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ST. ANDREWS -WORK. 
 
 
 THE BEST WORK IN THE WORLD. 
 
 SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT PEIJSOXAL WORK 
 
 Foil SOULS, AND THK METHODS OF 
 
 WTXNIXd OTHEIJS TO CHKIST 
 
 BY IXDIVIDUAL EFFOKT. 
 
 BV THE 
 
 REV. DYSON HAGUE, M. A., 
 
 «KrTOK OF ST. I'AIL's CHURCH HALIFAX, N. S. 
 
mmmmmmmmmm 
 
 "Andrew first timleth his ownltrother; and he brouglit hiiUi 
 to Jesus/'— St. Jons. 
 
 " The Layman is as bound U> win souls for Chiist as is tb 
 Clergyman. — C J. Wills. 
 
 t -/ 
 
 < / 
 
 ( f 
 
i 
 
 PERSONAL WORK FOR SOULS. 
 
 ♦ 
 
 l*er.s«)iial Work for Souls is a subject <ni which 
 vei'v little seems to have been written. 
 
 1 was asked in the beginning of the year to deliver 
 a s])ecial address at the 3rd Annual Convention of the 
 lirotherhood of St. Andrew at Kingston, Ontario, on 
 the subject of I*ersonal J(eligion, or Tersonal dealing 
 with men, and as was natural I wanted to get all the 
 help 1 possibly could on the subject, and to secure as 
 much literature as 1 could to enable me to prepare fnr 
 this very important task. 
 
 I tried book store after l)o(>k store in Halifax in vain . 
 They had nothing on the subject, nor did they know 
 of anv work of the kind. Throuiijh a fiiend I made a 
 similar eft'ort in Montreal and Toronto, also in vain. 
 1 then tried the well-stocked librarv of the Y. ^I. ('. A. 
 
 t. 
 
 with similar results. 
 
 In despair almost and ms a last resort, I communi- 
 cated with the Secretaries of two of the largest 
 Y. M. ('. A.'s in America, oidy to learn that literature 
 upon the subject was very uncommon, and that 
 besides one or two small j>aniphlets or treatises which 
 
tliev kiiullv foi'wankHl, tliev knew of iiotliini; tlint 
 would ]>e of service to me. 
 
 Tims it was tliat I eanie to find liow little, how very 
 very little lias been ]nil)lislied upon, what is for 
 (liristians, without a doubt the grandest work in tlie 
 world. And it is with the object of setting forth in a 
 very sinqjle way the jdain duty of every one who loves 
 the Saviour to trv and win others to Him, and of 
 offering some suggestions as to the best way of doing 
 this, that I }>ut into }»rint these thoughts which were in 
 in great part delivered at the Kingston Convention 
 under the title of l*ersonal Religion or Personal dealing 
 with men. 
 
 1. THE STARTING POINT. 
 
 l*ei'S<mal work for Christ is the work of every 
 Christian. The best way in which we can doanv work 
 foi' Christ now is to go right back to the word of (Jod, 
 .and see how it Mas done in the tinie of Christ, and by 
 His first disciples. »lust as St. Paul was a model 
 ]>reacher, and St. John a juodel lover, so St. .Andrew 
 •N\as the model soul winner. 
 
 We will take Andrew therefore forour example, and 
 . see what he did, and how he did it, in order that we nuiy 
 learn what we are to do and how we are to do it. 
 ; Simply is his story told by St. John : 
 
 / 
 
 -•^3» 
 
■*1 w^ 
 
 Tluee vouim" men were staii(lim»- toi'etlier one dav, in 
 tlie early [)art of tlie first centniy, and as they stood 
 tliey saw one Avalking near them. It was Jesus.. 
 John h)oked at Him ; there was life in that hxtk, for 
 lie saw Christ as the Saviour of his soul, and having, 
 looked himself he longed to get others to sec what he- 
 saw ; and then lie said ; ]>ehold the lamhof (lod. The- 
 two young men obeyed, and they followed Jesus, and', 
 when He said come and sec, they went and^ saw, and 
 spent that day abiding with Christ. 
 
 One of the two young men who heard .John sjjcak 
 and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Teter's l»rother. 
 He first found his own Inothcr Simon, and saith to 
 to him : Wc, (that is, John and I,) have found Christ. 
 And he brought him to Jesus. John 1-40. 
 
 Now the very first thought that is suggested ])y the 
 stMrv of St. Andrew as told bv St. John is this, that 
 lie realized at once in his jicte]/tance of Christ his 
 individual responsibility for other souls. The spirit of 
 Christ in taking possession of his heart, made it at 
 once missionary. He wanted at once to m^ and tell 
 somelH.idy else what had hai)pencd, and to l>ring some 
 other })erson to the same great lieing Avhom he had 
 discovered as the Christ. 
 
 In one woi'd he became at once a personal worker 
 
(•> 
 
 for Clii'lst ; lie acce])te<l as the ennse([uen(H' of lii» 
 union with Christ, the tnist -of sonls. 
 
 Thus we have exem[)Ufie(l and for all aj^es i»nt on 
 record tliis i^reat fact, that every one who acknowledii^es 
 Clirist as Lord is expected to become a son! winner, 
 and thiit the yonn;^ man I'eter who has uoi accepted 
 the claims of Christ is U) he led to do so hv his brother 
 Andrew, who has acce])ted them, and ha\ ini^ accepted 
 them loniL^s to brini> another to the same joy. 
 
 Tliat wi* arc justified in takinii this ])osition is 
 ('\ idenl. Andrew was not then an ajtostl;'. He was 
 not even as an ordained minister. He was in the 
 simjdest sense of the wf>rd, a laynum. He was,sim]ily 
 sni ordinary memlicr of the church, a ]>lain disciple of 
 dcsiis Chi'ist, and <(s smh he endeavouri'd to do W(a'k 
 for desus, aud win a soul to Ifim. 
 
 AVhcthcr hi* won by ]>leadin.L>, or argument, or 
 ]iiav(.'i', or siui]>ly by the lea<hnu' of a loving hand, we 
 do nnt know. All we know is he went out fnMu that 
 nl'>ri(»ns i'lesenee ins] ired by the sublimest resolve, 
 that can animate the soul of man, and came n(tt to it 
 a;j;aiu until he ha<l anotlu-r to]»ehis companion. The 
 s]»irit ol" Christ withiu him w;is his constraiut, aud the 
 lo\(' of desus led him nut, aud brought him buck, but 
 not idnUe. 
 
 
& 
 
 Wo learn tlieii, and tliis i.s the veiy starting jMjint of 
 'uur tlienie, tliat winning sonls to Olirist is the ivorl' of 
 (:V(irii Christum. St. Andrew teaches ns byword and 
 'example, that every one, layman or clergyman, male 
 or female, who <»wns the Lord Jesus Christ as Master, 
 iind follows him as Lord, is honnd to try and win souls 
 for Him hy ])ersonal effort. 
 
 How few peo]»le to-day in the church seem to realize 
 tliis fundamental principle of vital Christianity. 
 
 The popular idea with many is that if personal work- 
 is to lie done at all it is to he (h>ne hv the cleri»v, and 
 that a lavnian's dutv is to do his husiness, and leave 
 aggi'essive \v<n'k to missionaries and zealots. 'IMie 
 tJKright of pei'soual effort for souls l»y young nuMi and 
 young women, l)usiiiess nu'U and accon)]>]ished women, 
 is a new and strau'^e one. And vet it (Mmht n(»t to he 
 new <»r strange. It's as did as the Church of (■hiist. 
 Let him tlnit heareth say, come. That is la- that 
 Jieareth is oi'der<'d to sav, come. \\'hnso('\('r listens to 
 llic call (»f ('hrist, and olieys, is e\juM't('<j to I'eutter 
 tliat call. No parliculai' lilucss is i"e(|uire(l for this. 
 No I'ducation is necessary. No scholarship demandi'd 
 .a'< jtreliminai'y. livery disciple is simply expected to do 
 it hecause he is a discijile. Ve are my witnesses, siiith 
 ^< 'hrist. '['hat is, His disciples arc to tell ah(»ut Him to 
 
s 
 
 the woild, imd let otheis know what a Saviour He is. 
 and Iwjw as T.ord fie demands tlieir love. It's not 
 strani>e. It's natural. It's woi'k that eveivhodv in 
 the Apustolie Chui'idi set alxuit doinu just as naturally 
 as a missionary sets about huntin^i ui> lost souls when 
 he lands on a distant shori\ I low naturally St.. 
 Andrew did it. And when years at'tei" the Chureli 
 was scattered al>r(»a<l in )>4- A. D., they n'l went- 
 everywhere jtreaehinL*' tlu^ word. Kach one of them 
 set straight hefove him and her, his and hei' trust tor 
 souls, and ln'avely and lovinnl\' a('('e|»tvd their ]ters(»nal 
 responsihility. 
 
 So must it he to-day. 
 
 Kvery Christian hy his l»a|>tism, and cont'ession ol 
 Chi'ist is jiledined to ]>ersonal ser\ ice lor the Master. 
 re(t]>le are he^inninj^- to see this n<»w. I )urin,i' tlii' last 
 few Years more vounn men, av<' and vouul! wonnn. 
 have jL^rasped this ^real thouuht ol' jiei'sonal a.eeount- 
 ahilitv to (lod for others, than durinn anv era of the 
 church's history since tlie Apostolic days, and the 
 Ih'oiherhood of St. Andrew, and the Society of 
 Christian Kndeavotir mark the nt-nesis (»f a movement 
 which may piM'haps he without paralhd in the history 
 of the Church of Christ. 
 
 The St. Andrew Ihotherhood is an ornanization 
 
9 
 
 t 
 
 I'jiisod iq) to eiupliasize tliis priniavy concei)ti(m of 
 Apostolic Cliiistiaiiity. Its sole (»l»je('t is to spread 
 ('hrist's kin<^(loni ainoiij^ y'>iiii<»- men. It was starterl 
 ahoiit ten rears ai^o in ("liicaifo by some earnest vouni»- 
 ineml)ers of a Cliureli I>il»le Class, and lias .i^rown with 
 remarkable rajadity. Kvery member jn'omises that be 
 will do two tbin<,^s. First, tbat be will pray everyday 
 for tbe siaead of Christ's kini»(lom amon<»' vonnu' men, 
 and second tbat be will make an earnest effort each 
 week to brinii fit least one yonni^' man within beaiini;- 
 of the ^^(jspel of desns Christ. lint, as the l>isho]> (»f 
 Xova Si(>tia remarked at Kini^stcai "tbe lirotberbood 
 of St. Andrew has no monopoly of this work ; we are 
 not tbe oidy members (»f the Church who are jjledii'cd 
 U) personal service." 
 
 Kvei'V Christian must do some work for desus. 
 Kverv Christian must do St. Andrew work for Jesns. 
 Kvei'V Cbri.stian must make a personal effort to l)rinL» 
 
 I I ^ 
 
 bis brother or sister, bis friend or accinaintance to the 
 Savionr (»f the world. 
 
 Kven ibouiL'h no vow has l»een jtublidy taken, (lod's 
 vows are npon every one who l>ears tbe (.'bristiau 
 name, and these vows we cannot deny. 
 
 It is at once our ]>rivilei>e and our dut ; U) trv and 
 win souls f(»r Chi'ist. We ai'(M'X])ecte(l t(Mlo it; wecan 
 
lu 
 
 •do it ; we oii^lit to do it; we must do it. Its the only 
 May in M'liicli we can keep our hearts wan ii and loving; 
 its the only wav in wliich Clirist can he pleased and 
 His Father u;loritied : its tlie onlv mjiv in wliich the 
 world can he wjm for fhrist. 
 
 This then is the starting jMiiiit. May (lod's s[)irit 
 lea<l ns to a(*ce]>t it. 
 
 The htcan'tVf/ of pcrsinud vorkfor .soiiU w, hvlor/- 
 hn/ Kouls one h/ one. hy perm nal effort to Jesus as 
 St. Andreir (I'kI. To this irork every Christian is 
 
 • catlnl, Jtoivever wcal\ or poor, or unpractlseJ, for 
 I'r^-ry i>ni' ivho hears Cltrtst is hound to try and (let 
 soi)a' one else to hear, and erery one whit comes to 
 ('hrist is l}ound to (jet another to come. Each meinljer 
 
 ■ of (.'h}'Lst's Bodff, trhlch is the Church, must l)e a 
 witness for His Master. In sjiort, every (-hrisfion 
 iiinsf accept (he trust of si^ds. 
 
 In the language of Charles James Wills, that gi'and 
 lirntherhood worker, this is to he the tlumght that should 
 jiisjiire our lives, the thought of our own resj/ousihility, 
 tliat (lod has led us to he Christians the l>est kind of 
 luiMi, the sons of (lod, that He has given ns the hest 
 work to (jo, and tliat work is to win the woi'ld h>r 
 «rhrist. 
 
 •1'^ 
 
I 
 
 J 
 
 11 
 
 2. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THE FIRST THING. 
 ANDREW FIRST FOUND CHRIST HIMSELF. 
 
