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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
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Motto: ' 'Fishers of Men.
Lessons in Soul-Winning,
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO
HOUSE TO HOUSE VISITATION.
ByE.H. kellar,
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Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance and Sunday-school
Union of St. Louis.
r^v77"77 -
ST. LOUIS, mo.: J v ' / w > J
CHRISTIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1895.
The Library
Oft COW :W ESS
Copyrighted, 1893, by
E. H. KELLAR.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
Introductory.
_ _
6
PART I.
THE
WORK EXPLAINED.
Lesson 1
Outlined.
The Initiatory Step
13
" 2
Delicacy of the Work
18
" 3
The (House) Home
21
<< 4
How to Gain Access — House-to-
House -
23
" 5
How to Use the Cards
26
" 6
How to Consider the Poor— the Rich 42
(i n
How to Approach the Unsaved -
45
8
Concerning the Parents
48
" 9
The Young People -
51
" 10
The Children -
53
" 11
The Foreigner -
56
" 12
The Negro -
59
" 13
The Roomer— Boarder
60
u 14
God's Plan - •
63
" 15
The Fraternity Settlement
PART II.
66
THE WORKER QUALIFIED AND EQUIPPED.
I. Qualified.
Lesson 1
Outlined.
Confidence -
73
11 2
Courtesy -
78
3
Consecration -
7S
4
Incentives -
80
" 5
Opportunity and Adaptability
84
" 6
Prayer -.-.--
86
" 7
Personal Cautions
(3)
88
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
II. Equipped.
Lesson 8 Outlined.
" 9
cc 10
cc n
" 12
" 13
Knowledge of the Scriptures
Knowledge of Mankind
What Sin Is -
Know Doctrines
Judgment - - -
Principles of Imparting Faith
- 90
92
- 94
97
- 101
103
PART III.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Lesson 1 Outlined. The Kingdom as Described by
Jesus - - - 107
" 2 " How the Apostles Made Disciples 110
" 3 " Organization - - 113
" 1 " The Visible and Local Congrega-
tion - - - 118
' « 5 ' ' Things Done to Build Up the Con-
gregation - - 120
1 ( (6 " Relations of Congregations to Each
Other - 122
PART IV.
DISOBEDIENCE EXAMINED.
Introduction to Part IV. - - - - 127
Section A.— The Superficial.
1. Lack of Deep Conviction - - - - 128
2. •< Still a Little Skeptical" - - - 129
3. "Wait Until a More Convenient Time - - 130
4. Love of Ease 132
5. Not "Called" Yet 132
6. Cantroversial Spirit 134
7. "Won't Believe what I do not Understand" - 134
Section B.— The Apostate.
8. (1) "Cannot Hold Out" 137
9. (2) "Tried Without Success" - - - 138
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
10. (3) Inconsistencies of Christians - - 140
11. (4) " Too Great a Sinner" - - - - 140
Section C— The Bewildered.
12. (1) The Superstitious - 143
13. (2) Spiritual Blindness— Ignorance - - 14 4
14. (3) Too Great Regard for Human Traditions - 145
Section D.— Commending Themselves.
Love of Praise - - • - -148
Fear of Man L48
Not Willing to Leave Impenitent Associates - 149
"Don't Like the Messenger" - - 150
Insincerity - - - - - - 151
Section E.— Foes Within and Without.
Too Many Things to Give Up - 153
Pride of Birth - - - - - 154
"Too Smart" ----- 155
"Love of the World" - 155
Love of Money ----- 156
"Cares of the Wrorld" - - - - 157
"Don't Want Sins Exposed - 153
Murmuring Spirit - - - - - 153
Section F.— The Self-Righteous.
(1) "Don't Want to Confess Christ" - - 160
(2) "Don't Want to be Baptized" - - - 162
Section G.— Many Infallible Proofs for the
Unbelievers.
(1) Theories of Infidelity - 165
(2) Internal Evidences • - 171
(3) External Evidences - 176
15.
(1)
16.
(2)
17.
(3)
18.
(4)
19.
(5)
20.
(1)
21.
(2)
22.
(3)
2:j.
(4)
21.
(5)
25.
(6)
26.
(7)
27.
(8)
28.
30.
31.
32.
INTRODUCTOKY.
After Many Years.— It is quite apparent that
Christianity must be reduced, as far as possi-
ble, to a science, and its truths be applied, in a
catholic way, by trained soul -winners for the
coming of the Kingdom in its fullness.
An Effort to Organize, Educate and Util-
ize.— The Sunday (Bible) School movement is a
successful effort to utilize the sentiment gener-
ated in the Church by the Gospel to care for, es-
pecially, the children of Church members. This
movement is on an interdenominational and
catholic basis .
The Young People's Society of Christian En-
deavor fills a similar place in the utilization of
sentiment to care for the young people of the
Church, with an eye to a universal sweep, and
without antagonizing denominationalism.
Now there is a vast sentiment — a dominant mis-
sionary idea — that reaches out after the children ,
the young people, the parents, who are without
the blessings of Faith .
Especially adapted for city conditions, yet
knowing neither denominational nor territorial
bounds — mark it! — these systematic lessons in
soul- winning are a humble effort to organize, edu-
cate and utilize this sentiment.
16)
INTRODUCTORY.
Think On This! — "And thus also the further-
ance of God's Kingdom, both in general and in
each individual community, the furtherance of
the propagation of Christianity among the hea-
then, and the improvement of each particular
Church, was not to be the concern of a particu-
lar chosen class of Christians, but the nearest
duty of every individual Christian.
' ' Every one was to contribute to this object
from the station assigned to him by the invisible
Head of the Church, and by the gifts peculiar to
him, which were given to him by God, and
grounded in his nature — a nature which retained,
indeed, its individual character, but was regen-
erated and ennobled by the influence of the Holy
Spirit.
"There was no division into spiritual and
worldly, but all as Christians, in their inward
life and dispositions, were to be men dead to the
ungodliness of the world, and thus far departed
out of the world ; men animated by the Spirit of
God, and not by the spirit of the world. ' ' — Nean-
der' s History.
Words of the Nazarene.— < 'The harvest truly
is great and the laborers are few." "Go.''
"Pray.'' "Teach.'' "Observe.'' "I am
with you. ' '
Soul- Winners' Training (Classes— College)
In Contemplation. — All pastors and thoughtful
Christians view, with deep gratitude, the ad-
vances in the direction of training soul -winners
8 INTRODUCTORY.
made by the Young Men and Young Women's
Christian Associations, Christian Endeavor and
kindred societies, the Sunday (Bible) School and
the Church, although, so far as we know, there
is not, nor has there been, any general, wide-
spread or systematic effort in this direction.
Development. — It is only a further develop-
ment of this same dominant missionary idea that
suggests a training -class in every Ghurch, that
there may be those, who are not only willing,
but competent to do personal work.
There is a demand for this work, not alone,
during the season of special revival, or in the
various regular services of the Church , where the
Christian and non- Christian may be thrown to-
gether, but for those trained fishermen, who
will cheerfully subject themselves to the dis-
comfiture and uncertainty of angling in unseen
depths , who will go from one place of rendezvous
to another, continually and persistently, braving
sneer and insult, because on fire with the faith
that such of mankind as are not brought into the
Kingdom of the Living God are lost !
If one can be a storage -battery for God, out-
side the ranks of the faithful and within the ene-
mies' enclosure, what could he not be and do,
when all around are friends, and the atmosphere
and surroundings are surcharged with Christian
power?
Therefore, as the greater comprehends the
lesser, so it is recommended, that this training-
INTRODUCTORY. 9
class of soul -winners be organized and instructed
with special reference to fitness for house-to-
house visitation.
Organize by the pastor, or any one sufficiently
interested, calling a meeting of those who will be
party to some such agreement as this.
Covenant. — I, , believe
that " the kingdom of God and his righteous-
ness/' constitute the supreme interest of man-
kind in general, and myself in particular. Hence
I do, hereby, enter into this solemn covenant to
fit myself for personal work — soul -winning.
The Course of Study. — Besides common
sense, a good English education, and a pure
heart, it is expected that members of this class
shall have been as well grounded in the knowl-
edge and use of the Holy Word as the Church
affords opportunity, in the present development
of her activities. And beyond this,
The Bible is to be carefully and systematically
studied, with special reference to soul -winning.
(Normally, it can be studied in no other way, but
we are so blinded by selfishness. ) And then,
This Little Book, it is hoped, will be taken as
a kind of manual in the attempt to adapt the
truths of the Scriptures to the exigencies of our
day, especially in house-to-house work; and so,
anything that can be used to advance this pur-
pose should be added; not, however, so as to
make the course too extended or complex.
The Leader. — To develop independence, rapid-
10 INTRODUCTORY.
ity, and conciseness, patience, tact, and delicacy
of thought and expression, let the members of
the class alternate in leading.
Manner of Conducting the Class -Meeting. —
Let the leader conduct a review of the previous,
lesson (with closed books and absence of notes),
and the same leader, by lecture or conference, es-
tablish well the salient points in the next lesson .
Thus , after the manner of lectures at college .
Let the leader and lesson -subject be selected
and announced one meeting in advance. The use
of the blackboard is recommended
Order of Exercises (Suggested).
1. Scripture Reading — selected with reference
to lesson to be reviewed.
2 . Hymn — selected with reference to lesson to
be reviewed.
