he found that he had gone toCalifornia, thousands of miles away. Did that father say, "Let him go"?No; off he went to the Pacific coast, seeking the boy. He went to SanFrancisco, and advertised in the newspapers that he would preach at sucha church on such a day. When he had preached he told his story, in hopesthat the boy might have seen the advertisement and come to the church. When he had done, away under the gallery, there was a young man whowaited until the audience had gone out; then he came toward the pulpit. The father looked and saw it was that boy, and he ran to him, andpressed him to his bosom. The boy wanted to confess what he had done, but not a word would the father hear. He forgave him freely, and tookhim to his home once more. 

I tell you Christ will welcome you this minute if you will come. Say, "Iwill arise and go to my Father. " May God incline you to take this step. There is not one whom Jesus has not sought far longer than that father. There has not been a day since you left Him but He has followed you. 

[Illustration: Mary Magdalene. GUSTAVE DORE. Mark, xvi, 9. ]

Lady Ann Erskine and Rowland Hill. 

There is a very good story told of Rowland Hill and Lady Ann Erskine. You have seen it, perhaps, in print, but I would like to tell it to you. While he was preaching in a park in London to a large assemblage, shewas passing in her carriage. She said to her footman when she sawRowland Hill in the midst of the people, "Why, who is that man?" That isRowland Hill, my lady. " She had heard a good deal about the man, and shethought she would like to see him, so she directed her coachman to driveher near the platform. When the carriage came near he saw the insigniaof nobility, and he asked who that noble lady was. Upon being told, hesaid, "Stop, my friends, I have got something to sell. " The idea of apreacher becoming suddenly an auctioneer made the people wonder, and inthe midst of a dead silence he said: "I have more than a title tosell--I have more than a crown of Europe to sell; it is the soul of LadyAnn Erskine. Is there anyone here who bids for it? Yes, I hear a bid. Satan, Satan, what will you give? 'I will give pleasure, honor, riches--yea, I will give the whole world for her soul. ' Do you hearanother bid? Is there any other one? Do I hear another bid? Ah, Ithought so; I hear another bid. The Lord Jesus Christ, what will Yougive for this soul? 'I will give peace, joy, comfort, that the worldknows not of--yea, I will give eternal life. ' Lady Ann Erskine, you haveheard the two bidders for your soul, which will you accept? And sheordered the door of her carriage to be opened, and came weeping from it, and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ. He, the great and mighty Saviour, isa bidder for your soul to-night. He offers you riches and comfort, andjoy, peace here, and eternal life hereafter, while Satan offers you whathe cannot give. Poor lost soul, which will you have? He will ransom yoursoul if you but put your burden upon Him. Twenty-one years ago I made upmy mind that Jesus would have my soul, and I have never regretted thestep, and no man has ever felt sorry for coming to Him. When we acceptHim we must like Him. Your sins may rise up as a mountain, but the Sonof Man can purge you of all evil, and take you right into the palaces ofHeaven, if you will only allow Him to Save you. 

The Czar and the Soldier. 

I remember hearing a few years ago a story about a young man away off inRussia. He was a wild, reckless dissipated youth. His father, thinkingthat if he could get him away from his associates, a reform would beworked, procured a commission in the army for him. And this is a mistakea great many Christian people fall into in dealing with their sons. Itis not a change of place they require, it is a change of heart, A changeof place will not take them away from the tempter. Well, off to the armythis young man went, and, instead of reforming, he gambled and borrowed, and took to drinking as vigorously as ever. At length he had borrowedall the money he could, and, as we say he "had come to the end of hisrope. " A certain sum of money had to be paid the next day, and he didnot see how it could be done without selling his commission, and if hedid that he would be compelled to leave the army and go home to hisfather disgraced. The laws were very rigid in Russia upon the matter ofdebt, and if he couldn't pay he knew he would have to go to prison. 

That night as he sat in his barracks, heart-broken at the prospectbefore him, he thought he would take up a paper and figure up his debts, and see how he stood. And here, let me say, it would be well if thesinner would pause occasionally, and try and figure up his sins, and seewhere he stood with God. Well, this young man put down one debt afteranother, until they made a long column. The total completelydisheartened him; and he just put at the bottom of his figures, "Who isto pay this"? He laid his head upon his desk wearied, and fell asleep. That night the Czar, according to his custom, was walking through thebarracks while the soldiers slept, and happened to come to that spotwhere the young soldier slept. He saw upon the desk the column of debts, and when he came to the bottom saw the question: "Who's to pay them?"and wrote underneath the name "Nicholas. " When the young man awoke hetook up the paper and found written at the bottom the signature of theCzar of all the Russias. What did it mean? Had an angel dropped down andcanceled the debt? It was too good to be true. He couldn't believe it. But by and by the money came from the Emperor himself. This story may betrue or not. I don't care whether it is or not; but there is one thing Ido know is true, and that is that the great Emperor of heaven is here, and if you put down all your sins and multiply them by ten thousand, Hewill pay it and shelter you underneath the blood of Jesus Christ, whichcleanseth us from all sin. 

The Artist and the Beggar. 

I have read of an artist who wanted to paint a picture of the ProdigalSon. He searched through the madhouse, and the poor houses, and theprisons, to find a man wretched enough to represent the prodigal, but hecould not find one. One day he was walking down the streets and met aman whom he thought would do. He told the poor beggar he would pay himwell if he came to his room and sat for the portrait. The beggar agreed, and the day was appointed for him to come. The day came, and a man putin his appearance at the artist's room. "You made an appointment withme, " he said, when he was shown into the studio. The artist looked athim, "I never saw you before, " he said; "you cannot have an appointmentwith me. " "Yes, " he said, "I agreed to meet you to-day at ten o'clock. ""You must be mistaken; it must have been some other artist; I was to seea beggar here at this hour. " "Well, " says the beggar, "I am he. " "You?""Yes. " "Why, what have you been doing?" "Well, I thought I would dressmyself up a bit before I got painted. " "Then, " said the artist, "I donot want you; I wanted you as you were; now, you are no use to me. " Thatis the way Christ wants every poor sinner, just as he is. It is only theragged sinners that open God's wardrobe. I remember a boy to whom I gavea pair of boots, and I found him shortly after in his bare feet again. Iasked him what he had done with them, and he replied that when he wasdressed up it spoiled his business; when he was dressed up no one wouldgive anything. By keeping his feet naked he got as many as five pairs ofboots a day. So if you want to come to God don't dress yourself up. Itis the naked sinner God wants to save. 

Commercial Traveler. 

I remember when preaching in New York City, at the Hippodrome, a mancoming up to me and telling me a story that thrilled my soul. One night, he said he had been gambling; had gambled all the money away he had. When he went home to the hotel that night he did not sleep much. Thenext morning happened to be Sunday. He got up, felt bad, couldn't eatanything, didn't touch his breakfast, was miserable, and thought aboutputting an end to his existence. That afternoon he took a walk upBroadway, and when he came to the Hippodrome he saw great crowds goingin and thought of entering too. But a policeman at the door told him hecouldn't come in as it was a woman's meeting. He turned from it andstrolled on; came back to his hotel and had dinner. At night he walkedup the street until he reached the Hippodrome again, and this time hesaw a lot of men going in. When inside he listened to the singing andheard the text, "Where art thou?" and he thought he would go out. Herose to go, and the text came upon his ears again, "Where art thou?"This was too personal, he thought, it was disagreeable, and he made forthe door, but as he got to the third row from the entrance, the wordscame to him again. "Where art thou?" He stood still, for the questionhad come to him with irresistible force, and God had found him rightthere. He went to his hotel and prayed all that night, and now he is abright and shining light. And this young man, who was a commercialtraveler, went back to the village in which he had been reared, and inwhich he had been one of the fastest young men--went back there, andwent around among his friends and acquaintances and testified forChrist, as earnestly and beneficially for him as his conduct had beenagainst Him. 

Governor Pollock and the Condemned Criminal. 

When I was East a few years ago, Mr. Geo. H. Stewart told me of a scenethat occurred in a Pennsylvania prison, when Governor Pollock, aChristian man, was Governor of the State. A man was tried for murder, and the judge had pronounced sentence upon him. His friends had triedevery means in their power to procure his pardon. They had sentdeputation after deputation to the Governor, but he had told them allthat the law must take its course. When they began to give up hope, theGovernor went down to the prison and asked the sheriff to take him tothe cell of the condemned man. The Governor was conducted into thepresence of the criminal, and he sat down by the side of his bed andbegan to talk to him kindly--spoke to him of Christ and heaven, andshowed him that although he was condemned to die on the morrow byearthly judges, he would receive eternal life from the Divine Judge ifhe would accept salvation. He explained the plan of salvation, and whenhe left him he committed him to God. When he was gone the sheriff wascalled to the cell by the condemned man. "Who was that man?" asked thecriminal, "who was in here and talked so kind to me?" "Why, " said thesheriff, "that was Governor Pollock. " "Was that Governor Pollock? OSheriff, why didn't you tell me who it was? If I had known that was him, I wouldn't have let him go out till he had given me pardon. The Governorhas been here--in my cell--and I didn't know it, " and the man wrung hishands and wept bitterly. My friends, there is one greater than aGovernor here to-night. He sent His Son to redeem you--to bring you outof the prison home of sin. I come to-night to tell you He is here. 

A Man who would not Speak to his Wife. 

I remember while in Philadelphia, a man with his wife came to ourmeetings. When he went out he wouldn't speak to his wife. She thought itwas very queer, but said nothing, and went to bed thinking that in themorning he would be all right. At breakfast, however, he would not speaka word. Well, she thought this strange, but she was sure he would havegot all over whatever was wrong with him by dinner. The dinner hourarrived, and it passed away without his saying a word. At supper not aword escaped him, and he would not go with her to the meeting. Every dayfor a whole week the same thing went on. But at the end of the week hecould not stand it any longer, and he said to his wife: "Why did you goand write to Mr. Moody and tell him all about me?" "I never wrote to Mr. Moody in my life, " said the wife. "You did, " he answered. "You'remistaken; why do you think that?" "Well, then, I wronged you; but when Isaw Mr. Moody picking me out among all those people, and telling allabout me, I was sure you must have written to him. " It was the Son ofMan seeking for him, my friends, and I hope there will be a man hereto-night--that man in the gallery yonder, that one before me--who willfeel that I am talking personally to him. May you feel that you arelost, and that the Lord is seeking for you, and when you feel this thereis some chance of your being saved. 

GOLD. 

-- There was never a sermon which you have listened to but in it Christ was seeking for you. I contend that a man cannot but find in every page of this book that Jesus Christ is seeking him through His blessed Word. This is what the Bible is for--to seek out the lost. 

-- No man in the world should be so happy as a man of God. It is one continual source of gladness. He can look up and say, "God is my Father, Christ is my Saviour, and the Church is my mother. "

-- There is no other way to the Kingdom of God but by the way of the cross, and it will be easier for you to take it now than it will be afterward. 

-- Everything has to be tried by the sinner before he will come to Christ. He has to feel that there is nothing that can save him but Christ, then he will come. 

-- Have not some of you heard a sermon in which you were offered as a sinner to the Lord Jesus Christ, and your conscience was troubled? You went away, but you came back again, and the Spirit of God came upon you again and again, and you were troubled. Haven't you passed through that experience? Don't you remember something like that happening to you? That was the Son of God seeking for your soul. 

-- The Son of God has come into the world to bless us. Look at that Sermon on the Mount. It is filled with the word blessed, blessed, blessed. I think it occurs nine times. His heart was full of blessings for the people. He had to get it out before He gave His sermon. 

-- A rule I have had for years is to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere empty doctrine, but it is He himself we have. The moment we have received Christ we should receive Him as a friend. When I go away from home I bid my wife and children good-by, I bid my friends and acquaintances good-by, 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-by, Lord Jesus Christ. " I never heard of one doing this. I will tell you how they go away; they just run away. 

CHRISTIAN WORK. 

How Moody was Encouraged. 

I remember a few years ago I got discouraged, and could not see muchfruit of my work; and one morning, as I was in my study, cast down, oneof my Sabbath-school teachers came in and wanted to know what I wasdiscouraged about, and I told him because I could see no result from mywork; and speaking about Noah, he said: "By the way, did you ever studyup the character of Noah?" I felt that I knew all about that, and toldhim that I was familiar with it, and he said, "Now, if you never studiedthat carefully, you ought to do it, for I cannot tell you what ablessing it has been to me. " When he went out I took down my Bible andcommenced to read about Noah, and the thought came stealing over me, "Here is a man that toiled and worked a hundred years and didn't getdiscouraged; if he did, the Holy Ghost didn't put it on record, " and theclouds lifted, and I got up and said, if the Lord wants me to workwithout any fruit I will work on. I went down to the noonprayer-meeting, and when I saw the people coming to pray I said tomyself, "Noah worked a hundred years and he never saw a prayer-meetingoutside of his own family. " Pretty soon a man got up right across theaisle where I was sitting, and said he had come from a little town wherethere had been a hundred uniting with the Church of God the year before. And I thought to myself, "What if Noah had heard that! He preached somany, many years, and didn't get a convert, yet he was not discouraged. "Then a man got up right behind me, and he trembled as he said, "I amlost. I want you to pray for my soul. " And I said, "What if Noah hadheard that! He worked a hundred and twenty years, and never had a mancome to him and say that; and yet he didn't get discouraged. " And I madeup my mind then, that, God helping me, I would never get discouraged. Iwould do the best I could, and leave the result with God, and it hasbeen a wonderful help to me. 

"We Will Never Surrender. "

There's a story told in history in the ninth century, I believe, of ayoung man that came up with a little handful of men to attack a king whohad a great army of three thousand men. The young man had only fivehundred, and the king sent a messenger to the young man, saying that heneed not fear to surrender, for he would treat him mercifully. The youngman called up one of his soldiers and said: "Take this dagger and driveit to your heart;" and the soldier took the dagger and drove it to hisheart. And calling up another, he said to him, "Leap into yonder chasm, "and the man leaped into the chasm. The young man then said to themessenger, "Go back and tell your King I have got five hundred men likethese. We will die, but we will never surrender. And tell your Kinganother thing; that I will have him chained with my dog inside of halfan hour. " And when the King heard that he did not dare to meet them, andhis army fled before them like chaff before the wind, and withintwenty-four hours he had that King chained with his dog. That is thekind of zeal we want. "We will die, but we will never surrender. " Wewill work until Jesus comes, and then we will rise with Him. 

The Faithful Aged Woman. 

An old woman who was seventy-five years old had a Sabbath-school twomiles away among the mountains. One Sunday there came a terrible stormof rain, and she thought at first she would not go that day, but thenshe thought, "What if some one should go and not find me there?" Thenshe put on her waterproof, and took her umbrella and overshoes, and awayshe went through the storm, two miles away, to the Sabbath-school in themountains. When she got there she found one solitary young man, andtaught him the best she knew how all the afternoon. She never saw himagain, and I don't know but the old woman thought her Sabbath-school hadbeen a failure. That week the young man enlisted in the army, and in ayear or two after the old woman got a letter from the soldier thankingher for going through the storm that Sunday. This young man thought thatstormy day he would just go and see if the old woman was in earnest, andif she cared enough about souls to go through the rain. He found shecame and taught him as carefully as if she was teaching the wholeschool, and God made that the occasion of winning the young man toChrist. When he lay dying in a hospital he sent the message to the oldwoman that he would meet her in heaven. Was it not a glorious thing thatshe did not get discouraged because she had but one Sunday-schoolscholar? Be willing to work with one. 

A Dream. 

I heard of a Christian who did not succeed in his work so well as heused to, and he got homesick and wished himself dead. One night hedreamed that he had died, and was carried by the angels to the EternalCity. As he went along the crystal pavement of heaven, he met a man heused to know, and they went walking down the golden streets together. All at once he noticed everyone looking in the same direction, and sawOne coming up who was fairer than the sons of men. It was his blessedRedeemer. As the chariot came opposite, He came forth, and beckoning theone friend, placed him in His own chariot-seat, but himself He ledaside, and pointing over the battlements of heaven, "Look over yonder, "He said, "What do you see?" "It seems as if I see the dark earth I havecome from. " "What else?" "I see men as if they were blindfolded, goingover a terrible precipice into a bottomless pit. " "Well, " said He, "Willyou remain up here, and enjoy these mansions that I have prepared, or goback to yon dark earth, and warn these men, and tell them about Me andmy kingdom, and the rest that remaineth for the people of God?" That mannever wished himself dead again. He yearned to live as long as ever hecould, to tell men of heaven and of Christ. 

The Faithful Missionary. 

When I was going to Europe in 1867, my friend Mr. Stuart, ofPhiladelphia, said, "Be sure to be at the General Assembly in Edinburgh, in June. I was there last year, " said he, "and it did me a world ofgood. " He said that a returned missionary from India was invited tospeak to the General Assembly, on the wants of India. This oldmissionary, after a brief address, told the pastors who were present, togo home and stir up their churches and send young men to India to preachthe gospel. He spoke with such earnestness, that after a while hefainted, and they carried him from the hall. When he recovered he askedwhere he was, and they told him the circumstances under which he hadbeen brought there. "Yes, " he said, "I was making a plea for India, andI didn't quite finish my speech, did I?" After being told that he didnot, he said, "Take me back and let me finish it. " But they said, "No, you will die in the attempt. " "Well, " said he, "I will die if I don't, "and the old man asked again that they would allow him to finish hisplea. When he was taken back the whole congregation stood as one man, and as they brought him on the platform, with a trembling voice he said:"Fathers and mothers of Scotland, is it true that you will not let yoursons go to India? I spent twenty-five years of my life there. I lost myhealth and I have come back with sickness and shattered health. If it istrue that we have no strong grandsons to go to India, I will pack upwhat I have and be off to-morrow, and I will let those heathens knowthat if I cannot live for them I will die for them. " The world will saythat old man was enthusiastic. Well, that is just what we want. 

Forty-One Little Sermons. 

A man was preaching about Christians recognizing each other in heaven, and some one said, "I wish he would preach about recognizing each otheron earth. " In one place where I preached, I looked over the great hallof the old circus building where it was held, and saw men talking toother men here and there. I said to the Secretary of the Young Men'sChristian Association who got up the meeting, "Who are these men?" Hesaid, "They are a band of workers. " They were all scattered through thehall, and preaching and watching for souls. Out of the fifty of them, forty-one of their number had got a soul each and were talking andpreaching with them. We have been asleep long enough. When the laitywake up and try and help the minister the minister will preach better. 

GOLD. 

-- It is the greatest pleasure of living to win souls to Christ. 

-- I believe in what John Wesley used to say, "All at it, and always at it, " and that is what the Church wants to-day. 

-- If we were all of us doing the work that God has got for us to do, don't you see how the work of the Lord would advance?

-- There is no man living that can do the work that God has got for me to do. No one can do it but myself. And if the work ain't done we will have to answer for it when we stand before God's bar. -- 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 an anything. 

CHRISTIAN ZEAL. 

Satan's Match. 

If you will allow me an expression, Satan got a match when he got Paul. He tried to get him away from God, but he never switched off. Look howthey tortured him. Look how they stripped and beat him. Not only did theRomans do this, but the Jews also. How the Jews tried to drag him fromhis high calling. How they stripped him and laid upon the back of theapostle blow after blow. And you know that the scourge in those days wasno light thing. Sometimes men died under that punishment. If one of usgot one of the stripes that Paul got, how the papers would talk aboutit. But it was nothing to Paul. He just looked at it as if it were atrivial thing--as if it were a light affliction. When he was strippedand scourged by his persecutors you might have gone and asked him:"Well, Paul, what are you going to do now?" "Why, press toward the markof the high calling of God in Christ Jesus;" Take your stand before Himand ask him as they bring the rod down upon his head, "What are yougoing to do now, Paul?" "Do? I am going to press toward the mark of thehigh calling of God in Christ Jesus. " He had one idea, and that was it. Look at him as they stoned him. The Jews took up great stones to throwupon the great apostle. They left him for dead, and I suppose he wasdead, but God raised him up. Come up and look at him all bruised andbleeding as he lies. "Well, Paul, you've had a narrow escape this time. Don't you think you had better give up? Go off into Arabia and rest forsix weeks. What will you do if you remain here? They mean to kill you. ""Do!" he cries as he raises himself like a mighty giant, "I am going topress toward the mark of the high calling of God. " And he goes forth andpreaches the gospel. I am ashamed of Christianity in the nineteenthcentury when I think of those early Christians. Why, it would take allthe Christians in the Northwest to make one Paul. Look at his heroismeverywhere he went. Talk about your Alexanders; why, the mighty power ofGod rested upon Paul. "Why, " said he, "thrice was I shipwrecked whilegoing off to preach the gospel. " What did he care about that? Coldchurches wouldn't trouble him, although they trouble us. What wouldlying elders and false deacons be to him? That wouldn't stop him. He hadbut one idea, and over all obstacles he triumphed for that one idea. Look at him as he comes back from his punishment. He goes up some sidestreet and gets lodgings. He works during the day and preaches at nighton the street. He had no building like this, no committee to wait onhim, no carriage to carry him from the meeting, no one to be waiting topay his board bills. There he was toiling and preaching, and, afterpreaching for eighteen months, they say, "We'll have to pay you for allthis preaching, Paul, " and they take him to the corner of the streetand pay him with thirty-nine stripes! That is the way they paid him. Oh, my friends, when you look at the lives of such men don't it makeyou feel ashamed of yourselves. I confess I feel like hanging my head. Go to him in the Philippian jail and ask him what he is going to do now. "Do? press forward for the mark of my high calling. " And so he went onlooking toward one point, and no man could stand before him. 

Saved and Saving. 

One day I saw a steel engraving that I liked very much. I thought it wasthe finest thing I ever had seen, at the time, and I bought it. It was apicture of a woman coming out of the water, and clinging with both armsto the cross. There she came out of the drowning waves with both armsaround the cross perfectly safe. Afterwards, I saw another picture thatspoiled this one for me entirely, it was so much more lovely. It was apicture of a person coming out of the dark waters, with one arm clingingto the cross and with the other she was lifting some one else out of thewaves. That is what I like. Keep a firm hold upon the cross, but alwaystry to rescue another from the drowning. 

A Story Moody "Never will Forget. "

A few years ago, in a town somewhere in this state, a merchant died, andwhile he was lying a corpse I was told a story I will never forget. Whenthe physician that attended him saw there was no chance for him here, hethought it would be time to talk about Christ to the dying man. Andthere are a great many Christians just like this physician. They waittill a man is just entering the other world, just till he is aboutnearing the throne, till the sands of life are about run out, till thedeath rattle is in his throat, before they commence to speak of Christ. The physician stepped up to the dying merchant and began to speak ofJesus, the beauties of Christianity, and the salvation he had offered toall the world. The merchant listened quietly to him, and then asked him, "How long have you known of these things?" "I have been a Christiansince I came from the East, " he replied. "You have been a Christian solong and have known all this, and have been in my store every day. Youhave been in my house; have associated with me; you knew all thesethings, and why didn't you tell me before?" The doctor went home andretired to rest, but could not sleep. The question of the dying man rangin his ears. He could not explain why he had not spoken before, but hesaw he had neglected his duty to his principles. He went back to hisdying friend, intending to urge upon him the acceptance of Christ'ssalvation, but when he began to speak to him the merchant only repliedin a sad whisper, "Oh, why didn't you tell me before?" Oh, my friends, how many of us act like this physician? If we don't practice in everyparticular the professions we make, and try to influence the lives ofothers, and lead the lives of Christians according to Christian precept, the world will go on stumbling over us. 

The Missing Stone. 

I remember hearing of a man's dream, in which he imagined that when hedied he was taken by the angels to a beautiful temple. After admiring itfor a time, he discovered that one stone was missing. All finished butjust one little stone; that was left out. He said to the angel, "What isthis stone left out for?" The angel replied, "That was left out for you, but you wanted to do great things, and so there was no room left foryou. " He was startled and awoke, and resolved that he would become aworker for God, and that man always worked faithfully after that. 

Sad Lack of Zeal. 

Two young men came into our inquiry room here the other night, and aftera convert had talked with them, and showed them the way, the light brokein upon them. They were asked, "Where do you go to church?" They gavethe name of the church where they had been going. Said one, "I adviseyou to go and see the minister of that church. " They said, "We don'twant to go there any more; we have gone there for six years and no onehas spoken to us. "

A Zealous Young Lady. 

I was very much interested some time ago in a young lady that lived inthe city. I don't know her name, or I have forgotten it. She was aboutto go to China as the wife of a missionary on his way to some heathenfield. She had a large Sabbath-school class in the city and succeeded ingetting a blessing upon many of her scholars through her efforts. Shewas very anxious to get some one who would look after her little flockand take care of them while she was gone. She had a brother who was nota Christian, and her heart was set on his being converted and taking herplace as leader of the class. The young man--perhaps he is in theaudience to-day--refused to accept of Christ, but away in her closetalone she pleaded with God that her brother might be converted and takeher place. She wanted to reproduce herself and that is what everyChristian ought to do--get somebody else converted to take up your work. Well, the last morning came, and around the family altar as the momentdrew near for the lady's departure, and they did not know when theyshould see her again, the father broke down, and the boy went up stairs. Just before she left for the train the boy came down, and putting hisarms around his sister's neck, said to her, "My dear sister, I will takeyour Saviour for mine, and I will take care of your class for you, " andthe young man took her class, and the last I heard of him he was fillingher place. There was a young lady established in good work. 