 Ik'frne Andrew went to find his brother, Andrew 
 first fonnd Christ hinisidf. This it seems to nie is the 
 l»asis of all work for .lesns. The soul that uoes to 
 find, «>oes l>eeuuse it has l>een sought, and found. And 
 tlie s«>ul that has heen sought and found, has i>assed 
 thnaigh an ex]>erience so definite and real that it not 
 onlv can, but is constrained to sav, I have found Christ. 
 
 r»efbre anyone can enter u])on the path (tf St. 
 Andrew service, he must enter the door of St. Andrew 
 (^\]>ei'ien('e. In otlicr words he must have an experi- 
 iin'iital knowledge of the i>reat truths set forth in the 
 truth of the (JosjK'l, and a ])ersonal acquaintanct^ with 
 till* Lord desus Christ. 
 
 The underlviuLt reason (»f all personal work is 
 
 ]»ers(»nal reliLMon, and ]»ersonal religion is at once the 
 
 forgiveness of one's sin-;, and cMie's accej)tance with 
 ( 'hrist desus our l/ivd. 
 
 What was tliis experience of St. An Ircw { 
 
 The experience of St. Anihvw was to my mind all 
 
 summed up in that bttle word Kureka, I have found; 
 
 and tlie various steps that h^d him to that soul 
 
 tran^formiun diseoverv are told very sinndv bv the 
 
 evangidist. 
 
12 
 
 ;. ! 
 
 Friendship seems to luive l>eeii the i)i'e(lis])(»siijo- 
 (•{iiise ; liis friendship with an ejiruest and ^odly yoiin^- 
 man, througli whom and in wlio.se (Mnn])any hv was 
 l)r(>n<>]it into the ])resence of Jesus. That was tlie 
 first tln'ni^. Then he lieard Jesus ])i'eaehed. Faitli, 
 says tlie A])ostU^ cometh hy hearinu', and Anchew lieard 
 Jesus proclaimed as the Land* (d' (lod, and was seiziMl 
 witli a strange desire to draw nearer to Him. He 
 «>])eyed that as]>iration and followed (tn, his one desire 
 heing to know Christ hotter, and to l>e with Him wIumv 
 He \\'as. And ( 'In'i ,t seeini*- that He was willini* to 
 know and hive tlie truth spoke to Him, and ealled him 
 as he calls every young man l»y His spirit to-day, 
 saving, 'Come and see.' He came. Christ (h'cw him 
 with tlie constraininu" cliords of a man, and with tln' 
 sweet influences of his love, hut not in sMch js mannt'V 
 as to destroy his will. Anih'ew wa.^ a free soul, freely 
 he was called and freely he ol.eyed, and it was that 
 act of ol)edience that was the turning jMjint in his lif(\ 
 He came to .Tesus. He canjc and saw His life. Ih' 
 ahode with Him that day. 
 
 What t(»ok ]»lace there we shall ncNcr know in this 
 world ; we only know that when St. Anchew came 
 away he was a different man. Scnuething had ha])]KMied. 
 Something that could hardly he desciihed, and yet- 
 
 -^ 
 
1 
 
 4 
 
 I'lmld be iK'st (le.sei'ilje(l, ms a diseoverv. It was that 
 .i^ivat tmiisaction ]>etweeu (Mirist and the Iiumaii soul, 
 which takes phice when the timid, trustful Iiand of faith 
 is taken hy tlie ^fighty Hand of (Jod's Ktermil Son; 
 or ratlier when the Si>u of GkI as tlie Heavenly 
 Merehantnian has found the soul He has hm«' been 
 seekino', and the soul looks up and cries in the joy of 
 tlie nreat Surrender, take me, make me Thine forever. 
 
 1 have found Christ, 1 have f«mnd Christ. It was 
 from that day that St. Andrew started out as a personal 
 >\(»rker for souls. 'J1iat was the explanation of it all. 
 He had found Christ. 
 
 () brothers: this is the great secret of personal 
 service. The great joy, the undying inspmition, the 
 ]»rngressive and irrefutal>le reason ()f continuous per- 
 sonal etlbrt to win souls to Jesus, is the experienced 
 realization of our union with Jesus Christ by the 
 oiiedience of laitli. We have found Clirist. We know, 
 and this joy no man, no theories, no cold negati(m-; of 
 philnsopliy can take from us, that tliere ha.s l>oeu 
 iterated in our ex]>erience, the ex])erience of our brother 
 Amhew, that wliat took ]dace in his scuil, has Uikvu 
 phice in oui's. 
 
 Chi'ist lu'came from that day to Andrew a ditterent 
 n<'iug. lie was no h>ngera stranger; He was a friend. 
 
14 
 
 Not exactly like an earthly friend, but the dearest, best, 
 greatest Friend. He became very dear to him. Ho 
 was loved with an nncommon love. After that (lay 
 Andrew's whole idea was to please Him, and follow 
 Him, and trnst Him entirely. And tlien coincident! v 
 with this, a great change came over iVndrew's life. 
 He looked at thin<4s in a different lii'ht, and leferred ull 
 tilings to a diiferent standard. It was like a change- of 
 the centre of gravity ; he had begun t(» revolve around 
 a new Sun. 
 
 So is it with the soul to-dav that finds desus. desus 
 becomes a ditterent being. He is loved instead of 
 being respectetl or admired. He is trusted ; He is 
 looked to; He is lived in. Truly, and with deej> 
 humilit V the soul can say : He is my dearest Friend. 
 1 feel towards Him as to no other one on earth or 
 lieaven. And along with this tlie bfe is changed. 
 Ohl loves have died away; old sins lost power; old 
 liaunts no h»nger have attractions ; old ambitions fjiil 
 to swiiv. 
 
 « 
 
 A life tmnsformation has taken ]»la('e. A delinite. 
 positive, creative experience has taken j)lace. The 
 soul has come U) ('hrist, has found Christ, possesses 
 the life that He gives. Kureka Christon. 
 
 Have you found Christ ? Can vou and I sav witli 
 
 ^ 
 
 - 
 
1.1 
 
 " 
 
 St. Andrew and Philip we have found Hiui ^ It' we- 
 liave we know we liave found Him just as 
 St. Andrew did. If we have not we liave only to do. 
 what St. Anih'ew did to find Him. 
 
 liehold the Lar h of (iod; therein life in lookinii, 
 unto Jesus. Xo S(»ulever h)oked with the eve of ftiith 
 to desus, ever hjoked in vain; for desuy says, as Moses 
 lifted up tlie serpent in tlie wilderness, even so must 
 the Son (»f ^lan he lifted uj», that wJumoever l)elieveth 
 in Him shouhl not ^^orish, l)ut have eternal life. If a 
 lor»k at a lifeless ser|)ent saved, how much more a look 
 at the living Christ. 
 
 Hear, and your soul shall live ; there is life iu hearing 
 the word of (Iod for desus says: A'erilv, verily, 1 say 
 unt(> ycm, he that heareth my word, and helieveth on 
 Him that sent nu', hath everlastinu life. They that 
 Ihui' shall live. 
 
 Follow desus; there is life iu the etVort to ohey the 
 Lord. Xo one who ever honestly rose in ohedience to 
 to the Spirit's call, and fcdlowed after Christ, ever made 
 the attempt hi vain. Then shall we know, if we follow 
 on to know the Lord. 
 
 Come, and see* there is life in coming to-desus, anrl 
 Keeinu: Him hv faith. Where is a willing sonl there is 
 
10 
 
 •ii soul tliat will 1)0 ])le.s.se(l. *Aii honest, and open, 
 ;jui(l «^()o(l heart, Jesus will enter and save. 
 
 And if iva do these fhinr/s, things tee can do [f ive 
 ivUl, then ire shall have that irhlch St. Andrew had, 
 und I'Cid'tze vltat lie refdhed, and feel what he felt. 
 
 Our (lod is true, and time alters not this truth. l>v 
 <iceej)tin,i>' the primitive conditums, personal surrender, 
 ;ind voluutary trust in Jesus, the souls ^et nou\ what 
 souls i>(>t tlien, the hlessing of primitive Christianity, 
 the realized joy of the possession of Christ. As many 
 jis received Him to tliem j^ave He, as He now gives, 
 power to hecome tlie sons of (Jod. If we hear, and 
 foll(»w, aud seek, and see, we find Christ. 
 
 Think of it. Then there is realized, wliat hefore 
 Avas heard of perhaps, or told ahout. Then there is 
 possessed what before was only seen or known as 
 ])ossessed hy those whose ]n'ofession was so sincere that 
 its actuality was never ([uestioned. Then there is 
 uudei'sto<»d what hefoi'e was only rea<l of. fJust as a 
 niau (heauis (if lieiuLf iu l()ve, oi* reads ahout it, or 
 hears it desci'ihed, or sees how it acts upon others, yet 
 never knows wliat it is uutil he reallv falls in love 
 liiuiself, aud thus gets in the reality (»f actual exjieri- 
 ('nci^ \Nhal was l»efore the unsatisfactorv and fancied 
 jHKsessioii of mere second-hand knowledge. Then the 
 
17 
 
 witness o1 the spirit evokes from the soul its glad 
 Eureka. A conviction takes posse'^sion of us invincible 
 by mere reason, and impervious to the assaults of 
 •iloubt. 
 
 If e'er when faith had fallen asleep, 
 
 I heard a voice * believe no more,' 
 And heard an ever-breaking shore 
 
 That tumbled in the Godless deep , 
 A warmth within the breast would melt ' - -' 
 
 The freezing reason's colder part, 
 And like a man in wrath the heart 
 
 Stood up and answered ' I have felt. ' 
 
 Yes. The heart has felt. It has known. It has 
 realized. The land of promise has become the land of 
 possession. God's word has been taken just as it stands, 
 and has been found to be true. He that believeth hatli 
 everlasting life. He that comes does find rest. That 
 ..St. Andrew transaction has again been transacted, and 
 the new life has become a matter of realized personal 
 experience. 
 
 All things have become new. Tiie sun is robed with 
 a gladder light ; the stars look down upon us with 
 Lrighter eyes; even nature is transformed. Our 
 brother men seem friendlier than they were, and all 
 the world is kinder. We love the things which once 
 we hated, and hate the things which once we loved. 
 
18 
 
 We are no longer slaves ; we are sons, we are sons of 
 the King. 
 
 In one word, we know by direct personal knowledge 
 the great verities of the Christian life, not as imagi- 
 nations, or theories, or as phenomena which were 
 manifested in the lives of the apostles and saints, 
 ancient and modem, but as facts, facts, facts of our 
 own life possessed of a certainty as deep and as real 
 as any of the facts of either our mental or physical 
 experience. 
 
 For the Life was manifested and we have seen It, 
 and bear witness and shew unto you that Eternal Life. 
 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto- 
 you, that you may also have fellowship with us ; that 
 is, that you may also share in common with us that 
 Life which we enjoy in our experience. He that hath 
 the son hath life ; and he that hath not the Son of God 
 hath not life. 
 
 We know this, for we have found it ourselves to be 
 true. 
 
 This I say then is at once the reason and the 
 qualification for St. Andrew service. This is that St. 
 Andrew experience which antedates, and originates all 
 personal efforts to win souls to Jesus. 
 
 We must know that we are Christ's and He is ours.. 
 
19 
 
 One moment of personal realization is worth a life 
 time of mere formal or hereditary religionism. We 
 must not suppose that it is the correct thing to take it 
 for granted that we are Christ's because we repeat the 
 creed, and worship in church There must be definite, 
 personal, creative experience. We must have no rest 
 until we have verified in ourselves the meaning of the 
 great facts of the Christian life. We must find not, 
 merely a theory, a creed, a dogma, but Jesus our Personal 
 Saviour. This is the St. Andrew power of having 
 what we want others to have ; and of being what we 
 want others to be, and of knowing what we want 
 others to know. 
 
 It was said of the late Cliarles James Wilis that he 
 brought power to the Brotherhood of St. Andiew by the 
 experience of certain great spiritual realities. It is a 
 true saying, and worthy of deep consideration. This, 
 is the only thing that can bring power. He who wants . 
 to have the joy of finding and bringing a Peter to- 
 Christ must himself know that, whatever the past, TWtv 
 the Lord of heaven is his ; that he, a siimer, has been 
 saved by grace ; that his heart's desire is to love and 
 own his Lord, and though he is not what he ought to 
 be, yet he is not what he once was, for by the grace of 
 God he is what he is, a redeemed and transformed soul. 
 
20 
 
 I do not say that all will Lave this experience in 
 the same way, or with the same degree of fervour and 
 conviction. 
 
 That is not possible, l^ut in some degree each must 
 have it, and though that experience is but as the beam 
 in the darkness, it is enou^li. It is the beginning of 
 tliat glory which is the sunrise in the soul of that 
 .shining light, the Light of the world, which will go on 
 shining more and more. If any ha^e it not, then 
 'Nvhp tever fervour or natural zeal there may be, there 
 can be no work for Christ, for that man is disqualified 
 for St. Andrew work, who has not done what St. 
 Andrew did, and found what he found. 
 
 How is it that so fyw Christians ever think of talking 
 to their friends and acquaintances about their souls ? 
 How is that so few of those who profess to be going 
 lieavenwards ever make an eftbrt to induce others 
 tu go with them ? They know some of their friends 
 iire not Clnist's. They see that they are on tlie wrong 
 road. They feel certain that if they were to die 
 .suddenly they would be lost. And yet though they 
 kuow this, and profess to know Him whom they need, 
 tliey never go to them to tell about Him. They say 
 nothing. They do nothing. How can we explain 
 .such and extraordinary and anomalous fact ? What is 
 th(3 reason ? 
 