3. Review of the previous lesson.
4. Sentence -Prayer — by every member of the
class.
5. Study of the next lesson.
6. Selection of leader and lesson. Miscella-
neous.
7 . Hymn — Benediction .
Prayer. — O our Father, dependent on Thee
are we — on Thee alone. Grant to us humility.
May we be free from any feeling of self-suffi-
ciency. What have we that we have not re-
ceived from Thee? O Thou art the Giver of all
good! Blessed be Thy Holy name! Grant to
Thy children zeal, constancy and wisdom. May
we be altogether dominated , as was Jesus , by the
idea of service to Thee and humanity, that Thy
will may be done on earth as in Heaven. For
Christ ' s sake . Amen .
PART I.
THE WORK EXPLAINED.
LESSONS IN SOUL-WINNING.
LESSON I. OUTLINED.
The Initiatory Step.
DEVOTION.
O our Heavenly Father, help us to re-
member our covenant with Thee and
among ourselves. May we be mindful
that we are parts of a tremendous whole
— that Thou art no respecter of persons,
loving all alike — that we are to work to-
gether, so Thy great purpose in creating
man may be fulfilled. We thank Thee
for the measure of co-operation already
attained; grant us grace to go on to
greater things. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
ELABORATION.
Vast numbers in the great cities — prob-
ably not less than three-fifths — are rent-
ers; and this great number are, more or
less, continually shifting from this house
(13)
14 SOUL-WINNING.
to that, from one part of the city to an-
other. Moreover, many hundreds and
thousands are annually added to the city's
population — people moving in from else-
where. Families are created every year
by marriage, which go to housekeeping.
All this makes it a matter of great ur-
gency to get out a new directory annu-
ally, Business men understand this. The
churches need a new directory with even
a greater need; the haphazard, overlap-
ping, irresponsible, unreliable way of the
past is entirely inadequate — a relic of an
anti-missionary, anti-co-operative age.
When the preacher says, occasionally,
from the pulpit, "If any of you know of
any family or person in the neighborhood
whom I ought to visit, with the view of
having them become identified with us in
our church, please let me know;" and
the superintendent says, "Now let every
scholar bring a new scholar next Sun-
day;" and, maybe, the enthusiastic pas-
tor, when he enters upon his city charge,
writes a fervent article for his denomina-
tional paper, in which he says, "Breth-
SOUL- WINNING, 15
ren (to his fellow-pastors and elders), if
any of your members move to our city,
drop me a note with their addresses, so I
can look them up ; oh ! so very, very many
are lost every year to our churches in this
way." And that is about all there is of
it. Soon the preacherVhands are so full
with other matters that he cannot even
find time to look up the names that are
handed or sent him. As a next step, a
visiting committee is organized by the
Presbyterian pastor, and ten city blocks
are canvassed with reference, solely, to
his own congregation. The M. E. Church,
on the opposite corner, goes on a similar
hunt over about the same ten blocks.
The energetic superintendent of the Pres-
byterian Sunday-school organizes a move-
ment to secure the children in ten blocks
for his Sunday-school; the superintend-
ent of the M. E. school is impressed in
about the same way; and thus and so it
goes. Well, everybody is tired and dis-
gusted— those visited and those who visit.
Such house-to-house visiting is a conspic-
uous failure; even worse, in many in-
16 SOUL- WINNING.
stances, working a positive injury, in that
(a) it causes certain of the visited to
attach undue importance to themselves;
(b) it leaves an impression of unbecom-
ing rivalry; (c) these flashes leave an im-
pression of inconstancy and insincerity —
great attention for a short time, and then
absolute neglect; (d) some sections of
the city worked to death, and others alto-
gether ignored. Moreover, in the local
congregation there is often no concerted
action; the Church acts without reference
to the Sunday-school, and vice versa;
and the Young People's Society is liable
to act independently. All this is to be
deprecated. The system we advocate
looks to thoroughness, co-operation and
efficiency, in the initial visit of the year —
concerted action, on the part of the local
church, and sister churches of all denom-
inations. The initial visit is to locate
those unidentified with Christian work,
and to ascertain what denomination could
best enlist them. To divide the family
up — the father to this church, the mother
to that church, and the children to the
SOUL- WINNING. 17
other church — is not the ideal condition ;
but such inharmony will, however, adjust
itself, as denominations come to see eve
to eye, which latter condition this move-
ment will assist to effect.
The initial visit does not stand alone ;
it is the first, and differs somewhat from
the following; but by no means is it an
end of the matter. The initial visit
means every house, every family, every
person. Very much depends on the be-
ginning; other people are to enter into
our labor, even as we enter into theirs.
APPLICATION.
Do not display any bigotry or sectarian-
ism whatever. Do your work well. In a
sense, more depends upon the initial visit
than upon any other. It means a con-
certed action on the part of Christian
people, with absolutely no regard for
denominational lines. You are to ascer-
tain facts, interested only as a Christian.
In the "following up" visits, denomi-
national channels may be used. Remem-
ber you are to work with the dominant
18 SOUL-WINNING.
idea of the Church as a unit, not with un-
seemly rivalry of parts, but as one solid
and aggressive phalanx moving on to uni-
versal conquest and universal peace.
LESSON II. OUTLINED.
Delicacy of the Work.
DEVOTION.
O Father of Wisdom, take now our
heads and hearts, acquaint us with a
sense of the fine, sensitive character of
this work, and free us from rudeness and
presumption. May we have the mind of
Jesus in seeking out and caring for the
stray. In His name. Amen.
ELABORATION.
That the work is too difficult and deli-
cate is not a good excuse for declining to
make the effort; but, on the contrary,
should incite us. Whether we work or
refuse, an influence is set in perpetual
motion.
SOUL- WINNING. 19
It is largely a question of grace in ap-
proach and in contact :
(a) Not on a parallel with an agent or
canvasser, who has a more or less selfish
motive in calling; but per contra.
(b) Not a quality to be attained with-
out thought or exercise ; but per contra.
(c) The ambiguity of speech adds diffi-
culties to the work. Many delicate in-
quiries are necessary, sometimes, to estab-
lish one point clearly. To be brusque
would be to court defeat.
(d) Once let the visited repose confi-
dence in the visitor, and the remaining
part is easy.
Extreme sensitiveness may arise from,
(1) great selfishness, (2) deep sense of
ignorance, (3) secret sins and fear of ex-
posure, (4) confidence misplaced, (5)
shattered hopes — in a word, here is sin, a
great sore, inflamed and sensitive! O, the
shattered nerves, the guilty consciences!
O, the reckless, despairing, desperate
souls! Yes, it is a delicate task to snatch
the brands from the burning. No outside
glamour of respectability or composure
20 SOUL- WINNING.
should deceive. Let there be honest
diagnosis!
APPLICATION.
Go, be not faint-hearted; be dependent
on God's wisdom, not your own. Jesus
to the sinners, not to the righteous — be a
follower of Him in deed and in truth. Be
patient and sympathetic — don't pose as
some great one, you are not; take off your
gloves, it is fine work; lay aside the con-
ventional flatteries and deceits. We
mean business and have no time for
trifling; take insult at nothing. If sneer-"
ed at and reviled, stand it patiently;
Jesus did not revile again, be sure we do
not. Be loving; if love does not win, be
sure severity cannot. Be content with
little or no apparent progress ; remember
you are sowing the seed. We do not sow
and reap the same day ; remember, how-
ever, that with some souls the reaping
time is at hand; seek then for definite
committal. Do not lose your head; if
you are getting disconcerted and out of
sorts, withdraw a little while and pray;
SOUL -WINNING. 21
or, where you are, just think a prayer.
Avoid disagreements, or discussions of
differences; attempt rather to build up
a higher understanding by considering
things upon which you can agree; thus,
sympathy is shown and confidence is be-
gotten.
LESSON III. OUTLINED.
The (House) Home.
DEVOTION.
O our Father in Heaven, we are grate-
ful for the home on earth; help us to
give to it purpose, and to grasp its asso-
ciated ideas as it relates to others — obli-
gations, responsibilities, hopes and fears —
to the end that souls may be won. For
Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION.
I. Consider its universality and evolu-
tion; the first and last abode of living
man — the corollary of the family idea;
corollary, from "corolla," a crown, and
22 SOUL- WINNING.
crown means to "dignify," "adorn,"
"complete;" hence, ho?ne, crown of the
family, dignifies, adorns and completes it.
Note the teleology of advance: cave,
teepe, mud, log, modern house. Effects
of civilization and Christianity, aspects of
exterior and interior.
II. The property idea often represents
a certain self-denial, one's own brain and
brawn, sweat and blood. Where the
heart is, there is the treasure also; undue
attachment.
III. Its title to respect, because place
of seclusion and of rest: Isa. 48: 22;
Psa. 118:165. O what words! And then
its relation to religion, the family prayer
altar — early prayers — the births, deaths,
marriages.
IV. Its soul and life is in its influence
on human life: joys, habits, sorrows,
associations, etc.
APPLICATION.
We go into homes, not houses alone —
go with the thought of wThat they may
be (consider our ignorance), and what
SOUL- WINNING. 23
they should be (what Christ would have
them). Not given to everybody to be
" at home" with various classes. Can
you? We have Divine Authority as well
as human right to go, as gospel messen-
gers, into every home (providing it is not
resented). Don't doubt it.
LESSON IV. OUTLINED.