How Moody Treated the Committees. 

I remember when I was in Chicago before the fire, I was on some ten ortwelve committees. My hands were full. If a man came to me to talk abouthis soul I would say I haven't time; got a committee to attend to. Butnow I have turned my hack on everything--turned my attention to savingsouls, and God has blessed me and made me an instrument to save moresouls during the last four or five years than during all my previouslife. And so if a minister will devote himself to this undivided work, God will bless him. Take that motto of Paul's: "One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thosethings which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of thehigh calling of God in Christ Jesus. "

Fourscore and Five. 

When we went to London there was an old woman eighty-five years old, whocame to the meetings and said she wanted a hand in that work. She wasappointed to a district, and called on all classes of people. She wentto places where we would probably have been put out, and told the peopleof Christ. There were none that could resist her. When the old woman, eighty-five years old, came to them and offered to pray for them, theyall received her kindly--Catholics, Jews, Gentiles--all. That isenthusiasm. That is what we want. 

[Illustration: Saul's Conversion. GUSTAVE DORE. Acts, ix. ]

CONFESSING CHRIST. 

What a Woman Did. 

One place we were in, in England, I recollect a Quakeress came in. Themeeting was held in a Methodist Church, and the Spirit of God wasthere--souls were being saved: multitudes were pressing into thekingdom. She had a brother who was a drinker and a nephew who had justcome to the city, and he was in a critical state, too. They came to themeeting with her. Everything appeared strange to her, and when she wenthome she did not know really what to say. She and her brother and nephewwent up stairs, and coming down she thought, it may be that the destinyof their souls depends on what I say now. When she entered the parlorshe found them laughing and joking about the meeting. She put on aserious face and said, "I don't think we should laugh at it. Suppose Mr. Moody had come to you and asked you if you were converted, what wouldyou have told him?" "I would have told him to mind his own business, "replied one of them. "I think it is a very important question, and aquestion a Christian ought to put to any one; Mr. Moody, as a Christian, has a right to ask any one. " She talked with them, and when that brotherwent to bed, he began thinking and thinking. He had tickets for thetheater next night, but when next night came he said he would go to themeeting with his sister, and, to make a long story short, he came andwas converted. He came to me--he was a mechanic--and asked me to talk tothe laborers and have them come to the meetings. He had got such ablessing himself that he wanted them to share it. 

That man brought me a list of the names of the mechanics about half aslong as this room, and we got up a meeting in the theater, and we hadthat theater packed. That was the first meeting of working men I everhad, and the work of grace broke out among them. This was but the resultof the woman taking her stand. She went into the inquiry-room and becamean earnest worker. I get letters from her frequently now, and I do notbelieve there is a happier woman in all England. If she had takenanother course she might have been the means of ruining these young men. There is one thing that Christians ought to ask themselves. Ask yourheart, "Is this the work of the devil?" That is the plain question. Ifit's the work of the devil turn your back against it. I would if Ithought it was. If it is the work of God, be careful what you do. Myfriends, it is a terrible thing to fight against God. If it is theLord's wish, come out and take your stand, and let there be one unitedcolumn of people coming up to heaven. Let every man, woman and child, benot afraid to confess the Lord Jesus Christ. 

A Business Man Confessing Christ. 

When I was in Ireland I heard of a man who got great blessings from God. He was a business man--a landed proprietor. He had a large family, and agreat many men to work for him taking care of his home. He came up toDublin and there he found Christ. And he came boldly out and thought hewould go home and confess Him. He thought that if Christ had redeemedhim with his precious blood, the least he could do would be to confessHim, and tell about it sometimes. So he called his family together andhis servants, and with tears running down his cheeks he poured out hissoul to them, and told them what Christ had done for him. He took theBible down from its resting-place and read a few verses of gospel. Thenhe went down on his knees to pray, and so greatly was the littlegathering blessed that four or five out of that family were convicted ofsin; they forsook the ways of the world, and accepted Christ and eternallife. It was like unto the household of Cornelius, which experienced theworking of the Holy Spirit. And that man and his family were not afraidto follow out their profession. 

Two Young Men. 

I heard a story about two young men who came to New York City from thecountry on a visit. They went to the same boarding-house to stay andtook a room together. Well, when they came to go to bed each feltashamed to go down on his knees before his companion first. So they satwatching each other. In fact, to express the situation in one word, theywere both cowards--yes, cowards! But at last one of them mustered up alittle courage, and with burning blushes, as if he was about to dosomething wrong and wicked, he sunk down on his knees to say hisprayers. As soon as the second saw that, he also knelt. And then, afterthey had said their prayers, each waited for the other to get up. Whenthey did manage to get up one said to the other: "I really am glad tosee that you knelt; I was afraid of you. " "Well, " said the other, "and Iwas afraid of you. " So it turned out that both were Christians, and yetthey were afraid of each other. You smile at that, but how many timeshave you done the same thing--perhaps not in that way, but the samething in effect. Henceforth, then, be not ashamed, but let everyone knowyou are His. 

The Little Tow-Headed Norwegian. 

I remember while in Boston I attended one of the daily prayer meetings. The meetings we had been holding had been almost always addressed byyoung men. Well, in that meeting a little tow-headed Norwegian boy stoodup. He could hardly speak a word of English plain, but he got up andcame to the front. He trembled all over and the tears were all tricklingdown his cheeks, but he spoke out as well as he could and said: "If Itell the world about Jesus, then will He tell the Father about me. " Hethen took his seat; that was all he said, but I tell you that in thosefew words he said more than all of them, old and young together. Thosefew words went straight down into the heart of everyone present. "If Itell the world"--yes, that's what it means to confess Christ. 

[Illustration: Esther Confounding Haman. GUSTAVE DORE. Esther, viii. ]

[Illustration: The Angel at the Sepulcher. GUSTAVE DORE. Matthew, xxviii, 1-7. ]

The Family that Hooted at Moody. 

I remember a family in Chicago that used to hoot at me and my scholarsas we passed their house sometimes. One day one of the boys came intothe Sunday-school and made light of it, As he went away, I told him Iwas glad to see him there and hoped he would come again. He came andstill made a noise, but I urged him to come the next time, and finallyone day he said: "I wish you would pray for me, boys. " That boy came toChrist. He went home and confessed his faith, and it wasn't long beforethat whole family had found the way into the Kingdom of God. 

Peter's Confession. 

One day He said, "Whom do men say that I am?" He wanted them to confessHim. But one said, "They say thou art Elias, " and another "that thou artJeremiah;" and another "Thou art St. John the Baptist. " But He asked, "Whom do you say that I am?"--turning to His disciples. And Peteranswers, "Thou art the Son of the living God. " Then our Lord exclaimed, "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjonas. " Yes, He blessed him right therebecause he confessed Him to be the Son of God. He was hungry to get someone to confess him. Let everyone take his stand on the side of the Lord. 

The Blind Beggar. 

Here is a whole chapter in John (ix) of forty-one verses, just to tellhow the Lord blessed that blind beggar. It was put in this book, Ithink, just to bring out the confession of that man. "The neighbors, therefore, and they which before had seen him which was blind, said, Isnot this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he; others said, Heis like him; but he said, I am he. " If it had been our case I think wewould have kept still; we would have said, "There is a storm brewingamong the Pharisees, and they have said, 'If any man acknowledges Christwe will put him out of the Synagogue. ' Now I don't want to be put out ofthe Synagogue. " I am afraid we would have said that; that is the waywith a good many of the young converts. What did the young convert here?He said, "I am he. " And bear in mind he only told what he knew; he knewthe Man had given him his eyes. "Some said, He is like him; but he said, I am he. " So, young converts, open your lips and tell what Christ hasdone for you. If you can't do more than that, open your lips and dothat. "Therefore, said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? Heanswered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointedmine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash; and Iwent and washed, and I received sight. " He said, "He anointed my eyeswith clay, and I went to the pool and washed, and whereas I had no eyes, I have now got two good eyes. " Some skeptic might ask, "What is thephilosophy of it?" But he couldn't tell that. "Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. They brought to the Pharisees him thataforetime was blind. And it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the clayand opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he hadreceived his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes and Iwashed and do see. " He wasn't afraid to tell his experience twice; hehad just told it once. "Therefore, said some of the Pharisees, This manis not of God, because he keepeth not the Sabbath day. Others said, Howcan a man that is a sinner do such miracles? and there was a divisionamong them. " Now I am afraid if it had been us, we would have kept stilland said, "There is a storm brewing. " "They say unto the blind managain, What sayest thou of Him, that He hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. " Now you see he has got to talking of the Master, andthat is a grand good thing. 

The Young Convert. 

A young convert got up in one of our meetings and tried to preach; hecould not preach very well either, but he did the best he could--butsome one stood up and said, "Young man, you cannot preach; you ought tobe ashamed of yourself. " Said the young man, "So I am, but I am notashamed of my Lord. " That is right. Do not be ashamed of Christ--of theman that bought us with His own blood. 

GOLD. 

-- If Christ comes into our hearts we are not ashamed. 

-- I wish we had a few more women like the woman of Samaria, willing to confess what the Lord Jesus Christ had done for their souls. 

-- Believing and confessing go together; and you cannot be saved without you take them both. "With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. " If you ever see the kingdom of heaven you have to take this way. 

-- Satan puts straws across our path and magnifies it and makes us believe it is a mountain, but all the devil's mountains are mountains of smoke; when you come up to them they are not there. 

-- I do not know anything that would wake up Chicago better than for every man and woman here who loves Him to begin to talk about Him to their friends, and just to tell them what He has done for you. You have got a circle of friends. Go and tell them of Him. 

-- I can't help thinking of the old woman who started out when the war commenced with a poker in her hand. When asked what she was going to do with it she said: "I can't do much with it, but I can show what side I'm on. " My friends, even if you can't do much, show to which side you belong. 

-- I may say with truth that there is only about one in ten who professes Christianity who will turn round and glorify God with a loud voice. Nine out of ten are still born Christians. You never hear of them. If you press them hard with the question whether they are Christians they might say, "Well, I hope so. " We never see it in their actions; we never see it in their lives. They might belong to the church you go to, but you never see them at the prayer-meetings or taking any interest in the church affairs. They don't profess it among their fellows or in their business, and the result is that there are hundreds going on with a half hope, not sure whether their religion will stand them or not. 

CONVERSION. 

Mr. Moody's First Impulse in Converting Souls. 

I want to tell you how I got the first impulse to work solely for theconversion of men. For a long time after my conversion I didn'taccomplish anything. I hadn't got into my right place; that was it. Ihadn't thought enough of this personal work. I'd get up in prayermeeting, and I'd pray with the others, but just to go up to a man andtake hold of his coat and get him down on his knees, I hadn't yet gotround to that. It was in 1860 the change came. In the Sunday school Ihad a pale, delicate young man as one of the teachers. I knew hisburning piety, and assigned him to the worst class in the school. Theywere all girls, and it was an awful class. They kept gadding around inthe school-room, and were laughing and carrying on all the while. Andthis young man had better success than anyone else. One Sunday he wasabsent, and I tried myself to teach the class, but couldn't do anythingwith them; they seemed farther off than ever from any concern abouttheir souls. Well, the day after his absence, early Monday morning, theyoung man came into the store where I worked, and, tottering andbloodless, threw himself down on some boxes. "What's the matter?" Iasked, "I have been bleeding at the lungs, and they have given me up todie, " he said. "But you are not afraid to die?" I questioned, "No, " saidhe, "I am not afraid to die, but I have got to stand before God and givean account of my stewardship, and not one of my Sabbath-school scholarshas been brought to Jesus. I have failed to bring one, and haven't anystrength to do it now. "

He was so weighed down that I got a carriage and took that dying man init, and we called at the homes of everyone of his scholars, and to eachone he said, as best his faint voice would let him, "I have come to justask you to come to the Saviour, " and then he prayed as I never heardbefore. And for ten days he labored in that way, sometimes walking tothe nearest houses. And at the end of that ten days everyone of thatlarge class had yielded to the Saviour. Full well I remember the nightbefore he went away (for the doctors said he must hurry to the South), how we held a true love-feast. It was the very gate of heaven, thatmeeting. He prayed, and they prayed; he didn't ask them, he didn't thinkthey could pray; and then we sung, "Blest be the tie that binds. " It wasa beautiful night in June that he left on the Michigan Southern, and Iwas down to the train to help him off. And those girls everyone gatheredthere again, all unknown to each other; and the depot seemed a secondgate to heaven, in the joyful, yet tearful, communion and farewellsbetween these newly redeemed souls and him whose crown of rejoicing itwill be that he led them to Jesus. At last the gong sounded, and, supported on the platform, the dying man shook hands with each one, andwhispered, "I will meet you yonder. "

Very Hard, yet Very Easy. 

The hardest thing, I will admit, ever a man had to do is to become aChristian, and yet it is the easiest. This seems to many to be aparadox, but I will repeat it, it is the most difficult thing to becomea Christian, and yet it is the easiest. I have a little nephew in thiscity. When he was about three or four years of age, he threw that Bibleon the floor. I think a good deal of that Bible, and I don't like to seethis. His mother said to him, "Go pick up uncle's Bible from the floor. ""I won't, " he replied. "Go and pick up that Bible directly. " "I won't. ""What did you say?" asked his mother. She thought he didn't understand. But he understood well enough, and had made up his mind that hewouldn't. She told the boy she would have to punish him if he didn't, and then he said he couldn't, and by and by he said he didn't want to. And that is the way with the people in coming to Christ. At first theysay they won't, then they can't, and then they don't want to. The motherinsisted upon the boy picking up the Bible, and he got down and put hisarms around it and pretended he couldn't lift it. He was a great, healthy boy, and he could have picked it up easily enough. I was veryanxious to see the fight carried on because she was a young mother, andif she didn't break that boy's will he was going to break her heart byand by. So she told him again if he didn't pick it up she would punishhim, and the child just picked it up. It was very easy to do it when hemade up his mind. So it is perfectly easy for men to accept the gospel. The trouble is they don't want to give up their will. If you want to besaved you must just accept that gospel--that Christ is your Saviour, that he is your Redeemer, and that he has rescued you from the curse ofthe law. Just say "Lord Jesus Christ, I trust you from this hour to saveme, " and the moment you take that stand he will put his loving armsaround you and wrap about you the robe of righteousness. 

The Arrows of Conviction. 

I remember while preaching in Glasgow, an incident occurred which I willrelate. I had been preaching there several weeks, and the night was mylast one, and I pleaded with them as I had never pleaded there before. Iurged the people to meet me in that land. It is a very solemn thing tostand before a vast audience for the last time and think you may neverhave another chance of asking them to come to Christ. I told them Iwould not have another opportunity, and urged them to accept, and justasked them to meet me at that marriage supper. At the conclusion I soonsaw a tall young lady coming into the inquiry room. She had scarcelycome in when another tall young lady came in, and she went up to thefirst and put her arms around her and wept. Pretty soon another younglady came and went up to the first two and just put her arms around bothof them. They were three sisters and I found that although they had beensitting in different parts of the building, the sure arrow of convictionwent down to their souls, and brought them to the inquiry room. Anotheryoung lady came down from the gallery and said: "Mr. Moody, I want tobecome a Christian. " I asked a young Christian to talk to her, and whenshe went home that night about 10 o'clock--her mother was sitting upfor her--she said: "Mother, I have accepted the invitation to be presentat the marriage supper of the Lamb. " Her mother and father laid awakethat night talking about the salvation of their child. That was Fridaynight, and next day (Saturday) she was unwell, and before long hersickness developed into scarlet fever, and a few days after I got thisletter:

"Mr. Moody--Dear Sir: It is now my painful duty to intimate to you thatthe dear girl concerning whom I wrote to you on Monday, has been takenaway from us by death. Her departure, however, has been signallysoftened to us, for she told us yesterday she was "going home to be withJesus, " and after giving messages to many, told us to let Mr. Moody andMr. Sankey know that she died a happy Christian. "

How a Citizen Became a Soldier. 

One day I was walking through the streets of York, in England. I saw alittle way ahead a soldier coming toward me. He had the red uniform onof the infantry--the dress of the army. I knew at once when I saw himthat he was a soldier. When he came near me I stopped him. I said, "Mygood man, if you have no objection I would like to ask you a fewquestions. " "Certainly, sir, " said he. "Well, then, I would like toknow how you first became a soldier. " "Yes, sir, I will tell you. Yousee, sir, I wanted to become a soldier, and the recruiting officer wasin our town, and I went up to him and told him I wanted to enlist. "Well, sir, he said, 'All right, ' and the first thing he did, sir, hetook an English shilling out of his pocket, sir, and put it into myhand. The very moment, sir, a recruiting-sergeant puts a shilling intoyour hand, sir, you are a soldier. " I said to myself, "That is the veryillustration I want. "

That man was a free man at one time--he could go here and there; do justwhat he liked; but the moment the shilling was put into his hand he wassubject to the rules of war, and Queen Victoria could send him anywhereand make him obey the rules and regulations of the army. He is a soldierthe very minute he takes the shilling. He has not got to wait to put onthe uniform. And when you ask me how a man may be converted at once, Ianswer, just the same as that man became a soldier. The citizen becomesa soldier in a minute, and from being a free man becomes subject to thecommand of others. The moment you take Christ into your heart, thatmoment your name is written in the roll of Heaven. 

Moody a Young Convert. 

I remember soon after I got converted a pantheist got hold of me, andjust tried to draw me back to the world. Those men who try to get holdof a young convert are the worst set of men. I don't know a worse manthan he who tries to pull young Christians down. He is nearer theborders of hell than any man I know. When this man knew I had foundJesus he just tried to pull me down. He tried to argue with me, and Idid not know the Bible very well then, and he got the best of me. Theonly way to get the best of those atheists, pantheists, or infidels, isto have a good knowledge of the Bible. Well, this pantheist told me Godwas everywhere--in the air, in the sun, in the moon, in the earth, inthe stars, but really he meant nowhere. And the next time I went topray, it seemed as if I was not praying anywhere or to anyone. We haveample evidence in the Bible that there is such a place as heaven, and wehave abundant manifestations that His influence from heaven is feltamong us. 

"Free. "

You will remember when we had slavery we used to have men come up fromKentucky, Tennessee, and other slave states in order to escape fromslavery. I hope if there are any Southern people here they will notthink in this allusion I am trying to wound their feelings. We allremember when these colored men came here how they used to be afraidlest some one should come and take them back. Why, I remember in thestore we had a poor fugitive, and he used to be quaking all the time. Sometimes a customer would come in, and he would be uneasy all the time. He was afraid it was some one to take him back to slavery. But somebodytells him if he was in Canada he would be perfectly safe, and he says:"If I could only get into Canada; if I could only get under the UnionJack I would be free. " There are no slaves under the Union Jack he hasbeen told--that is the flag of freedom; the moment he gets under it heis a free man. So he starts. We'll say there are no railways, and thepoor fellow has got ten miles ahead when his master comes up, and hehears that his slave has fled for Canada and sets off in pursuit. Someone tells the poor fugitive that his master is after him. What does thepoor fugitive do? What does he do? He redoubles his exertions andpresses on, on, on, on. He is a slave born, and he knows a slave belongsto his master. Faster he goes! He knows his master is after him and hewill be taken if he comes up with him before he reaches the lines. Hesays, "If I can only hold out and get under the English flag, theEnglish government will protect me. " The whole English army will come toprotect me if need be. On he presses. He is now nearing the boundaryline. One minute he is a slave, and in an instant he is a free man. Myfriends, don't mistake. These men can be saved tonight if they cross theline. 

An Irishman Leaps Into the Life-Boat. 

While I was in New York, an Irishman stood up in a young converts'meeting and told how he had been saved. He said in his broken Irishbrogue that I used an illustration, and that illustration saved him. AndI declare that that is the only man I ever knew who was convertedwithout being spoken to. He said I used an illustration of a wreckedvessel, and said that all would perish unless some assistance came. Presently a life-boat came alongside and the captain shouted, "Leap intothe life-boat--leap for your lives, or you will perish, " and when I cameto the point I said, "Leap into the life-boat; Christ is your life-boatof salvation, " and he leaped and was saved. 

[Illustration: The Expulsion from the Garden. GUSTAVE DORE. Genesis, iii, 24]

[Illustration: The Trial Of The Faith Of Abraham. GUSTAVE DORE. Genesis, xxii. ]

Safe in the Ark. 

When the voice came down from heaven to Noah, "Come thou and all thyhouse into the ark, for thee have I seen righteous before me in thisgeneration, " now; there was a minute when Noah was outside the ark, andanother when he was inside, and by being inside he was saved. As long ashe was outside of the ark he was exposed to the wrath of God just likethe rest of those antediluvians. If he stayed out, and remained withthose antediluvians, he would have been swept away, as they were. It wasnot his righteousness; it was not his faith nor his works that savedhim; it was the ark. And, my friends, we have not, like Noah, to be onehundred and twenty years making an ark for our safety. God has providedan ark for us, and the question is: Are you inside or outside this ark?If you are inside you are safe; if you are outside you are not safe. 

GOLD. 

-- It is our privilege to know that we are saved. 

-- We shall draw the world to Christ when we are filled with religion. 

-- He that overcometh shall inherit all things. God has no poor children. 

-- I hold to the doctrine of sudden conversion as I do to my life, and I would as quickly give up my life as give up this doctrine, unless it can be proved that it is not according to the word of God. Now, I will admit that light is one thing and birth is another. A soul must be born before it can see light. A child must be born before it can be taught; it must be born before it can walk; it must be born before it can be educated. 

DECISION. 

Moody's Mistake. 

The last time I preached upon this question was in old Farwell Hall. Ihad been for five nights preaching upon the life of Christ. I took himfrom the cradle and followed Him up to the judgment hall, and on thatoccasion I consider I made as great a blunder as ever I made in my life. If I could recall my act I would give this right hand. It was upon thatmemorable night in October, and the Court House bell was sounding analarm of fire, but I paid no attention to it. You know we wereaccustomed to hear the fire bell often, and it didn't disturb us muchwhen it sounded. I finished the sermon upon "What shall I do withJesus?" And I said to the audience, "Now, I want you to take thequestion with you and think over it, and next Sunday I want you to comeback and tell me what you are going to do with it. " What a mistake! Itseems now as if Satan was in my mind when I said this. Since then Inever have dared give an audience a week to think of their salvation. Ifthey were lost they might rise up in judgment against me. "Now is theaccepted time. " We went down stairs to the other meeting, and I rememberwhen Mr. Sankey was singing, and how his voice rang when he came to thatpleading verse:

 To-day the Saviour 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 streetwith a young man who is probably in the hall to-night, and saw the glareof flames. I said to the young man: "This means ruin to Chicago. " Aboutone o'clock, Farwell Hall went; soon the church in which I had preachedwent down, and everything was scattered. I never saw that audienceagain. My friends, we don't know what may happen to-morrow, but there isone thing I do know, and that is, if you take the gift you are saved. Ifyou have eternal life you need not fear fire, death, or sickness. Letdisease or death come, you can shout triumphantly over the grave if youhave Christ. My friends, what are you going to do with Him to-night?Will you decide now?

"A Day of Decision. "

I believe there is a day of decision in our lives--a day upon which thecrisis of our lives occurs. There is a day when the Son of Man comes andstands at our heart and knocks and knocks for the last time and leavesus forever. I can imagine when Pilate was banished how this recollectiontroubled him day and night. He remembered how that Saviour had looked onhim--how innocent He was; he remembered how, when the Jews wereclamoring for His death, and the cry echoed through the streets ofJerusalem, "Crucify Him! crucify Him!" It seemed as if He had nothingbut love for them. Probably some one told him the story of thecrucifixion, and how when nailed to the cross and the howling mob aroundHim, He cried, "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do;" heremembered how they clamored for his life, and how he hadn't the moralcourage to stand up for the despised Nazarene, and that preyed upon hismind, and he put an end to his miserable existence. 

Moody Puts a Man in his "Prophet's Room. "

A few years ago as I stood at the door of a church giving outinvitations to a meeting to take place that evening, a young man to whomI offered one said, "I want something more than that. I want somethingto do!" I urged him to come into the meeting, and after someremonstrance he consented. After the meeting I took him home, and afterdinner I told him there was a room which I called the "Prophet's Room, "and up stairs was another which I called the "Unbeliever's Room, " and Iwould give him till night to decide which he would take. He was able bynight to take the first, and the next day was at work urging young mento attend the noonday prayer-meeting. When I was burned out in the greatfire and was left perfectly destitute, I received a letter with somemoney from this young man in Boston, who said:

"You helped me and took me in your home, keeping me six weeks andrefused to take anything for it, and I have never forgotten yourkindness. " I had lost sight of him, but he had remembered that as aturning-point in his existence. 

GOLD. 

-- If you receive Him it will be well; if you reject Him and are lost it will be terrible. 

-- Thanks be to God, there is hope to-day; this very hour you can choose Him and serve Him. 