21 
 
 The reason is, I believe, simply this. We do not 
 realize the tremendous reality of the things we 
 profess to believe. We do not know ourselves the 
 power of the blessed life. We are not abiding in Jesus. 
 We do not realize the danger of those out of Christy 
 and their tremendous need. What we need is a 
 quickening of our own souls, the deepening of the 
 conviction that we ourselves are on the rock, and that 
 we have been saved to save, and the opening of our eyes. 
 to perceive the lost condition of those who give no 
 evidence in their life of the experiences of the Christian 
 life. 
 
 It is conviction that generates certainty, and certainty 
 ))egets certainty. We are not seekers after God ; we 
 are seekers after souls. And we seek after souls- 
 because we ourselves have found Jesus ; and can say 
 with Amlrew, I came, T saw, I found. 
 
 3. THE LONGING FOR SOULS. ANDREW STARTS 
 OUT TO SEEK A SOUL FOR CHRIST. 
 
 The immediate result of St. Andrew finding Christ 
 liimself was tlie finding of his brother for Christ. 
 We are not told exactly when he started out, but from 
 St. John's narrative not much time seems to have elapsed 
 between his discovering that Jesus was the Messialu 
 and his resolve to tell some one else of the extraordinary 
 
sxr^issm mmi i i dl 
 
 22 
 
 fact. It almost looks as if he went right straight from 
 the spot where Christ abode by the shortest road to 
 Peter's i)lace to tell him all about it. His soul was 
 full of what he had seen and heard, and he wanted 
 ■with all his heart to speak about it. He felt so happy 
 too. He couM not help it. He had found Christ, (it 
 was not till lung afterwards perhaps, that he came to 
 know that he that day had been found by Christ, and 
 that he would never have found Jesus if Jesus had not 
 already found him ; ) and the life was already rising in 
 his sold in the veiy sweetness of ecstasy. The sense 
 of i^leasure was too great to be supj)ressed, and the 
 desire to talk was as natural as life. He longed to tell 
 Peter. He wanted him to share too the great Life of 
 God, and know with him the Christ. And so we are 
 told in those sim]>h^ and beautiful words of St. John. 
 
 He first findeth his own brother Sinum. He saith 
 unto him, we have found Clirist. And lie ]>rought 
 him to Jesus. 
 
 This then is the next ste]) in the work of personal 
 endeavour for souls. Personal experience of the life 
 t)f Christ is naturally followed by the desire to bring 
 others to share that experience. The first natural 
 consecpience of finding Clirist for ones self, or knowing 
 Christ Himself, is a sjjontnneous \\m\ irresistii)le longing 
 
 L' i 
 
23 
 
 r 
 
 •of the soul to bring another to the same Jesus, that 
 "he too may share this wonderful experience, and that 
 his joy too may be full. 
 
 This is a natural desire. As we read of what St. 
 Andrew did we at once feel that he did just what any 
 •one else would have tried to do. It was the most 
 natural thing in the world, to go and tell his brother. 
 If he had not, it would have seemed strange, for every 
 one who has found a good thing feels like announcing 
 to others his elation and joy. It was just what the 
 woman of Samaria did later on. She had found Christ 
 tliere by the well so strangely. And at once, we are 
 told, she left hor waterpot and went unto the city 
 and said to the men, come, see a man which told me 
 all things that ever I did ; is not this tlie Christ ? It 
 was just what multitudes of tliose whom Jesus healed 
 felt like doing, and were only restrained from doing by 
 the Master's great humility. They wanted to tell out 
 jvt once to everybody the strange things that they had 
 .seen and lieard, and the wonderful works that God had 
 wrought in them. 
 
 The desire thus to communicate to another the 
 blessing that I have got for myself, is just as natural 
 4is tlie aciion of the traveller who has first arrived at 
 tlie desert well, and goes off at once with body and 
 
24 
 
 spirit refreshed by the precious draught, to bring to 
 others the joyful news that he has tuund water. 
 
 Not only is this desiro natural. It is necessary. 
 It is instinctive. It is impossible not to have it. 
 
 As a modern writer has well expressed it ; " if any 
 one is much of a man (I would say if any one is 
 anything of a man), if there be in him much fire or 
 energy of conviction, it will be impossible for him to 
 pass through so great an experience as the reception of 
 Christianity without making it known ; it will be 
 impossible for him to refrain from approaching men in 
 their sin and misery, ar J endeavouring to communicate 
 to them the secret of blessedness." 
 
 He wants to do it. Its a desire, a longing, an 
 unconquerable instinct. It is as natural for one who 
 has come like St. Andrew to Christ to have born within 
 him an impulse to do something for Jesus, and bring 
 others to Him, as it is for the man who has been 
 rescued from the fire or a watery grave to tell out his 
 thanks to those who saved him. 
 
 As the bird must fiy, so we must speak. 
 
 We cannot but speak the things which we have seen 
 and heard, said the apostles when they were called 
 up by the Council and forbidden to tell the people 
 about Jesuo. It is impossible for us not to speak 
 
25 
 
 
 about things which we seen and heard. We must do- 
 it. We cannot but speak. We inust talk about 
 them. God's word is a burning fire within which must 
 have an outlet. Observe here the words of apostles : 
 "The things which we have seen and heard." It 
 was because they had seen and heard that they were 
 burning to speak. These things were matters of' 
 personal reality to them ; facts as we have said before 
 of actual experience. Therefore they said, we must 
 speak about them to others. 
 
 It was the same with St. Paul. Necessitv is laid 
 upon me, he cried, yea woe is me, if I preach not the 
 gospel. Was this necessity upon him as an apostle 
 merely, or does this necessity lie only on those who are 
 ordained ? Not all all. It is the natural, irrepressible 
 instinct and necessity of the heart that is touched by the 
 spirit of God. It was the necessity tliat was laid 
 upon him as a man, a Christian. Every believer is as 
 much under this necessity as St. Paul. He was a man 
 of like passions with ourselves ; only a oinner saved 
 by grace. He saw, as we see, souls lost and wandering. 
 He knew as we knew, that the Saviour died for them 
 also. He understood too, as we understand, that there 
 is no one who may not be won, and that no one will 
 be won without an effort to win. I must, lie said, I 
 
26 
 
 must. I must try to save them. Necessity is laid 
 Tipon me. I am responsible for their souls. 
 
 In another place he expressed the same idea by 
 
 :another figure. ' I am a debtor/ he said. I am a 
 
 •debtor to Greeks and to foreigners, to the wise and 
 
 ignorant. I am in their debt ; I owe them something 
 
 that I must pay them. I owe them the Gospel. God 
 
 has given it to me, not to keep, but to spread. He 
 
 has told me of Jesus that I might tell others of Him. 
 
 'The blessed salvation that I have is a trust with which 
 
 I am commissioned. Just as the man who is made 
 
 the trustee of a fund to distribute to the poor is under 
 
 •obligation to pay that out, and is a debtor to them till 
 
 it is paid, so the apostle felt that until he had told every 
 
 soul that he could in the space of his life, he had not 
 
 l)aid them what he owed them. 
 
 I am a debtor, I am under obligation to give to all 
 Ihe Christless 1 can, the call to Christ. I owe the 
 
 gospel both to those who speak Greek as I do, my 
 'Grecian fellow citizens, and to the foreigners who speak 
 
 barbaric tongues. To tlie cultured and the ignorant, 
 
 to all, I am in debt. 
 
 And should it not l)e thus in the case of every 
 ^Christian soul ? 
 
 There should be the feeling of desire, and the sense 
 
or 
 
 27 
 
 
 of duty. Ever beating and moving, surging in the 
 Christian heart, there should be the responsibility 
 feeling of the trust of souls. There should be the 
 hidden yearning to follow in the path of St. Andrew 
 as he went forth to seek and find his brother. There 
 should at least be tlie impulse and the desire, the 
 feeling : somehow, somewhere I !^xnm speak to that 
 
 man for Christ somehow, somewhere I must 
 
 find an opening to talk to that person about his soul. 
 Somehow, somewhere I must get an opportunity to 
 put before so and so my anxiety about him. 
 
 If this is not found i)resent as a feeling, then it should 
 be accepted as a duty. Tlie necessity that Christ has 
 upon us must be acted upon. Each must feel that his 
 life is a lioUow unreality if it is not constrained by the 
 love of God, and animated by unselfishness. Hence- 
 forth lie is to live for Christ, and in Christ. He came 
 to seek and save; He went about doing good • He gave 
 His life for others. So does His spirit impel His 
 disciple i to seek and save the lost, and live not for 
 themselves but for Him, and the world of the lost. 
 He is a debtor. Like Andrew he is bound to bring 
 Peter to Jesus ; like Paul he is bound not to keep the 
 trust fund for himself. It would be impossible, in fact, 
 for any one to have Christ, without wanting his friend 
 who hasn't Him, to know Him too. 
 
28 
 
 How many, many Christians there are who do not 
 seem to have any such desire. How many of Christ's 
 followers who never seem to feel this impulse, and 
 realize this duty. When we think of it as a matter of 
 sentiment it seems so natural and reasonable, for one 
 who has received good news to tell it to others, and 
 yet as a matter of fact, the number of Christians who 
 are constantly anxious about the souls of others and 
 working for them is comparatively small. What 
 should be a matter of course, is the exception rather 
 than the rule. We wonder at this, and ask liow is it. 
 
 One reason perhaps for this is that so few Christians 
 are taught that this i« their dutv, and that tliis necessitv 
 is laid upon them in virtue of their Christian name. That 
 every believer is called to win souls, and expected to win 
 souls, is a doctrine seldom lieard. Would that everv 
 clergyman in every pulpit would continually impress 
 his people with the idea that every one believing and 
 j)rofessing Christ is called to be a missionary. That 
 every one who has come to Christ is qualified to go 
 and bring others to him, and is expected naturally to do 
 so. This is not only a privilege which the select few 
 may perform ; it is the duty which every church 
 member must perform. What are ministers among so 
 many. All who hear must in time say come. This 
 is the h'.ecret of the Church's weakness and of the 
 
29 
 
 indifference of the masses ; we have one working in 
 each parish instead of a hundred. 
 
 Another reason is that there is such widespread 
 doubt of the simple truth of God's word. God's word 
 says, the soul that sinneth it shall die. He that 
 hath not the Son of God hath not life. He 
 that disobeyeth the Son shall not aee life ; but the 
 wrath of God abide th on him. That is, the man who 
 is not in Christ, is in a terrible state ; he is lost, he is 
 dead, he is in danger of eternal destruction. If we 
 believe this, effort follows as a natural course, especially 
 when made bv one who knows that once he was dead, 
 })ut now is alive ; once he was lost but now is found, 
 and the same Saviour who saved him will welcome 
 and save his brother. But if we doubt this and think 
 generally that no body is in any particular danger, and 
 that everybody will come out all right at the last, the 
 impulse of personal effort is impossible. The nerve 
 that prompts the desire is paralyzed. 
 
 But the great reason is probably the sad fact that so 
 many professing Christians have never got any further 
 than the outside of Christianity. They profess ; they 
 do not possess. They have tbe fiiith in their lips, and 
 in their heads ; it has never got into their hearts. They 
 have the form of religion, they have not received (Christ. 
 
30 
 
 it . 
 
 If they had passed through the Door, (Christ is the 
 Door, the Personal, Living Christ), and that greatest of 
 all human experiences in the history of the soul when 
 Christ is laid hold of by the loving hand of faith, and 
 received into the heart, it would have been impossible 
 not to have had at least the germ of this impulse, and 
 the first beginning of this desire. Nature is a unit 
 throughout the world. The same causes produce the 
 same effects. Differences of temperament there may 
 be, but man as man is fundamentally a unit the world 
 around. St. Andrew's feeling as a man was just the 
 natural feeling of every human soul. We say then 
 that the instinct which every Christian must have^ 
 however feeble, is a natural and necessary outcome of 
 the constitution of man as formed by God. 
 
 It is impossible, logically abaolutebj impossible, 
 to have Christ in the soul ivifhout at least the desire 
 to act like St. Andrew. 
 
 The question then for each Christian to seriously 
 and frequently consider is, whether he is carrying out 
 this natural consequence of his faith in Christ. Am I 
 really anxious about the state of those who are not 
 of Christ? Do I really believe anybody to be in 
 danger ? Have I ever made an honest effort to bring 
 a soul to Jesus ? The desire will only now by 
 
31 
 
 prayer and practice. If it is followed by effort it wilK 
 increase ; if it is allowed to evaporate into sentiment,, 
 it will pass away. The reason why thft Charch of 
 God contains so many cripples and invalids to-day ia 
 that so few are hungering and thirsting for souls, and. 
 seizing every chance of passing through the opened 
 doors of opportunity that Christ is continually setting, 
 before them to win lost souls. 
 