How to Gain Access — House to House.
DEVOTION.
O Thou, who providest abundantly
every soul with every needed thing, grant
us grace and knowledge to do Thy holy
will. May we understand the manner of
approach to each precious soul under
domestic environment of all kinds. Grant
to us the virtues of adaptability and taste
and persistency, with the one object of
soul-winning. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
ELABORATION.
Awkwardness, embarrassment, failure
to adapt one's self to the occasion or sur-
24 SOUL-WINNING.
roundings, are always to be deprecated.
(a) Time. Select such times as will,
most likely, be suitable to the class of
people to be visited. As a rule, go be-
tween 9 and 11 a. m., 2 and 5 and 7 and
8 P. M.
(b) Dress. Dress with such taste as
will, most likely, be free of offense and
criticism to all classes. Don't under-
estimate this point.
(c) Manner. Be considerately cheer-
ful and make it early apparent that you
are not a canvasser or agent. If a ser-
vant answer the door, explain to him or
her that your mission is one of friendli-
ness and good will, avoiding the mechan-
ical as much as possible ; draw from her
the information desired concerning her-
self, giving with kind words the invitation
to church services ; then ask her to carry
a card to the householder (whose name
you will have secured beforehand), with
the request for a moment's conversation.
Make it very dear that you are not out in
the interest of any denomination, as such;
that you are not to proselyte in that sense
SOUL- WINNING. 25
at all. Let it be understood, also, that
you are not out soliciting alms for any-
body or an}'thing. In most cases a child
or a woman will come to the door, and
our first duty will be to disarm them of
any suspicion. Act as though it were a
neighborly call, and that is exactly what
it is. Show no indication of displeasure
or surprise whatever, at any sight, sound
or smell that may assail you — you have
no business to be proud or " stuck up " at
any time, but especially would it be out
of place in this work; don't give it up if •
you meet with silence and a cold stare —
you are to expect just that sort of thing.
A few more smiles and kind words will
probably open the sealed lips ; if you meet
with rebuff or ridicule, stand it good-
naturedly; the chances are it will not be
repeated after the first snarl. Most peo-
ple will receive you good-naturedly and
many will be disposed to smile the thing
off in an easy manner; be on your guard
against such.
26 SO UL- WINNING .
APPLICATION.
You are approaching your own brothers
and sisters; be just as considerate and
charitable and persistent as though, in-
deed, they wore your own name and were
your immediate kin. Bear in mind that
you are building for Eternity ! be yourself
a storage battery of Faith, Hope and
Love.
LESSON V. OUTLINED.
How to Use the Cards.
DEVOTION.
O our Divine Father, grateful are we
for all instrumentalities for the accom-
plishment of Thy holy will on earth; help
us in our understanding of the means of
co-operation and the plan devised to give
efficiency and permanency to this work.
We ask it in the name of Him who organ-
ized and sent forth the seventy and the
twelve.
SOUL- WINNING. 27
ELABORATION.
The Introductory and Invitation card:
(Should be of good card-board, about 2 1-2x4 in.)
" Whosoever Will, Let Him Come."
You are cordially invited to attend the services
at the church of your choice
NEXT SUNDAY.
AND REGULARLY THEREAFTER.
This invitation is a general one, and is made by
the Christian people of the city.
YOUR WELCOME IS ASSURED.
REVERSE SIDE.
"The Spirit and the Bride say Come, and whoso-
ever will, let him take of the water of life freely. "
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him
should not perish, but have everlasting life. "
28 SOUL- WINNING.
Be well provided with these cards. In-
sert your name before starting out. Use
them freely, but not wastefully; they are
all of some worth, and can be used at any
time. It is intended to give every one, in
this way, a personal printed invitation,
and accompanied, if it be possible, with a
spoken invitation. Be prepared to give
location and other information of the
principal churches in the city, and of all
of every kind in the immediate neighbor-
hood in which you visit. The following
blank is suggested for the retention and
exchange of information.
Each canvasser is provided with fifty of
these slips fastened between card-board
covers. On the front cover are blanks
for the number of the district, name of
canvasser, and a diagram on which the
Chairman indicates the block to be can-
vassed by writing the names of streets
about the diagram. At headquarters
these books of slips are taken all apart
and the slips fastened in packages accord-
ing to denominations.
SOUL- WINNING.
29
Name
Residence .
<
O
i
sis
B 5 «
£ °
§>3i
IS 3 5
©OS
Bb%
bo
»S •
0) o
o
T3 o
1—1
1
CO
•-1 02
o
Adults, 21 and over
Youths, 4 to 20
Under 4 years..
TOTALS
Member of what church..
What denomination preferred..
Which branch of said denomination..
Visit advisable (Yes or no.)
Remarks
Each visitor is provided with a slip
upon which are suggestions as follows:
30 SO UL - WINNING .
Suggestions for Visitors.
1. Understand as thoroughly as possi-
ble the work expected of you, before you
begin.
2. Let your dress and address recom-
mend your religion.
3. Ascertain, if possible, the name of
the family residing in the house before
calling.
4. Use the utmost skill in your speech,
remember that love alone wins.
5. As you enter, breathe a silent prayer
for Christ's presence and help.
6. Write plainly. Miss no one. Get-
accurate information. Leave one invi-
tation for each person.
7. Include all hired help and boarders,
but under their own respective names,
and on a separate blank.
8. Under " Remarks " note reasons for
non-attendance, etc., state in one word
any incident, comment or experience that
may be striking.
9. Complete your work as soon as pos-
sible and report to your chairman.
SOUL- WINNING. 31
10. Remember, the object of this co-
operative and thorough canvass is not so
much to do the work, as to point out to
churches and Sunday-schools the work to
be done afterward.
Do not mark, as for special visit, those
who are in good standing and full fellow-
ship in some one of our city churches;
no cognizance should be taken of such
(save in exceptional cases, where there is
palpable neglect on the part of the church,
the member being destitute, or sick, in
special and sudden distress), any more
than to enumerate the visit and number
visited, etc., for it is to be supposed that all
full members are enlisted for work in the
Lord's army. Note, however, that one
should inquire narrowly, but discreetly
and courteously, into this matter, because
heretofore many have reported in a brief,
laconic way: " Yes, I am a church mem-
ber," a "Protestant," or maybe, "Meth-
odist" or "Baptist," without qualification
or limitation, when, in reality, they only
lean that way, or have been so reared, or
32 SOUL- WINNING.
their parents were such, or they them-
selves were such before coming into the
city, or they think of becoming such some
time, etc. Let us be on our guard in this
matter.
A visit is advisable in every instance
where the visited is not identified with
any local congregation in the city, and
who, needing, would not resent a visit
from a friend. Be very accurate in writ-
ing down the name, address, etc.; don't
approach a person with pencil and card
in hand and demand the name and ad-
dress, but after you have established sym-
pathy, and determined the items desired,
ask if the person has any objection to
permitting you to write down a few points.
If, however, you fear giving offense, re-
tain the points in mind and insert them
later. We are not governmental employes
propounding interrogations mechanically,
Remember!
District Chairman's Report.
District Number
Number Canvassers
Number visits made
SOUL- WINNING.
33
Total number visited
Number adults— 21 and over
Number youths— 4 to 20
Number under four years
Number not attending church
Number in Sunday-school
Number youths not in Sunday-school
Number attend neither church norjSunday-school..
Number having no preference
Number visits advisable
goo
II
U
CD CD
<w O
CD a
U CD
Number Methodists
Number Lutheran
Number Christian
Number Baptist
Number Presbyterian
Number Unitarian
Number Jewish
Number Episcopalian
Number Congregational
Number Miscellaneous
Number total Non- Catholics..
Number Roman Catholics
Total..
34 SO UL- WINNING .
The suggested forms and blanks herein
set forth are tentative. However, they
have served for canvassers in St. Louis,
Louisville, Kansas City and elsewhere.
In St. Louis, where the author has been
for some years Secretary of the House-to-
House Board, new schools have been or-
ganized, and in some instances local con-
gregations sprang into existence almost
as the immediate result of the canvasses.
I spread upon the pages of this book
the Secretary's " Salient Points." report
made after the Fall canvass of 1893; the
previous annual canvasses had been made
in the Spring.
House-to-House Visitation — Saliext
Poixts.
1st. Activity in the interim. In many
cases using the district boundaries as laid
out by our interdenominational Board,
but confined to local church channel, and
practically ignoring other churches, near
or far, thus sufficient in itself, and reluct-
ant to go into the general movement.
SOUL- WINNING. 35
2d. Denominational activity (£. e., co-
operation among churches of the same
denomination), and so again averse to in-
terdenominational co-operation.
3d. Disposition to give up the effort
to secure sufficient and efficient volunteer
help; but to pay for efficient service of
one or two, and extend the time for sev-
eral weeks.
4th. Pronounced indisposition to set-
tle down to the good, hard work of the
movement, both in the initiatory and the
"following up" (not more noticeable
this year than formerly, however, if the
novelty of the movement be eliminated).
This indisposition is shown by, (a) in-
creased sensitiveness at rude treatment;
(b) " don't like to interfere with the reg-
ular work of the Church;" (c) "don't do
any good anyhow, because people are set
in their ways;" (d) "it breaks into our
denominational arrangements in this di-
rection;" (e) information is refused be-
cause (it is said) the movement is in the
interest of the "A. P. A."