-- Now just think a moment and answer the question, "'What shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"

-- I believe in my soul that there are more at this day being lost for want of decision than for any other thing. 

-- One of two things you must do; you must either receive Him or reject Him. You receive Him here and He will receive you there; you reject Him here and He will reject you there. 

[Illustration: Jesus And The Woman Taken In Adultery. GUSTAVE DORE. John, viii, 3-11]

DELIVERANCE. 

The Scotch Lassie. 

There is a story told of an incident that occurred during the lastIndian mutiny. The English were besieged in the city of Lucknow, andwere in momentary expectation of perishing at the hands of the fiendsthat surrounded them. There was a little Scotch lassie in this fort, and, while lying on the ground, she suddenly shouted, her face aglowwith joy, "Dinna ye hear them comin'; dinna ye hear them comin'?" "Hearwhat?" they asked, "Dinna ye hear them comin?" And she sprang to herfeet. It was the bagpipes of her native Scotland she heard. It was anative air she heard that was being played by a regiment of hercountrymen marching to the relief of those captives, and thesedeliverers made them free. Oh, my friends, don't you hear Jesus Christcrying to you to-night?

Geo. H. Stewart Visits a Doomed Criminal. 

I remember hearing a story of Mr. George Stewart. One day the Governorof Pennsylvania came to him and said, "Mr. Stewart, I want you to go tosuch a prison and tell that man for whose execution I signed the warrantthe other day, that there is not a ray of hope for him. When the day andhour comes he must be executed. His mother has been tormenting the lifeout of me; and all his friends have been running after me day and night, and they are giving the poor fellow a false hope. " "That is a verydisagreeable thing to do, Governor, " answered Mr. Stewart. "Well, I wantyou to go and tell him, so that he can be settled in his mind. " Thestory goes that when the doors of the cell were opened, that prisonerseized Mr. Stewart's hands, and in his joy cried, "You are a good man. Iknow you have come with a pardon from the Governor. " But when Mr. Stewart told him the Governor had sent him to say there was not a ray ofhope for him, that upon the day and hour he must be executed, the mancompletely broke down and fainted away. The thought that at such a dayand such an hour he was going to be ushered into eternity, was too muchfor the poor fellow. Suppose I come to you to-night and tell you thereis not a ray of hope--that you have broken the law of pardon. How manywould say, "I know a great deal better. The blackest sinner on earthChrist can save. He says so. " But, my friends, there is no hope withoutthe deliverance to be free from the bondage of sin. 

The Demoniac. 

When this man found himself delivered he wanted to go with the Saviour. That was gratitude; Christ had saved him, had redeemed him. He haddelivered him from the hand of the enemy. And this man cried: "Let mefollow You around the world; where You go I will go. " But the Lord said, "You go home and tell your friends what good things the Lord has donefor you. " And he started home. I would like to have been in that housewhen he came there. I can imagine how the children would look when theysaw him, and say, "Father is coming. " "Shut the door, " the mother wouldcry; "look out! fasten the window; bolt every door in the house. " Manytimes he very likely had come and abused his family and broken thechairs and tables and turned the mother into the street and alarmed allthe neighbors. They see him now coming down the street. Down he comestill he gets to the door, and then gently knocks. You don't hear a soundas he stands there. At last he sees his wife at the window and he says, "Mary!" "Why, " she says, "why he speaks as he did when I first marriedhim; I wonder if he has got well?" So she looks out and asks: "John, isthat you?" "Yes, Mary, " he replies, "it's me, don't be afraid any mare, I'm well now. " I see that mother, how she pulls back the bolts of thatdoor, and looks at him. The first look is sufficient, and she springsinto his arms and clings about his neck. She takes him in and asks him ahundred questions--how it all happened--all about it. "Well, just take achair and I'll tell you how I got cured. " The children hang back andlook amazed. He says: "I was there in the tombs, you know, cuttingmyself with stones, and running about in my nakedness, when Jesus ofNazareth came that way. Mary, did you ever hear of Him? He is the mostwonderful man; I've never seen a man like Him. He just ran in and toldthose devils to leave me, and they left me. When He had cured me Iwanted to follow Him, but He told me to come home and tell you all aboutit. " The children by and by gather about his knee, and the elder onesrun to tell their playmates what wonderful things Jesus has done fortheir father. Ah, my friends, we have got a mighty deliverer, I don'tcare what affliction you have, He will deliver you from it. The Son ofGod who cast out those devils can deliver you from your besetting sin. 

Spurgeon's Parable. 

Mr. Spurgeon, a number of years ago, made a parable. He thought he had aright to make one, and he did it. He said: "There was once a tyrant whoordered one of his subjects into his presence, and ordered him to make achain. The poor blacksmith--that was his occupation--had to go to workand forge the chain. When it was done he brought it into the presence ofthe tyrant, and he was ordered to take it away and make it twice thelength. He brought it again to the tyrant, and again he was ordered todouble it. Back he came when he had obeyed the order, and the tyrantlooked at it, and then commanded the servants to bind the man hand andfoot with the chain he had made and cast him into prison. "And, " Mr. Spurgeon said, "that is what the devil does with man. " He makes themforge their own chain, and then binds them hand and foot with it, andcasts them into outer darkness. " My friends, that is just what thesedrunkards, these gamblers, these blasphemers--that is just what everysinner is doing. But, thank God, we can tell you of a deliverer. The Sonof God has power to break everyone of these fetters if you will onlycome to Him. 

GOLD. 

-- The mightiest man that ever lived could not deliver himself from his sins. If a man could have saved himself, Christ would never have come into the world. 

-- He came to deliver us from our sinful dispositions, and create in us pure hearts, and when we have Him with us it will not be hard for us. Then the service of Christ will be delightful. 

-- If you are under the power of evil, and you want to get under the power of God, cry to Him to bring you over to His service; cry to Him to take you into His army. He will hear you; He will come to you, and, if need be, He will send a legion of angels to help you to fight your way up to heaven. God will take you by the right hand and lead you through this wilderness, over death, and take you right into His kingdom. That's what the Son of Man came to do. He has never deceived us; just say here: "Christ is my deliverer. "

EXCUSES. 

"I Have Intellectual Difficulties. "

There is another voice coming down from the gallery yonder: "I haveintellectual difficulties; I cannot believe. " A man came to me sometimeago and said, "I cannot. " "Cannot what?" I asked. "Well, " said he, "Icannot believe. " "Who?" "Well, " he repeated, "I cannot believe. " "Who?"I asked. "Well--I--can't--believe--myself. " "Well, you don't want to. "[Laughter. ] Make yourself out false every time, but believe in the truthof Christ. If a man says to me, "Mr. Moody, you have lied to me; youhave dealt falsely with me, " it may be so, but no man on the face of theearth can say that God ever dealt unfairly, or that He lied to him. IfGod says a thing it is true. We don't ask you to believe in any man onthe face of the earth, but we ask you to believe in Jesus Christ, whonever lied--who never deceived any one. If a man says he cannot believeHim, he says what is untrue. 

I Am Not All Right. 

I had to notice during the war, when enlisting was going on, sometimes aman would come up with a nice silk hat on, patent-leather boots, nicekid gloves, and a fine suit of clothes, which, probably, cost him $100;perhaps the next man who came along would be a hod-carrier, dressed inthe poorest kind of clothes. Both had to strip alike and put on theregimental uniform. So when you come and say you ain't fit, haven't gotgood clothes, haven't got righteousness enough, remember that He willfurnish you with the uniform of Heaven, and you will be set down at themarriage feast of the Lamb. I don't care how black and vile your heartmay be, only accept the invitation of Jesus Christ and He will make youfit to sit down with the rest at that feast. 

"Those Hypocrites. "

"I won't accept this invitation because of those hypocrites in thechurches. " My friend, you will find very few there if you get to heaven. There won't be a hypocrite in the next world, and if you don't want tobe associated with hypocrites in the next world, you will take thisinvitation. Why, you will find hypocrites everywhere. One of theapostles was himself the very prince of hypocrites, but he didn't get toheaven. You will find plenty of hypocrites in the church. They have beenthere for the last one thousand eight hundred years, and will probablyremain there. But what is that to you? This is an individual matterbetween you and your God. 

"I Can't Feel. "

"I can't feel, " says one. That is the very last excuse. When a man comeswith that excuse he is getting pretty near the Lord. We are having abody of men in England giving a new translation of the Scriptures. Ithink we should get them to put in a passage relating to feeling. Withsome people it is feel, feel, feel all the time. What kind of feelinghave you got? Have you got a desire to be saved, have you got a desireto be present at the marriage supper? Suppose a gentleman asked me todinner, I say, "I will see how I feel. " "Sick?" he might ask. "No; itdepends on how I feel. " That is not the question--it is whether I willaccept the invitation or not. The question with us is, will we acceptsalvation--will you believe? There is not a word about feelings in theScriptures. When you come to your end, and you know that in a few daysyou will be in the presence of the Judge of all the earth, you willremember this excuse about feelings. You will be saying, "I went up tothe Tabernacle, I remember, and I felt very good, and before the meetingwas over I felt very bad, and I didn't feel I had the right kind offeeling to accept the invitation. " Satan will then say, "I made you feelso. " Suppose you build your hopes and fix yourself upon the Rock ofAges, the devil cannot come to you. Stand upon the Word of God and thewaves of unbelief cannot touch you, the waves of persecution cannotassail you; the devil and all the fiends of hell cannot approach you ifyou only build your hopes upon God's Word. Say, I will trust Him, thoughHe slay me--I will take God at His word. 

I Am Not "One of the Elect. "

I can imagine some men saying, "Mr. Moody has not touched my case atall. That is not the reason why I won't accept Christ. I don't know as Iam one of the elect. " How often I am met with this excuse--how often doI hear it in the inquiry room! How many men fold their arms and say, "IfI am one of the elect I will be saved, and if I ain't I won't. No use ofyour bothering about it. " Why don't some of those merchants say, "If Godis going to make me a successful merchant in Chicago I will be onewhether I like it or not, and if he isn't I won't. " If you are sick, anda. Doctor prescribes for you, don't take the medicine, throw it out thedoor, it don't matter, for if God has decreed you are going to die, youwill: if he hasn't, you will get better. If you use that argument youmay as well not walk home from this tabernacle. If God has said you'llget home, you'll get home--you'll fly through the air; if you have beenelected to go home. I have an idea that the Lord Jesus saw how men weregoing to stumble over this doctrine, so after He had been thirty orforty years in heaven, He came down and spoke to John. One Lord's day inPatmos, He said to him, "Write these things to the churches. " John kepton writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when it wasnearly finished said, "John, before you close the book, put in this:'The Spirit and the Bride say, Come; and let him that heareth say;Come. ' But there will be some that are deaf, and they cannot hear, soadd, 'Let him that is athirst, Come;' and in case there should be anythat do not thirst, put it still broader, 'Whosoever will, let him takeof the water of life freely. ' '' What more can you have than that? Andthe Book is sealed, as it were, with that. It is the last invitation inthe Bible. "Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely. "You are thirsty. You want water. I hold out this glass to you, and say, "Take it. " You say, "If I am decreed to have it, I am not going to putmyself to the trouble of taking it. " Well, you will never get it. And ifyou are ever to have salvation, you must reach out the hand and take it. "I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name, of the Lord. "

Why did he not take his Wife along?

Take the excuses. There wasn't one that wasn't a lie. The devil madethem all; and if the sinner hadn't one already the devil was there athis elbow to suggest one, about the truth of the Bible, or something ofthat sort. One of the excuses mentioned was that the man invited hadbought a piece of ground, and had to look at it. Real estate and cornerlots are keeping a good many men out of God's kingdom. It was a lie tosay that he had to go and see it then, for he ought to have looked at itbefore he bought it. Then the next man said he'd bought some oxen, andmust prove them. That was another lie; for if he hadn't proved thembefore he bought them he ought to have done so, and could have done itafter supper just as well as before it. But the third man's excuse wasthe most ridiculous of them all. "I have married a wife and thereforecannot come. " Why did he not take his wife along with him? Who likes togo to a feast better than a young bride? He might have asked her to gotoo; and if she were not willing, then let her stay at home. The factwas, he did not want to go. 

A Good Excuse. 

If you have got a good excuse don't give it up for anything I have said;don't give it up for anything your mother may have said; don't give itup for anything your friend may have said. Take it up to the bar of Godand state it to Him; but if you have not got a good excuse--an excusethat will stand in eternity--let it go to-night, and flee to the arms ofa loving Saviour. 

Excused at Last. 

It is a very solemn thought that God will excuse you if you want to beexcused. He does not wish to do it, but He will do it. "As I live, saiththe Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that thewicked turn from his way and live. Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways;for why will ye die, O house of Israel. " Look at the Jewish nation. Theywanted to be excused from the feast. They despised the grace of God andtrampled it under foot, and look at them to-day! Yes, it is easy enoughto say, "I pray Thee have me excused;" but by and by God may take you atyour word, and say, "Yes, I will excuse you. " And in that lost world, while others who have accepted the invitation sit down to the marriagesupper of the Lamb, amid shouts and hallelujahs in heaven, you will becrying in the company of the lost, "The harvest is past; the summer isended, and I am not saved. "

The Invitation. 

Suppose we should write out here to-night this excuse, how would it sound?

 To the King of Heaven:--While sitting in the Tabernacle in the City of Chicago, January--, 1877, I received a very pressing invitation from one of your servants to be present at the marriage supper of your only-begotten Son. I PRAY THEE HAVE ME EXCUSED. "

Would you sign that, young man? Would you, mother? Would you come up tothe reporters' table, take up a pen and put your name down to such anexcuse? You would say, "Let my right hand forget its cunning, and mytongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I sign that. "

Just let me write out another answer:

 "To the King of Heaven;--While sitting in the Tabernacle, January---, 1877, I received a pressing invitation from one of your messengers to be present at the marriage supper of your only-begotten Son. I hasten to reply: BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WILL BE PRESENT. "

Who will sign that? Is there one who will put his name to it? Is thereno one who will say, "By the grace of God I will accept the invitationnow"?

GOLD. 

-- There is not an excuse but is a lie. 

-- God's service a hard one! How will that sound in the judgment?

-- It is easy enough to excuse yourself to hell, but you cannot excuse yourself to heaven. 

-- When a man prepares a feast, men rush in, but when God prepares one they all begin to make excuses, and don't want to go. 

-- My friends, to accept this invitation is more important than anything else in this world. There is nothing in the world that is so important as the question of accepting the invitation. 

-- If everybody could understand everything the Bible said it wouldn't be God's book; if Christians, if theologians, had studied it for forty, fifty, sixty years, and then only began to understand it, how could a man expect to understand it by one reading?

-- If God were to take men at their word about these excuses, and swept everyone into his grave who had an excuse, there would be a very small congregation in the Tabernacle next Sunday; there would be little business in Chicago, and in a few weeks the grass would be growing on these busy streets. 

FAITH. 

How Moody's Faith Saved an Infidel. 

When I was in Edinburgh, at the inquiry meeting in Assembly Hall, one ofthe ushers came around and said, "Mr. Moody, I'd like to put that manout; he's one of the greatest infidels in Edinburgh. " He had been thechairman of an infidel club for years, I went around to where he was andsat down by him. "How is it with you, my friend?" I asked, and then helaughed and said, "You say God answers prayer; I tell you He doesn't. Idon't believe in a God. Try it on me. " "Will you get down with me andpray?" I asked him; but he wouldn't. So I got down on my knees besidehim and prayed. Next night he was there again. I prayed, and quite anumber of others prayed for him. A few months after that, away up in thenorth of Scotland, at Wick, I was preaching in the open air, and while Istood there I saw the infidel standing on the outskirts of the crowd. Iwent up to him at the close of the meeting and said: "How is it withyou, my friend?" He laughed and said, "I told you your praying is allfalse; God hasn't answered your prayers; go and talk to these deludedpeople. " He had just the same spirit as before, but I relied on faith. Shortly after I got a letter from a barrister--a Christian. He waspreaching one night in Edinburgh, when this infidel went up to him andsaid: "I want you to pray for me; I am troubled. " The barrister asked, "What is the trouble?" and he replied: "I don't know what's the matter, but I don't have any peace, and I want you to pray for me. " Next day hewent around to that lawyer's office and he said that he had foundChrist. 

This man now is doing good work, and I heard that out of thirtyinquirers there, ten or twelve of his old associates and friends wereamong them. So, if you have God with you, and you go to work for Him, and you meet infidels and skeptics, just bear in mind that you can winthrough faith. When Christ saw the faith of those four men, He said tothe man: "Thy sins are forgiven you. " My friends, if you have faith allthings are possible. 

Taking "the Prince at his Word. "

Some time ago I remember reading of an incident that occurred between aprince in a foreign land and one of his subjects. This man for rebellionagainst the government was going to be executed. He was taken to theguilotine block. When the poor fellow reached the place of execution hewas trembling with fear. The prince was present and asked him if hewished anything before judgment was carded out. The culprit replied: "Aglass of water. " It was brought to him, but he was so nervous hecouldn't drink it. "Do not fear, " said the prince to him, "judgment willnot be carried out till you drink that water, " and in an instant theglass was dashed to the ground and broken into a thousand pieces. Hetook that prince at his word. 

A Wife's Faith. 

In one of the towns in England there is a beautiful little chapel, and avery touching story is told in connection with it. It was built by aninfidel. He had a praying wife, but he would not listen to her, wouldnot allow her pastor even to take dinner with them; would not look atthe Bible, would not allow religion even to be talked of. She made upher mind, seeing she could not influence him by her voice, that everyday she would pray to God at twelve o'clock for his salvation. She saidnothing to him; but every day at that hour she told the Lord about herhusband. At the end of twelve months there was no change in him. But shedid not give up. Six months more went past. Her faith began to waver, and she said, "Will I have to give him up at last? Perhaps when I amdead He will answer my prayers. " When she had got to that point, itseemed just as if God had got her where he wanted her. The man came hometo dinner one day. His wife was in the dining-room waiting for him, buthe didn't come in. She waited some time, and finally looked for him, allthrough the house. At last she thought of going into the little roomwhere she had prayed so often. There he was, praying at the same bedwith agony, where she had prayed for so many months, asking forgivenessfor his sins. And, this is a lesson to you wives who have infidelhusbands. The Lord saw that woman's faith and answered her prayers. 

Mr. Morehouse's Illustration. 

I remember Mr. Morehouse, while here four years ago, used anillustration which has fastened itself on my mind. He said, suppose yougo up the street and meet a man whom you have known for the last tenyears to be a beggar, and you notice a change in his appearance, and yousay, "Halloo, beggar, what's come over you?" "I ain't no beggar. Don'tcall me beggar. " "Why, " you say, "I saw you the other day begging in thestreet. " "Ah, but a change has taken place, " he replies. "Is that so?how did it come about?" you inquire. "Well, " he says, "I came out thismorning and got down here intending to catch the business men and getall the money out of them, when one of them came up to me and said therewas $10, 000 deposited for me. " "How do you know this is true?" you say. "I went to the bank and they put the money in my hand. " "Are you sure ofthat?" you ask; "how do you know it was the right kind of a hand?" Buthe says; "I don't care whether it was the right kind of a hand or not; Igot the money, and that's all I wanted. " And so people are looking tosee if they've got the right kind of a hand before they accept God byit. They have but to accept his testimony and they are saved, for, asJohn says, "He that hath received His testimony hath set his seal thatGod is true. " Is there a man in this assemblage who will receive Histestimony and set his seal that God is true? Proclaim that God speaksthe truth. Make yourself a liar, but make God's testimony truthful. TakeHim at His word. 

Faith More Powerful than Gunpowder. 

I remember at one of the meetings at Nashville, during the war, a youngman came to me, trembling from head to foot. "What is the trouble?" Iasked. "There is a letter I got from my sister, and she tells me everynight as the sun goes down she goes down on her knees and prays for me. "This man was brave, had been in a number of battles; he could standbefore the cannon's mouth, but yet this letter completely upset him. "Ihave been trembling ever since I received it. " Six hundred miles awaythe faith of this girl went to work, and its influence was felt by thebrother. He did not believe in prayer; he did not believe inChristianity; he did not believe in his mother's Bible. This mother wasa praying woman, and when she died she left on earth a praying daughter. And when God saw her faith and heard that prayer, he answered her. Howmany sons and daughters could be saved if their mothers and fathers hadbut faith. 

GOLD. 

-- God will honor our faith. 

-- There is nothing on this earth that pleases Christ so much as faith. 

-- Faith is the foundation of all society. We have only to look around and see this. 

-- I believe there is no man in the world so constituted but he can believe in God's word. He simply tells you to believe in Him, and He will save you. 

-- When I was converted twenty years ago I felt a faith in God; but five years after I had a hundred times more faith, and five years ago I had more than ever, because I became better acquainted with Him. I have read up the Word, and I see that the Lord has done so and so, and then I have turned to where He has promised to perform it, and when I see this I have reason to believe in Him. 

FORGIVENESS. 

How Moody's Mother Forgave her Prodigal Son. 

I can give you a little experience of my own family. Before I wasfourteen years old the first thing I remember was the death of myfather. He had been unfortunate in business, and failed. Soon after hisdeath the creditors came in and took everything. My mother was left witha large family of children. One calamity after another swept over theentire household. Twins were added to the family, and my mother wastaken sick. The eldest boy was fifteen years of age, and to him mymother looked as a stay in her calamity, but all at once that boy becamea wanderer. He had been reading some of the trashy novels, and thebelief had seized him that he had only to go away to make a fortune. Away he went. I can remember how eagerly she used to look for tidings ofthat boy; how she used to send us to the post office to see if there wasa letter from him, and recollect how we used to come back with the sadnews, "No letter. " I remember how in the evenings we used to sit besideher in that New England home, and we would talk about our father; butthe moment the name of that boy was mentioned she would hush us intosilence. Some nights when the wind was very high, and the house, whichwas upon a hill, would tremble at every gust, the voice of my mother wasraised in prayer for that wanderer who had treated her so unkindly. Iused to think she loved him more than all the rest of us put together, and I believe she did. On a Thanksgiving day--you know that is a familyday in New England--she used to set a chair for him, thinking he wouldreturn home. Her family grew up and her boys left home. When I got sothat I could write, I sent letters all over the country, but could findno trace of him. One day while in Boston the news reached me that he hadreturned. While in that city, I remember how I used to look for him inevery store--he had a mark on his face--but I never got any trace. Oneday while my mother was sitting at the door, a stranger was seen comingtoward the house, and when he came to the door he stopped. My motherdidn't know her boy. He stood there with folded arms and great beardflowing down his breast, his tears trickling down his face. When mymother saw those tears she cried, "Oh, it's my lost son, " and entreatedhim to come in. But he stood still. "No, mother, " he said, "I will notcome in till I hear first you forgive me. " Do you believe she was notwilling to forgive him? Do you think she was likely to keep him longstanding there? She rushed to the threshold and threw her arms aroundhim, and breathed forgiveness. Ah, sinner, if you but ask God to bemerciful to you a sinner, ask Him for forgiveness, although your lifehas been bad--ask Him for mercy, and He will not keep you long waitingfor an answer. 

[Illustration: The Star In The East. GUSTAVE DORE. Matthew, ii, 1-12. ]

[Illustration: Elijah's Ascent In A Chariot Of Fire. GUSTAVE DORE. IIKings, ii. ]

A Rich Father visits his Dying Prodigal Son in a Garret and Forgives him. 

There is a story told of Mr. William Dawson, which I would like torelate. While preaching in London, one night at the close of his sermon, he said that there was not one in all London whom Christ could not save. In the morning a young lady called upon him and said: "Mr. Dawson, inyour sermon last night you said that 'there was no man in all Londonwhom Christ could not save. ' I find a young man in my district who sayshe cannot be saved, and who will not listen to me. Won't you go and seehim? I am sure you can do more with him than I can. " Mr. Dawson readilyassented, and went with the young lady to the East End--up one of thosenarrow streets there, and at the top of a rickety staircase found agarret, in which a man was stretched upon straw. He bent over him andsaid, "Friend. " "Friend!" said the young man, turning upon him, "youmust take me for some other person. I have no friends. " "Ah, " repliedthe Christian, "you are mistaken. Christ is the sinner's friend. " Theman thought this too good; "Why, " said he, "my whole family have cast meoff; every friend I had has left me, and no one cares for me. " Mr. Dawson spoke to him kindly, and quoted promise after promise--told himwhat Christ had suffered to give him eternal life. At first his effortswere fruitless, but finally the light of the gospel began to break in onthe young man, and the first sign was his heart went out to those he hadinjured. And, my friends, this is one of the first indications of theacceptance of Christ with the sinner. He said: "I could die in peace nowif my father would but forgive me. " "Well, " replied the man of God, "Iwill go and see your father and ask him for his forgiveness. " "No, no, "was the sad answer of the young man, "you cannot go near him. My fatherhas disinherited me; he has taken my name from the family records; hehas forbidden the mention of my name in his house by any of the familyor servants in his presence, and you needn't go. "

However, Mr. Dawson obtained the address, and went away to the West Endof London; ascended the steps of a beautiful villa, and rang the bell. Aservant in livery came to the door and conducted him to thedrawing-room. There was everything in that house for comfort and luxurythat money could purchase. He could not help contrasting the scene ofpoverty in that garret with the scene of luxuriant elegance everywherearound him. Presently a proud, haughty-looking merchant came in, and ashe stepped forward to shake hands with Mr. Dawson that gentleman said:"I believe you have a son named Joseph?" and the merchant threw back hishand and drew himself up. "If you come to speak of him--thatreprobate--I want you to go away. I have no son of that name. I disownhim. If he has been talking to you he has been only deceiving you. ""Well, " replied Mr. Dawson, "he is your boy now, but he won't be long. "The father stood for a minute looking at the Christian, and then asked:"Is Joseph sick?" "Yes, " was the reply, "he is at the point of death. Ionly came to ask your forgiveness for him, that he may die in peace. Idon't ask any favor; when he dies we will bury him. "

The father put his hands to his face and great tears rolled down hischeeks, as he said, "Can you take me to him?" In a very short time hewas in that narrow street where his son was dying, and as he mounted thefilthy stairs it hardly seemed possible that the boy could be in such aplace. When he entered the garret he could hardly recognize his son, andwhen he bent over him the boy opened his eyes and said: "O, father, canyou--will you forgive me?" and the father answered: "O Joseph, I wouldhave forgiven you long ago if you had wanted me to. " That haughty manlaid his boy's head on his bosom and the son told him what Christ haddone for him; how He had forgiven his sins, brought peace to his soul;how that Son of God had found him in that poor garret, and had done allfor him. The father wanted the servant to take him home. "No, father, "said the boy, "I have but a short time to live, and I would rather diehere. " He lingered a few hours, and passed from that garret in the EastEnd to the everlasting hills. 