 Oh, that every Christian might be led to see, that as; 
 a man and because of the mere instincts and promptings 
 of his nature he should earnestly try and make a 
 personal effort to save some lost soul. He has found 
 a friend and discovered a treasure, and as a matter of" 
 course he must tell about it. That he should do it 
 moreover as a very necessity of his spiritual life. 
 Unless he waters others he will not be watered, and 
 the candle hid under the bushel of cowardice or 
 inactivity will slowly and surely be extinguished. The 
 soul that ceases to confess Christ will cease to possess 
 Him ; the Christian that does not give out will soon not 
 take in. One has illustrated this by a geographic 
 comparison. There is the Sea of Galilee, with its 
 sparkling waters fresh and pure and sweet. Why is it 
 so sweet and fresh and pure? Because it is always 
 giving out, as well as taking in; it has an outlet 
 
32 
 
 |i I 
 
 as well as an inlet. But look at the Dead Sea 
 It is lifeless, and dreary, and funereal. And why ? 
 It has an inlet but no outlet. It is all for self. It takes 
 in all it can ; it gives nothing out. The Christian who 
 does nothing for Christ, never goes forth to sow by all 
 waters the precious seed that he has so freely received, 
 never finds a weary, thirsty soul to bring to the living 
 water, will shrivel, and wither, and waste as a fruitless 
 branch. Would that every Christian would at least 
 endeavour to win a soul. It is our calling. It is our 
 j)rofessi<»n. It is our duty. 
 
 Yea necessity is laid upon us. 1 am come to seek 
 and to save the lost. As the Father hath sent me; so 
 send I you. Go ye therefore and seek to save. 
 
 It has been my happy experience as a Pastor to 
 know some laymen whose great desire in life seems to 
 be to win souls. It matters not where they are, or 
 what difficulties lie in their way, this is their object 
 .and their desire. It is often the one thing they think 
 about ; and the work in which they are continually 
 employed. Not slothful in business, yet fervent in 
 . spirit and serving the God, this necessity has deepened 
 into a settled life habit, until to talk to others is at once 
 a pleasure and a duty and an instinct of their 
 regenerated life. It is perhaps uncommon to find in 
 
33 
 
 the Ohiirclies layiii63n so anxious about souls, so 
 \)\uy in seeking them, and so successful in speaking to 
 thein. Yet after all they are only acting as all 
 -Churchmen should act, as every Christian should. To 
 the whole body of tlie Cnurch of Christ is committed 
 the blessed gift of the gospel, and along with it tlie 
 blessed duty of imparting it to others. To long to 
 bi'ing the praj^erless to prayer, the careless to the house 
 f Crod, the worldly to the blessedness of living for 
 
 <> 
 
 <}od. Surely this is just what any soul that has known 
 tlie love of Jesus would try to do. Every chance to 
 bring a soul to Christ should be taken by every 
 Christian as a duty. It is his business. It is his 
 Master's business, and therefore liis. 
 
 It may be a revelation, and indeed a humbling 
 revelation to the clergyman to discover that there are 
 among his Hock some whose hearts are beating with a 
 more inipulsive love for the lost than his, and whose 
 lips are oftener opened than his own to privately and 
 individually witness for Christ. But God be thanked 
 if there be such. We should rejoice and be glad, for 
 it's God's love after all that has begotten in them this 
 yearning and desire. They believe, therefore they must 
 must speak. God has spoken to them, therefore they 
 must speak to others. They are just what we are ; 
 3 
 
34 
 
 men and women with simple, natural, human hearts ; 
 He has put His love into their hearts and made thenj 
 strong, and happy, and blessed. The impulse ta 
 impart the secret of that blessedness is strong and 
 unco, querable. They cannot help feeling it, and they 
 dare not disobey it. 
 
 As clergymen let us hail with delight this manifes- 
 tation of love, and this desire to do this first and best 
 of all Christian duties. 
 
 Andrew fird found his own brother. 
 
 AVlien God gives us the Andrew impulse tlierefore, 
 let us (A»ey it with all our hearts. It is the Spirit of 
 (Jod calling us to the Idessed privilege of winning a 
 kSouI, and God never calls one to do a thing without 
 oi)ening the dooi* for him to pass through, and giving 
 him the power to ilo it. Let us start out like St. 
 Andrew, and God's word will come to pass. We shall go 
 out with joy, and be led forth with peace. We shall 
 exj>erience tlie gladness of saving n sonl. Let us not 
 wait for any (pialifi cation other than the simple and 
 earnest desire (►f Andrew, viz. : to start out at once 
 and tell anotlicr ; for Jesus never gives us a duty if 
 we have faith without (qualifying us for its jierfnrnuince. 
 If we have tl'.is seeking spirit let us cjiny it out ; if 
 we havt it not let us net it bv pravei'. For we mav. 
 
 S 
 
 m 
 
 * 
 

 all 
 hot 
 
 U(.l 
 
 lice 
 lif 
 ice. 
 if 
 
 lav 
 
 be sure of this — if we are not in earnest it is because 
 we have nothing to be in earxiest about, and if w^e are 
 not seeking others and taking a personal interest in 
 souls, it is because we have never found Christ 
 ourselves. But if by God's grace I have found Christ, 
 01 rather have been found of Christ, then by God's 
 grace I will seek, and find others for Christ. I must 
 do it, necessity is laid upon me. Yea, woe is me if I 
 liudeavour not to wun souls to the Master. 
 
 4. ACTION. ANDREW FINDS, SPEAKS WITH, AND 
 
 BRINGS PETER. 
 
 St. Andrew's impulse did not eva|)orate in sentiment, 
 or waste itself in magnificent schemes of conquering 
 the world. At once witli a simple, honest, practical 
 effort, he put his desire into action and did the most 
 natural thing we can think of: sought his own brother 
 and tried to bring him to Christ. 
 
 Tliis is at oiice, common sense and Christianity. 
 
 The impulse to tell out what we have felt, and bring 
 another t() sluire our joy, is naturally followed by 
 jnompt and ]H'actical action, and the most natural action 
 under the circumstances lor a young man was the 
 finding out and going after another young man in 
 whom he felt a special interest. At once then Andrew 
 thinks of his Inother. ' There is Peter ; he is aroughish 
 
36 
 
 Ivind of fellow, but there is much that is good in liiin ; 
 he is just the one to get hold of; I will try anyway. 
 He may not listen to me ; but its worth trying.' May 
 it not liave been with some such thouglit as this that 
 he started off on that grand path since trodden by 
 myriads of soul winners to seek and find Peter. 
 
 I love to think of that errand. I sometimes picture 
 to my mind that earnest young soul as he trod for 
 the first time the path of })ersonal service, his face 
 perchance all radiant with light, and his step buoyant 
 with a sense of new found power. As lie draws near 
 to l*eter's i)resence, tlie light for a moment may fade 
 as fears come uppermost, but duty spurs him on and 
 deepens his resolve. He has a message ; lie must 
 deliver it. He has a wonderful tale to tell; he must 
 tell it. I see him c<nning quickly to his brother's side, 
 and taking his rough lunid with a brother's att'ection, 
 and o]>eniiig his li]>s Jiiid trying to tell what he wislies. 
 It's not easy work, nor has he many words. His 
 ehMpient arguments fack' away. .He can only say one 
 thing, but Oh, with what inexjuvssible ehMpU'nce 
 those simple words of Andrew strike Peter's wondering 
 ears. " We have discovered the Messiah. We have 
 found Christ." 
 
 Or perhaps Andrew didn't s])eak to him at once; 
 
37 
 
 IT 
 
 -some otliers may have been there, or something 
 hindered. It may have been for aught we know as 
 they hauled at the dragnet that evening when the 
 sliadows were drawino' on that tremblincr Andrew seized 
 his cliance, and in a quiet voice began his pleading. 
 
 Simon, I have something to say to you. John and 
 I have made a great discovery. We have found 
 Christ. We want you to find Him too. He is such 
 a Saviour. Wont you come to Him ? 
 
 And he brought him to Jesus. 
 
 It's such a natural story, and it teacjies us two great 
 lessons with regard to the blessed work of winning 
 oouls. First, that souls are won to Clirist individually, 
 and by jjersonal effort ; and second that the thing by 
 which souls are won is the sim])le, ]>ersonal testimony of 
 one who is a follower of Christ. 
 
 Soids are won to Christ by i)ersoual effort ; because 
 S(nils are saved or lost as individuals. Just as God 
 deals with men one by one, so should his followers. 
 Whoh'sale and general efforts may be valuable at times, 
 but the great lesson taught by St. Andrew is that if 
 we are to win the world for Christ we must win men 
 one by one. The St. Andrew method is best. Fix 
 the eye of desire on one; plan the policy of reaching 
 for one ; lay the hand of entreaty on one; speak the 
 
38 
 
 word of testimony to one, and bring along that one. 
 Find your brother or friend and bring him to Jesus. 
 Go join yourself to that one soul and bring it to Christ. 
 8ave one. 
 
 It was said of that beloved Brotherhood man, whose 
 name I have alluded to before, that the reason he was 
 80 successful in winning souls to Christ was that where 
 others were thinking of a Parish or a committee, he 
 <lr(n^e home the thought of a man. True we can't 
 win our Peter to Christ by forming a select committee, 
 i)Y by organizing attractive deputations. It's the per- 
 sonal I ethod that's the eftectual method. Tlie 
 Insurance Agent or Commercial Traveller, teaches l»y 
 his practice a lesson tliat Christians should endeavour 
 to learn. He goes to nuui one at a time : lie talks 
 ]>lainly and reasonal»ly. If he does not succeed the 
 first time, he goes again. He foUows uj) his man. 
 He selects favoinaljle times and seasons. He is 
 constantly reminding him of his business and relaxes 
 IK) effort that will be likelv to secure the end in view. 
 ]>ut it IS ])ersonnl work. It is persevering. And it is 
 effectual. 
 
 So should \\r \vork in saving souls. Kach o/^fMiiust 
 trv and win one. Kai'h Andrew must luini* in his 
 Peter. Kach one iiiust do as the V(»uui>' men who 
 
19 
 
 t* 
 
 ^voii the victory fur Israel against Beii-liadad did of 
 •old ; they slew every one his man. 1 Kings 20-20. 
 
 They could never have conquered that great host in 
 :any other way ; an indiscriminate effort would have 
 certainly destroyed them, But one by one, each one 
 slaying one, they slowly but surely gained the victory. 
 St. Andrew doubtless wanted the world ; but he taught 
 us the best way to get the world ; to get the person with 
 whom our influence lies, the one next us, and go after him 
 until we have found him. I saw an excellent illustra- 
 tion of this not long ago. An aged Clergyman who had 
 resigned his Parish was about to introduce to his people 
 the young man who was to be his successor. Strolling 
 together through the Parish on the Saturday evening, 
 tliey chanced to pass a grove of 1 zees. Pointing to 
 them the aged minister said to his young friend, " If 
 you liad to cut these trees down, how would you go 
 about it ? would you go around the whole plantation, 
 giving each tree a single blow, and then going round 
 them all again, giving each tree a second bh)w ? " 
 ** Well no," lie answered, " I think I should go at one 
 tree and cut at it till it fell ; then go to the sec(md and 
 do the same, and so on to the end." " Well," said his 
 experienced friend, " that is the way you must do 
 liere." 
 
40 
 
 That's the way all soul-wiiiner.s iiiu.st(l(». We must 
 seek individual souls, impress them, and win them.. 
 We clergymen must cultivate the method of individual 
 effort, practised so continually by Him who into tlie 
 ears of a sinful woman, and a single anxious enquirer 
 preached some of his greatest sermons, and beware of 
 allowing either the public eff'ort of the pulpit, or the 
 whirl of committees and guilds to displace us from this 
 effective and blessed work of pleading with souls one 
 by one, and one at a time alone. All Church members 
 must go and do likewise. 
 
 Christianity is lighting lamj)s one by one. It's* 
 picking the blessed fruit of souls ]>y the hand of 
 personal dealing. It's hand to hand. Face to face. 
 Eye to eye. Soul to soul. The Church expects that 
 every man will do his duty ; and every man's duty is 
 to seek and find men one bv one and brins them to- 
 Christ. 
 
 Yes. It is God's eternal purpose that man slioukl 
 be saved by man. God has been pleased to work 
 through men. God saves men by men. That was 
 the reason Christ became man. Ever since too all 
 Divine blessing has come through men, and to dvy 
 God lights our hearts in order that we may light others. 
 We must not expect that angels will intervene to turn 
 
 I 
 
41 
 
 
 men from the paths of sin, or signs and wonders startle- 
 them to heaven. God helps men into the kingdom 
 by the hand of man. Therefore God wants us. He 
 wants our hand. He wants us to do what Andrew 
 did, start out and see and find our man and get him 
 to Christ. Let each Christian then fix his heart on 
 one unconverted man or woman, and make that one- 
 his work. Let him be made the subject of special 
 prayer, and particular, definite personal effort. 
 
 St. Andrew's action teaches us another great lesson. 
 And that is that tlie best way to win anyone to 
 Christ is just to deliver a personal testimony about 
 Christ. 
 
 How was l^eter won ? J>y a great sermon. By a 
 mighty miracle. In a great revival like Pentecost. 
 Through a clever argument. Xo. Just by Andrew's 
 going to him and saying, we have found the Messias. 
 I have found Christ. The ever victorious factor in the 
 work of St. Andrew is the reality of a professed and 
 personal testimony to the finding of Jesus. Nothing 
 works so convincingly with the undecided as personal 
 witness. 
 
 Analyze the action of St. Andrew and we find that 
 there were four progressive stages in his path of 
 conquest. 
 
42 
 
 First, — He goes forth to seek. He has an object 
 ill view, to bring souls to Christ. But his object 
 is made definite and particular, that is to win one soul, 
 to get Peter to admit the claims of Jesus, and to 
 acknowledge Him to be the Lord. This involves 
 motion. 80 instead of obeying the lower impulse to 
 stay with Chri?t and get comfort, he acts upon the 
 nobler, to go forth and get another to share that 
 blessedness. 
 