Answer. — Doubtless we should con-
36 SO UL- WINNING .
sider such indisposition thus: (a) If
rudely treated, let it not be the occasion
of cessation of endeavor, but rather in-
duce patience and skill and persistency —
see life of Christ, (b) Regular routine of
church services permits many to slumber.
The orthodox Jewish services in the time
of Christ served to lull to ease and repose
great numbers of the Jews, who by an
outward conformity concluded they had
discharged the demands of the faith, (c)
"Nothing is settled until it is settled
right;" the cui bono is of the devil, and
obsolete in this relation, or else why
Christ at all? (d) Denominationalism
thus becomes the bane of Christianity; it
is anarchy, the haphazard, go-as-you-
please bigotry that retards the coming
Kingdom; for, "when one saith, I am of
Paul ; and another, I am of Apollos ; are
ye not carnal?" (e) The movement has
absolutely no connection whatever with
any secret society or political party.
Over a year ago it was suggested to divide
the city according to wards and precincts
for the purpose of comparisons of relig-
SO UL - WINNING . 37
ions with political life. Leaving out of
consideration any purpose of compari-
sons, such division might have been ac-
ceptable, and was followed in our neigh-
boring city, Louisville, but Avas avoided
here purposely to discountenance the
charge of being used for political pur-
poses. The matter was laid before the
Board again this fall, and again defeated.
Failed to "Reckon. — The committee
failed to take into account the Church as
a religious club, the pastors as overtaxed,
and the fact that the churches are so
dead in selfishness, coming from the sum-
mer's relaxation, as to need, aye, require,
the enthusiasm usually engendered in the
winter's work so as to set the people at
work to " compel them to come in." Our
vacation system in the city is at fault
somewhere ; it takes nearly all winter to
regain what we lose in the summer. The
loitering school-boy takes three steps for-
ward and two backward, and is tardy.
Satiated with Statistics. — The past
canvasses have brought so much to light
in this respect that many stand appalled
38 SOUL- WINNING.
and consider any reform movement a for-
lorn hope — so many have lost their apti-
tude (if, indeed, they ever possessed any)
for soul-winning, and satisfy themselves
(and not infrequently the preacher) by
giving a genteel sort of service, a contri-
bution in dollars, but not in personal duty
performed in the presence and to the
person of the worldly.
Many Have Grown Tired. — After the
novelty, after the flush of one great step
taken, after the half defeat, after work-
ing up to the canvass again, and then
again, after the churches were not filled
and the Sunday-schools had not doubled
their membership — then comes the a tired
feeling." It is one thing to spy out the
country, and quite another thing to take
and hold it. One thing to co-operate for
information, and quite another for in-
gathering.
Suppose We Do Know that in a given
district there are 4,000 souls, 1,800 adults,
1,800 youth, and 600 under four years old.
Only 200, or one-twentieth, are church
members; 150, or one-tenth, of the youth
SOUL -WINNING. 39
in the Sunday-school (not reckoning
Catholics) ; and these members and pupils
divided up among a score of denomina-
tions? Rather serious condition, but what
shall we do?
What More to Do. — Has not each
home been visited and a printed card of
invitation to attend divine services been
given to all? Yes. But did they come?
No — perhaps one or two. Were they
then not assorted, and did not one specific
congregation send out written or printed
invitations to attend a specific service?
Yes, in some few cases. And was there
an encouraging response? No, they did
not come in large numbers. Is it not
true that there are churches and schools
with conspicuously-hung signs, "All are
welcome/' where services are conducted
regularly, and whose doors are open?
And how many attend? Perhaps out of
4,000, 300 combined attend Sunday-school
and church regularly, and another 300
occasionally. Well, what more can be
done? What more? Why, it all remains
to be done!
40 SOUL- WINNING.
Not Enough.— Of course it is not
enough to hand out a printed invitation ;
one might as well expect to have the
house full by inserting a deftly-worded
invitation in the newspaper. It is not
enough, having learned the destitution
spiritual and the predilection religious,
to send a special invitation. No, it is not
enough to hold out inducements of reward
cards and such for attendance at Sunday-
school. Nor will it suffice to have con-
veniently located churches, with attrac-
tive and conspicuous signs, "All welcome;
seats free." Well, what then?
The Christ Heart. — How true is it
that religious clubs are exclusive, that
the churches frequently do not care for
increased usefulness! That genuine faith
and repentance and obedience are rare
and exceptionally fine conditions, and not
acceptable to the mass of the people.
The grace that comes from God, and not
from man, to secure and to hold those
outside. Alas! alas! the aptitude and
love for soul-winning dwell in very few
hearts.
SOUL- WINNING.
41
Here is the Suggestion for You. —
Pastoral Co-operation. Cottage Prayer-
Meetings. Neighborhood Sunday-schools.
On this mundane sphere that army of the
Lord, with no councils of war and.no
communications between divisions and
companies, is insane and foolish (if ulti-
mate victory be honestly desired and ex-
pected.) This is our present condition.
Who will deny it? Organize the St.
Louis pastoral co-operation with auxil-
iaries in each of our eighty-one districts.
Auxiliary Co-operation. — (1) Organ-
ize with corps of officers that will include
pastors and superintendents of all church-
es and Sunday-schools in the district. (2)
Hold monthly meetings in rotation from
one church to another. (3) Two elections
annually. (4) Objects: (a) Keep religious
directory of the district continually cor-
rected; (b) Interchange of information
and suggestions and studies in soul-win-
ning—cottage prayer-meetings, neighbor-
hood Sunday-schools; (c) Eeports from
pastors and superintendents as to in-
crease in church and Sunday-school ; (d)
42 SOUL- WINNING.
Afford relief to the destitute; (e) Report
twice a year to the Central Co-operation.
Central Pastoral Co-operation. — A
joint organization of the Sunday-school
Union and Alliance, something after the
order of our present House-to-House
Board, to secure desired uniformity,
have general supervision of the move-
ment, and keep the auxiliaries working,
etc., "till all attain unto the unity of the
faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God."
LESSON VI. OUTLINED.
How to Consider the Poor — The Rich.
devotion.
O our Divine Father, help us to hold in
mind the teaching of Thy Word concern-
ing these two great classes, that we may
act rightly in any and all cases. Give us
an eye to distinguish between the real
and the apparent. We are deeply thank-
ful for Thy providence of material things
— wre are unspeakably grateful for Thy
SOUL- WINNING. 43
providence that freely gives unsearchable
spiritual riches to the humblest, the most
ignoble and ignorant, through Jesus,
who became poor that we might be rich.
Amen.
ELABORATION.
In Material Things. — Causes of pov-
erty: Good — self-sacrifice, missionary
zeal. Indifferent— accident, sickness. Bad
— sloth, dissipation, evil associations,
gambling. Causes of riches: Good —
thrift, invention, economy. Indifferent —
inheritance, accident. Bad — gambling,
fraud, treachery, stinginess. The Script-
ures further say: Riches are corrupting,
perishable, deceitful, unsatisfying, source
of envy and strife, lead to pride and
hard-heartedness and oppression and
sensuality, and the forgetting and forsak-
ing of God. Moreover, those who possess
riches should not set their hearts on
them, or trust in them, or boast of them,
or glory in them, or hoard them up, but
rather ascribe them to God, devote them
to God's service, and make the poor par-
takers of them.
44 SOUL- WINNING.
The vast majority are neither poor nor
rich; these terms are relative, flexible
and elastic. No moral quality necessarily
involved; consider the temptations and
sins that are liable to accompany ex-
tremes. Riches never an unavoidable con-
dition; poverty maybe: a rich man can
always give away his riches, but a poor
man cannot always dispose of his pov-
erty. Envy, avarice and gross selfishness
not uncommon in the poor. The Chris-
tian desires immaterial riches, i. e., treas-
ures above — this is real wealth; all men
should sacrifice riches for such. God is
no respecter of rich or poor. God owns
it all.
APPLICATION.
We must be affected by neither the one
nor the other condition; ignorance, vice,
infidelity and crime exist in both classes.
Appearances are not an indication. Do
not be guilty of one of the great sins of
our day, namely, toadyism. Salvation
from sin is found in Jesus Christ alone.
Riches save no one, and poverty damns
SOUL- WINNING. 45
none. Strive to be rich in good works.
"There is a burden of care in getting
riches, fear in keeping them, temptation
in using them, guilt in abusing them, sor-
row in losing them, and a burden of ac-
count to be given up at last concerning
them." — Mattheiv Henry.
LESSON VII. OUTLINED.
How to Approach the Unsaved.
DEVOTION.
O our Father, may we realize the won-
derful truth — "By unbelief they entered
not in;" "He that believes not shall be
condemned." That we may be stirred up
to our full duty, may we keep in mind
the words, "If you love them that love
you, what reward have you?" "If you
salute your brethren only, what do you
more than others?" We have been selfish
and unchristlike ; O forgive us ! May we
be like Jesus. We ask in His name.
Amen.
46 SOUL- WINNING .
ELABORATION.
Four kinds or attitudes of the mind and
heart towards Christ :
(1) Convicted — those who want to be
saved.
(2) Awakened — those who are inter-
ested.
(3) Careless — those who are indiffer-
ent.
(4) Eebellious — those who refuse to
listen.
"Zeal without knowledge," "apathy,"
"inconstancy," might be written of a
vast amount of the efforts to win souls in
the past. The efforts, in the direction of
personal work, put forth during seasons
of revival, the zeal young Christians man-
ifest, are not to be spoken of slightingly.