Moody in a Billiard Hall. --A Remarkable Story. 

In a meeting recently a man got up. I didn't know him at first. When Iwas here he was a rumseller, and broke up his business and went to themountains. This is how it happened. When I was here before, he opened asaloon and a grand billiard hall. It was one of the most magnificentbilliard halls in Chicago, all elegantly gilded and frescoed. For theopening he sent me an invitation to be present, which I accepted, andwent around before he opened it. I saw the partners and asked them ifthey would allow me to bring a friend. They said certainly, but asked mewho it was. Well, I said it wasn't necessary to tell who it was, butsaid I, "I never go without him. " They began to mistrust me. "Who isit?" they again inquired. "Well, I'll come with him and if I seeanything wrong I'll ask him to forgive you. " "Come, " said they, "wedon't want any praying. " "You've given me an invitation, and I am goingto come. " "But if you do come you needn't pray. " "Well, " said I, "I'lltell you what we'll do, we'll compromise the matter, and if you don'twant me to come and pray for you when you open, let me pray for both ofyou now, " which they agreed to. It turned out that one of them had apraying mother, and the prayer touched his heart, and the other had asister in heaven. I asked God to bless their souls, and just to breaktheir business to pieces. In a few months their business did go all topieces. The man who got up in the prayer meeting told me a story thattouched my soul. He said with his business he hadn't prospered--hefailed, and went away to the Rocky Mountains. Life became a burden tohim and he made up his mind that he would go to some part of themountains and put an end to his days. He took a sharp knife with himwhich he proposed driving into his heart. He sought a part of themountains to kill himself. He had the knife ready to plunge into hisheart, when he heard a voice--it was the voice of his mother. Heremembered her words when she was dying, even though he was a boy. Heheard her say, "Johnny, if you get into trouble, pray. " That knifedropped from his hand, and he asked God to be merciful to him. He wasaccepted, and he came back to Chicago and lifted up his voice for Him. He may be in this Tabernacle to-night. Just the moment he cried formercy he got it. If you only cry, "God, be merciful to me a sinner, " Hewill hear you. 

Moody and the Judge. 

A number of years ago as I was coming out of a daily prayer meeting inone of our Western cities, a lady came up to me and said: "I want tohave you see my husband and ask him to come to Christ. " She says, "Iwant to have you go and see him. " She told me his name, and it was a manI had heard of before. "Why, " said I, "I can't go and see your husband. He is a booked infidel. I can't argue with him. He is a good deal olderthan I am, and it would be out of place. Then I am not much for infidelargument. " "Well, Mr. Moody, " she says, "that ain't what he wants. He'sgot enough of that. Just ask him to come to the Saviour. " She urged meso hard and so strong, that I consented to go. I went to the officewhere the judge was doing business, and told him what I had come for. Helaughed at me. "You are very foolish, " he said, and began to argue withme. I said, "I don't think it will be profitable for me to hold anargument with you. I have just one favor I want to ask of you, and thatis, that when you are converted you will let me know. " "Yes, " said he, "I will do that. When I am converted I will let you know"--with a gooddeal of sarcasm. 

I went off, and requests for prayer were sent here and to Fulton street, New York, and I thought the prayers there and of that wife would beanswered if mine were not. A year and a half after, I was in that city, and a servant came to the door and said: "There is a man in the frontparlor who wishes to see you. " I found the Judge there; he said: "Ipromised I would let you know when I was converted. " "Well, " said I, "tell me all about it. " I had heard it from other lips, but I wanted tohear it from his own. He said his wife had gone out to a meeting onenight and he was home alone, and while he was sitting there by the firehe thought: "Supposing my wife is right, and my children are right;suppose there is a heaven and a hell, and I shall be separated fromthem. " His first thought was, "I don't believe a word of it. " The secondthought came, "You believe in the God that created you, and that the Godthat created you is able to teach you. You believe that God can give youlife. " "Yes, the God that created me can give me life. I was too proudto get down on my knees by the fire, and said, 'O God, teach me. ' And asI prayed, I don't understand it, but it began to get very dark, and myheart got very heavy. I was afraid to tell my wife, and I pretended tobe asleep. She kneeled down beside that bed, and I knew she was prayingfor me. I kept crying, 'O God, teach me. ' I had to change my prayer, 'OGod save me; O God, take away this burden. ' But it grew darker anddarker, and the load grew heavier and heavier. All the way to my officeI kept crying, 'O God, take away this load of guilt; I gave my clerks aholiday, and just closed my office and locked the door. I fell down onmy face; I cried in agony to my Lord, 'O Lord, for Christ's sake takeaway this guilt. ' I don't know how it was, but it began to grow verylight. I said, I wonder if this isn't what they call conversion. I thinkI will go and ask the minister if I am not converted. I met my wife atthe door and said, 'My dear, I've been converted. ' She looked inamazement. 'Oh it's a fact; I've been converted! We went into thatdrawing-room and knelt down by the sofa and prayed to God to bless us. "The old Judge said to me, the tears trickling down his cheeks, "Mr. Moody, I've enjoyed life more in the last three months than in all theyears of my life put together. " If there is an infidel here--if there isa skeptical one here, ask God to give you wisdom to come now. Let usreason together, and if you become acquainted with God the day will notgo before you receive light from Him. 

[Illustration: The Tower of Bable. GUSTAVE DORE. Genesis, xi. ]

[Illustration: The Destruction of Sodom. GUSTAVE DORE. Genesis, xix. ]

Reuben Johnson Pardoned. 

I want to tell you a scene that occurred some time ago. Our Commissionerwent to the Governor of the State and asked him if he wouldn't pardonout five men at the end of six months who stood highest on the list forgood behavior. The Governor consented, and the record was to be keptsecret; the men were not to know anything about it. The six monthsrolled away and the prisoners were brought up--1, 100 of them--and thePresident of the commission came up and said: "I hold in my hand pardonsfor five men. " I never witnessed anything like it. Every man held hisbreath, and you could almost hear the throbbing of every man's heart. "Pardon for five men, " and the Commissioner went on to tell the men howthey had got these pardons--how the Governor had given them, but theChaplain said the surprise was so great that he told the Commissioner toread the names first and tell the reason afterward. The first name wascalled--'Reuben Johnson'--and he held out the pardon, but not a manmoved. He looked all around, expecting to see a man spring to his feetat once; but no one moved. The Commissioner turned to the officer of theprison and inquired: "Are all the convicts here?" "Yes, " was the reply, "Reuben Johnson, come forward and get your pardon; you are no longer acriminal. " Still no one moved. 

The real Reuben Johnson was looking all the time behind him, and aroundhim to see where Reuben was. The Chaplain saw him standing right infront of the Commissioner, and beckoned to him; but he only turned andlooked around him, thinking that the Chaplain might mean some otherReuben. A second time he beckoned to Reuben and called to him, and asecond time the man looked around. At last the Chaplain said to him:"You are the Reuben. " He had been there for nineteen years, having beenplaced there for life, and he could not conceive it would be for him. Atlast it began to dawn upon him, and he took the pardon from theCommissioner's hand, saw his name attached to it, and wept like a child. This is the way that men make out pardons for men; but, thank God, wehave not to come to-night and say we have pardons for only five men--forthose who have behaved themselves. We have assurance of pardon for everyman. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. "

GOLD. 

-- All you have got to do is to prove that you are a sinner, and I will prove that you have got a Saviour. 

-- Do you believe the Lord will call a poor sinner, and then cast him out? No! his word stands forever, "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out. "

-- If God put Adam out of this earthly Eden on account of one sin, do you think He will let us into the Paradise above with our tens of thousands sins upon us. 

-- The only charge they could bring against Christ down here was, that He was receiving bad men. They are the very kind of men He is willing to receive. 

-- "Lord, you don't really mean that we shall preach the Gospel to those men that murdered you, to those men that took your life?" "Yes, " says the Lord, "go and preach the Gospel to those Jerusalem sinners. " I can imagine Him saying: "Go and hunt up that man that put the cruel crown of thorns upon My brow, and preach the Gospel to him. Tell him he shall have a crown in My kingdom without a thorn in it. "

GRACE. 

Moody's First Sermon on Grace. 

I remember preaching one night in winter--one of the coldest winters wehad--the winter after the Chicago fire. I had been studying up grace, and it was the first time I had spoken of it, and I was just full of it. I started out of the house, I remember, and the first man I met I askedhim if he knew anything about the grace of God, and I tried to preach tohim. This man thought I was crazy. I ran on and met another, and finallygot up to the meeting. That night I thought I was speaking to a lot ofpeople who felt as I did about grace, and when I got through I askedanyone who would like to hear about grace--who had any interest in it, to stay. I expected some would have stayed, but what was mymortification to see the whole audience rise up and go away. They hadn'tany interest in grace; they didn't want to learn anything about grace. Iput my coat and hat on and was going out of the hall, when I saw a poorfellow at the back of the furnace crying. "I want to hear about thegrace of God, " said he. "You're the man I want, then, " said I. "Yes, "the poor fellow said, "you said in your sermon that it was free, and Iwant you to tell me something about it. " Well, I got to talking to him, and he told me a pitiful story. He had drank away twenty thousanddollars, his home had been broken up, and his wife and children had lefthim. I spoke to him, and it was not long before we were down togetherpraying. That night I got him a night's lodging in the Bethel, and nextday we got him on his feet, and when I went to Europe he was one of themost earnest workers we had. He was just a partaker of grace--believedthat the peace of God was sufficient for him, and he took God at hisword and he was a saved man. 

Dr. Arnott's Dog "Rover. "

I remember when Dr. Arnott, who has gone to God, was delivering asermon, he used this illustration. The sermon and text have all gone, but that illustration is fresh upon my mind to-night and brings home thetruth. He said: "You have been sometimes out at dinner with a friend, and you have seen the faithful household dog standing watching everymouthful his master takes. All the crumbs that fall on the floor hepicks up, and seems eager for them, but when his master takes a plate ofbeef and puts it on the floor and says, 'Rover, here's something foryou, ' he comes up and smells of it, looks at his master, and goes awayto a corner of the room. He was willing to eat the crumbs, but hewouldn't touch the roast beef--thought it was too good for him. " That isthe way with a good many Christians. They are willing to eat the crumbs, but not willing to take all God wants. Come boldly to the throne ofgrace and get the help we need; there is an abundance for every man, woman and child in the assemblage. 

Young Moody Penniless in Boston is Warned by his Sister to "Beware ofPickpockets. "

I remember when I was a boy and went to Boston, I went to the postofficetwo or three times a day to see if there was a letter for me. I knewthere was not, as there was but one mail a day. I had not had anyemployment and was very homesick, and so went constantly to thepostoffice, thinking perhaps when the mail did come in my letter hadbeen mislaid. At last, however, I got a letter. It was from my youngestsister, the first letter she ever wrote to me. I opened it with a lightheart thinking there was some good news from home, but the burden of thewhole letter was that she had heard there were pickpockets in Boston, and warned me to take care of them. I thought I had better get somemoney in hand first, and then I might take care of pickpockets. And soyou must take care to remember salvation is a gift. You don't work forsalvation; but work day and night after you have got it. Get it firstbefore you do anything, but don't try to get it yourself. Look at whatPaul says in Ephesians: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, andthat not of yourself, it is the gift of God"--it is the gift ofGod--"Not of works, lest any man should boast. " There is one thing weknow: We have all got to get into heaven the same way. We cannot workour way there; we have to take our salvation from God. 

A Heavy Draw on Alexander the Great. 

There is a story told of Alexander the Great. A general in his army wasa great favorite with him, and he told him to draw anything from histreasury that he wanted. Well, he presented a bill to the treasurer, andthe treasurer wouldn't honor it. It was for such an enormous amount thatthe treasurer was astonished. The General went rushing to the Emperorand told him, and he called the treasurer and said, "Didn't I tell youto honor the draft of the General. " "But, " replied the treasurer, "doyou understand its amount?" "Never mind what it is, " replied theEmperor, "he honors me and my kingdom by making a great draft. " And sowe honor God by asking for grace in abundance. I tell you, my friends, it is a pity there are so many half-starved, mean Christians around whenGod says, "Come and get all you want. "

A Long Ladder Tumbles to the Ground. 

I remember hearing of a man who dreamt that he built a ladder from earthto heaven, and when he did a good deed up went his ladder a few feet. When he did a very good deed his ladder went higher, and when he gaveaway large sums of money to the poor up it went further still. By and byit went out of sight, and years rolled on, and it went up, he thought, past the clouds, clear into heaven. When he died he thought he wouldstep off his ladder into heaven, but he heard a voice roll out fromparadise, "He that climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and arobber. " and down he came, ladder and all, and he awoke. He said if hewanted to get salvation he must get it another way than by good deeds, and he took the other way. 

GOLD. 

-- We must not limit the mighty grace of God. 

-- Grace means undeserved kindness. It is the gift of God to man the moment he sees he is unworthy of God's favor. 

-- A man does not get grace till he comes down to the ground, till he sees he needs grace. When a man stoops to the dust and acknowledges that he needs mercy, then it is that the Lord will give him grace. 

-- If you are ready to partake of grace you have not to atone for your sins--you have merely to accept of the atonement. All that you want to do is to cry, "God have mercy upon me, " and you will receive the blessing. 

-- "The grace of God hath power to bring salvation to all men, " and if a man is unsaved it is because he wants to work it out; he wants to receive salvation in some other way than God's way; but we are told that "he that climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. "

-- When we get full of this grace we want to see everyone blessed--we want to see all the churches blessed, not only all the churches here, but in the whole country. That was the trouble with Christ's disciples. He had hard work to make them understand that His gospel was for everyone, that it was a stream to flow out to all nations of the earth. They wanted to confine it to the Jews, and He had to convince them that it was for every living being. 

HEAVEN. 

Moody in a California Sunday School. 

I remember when I went to California just to try and get a few soulssaved on the Pacific coast, I went into a school there and asked, "Haveyou got some one who can write a plain hand?" "Yes. " Well, we got up theblackboard, and the lesson upon it proved to be the very text we haveto-night. "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. " And I said, "Suppose we write upon that board some of the earthly treasures? And wewill begin with 'gold. '" The teacher readily put down gold, and theyall comprehended it, for all had run to that country in the hope offinding it. "Well, we will put down 'houses' next, and then 'land. ' Nextwe will put down 'fast horses. '" They all understood what fast horseswere--they knew a good deal more about fast horses than they knew aboutthe kingdom of God. Some of them, I think, actually made fast horsesserve as Gods. "Next we will put down 'tobacco. '" The teacher seemed toshrink at this. "Put it down, " said I, "many a man thinks more oftobacco than he does of God. Well, then, we will put down 'rum. '" Heobjected to this--didn't like to put it down at all. "Down with it. Manya man will sell his reputation, will sell his home, his wife, hischildren, everything he has, for rum. It is the God of some men. Manyhere in Chicago will sell their present and then eternal welfare for it. Put it down, " and down it went. "Now, " said I, "suppose we put down someof the heavenly treasures. Put down 'Jesus' to head the list, then'heaven, ' then 'River of Life, ' then 'Crown of Glory, ' and went on tillthe column was filled, and then just drew a line and showed the heavenlyand the earthly things in contrast. My friends, they could not standcomparison. If a man just does that, he cannot but see the superiorityof the heavenly over the earthly treasures. Well, it turned out that theteacher was not a Christian. He had gone to California on the usualhunt--gold; and when he saw the two columns placed side by side, theexcellence of the one over the other was irresistible, and he was thefirst soul God gave me on that Pacific coast. He accepted Christ, andthat man came to the station when I was coming away and blessed me forcoming to that place. 

Mothers are Looking Down from Heaven. 

I remember in the Exposition building in Dublin, while I was speakingabout Heaven, I said something to the effect that at this moment amother is looking down from Heaven expecting the salvation of herdaughter here to-night, and I pointed down to a young lady in theaudience. Next morning I received this letter:

"On Wednesday, when you were speaking of heaven, you said, 'It may bethis moment there is a mother looking down from heaven expecting thesalvation of her child who is here. ' You were apparently looking at thevery spot where my child was sitting. My heart said, 'That is my child. That is her mother. ' Tears sprang to my eyes. I bowed my head andprayed, 'Lord, direct that word to my darling child's heart; Lord savemy child. ' I was then anxious till the close of the meeting, when I wentto her. She was bathed in tears. She rose, put her arms around me, andkissed me. When walking down to you she told me it was that sameremark--about the mother looking down from heaven--that found the wayhome to her, and asked me, 'Papa, what can I do for Jesus?'"

[Illustration: The Destruction Of Sennacherib's Host. GUSTAVE DORE. IIKings xix. ]

The Rich Man Poor. 

I heard of a farmer who, when a friend of mine called upon him to givesomething for the Christian Commission, promptly drew a check for tenthousand dollars. He wanted the agent to have dinner with him, and afterthey had dined the farmer took the man out on the verandah and pointedto the rich lands sweeping far away, laden with rich products. "Lookover these lands, " said the farmer, "They are all mine. " He took him tothe pasture and showed the agent the choice stock, the fine horses hehad, and then pointed to a little town, and then to a large hall wherehe lived; he drew himself up, and his face lit up with pride as he said, "They are all mine. I came here when a poor boy and I have earned allthat you see. " When he got through, my friend asked 'him, "Well, whathave you got up yonder?" "Where?" replied the farmer, who evidently knewwhere my friend meant. "What have you got in heaven?" "Well, " said thefarmer, "I haven't anything there. " "What!" replied my friend, "You, aman of your discretion, wisdom, business ability, have made no provisionfor your future?" He hadn't, and in a few weeks he died--a rich man hereand a beggar in eternity. A man may be wise in the eyes of the world topursue this course, but he is a fool in the sight of God. Wealth to mostmen proves nothing more or less than a great rock upon which theireternity is wrecked. 

The Dying Boy. 

But I have another anecdote to tell. It was Ralph Wallace who told me ofthis one. A certain gentleman was a member of the Presbyterian Church. His little boy was sick. When he went home his wife was weeping, and shesaid, "Our boy is dying; he has had a change for the worse. I wish youwould go in and see him. " The father went into the room and placed hishand upon the brow of his dying boy, and could feel that the cold, dampsweat was gathering there; that the cold, icy hand of death was feelingfor the chords of life. "Do you know, my boy, that you are dying?" askedthe father. "Am I? Is this death? Do you really think I am dying?" "Yes, my son, your end on earth is near. " "And will I be with Jesus to-night, father?" "Yes, you will be with the Saviour. " "Father, don't you weep, for when I get there I will go right straight to Jesus and tell Him thatyou have been trying all my life to lead me to Him. " God has given metwo little children, and ever since I can remember I have directed themto Christ, and I would rather they carried this message to Jesus--that Ihad tried all my life to lead them to Him--than have all the crowns ofthe earth; and I would rather lead them to Jesus than give them thewealth of the world. If you have got a child go and point the way. Ichallenge any man to speak of heaven without speaking of children. "Forof such is the kingdom of heaven. "

A Sad and Singular Story. 

When I was a young boy--before I was a Christian--I was in a field oneday with a man who was hoeing. He was weeping, and he told me a strangestory, which I have never forgotten. When he left home his mother gavehim this text: "Seek first the kingdom of God. " But he paid no heed toit. He said when he got settled in life, and his ambition to get moneywas gratified, it would be time enough then to seek the kingdom of God. He went from one village to another and got nothing to do. When Sundaycame he went into a village church, and what was his great surprise tohear the minister give out the text, "Seek first the kingdom of God. " Hesaid the text went down to the bottom of his heart. He thought that itwas but his mother's prayer following him, and that some one must havewritten to that minister about him. He felt very uncomfortable, and whenthe meeting was over he could not get that sermon out of his mind. Hewent away from that town, and at the end of a week went into anotherchurch and he heard the minister give out the same text, "Seek first thekingdom of God. " He felt sure this time that it was the prayers of hismother, but he said calmly and deliberately, "No, I will first getwealthy. " He said he went on and did not go into a church for a fewmonths, but the first place of worship he went into he heard a thirdminister preaching a sermon from the same text. He tried to drown--tostifle his feelings; tried to get the sermon out of his mind, andresolved that he would keep away from church altogether, and for a fewyears did keep out of God's house. "My mother died, " he said, "and thetext kept coming up in my mind, and I said I will try and become aChristian. " The tears rolled down his checks as he said, "I could not;no sermon ever touches me; my heart is as hard as that stone, " pointingto one in the field. I couldn't understand what it was all about--it wasfresh to me then. I went to Boston and got converted, and the firstthought that came to me was about this man. When I got back I asked mymother, "Is Mr. L-- living in such a place?" "Didn't I write to youabout him?" she asked. "They have taken him to an insane asylum, and toeveryone who goes there he points with his finger up there and tells himto "seek first the Kingdom of God. " There was that man with his eyesdull with the loss of reason, but the text had sunk into his soul--ithad burned down deep. Oh, may the Spirit of God burn the text into yourhearts to-night. When I got home again my mother told me he was in herhouse, and I went to see him. I found him in a rocking chair, with thatvacant, idiotic look upon him. Whenever he saw me he pointed at me andsaid: "Young man, seek first the kingdom of God. " Reason was gone, butthe text was there. Last month when I was laying my brother down in hisgrave I could not help thinking of that poor man who was lying so nearhim, and wishing that the prayer of his mother had been heard, and thathe had found the kingdom of God. 

The Eleventh Commandment. 

There are a great many people who forget that there are elevencommandments. They think there are only ten. The eleventh commandmentis: "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. " How many of usremember--ah! how many people in Chicago forget the words of the Lordnow in his wonderful sermon on the mount: "Lay not up for yourselvestreasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and wherethieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures inheaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves donot break through and steal. " How few of our people pay any heed tothese words. That's why there are so many broken hearts among us; that'swhy so many men and women are disappointed and going through the streetswith shattered hopes; it's because they have not been laying uptreasures in heaven. 

"It's Better Higher Up. "

Not long ago there lived an old bed-ridden saint, and a Christian ladywho visited her found her always very cheerful. This visitor had a ladyfriend of wealth who constantly looked on the dark side of things, andwas always cast down although she was a professed Christian. She thoughtit would do this lady good to see the bed-ridden saint, so she took herdown to the house. She lived up in the garret, five stories up, and whenthey had got to the first story the lady drew up her dress and said, "How dark and filthy it is!" "It's better higher up, " said her friend. They got to the next story, and it was no better; the lady complainedagain, but her friend replied, "It's better higher up, " At the thirdfloor it seemed still worse, and the lady kept complaining, but herfriend kept saying, "It's better higher up. " At last they got to thefifth story, and when they went into the sick-room, there was a nicecarpet on the floor, there were flowering plants in the window, andlittle birds singing. And there they found this bedridden saint--one ofthose saints whom God is polishing for his own temple--just beaming withjoy. The lady said to her, "It must be very hard for you to lie here. "She smiled, and said, "It's better higher up. " Yes! And if things goagainst us, my friends, let us remember that "it's better higher up. "

Calling the Roll of Heaven. 

A soldier, wounded during our last war, lay dying in his cot. Suddenlythe deathlike stillness of the room was broken by the cry, "Here! Here!"which burst from the lips of the dying man. Friends rushed to the spotand asked what he wanted. "Hark, " he said, "they are calling the roll ofheaven, and I am answering to my name. " In a few moments once more hewhispered, "Here!" and passed into the presence or the King. 

GOLD. 

-- The way to heaven is straight as an arrow. 

-- Heaven is just as much a place as Chicago. It is a destination. 