 Second. — He comes near and finds. The journey 
 begun is continued and pursued to the end. Many a 
 man stirred by a magnetic impulse resolves a St. 
 Andrew resolve and sets forth to accomplish it ; but 
 obstacles intervene, and hindrances, frowns and laughter, 
 thoughts and timid fears discourage, attractive counter 
 forces draw aside, and Peter is never approached. The 
 ardour of the would-be Andrew evaporates into resolves. 
 He has planned, but like tlie man the Master tells of, 
 lie has not counted the cost. 
 
 It's not always easy to find our man. The soul 
 that has not found Christ is sensitive and shrinking 
 and evasive ; it is exceedingly afraid of any one that 
 it suspects is coming to influence^ it for Jesus. There 
 are men who would run a mile sooner than talk with 
 .a clergyman. There are lads and girls who dread any 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 1 ' 
 
43 
 
 talk about their souls. Often too the soul lurks in 
 hiding j)laces. It lies in darkness. It slinks off into 
 hidden corners and byways. There must be deter- 
 mination therefore to follow up and find. 
 
 Third. — He speaks and pleads with Peter. He 
 strives to change his will. It is the will that is the 
 citadel, and no fortress on earth is half so impregnable. 
 " How hard, as one has beautifully expressed it, is it 
 for one man to make another man l>etter. 
 
 *' Each ill his hidden sphere of joy and woe, 
 Oui' hermit spirits dwell and range apart." 
 
 The solemn, lonely, separate individuaUty of each soul 
 is such, that even the Omnipotent Om; was compelled 
 to say : How often would I have gathered you, but you 
 icovld not. ]\Iiseral)ly powerless we feel at the door 
 of tliis impregna])lo citadel — another human being. 
 Again and again we have found with a sadness that we 
 cannot descril>e, how hard it is to move our fellow man 
 by pleading words. AYe come enthusiastic and clothed 
 with conviction, and feel that no one can withstand our 
 earnest words, n'e are met with stolidity, and sullenness, 
 i\nd an impassive stare. We go away feeling how 
 weak, how utterly heli)less we are." 
 
 Andrew had to do this work, and he lid it well. 
 He doesn't ap])ear to have argued with leter at all ; 
 
44 
 
 -^ 
 
 wliat he did was tell him lie had found Christ, and 
 there was an earnestness al)out liis words that carried 
 conviction. 
 
 There are occasions doubtless when argument is 
 necessary, and the believer must assume the attitude 
 of an apologist for the faith. Always be ready, says 
 the spirit of God speaking through the pen of Peter, 
 always be ready to give an answer to every one that 
 asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you. But- 
 as a rule argument is not to win men. It generally 
 begets controversy, and controversy kills. The more 
 sagacious method is the masterly solicitation : Come 
 and see. The best argument is : I have found Christ. 
 This led the undecided Peter to surrender, and turned 
 the current of his will. 
 
 He who goes forth to plead with for Christ, inspired 
 with that Divine Eureka, will rarely plead in vain. 
 The man who speaks so earnestly that tlie hearer must 
 see that he feels what he says, will surely conquer. 
 
 Fourth. — He brings him to Christ. Tliere is some- 
 thing grand about this last stage of St. Andrew's effort. 
 He was not merely content with the resolve to go to 
 him, or going to him, o^' even putting before him the 
 claims of Christ, and aelivering his testimony; he 
 brought him along himself to Christ. He followed 
 
 
4,j 
 
 np his work, and carriocl it out, and completed it })y 
 laying I'eter'vS hand in that of tlie Master's. 
 
 Wliat a lesson for the soul-winner. 
 
 Most of us are eager at the beginning of an 
 <3nterpi'ise ; the strong and wise are eager to the end. 
 It's easy to begin well; the ditticulty is to carry out 
 our ])lan to its completion. Andrew was just as eager 
 as anyone to make a first impression, and bring Peter, 
 to decision. But he didn't end there. When he had 
 got him to decide, he seems to have added : * Now, come 
 along. I will take you to Him myself.' And staying 
 l)y his side, and walking with him, he never left him 
 until he brought him to Jesus. 
 
 Seek then and find your brother for Jesus. Cherish 
 continually the idea that it's your duty to get close to 
 souls for tlie purpose of saving them, and go at it like 
 a man in earnest, determined to succeed. Let the 
 lesolve so continually dominate your mind that resolve 
 will find outflow in action, and action in time become 
 natural and liabitual. Itemember that in the Christian 
 the desire to save souls is natural, but the practice is 
 acquired. St. Andrew's action teaches us at once that 
 every man who has found Christ is (lualiified to seek 
 others, and that every one who honestly starts out with 
 Christ in his heart will l»e blessed by Crod in his action. 
 
4(3 
 
 Andrew was not then an apostle in tlie teclmical 
 sense. He was a }>lain, simple, young working man, 
 witli not lialf the echication tlie average Christian 
 to-day possesses, and certainly with not lialf as much 
 Christian knowledge. He was a i>lain layman, ji weak, 
 timid beginner. 
 
 Yet he went to tind his brother and found him. 
 
 God grant to us grace to go and do likewise. 
 
 5. METHODS. 
 
 I now propose to deal with what is perhaps the most 
 practical i)art of our sul>ject, and offer a few suggestions 
 as to the various methods in which we may go about 
 his work of dealing with men a]>out their souls. 
 
 Sui)iK)se a man like Andrew wants to tind his l*eter 
 and bring him to Christ. What is he to do, and how 
 is he to begin ? Suppose one has an earnest desire to 
 do good and make men Ijetter, in what way ctm hejnit 
 this desire into operation with any reasonable chance 
 of success ? In Andrew's case it seemed so easv. 
 There was Teter. There was Christ. All he had to 
 do was to go and tell Peter, and bring him along. But 
 one can't do this now, for the Master is no longer on 
 earth, and though His Spirit is here, things are different. 
 Granted then that one heartily and earnestly accepts 
 
47 
 
 the trust of S(juls, what are the things to be done, anti 
 how can one best do them ? 
 
 Of course no one can hiy down any well defined set of 
 rules in a work like this, for God fulfils Himself in 
 many ways. We can only point out some of the 
 methods that experience has proved to be successful in\ 
 the past, and which seem to be in accordance with God's 
 will. 
 
 There is, t^rst of all, and it is a thing any one can do, 
 the invitation. That is, simply asking one to come to 
 the place where prayer is wont to be made, and hear 
 the word of God, which is able to save the soul. Or- 
 asking one to join a Bible Class, or come to a service, 
 or attend a meeting'. In itself this act is almost nothinu", 
 and often involves neither effort, nor skill, nor courage.. 
 It takes but a fragment of time and demands no- 
 peculiar gifts. But simple though it is, this invitation 
 may 1/3 mighty in its effects and consequences. At 
 that service to which the young man or woman came 
 by your invitation, the crisis of the soul occurred, and 
 Christ w^as sought and found. A word that you never 
 could have uttered was spoken by another and found 
 an entrance to the heart. The message that you had 
 not the power to give was given by the man of God, 
 and saved the soul you longed to bring to Christ. 
 
r" 
 
 . 48 
 
 It seems to me this simi>le invitation work is just 
 
 'wliat Philip did. When Christ found liim lie started 
 
 off U) find Nathaniel, and when Nathaniel asked him 
 
 to explain thiniijs he just said — Come and see. As if 
 
 he answered : ' I can't tell you all these things, or explain 
 
 them perhai)s as well as others, but 1 can tell you how 
 
 to find satisfaction. Co'iie and see yourself. Come 
 
 to Him, and then you will prove all to })e true.' So 
 
 ' often one who is not gifted with the ])ower of speaking 
 
 to otliers about ('hrist, or explaining the way of salvation, 
 
 may point to the place where that way is made clear, 
 
 •or brin<:>' them to ' some learned and discreet minister of 
 
 '( lod's word ' who can help them to understand it all. 
 
 The little maid in Naaman's house could neither 
 heal nor ])roi)hesy ; but she told the great warrior where 
 the prophet lived who could recover him. She did 
 what she could. In her wny she shewed him the way 
 of salvation. Mjinv and many of Christ's choice 
 followers thank (lod for the dav and the hour when 
 their careless ears heard tlu! kind and heartv invitation 
 U) God's Church which resulte<l in their salvation from 
 a life of uselessness and sin. 
 
 ' I shall never forget, says one, one Sunday evening 
 in mv life. 1 was almost yone. Mv feet had well 
 nigh sli]»]»ed. In i'act I liad d(»termined to do away 
 
49 
 
 with my life, and was going down to the river to throw 
 myself in. As I was passing along, a young fellow 
 •Avith such a happy face, and friendly eye, put his hand 
 on my shoulder and said : wont you come into the 
 Church to-night. The service is just heginning. 
 
 I was touched. Instead of cursing him, I thanked 
 liini and said I would. I went, and it just seemed all 
 through as if Clod was speaking to my soul.* 
 
 This is a branch of St. Andrew work we all can do. 
 I do not say it is always easy. It is not. Sometimes 
 it is very ditticult. But it's a work any one can do. 
 In our hotel or boardinor house there must be some 
 whom a word would induce to come to Church. At 
 Avork in the week it is the easiest thing in the world to 
 ])ut in a word for Sunday that perhaps may just turn 
 a soul. And then in our honuis. Surely the least 
 desire for the good of men would lead us to endeavour 
 to l>ring to (Jod's house our friends or guests who 
 liappen to be in our homes on Sunday, or to specially 
 invite young men or women for the purpose of thus 
 bringing them within the hearing of the gospel as set 
 forth in the services of the Church, or in a Bible Class, 
 ^lere loyalty to tlie Church, mere enthusiasm for that 
 branch of Christ's Catholic and Apostolic Church to 
 ivhich we behnig, ought to be sullicient motive to make 
 
50 
 
 all do this; but if there is, what there should be,, 
 real love for Christ and desire for souls, this should 
 become a practice and a habit, until as was the case- 
 with the home of one Christian gentleman and lady I 
 knew, our house on Sunday would become a regular 
 rendezvous for assembling in the happiest way a 
 number of young men and women with the object of 
 getting them all to Church and drawing them to Christ. 
 
 Then there is the giving the invitation by a card, or 
 a dodger, or a tiny tract. This is often in a silent way 
 most effective, and while there is nothing so in'esistible- 
 as a pleasant, hearty, and sincere word of mouth, the^ 
 written messenger often does the work also. 
 
 If you are too bashful to speak, hand the invitation.. 
 If too bashful to hand it, send it. 
 
 But whatever you do, if you are a professing 
 member of Christ's Church, do not say, I have done 
 nothing, and will do nothing to Imng one to Clirist and. 
 His Church. 
 
 You can if you will, and we should consider this, 
 primary and -nitial step in the blessed work of soul 
 dealing, simple though it is as being of the greatest 
 importance for it is often the means of saving a soul.. 
 Try it. 
 
 liut though au invitation is often the means of doing; 
 
■r 
 
 iniicli, no personal worker should ever be satisfied with 
 merely doing that ; or tliink that he fulfilled his trust 
 by merely asking some one or even more than one to 
 come to God's house. That's not the end. 
 
 That's the beginning. It's grand work for beginners, 
 and needs in beginners often no little pluck and 
 discretion. But that's not the gaol of our attainment. 
 If to get an invitation is not enough for the soul, then 
 to give an invitation is not enough for the worker. 
 We must press on, and get bolder, and want more. 
 We must follow up that soul, and close in with still 
 noai'er personal dealing, having ever before us, clear 
 and bright the glorious St. Andrew standard : He 
 brought him to Jesus. 
 
 If the invitation doesn't answer that end, our duty 
 is not done, we must try something else. 
 
 1 woidd put next in the list of suggestions as the 
 ]K»st means of winning souls personally to Christ, the 
 habit of praying definitely for some careless and 
 ditUcult case, and watching keenly and constantly for 
 openings to influence liim or her, as tlie case may be, 
 for Clirist. If every ])eliever would fix liis heart of 
 desire on some one and make him the sul)ject of definite 
 prayer, it would be found that the matter of approach- 
 
52 
 
 ing him and influencing him would be easier than 
 expected. 
 
 ** For what are men better than sheep or goats 
 That nourish a blind life within the brain, 
 If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer 
 Both for themselves and those who call them friend." 
 
 See IJohn 5-16. Col. 4-12. James 5-16. We 
 want more faith. We want to pray more expectantly. 
 Let me illustrate by an instance that occurred not long 
 ago : A young member of the Brotherhood of St. 
 Andrew, a young Bank Clerk, had prayed earnestly for 
 a friend of his, and for some time there seemed to be 
 no answer. One Sunday evening he asked the Lord 
 that lie might have a word with him to bless his soul, 
 and after an inward prayer for guidance he went to 
 the young fellow, and asked him to come with him to 
 Church. His companion was in the habit of going 
 on Sunday evenings to a kind of concert and semi- 
 infidel place, and refused point blank. Somewhat 
 discouraged the young Bank Clerk went up, and 
 like Hezekiah just spread the matter before his 
 Heavenly Father. ' I didn't expect an answer,' he 
 .said afterwards, *my faith was so low, but still 1 
 wanted to pray, and somehow it helped me.' 
 