Although the one is sometimes spasmodic,
and the other sometimes without knowl-
edge, it is far better than the lifeless "O
won't you join our church, our minister
is so nice?" of the apathetic. Special at-
tention is required to efface these faults:
(1) Diagnosis — analysis and synthesis,
taking apart and putting together of ele-
SOUL- WINNING. 47
ments in character, as heredity and envi-
ronment and manifestation, the enfolding
and unfolding of each life. (2) Indi-
vidual— We have to do with an individ-
ual— a unit — not a class. One, however,
who has lived in more or less touch with
Christianity all his life; note, therefore,
the Geist Zeit. We are not the first cen-
tury disciples, with a gospel that is a nov-
elty, to encounter the prejudices and su-
perstitions of the polytheistic myths, the
esoteric philosophy of Rome and Greece
and Egypt. * But we are dealing with an
old, old story, after nineteen centuries of
misapprehensions, encountering the per-
plexing vices of an heathenized Christian-
ity— the same old gospel, overloaded with
the rubbish of human traditions and mis-
understandings. Shall we not be stout-
hearted and sink the trtfe old gospel-blade
down into the root of misrepresentation
and the nineteenth century enormities?
Let the burden of your counsel be, to the
Convicted: Trust and obey.
Awakened: Jesus is trustworthy.
Careless: Immortal soul accountable.
48
SOUL -WINNING.
Rebellious: Reductio ad absurdum —
few words — a good example.
APPLICATION.
AVOID
Ostentation.
Flattery.
Insinuations.
Flippancy.
Censoriousness.
CULTIVATE
Observation without Impudence.
Sympathy without Softness.
Humility without Hypocrisy.
Seriousness without Gloom.
Fact without Intrigue.
LESSON VIII. OUTLINED.
Concerning the Parents.
DEVOTION.
Our Heavenly Father, Thou hast sanc-
tified the marriage relations ; in Thy sight
and economy the Family is at once school
and sanctuary — we learn, we worship. O
grant that all influences of parental life
may be holy — that children may be reared
in the nurture and admonition of our
Lord. For Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION.
After entrance, do not stop to talk with
the children, but speak to the point, with
SOUL- WINNING. 49
the parent; the parents control the chil-
dren, and if you win the co-operation of
the parents, you reach the children.
Kindly assume the aggressive; judiciously
defend the church. You can not waste
time in listening to long tales of woe, or
insidious attacks on the faith — look right
into the eye with fullest candor. Press
the following points home : You need the
church, its music, its cheer, its society, its
peace. Don't try to get "fit," go as you
are. Keep continually sweet and cheer-
ful, then — your children are growing a
character. What are you willing to do
about it? Are you fearful of bad influ-
ences? Consider the good influences of
Sunday-school — may I enroll them right
now? (Only a little plain, pleasant,
pointed talk to the parent.) No expense
attached (comparatively) to religion —
think! Sunday-school literature, Sunday-
school teachers' work gratis — funerals,
visits free, good cheer — preacher's good
advice cheap? Yes, cheap, like sun and
air — but O how valuable ! See ! Prevents
blues, dissipation, crime! Ah, it is the
50 SO UL - WINNING .
Salt, the Light! And then pray, right
on your feet— short — to the point — no
cant or whine.
Have clearly in mind, believe what you
want to say, say it; when you are through,
go; don't dillydally about it — just go.
" God bless you !" open the door, and go
on about the Master's business. "The
King's business requires haste."
APPLICATION.
Secure the attention, win the co-opera-
tion. Don't underestimate the parent's
power and influence — exalt your work —
don't waste your time; yours is an inval-
uable opportunity. It took grace to get
into their house, let nothing of cowardice
or timidity or thoughtlessness defeat you
in accomplishing your purpose. Mid-
summer is a little late to sow the seed,
you might get in an after-crop, however.
In the main, cultivate the grace that may
be dormant within them — utilize it — get
all out of it you can, especially as it
relates to the children.
SOUL- WINNING. 51
LESSON IX. OUTLINED.
The Young People.
DEVOTION.
O our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee
for the buoyancy of youth. Help us to
understand its moods and whims, the
melancholy of young manhood and wom-
anhood, the chum-life, the loosenings of
home ties, increasing responsibilities, and
all the within and without that are so
strange. Keep us ever in sympathy and
touch with the young people, and may we
win souls for Thee, our country and pos-
terity. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
ELABORATION.
Now begin to show the individuality —
every day brings some surprise. Under
responsibility the dormant emotion, sen-
sibility and will, seem to awake. Hold
the reins gently but firmly — go the well-
lighted road; in the dark paths disaster
may occur before one is aware.
Study conditions of those from ten to
twenty-five years, alone and in company,
52 SOUL -WINNING.
especially delicate matter to establish
sympathy, as young people run to almost
unaccountable chumships, and are sealed
books to others. Study the magnificent
proportions of responsibility, as the de-
veloper of character. Put the wavering,
possibly selfish, physically strong, as guar-
dian for a more delicately built and weak
younger one (a la Tom Brown). Let all
business for life be selected with a view
to its possible effects on morals of the
one so selecting. If this selection be
permitted to go haphazard and slipshod,
beware !
Recreations, entertainments and amuse-
ments. Fill the hours for such very full
of the unquestionably right and proper,
those that Jesus would allow, but withal,
remember that life is a work-life, earnest,
profitable, unselfish — be thrifty and shifty
for the right always.
APPLICATION.
I may need my own advice. Have I not
become blase, selfish, without conscious,
independent strength? Is not this the
SOUL- WINNING. 53
secret — in strengthening others I strength-
en self, in losing I find? O my soul, long
for earnest friendships, for a constant,
perpetual youth, with its hopes and vig-
ors and unimpaired enthusiasm. Live
and teach.
1. Keep good company or none.
2. Never be idle.
3. Live up to your engagements.
4. Keep your own secrets, if you have
any.
5. Never play at any game of chance.
6. Do not run in debt.
7. Be temperate in all things.
LESSON X. OUTLINED.
The Children.
DEVOTION.
O our Father, we invoke Thy blessing
upon us as we enter on this great theme —
the children, whose angels are with Thee,
the children of whom Jesus spoke so fre-
quently. May human depravity be met
and vanquished by the knowledge and
54 SOUL- WINNING.
power of Godliness, in the earliest days
of infancy. O the little ones ! how Thou
lovest them! how we love them! May
we be sensible and show our regard in a
practical way. To this end bless, we
pray Thee, the Sunday-schools and Young
People's Societies and the parents. For
Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION.
"Suffer little children "—all the child
needs is permission. The major part of
our most fruitful work lies in this direc-
tion. Paul to Timothy: "From a babe
(from infancy up) thou hast known the
sacred writings." So most frequently of
the faithful. The child born under the
most untoward circumstances, but reared
in God's grace, becomes a power for right
and conquest. Sow the seed in the
spring — train the tree in the green. O
the danger period — from ten to twenty!
Animalism, sensuality, overpowered with
tinsel and glare of this wicked world!
Actions that may set (become fixed) into
habits, and habits that may lead into hell !
SOUL- WINNING.
The years from three to eight will likely
tell life's tale, and fortify or weaken.
God pity the youth, without compass or
pilot, on life's ocean, on either hand the
rocks — the whirlpool ! There is no glory
and little profit in saving a wreck.
"Some men imagine they are forsaking
the devil, when, in truth, the devil has
only forsaken their worn-out bodies."
Oh, the youth, the youth! our little loved
ones, our hope, our promise and our
power!
APPLICATION.
Drifting or guided? What am I doing
about it? No notion of "original sin,"
or "infant baptism," should deter,
swerve or mystify us as to our obligations
to the children. Our Sunday-school could
be increased a hundred-fold in attend-
ance (and remain so)> yes, and in effi-
ciency and power, in one year. How? By
the sensible, persistent efforts of us soul-
winners from house to house. We de-
ceive ourselves if we expect God to do
what he has enjoined upon us. "God is
56 SO UL- WINNING .
not mocked; whatsoever a man soweth,
that shall he also reap." God is helping,
and will help. "Bless the Lord, O my
soul, and forget not all His benefits."
And when, in the life of our youth, the
time comes when they must do for them-
selves wThat no one can do for them, O
may they have been so developed under
the influences of Godly environment that
all their actions may accord with the Holy
Will of God!
LESSON XI. OUTLINED.
The Foreigner.
DEVOTION.
May we, O Father of all tongues and
every race, appreciate the opportunities
of our country, the health asylum of the
world, the world's hospital, that places
the stranger and foreigner in our midst,
and may all be assimilated into our
heaven-earthly government, a democracy
under Christ. O guide and preserve our
citizenship and studies in political eco-
SOUL- WINNING. 57
nornics to this great end. We ask for
Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION.
What are we? God is no respecter of
persons. What, love the yellow, almond-
eyed, suspicious, treacherous Chinaman?