[Illustration: Joseph Makes Himself Known to His Brethern. GUSTAVEDORE. Genesis, xiv. ]

INFIDELITY

The Young French Nobleman and the Doctor. 

In London, when I was there in 1867, I was told a story which made avery deep impression upon me. A young French nobleman came there to seea doctor, bringing letters from the French Emperor. The Emperor NapoleonIII. Had a great regard for this young man, and the doctor wanted tosave him. He examined the young man, and saw there was something on hismind. "Have you lost any property? What is troubling you? You havesomething weighing upon your mind, " said the doctor. "Oh, there isnothing particular. " "I know better; have you lost any relations?" askedthe doctor. "No, none within the last three years. " "Have you lost anyreputation in your country?" "No. " The doctor studied for a few minutes, and then said, "I must know what is on your mind; I must know what istroubling you. " And the young man said, "My father was an infidel; mygrandfather was an infidel, and I was brought up an infidel, and for thelast three years these words have haunted me, 'Eternity, and where shallit find me?'" "Ah, " said the doctor, "you have come to the wrongphysician. " "Is there no hope for me?" cried the young man. "I walkabout in the day time; I lie down at night, and it comes upon mecontinually: 'Eternity, and where shall I spend it?' Tell me, is thereany hope for me?" The doctor said: "Now just sit down and be quiet. Afew years ago I was an infidel. I did not believe in God, and was in thesame condition in which you are in. " The doctor took down his Bible andturned to the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah and read: "He was woundedfor our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; thechastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we arehealed. " And he read on through this chapter. 

When he had finished, the young man said: "Do you believe this, that Hevoluntarily left heaven, came down to this earth, and suffered and diedthat we might be saved?" "Yes, I believe it. That brought me out ofinfidelity, out of darkness into light. " And he preached Christ and Hissalvation and told him of heaven and then suggested that they get downon their knees and pray. And when I went there in 1867 a letter had beenreceived from that young nobleman, who wrote to Dr. Whinston in London, telling him that the question of "eternity, and where he should spendit" was settled, and troubled him no more. My friends, the question ofeternity, and where we are going to spend it, forces itself uponeveryone of us. We are staying here for a little day. Our life is but afibre and it will soon be snapped. I may be preaching my last sermon. To-night may find me in eternity. By the grace of God say that you willspend it in heaven. 

Sambo and the Infidel Judge. 

Once there was a Judge who had a colored man. The colored man was verygodly, and the Judge used to have him to drive him around in hiscircuit. The Judge used often to talk with him, and the colored manwould tell the Judge about his religious experience, and about hisbattles and conflicts. One day the Judge said to him, "Sambo, how is itthat you Christians are always talking about the conflicts you have withSatan. I am better off than you are. I don't have any conflicts ortrouble, and yet I am an infidel and you are a Christian--always in amuss-how's that, Sambo?" This floored the colored man for a while. Hedidn't know how to meet the old infidel's argument. So he shook his headsorrowfully and said: "I dunno. Massa, I dunno. " The Judge alwayscarried a gun along with him for hunting. Pretty soon they came to a lotof ducks. The Judge took his gun and blazed away at them, and woundedone and killed another. The Judge said quickly, "You jump in, Sambo, andget that wounded duck before he gets off, " and did not pay any attentionto the dead one. In went Sambo for the wounded duck and came outreflecting. The colored man then thought he had an illustration. He saidto the Judge: "I hab 'im now, Massa, I'se able to show you how deChristian hab greater conflict den de infidel. Don't you know de momentyou wounded dat ar duck, how anxious you was to get 'im out, and youdidn't care for de dead duck, but just lef 'im alone!" "Yes, " said theJudge. "Well, " said Sambo, "ye see as how dat ar dead duck's a surething. I'se wounded, and I tries to get away from de debbil. It takestrouble to catch me. But, massa, you are a dead duck--dar is no squabblefor you. The debbil have you "sure!" So the devil has no conflict withthe infidel. 

An Infidel who would not Talk Infidelity before his Daughter. 

Not long ago I went into a man's house, and when I commenced to talkabout religion he turned to his daughter and said: "You had better goout of the room; I want to say a few words to Mr. Moody. " When she hadgone he opened a perfect torrent of infidelity upon me. "Why, " said I, "did you send your daughter out of the room before you said this?""Well, " he replied, "did not think it would do her any good to hear whatI said. " My friends, his "rock is not as our rock" Why did he send hisdaughter out of the room if he believed what he said? When theseinfidels are in trouble why do not they get some of their infidelfriends to administer consolation? When they make a will why do theycall in some follower of the Lord Jesus Christ to carry it out? Why, itis because they cannot trust their infidel friends. 

A Dying Infidel's Confession. 

I want to read to you a letter which I received some time ago. I readthis to you because I am getting letters from infidels who say that notan infidel has repented during our meetings. Only about ten days ago Igot a letter from an infidel, who accused me of being a liar. He saidthere had not been an infidel converted during our meetings. My friends, go up to the young converts' meeting any Monday night, and you will seethere ten or twelve every night who have accepted Christ. Why, nearlyevery night we meet with a poor infidel who accepts Christ, But let meread this letter. We get many letters every day for prayer, and, myfriends, you don't know the stories that lie behind those letters. Theletter I am about to read was not received here, but while we were inPhiladelphia. When I received it I put it away, intending to use it at afuture day:

DEAR SIR: Allow me the privilege of addressing you with a few words. Thecause of writing is indeed a serious one. I am the son of anaristocratic family of Germany--was expensively educated, and atcollege at Leipsic was ruined by drinking, etc. ; was expelled forgambling and dishonesty. My parents were greatly grieved at my conduct, and I did not dare return home, but sailed for America. I went to St. Louis and remained there for want of money to get away. I finallyobtained a situation as bookkeeper in a dry goods house; heard from homeand the death of my parents. This made me more sinful than ever before. I heard one of your sermons, which made a deep impression on me. I wastaken sick, and the words of your text came to me and troubled me. Ihave tried to find peace of God, but have not succeeded. My friends, byreasoning with me that there was no God, endeavored to comfort me. Thethought of my sinfulness and approaching the grave, my blasphemy, my badexample, caused me to mourn and weep. I think God is too just to forgiveme my sins. My life is drawing to a close. I have not yet received God'sfavor. Will you not remember me in your prayers, and beseech God to savemy soul from eternal destruction? Excuse me for writing this, but itwill be the last I shall write this side of the grave. 

Infidel Books. 

If you stop to ask yourself why you don't believe in Christ, is therereally any reason? People read infidel books and wonder, why they areunbelievers, I ask why they read such books. They think they must readboth sides. I say that book is a lie, how can it be one side when it isa lie? It is not one side at all. Suppose a man tells right down liesabout my family, and I read them so as to hear both sides; it would notbe long before some suspicion would creep into my mind. I said to a manonce, "Have you got a wife?" "Yes, and a good one. " I asked: "Now whatif I should come to you and cast out insinuations against her?" And hesaid, "Well your life would not be safe long if you did. " I told himjust to treat the devil as he would treat a man who went around withsuch stories. We are not to blame for having doubts flitting through ourminds, but for harboring them. Let us go out trusting the Lord withheart and soul to-day. 

How a Little Study Upset the Plans of a few Prominent Infidels. 

It is said of West, an eminent man, that he was going to take up thedoctrine of the resurrection, and just show the world what a fraud itwas, while Lord Lyttleton was going to take up the conversion of Saul, and just show the folly of it. These men were going to annihilate thatdoctrine and that incident of the gospel. A Frenchman said it tooktwelve fishermen to build up Christ's religion, but one Frenchman pulledit down. From Calvary this doctrine rolled along the stream of time, through the eighteen hundred years, down to us, and West got at it andbegan to look at the evidence; but instead of his being able to copewith it he found it perfectly overwhelming--the proof that Christ hadrisen, that He had come out of the sepulcher and ascended to heaven andled captivity captive. The light dawned upon him, and he became anexpounder of the word of God and a champion of Christianity; And LordLyttleton, that infidel and skeptic hadn't been long at the conversionof Saul before the God of Saul broke upon his sight, and he too, beganto preach. 

GOLD. 

-- What reason have I for doubting God's own word?

-- I just as much believe that God sent Christ into the world to be the Saviour of the world, as I believe that I exist. 

INTEMPERANCE. 

Cast Out But Rescued. 

I met a man in New York who was an earnest worker, and I asked him totell me his experience. He said he had been a drunkard for over twentyyears. His parents had forsaken him, and his wife had cast him off andmarried some one else. He went into a lawyer's office in Poughkeepsie, mad with drink. This lawyer proved a good Samaritan, and reasoned withhim, and told him he could be saved. The man scouted the idea. He said:"I must be pretty low when my father and mother, my wife and kindred, have cast me off, and there is no hope for me here or hereafter. " Butthis good Samaritan showed him how it was possible to secure salvation, got him on his feet, got him on his beast, like the good Samaritan ofold, and guided his face toward Zion. And this man said to me: "I havenot drank a glass of liquor since. " He is now leader of a young men'smeeting in New York. I asked him to come last Saturday night toNorthfield, my native town, where there are a good many drunkards, thinking he might encourage them to seek salvation. He came and broughta young man with him. They held a meeting, and it seemed as if the powerof God rested upon that meeting when these two men went on telling whatGod had done for them--how He had destroyed the works of the devil intheir hearts, and brought peace and unalloyed happiness to their souls. These grog shops here are the works of the devil--they are ruining men'ssouls every hour. Let us fight against them, and let our prayers go upin our battles. It may seem a very difficult thing for us, but it is avery easy thing for God to convert rumsellers. 

The Way of the Transgressor is Hard. 

There was a man whom I knew who was an inveterate drinker. He had a wifeand children. He thought he could stop whenever he felt inclined, but hewent the ways of most moderate drinkers. I had not been gone more thanthree years, and when I returned I found that that mother had gone downto her grave with a broken heart, and that man was the murderer of thewife of his bosom. Those children have all been taken away from him, andhe is now walking up and down those streets homeless. But four years agohe had a beautiful and a happy home with his wife and children aroundhim. They are gone; probably he will never see them again. Perhaps hehas come in here to-night. If he has, I ask him: Is not the way of thetransgressor hard?

A Rum-Seller's Son Blows his Brains Out. 

Look at that rum-seller. When we talk to him he laughs at us. He tellsyou there is no hell, no future--there is no retribution. I've got oneman 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 theirchildren liquor. He told them it was his business to sell liquor, and hewas going to sell liquor to everyone who came. The saloon was a blotupon the place as dark as hell. But the man had a father's heart. He hada son. He didn't worship God, but he worshiped that boy. He didn'tremember that whatsoever a man soweth so shall he reap. My friends, theygenerally reap what they sow. It may not come soon, but the retributionwill 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 notgoing to allow you to ruin men and then escape yourself. If we goagainst his laws we suffer. Time rolled on and that young man became aslave to drink, and his life became such a burden to him that he put arevolver to his head and blew his brains out. The father lived a fewyears, but his life was as bitter as gall, and then went down to hisgrave in sorrow. Ah, my friends, it is hard to kick against the pricks. 

A Distiller Interrogates Moody. 

In Europe in a place where there was a good deal of whisky distilled, one of the men in the business was a church member, and got a littleanxious in his conscience about his business. He came and asked me if Ithought that a man could not be an honest distiller. I said, You shoulddo whatever you do for the glory of God. If you can get down and prayabout a barrel of whisky, and say, for instance, when you sell it, "OLord God, let this whisky be blessed to the world, " it is probablyhonest. 

The Most Hopeless Man in New York now a Sunday-School Superintendent. 

A young man in one of our meetings in New York got up and thrilled theaudience with his experience. "I want to tell you, " he said, "that ninemonths ago a Christian came to my house and said he wanted me to becomea Christian. He talked to me kindly and encouragingly, pointing out theerror of my ways, and I become converted. I had been a hard drinker, butsince that time I have not touched a drop of liquor. If anyone had askedwho the most hopeless man in town was they would have pointed to me. "To-day this man is the superintendent of a Sabbath-school. Eleven yearsago, when I went to Boston, I had a cousin who wanted a little of myexperience. I gave him all the help I could, and he became a Christian. He did not know how near death was to him: He wrote to his brother andsaid: "I am very anxious to get your soul to Jesus. " The letter somehowwent to another city, and lay from the 28th of February till the 28th ofMarch--just one month. He saw it was in his brother's handwriting, andtore it open and read the above words. It struck a chord in his heart, and was the means of converting him. And this was the Christian who ledthis drunken man to Christ. This young man had a neighbor who had drankfor forty years, and he went to that neighbor and told him what God haddone for him, and the result was another conversion. I tell you thesethings to encourage you to believe that the drunkard can be saved. 

A Remarkable Case. 

I may relate a little experience. In Philadelphia, at one of ourmeetings, a drunken man rose up. Till that time I had no faith that adrunken man could be converted. When any one approached he was generallytaken out. This man got up and shouted, "I want to be prayed for. " Thefriends who were with him tried to draw him away, but he shouted onlylouder, and for three times he repeated the request. His call wasattended to and he was converted. God has power to convert a man even ifhe is drunk. 

"O Edward. "

I remember going into a young converts' meeting in Philadelphia, where Iheard a story that thrilled my soul. A young man said he had been agreat drunkard. He had lost one situation after another; till finally hecame to the very dregs. He left Philadelphia, and went first toWashington, and then to Baltimore. One night he came back toPhiladelphia. He had lost his key and could not get into his home. Hewas afraid to go into the house while the people were stirring, so hestaid outside watching till all had retired. He knew that after thatthere would be at least one who would hear him and come to the door. Hewent to the door; he knocked; when he heard the footsteps of his mother. "O Edward, " said she, "I am so glad to see you. " She did not reprovehim; did not rebuke him. He went up stairs and did not come down for twodays. When he came to, the servants were walking about the house verysoftly--everything was quiet. They told him that his mother was at thepoint of death. His brother was a physician, and he went to him andasked him if it was so. "Yes, Ned, " said he, "mother can't live. " Heimmediately went up stairs, and asked his mother's forgiveness, andprayed to his mother's God to have mercy upon him. "And God, " said he, "my mother's God, heard my prayers, " and the tears trickled down hisface and he said: "God has kept me straight these four years in the faceof all trials. " O sinner, ask for His grace and might; do not turn Himaway. 

Moody Asks a Few Questions. 

Let me ask you a question. Do you think that those gamblers, thieves, harlots, and drunkards who are trampling the ten commandments undertheir feet, they who have never given any respect to God's Word or toHis instructions--do you think they will be swept into the kingdom ofheaven, against their will? Do you think those antedeluvians who were sosinful that God could not let them live on the earth would be swept intoParadise and Noah left to wade through the deluge? Do you think thatthese people, too corrupt for earth, would go there? As I have saidbefore, an unregenerated man in heaven would make a hell of it. Anunregenerated man couldn't stay there. Why, some of you cannot wait anhour here to listen to the Word of God. Before the hour expires you wantto go out. Some of you just wish it was over so that you could go andget a drink in some of those saloons. I tell you, from the very depthsof my heart, I believe heaven would be a hell to an unregenerated man. "I don't want to be here, " he would say. My friends, heaven is aprepared place for prepared people, and no one will ever see the kingdomof God without being born of God. 

The Drunken Father and his Praying Child. 

I remember when out in Kansas, while holding a meeting, I saw a littleboy who came up to the window crying. I went to him and said: "My littleboy, what is your trouble?" "Why, Mr. Moody, my mother's dead, and myfather drinks, and they don't love me, and the Lord won't have anythingto do with me because I am a poor drunkard's boy. " "You have got a wrongidea, my boy, Jesus will love you and save you and your father too, " andI told him a story of a little boy in an Eastern city. The boy said hisfather would never allow the canting hypocrites of Christians to comeinto his house, and would never allow his child to go to Sunday-school. A kind-hearted man got his little boy and brought him to Christ. WhenChrist gets into a man's heart he cannot help but pray. This father hadbeen drinking one day and coming home he heard that boy praying. He wentto him and said: "I don't want you to pray any more. You've been alongwith some of those Christians. If I catch you praying again I'll flogyou. " But the boy was filled with God and he couldn't help praying. Thedoor of communication was opened between him and Christ, and his fathercaught him praying again. He went to him. "Didn't I tell you never topray again? If I catch you at it once more you leave my house. " Hethought he would stop him. One day the old tempter came upon the boy, and he did something wrong and got flogged. When he got over his mad fithe forgot the threats of his father and went to pray. His father hadbeen drinking more than usual, and coming in found the boy offering aprayer. He caught the boy with a push and said, "Didn't I tell you neverto pray again? Leave this house. Get your things packed up and go. " Thelittle fellow hadn't many things to get together--a drunkard's boy neverhas, and went up to his mothers room. "Good-by, mother. " "Where are yougoing?" "I don't know where I'll go, but father says I cannot stay hereany longer; I've been praying again, " he said. The mother knew itwouldn't do to try to keep the boy when her husband had ordered himaway, so she drew him to her bosom and kissed him, and bid him good-by. He went to his brothers and sisters and kissed them good-by. When hecame to the door his father was there and the little fellow reached outhis hand--"Good-by, father; as long as I live I will pray for you, " andleft the house. He hadn't been gone many minutes when the father rushedafter him. "My boy, if that is religion, if it can drive you away fromfather and mother and home; I want it. " Yes, may be some little boy hereto-night has got a drinking father and mother. Lift your voice toheaven, and the news will be carried up to heaven, "He prays. "

GOLD. 

-- The drunkard, the open blasphemer, the worst sinners, are precisely the ones that need Jesus most. The well don't need Him at all. 

-- There is many a gem in these billiard halls that only needs the way pointed out to fill their souls with the love of Christ. 

LIBERTY. 

Old Samba and "Massa. "

A friend of mine said he was down in Natchez before the war, and he anda friend of his went out riding one Saturday--they were teaching schoolthrough the week--and they drove out back from Natchez. It was abeautiful day, and they saw an old slave coming up, and they thoughtthey would have a little fun. They had just come to a place where therewas a fork in the road, and there was a sign-post which read, "40 milesto Liberty. " One of the young men said to the old darkey driver, "Samba, how old are you?" "I don't know, massa. I guess I'se about eighty. " "Canyou 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 40 miles toLiberty. " "Well, now, " said my friend, "why don't you follow that roadand get your liberty. It says there, 'only 40 miles to Liberty. ' Now, why don't you take that road and go there?" The old man's countenancechanged, and he said, "Oh, young massa, that is all a sham. If the postpointed out the road to the liberty that God gives, we might try it. There could be no sham in that. " My friend said he had never heardanything more eloquent from the lips of a preacher. God wants all hissons to have liberty. 

"Liberty Now and Forever. "

When Miss Smiley went down South to teach, she went to a hotel and foundeverything covered with dirt. The tables were dirty, dishes dirty, bedswere dirty. So she called an old colored woman who was in the house, andsaid, "Now you know that the Northern people set you at liberty. I camefrom the North and I don't like dirt, so I want you to clean the house. "The old colored woman set to work, and it seemed as if she did more workin that half day than she had done in a month before. When the lady gotback the colored woman came to her and said, "Now, is I free or ben't Inot? When I go to my old massa he says I ain't free, and when I go to myown people they say I is, and I don't know whether I'm free or not. Somepeople told me Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation, but massa says hedidn't; he hadn't any right to. " So Christian people go along, notknowing whether they are free or not. Why, when they have the Spiritthey are as free as air. Christ came for that. He didn't come to set usfree and then leave us in servitude. He came to give us liberty now andforever. 

Out of Libby Prison. 

There was a story told me while I was in Philadelphia, by Capt. Trumbull. He said when he was in Libby prison the news came that hiswife was in Washington, and his little child was dying: and the nextnews that came was that his child was dead, and the mother remained inWashington in hopes that her husband could come with her and take thatchild off to New England and bury it; but that was the last he heard. One day the news came into the prison that there was a boat up from CityPoint, and there were over nine hundred men in the prison rejoicing atonce. They expected to get good news. Then came the news that there wasonly one man in that whole number that was to be let go, and they allbegan to say, "Who is it?" It was some one who had some influentialfriend at Washington that had persuaded the government to take aninterest in him and get him out. The whole prison was excited. At lastan officer came and shouted at the top of his voice, "Henry ClayTrumbull!" The chaplain told me his name never sounded so sweet to himas it did that day. That was election, but you can't find any Henry ClayTrumbull in the Bible. There is no special case in the Bible. God'sproclamations are to all sinners. Everybody can get out of prison thatwants to. The trouble is, they don't want to go. They had rather becaptives to some darling sin. 

An Emperor Sets Forty Million Slaves Free. 

Once the Emperor of Russia had a plan by which he was to liberate theserfs of that country. There were forty millions of them. Of some ofthem, their whole time was sold, of others, only a part. The Emperorcalled around him his council, and wanted to have them devise some wayto set the slaves at liberty. After they had conferred about it for sixmonths, one night the council sent in their decision, sealed, that theythought it was not expedient. The Emperor went down to the Greek Churchthat night and partook of the Lord's Supper, and he set his house inorder, and the next morning you could hear the tramp of soldiers in thestreets of St. Petersburgh. The Emperor summoned his guard, and beforenoon sixty-five thousand men were surrounding that palace. Just atmidnight there came out a proclamation that every slave in Russia wasforever set free. The proclamation had gone forth, and all the slaves ofthe realm believed it. They have been free ever since. Suppose they hadnot believed it? They never then would have got the benefit of it. Ifone man can liberate forty millions, has not God got the power toliberate every captive?

Moody on "Duty"--How He Loves His Mother. 

I have an old mother away down in the Connecticut mountains, and I havebeen in the habit of going to see her every year for twenty years. Suppose I go there and say, "Mother, you were very kind to me when I wasyoung--you were very good to me; when father died you worked hard for usall to keep us together, and so I have come to see you because it is myduty. " I went then only because it was my duty. Then she would say tome, "Well, my son, if you only come to see me because it is your duty, you need not come again. " And that is the way with a great many of theservants of God. They work for Him because it is their duty--not forlove. Let us abolish this word duty, and feel that it is only aprivilege to work for God, and let us try to remember that what is donemerely from a sense of duty is not acceptable to God. 

Moody with Gen. Grant's Army in Richmond. 

It was my privilege to go to Richmond with Gen. Grant's army. Now justlet us picture a scene. There are a thousand poor captives, and they arelawful captives, prisoners in Libby Prison. Talk to some of them thathave been there for months and hear them tell their story. I have weptfor hours to hear them tell how they suffered, how they could not hearfrom their homes and their loved ones for long intervals, and howsometimes they would get messages that their loved ones were dying andthey could not get home to be with them in their dying hours. Let us, for illustration, picture a scene. One beautiful day in the Spring theyare there in the prison. All news has been kept from them. They have notheard what has been going on around Richmond, and I can imagine one saysone day, "Ah, boys, listen! I hear a band of music, and it sounds as ifthey were playing the old battle cry of the Republic. It sounds as ifthey were playing "The star spangled banner! long may it wave o'er theland of the free and the home of the brave!" And the hearts of the poorfellows begin to leap for joy. "I believe Richmond is taken. I believethey are coming to deliver us, " and every man in that prison, is full ofjoy, and by and by the sound comes nearer and they see it is so. It isthe Union army! Next the doors of the prison are unlocked; they fly wideopen, and those thousand men are set free. Wasn't that good news tothem? Could there have been any better news? They are out of prison, outof bondage, delivered. Christ came to proclaim liberty to the captive. 

Condemned to be Shot. 

There was a man came from Europe to this country a year or two ago, andhe became dissatisfied and went to Cuba in 1867 when they had that greatcivil war there. Finally he was arrested for a spy, court-martialed, andcondemned to be shot. He sent for the American Consul and the EnglishConsul, and went on to prove to them that he was no spy. These two menwere thoroughly convinced that the man was no spy, and they went to oneof the Spanish officers and said, "This man you have condemned to beshot is an innocent man. " "Well, " the Spanish officer says, "the man hasbeen legally tried by our laws and condemned, and the law must take itscourse and the man must die. " And the next morning the man was led out;the grave was already dug for him, and the black cap was put on him, andthe soldiers were there ready to receive the order, "Fire, " and in afew moments the man would be shot and put in that grave and covered up, when who should rise up but the American Consul, who took the Americanflag and wrapped it around him, and the English Consul took the Englishflag and wrapped it around him; and they said to those soldiers, "Fireon those flags if you dare!" Not a man dared; there were two greatgovernments behind those flags. And so God says, "Come under my banner, come under the banner of love, come under the banner of heaven. " Godwill take care of all that will come under His banner. 

Snapping the Chains. 

In the North there was a minister talking to a man in the inquiry-room. The man says, "My heart is so hard, it seems as if it was chained, and Icannot come. " "Ah, " says the minister, "come along, chain and all, " andhe just came to Christ hard-hearted, chain and all, and Christ snappedthe fetters, and set him free right there. So come along. If you arebound hand and foot by Satan, it is the work of God to break thefetters; you cannot break them. 

Napoleon and the Conscript. 