 As he was praying he heard footsteps coming up, 
 
 ik 
 
 xb^ 
 
53 
 
 t 
 
 and presently a knock at the door. He went and 
 opened, and there to his amazement, for he scarcely 
 could believe it for gladness, he saw his companion 
 standing there, and in a totally different frame of 
 mine. 
 
 * I think I'll go with you to-night,' he said. It 
 aj)pears he had gone about a quarter of a mile ; then 
 something seemed to work in him, he couldn't tell 
 what ; he stopped, turned, came back, and went with 
 his praying friend to join in the grand old service of 
 the Church and hear the simple gospel of the grace of 
 God. 
 
 Ood never fails to hear a prayer like that, and its ^ 
 wonderful w^hat interest is awakened for a man when 
 we pray for his conversion. 
 
 But following on prayer there must be the constant 
 liabit of watching for openings. To know an opening 
 when it is made for us, and to know how to wiselv and 
 effectively make use of it is one of the highest 
 requisites of an effectual worker for Christ. 
 
 By an opening I mean a chance to influence a man 
 for Christ, or speak to him a word about his soul. 
 
 Sometimes these openings seemed made for us ; at 
 other times, we have, as it were, to make them 
 ourselves. We come across a man, for instance almost 
 
54 
 
 by chance, and find him in trouble ; or the conversation 
 takes such a turn that it seems almost asif sonaejgjreat 
 Power had just turned its current or purpose in the 
 ■direction of religion or church ; or we are thrown into 
 a person's company at a time when to speak to him 
 aboi^t better things seems the most natural thing in 
 the world. 
 
 These are what I call openings made for us. They 
 are doors opened before us so evidently that only flat 
 disobedience, or inexcusable thoughtlessness would 
 make us blind to them, and pixjvent us pressing 
 joyfully through them in the Master's work. At other 
 times this opportunity doesn't come. Tlie man or 
 woman we want to influence does not seem to l>e 
 thrown in our way, find the chances of doing 
 anything never occur. We have therefore to make 
 the opening ourselves. We must go and see him. 
 To find his brother, Andrew had first to seek his brother. 
 We must go to the place where they are are. 
 
 It has been said that tlie shortest way to a man's 
 heart is through the door of his house, and certainly 
 the shortest way to many a young man's and many a 
 young woman's heart in our towns and cities is through 
 the door of their boarding house. Cheerless, lonely 
 and just waiting for a friend to turn ihem in tlie right 
 
 * 
 
55 
 
 I 
 
 ^)ath, they are to be found by thousands. To go 
 therefore and call, with the definite object of blessing 
 their soul, is to make an opening for Christ. Have the 
 goal before you, and though it may not be wise to 
 introduce the subject of religion abruptly, have that 
 always in view, and watch as keenly as a sportsman for 
 his game for an opening to bring in the one grand thing, 
 Ohrist and the way of salvation. You may indeed, as 
 I bave often been, be baulked just at the very moment 
 -when success seems at hand. The doorway may sud- 
 denly open, and another person enter whose presence 
 puts an end to all religious conversation. As a rule it*s 
 not wise to talk to anyone about spiritual things when 
 another is present. But never mind. Try again. 
 Make another attempt, and an opening will come. 
 Drop in after Church, or better still on the way to 
 Oliurch, and keep on praying hard all through the 
 service that the word may be blessed, and then clinch 
 it by an earnest endeavour to him the current of con- 
 versation on the homeward way in the dirction of 
 Teligious matters and the aftairs of the soul. Often 
 too, asking a friend to meet another who is spiritually 
 gifted, or taking one to a mission is a bit of personal 
 work that is richly crowned with success. This i» 
 what I meati by making an opening, and though it is 
 true that our work can only be effectual when it is 
 
56 
 
 T 
 
 done in conjunction with the working of the Holy Spirit 
 of God, it is also true that where we co-operate with 
 God's Spirit the openings will be made for us, and we 
 will be stirred by some secret desire to make them. 
 
 Then, and this is perhaps the crowning work of alU 
 and the ideal method of winning a soul to Christ is 
 the talking to another soul about Christ, or personal 
 conversation on the subject of religion. 
 
 That is, just going to one who we have reason to 
 believe is not the Lord's, or who is careless, and simply 
 and earnestly putting before them the claims of Christ ;. 
 asking them if they have found Christ, and if not, 
 will they not accept Him and come to his side. 
 
 I believe that a great many Christians who have a 
 longing desire to speak to others about their souls are 
 hindered simply because they do not know how to- 
 begin, or what to say in such a way as to help and bless. 
 They have the blessing of Christ possessed, but they 
 know not the joy of Christ expressed. They know 
 they ought to do it ; they want do it. Often perchance 
 God send a souls along their way, so close that they 
 touch it with their passing feet. There it is. They 
 feel if they could but say a word or open the lip, and 
 act on the impulse which is in the heart, there would 
 be joy in heaven. But they do not know how. 
 
T 
 
 57 
 
 To such I would say, just ask the Lord to help you, 
 and you will find the way will open. Just pray that 
 petition we use in the Church service : Lord open Thou 
 my lips ; aixu my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.. 
 And then open them. If it is a brother or friend who- 
 is careless, watch your opportunity and begin something 
 like this A. B. — * I am troubled about you. You have 
 been much on my mind lately. I see you don*t care 
 for better things as once you seemed to ; you don't 
 come to Church now, or Bible Class, as you used to do.' 
 Or simply say: A. — 'Tell me about yourself, and 
 how you feel about these better things.* That will be 
 enough, the ice is broken ; the Rubicon passed.. 
 After that there will be plain sailing. The way will 
 open. It may be we will be surprised, but if we are 
 in earnest He will not fail to answer, and perchance- 
 to open up the heart. Then lovingly and with an 
 earnest prayer, press closer in, and get deeper down.. 
 Find out where he is really, and whether there is real 
 desire for spiritual things, and a wish to be the Lord's,, 
 and say : 
 
 Have you really given yourself to Christ ? Do yc *. 
 wish to ? And out then with the manful St. Andrew 
 confession: I have ; I want you to too. Then just 
 tell him how simple it is. Tell the simple story of 
 
58 
 
 ^St. Andrew and his friend, or quote those marvellous 
 verses John 3-16, John 3-36, or only say : Come and 
 see. 
 
 Generally speaking the simplest way to lead up to 
 .personal conversation is to speak about Chrrch matters, 
 and discover in what attitude the person you are 
 dealing with stands with regard to the public profession 
 of religion. If they say they attend such and such a 
 mJhurch, it is easy to find out if they are members, 
 'Communicants, or workers, and that naturally (and this 
 •especially applicable to clergymen) leads to the inquir- 
 ing whether they really are Christ's, and have tasted 
 '.the reality of the truths of Christ. 
 
 Often and often I have found that the simple enquiry, 
 .kindly and sincerely made : Do you think you are 
 a true Christian, a real Christian ? has been the means 
 «of awakening the soul to anxiety, or leading up to a 
 •simple setting forth of the love of Jesus, and the 
 •blessedness of the spiritual life. If the answer is, as 
 it is often, * I don*t know. I am not sure. Can any 
 <»ne be sure of that V it is so natural for the worker to 
 urge home texts like John 1-12, or 1 John, 5, 12, 13> 
 'or plead with the person to earnestly and urgently 
 iseek for something deeper, and have no rest till they 
 .are sure that these things are true. 
 
59 
 
 1 
 
 111 the case of professed agnosticism, or avowed 
 unbelief, it is hard to pursue the theme. As a general 
 rule such people are unmoved by argument, and don't 
 care about admitting the force of any appealing texts. 
 To urge them to come to a Christ they say they don't 
 believe in, or to call upon a God whom they ignore, or 
 seek in order that they may find a something the very 
 reality of which thay deny, seems like pleading with 
 a stone. In fact it's just the old story. The natural 
 man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God ; 
 they are spiritually (not mentally) discerned. With 
 such it's no use arguing. As the French divine said : 
 la discussion n^st pas la remede a cette maladie. 
 
 Discussion is not the remedy for tliat malady. 
 
 The only thing to do is to reecho the Master's 
 words : ' If any man is willing to do His will, he 
 shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God ; * 
 and to shew that the only way to prove the truths of 
 Christ and His word is to believe them. Proof does 
 not dispel doubt ; faith does. And faith does not 
 follow from proof, it comes from an honest and willing 
 heart. No one believes unless he is willing. 
 
 There is no known or knowable series of arguments 
 that will dispel all manner of doubts from the human 
 understanding. The truths of demonstration are in 
 
60 
 
 ti' 
 
 the realm of the understanding ; the truths of reve- 
 lation in the domain of the heart. Here's the secret : 
 
 " Trust 
 With faith that comes of Belf-control 
 The truths that never can be proved." 
 
 And if they say : * Oh that is just your old theo- 
 logical platitude — believe and then you will understand. 
 But I can't believe. I can't believe, because I don't 
 believe. Honestly I have tried, and believe I can't.* 
 Then all you can do is just to plead with them once 
 again. Seek and you shall find. Act and you will 
 believe; follow Christ, go about doing good, pray for 
 light, love not pleasure, help the needy, keep pure, 
 doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs, and the 
 light will come. And if that is no good just tell them 
 you will not cease to pray for them, that they may 
 also have the joy you have, and let them see from 
 your very manner that Christ's love is in your soul. 
 There's such a difference between a course like this 
 and the mere cold logic of an argument. 
 
 Sometimes it's well to say a few words,and just to leave 
 the pleading message to ?ink by its own weight into the 
 soul ; or else to refer to a passage of Scripture, or some 
 well known work of such a writer, e. g., as Farrar or 
 Liddon or Drummond. There are occasions too when a 
 
61 
 
 little, simple, earnest prayer is a wonderful lielp. It 
 may be you are with one in a room together and you 
 feel as if you could say : Let us pray about it. And 
 right then and there the way may be opened for you to 
 go down on your knees together and pour out the soul 
 in prayer to God. There's force electric in a layman's 
 prayer. And the man who is slow of speech and of a 
 slow tongue may find as he lifts up another in the 
 arms of faith, and bears him as the father of old his 
 boy, into the Master's Presence, that the words come 
 freely, and the soul is won. 
 
 All workers for souls I think will agree with me in 
 the statement that in nine cases out of ten the best 
 way to lead up to direct personal conversation is by a 
 leading question. Such a question, for instance, as : 
 * Do you think you have truly given your heart to 
 Christ ? have you found Christ ? are you following 
 Jesus ? ' or the like. Or better still, in the preliminary 
 stages such a question as : ' Have you been to Church 
 lately, or to the Holy Communion ? Are you troubled 
 with doubts, or have you really ever thought about 
 the better life ? * 
 
 Questions like these kindly and wisely put after 
 earnest prayer to God, will generally be found to open 
 up the way to a talk that will be as blessed to the 
 
62 
 
 seeker as to the soiioht. Of course there will be 
 difficulties and uu8X])ected replies re(|uirin uiuch 
 special prudence, l)ut in the main the result will be 
 far above and beyond all that our most ardent hopes 
 could have anticipated. 
 
 Even if the question is nut followed up by conver- 
 sation it is valuable. Sometimes the simplest kind of 
 a question, if it is put with prayer and strong desire, 
 awakens a soul to a better life. 
 
 I was told by a friend of mine in Halifax, a Captain 
 in the British Army, that many years ago when he 
 was (|iiite a lad as he was travelling, a gentleman in the 
 railway carrage, a stranger to him, wjbs reading the 
 l^ible, and before they retired he turued to my friend 
 and reaaing John o-l(), he stiid : Isn't tliat a 
 wonderful verse ? 
 
 Tliat was all he said. Five word,'^. Five wcu'ds 
 only. Captain M. — never saw him again, l)ut those 
 five words made a i>rofound and inetl'aceable impression, 
 es])ecially as the gentleman evidently s])oke out of 
 the depths of his heart. 
 
 The late Cai)tain Hope also, of the Jloyal Navy, 
 that In'ave and true servant of Jesus Clirist, told his 
 doctor a few davs ])efore his death tliat when he was 
 a nudshijtman, an older officer said to him^ one day : 
 
63 
 
 " I never go to bed without prayer, do you ? " It was- 
 a simple question; a mere sentence. And yet that 
 simple question was the means of controlling a great 
 and noble life. " It is between seventy and eighty 
 years ago, but from that day to this I have never done 
 so either." Then he added : See the influence of w 
 good ivonV 
 
 Instances like this should teach the value of a word; 
 in season, and that one should never omit a chance tO' 
 speak a word for the Master, even if it's only to ask. 
 one a question. 
 
 If then you have a word to say, say it. If you' 
 are ever moved to open your lips, open them, for while 
 we stand liesitating the angel of opportunity goes past 
 (►ur doors never t(3 return again. 
 
 Often and often, Oh how much oftener than perhai)S 
 we think, a young man is just as it were, at the foi'k 
 of the road, evenly balanced between evil and good, 
 or perhaps 'treml)ling on tlie brink of tlie great 
 temptation of his life.' All he needs is an influential 
 factor in his life on the side of righteousness; some 
 one just to say a word to him to turn him to the right. 
 Do you s|>eak that word, and be that influence. Make 
 the attempt at least. One word of yours may eternize 
 that sold. One little talk may eternize a character.. 
 
;l 
 
 If you are workiuo- alon<>' with (lod the word will l)e 
 spoken just at the right time, and the wonderful work 
 of CJod he done. 
 