At a distance ; we will send them mission-
aries. Love a "Dago," a dirty, dried-up
banana-peddler? Associate with him, be
Si missionary to him? "It is impractica-
ble; I haven't time; yes, it ought to be
done ; their ignorance and anarchy might
wreck us; I will contribute a few dollars
for some one else to be the home mission-
ary." Look out for this; it takes grace,
but Grod will give it; ask Him. The En-
glish tongue, not because it is English,
but as it is now the most universal speech
and the language of Christendom, carries
with it innumerable blessings. If you can
speak the foreign tongue, well and good;
if not, you can smile, act a real fraternity,
point to heaven. Remember the for-
eigner has left much behind him, and he
may leave his speech, also, if he be taken
58 SOUL- WINNING.
with your kindness; convenience and love
will quickly help him to master our com-
mon tongue. It is but just, because the
discoveries and inventions and graces that
annihilate time and space, and make all
people one, demand one language — the
English. Let all come to it speedily. Of
course we may learn much from the Ger-
man, French, Russian, etc. Let us not be
conceited; our glorious composite under
Christ is not completed; but notice, like
Paul, we are debtors to all. Let us dis-
charge our obligations and Christianize
all.
APPLICATION.
The missionary districts in our large
cities should be shirked no longer. The
genius of our government demands that
we be one— acquainted and united; the
genius of our salvation requires the same
thing. To the work, then! Down with
the liquor business and gambling and kin-
dred evils!
SOUL- WINNING. 59
LESSON XII. OUTLINED.
The Negro.
DEVOTION.
O our Heavenly Father, unspeakably
grateful are we that world-wide emanci-
pation moves on and on and on. In Thy
grace no country like our own great de-
mocracy, with its millions of colored citi-
zens, seems so advantageously situated to
solve this race problem. Grant to us
Christ-like grace and wisdom for this un-
dertaking. Amen.
ELABORATION.
Harbor a sentiment, but not sentiment-
alism for the negro. The emancipation
might come in a day, but the effects of
slavery, with its commercial, social and
religious complications, could not be
eradicated in a day. It seems vain and
foolish to make odious comparisons
about cerebral superiority. The fifteenth
amendment is doubtless just, and will
meet with constantly increased favor.
As far as opportunities and responsibili-
60 SOUL WINNING.
ties go, let there be civil, commercial and
religious equality before the law. Negro
soul-winners may, from the nature of the
case, work to most advantage among their
own race. Expediency suggests a certain
separation, while the common good re-
quires a no inconsiderable amount of co-
operation.
APPLICATION.
Our long continued and superior ad-
vantages should make us of especial great
service to the negro, not in a patronizing
way, but to assist them to lift the pall of
superstition, immorality and ignorance
that effects all races and peoples. Liq-
uor, the intoxicating beverages, gambling
and sensuality should be constantly dep-
recated.
LESSON XIII. OUTLINED.
The Roomer — Boarder.
DEVOTION.
O our Heavenly Father, we come to
Thee with our thanksgivings, our joys,
SOUL-WINNING. 61
our perplexities and our burdens. We
need Thy wisdom and patience and grace
in the matters before us. We so illy un-
derstand the great cities, the diversity,
complications and temptations, bustle,
business and small talk of hotel and
boarding-house life. Help us to meet the
situation gravely and seriously, and win it
all for Thee and Thy kingdom. For Je-
sus' sake.
ELABORATION.
A fastly-increasing genus, with life and
environment peculiar to itself — transient
character— professional travelers, sales-
men, actors, politicians, etc., etc. The
regulars — clerks, railroad people, in busi-
ness of all kinds, etc. — a life fraught with
particularly dangerous environment, con-
ducive to superficiality and selfishness.
The comforts of home are lacking.
Comfort is sought in gambling, theater
and bar-room and their adjuncts. Fami-
lies boarding and children thus reared are
subject to bad influences — neglected by
churches. So many transients that come
62 SOUL WINNING.
to the city for a few days on business, or
pleasure, think nothing of throwing off
the restraining morals of their home, and
"going in to see the sights," demoralize
and debauch themselves, their city friends
and the municipality generally.
Think of club life as related to our sub-
ject— good, bad and indifferent, little and
big clubs, particularly abounding in city
life. The "Institutional" church is de-
manded to control and give direction to
such tendencies.
APPLICATION.
Why are theaters clustered "down
town," and not in the residence districts,
as are the churches? Among other rea-
sons, a large number of their habitues
come from hotels and boarding-houses.
Does a large support of "turf ex-
changes,' ' billiard-rooms, gambling-houses
and famous bars come from this homeless
genus? Are the homeless the godless?
If they are not, there is a strong current
setting that way. Are the godless the
homeless? Godlessness tends to home-
SOUL WINNING. 63
lessness. Has the church a work to do
here? Aye, church homes for those
whom business or misfortune render
homeless. Soul -winners, bring them
home.
God grant that the evening of sorrow
may speedily close on all sin-soiled souls,
and that the day-star of Christ's right-
eousness may flood such lives with light
and love, with redemption complete, and
all at home.
LESSON XIV. OUTLINED.
God's Plan.
DEVOTION.
O our Father, we believe that Thou
art. Thy supreme sovereignty is unim-
peached. We thank Thee that Thou hast
shown us Thy will, Thy way, Thy word.
May we have a clear vision and clean
hands to see and handle this mighty mat-
ter. For Christ's sake.
64 SOUL- WINNING.
ELABORATION.
Believe, know, feel, manifest and strive
to convince all Christians that beyond a
shadow of a doubt this personal interest
in the individual soul, without respect to
person, is God's plan. Go out into the
highways, go out into the hedges, go out
quickly into the streets and lanes of the
city, into the mansions of the rich, the
humble homes of the masses, the hovels
of the poor. Go everywhere ; continue to
go, search diligently until every soul is
found, and compel them, by love's gentle
force, to come in. Said Jesus: "All
authority is given me in Heaven and
Earth. Therefore, go — go ye and make
Christians of all, baptizing them into the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have com-
manded you. And, behold, I am with you
alway, even unto the end."
' 'Her priests are all God's faithful sons,
To serve the world raised up.
O living Church, thine errand speed,
Fulfill thy task sublime ;
SOUL- WINNING. 65
With Bread of Life earth ' s hunger feed ;
Redeem the evil time. ' '
There are in existence an indefinite and
large number of effective organizations
for the purpose, in one way and another,
of ameliorating the condition of humanity,
of saving man. These are social, com-
mercial, political and religious — local and
general, denominational and undenomi-
national and interdenominational. In a
large and true sense the Church of God
comprehends all.
Better Amalgamate. — This diversity is
not to be especially deprecated; it is nat-
ural and right. These one thousand
phases of work present themselves, and
somebody must attend to each, and some-
body will. It is the working of the
Christ-leaven in the heart of man. Note,
however, that we are only groping toward
— have not attained that divinely enjoined
condition of unity " where the whole
body, fitly joined together and compacted
by that which every joint supplieth,
makes increase of the body in love."
66 SOUL -WINNING.
APPLICATION.
Am I an operative Christian? The
Lord of the harvest calls for laborers.
Go fearlessly; cry, " Peace." " Salute no
one on the way." No time for conven-
tionalities. "Not eating from house to
house." If the pleasure and purpose of
acquaintance are only in feasting and con-
ventionalities— Stop !
Do not call down fire because some fail
to give credit to Christ.
LESSON XV. OUTLINED.
The Fraternity Settlement.
DEVOTION.
Give, O Lord, grace to go and live
among the lowly, that simple, honest life
that proves by doing. Search us — are we
self-righteous, sanctimonious, joined to
an indulgence in enervating luxuries, or
in the onward rush for dollars that shuts
up our hearts of compassion? Have we
a form, while we deny the power, of god-
SOUL- WINNING. 67
liness? O may we present our bodies
holy — a reasonable service, transformed
by a renewed mind, to prove Thy perfect
will- For Christ's sake.
ELABORATION.
Our city Christianity — on the defensive
retreat system — abandon certain parts be-
cause given over to the poor renters —
poor but respectable — yet churches move
back. If the church were aggressive and
influential, the well-to-do would form set-
tlements among such, organize Institu-
tional churches; it would (1) distribute
"the salt; " (2) give moral and financial
support to Christian work in such dis-
trict; (3) act as a disinfectant for filth
and dirt; result in better sanitary condi-
tions; (4) secure proper municipal pro-
tection and attention; (5) keep back
slum degeneration and kill it out; (6) in-
duce simplicity and economy in living.
This is not slumming or rescue work. It
is real fellowship; not the long-range
dollar sort alone. Affinity/ how can we
love? Determine, by God's help, to do
68 SOUL WINNING.
so, and then we can. What is influence
but the exercise of love — "Andrew goeth
and getteth Peter." Association good,
saves, as association bad, damns. So
many diffident and procrastinating — they
will warn one against the loss of money,
but not of soul.
Cannot be dogmatic in speaking of fra-
ternity settlement. With rapid transit and
cheap fares all can live away from crowd-
ed tenement districts, and it is to be
hoped that such districts will soon be a
thing of the past.
APPLICATION.
Take greater interest in municipality —
not giving over certain districts to the devil
because the demon of poverty and shift-
lessness is approaching. It appears that
those well established in good character,
without children, or whose children are
grown, persons of influence and means,
ought to stay with the lowly and not run
away to city additions where there are
building restrictions — a kind of hermit-
like procedure. Stand for a full, round-
SOUL- WINNING.
ed active church, a so-called Institutional
church. The city presents certain ideal
conditions — if it be a settlement of broth-
ers it is heaven.
PART II.
THE WORKER QUALIFIED
AND EQUIPPED.
SECTION I. QUALIFIED.