There is a well-known story told of Napoleon the First's time. In one ofthe conscriptions, during one of his many wars, a man was balloted as aconscript who did not want to go, but he had a friend who offered to goin his place. His friend joined the regiment in his name, and was sentoff to the war. By and by a battle came on, in which he was killed, andthey buried him on the battle-field. Some time after the Emperor wantedmore 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. " "Whynot?" "I am dead, " was the reply. "You are not dead; you are alive andwell. " "But I am dead, " he said "Why, man, you must be mad. Where didyou die?" "At such a battle, and you left me buried on such abattlefield. " "You talk like a mad man, " they cried; but the man stuckto his point that he had been dead and buried some months. "You look upyour books, " he said, "and see if it is not so. " They looked, and foundthat he was right. They found the man's name entered as drafted, sent tothe war, and marked off as killed. "Look here, " they said, "you didn'tdie; you must have got some one to go for you; it must have been yoursubstitute. " "I know that, " he said; "he died in my stead. You cannottouch me: I died in that man, and I go free. The law has no claimagainst me. " They would not recognize the doctrine of substitution, andthe case was carried to the Emperor. But he said that the man was right, that he was dead and buried in the eyes of the law, and that France hadno claim against him. This story may or may not be true but one thing Iknow is true; Jesus Christ suffered death for the sinner, and those whoaccept Him are free from the law. 

The King's Pardon. 

A man was once being tried for a crime, the punishment of which wasdeath. The witnesses came in one by one and testified to his guilt; butthere he stood, quite calm and unmoved. The judge and the jury werequite surprised at his indifference; they could not understand how hecould take such a serious matter so calmly. When the jury retired, itdid not take them many minutes to decide on a verdict "Guilty;" and whenthe judge was passing the sentence of death upon the criminal he toldhim how surprised he was that he could be so unmoved in the prospect ofdeath. When the judge had finished, the man put his hand in his bosom, pulled out a document, and walked out of the dock a free man. Ah, thatwas how he could be so calm; it was a free pardon from his king, whichhe had in his pocket all the time. The king had instructed him to allowthe trial to proceed, and to produce the pardon only when he wascondemned. No wonder, then, that he was indifferent as to the result ofthe trial. Now that is just what will make us joyful in the great day ofjudgment: we have got a pardon from the Great King, and it is sealedwith the blood of His Son. 

[Illustration: The Judgement of Solomon. GUSTAVE DORE. 1 Kings, iii. ]

GOLD. 

-- If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you are free. 

-- There is no sin in the whole catalogue of sins you can name but Christ will deliver you from it perfectly. 

-- We are led on by an unseen power that we have not got strength to resist, or else we are led on by the loving Son of God. 

-- The trouble is, people do not know that Christ is a Deliverer. They forget that the Son of God came to keep them from sin as well as to forgive it. 

-- You say "I am afraid I cannot hold out. " Well, Christ will hold out for you. There is no mountain that He will not climb with you if you will; He will deliver you from your besetting sin. 

-- Satan rules all men that are in his kingdom. Some he rules through lust. Some he rules through covetousness. Some he rules through appetite. Some he rules by their temper, but he rules them. And none will ever seek to be delivered until they get their eyes open and see that they have been taken captive. 

-- When Christ was on the earth there was a woman in the temple who was bowed almost to the ground with sin. Satan had bound her for eighteen years; but after all these years of bondage Christ delivered her. He spoke one word and she was free. She got up and walked home. How astonished those at home must have been to see her walking in. 

LITTLE FOLKS. 

The Little Child and the Big Book. 

I like to think of Christ as a burden bearer. A minister was one daymoving his library up stairs. As the minister was going up stairs withhis load of books his little boy came in and was very anxious to helphis father. So his father just told him to go and get an armful and takethem up stairs. When the father came back he met the little fellow abouthalf way up the stairs tugging away with the biggest in the library. Hecouldn't manage to carry it up. The book was too big. So he sat down andcried. His father found him, and just took him in his arms, book andall, and carried him up stairs. So Christ will carry you and all yourburdens. 

The Horse that was Established. 

There was a little boy converted and he was full of praise. When Godconverts boy or man his heart is full of joy--can't help praising. Hisfather was a professed Christian. The boy wondered why he didn't talkabout Christ, and didn't go down to the special meetings. One day, asthe father was reading the papers, the boy came to him and put his handon his shoulder and said: "Why don't you praise God? Why don't you singabout Christ? Why don't you go down to these meetings that are beingheld?" The father opened his eyes, and looked at him and said, gruffly:"I am not carried away with any of these doctrines. I am established. " Afew days after they were getting out a load of wood. They put it on thecart. The father and the boy got on lop of the load, and tried to getthe horse to go. They used the whip, but the horse wouldn't move. Theygot off and tried to roll the wagon along, but they could move neitherthe wagon nor the horse. "I wonder what's the matter?" said the father. "He's established, " replied the boy. You may laugh at that, but this isthe way with good many Christians. 

The Scotch Lassie and Dr. Chalmers. 

There is a story of Dr. Chalmers. A lady came to him and said: "Doctor, I cannot bring my child to Christ. I've talked, and talked, but it's ofno use. " The Doctor thought she had not much skill, and said, "Now yoube quiet and I will talk to her alone. " When the Doctor got the Scotchlassie alone he said to her, "They are bothering you a good deal aboutthis question; now suppose I just tell your mother you don't want to betalked to any more upon this subject for a year. How will that do?"Well, the Scotch lassie hesitated a little, and then said she "didn'tthink it would be safe to wait for a year. Something might turn up. Shemight die before then. " "Well, that's so, " replied the doctor, "butsuppose we say six months. " She didn't think even this would be safe. "That's so, " was the doctors reply; "well, let us say three months. "After a little hesitation, the girl finally said, "I don't think itwould be safe to put it off for three months--don't think it would besafe to put it off at all, " and they went down on their knees and foundChrist. 

[Illustration: The Sermon on the Mount. GUSTAVE DORE. Matthew, v. ]

Johnny, Cling Close to the Rock

Little Johnny and his sister were one day going through a long, narrowrailroad tunnel. The railroad company had built small clefts here andthere through the tunnel, so that if any one got caught in the tunnelwhen the train was passing, they could save themselves. After thislittle boy and girl had gone some distance in the tunnel they heard atrain coming. They were frightened at first, but the sister just put herlittle brother in one cleft and she hurried and hid in another. Thetrain came thundering along, and as it passed, the sister cried out:"Johnny, cling close to the rock! Johnny, cling close to the rock!" andthey were safe. The "Rock of Ages" may be beaten by the storms and wavesof adversity, but "cling close to the rock, Christians, and all will bewell. " The waves don't touch the Christian; he is sheltered by the Rock"that is higher than I, " by the One who is the strong arm, and theSaviour who is mighty and willing to save. 

Obedience. 

Suppose I say to my boy, "Willie, I want you to go out and bring me aglass of water. " He says he doesn't want to go. "I didn't ask youwhether you wanted to go or not, Willie; I told you to go. " "But I don'twant to go, " he says. "I tell you, you must go and get me a glass ofwater. " He does not like to go. But he knows I am very fond of grapes, and he is very fond of them himself, so he goes out, and some one giveshim a beautiful cluster of grapes. He comes in and says, "Here, papa, here is beautiful cluster of grapes for you. " "But what about thewater?" "Won't the grapes be acceptable, papa?" "No, my boy, the grapesare not acceptable; I won't take them; I want you to get me a glass orwater. " The little fellow doesn't want to get the water, but he goesout, and this time some one gives him an orange. He brings it in andplaces it before me. "Is that acceptable?" he asks. "No, no, no!" I say;"I want nothing but water; you cannot do anything to please me until youget the water. " And so, my friends, to please God you must first obeyHim. 

Jumping into Father's Arms. 

I remember, while in Mobile attending meetings, a little incidentoccurred which I will relate. It was a beautiful evening, and justbefore the meeting some neighbors and myself were sitting on the frontpiazza enjoying the evening. One of the neighbors put one of hischildren upon a ledge eight feet high, and put out his hands and toldhim to jump. Without the slightest hesitation he sprang into hisfather's arms. Another child was lifted up, and he, too, readily spranginto the arms of his father. He picked up another boy, larger than theothers, and held out his arms, but he wouldn't jump. He cried andscreamed to be taken down. The man begged the boy to jump, but it was ofno use; he couldn't be induced to jump. The incident made me curious, and I stepped up to him and asked, "How was it that those two littlefellows jumped so readily into your arms and the other boy wouldn't?""Why, " said the man, "those two boys are my children and the other boyisn't, he don't know me. "

How Three Sunday School Children Met Their Fate. 

When the Lawrence Mills were on fire a number or years ago--I don't meanon fire, but when the mill fell in--the great mill fell in, and after ithad fallen in, the ruins caught fire. There was only one room leftentire, and in it were three Mission Sunday-school children imprisoned. The neighbors and all hands got their shovels and picks and crowbars, and were working to set the children free. It came on night and they hadnot yet reached the children. When they were near them, by somemischance a lantern broke, and the ruins caught fire. They tried to putit out, but could not succeed. They could talk with the children, andeven pass to them some coffee and some refreshments, and encourage themto keep up. But, alas, the flames drew nearer and nearer to this prison. Superhuman were the efforts made to rescue the children; the men bravelyfought back the flames; but the fire gained fresh strength and returnedto claim its victims. Then piercing shrieks arose when the spectatorssaw that the efforts of the firemen were hopeless. The children sawtheir fate. They then knelt down and commenced to sing the little hymnwe have all been taught in our Sunday-school days, Oh! how sweet--: "Letothers seek a home below which flames devour and waves overflow. " Theflames had now reached them; the stifling smoke began to pour into theirlittle room, and they began to sink, one by one, upon the floor. A fewmoments more and the fire circled around them and their souls were takeninto the bosom of Christ. Yes, let others seek a home below if theywill, but seek ye the Kingdom of God with all your hearts. 

PARENTAL. 

A Father's Love Trampled Under Foot. 

I once heard of a father who had a prodigal boy, and the boy had senthis mother down to the grave with a broken heart, and one evening theboy started out as usual to spend the night in drinking and gambling, and his old father, as he was leaving, said: "My son, I want to ask afavor of you to-night. You have not spent an evening with me since yourmother died. Now won't you gratify your old father by staying at homewith him?" "No, " said the young man, "it is lonely here, and there isnothing to interest me, and I am going out. " And the old man prayed andwept, and at last said: "My boy, you are just killing me as you havekilled your mother. These hairs are growing white, and you are sendingme, too, to the grave. " Still the boy would not stay, and the old mansaid: "If you are determined to go to ruin, you must go over this oldbody to-night. I can not resist you. You are stronger than I, but if yougo out you must go over this body. " And he laid himself down before thedoor, and that son walked over the form of his father, trampled the loveof his father under foot, and went out. 

"That is the Price of My Soul"

I heard a story of a young lady who was deeply concerned about her soul. Her father and mother, however, were worldly people. They thoughtlightly of her serious wishes; they did not sympathize with her state ofmind. They made up their minds that she should not become a Christian, and tried every way they could to discourage her notions about religion. At last they thought they would get up a large party--thus with gayetyand pleasure win her back to the world. So they made every preparationfor a gay time; they even sent to neighboring towns and got all her mostworldly companions to come to the house; they bought her a magnificentsilk dress and jewelry, and decked her out in all the finery of such anoccasion. The young lady thought there would be no harm in attending theparty; that it would be a trifling affair, a simple thing, and shecould, after it was over, think again of the welfare of her soul. Shewent decked out in all her adornments, and was the belle of the ballThree weeks from that night she was on her dying bed. She asked hermother to bring her ball dress in. She pointed her finger at it, and, bursting into tears, said, "That is the price of my soul. " She diedbefore dawn. Oh, my friends, if you are anxious about your soul, leteverything else go; let parties and festivals pass. 

The Two Fathers. 

Whenever I think about this subject, two fathers come before me. Onelived on the Mississippi river. He was a man of great wealth. Yet hewould have freely given it all could he have brought back his eldest boyfrom his early grave. One day that boy had been borne home unconscious. They did everything that man could do to restore him, but in vain. "Hemust die, " said the doctor. "But, doctor, " said the agonized father, "can you do nothing to bring him to consciousness, even for a moment?""That may be, " said the doctor; "'but he can never live. " Time passed, and after a terrible suspense, the fathers wish was gratified. "My son, "he whispered, "the doctor tells me you are dying. " "Well, " said the boy, "you never prayed for me, father; won't you pray for my lost soul now?"The father wept. It was true he had never prayed. He was a stranger toGod. And in a little while that soul, unprayed for, passed into its darketernity. Oh, father! if your boy was dying, and he called on you topray, could you lift your burdened heart to heaven? Have you learnedthis sweetest lesson of heaven on earth, to know and hold communion withyour God? And before this evil world has marked your dearest treasuresfor its prey, have you learned to lead your little ones to a children'sChrist?

What a contrast is the other father? He, too, had a lovely boy, and oneday he came home to find him at the gates of death. "A great change hascome over our boy, " said the weeping mother; "he has only been a littleill before, but it seems now as if he were dying fast. " The father wentinto the room, and placed his hand on the forehead of the little boy. Hecould see the boy was dying. He could feel the cold damp of death. "Myson, do you know you are dying?" "No, am I?" "Yes; you are dying. " "Andshall I die to-day?" "Yes, my boy, you cannot live till night. " "Well, then, I shall be with Jesus to-night, won't I, father?" "Yes, my son, you will spend to-night with the Saviour. " Mothers and fathers, thelittle ones may begin early; be in earnest with them now. You know nothow soon you may be taken from them, or they may be taken from you. Therefore let this impression be made upon their minds--that you carefor their souls--a million times more than for their worldly prospects. 

The Stolen Boy--A Mother's Love. 

There was a boy a great many years ago, stolen in London, the same asCharley Ross was stolen here. Long months and years passed away, and themother had prayed and prayed, as the mother of Charley Ross prayed, Isuppose, and all her efforts had failed and they had given up all hope;but the mother did not quite give up her hope. One day a little boy wassent up to the neighboring house to sweep the chimney, and by somemistake he got down again through the wrong chimney. When he came down, he came in by the sitting-room chimney. His memory began at once totravel back through the years that had passed. He thought that thingslooked strangely familiar. The scenes of the early days of youth weredawning upon him; and as he stood there surveying the place, his mothercame into the room. He stood there covered with rags and soot. Did shewait until she sent him to be washed before she rushed and took him inher arms? No, indeed; it was her own boy. She took him to her arms allblack and smoke, and hugged him to her bosom, and shed tears of joy uponhis head. 

The Repentant Father. 

Not long ago a young man went home late. He had been in the habit ofgoing home late, and the father began to mistrust that he had goneastray. He told his wife to go to bed, and dismissed the servants, andsaid he would sit up till his son came home. The boy came home drunk, and the father in his anger gave him a push into the street and told himnever to enter his house again, and shut the door. He went into theparlor and sat down, and began to think: "Well, I may be to blame forthat boy's conduct, after all. I have never prayed with him. I havenever warned him of the dangers of the world. " And the result of hisreflections was that he put on his overcoat and hat, and started out tofind his boy. The first policeman he met he asked eagerly, "Have youseen my boy?" "No. " On he went till he met another. "Have you seenanything of my son?" He ran from one to another all that night, but notuntil the morning did he find him. He took him by the arm and led himhome, and kept him till he was sober. Then he said: "My dear boy, I wantyou to forgive me; I've never prayed for you; I've never lifted up myheart to God for you; I've been the means of leading you astray, and Iwant your forgiveness. " The boy was touched, and what was the result?Within twenty-four hours that son became a convert, and gave up thatcup. It may be that some father here has a wayward son. Go to God, andon your knees confess it. Let the voice of Jesus sink down in yourheart; "Bring him unto Me. "

The Sleep of Death. 

I read some time ago of a vessel that had been off on a whaling voyageand had been gone about three years. I saw the account in printsomewhere lately, but it happened a long time ago. The father of one ofthose sailors had charge of the lighthouse, and he was expecting his boyto come home. It was time for the whaling vessel to return. One nightthere came up a terrible gale, and this father fell asleep, and while heslept his light went out. When he awoke he looked toward the shore andsaw there had been a vessel wrecked. He at once went to see if he couldnot yet save some one who might be still alive. The first body that camefloating toward the shore was, to his great grief and surprise, the bodyof his own boy! He had been watching for that boy for many days, and hehad been gone for three years. Now the boy had at last come in sight ofhome and had perished because his father had let his light go out! Ithought, what an illustration of fathers and mothers to-day that havelet their lights go out! You are not training your children for God andeternity. You do not live as though there were anything beyond this lifeat all. You keep your affections set upon things on the earth instead ofon things above, and the result is that the children do not believethere is anything in it. Perhaps the very next step they take may takethem into eternity: the next day they may die without God and withouthope. 

A Defaulter's Confession. 

One week ago I preached on the text, "Christ came to heal thebroken-hearted. " I told you just before I came down that I had receiveda letter from a broken-hearted wife. Her husband one night came in, toher surprise, and said he was a defaulter and must flee, and he went, she knew not where. He forsook her and two children. It was a pitifulletter, and the wail of that poor woman seems to ring in my ears yet. That night up in that gallery was a man whose heart began to beat when Itold the story, thinking it was him I meant, till I came to the twochildren. When I got through I found that he had taken money which didnot belong to him, intending to replace it, but he failed to do so, andfled. He said: "I have a beautiful wife and three children, but I had toleave her and come to Chicago, where I have been hiding. The Governor ofthe State has offered a reward for me. " My friends, a week ago this poorfellow found out the truth of this text. He was in great agony. He feltas if he could not carry the burden, and he said, "Mr. Moody, I want youto pray with me. Ask God for mercy for me. " And down we went on ourknees. I don't know as I ever felt so bad for a man in my life. He askedme if I thought he should go back. I told him to ask the Lord, and weprayed over it. That was Sunday evening, and I asked him to meet me onthe Monday evening. He told how hard it was to go back to that town andgive himself up and disgrace his wife and children. They would give himten years. Monday came and he met me and said, "Mr. Moody, I have prayedover this matter, and I think that Christ has forgiven me, but I don'tbelong to myself. I must go back and give myself up. I expect to be sentto the penitentiary; but I must go. " He asked me to pray for his wifeand children, and he went off. He will be there to-day in the hands ofjustice. My friends, don't say the way of the transgressor is not hard. 

Divided We Fall. 

I remember one mother who heard that her boy was impressed at ourmeeting. She said her son was a good enough boy, and he didn't need tobe converted. I pleaded with that mother, but all my pleading was of noaccount. I tried my influence, with the boy; but while I was pulling oneway she was pulling the other, and of course her influence prevailed. Naturally it would. Well, to make a long story short, some time after Ihappened to be in the County Jail, and I saw him there. "How did youcome here?" I asked; "does your mother know where you are?" "No, don'ttell her; I came in under an assumed name, and I am going to Joliet forfour years. Do not let my mother know of this, " he pleaded; "she thinksI am in the army. " I used to call on that mother, but I had promised herboy I would not tell her, and for four years she mourned over that boy, She thought he had died on the battlefield or in a Southern hospital. What a blessing he might have been to that mother, if she had onlyhelped us to bring him to Christ. But that mother is only a specimen ofhundreds and thousands of parents. If we would have more family altarsin our homes, and train them to follow Christ, the Son of God would leadthem into "green pastures, " and instead of having sons who curse themothers who gave them birth, they would bless their fathers and mothers. 

[Illustration: Prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Olives. GUSTAVE DORE. Matthew, xxvi, 36-45]

The Faithful London Lady. 

When I was in London, there was one lady dressed in black up in thegallery. All the rest were ministers. I wondered who that lady could be. At the close of the meeting I stepped up to her, and she asked me if Idid not remember her. I did not, but she told me who she was, and herstory came to my mind. When we were preaching in Dundee, Scotland, amother came up with her two sons, 16 and 17 years old. She said to me, "Will you talk to my boys?" I asked her if she would talk to theinquirers, as there were more inquirers than workers. She said she wasnot a good enough Christian--was not prepared enough. I told her I couldnot talk to her then. Next night she came to me and asked me again, andthe following night she repeated her request. Five hundred miles shejourneyed to get God's blessing for her boys, Would to God we had moremothers like her. She came to London, and the first night I was there Isaw her in the Agricultural Hall. She was accompanied by only one of herboys--the other had died. Toward the close of the meeting I receivedthis letter from her:

"DEAR MR. MOODY: For months I have never considered the day's work endedunless you and your work had been specially prayed for. Now it appearsbefore us more and more. What in our little measure we have found has nodoubt been the happy experience of many others in London. My husband andI have sought as our greatest privilege to take unconverted friends oneby one to the Agricultural hall, and I thank God that, with a singleexception, those brought under the preaching from your lips haveaccepted Christ as their Savior, and are rejoicing in his love. "

That lady was a lady of wealth and position. She lived a little way outof London; gave up her beautiful home and took lodgings nearAgricultural Hall, so as to be useful in the inquiry room. When we wentdown to the Opera House she was there; when we went down to the eastend, there she was again, and when I left London she had the names of150 who had accepted Christ from her. Some have said that our work inLondon was a failure. Ask her if the work was a failure, and she willtell you. If we had a thousand such mothers in Chicago we would lift it. Go and bring your friends here to the meetings. Think of the privilege, my friends, of saving a soul. If we are going to work for good, we mustbe up and about it. 

Arthur P. Oxley! Your Mother Wishes to See You. 

There was a lady that came down to Liverpool to see us privately; it wasjust before we were about to leave that city to go to London to preach. With tears and sobs she told a very pitiful story. It was this: She saidshe had a boy nineteen years of age who had left her. She showed me hisphotograph, and asked me to put it in my pocket. "You stand before manyand large assemblies, Mr. Moody. My boy may be in London, now. Oh, lookat the audience to whom you will preach; look earnestly. You may see mydear boy before you. If you see him, tell him to come back to me. Oh, implore him to come to his sorrowing mother, to his deserted home. Hemay be in trouble; he may be suffering; tell him for his loving motherthat all is forgiven and forgotten, and he will find comfort and peaceat home. " On the back of this photograph she had written his full nameand address; she had noted his complexion, the color of his eyes andhair; why he had left home, and the cause of his so doing. "When youpreach, Mr. Moody, look for my poor boy, " were the parting words of thatmother. That young man may be in this hall to-night. If he is, I wantto tell him that his mother loves him still. I will read out his name, and if any of you ever hear of that young man, just tell him that hismother is waiting with a loving heart and a tender embrace for him. Hisname is Arthur P. Oxley, of Manchester, England. 

The Cruel Mother--Hypothetical. 

Suppose a mother should come in here with a little child, and after shehas been here a while the child begins to cry, and she says, "Keepstill, " but the child keeps on crying, and so she turns him over to thepolice and says, "Take that child, I don't want him. " What would you sayof such a mother as that? Teach a child that God loves him only so longas he is good, and that when he is bad the Lord does not love him, andyou will find that when he grows up, if he has a bad temper he will havethe idea that God hates him because he thinks God don't love him when hehas got a bad temper, and as he has a bad temper all the time, of courseGod does not love him at all, but hates him all the time. Now God hatessin, but He loves the sinner, and there is a great difference betweenthe love of God and our love. 

The Loving Father. 

I remember my little girl had a habit of getting up in the morning verycross. I don't know whether your children are like that. She used to getup in the morning speaking cross, and made the family veryuncomfortable. So I took her aside one morning and said to her, "Emma, if you go on that way I shall have to correct you; I don't want to doit, but I will have to. " She looked at me for a few moments--I had neverspoken to her that way before--and she went away. She behaved herselffor a few weeks all right, but one morning she was as cross as ever, andwhen she came to me to be kissed before going to school, I wouldn't doit. Off she went to her mother, and said: "Mamma, Papa refused to kissme: I cannot go to school because he won't kiss me. " Her mother came in, but she didn't say much. She knew the child had been doing wrong. Thelittle one went off and as she was going down stairs I heard herweeping, and it seemed to me as if that child was dearer to me than evershe had been before. I went to the window and saw her going down thestreet crying, and as I looked on her I couldn't repress my tears. Thatseemed to be the longest day I ever spent in Chicago. Before the closingof the school I was at home, and when she came in her first words were:"Papa, won't you forgive me?" and I kissed her and she went awaysinging. It was because I loved her that I punished her. My friends, don't let Satan make you believe when you have any trouble, that Goddoes not love you. 

PRAISE. 

"Three Cheers. "

Once, when a great fire broke out at midnight and people thought thatall the inmates had been taken out, way up there in the fifth story, wasseen a little child, crying for help. Up, went a ladder, and soon afireman was seen ascending to the spot. As he neared the second storythe flames burst in fury from the windows, and the multitude almostdespaired of the rescue of the child. The brave man faltered, and acomrade at the bottom cried out, "Cheer him!" and cheer upon cheer arosefrom the crowd. Up the ladder he went and saved the child, because theycheered him. If you cannot go into the heat of the battle yourself, ifyou cannot go into the harvest field and work day after day, you cancheer those that are working for the Master. I see many old people intheir old days, get crusty and sour, and they discourage everyone theymeet by their fault finding. That is not what we want. If we make amistake, come and tell us of it, and we will thank you. You don't knowhow much you may do by just speaking kindly to those that are willing towork. 

Always Happy. 