 And having spoken once, speak again. The hahit 
 •of s])eaking successfully to souls, like all other hal)its^ 
 is the r(3sult of practice. The desire is natural ; the 
 ahility is acquired. Therefore we must try and do it 
 often, keep it up, and go al)out it with a good heart. 
 We must not say we cannot. We can if we will. A 
 l)rofound sense of the ahility of God to use our ahility 
 to every necessary decree is the secret of all true 
 ]>ower in the Master's service. See 2 Cor., 9-8. 
 
 If Christians ordy realized more how much they 
 could do by a sim]»le word, or how many opportunities 
 are given to them by God if they would only take 
 tlieni, tliey would not miss so often that wonderful and 
 indescribable joy that comes to the man who speaks a 
 word for the Master to another fouI. 
 
 The ])ractice would become hal)itua,l and natural, 
 until tlie first, supreme, and always jiresent thought 
 regarding friend, or brother, or fellow 7nan would l>e 
 his s])iritual state, and eternal welfare. And the never 
 absent thoughc should be shaping itself into the con- 
 stant resolve. I must find out if he is Clirist's. 1 
 must nuike an effort to bring him to Christ. To sit 
 
6;) 
 
 with one in a railway carriage ; to be introduced to 
 one in a walk ; to board in the same house with one, 
 or to sit at the same table ; to be cast with one in 
 the summer ramble, or to be identified with one in 
 a common enterprise ; in all these cases the ever 
 l)resent and dominant idea should be, — how can I 
 find out if he is in the right state before God, and 
 get an opening to speak a word to him for Christ, or 
 about his soul. 
 
 To some this may seem an ideal unattainable by tlie 
 iiverage Church layman. Yet even an ideal may 
 energize a character and exalt it to an illimitable 
 degree. And it can be by God's grace and uur ])ractice 
 an actuality. Let us try to live up to it, work on 
 u[) to it, until to think of, and to plan for, jind speak 
 to others for Christ, will be the normal life of every true 
 f(dlowei' of tlie groat Head of th(.' Church. 
 
 Tliere isanotlier way wliicli we may use to win souls 
 to Christ, and it is at once very simple, very }»ractical, 
 and very successful. It is too a method that should 
 be employed ruuch oftener than it is, for any one can 
 do it. That is t'orrespimih'nce ; letter writing with 
 the purpose of hel}mig one heavenwards. I do not 
 
66 
 
 ' 
 
 mean by this, writing a whole letter in a honiiletie 
 strain, or after the style of a sacred epistle, a thing- 
 which very few are competent to do even if it were 
 advisable, but rather introducing into our friendly letter 
 a word or two wisely and lovingly for the Master 
 and His kingdom, or writing with the distinct object 
 of influencing for Christ and His Church. Hundreds 
 of opportunities are constantly occurring to Christians 
 which might be employed to advantage. 
 
 For example : A friend is in great affliction. He 
 has just lost a darling little child, or perhaps the 
 partner of his life. He is not exactly a religious 
 man, though a kindly natured and excellent fellow, 
 and, as never before in his life, his mind is occupied 
 with thoughts about life and the nearness of the 
 unseen world. Naturally you will write to him a 
 letter of condolence and tell him how sorry you feel, 
 and how your heart is sad for him. Don't end it as 
 is so often done with the cold and comfortless platitude 
 of the world that all must die, and life is a strange 
 mystery, but after a prayer to the God of heaven for 
 help, add a little word to bless his soul. Say to him ; 
 l*erliai)s God is speaking to you in love, and drawing 
 you to trust in Him. Trust Him witli all your heart, 
 and give yourself to Him for ever. 
 
67 
 
 
 " God gave His Son for us ; we must give up all 
 for Him." 
 
 A word in season may touch the heart for eternity. 
 
 Or ])erhaj)s another whom you love has just got 
 married. It's the most important crisis in the life, 
 jind a word that would be uninfluential at another 
 time will be potent then. Write the letter that you 
 intended to write, and tell him how deeply you wish 
 him all joy, etc., but try at the same time to put in it a 
 word for the Master and for the better life. As you 
 expre' s your desire that in starting in life he may be 
 prosperous, perhaps you could tell him how he can 
 make his life really and abidingly happy by living for 
 the Saviour, and what a blessed thing it is for a man 
 to be an influence for good and for religion in tlie 
 family life. Plead with him to begin his life in God, 
 and take the right stand at the start. 
 
 Perhaps there is no more suitable time for writing 
 with the object of helping men vspiritually than when 
 tliey are in trouble or cast down, or in depression and 
 sadness of heart. Sympathy is thv' best avenue to 
 soul- winning, and sympathy always enables one to use 
 words that tell on the heart. When a man is in 
 business jjerplexities, or wlien he is feeling with intense 
 
I 
 
 68 
 
 feeling the loss of some old and valued friend, and 
 realizing how near the unseen world he is, and how 
 doubtful it is whether he is really prepared or not ; or 
 when one is full of remorse for having been overcome 
 by a growing habit, a letter wisely written may 
 touch a chord within, and save a soul. 
 
 Write as one once wrote to a friend in affliction so 
 \visely and well that I cannot refrain copying it as an 
 example for others. "Most deeply and truly do I 
 sympathize with you in your sudden bereavement. 
 May God give you strength in the lonely moments 
 when you return to your desolate home. As I went 
 back to my office I felt as if I wanted to say to you a 
 few words which come from a full heart, and which I 
 am uUre you will appreciate. I have never spoken to 
 you in regard to a matter that has long been well 
 known to me, and of which I have desired to speak 
 but have deferred from time to time. I mean your 
 habit of using stimulating drinks. I know the powers 
 of appetite as few others do, for I have made it a study 
 for years. You know it too by sad experience, and 
 how, too, it grows by every indulgence. I feel that 
 just now will be, perhaps the critical time of your life, 
 in the midst of your loneliness and affliction. If you 
 yi<'ld you will, I fear, soon find yourself beyond control. 
 
 i 
 
 L 
 
69 
 
 If you follow the dictates of your conscience, and resolve 
 that henceforth looking to God for help you will never 
 touch a drop of anything that will intoxicate you, you 
 will through all time and eternity bless God for this, 
 trial." 
 
 The letter then concludes with a pleading and 
 affectionate appeal, at once graceful and kind. 
 
 Surely every one will acknowledge, that it is at least 
 a blessed thing to try and write thus for the blessing 
 of men, in the hope that our poor efforts will at least 
 give a little blessing to this world w^hich is so sad. 
 Even if the letter is not written with the elegance of 
 finished taste, it will do its work if only written with 
 sincerity in love. These opportunities are openings 
 sent us by God. We can if we iiilL I am persuaded 
 that a great deal more might be done by Christians 
 if tliey only made the effort, and tru^t that this 
 suggestion with regard to letter writing may be as a 
 seed dropped into many minds to bring forth the fruit 
 of endeavour, and practice and habit in many wlio as 
 yet have never attempted anything in tliis way for 
 Christ, or even ever thought of it. 
 
 The fact is, where there is a will tlicre is a way. 
 If we want to do souK'tliing for Christ, God will open 
 
70 
 
 lip the way for us to do it, and teach us how, and 
 whether it be by a word of mouth, or by a line of 
 writing, or by the handed invitation or leaflet, it will 
 be blessed, for He loves a cheerful worker, and will 
 crown his attempt with blessing. 
 
 The great thing is, to be always on the look out for 
 opportunities to do something for souls for the sake of 
 the Master, and to be constantly thinking of ways in 
 which it can be done. As to the details God will lead 
 us into the right way, if we only are only given to 
 Him, and are resolved to live as best we can for His 
 glory. And this would be so if each Christian could 
 re-echo the noble words spoken at a great convention 
 of young men in Montreal, in the year 1867, by that 
 veteran soldier of the queen, and of the King of kings. 
 General Russell, the commander-in-chief of the forces 
 in Canada : " I am here to-night, because, if from any 
 peculiar position in this part of Her Majesty's Domin- 
 ion I have any influence, / want to have the whole of 
 that ivfliiencc on the side of Christ." 
 
 If for us to live is Christ, the way to work for 
 Christ will surely l)e opened for us, 
 
71 
 
 6-NEEDS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS. 
 
 It will be fitting in concluding these thoughts about 
 personal work for souls to add a few suggestions re- 
 garding the needs of the worker, and a few words of 
 encouragement to help the reluctant. With regard to 
 needs. 
 
 1. Love. 
 
 As we have seen in the course of our subject, 
 the only thing really required to qualify a man 
 to be a personal worker for Christ is love for 
 God, and love to man. If a man has had shed 
 abroad in his heart the love of God, he will 
 necessarily experience a love for souls, and that is the 
 first and greatest qualification. Let him obey the 
 impulse to win and bless others, as St. Andrew obeyed 
 it, and he will most surely have the joy of success. 
 It is remarkable to note how often God has been 
 pleased to use the earnestness of a simple Christ-loving 
 heart to the salvation of immortal souls, and how often 
 the learned, and the scholarly, and the clever, and the 
 cultured, have failed to be efficient personal workers, 
 because they lacked the simple love of Christ for souls. 
 
 Yes, we must have love first of all. 
 
 Without love we can do nothing, for God is 
 love, and without God we can do nothing. It is 
 
72 
 
 only the loving who are loved, writes a modern 
 author as he mentions the fact that St. Paul 
 was constantly surrounded with troops of young 
 men whose affection for the great apostle was 
 as enthusiastic as their admiration. * It is only 
 the loving who are loved. None, perhaps, are more 
 discriminating in this respect than young men. A 
 hard and pedantic nature cannot win them.' A 
 personal worker, therefore, especially among young 
 men, must go forth with a heart that is warm and 
 tender with love. A love that is 'affectionately 
 desirous of souls, T)ecause tliey are dear unto us.' 
 
 2. Faith. 
 
 I would put faith next. Faith, first of all, in God ; 
 faith that is, in the robust and manly sense of joyous 
 and triumphant confidence that if CJod's promises are 
 taken as they stand they will certainly prove true. 
 Such faith in God as Abraliam had when he went 
 forth that glorious night and looked up at the stars 
 and believed God's word, in spite of flesh and blood 
 and everything, a faith that sublimely overlooks im- 
 possibilities, and con(j[uers, because it trusts in God. 
 Such faith is powder, the mountain of difficulty, however 
 high, is cast ])y it into tlie sea of annihilation, and the 
 
 V 
 
 1 
 
'O 
 
 stronghold of stubbornness by it is thrown down. 0^ 
 for faith in God, sim})le faitli, simple faith, without 
 any doubt in the heart at all. 
 
 Then faith in man. Faith, that is, in the salvability 
 of men. Faith, that there is in men whom we seldom 
 think of in this way, somewhere deep down in their 
 heart a response to this invitation to a higher and grander 
 life than that of mere pleasure. Strong belief that 
 they may be saved, and that we may save them. We 
 are so prone to give way to that Satan-suggested idea 
 that it's no use trying to speak to so-and-so, he is too 
 careless to be api)ruached ; or that it is but lost labour 
 to make any effort to win sucli-and-such a one, he is 
 too worldly to care about things Divine. 
 
 "And shall not doubt in his heart," says the Master. 
 That is the word we need to rest on for our cheer. 
 We must vot doul)t in our lieart, but be strong in 
 fiiith, giving glory thus to God. We must thrust away 
 as a suggestion of the Evil One, the idea of our mission 
 being a hopeless or a useless one, or that what is 
 begun in faith and continued in God's name may 
 nevertheless prove a failure. We must not believe 
 them to be too utterly woi'ldly, or irredeemably bad. 
 Never put the stone of unljelief, «ays one, on the grave 
 
74 
 
 of any unsaved soul, however bad he may be. That 
 is a good word. We are so inclined to give up, often 
 indeed before we begin, simply because of our cowardly 
 belief of Satan's lie, that it's no use trying to begin. 
 Not only do we give way to the discouraging idea that 
 we can do nothing, for one thus dead in trespasses and 
 sins, but we write over him the epitaph : — There is no 
 hope for such an one as he. 
 
 No, no, have faith in God. Have faith like that of 
 the large hearted Barnabas, who, when all others re- 
 fused to believe that any good could be found in such 
 a man as Saul, took him by the hand, and by believing 
 it> hiiu, brought him on for Christ and His Church. 
 
 Let the nil desperandum of a larger faith and hope 
 bj the motto of the worker for souls, and let him 
 believe that the Lord who is God of the hills is God 
 of the valleys also, and that as He can bring down 
 every hill, He can exalt every valley however sunken, 
 if their be but faith. 
 
 Of all works for God, this is the one that needs 
 most faith, and of none could it more truly be said : — 
 Without faith it is impossible to please Him. 
 
 Iteniember too in this connection another thing. 
 
 
75 
 
 The antagonistic forces in a human soul are super- 
 natural. That young man, whom you long for, is so 
 careless, so worldly, so averse to religion, because of 
 the principalities, the powers, the spiritual forces of 
 the Evil One, that are exercising power over the will. 
 He is not himself. He is like the prodigal in the story 
 whose true self was suppressed and enchained. And 
 no power on eaith can bring him to himself. The 
 Blessed Spirit of God alone can do this, and to have Him 
 on our side we must exercise faith. Therefore, our 
 need of faith. But let it be a cheery faith, let it be 
 an attracting faith. Let it make the eye bright, and 
 the voice cheerful, and the face inspiring and full of 
 hope. No dismality, no fear, no faithless faltering ; 
 but joyous and expectant hope, that is strong because 
 full of faith in God. 
 