LESSON I. OUTLINED.
Confidence.
DEVOTION.
Our Heavenly Father, we are grateful
for Thy thousandfold providences. With
our weariness and woe there is rest no-
where but with Thee. O Thou infinite,
all-powerful and all-loving One. May we
turn from our wavering to Thy stability,
our failings to Thy fulfillments. Thou art
the " Yea and Amen " to all the God ward
yearnings of our souls. O may we trust
wholly in Thee and give Thee a full faith,
a faith like Jesus'. In His name. Amen.
ELABORATION.
God in Christ is absolutely trustworthy.
All secrets, all burdens, all temptations,
all joys committed to God, (a) from
youth; (b) with the whole heart; (c) all
times; (d) under all circumstances.
(73)
74 SOUL- WINNING.
Faith is ''the substance" and "evi-
dence" (Heb. 11: 1), or the "assur-
ance " and " proving " (revised version).
Necessary element of love — man's first
duty. Win confidence — inspire to confi-
dence by God's goodness. Gifts, power,
sure promises, refuge, redeemer. If we
trust we shall be kept " stable," " rejoic-
ing," "inherit the earth," "fear not
man," " enter into unsearchable riches."
O consider God's faithfulness! Unbe-
lievers " trust in man," " their own right-
eousness," "in wealth," "in vanity" and
"falsehood." Confidence in God is the
indispensable?
APPLICATION.
What hath God said? "Go, work,"
" win souls," inspire confidence, establish
faith — without which God cannot be
pleased and the soul's first need be met.
Labor to inspire it everywhere, as we are
in God's stead reconciling men, we must
inspire the confidence of men in ourselves
to win them.
We rise upon the eagle wings of Faith
SOUL- WINNING. 75
to wind our way unto the happy heights,
away, away, away above the woes and
snows and throes of sin life; off, off, off
unto the home of God, unto the very
heights of everlasting Holiness.
THE RIFT OF THE ROCK.
' 'In the rift of the rock He has covered my head,
When the tempest was wild in the desolate
land,
Through a pathway uncertain my steps He has
led,
And I felt in the darkness the touch of His
hand
Leading on , leading over the slippery steep ,
Where came but the echoing sound of the shock ,
And, clear through the sorrowful moan of the
deep ,
The singing of birds in the rift of the rock.
In the rift of the rock He has sheltered my soul
When at noonday the toilers grew faint in the
heat;
Where the desert rolled far like a limitless scroll ,
Cool waters leaped up at the touch of His feet.
And the flowers that lay with pale lips to the sod
Bloom softly and fair from a holier stock ;
Winged home by the winds to the mountains of
God,
They bloom evermore in the rift of the rock.
76 SOUL- WINNING.
In the rift of the rock Thou wilt cover me still,
When the glow of the sunset is low in the sky ,
When the forms of the reapers are dim on the
hill,
And the song dies away, and the end draweth
nigh.
It will be but a dream of the ladder of light,
And heaven dawning near without terror or
shock,
For the angels descending by day and by night,
Will open a door through the rift of the rock. ' '
LESSON II. OUTLINED.
Courtesy.
DEVOTION.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee
for the manifestation of those graces
that make Jesus so attractive and so win-
ning— faith, virtue, knowledge, self-con-
trol, patience, godliness and love, — O
Thine own attributes. Grant that all
may be blended into one and manifested
in our courtesy, our civility, so we may
be effective in soul- winning. We ask for
Jesus' sake.
SOUL- WINNING. 77
ELABORATION.
Vaunteth not itself nor puffed up — not
misbehaved; seeks not selfishly — not
supersensitive.
" The more there is of a person the less
likely is he to be fully known and under-
stood by others." Then have considera-
tion for all, for there is more of the most
insignificant person than we are likely to
fathom. It is easy to love those who love
you, but there is no special grace nor sal-
vation in that. We are after the lost, who
do not love. Be courteous without ex-
pecting it in return; have patience and
'your courtesy will engender courtesy ; let
it be genuine, not conventional, nor
forced.
APPLICATION.
Put yourself in the bewildered and lost
soul's place; never be off your guard in
any place at any time. Courtesy is the
adaptability to circumstances — under-
stand then this quality. Let it not lead
you into compromise. Be firm but gen-
tle, " For who among men knoweth the
78 SO UL- WINNING .
things of a man, save the spirit of the
man, which is in him."
Courtesy is the essence of gallantry, the
badge of chivalry, the sine qua non of the
gentleman and the gentle woman. Cour-
tesy is not solely a deference, a negative
qualification; it is a defense, a loyal al-
legiance to the right.
"Some say that the age of chivalry is
past. The age of chivalry is never past
as long as there is a wrong left unre-
dressed on earth, and a man or woman
left to say, 'I will redress that wrong or
spend my life in the attempt. ' The age
of chivalry is never past as long as men.
have faith enough in God to say, God will
help me to redress that wrong; or if not
me, surely he will help those that come
after me. For His eternal will is to over-
come evil with good." — Charles Kingsley.
LESSON III. OUTLINED.
Consecration.
DEVOTION.
O Heavenly Father, we are Thine. Thy
service is our supreme joy, Thy Kingdom
SOUL- WINNING.
79
is our delight, her walks our way, and her
mansions our perpetual home! May we
ever keep in the heavenly company of thy
redeemed hosts, where we will praise
Thee through Jesus Christ, world with-
out end. Amen.
ELABORATION.
By consecration to God we more truly
live than by our daily trades and voca-
tions. We are redeemed, not by silver
and gold. We are a peculiar people, not
eccentric or erratic, but "dead unto sin,"
"alive unto righteousness," "a new crea-
ture in Jesus Christ," "a royal priest-
hood," "our brother's keeper."
What consecration is not: (a) Anxi-
ety; (b) fault-finding; (c) censorious-
ness; (d) devotion to party; (e) or
methods; (f) or traditions.
What Consecration is: (a) Graces;
(b) purity; (c) devotion to Christ only,
i. e., not the only Christians, but Chris-
tians only; (d) a call; (e) a setting
about for duty.
Consecration implies entire willingness,
assurance, diligence, hospitality, blame-
80
SOUL- WINNING.
lessness, endurance, ministration, bold-
ness, faithfulness, joy, obedience, char-
ity, prayer, liberality, meekness, readi-
ness, knowledge and zeal.
APPLICATION.
Christ contemplates every disciple as a
reformer. " The history of the reform-
er, whether man or woman, on any line of
action, is but this: When he sees it all
alone he is a fanatic; when a good many
see it, they are enthusiasts; when all see
it, he is a hero." — Frances E. Willard.
Then what engagement has a Christian
that is not comprehended and exercised
in soul-winning. All the foregoing
enumerated qualities and qualifications
enter into this work. Soul-winning is
fruit-bearing. " Whoni wilt thou live
for?"
LESSON IV. OUTLINED.
Incentives.
DEVOTION.
O our Father, how glorious are Thy
creations. How wondrously Thou dost
SOUL WINNING. 81
sustain all with the stimulus of Thy in-
comprehensible Spirit. Grant that all
our motives may find their prime and
ultimate source in the Divine nature. We
ask for Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION.
So many go through a round of eating,
drinking and sleeping without motive,
spur, stimulus, incitement or encourage-
ment, save such as belong to the animal,
viz., desire for ease and present gratifica-
tion.
Fear of punishment and hope of re-
ward are the two great factors in all
human activity, and so arises another
motive, viz., the desire for future grati-
fication.
Our incentives are tried and trimmed,
or new ones are born by our conceptions
of our responsibility. Here comes in the
joy of service, which is the complement of
self-interest, making the wings upon
which we scale the skies to glory. Rom.
2:7, " To them that by patience in well-
doing seek for glory and honour and in-
82 SO UL - WINNING .
corruption, eternal life." Here are held
out three, aye, four things we all should
seek, the motor power of the civilized
world, "glory," "honor," "incorrup-
tion," and God, the righteous Judge,
rewards with "Eternal Life." Glory
means high reputation; honor means
office, position; incorruption means
purity, soundness. These are attain-
able conditions on earth. Mark it,
the necessary complement is, " seek by a
patient continuance in well doing," and
thus seeking, whether you succeed or fail
in securing reputation and office, you will
certainly have secured incorruption, and
God will crown you with everlasting suc-
cess by giving you eternal life.
APPLICATION.
The possibilities of man under these
incentives are absolutely incalculable.
Let us go down into our bosoms — they are
ours, our very own — and, however dis-
agreeable, let us make a careful examin-
ation, and cast far from us, by the grace of
God, whatever is ignoble, vicious, or even
SO UL - WINNING . 83
questionable in our motives. Let this
ruling ever ring in the heart and head,
"By a patient continuance in well-
doing."
WHAT DOES IT MATTER?
* 'It matters little where I was born,
Or if my parents were rich or poor,
Whether they shrank from the cold world' s scorn ,
Or walked in the pride of wealth secure ;
But whether I live an honest man ,
And hold my integrity firm in my clutch ,
I tell you my brother, as plain as I can,
It matters much !
It matters little how long I stay
In a world of sorrow, sin and care ;
Whether in youth I am called away,
Or live till my bones of flesh are bare ;
But whether I do the best I can
To soften the weight of adversity ' s touch
On the faded cheek of my fellow man ,
It matters much !