There was a man converted here some years ago, and he was just full ofpraise. He was living in the light all the time. We might be in thedarkness, but he was always in the light. He used to preface everythinghe said in the meeting with "praise God. " One night he came to themeeting with his finger all bound up. He had cut it, and cut it prettybad, too. Well, I wondered how he would praise God for this; but he gotup and said, "I have cut my finger, but, praise God, I didn't cut itoff. " And so, if things go against you, just think they might be a gooddeal worse. 

[Illustration: Ruth and Boaz. GUSTAVE DORE. Ruth, ii. ]

Ten Years in a Sick Bed, yet Praising God. 

I have found people who were poor in this world's goods, in bad health, and yet continually praising God. I can take you to a poor, burdened onewho has not been off her bed for ten years, and yet she praising Himmore than hundreds of thousands of Christians. Her chamber seems to bejust the ante-room of heaven. It seems as if that woman had just all thesecrets of heaven. Her soul is full of the love of God, full ofgladness, and she is poor. Like Elijah at the brook of Cherith, she isjust fed by the Almighty; God provides for all her wants. Any man thatknows God can trust Him and praise Him. He knows that the word of God istrue, and he knows that He will care for him. He who cares for thelilies of the field, He, without whose knowledge not a sparrow can fallto the ground, He who knows every hair of our heads, any man that knowsthis, cannot he rejoice? Is there anyone here, who, although he is poor, can find no reason to praise God? Some of those Christians who are sopoor, but who have the love of God, would not give up their place forthat of princes. 

GOLD. 

-- Praise is not only speaking to the Lord on our own account, but it is praising Him for what He has done for others. 

-- If we have a praise church we will have people converted. I don't care where it is, what part of the world it's in, if we have a praise church we'll have successful Christianity. 

-- Every good gift that we have had from the cradle up has come from God. If a man just stops to think what he has to praise God for, he will find there is enough to keep him singing praises for a week. 

-- We have in our churches a great deal of prayer, but I think it would be a good thing if we had a praise meeting occasionally. If we could only get people to praise God for what He has done, it would be a good deal better than asking Him continually for something. 

PRAYER. 

A Voice from the Tomb. 

The other day I read of a mother who died, leaving her child alone andvery poor. She used to pray earnestly for her boy, and left animpression upon his mind that she cared more for his soul than she caredfor anything else in the world. He grew up to be a successful man inbusiness, and became very well off. One day not long ago, after hismother had been dead for twenty years, he thought he would remove herremains and put her into his own lot in the cemetery, and put up alittle monument to her memory. As he came to remove them and to lay heraway the thought came to him, that while his mother was alive she hadprayed for him, and he wondered why her prayers were not answered. Thatvery night that man was saved. After his mother had been buried so longa time, the act of removing her body to another resting place, broughtup all the recollections of his childhood, and he became a Christian. O, you mothers!

Prayer Answered. 

Only a few years ago in the City of Philadelphia there was a mother thathad two sons. They were just going as fast as they could to ruin. Theywere breaking her heart, and she went into a little prayer-meeting andgot up and presented them for prayer. They had been on a drunken spreeor had just got started in that way, and she knew that their end wouldbe a drunkard's grave, and she went among these Christians and said, "Won't you just cry to God for my two boys?" The next morning those twoboys had made an appointment to meet each other on the corner of Marketand Thirteenth streets--though not that they knew anything about ourmeeting--and while one of them was there at the corner, waiting for hisbrother to come, he followed the people who were flooding into the depotbuilding, and the spirit of the Lord met him, and he was wounded andfound his way to Christ. After his brother came he found the place toocrowded to enter, so he too went curiously into another meeting andfound Christ, and went home happy; and when he got home he told hismother what the Lord had done for him, and the second son came with thesame tidings. I heard one of them get up afterwards to tell hisexperience in the young converts' meeting, and he had no sooner told thestory than the other got up and said: "I am that brother, and there isnot a happier home in Philadelphia than we have got. "

The Praying Mother. 

I remember being in the camp and a man came to me and said, "Mr. Moody, when the Mexican war began I wanted to enlist. My mother, seeing I wasresolved, said if I became a Christian I might go. She pleaded andprayed that I might become a Christian, but I wouldn't. I said when thewar was over I would become a Christian, but not till then. All herpleading was in vain, and at last, when I was going away, she took out awatch and said: 'My son, your father left this to me when he died. Takeit, and I want you to remember that every day at 12 o'clock your motherwill be praying for you. ' Then she gave me her Bible, and marked outpassages, and put a few different references in the fly-leaf. I took thewatch and the Bible just because my mother gave them. I never intendedto read the Bible. I went off to Mexico, and one day while on a long, weary march, I took out my watch, and it was 12 o'clock. I had been gonefour months, but I remembered that my mother at that hour was prayingfor me. Something prompted me to ask the officer to relieve me for alittle while, and I stepped behind a tree away out on those plains ofMexico, and cried to the God of my mother to save me. " My friends, Godsaved him, and he went through the Mexican war, "and now, " he said, "Ihave enlisted again to see if I can do any good for my Master's cause. "

The Sinner's Prayer Heard. 

There was a man at one of our meetings in New York City who was moved bythe Spirit of God. He said, "I am going home, and I am not going tosleep to-night till Christ takes away my sins, if I have to stay up allnight and pray. I'll do it. " He had a good distance to walk, and as hewent along he thought, "Why can't I pray now as I go along, instead ofwaiting to go home?" But he did not know a prayer. His mother had taughthim to pray, but it was so long since he had uttered a prayer that hehad forgotten. However, the publican's prayer came to his mind. Everybody can say this prayer. That man in the gallery yonder, thatyoung lady over there: "God be merciful to me a sinner. " May God writeit on your hearts to-night. If you forget the sermon, don't forget thatprayer. It is a very short prayer, and it has brought joy--salvation--tomany a soul. Well, this prayer came to the man, and he began, "God bemerciful to me a--, " but before he got to "sinner" God blessed him. 

Black-balled by Man, Saved by Christ. 

At the Fulton street prayer-meeting a man came in, and this was hisstory. He said he had a mother who prayed for him; he was a wild, reckless prodigal. Some time after his mother's death he began to betroubled. He thought he ought to get into new company, and leave his oldcompanions. So he said he would go and join a secret society; he thoughthe would join the Odd Fellows. They went and made inquiry about him, andthey found he was a drunken sailor, so they black-balled him. They wouldnot have him. He then went to the Freemasons; he had nobody to recommendhim, so they inquired and found there was no good in his character, andthey, too, black-balled him. They didn't want him. One day, some onehanded him a little notice in the street about the prayer-meeting, andhe went in. He heard that Christ had come to save sinners. He believedHim; he took Him at his word; and, in reporting the matter, he said he"came to Christ without a character, and Christ hadn't black-balled him. "My friends, that is Christ's way. 

The Praying Cripple. 

I once knew a little cripple who lay upon her death-bed. She had givenherself to God, and was distressed only because she could not labor forHim actively among the lost. Her clergyman visited her, and hearing hercomplaint, told her that there from her sick-bed she could offer prayersfor those whom she wished to see turning to God. He advised her to writethe names down, and then to pray earnestly; and then he went away andthought of the subject no more. Soon a feeling of great religiousinterest sprang up in the village, and the churches were crowdednightly. The little cripple heard of the progress of the revival, andinquired anxiously for the names of the saved. A few weeks later shedied, and among a roll of papers that was found under her little pillow, was one bearing the names of fifty-six persons, every one of whom had inthe revival been converted. By each name was a little cross, by whichthe poor crippled saint had checked off the names of the converts asthey had been reported to her. 

A Child's Prayer Answered. 

I remember a child that lived with her parents in a small village. Oneday the news came that her father had joined the army (it was at thebeginning of our war), and a few days after the landlord came to demandthe rent. The mother told him she hadn't got it, and that her husbandhad gone into the army. He was a hard hearted wretch, and he stormed andsaid that they must leave the home; he wasn't going to have people whocouldn't pay the rent. After he was gone, the mother threw herself intothe arm-chair, and began to weep bitterly. Her little girl whom she hadtaught to pray in faith (but it is more difficult to practice than topreach), came up to her, and said, "What makes you cry, mamma? I willpray to God to give us a little house, and won't He?" What could themother say? So the little child went into the next room and began topray. The door was open, and the mother could hear every word. "O God, you have come and taken away father, and mamma has got no money, and thelandlord will turn us out because we can't pay, and we will have to siton the doorstep, and mamma will catch cold. Give us a little home. " Thenshe waited, as if for an answer, and then added, "Won't you, please, God?" She came out of that room quite happy, expecting a house to begiven them. The mother felt reproved. I can tell you, however, she hasnever paid any rent since, for God heard the prayer of that little one, and touched the heart of the cruel landlord. God give us the faith ofthat little child, that we may likewise expect an answer, "nothingwavering. "

The Orphan's Prayer. 

A little child whose father and mother had died, was taken into anotherfamily. The first night she asked if she could pray, as she used to do. They said "Oh yes. " So she knelt down, and prayed as her mother taughther; and when that was ended she added a little prayer of her own: "OhGod, make these people as kind to me as father and mother were. " Thenshe paused and looked up, as if expecting the answer, and added: "Ofcourse He will. " How sweetly simple was that little one's faith; sheexpected God to "do, " and, of course, she got her request. 

GOLD. 

-- All should work and ask God's guidance. 

-- The world knows little of the works wrought by prayer. 

-- Let us pray, and as we pray, let us make room for Jesus in our hearts. 

-- Unless the Spirit of God is with us, we cannot expect that our prayers will be answered. 

-- David was the last one we would have chosen to fight the giant, but he was chosen of God. 

-- Every one of our children will be brought into the ark, it we pray and work earnestly for them. 

-- The impression that a praying mother leaves upon her children is life-long. Perhaps when you are dead and gone your prayer will be answered

REAPING. 

Sad Ending of a Life that Might have been Otherwise. 

I remember a few years ago I felt very anxious for a man who was presentat a meeting like this. At the close of the meeting I asked all to rise, and he rose among the others. I took him aside and said, "Now you aregoing to become a Christian--you will come out for the Lord now?" Hesaid he was wanting to very much. The man was trembling from head tofoot, and I thought surely he was going to accept Him. I spoke to him inhis hesitating condition, and found out what was standing between himand Christ. He was afraid of his companions. Nearly every day and nightnews came to me that some of these employers and clerks make light ofthese meetings, and make fun of all who attend them, and so many givethe same reason that this man did. I said to him: "If heaven is what weare led to believe it is, I would be willing to accept it and bear theirfun. " I talked with him, but he wouldn't accept it. He went off, but forweeks he came every night, and went away as he came, without acceptingit. One day I received a message to come and see him. He was sick, and Iwent to his chamber. He wanted to know if there was hope for him in theeleventh hour? I spoke to him, and gave him every hope I could. Dayafter day I visited him, and, contrary to all expectation, I saw himgradually recovering. When he got pretty well he was sitting on thefront porch, and I sat down by him and said: "You will be going now toconfess Christ; you'll be going to take your stand for him now?" "Well, "said he, "Mr. Moody, I promised God on my sick bed that I would; but Iwill wait a little. I am going over to Michigan, where I am going to buya farm and settle down, and then I'll become a Christian. " "If Godcannot make you a Christian here he cannot do it there, " I replied. Itried to get him to make an unconditional surrender, but he wouldn't; hewould put it off till the next spring. "Why, " I said, "you may not livetill next spring. " "Don't you see I am getting quite well?" "But are youwilling to take the risk till next spring?" "Oh, yes, I'll take it; Mr. Moody, you needn't trouble yourself any more about my soul; I'll riskit; you can just attend to your business, and I will to mine, and if Ilose my soul, no one will be to blame but myself--certainly not you, foryou've done all you could. " I went away from that house then with aheavy heart. 

I well remember the day of the week, Thursday, about noon, just one weekfrom that very day, when his wife sent for me. When I went to their homeI found her in great trouble, and learned that he had had a relapse. Iasked if he had expressed a desire to see me. She said "No; he is alwayssaying 'there is no hope, ' and I cannot bear to have him die in thatcondition. " I went into the room. He did not speak to me, but I wentaround to the foot of the bed and looked in his face and said, "Won'tyou speak to me?" and at last he fixed that terrible deathly look uponme and said, "Mr. Moody, you need not talk to me any more. It is toolate; there is no hope for me now. Go talk to my wife and children; prayfor them; but my heart is as hard as the iron in that stove there. WhenI was sick He came to the door of my heart, and I promised to serve Him, but I broke that promise, and now I must die without Him. " I got down topray. "You needn't pray for me, " he said. I prayed, but it seemed as ifmy prayer went no higher than my head. He lingered till that night, repeating, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am notsaved. " There he lay in agony, every few minutes this lamentationbreaking from him. Just as the sun was going down behind those Westernprairies, his wife leaned over him, and in an almost inaudible voice, hewhispered, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am notsaved, " and he died. He had lived a Christless life, he died aChristless death, he was wrapped in a Christless shroud, and he wasburied in a Christless grave. Oh, how dark and sad! Dear friends, theharvest is passing; the summer will soon be ended; won't you let Himredeem you?

By the Wayside. 

I went down past the corner of Clark and Lake streets one day, and, fulfilling my vow, on seeing a man leaning up against a lamp-post, Iwent up to him and said: "Are you a Christian?" He damned me and cursedme, and told me to mind my own business. He knew me, but I didn't knowhim. He said to a friend of his that afternoon that he had never been soinsulted in his life, and told him to say to me that I was damning thecause I pretended to represent. Well, the friend came and delivered hismessage. "May be I am doing more hurt than good, " I said; "may be I'mmistaken, and God hasn't shown me the right way. " That was the time Iwas sleeping and living in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms, where I was then President, Secretary, janitor, and everything else. Well one night, after midnight I heard a knock at the door. And there onthe step leading into the street stood this stranger I had made so madat the lamp-post, and said he wanted to talk to me about his soul'ssalvation. He said: "Do you remember the man you met about three monthsago at the lamp-post, and how he cursed you? I have had no peace sincethat night; I couldn't sleep. Oh, tell me what to do to be saved. " Andwe just fell down on our knees, and prayed, and that day he went to thenoon prayer meeting and openly confessed the Saviour, and soon afterwent to the war a Christian man. I do not know but he died on someSouthern battle-field or in a hospital, but I expect to see him in thekingdom of God. 

Sowing the Tares. 

I was at the Paris Exhibition in 1867, and I noticed there a little oilpainting, only about a foot square, and the face was the most hideous Ihave ever seen. On the paper attached to the painting were the words"Sowing the tares, " and the face looked more like a demon's than aman's. As he sowed these tares, up came serpents and reptiles, and theywere crawling up his body, and all around were woods with wolves andanimals prowling in them. I have seen that picture many times since. Ah!the reaping time is coming. If you sow to the flesh you must reap theflesh. 

What Moody Saw in the Chamber of Horror. 

 When I was in London I went into a wax work there--Tassands--and I went into the chamber of Horror. There were wax figures of all kinds of murderers in that room. There was Booth who killed Lincoln, and many of that class: but there was one figure I got interested in, who killed his wife because he loved another woman, and the law didn't find him out. He married this woman and had a family of seven children. And twenty years passed away. Then his conscience began to trouble him. He had no rest; he would hear his murdered wife pleading continually for her life. His friends began to think that that he was going out of his mind; he became haggard and his conscience haunted him till, at last he went to the officers of the law and told them that he was guilty of murder. He wanted to die, life was so much of an agony to him. His conscience turned against him. My friends if you have done wrong, may your conscience be woke up, and may you testify against yourself. It is a great deal better to judge our own acts and confess them, than go through this world with the curse upon you. 

Reaping the Whirlwind. 

I remember in the north of England a prominent citizen told a sad casethat happened there in the city of Newcastle-on-Tyne. It was about ayoung boy. He was very young. He was an only child. The father andmother thought everything of him and did all they could for him. But hefell into bad ways. He took up with evil characters, and finally got torunning with thieves. He didn't let his parents know about it. By and bythe gang he was with broke into the house, and he with them. Yes, he hadto do it all. They stopped outside of the building, while he crept inand started to rob the till. He was caught in the act, taken into court, tried, convicted, and sent to the penitentiary for ten years. He workedon and on in the convict's cell, till at last his term was out. And atonce he started for home. And when he came back to the town he starteddown the street where his father and mother used to live. He went to thehouse and rapped. A stranger came to the door and stared him in theface. "No, there's no such person lives here, and where your parents areI don't know, " was the only welcome he received. Then he turned throughthe gate, and went down the street, asking even the children that he metabout his folks, where they were living, and if they were well. Buteverybody looked blank. Ten years rolled by and though that seemedperhaps a short time, how many changes had taken place! There where hewas born and brought up he was now an alien, and unknown even in the oldhaunts. But at last he found a couple of townsmen that remembered hisfather and mother, but they told him the old house had been desertedlong years ago, that he had been gone but a few months before his fatherwas confined to his house; and very soon after died broken-hearted, andthat his mother had gone out of her mind. He went to the mad-house wherehis mother was, and went up to her and said, "Mother, mother, don't youknow me? I am your son. " But she raved and slapped him on the face andshrieked, "You're not my son, " and then raved again and tore her hair. He left the asylum more dead than alive, so completely broken-heartedthat he died in a few months. Yes the fruit was long growing, but at thelast it ripened to the harvest like a whirlwind. 

Madness and Death. 

I was coming along north Clark street one evening when a man shot pastme like an arrow. But he had seen me, and turned and seized me by thearm. Saying eagerly, "Can I be saved to-night. The devil is coming totake me to hell at 1 o'clock tonight. " "My friend, you are mistaken. " Ithought the man was sick. But he persisted that the devil had come andlaid his hand upon him, and told him he might have till 1 o'clock, andsaid he: "Won't you go up to my room and sit with me. " I got some men upto his room to see to him. At 1 o'clock the devils came into that room, and all the men in that room could not hold him. He was reaping what hehad sown. When the Angel of Death came and laid his cold hand on him, ohhow he cried for mercy. 

SAVED. 

A London Doctor Saved after Fifty Years of Prayer. 

When I was in London there was a leading doctor in that city, upwards ofseventy years of age, wrote me a note to come and see him privatelyabout his soul. He was living at a country seat a little way out ofLondon, and he came into town only two or three times a week. He waswealthy and was nearly retired. I received the note right in the midstof the London work, and told him I could not see him. I received a notea day or two after from a member of his family, urging me to come. Theletter said his wife had been praying for him for fifty years, and allthe children had become Christians by her prayers. She had prayed forhim all those years, but no impression had been made upon him. Upon hisdesk they had found the letter from me, and they came up to London tosee what it meant, and I said I would see him. When we met I asked himif he wanted to become a Christian, and he seemed every way willing, butwhen it came to confession to his family, he halted. "I tell you, " saidhe, "I cannot do that; my life has been such that I would not like toconfess before my family. " "Now there is the point; if you are notwilling to confess Christ, He will not confess you; you cannot be Hisdisciple. " We talked for some time, and he accepted. I found while Ihad been in one room his daughter and some friends, anxious for thesalvation of that aged father, were in the other room praying to God, and when he started out willing to go home and confess Christ, I openedthe door of the other room, not knowing the daughter was there, and thefirst words she said were: "Is my father saved?" "Yes, I think he is, " Ianswered, and ran down to the front door and called him back. "Yourdaughter is here, " I said; "this is the time to commence yourconfession. " The father, with tears trickling down his cheeks, embracedhis child, "My dear daughter, I have accepted Christ, " and a great floodof light broke upon him at that confession. 

Angry at First, Saved at Last. 

In Dublin I was speaking to a lady in the inquiry-room, when I noticed agentlemen walking up and down before the door. I went forward, and said:"Are you a Christian?" He was very angry, and turned on his heel andleft me. The following Sunday night I was preaching about "receiving. "and I put the question: "Who'll receive Him now?" That young man waspresent, and the question sank into his heart. The next day he calledupon me--he was a merchant in that city--and said: "Do you remember me?""No, I don't. " "Do you remember the young man who answered you soroughly the other night?" "Yes, I do. " "Well, I've come to tell you thatI am saved. " "How did it happen?" "Why, I was listening to your sermonlast night, and when you asked, 'Who'll receive Him now?' God put itinto my heart to say: 'I will;' and He has opened my eyes to see His Sonnow. "

Removing the Difficulties. 

I was speaking to a young lady in the inquiry-room some time ago, andshe was in great distress of mind. She seemed really anxious to besaved, and I could not find out what was the trouble between God andher. I saw there was something that was keeping her back. I quotedpromise after promise, but she didn't seem to take hold on any of them. Then we got down on our knees, but still there was no light. Finally Isaid: "Is there anyone against whom you have bitter feelings?" "Yes;there's a young lady on the other side of the room, talking to yourwife, whom I can't forgive. " "Ah I've got it now; that's why theblessing won't come to you. " "Do you mean to tell me, " said the younglady, looking up in my face, "that I can't be saved until I forgiveher?" "No you can't! and, if there are any others whom you hate, youmust forgive them also. " She paused a moment, and then she said: "I willgo. " It seems that my wife and the other young lady had been going overthe same ground, and just at that time the other young lady had resolvedto come to ask this one's forgiveness. So they met in the middle of theroom, both saying at once: "Will you forgive me?" Oh, what a meeting itwas! They knelt together, and joy beamed on their souls, and theirdifficulties vanished. In a little while they went out of the room withtheir arms around each other, and their faces lit up with a heavenlyglow. 

"Saved. "

I remember while in a town East at the time of the loss of the Atlanticon the banks of Newfoundland, there was a business man in the town whowas reported lost. His store was closed, and all his friends mourned himas among those who went down on that vessel. But a telegram was receivedfrom him by his partner with the word "saved, " and that partner wasfilled with joy. The store was opened and the telegram was framed, andif you go into that store to-day you will see that little bit of paperhanging on the wall, with the word "saved" upon it. Let the news go overthe wires to heaven to-night from you. Let the word "Saved" go fromeveryone of you, and there will be joy in heaven. You can be saved--theSon of man wants to save you. 

Terribly in Earnest. 

I read a number of years ago of a vessel that was wrecked. Thelife-boats were not enough to take all the passengers. A man who wasswimming in the water swam up to one of the life-boats that was full andseized it with his hand. They tried to prevent him, but the man wasterribly in earnest about saving his life, and one of the men in theboat just drew a sword and cut off his hand. But the man didn't give up:he reached out the other hand. He was terribly in earnest. He wanted tosave his life. But the man in the boat took the sword and cut off hisother hand. But the man did not give up. He swam up to the boat andseized it with his teeth. Some of them said, "Let us not cut his headoff, " and they drew him in. That man was terribly in earnest, and, myfriends, if you want to get into the kingdom of God, be in earnest. 

"The Moody and Sankey Humbug. "

There was a man, while we were in London, who got out a little papercalled "The Moody and Sankey Humbug. " He used to have it to sell to thepeople coming into the meeting. After he had sold a great many thousandcopies of that number, he wanted to get out another number; so he cameto the meeting to get something to put into the paper; but the power ofthe Lord was present. It says here in this chapter (Luke 5) that thePharisees, scribes, and doctors, were watching the words of Christ inthat house in Capernaum, and that the power of the Lord was present toheal. It don't say they were healed. They did not come to be healed. Ifthey had, they would have been healed. But sometimes there is a prayerof faith going up to God from some one, that brings down blessings. Andso this man came into that meeting. The power of the Lord was present, and the arrow of conviction went down deep into his heart. He went out, not to write a paper, but to destroy his paper that he had written, andso to tell what the Holy Ghost had done for him. 

The Reporter's Story. 

One of the most conspicuous persons at the Brooklyn Rink was a man ofover fifty years, a reporter, apparently of a sensational sort. One ofmy friends entered into conversation with him the second evening, andfound him partially intoxicated, ribald, sneering, and an infidel. Inquiring further concerning him, we found that he had been severaltimes in the city jail for drunken brawls, although originally a man ofculture and polish. Time passed, and on our last day at Brooklyn thesame man, conspicuous by his commanding figure, sat in a back seat inthe Simpson Church. My friend accosted him once more, and this was theanswer: "I am waiting to thank Mr. Moody, who, under God, has been thegreatest blessing of my life to me. I have given up my engagement, thetemptations of which are such as no Christian can face. And I am aChristian--a new creature; not reformed; you cannot reform a drunkard; Ihave tried that a hundred times; but I am regenerated, born again by thegrace and power of God. I have reported sermons many a time, simply toridicule them, but never had the least idea what true religion meanttill I heard Mr. Moody's address on 'Love and Sympathy, ' ten days ago, and I would not have believed there could be so much sweetness in alifetime as has been condensed into those ten days. My children knew thechange; my wife knew it; I have set up the family altar, and theappetite for liquor has been utterly taken away, that I only loathe whatI used to love. " "Let him that standeth take heed lest he fall, "suggested my friend. "No, not while I stand so close to the cross as Ido to-day;" and he opened a small hymn-book, on the fly-leaf of whichwas written: "I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shallnot be ashamed. "

The Skeptical Lady. 