 8. Consistency. 
 
 I would put consistency next. 
 
 The worker for souls must always be thoroughly 
 natural, open and true. Between his character and 
 his witness there must be absolute consistency. He 
 must be transparently sincere. His words and his 
 work must be in harmony, for if the one belies the 
 other his work is vain. With the Christian worker, as 
 
M 
 
 ii 
 
 76 
 
 with the Christian minister, character is indispensible, 
 nay, it is everything. It is utterly useless to talk to 
 men about church or about Christ, unless the character 
 is sound, the reputation untarnished, and the manner 
 and matter alike sincere. He who goes forth to in- 
 fluence his fellow-man for Chi'ist must be sure, first of 
 all, tliat lie is one who acts as he believes, speaks as 
 thinks, and appears to man ay he appears to God, and 
 then must carefully beware lest his manner and words 
 be more unctuous and gracious than the reality within. 
 
 All pedantry , affectation, unnatural and goody-gocjdy 
 phrases are to be avoided as poison ; all smiles, and 
 gestures of \velcome tliat are in the slightest degree 
 affected must be shunned entirely, and every (overture 
 that is made and every word that is said must be 
 made and said in the frank and hearty manner of one 
 who is clothed with conviction, and consistent in life, 
 and wh'.' is before man and before (rod without guile, 
 or deceit, or sham, or hypocrisy, or any such thing. 
 
 I shall never forget the way in which a friend of 
 mine, a very fine young fellow too, Wiicn asked what 
 he thought of a certain Christian worker, re]>liod : 
 
 "Oh ]u\ is too oily." 
 
77 
 
 What he meant was that his maimer was too 
 smooth, or as one remarked of a certain politician, 
 He's too sweet to be wliolesome. None are so critical 
 as those not Christ's, and none so ready to detect flaws 
 in character. 
 
 Let the Christian worker therefore covet earnestly 
 this beantiful grace of sincerity, natnralness, consistency, 
 and trnth. 
 
 4. Resolution. 
 
 Then I would mention resolution. 
 
 To speak to another human being about his or lier 
 soul is often the hardest thing in the world. In 
 fact it re(|iures in some cases more pluck, more 
 unconquerable [)luck than any task I know of under 
 the suii. Any one who has honestly set before him 
 his trust for souls, and has in season and out tjf 
 season tried to win men f«>r God, will probably tell you 
 that again and again he has gone to a man with the 
 purpose of tr}/ing to talk to him about his soul, and 
 has come awa> witliout ever opening Ids mouth on the 
 subject. Probably just at the nmment when it seemed 
 as if the opportunity had come, his resolution failed, 
 and somehow or another, he hardly knew why, the 
 current of lal.: was turned in another direction. 
 
'8 
 
 The worker for Christ needs strrnig resc»lutioii. 
 
 Having resolved to perform for (Jhrist, he must 
 perform by Christ's help wliat he has resolved. He 
 must gird himself with coirrage, and keej) steadfast to 
 the end. He can do it if he will ; Cfod will if we will. 
 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 
 True, It is hard. lUxt a^ the Greeks used to sav, 
 and it is a woithy savin<^ * rii>ht nolde things are hard.' 
 Tliey must be hard, for a tiling that costs nothing is 
 worth nothing. 
 
 ''• Let those who will take part in such a blessed 
 work burst through Hie false shame witli which Satan 
 ties up many hands ; cast aside the slothful habit with 
 which the flesh paralyzes even active sprits ; and brave 
 the sneers of a world which must snf er if both it and 
 they are consistent. Once having begun they will not 
 soon stop ; for they are on a track well trodden by 
 saints and nartvrs, and sprinkled with the blood of 
 even of tlie Lord Jesus Christ Himself." 2 Tim. 1-7. 
 
 I might mention other very necessary characteristics 
 if space permittetl, such as wisdom, Jas. 1-5 ; patience, 
 1 Cor. lo-7 ; sympatliy, Gal. G-1, 1 Thes. 5-14, which 
 the worker for Clirist should earnestly covet, and con- 
 stantly endeavor to attain l)y ])iayer and practice ; Vmt 
 
'9 
 
 there is oiKi that in some ways perhaps surpasses, if it 
 does not inchule them all, and to tell about it I will 
 just quote the words of a church layman who was 
 once commending the election of a certain clergyman 
 to the great office of a bishop of the church : " My 
 lords and brethren," he said, " there is one thing I 
 w^ould like to say in addition with regard to our dear 
 brother in the Lord, and that is, that besides the gifts 
 of piety, earnestness, eloquence and learning, he has 
 one thing that is often lacking, and is sorely needed — 
 he has the Divine gift of common sense. 
 
 We all need the Divine gift of common sense. 
 
 II, Encouragements. 
 
 Let me conclude this brief work on personal endeav- 
 our with a few words of encouragement, llemember, 
 there is no work in the w^orld that has not its draw- 
 backs and ditticulties ; and work for Christ is no 
 exception. But, on the other hand, there is no work 
 in tlie world that has so much to cheer and comfort 
 the man that faitlifully undertakes it. There are 
 many encouragements. 
 
 One great encouragement is the fact that the workers 
 efforts are frec^uently appreciated in most unexpected 
 quarters. 
 
80 
 
 1 
 
 It will often be found that men whom we dreaded 
 to approach, fearing that they would laugh the attempt 
 to scorn, will receive the worker's endeavours with an 
 attention, or rather a reciprocity of gratitude that is 
 sometimes overwhelming. ^len whom you thought 
 woidd laugh and sneer, or if politeness restrained them 
 from this, would at least inwardly be amused, will listen 
 with inte^'est and tiiank you with sincerity. 
 
 I could give numbers of iustances of this. Tliere 
 are of course exceptions, but as the result of a sonie- 
 wliat varied experience, I have come to the conclusion 
 tliat there lies in the majority of men a depth of thought, 
 an anxietv, and a desire about better thini>s we little 
 dream of, and under the surface of the superficial life of 
 the worldly, the careless, and the pleasure following, 
 there is a restlessness, and dissatisfaction, and a desire for 
 the liigher life that is as the unignited fuel mass, 
 imtlammible but unintlamed l)ecause untouched by the 
 match. It is dead, l»ut it is fuel all the same, and can 
 be tiled. 
 
 It will be tired if you whose (rod's grace has lighted^ 
 will l»ecome the match to liglit it in turn. Their very 
 carelessness is often merely an affected mannerism 
 assumed to hide the hunger of tlie heart witbin. They 
 
8i 
 
 are weary, tliey are restless, and like Augustine's their 
 heart will be disquieted till it finds its rest in Christ. 
 
 I do not believe the man lives whose nature is so de- 
 based as not at least to respect the man who out c£ a pure 
 heart is trying to show him the love of God, and is 
 exhibiting the highest interest in his spiritual welfare. 
 They may laugh, and look amused, or turn the con- 
 versation and affect anger, but down in the heart of 
 hearts they know that the man who does this is 
 playing the part of a friend. I can honestly say I 
 never remember in my experience meeting with any 
 thing like rudeness on tlie part of any I spoke to 
 about their soul, oruven bitterness and anger. On the 
 other hand I have been surprised to find how kindly and 
 appreciatively my endeavours to speak on the one 
 thing needful have been received by men whom I 
 thought were essentially and hopelessly careless. 
 
 Another great encouragement is that our labor is 
 not, and cannot be, iu vain in the Lord, 
 
 You remember how St. James put it. Brethren, 
 said he, if any of you do err from the truth, and one 
 correct him, let Jihn know that he which conveiteth 
 the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul 
 irom death. St. Paul says, be steadfast, unmoveable 
 
t 
 
 I 
 
 82 
 
 always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch 
 as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord- 
 It is because it is in the Lord that it cannot be in vain. 
 And how beautiful that Psalm verse is : He that 
 goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall 
 doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his 
 sheaves with liim. 
 
 We may be distresed at the apparent uselessness of 
 our efforts. We may watch for many a vveary month 
 without a sign of return. We may even at times feel 
 inclined to give up, and conclude in our disappointment 
 we are unfit for the work. But never let us forget 
 our work is not in vain. God is taking care of that 
 hidden seed, and in due season we shall reap if wo 
 dont give up. Head that touching story in the 
 Martyr Bishop Haunington's life of the way in Avhicli 
 he was brought into the light and lilierty of the rejoicing 
 child of God ; how a college friend was led to urge 
 him to make a definite surrender of himself to Christ, 
 how for tinrteen rtionthft that friend looked in vain for 
 a sign of any effect or result, and then how after many 
 days that seed wliich was was all the time striking its 
 roots, and gradually iii)springin«.'' within, came forth in 
 all its blessedness, and naniiiiii>'t()n haviim' made the 
 
83 
 
 surrender, confided to his friend the wonderful story of 
 his conversion. 
 
 I was told once by a lady in Toronto a most touching 
 story of the happy death of a poor girl who had been 
 brought to Jesus, sha said, by a few words that I had 
 spoken to her in the course of a pastoral visit paid some 
 months before. 
 
 I couldn't remember the girl at all. I had no 
 recollection whatever of any such conversation. And 
 vet that forgotten interview had been the means of 
 1)ringing a precious soul to the light and peace of God. 
 
 How little we know the effect our words may have ! 
 Duty is ours ; results are God's. If we are faithful. 
 He will take care of the seed we sow in His name. 
 Surely this is a great encouragement. 
 
 But the greatest encouragement of all is the thought 
 of the pleasure of the Lord in Air work, and the 
 conscious joy of his service. 
 
 Of all earthly joys, the greatest perhaps is the joy of 
 bringing yourself a soul to Christ. It is the joy of the 
 Lord. That joy that was His secret sustenance, and 
 well si>riiig of gladness in the dry desert of His earthly 
 life becomes the joy of His followers as they feel as He 
 
84 
 
 felt when He had the delight of knowing a soul was 
 saved by His effort. 
 
 But even if that joy is not given us, and sometimes 
 it is not, there is a joy that no lack of results, however 
 distressing, can ever take from us, and that is the 
 thought of His interest in our work, and His accept- 
 ance of our service. If we know that such a small 
 thing as a cup of cold water given in His name will 
 not lose its reward, can we doubt for a moment that 
 He will accept our endeavor, however paltry it be, to 
 serve His cause. " We know that He loves us, with 
 the love of human brotherhood, as well as of Divine 
 compassion. We are trying day by day to carry out 
 the will of the Master who is dear to us. We are 
 trying to be of real use to brothers and sisters who are 
 dear to us too. They often appreciate our efforts ; He 
 always does. They cheer us olten with their spoken 
 sympathy ; His unuttered ami unutterable love never 
 ceases. They give us the delightful reward sometimes 
 of letting us see in changed and elevated lives the fruit 
 of our labour on earth. He promises in spite of all 
 failures and mistakes, tliat " when the Chief Shepherd 
 shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that 
 fadeth not away." 
 
85 
 
 This is the greatest encouragement of all. One day 
 the King will come in His gloiy, and the workers will 
 gather for the great review, and to every faithful 
 worker He will s.iy those all compensating words : 
 " Well done good and faithful servant, enter thou into 
 the joy of thy Lord." 
 
 v 
 1 
 
 Have you ever done any personal work for souls ? 
 If you have, keep on, for God's sake, for your own 
 sake, keep on, keep on. Always he on the lookout for 
 an opportunity to talk to souls about Christ, and to 
 hring tlie great matter of their soul's salvation 
 earnestly, wisely, and plainly before them, for never 
 forget that the work of saving souls is the ivorh of the 
 laitf/y as well as of the clergy, of business men, of 
 working men, of mothers, wives, young women and 
 young men ; yes, of every soul that has been touched 
 by Christ's love. We are saved, to save. 
 
 If you have not, then by God's help begin. 
 
 Take with you words, such as these, and bowing 
 in lowly surrender before Him who has the right to 
 that surrender, say : 
 
 " I am resolved to bei^in at once an earnest and 
 
86 
 
 loving work for God ; to make a business of it ; to 
 devote myself heartily to winning souls for Christ. I 
 am resolved, by His grace, to spend the rest of my 
 life, in winning souls to Christ.' 
 
 » 
 
 And this you will do, if you will say what a young- 
 man who once came to me by night said, (it was after 
 the Church service was over, and he spoke with deep 
 and earnest emotion), " I have decided to-night to give 
 myself wholly and unreservedly to the Lord." 
 
 To give myself wholly and umeservedly to the Lord. 
 This is the secret of successful personal work with souls 
 for Christ and His Church. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 HOLLtWAY BROS., PPINTERJ, HALIFAX. 
 
X 
 
 a St Hn&rew Brotberboob prater. 
 
 Heavenly Father, Thou knowest the weakness and 
 cowardliness of my heart. Thou knowest how much 
 I care for the opinion of men. Help me, I beseech 
 Thee, to care more for tvhat ivill please Thee. Make 
 me strong and courageous, that I may never he afraid 
 to do my duty. Give me grace and courage to speak 
 when a.nd as I should. Let me never shrink fromi 
 my duty through the fear of man. Let the love of 
 Jesus fill my heart, that in His strength I may be 
 strong. Give me the constant guidance and assis- 
 tance of the Holy Spirit. I ask all in the name and 
 for the sake of Thy dear Son, Jesus Clirist. Amen.