When Mr. Sankey and I were in the north of England, I was preaching oneevening, and before me sat a lady who was a skeptic. When I hadfinished, I asked all who were anxious, to remain. Nearly all remained, herself among the number. I asked her if she was a Christian, and shesaid she was not, nor did she care to be. I prayed for her there. Oninquiry, I learned that she was a lady of good social position, but veryworldly. She continued to attend the meetings, and in a week after I sawher in tears. After the sermon, I went to her and asked if she was ofthe same mind as before. She replied that Christ had come to her and shewas happy. Last Autumn I had a note from her husband saying she wasdead, that her love for the Master had continually increased. When Iread that note, I felt paid for crossing the Atlantic. She workedsweetly after her conversion, and was the means of winning many of herfashionable friends to Christ. O, may you seek the Lord while He may befound, and may you call upon Him while He is near. 

GOLD. 

-- I would rather go into the kingdom of heaven through the poor house than go down to hell in a golden chariot. 

-- I believe there are more young men who come to Boston who are lost because they cannot say no, than for any other reason. 

-- It ain't necessary to leave the things of this life when you follow Him. It is not necessary to give up your business, if it's a legitimate one, in order to accept Christ. But you mustn't set your heart on the old nets by a good deal. 

-- A great many people want to bring their faith, their works, their good deeds to Him for salvation. Bring your sins, and He will bear them away into the wilderness of forgetfulness, and you will never see them again. 

-- Do you believe that He would send those men out to preach the gospel to every creature unless he wanted every creature to be saved? Do you believe He would tell them to preach it to people without giving people the power to accept it? Do you believe the God of heaven is mocking men by offering them his gospel and not giving them the power to take hold of it? Do you believe He will not give men power to accept this salvation as a gift? Man might do that, but God never mocks men. And when he says "Preach the gospel to every creature, " every creature can be saved if he will. 

-- Lift your eyes from off these puny Christians--from off these human ministers, and look to Christ. He is the Saviour of the world. He came from the throne to this earth: He came from the very bosom of the Father. God gave Him up freely for us, and all we have to do is to accept him as our Saviour. Look at Him at Gethsemane, sweating as it were great drops of blood; look at Him on the cross, crucified between two thieves; hear that piercing cry, "Father, Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. " And as you look into that face, as you look into those wounds on His feet or His hands, will you say He has not the power to save you? Will you say He has not the power to redeem you?

[Illustration: The Pharisee And The Publican. GUSTAVE DORE. Luke, xviii, 9-14. ]

[Illustration: Deborah's Song of Triumph. GUSTAVE DORE. Judges. ]

SONG STORIES. 

"Hold the fort, For I am Coming. "

I am told that when General Sherman went through Atlanta towards thesea--through the Southern States--he left in the fort in the KennesawMountains a little handful of men to guard some rations that he broughtthere. And General Hood got into the outer rear and attacked the fort, drove the men in from the outer works into the inner works, and for along time the battle raged fearfully. Half of the men were either killedor wounded; the general who was in command was wounded seven differenttimes; and when they were about ready to run up the white flag andsurrender the fort, Sherman got within fifteen miles, and through thesignal corps on the mountain he sent the message: "Hold the fort; I amcoming. W. T. Sherman. " That message fired up their hearts, and theyheld the fort till reinforcements came, and the fort did not go into thehands of their enemies. Our friend, Mr. Bliss, has written a hymnentitled "Hold the fort for I am coming, " and I'm going to ask Mr. Sankey to sing that hymn. I hope there will be a thousand young convertscoming into our ranks to help hold the fort. Our Saviour is in command, and He is coming. Let us take up the chorus. 

 Ho! my comrades, see the signal Waving in the sky! Reinforcements now appearing, Victory is nigh!

 CHO. -- "Hold the fort, for I am coming, " Jesus signals still. Wave the answer back to heaven, "By Thy grace we will. "

 See the mighty hosts advancing, Satan leading on; Mighty men around us falling, Courage almost gone. --Cho

 See the glorious banner waving Hear the bugle blow. In our Leader's name we'll triumph Over every foe. --Cho. 

 Fierce and long the battle rages, But our Help is near; Onward comes our Great Commander, Cheer, my comrades, cheer!--Cho. 

P. P. Bliss. 

"Let the Lower Lights be Burning. "

A few years ago at the mouth of Cleveland harbor there were two lights, one at each side of the bay, called the upper and lower lights; and toenter the harbor safely by night, vessels must sight both of the lights. These western lakes are more dangerous sometimes than the great ocean. One wild, stormy night, a steamer was trying to make her way into theharbor. The Captain and pilot were anxiously watching for the lights. Byand by the pilot was heard to say, "Do you see the lower lights?" "No, "was the reply; "I fear we have passed them. " "Ah, there are the lights, "said the pilot; "and they must be from the bluff on which they stand, the upper lights. We have passed the lower lights; and have lost ourchance of getting into the harbor;" What was to be done? They lookedback, and saw the dim outline of the lower lighthouse against the sky. The lights had gone out. "Can't you turn your head around?" "No; thenight is too wild for that. She won't answer to her helm. " The storm wasso fearful that they could do nothing. They tried again to make for theharbor, but they went crash against the rocks, and sank to the bottom. Very few escaped; the great majority found a watery grave. Why? Simplybecause the lower lights had gone out. Now with us the upper lights areall right. Christ himself is the upper light, and we are the lowerlights, and the cry to us is, Keep the lower lights burning; that iswhat we have to do. He will lead us safe to the sunlit shore of Canaan, where there is no more night. 

 Brightly beams our Father's mercy From His lighthouse ever more. But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore. 

 CHO. -- Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave! Some poor fainting struggling seaman You may rescue, you may save. 

 Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud and angry billows roar; Eager eye's are watching, longing, For the lights along the shore. --Cho. 

 Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; Some poor seaman tempest-tost, Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost. --Cho. 

P. P. BLISS. 

"More to Follow. "

Rowland Hill tells a good story of a rich man and a poor man in hiscongregation. The rich man desired to do an act of benevolence, and sohe sent a sum of money to a friend to be given to this poor man as hethought best. The friend, just sent him five pounds, and said in thenote: "This is thine; use it wisely; there is more to follow. " After awhile he sent another five pounds and said, "more to follow. " Again andagain, he sent the money to the poor man, always with the cheeringwords, "more to follow. " So it is with the wonderful grace of God. Thereis always "more to follow. "

 Have you on the Lord believed? Still there's more to follow; Of His grace have you received? Still there's more to follow; Oh, the grace the Father shows! Still there's more to follow, Freely He His grace bestows, Still there's more to follow. 

 CHO. -- More and more, more and more, Always more to follow, Oh, his boundless matchless love! Still there's more to follow. 

 Have you felt the Saviour near? Still there's more to follow; Does His blessed presence, cheer? Still there's more to follow; Oh, the love that Jesus shows! Still there's more to follow, Freely He His love bestows, Still there's more to follow. --Cho. 

 Have you felt the spirit's power? Still there's more to follow; Falling like the gentle shower? Still there's more to follow; Oh, the power the spirit shows! Still there's more to follow, Freely He His power bestows, Still there's more to follow. --Cho. 

P. P. Bliss. 

[Illustration: Daniel. GUSTAVE DORE. Daniel, x. ]

[Illustration: Solomon. GUSTAVE DORE. ]

"Pull for the Shore, Sailor. "

A vessel was wrecked off the shore. Eager eyes were watching and strongarms manned the life-boat. For hours they tried to reach that vesselthrough the great breakers that raged and foamed on the sand-bank but itseemed impossible. The boat appeared to be leaving the crew to perish. But after a while the Captain and sixteen men were taken off, and thevessel went down. "When the life-boat came to you, " said a friend, "didyou 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 gonedown, sir. " "When once off the old wreck and safe in the life-boat, whatremained for you to do?" "Nothing, sir, but just to pull for the shore. "

 Light in the darkness, sailor, day is at hand! See o'er the foaming billows fair Haven's land, Drear was the voyage, sailor, now almost o'er Safe within the life-boat, sailor, pull for the shore. 

 CHO. -- Pull for the shore, sailor, pull for the shore! Heed not the rolling waves, but bend to the oar; Safe in the life-boat, sailor, cling to self no more! Leave the poor old stranded wreck, and pull for the shore. 

 Trust in the life-boat, sailor, all else will fail, Stronger the surges dash and fiercer the gale, Heed not the stormy winds, though loudly they roar; Watch the "bright morning star, " and pull for the shore. -Cho. 

 Bright gleams the morning, sailor, lift up thy eye; Clouds and darkness disappearing, glory is nigh! Safe in the life-boat, sailor, sing evermore; "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" pull for the shore. --Cho. 

P. P. BLISS. 

TRUST. 

"I Am Trusting Jesus"--A Young Lady's Trust. 

The other Sunday, when I was speaking on "Trust, " a person came to menext day and said, "I want to tell you how I was saved. You remember youtold about that lady who sought Christ three years and could not findHim, and when you told that, it was I. I was in that same condition andthrough your story I got light. " I don't think I have ever told it butwhat somebody got light and life. I will tell it again, for I would goup and down the world telling it if I could get a convert. One night Iwas preaching, and happening to cast my eyes down during the sermon, Isaw two eyes just riveted upon me. Every word that fell from my lips shejust seemed to catch with her own lips, and I was very anxious to godown where she was. After the Sermon I went to the pew and said, "Myfriend, are you a Christian?" "Oh, no, " said she, "I wish I was. I havebeen seeking Christ three years and I cannot find Him. " Said I; "Oh, there is a great mistake about that. " Says she, "'Do you think I am notin earnest? Do you think, sir, I have not been seeking Christ?" Said I, "I suppose you think you have, but Christ has been seeking you thesetwenty years, and it would not take an anxious sinner and an anxiousSaviour three years to meet, and if you had been really seeking Him youwould have found Him long before this. " "What would you do, then?" SaidI, "Do nothing, only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt besaved. " "Oh, " said she, "I have heard that till my head swims. Everybodysays, believe! believe! believe! and I am none the wiser. I don't knowwhat you mean by it. " "Very well, " said I, "I will drop the word; butjust trust the Lord Jesus Christ to save. " "If I say I trust Him, willHe save me?" "No, you may do a thousand things; but if you really trustHim, He will save you. " "Well, " said she, "I trust Him, but I don't feelany different. " "Ah, " said I, "I have found your difficulty. You havebeen hunting for feeling all these three years. You have not beenlooking for Christ. " Says she, "Christians tell how much joy they havegot. " "But, " said I, "you want Christian experience before you get one. Instead of trusting God, you are looking for Christian experience. " ThenI said: "Right here in this pew, just commit yourself to the Lord JesusChrist, and trust Him, and you will be saved, " and I held her right tothat word "trust, " which is the same as the word "believe" in the OldTestament. "You know what it is to trust a friend. Cannot you trust Godas a friend?" She looked at me for five minutes, it seemed, and thensaid slowly: "Mr. Moody, I trust the Lord Jesus Christ this night tosave my soul. " Turning to the pastor of the church she took him by thehand and repeated the declaration. Turning to an elder in the church shesaid again the solemn words, and near the door, meeting another officerof the church, she repeated for the fourth time, "I am trusting Jesus, "and went off home. The next night when I was preaching I saw her rightin front of me, "Eternity" written in her eyes, her face lighted up, andwhen I asked inquirers to go into the other room she was the first to goin. I wondered at it, for I could see by her face that she was in thejoy of the Lord. But when I got in I found her with her arms around ayoung lady's neck, and I heard her say, "It is only just trusting. Istumbled over it three years and found it all in trusting;" and thethree weeks I was there she led more souls to Christ than anybody else. If I got a difficult case I would send it to her. Oh, my friends, won'tyou trust Him? Let us put our trust in Him. 

Mrs. Moody Teaching her Child. 

There was a time when our little boy did not like to go to church, andwould get up in the morning and say to his mother, "What day isto-morrow?" "Tuesday. " "Next day?" "Wednesday. " "Next day?" "Thursday;"and so on, till he came to the answer, "Sunday. " "Dear me, " he said. Isaid to the mother, "We cannot have our boy grow up to hate Sunday inthis way; that will never do. That is the way I used to feel when I wasa boy. I used to look upon Sunday with a certain amount of dread. Veryfew kind words were associated with the day. I don't know that theminister ever put his hand on my head. I don't know that the ministereven noticed me, unless it was when I was asleep in the gallery, and hewoke me up. This kind of thing won't do; we must make the Sunday themost attractive day of the week; not a day to be dreaded; but a day ofpleasure. " Well the mother took the work up with this boy. Bless thosemothers in their work with the children. Sometimes I feel as if I wouldrather be the mother of John Wesley or Martin Luther or John Knox thanhave all the glories in the world. Those mothers who are faithful withthe children God has given them will not go unrewarded. My wife went towork and took those Bible stories and put those blessed truths in alight that the child could comprehend, and soon the feeling of dread forthe Sabbath with the boy was the other way, "What day's to-morrow?" hewould ask, "Sunday. " "I am glad. " And if we make those Bible truthsinteresting--break them up in some shape so that these children can getat them, then they will begin to enjoy them. 

WISDOM. 

-- I remember a gentleman of Boston, a man high in life, a Congressman, who was accustomed to carry with him little cards and distribute themwherever he went, and on some of these cards were words like these: "Iexpect to pass through this world but once, and therefore if there beany kindness I can show, if there is anything I can do to make menhappy, I shall do it, for I may not pass this way again. "

-- A man was asked what his persuasion was. He said it was the same asPaul's. I don't know what Paul's persuasion was. All persuasions claimhim. Sankey says he is a Methodist. Listen: "I am not ashamed, for Iknow whom I believe, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that whichI have committed to Him. " That is Paul's persuasion. You may call itwhat you have a mind to, it is a good persuasion. 

-- If we are going to be successful, we have got to take our stand forGod, and let the world and everyone know we are on the Lord's side. Ihave great respect for the woman that started out during the war with apoker. She heard the enemy were coming and went to resist them. Whensome one asked her what she could do with the poker, she said she wouldat least let them know what side she was on. And that is what we want. 

-- Let us do all the work we can. If we can't be a lighthouse, let us bea tallow candle. There used to be a period when people came to meetingbringing their candles with them. The first one, perhaps, wouldn't makea great illumination, but when two or three got there, there would bemore light. If the people of Boston should do that now, if each oneshould come here in this Tabernacle, with a candle, don't you thinkthere would be a little light. 

-- When I was a little boy I used to try and catch my own shadow. Idon't know whether any of you have ever been so foolish as that or not. I could not see why the shadow always kept ahead of me. Once I happenedto be racing with my face to the sun and I looked over my head and sawmy shadow coming back of me, and it kept behind me all the way. It isthe same with the Sun of Righteousness. Peace and joy will go with youwhile you go with your face toward Him. 

-- There are nine different qualities--peace, gentleness, long-suffering, hope, patience, charity, etc. , but you can sum them allinto one, and you have love. I saw something in writing the other daybearing upon the subject which I just took a copy of: "The fruit of theSpirit is in just one word--love. Joy is love exalted; peace is love inrepose, long-suffering is love enduring, gentleness is love in society, goodness is love in action, faith is love on the battle field, meeknessis love in school, and temperance is love in training. And so you cansay that the fruit is all expressed by one word--love. "

-- I believe there is a great deal more hope for a drunkard or amurderer or a gambler than there is for a lazy man. I never heard of alazy man being converted yet, though I remember talking once with aminister in the back woods of Iowa about lazy men. He was alldiscouraged in his efforts to convert lazy men, and I said to him, "Didyou ever know of a lazy man being converted?" "Yes, " said he; "I knew ofone, but he was so lazy that he didn't stay converted but about sixweeks. " And that is as near as I ever heard of a lazy man beingconverted. 

-- I remember, I was talking with a man one day and an acquaintance ofhis came in, and he jumped up at once and shook him by the hand--why Ithought he was going to shake his hand out of joint, he shook sohard--and he seemed to be so glad to see him and wanted him to stay, butthe man was in a great hurry and could not stay, and he coaxed and urgedhim to stay, but the man said no, he would come another time; and afterthat man went out my companion turned to me and said, "Well, he is anawful bore, and I am glad he's gone. " Well I began to feel that I was abore too, and I got out as quickly as I could. That is not real love. 

WORD PICTURES. 

The Prodigal Son. 

The boy got his money, and away he went. He feels very independent; hecan take care of himself; he can work his own way. I don't know where hewent to. Perhaps he went away down to Memphis, and perhaps he went toEgypt--got as far away from home as he could. When he went away he sooncommenced to go down to ruin. When he gets down to that part of thecountry he suddenly becomes very popular with a certain class of men. Perhaps he was very popular with the men who hung around the operahouse, or the theatre, or the billiard halls. A great many courted hiscompany. Perhaps he was a good talker, perhaps he was a good singer andcould sing a comic song; perhaps he was a literary man, and entertainedthem with his wit, and all were delighted with him. But as we would say, he got to the end of his rope, and when his money went his friendsdisappeared: The poor fellow was in a blaze of glory while his moneylasted, but when it had gone he woke up to find himself without friends. A man in New England said while his money lasted he had friends, butwhen he was ruined and in prison he found out who his real friends were. Not one of his old friends came near him, but the Christian people cameand spoke to him words of kindness and comfort, and it was then he madethe discovery who his true friends were. So this young prodigal didn'tget his eyes open till his money was all gone. No one in that foreigncountry loved him then, no one in that land cared for him; but away offover those green hills there was one who loved him still. It was hisfather, and that father received him back. 

The Cross and Crown. 

At last He cried, with a loud voice: "It is finished!" Perhaps not manyon earth heard it, or cared about it when they did hear it; but I canimagine there were not many in heaven who did not hear it, and if theyhave bells in heaven how they must have rung out that day; "It isfinished! It is finished!" The Son of God had died that poor sinful manmight have life eternal. I can imagine the angels walking through thestreets of heaven crying: "It is finished!" and the mansions of thatworld ringing with the glad tidings: "It is finished!" It was the shoutof victory. All you have got to do is to look and be saved. You haveseen the waves of the sea come dashing up against a rocky shore. Theycome up and beat against the rock, and, breaking into pieces, go back togather fresh strength, and again they come up and beat against the rockonly to be again broken into pieces. And so it would seem as if the darkwaves of hell had gathered all their strength together and had comebeating up against the bosom of the Son of God; but he drives them allback again with that shout of a conqueror: "It is finished. " And withthat shout He snapped the fetters of sin, and broke the power of Satan. 

While I was at a convention in Illinois an old man past 70 years, gotup, and said he remembered but one thing about his father, and that onething followed him all through life. He could not remember his death, hehad no recollection of his funeral, but he recollected his father onewinter night, taking a little chip, and with his pocket knife whittlingout a little cross, and with the tears in his eyes he held up that crosstelling how God in His infinite love sent His Son down here to redeemus, how He had died on the cross for us. The story of the cross followedhim through life. 

[Illustration: The Prodigal Son. GUSTAVE DORE. Luke, xv 11-32. ]

[Illustration: Christ Stilling The Tempest. GUSTAVE DORE. Matthew. Viii, 23-27]

AFFECTING INCIDENT AT SEA. 

Moody's Love and Prayer for 700 "Quaking Souls. "

"I remember clearly lying in my berth early that Saturday morning (Nov. 26th, 1892, on the steamer Spree when she was one thousand miles outfrom Southampton on her way to New York), congratulating myself that Ihad gotten passage in so swift a ship, when my thoughts were stopped bya great crash that shook the vessel from stem to stern. 

"My son, William Revell Moody, jumped from his berth and rushed on deck. He was back again in an instant, crying that the shaft was broken andthe ship sinking. Then ensued a scene the like of which I hope never towitness again. There was no panic, but the passengers, who had scrambledon deck at the first warning, looked at each other in an appealing waythat was, if anything, more terrible than demonstrative fear. Thecaptain told us there was no danger, and some of the second cabinpassengers returned to their berths only to tumble back pellmell amoment later. The rising water had driven them out. Some of them lostall their clothes and valuables. 

"At this point the officers buckled on their revolvers, but there was noneed to use them. The people, though terribly frightened, did not seemto realize what had happened. The women didn't scream, but stood aroundtrembling and with blanched faces. Nobody said a word, but each waitedfor his neighbor to speak. We felt that we might be looking on ourgraves. 

"The captain told us at noon that he thought he had the water undercontrol and was in hopes of drifting in the way of some passing vessel. The ship's bow was now high in the air, while the stern seemed to settlemore and more. There was no storm, but the sea, was very rough, and theship rolled from side to side with fearful lurches. I think that if shehad pitched at all the overstrained, bulkheads would have burst and weshould have gone to the bottom. The captain cheered us by telling usthat he thought we should run in with a ship by 3 o'clock that Saturdayafternoon, but the night drew on and no sail appeared to lighten ourgloom. 

"We knew the ship was sinking when we came on deck, but there was nopanic. The big engines of the ship were all working at the pumps, butthe water was steadily gaining in spite of them. With each roll of theship it could be heard like the roar of the surf. All the day was passedin anxiously watching for a sail. We could not talk of religion, for thefirst word brought forth a hundred exclamations, 'Are we sinking?' Thenin that first night one woman went insane. It seemed an age until theSabbath morning came, When the vigil on the deck was resumed. 

"I think that was the darkest night in all our lives. None of us thoughtto live to see the light of another day. Nobody slept. We were allhuddled in the saloon of the first cabin--Americans and Germans, Jews, Protestants, Catholics and skeptics--although at that time I doubt ifthere were many skeptics among us. For forty-eight hours we were in thismortal fear. 

"Sabbath morning dawned upon as wretched a ship's company as ever sailedthe sea. There was at that time no talk of religious services. I thinkthat if this had been suggested then there would have been a panic. Totalk of religion to those poor people would have been to suggest themost terrible things to them. Everybody was waiting for his neighbor tosay: 'Are we, then, doomed to die?'

"But as night approached I gathered those 700 quaking souls together andwe held a prayer meeting. I think everybody prayed. There were noskeptics present. I have been under fire in the war, I have stood bydeathbeds during the cholera epidemic in Chicago, but I never was sosorely tried. I could with difficulty command my voice as I read theninety-first Psalm. I read without comment, and then I prayed that Godwould still the anger of the deep and bring us safely to our desiredheaven. The people were weeping all around me. I also read from the107th Psalm. 

"We tried to sing. I gave out the first verse of 'Jesus, Lover of MySoul, ' and General Howard started the tune. He sang the hymn through ina strong voice, but very few joined him. Instead, the melody waspunctuated by broken sobs and exclamation of grief. That night I went tobed and slept, I felt that everything would be all right. 

"Never was a more earnest meeting held than this. All prayed together, and I did not hear much talk of skepticism, I can tell you. At 2:30o'clock in the morning a ship's light was sighted, and in a few hours wewere comparatively safe, although our danger was not over. The strain onour minds was almost as great, and minds gave way under it. Two womenbecame violently insane and it was necessary to confine them. A youngman from Vienna threw himself overboard and was drowned. 

"When we were finally safe in port we had a thanksgiving service, andthen such singing as there was--such praises that went up. 

"We prayed that the ship be brought to a haven, and relief came on thenight after our prayer meeting. I am a firm believer in prayer. I alwayshave been. I believe and I know that God saved the Spree in response toour prayers. "

PUBLISHED BYRHODES & McCLURE PUBLISHING CO. , CHICAGO. 

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[Illustration: Portrait of Lincoln. ]

ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S STORIES AND SPEECHES; in one volume, complete New(1897) edition, handsomely illustrated; containing the many witty, pointed and unequaled stories as told by Mr. Lincoln, including Earlylife stories, Professional life stories, White House and War stories;also presenting the full text of the popular Speeches of Mr. Lincoln onthe great questions of the age, including his "First Political Speech, ""Rail-Splitting Speech, " "Great Debate with Douglas, " and his WonderfulSpeech at Gettysburg, etc. , etc. ; and including his two greatInaugurals, with many grand illustrations. An instructive and valuablebook; 477 pages. 

[Illustration: Portrait of Moody. ]

MOODY'S ANECDOTES; 210 pages exclusive of engravings. Containing severalhundred interesting stories, told by the great evangelist, D. L. Moody, in his wonderful work in Europe and America. Hundreds of thousands ofcopies have been sold. Illustrated with excellent engravings of Messrs. Moody, Sankey, Whittle and Bliss, and thirty-two full-page engravingsfrom Gustave Dore, making and artistic and handsome volume. "A book ofanecdotes which have thrilled hundreds of thousands, "--Pittsburg Banner. 

MOODY'S GOSPEL SERMONS. As delivered by the great Evangelist, DwightLyman Moody, in his revival work in Great Britain and America, Togetherwith a biography of Mr. Moody and his co-laborer, Ira David Sanke. Including, also, a short history of the Great Revival. Each sermon isillustrated with a handsome, full page engraving from Gustave Dore. Thebook also contains an engraving of D. L. Moody, Ira D. Sankey, Mr. Moodypreaching in the Royal Opera House, Haymarket, London, ChicagoTabernacle (erected for Mr. Moody's Services) and "I Am the Way. " Ahandsome and attractive volume of 443 pages. 

MOODY'S LATEST SERMONS. As delivered by the great Evangelist, DwightLyman Moody. Handsomely illustrated with twenty-four full-pageengravings from Gustave Dore. 335 pages. 

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