It matters little where be my grave ,
If on the land, or in the sea ;
By purling, brook, ' * 'neath stormy wave, ' '
It matters little or nought to me ;
But whether the angel of death comes down
And marks my brow with a loving touch ,
As one that shall wear the victor ' s crown ,
It matters much ! ' '
84 SOUL- WINNING .
LESSON V. OUTLINED.
Opportunity and Adaptability.
DEVOTION.
We thank Thee, O our Father, for the
myriad points of blessed contact with the
infinite and the divine. Grant that we
may ever be watchful and pliable in all
that pertains to Thy kingdom. We ask
for Jesus' sake. Amen.
ELABORATION.
Study the couplet, —
* 'If you have anything to say,
True and needed, yea or nay,
Say it."
See how Jesus was an eternal example
in this: (1) His patient obscurity; (2)
baptism; (3) pointed and apt teaching;
(4) character of his illustrations; (5)
woman at the well; (6) Jesus and Peter
— "Lovest thou me more than these?"
Wisdom to observe the one (opportu-
nity) and employ the other (adaptability),
is a great element of fitness. Paul calls
it "redeeming the time;" and, if this be
SOUL- WINNING. 85
done, every life, however ordinary, will
be full of testimony and blessing. Adapt-
ability is a mark of genius, i. e., godlike-
ness — firm but sympathetic, flexible but
immovable. "A bruised reed will He not
break, and a smoking flax will He not
quench."
APPLICATION.
You cannot see the opportunity until
too late? You can't adapt yourself? You
have tried? Are you willing to try, try
again? But you always fail? Are you
absolutely sure of that? No man know-
eth; God knows.
ACCEPTED TIMES.
There are immortal moments in each life ;
They come and go —
One scarce may of their presence know,
Yet in them there is struck a chord,
It may be loud, it may be low,
Of peace or strife,
Of love or hate ,
Which will vibrate
Like circles from a pebble's throw,
Unto the coming of the Lord.
— A. E. Hamilton.
86 SOUL- WINNING.
LESSON VI. OUTLINED.
Prayer.
DEVOTION.
O our Heavenly Father, we thank Thee
for the happy, holy communion of prayer
— sweet hour — when Thy Spirit says to
the troubled waters of our daily toil, "Be
still." O teach us how to pray Thy will
— Thy will be done; and to this end may
we ever abide in Thee. We ask for Jesus'
sake. Amen.
ELABORATION.
The prayer of faith is commanded, and
should always be with obedience and
without ostentation; with watchfulness
but not anxiety. Always pray in the
spirit of prayer, not the clamor of idle
wants. Commune and give thanks in
everything, and faint not.
Inquire — Is what I am going to say
true? Is it useful? Is it kind? Hin-
drances: (1) Indulgence in sin; (2) Dim-
ness of perception; (3) Inordinate cares.
You cannot reconcile prayer with God's
immutable law. Law is God's method of
SOUL- WINNING. 87
work — -not God nor his work. Without
God law would fall. Thus government
and law. In God's law provision is made
for prayer. You say, yes, a general pro-
vision. If general, therefore special—
not violent or contradictory. Comply
with the conditions and your prayer will
be answered.
APPLICATION.
Commune with God. O how it cheers
and strengthens! It will give you God-
like attributes, i. e.9 courage, wisdom,
self-denial and love. Pray with and for
the disobedient. Notice: Prayer will of-
ten be the key to open the door in the
obdurate heart for Christ's entrance.
DELIGHT THYSELF IN GOD.
Delight thyself in God,
Raise thou thine eyes above ;
His heart is yearning o'er thee,
His bounty lies before thee ,
Take thou thy fill of love.
The more thy need demands , the more will he
Extend the scepter of his grace to thee.
Delight thyself in God,
And all thou canst require
88 SOUL -WINNING.
Shall be to him well -pleasing ;
So will his love, unceasing,
Give thee thy heart ' s desire .
Pressed to his bosom, guided by his eye,
Thou wilt not ask the things he must deny .
— Lucy A. Bennett.
LESSON VII. OUTLINED.
Personal, Cautions.
DEVOTION.
O what is man that Thou art mindful
of him? Forgive all our over-confidence
and boastf ulness. O may our words and
works be forgotten and perish quickly if
they contradict Thy word and will. O
sustain us, or we fall and are undone.
We ask for Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION AND APPLICATION.
Say, with Paul, " Let him that thinketh
he standeth, take heed lest he fall." I
who have labored for others may be a
castaway. Am I a hearer only, thus
building on sand, and deluding myself?
Do I think myself religious while I bri-
SOUL -WINNING.
die not my tongue? Do I commit the
folly of measuring and comparing my
character with that of my acquaintances?
Do I keep myself unspotted from the evil
in the world, avoiding its very appear-
ance? Have I been neglecting daily pri-
vate prayer and Bible reading? Do I
neglect the appointments of God's house-
hold?
Let me never believe what I feel if it
contradicts God's Word. Never under-
take a hazardous matter without asking
God's blessing and guidance. Never take
my Christianity from Christians, howso-
ever God may have used them, but from
Christ.
SECTION II. EQUIPPED.
LESSON VIII. OUTLINED.
Knowledge of the Scriptures.
DEVOTION.
We thank Thee, our Father in Heaven,
for the " sure word " of Thy Prophets and
Apostles who spake, as commanded, the
word for the healing of the nations.
Help us to familiarize ourselves with Thy
truth. May we never be ashamed of it,
but defend it now that it may defend us
both here and hereafter. We ask for
Jesus' sake. Amen.
ELABORATION.
Our need — the utility of the canon of
Scripture — its scope, purpose, power,
promises, privileges. Search as testimony
of Jesus and eternal life. Search earn-
estly, regularly, carefully, humbly, me-
thodically. It is a library. The rich
(90)
SOUL- WINNING. 91
word of testimony, wisdom, victory,
prophecy and success. Note: It illu-
mines, quickens, cleanses and emanci-
pates. It is a hammer, a two-edged
sword, a mirror, the soul's food.
APPLICATION.
Use the Gospel, God's power unto sal-
vation, the soul's shield; use as an arsenal
for the soul-winner. See example of
Jesus in temptation. In teaching, with
two disciples on the way to Emmaus.
Understand difference between the old
and the new Gospel committed to the
Apostles.
Am I blessed in keeping the word of
the Lord? Do I rejoice therein? Am I
ready with the soft answer to turn away
wrath and to give a reason for my faith?
Do I resist temptation by the power of
God's word within? Can I win souls by
being expert with the sword of the Spirit?
Don't be afraid of " Higher Criticism "
or the study of " Comparative Relig-
ions." The World's Parliament of Re-
ligions demonstrated the superiority of
92 SO UL - W INNING .
Christianity and the Christian Scriptures
over all forms and expressions of faith.
LESSON IX. OUTLINED.
Knowledge of Mankind.
DEVOTION.
O our Father, may we understand the
words of our blessed Lord, "Inasmuch
as thou didst it uuto one of the least of
these, thou didst it unto me." Help us
to see Thy image in humanity, though
marred and effaced. With Thy power
may we take the yielding stone and place
thereon Thy image yet again. For Jesus'
sake.
ELABORATION.
Consider the possibilities of a man in
Jesus Christ, shown in trial, physical, in-
tellectual and spiritual.
c 'So near is glory to our dust — so near is
(jrod to man,
When duty whispers low 'Thou must,' the
Youth replies, 'I can. '
SO UL - WINNING . 93
The test comes in sowing and not reap-
ing, in doing right without reward, in
cutting off kindred for truth's sake.
Consanguineous Ties. — If one member
of the household is joined to Christ and
His people, ordinarily that member, be it
boy or girl, wife or husband, is the one
who can exercise most influence upon the
other members of the family. Be not
diffident or procrastinating about exercis-
ing such influence. If you can save
them, do so; but if there be such an
emergency that you must either give up
your faith and obedience in Christ, in a
word, your soul's integrity, or your peo-
ple, your duty is clear.
Note, if the soul be unconverted it is
" dead in sin," "condemned," "miser-
able," "blind," "naked," "mad,"
"an enemy," "hopeless," "deaf,"
"without excuse," "lost!" But if con-
verted, the antithesis, i. e., "alive,"
" without condemnation," " happy,"
"can hear," "justified," "forgiven,"
"saved!"
94 SO UL- WINNING .
APPLICATION.
"Because others failed, not you, there-
fore. We live not by what we are, but by
wThat we long to be. No one finds a place,
but makes a place. We find opportuni-
ties to some extent; it is love that nerves
us with incessant affirmations. The mo-
ment we admit the carping, fretful, un-
charitable words, then we disintegrate
our force."
The motor for all right achievement
lies in an atmosphere of righteousness
and peace and joy of the Holy Ghost.
Your object in knowing man is that there
may be an abundant entrance into His
Kingdom.
LESSON X. OUTLINED.
What Six Is.
DEVOTION.
Deliver us, O deliver us by Thy strength
in the inner man from the committal and
consequences of sin — that subtle, deceit-
ful and deadly foe that haunts our every
SOUL -WINNING. 95
thought and act. 0 we thank Thee for
the victory through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Washed in the blood of the Lamb.
made clean every whit! Blessed be Thy
wondrous health, forever and forever,
world without end. Amen.
ELABORATION.
Sin defined, " Transgression of law,"
1 John 3: 4; "Transgression through
ignorance," Rom. 10: 3; "Omission of
duty," Jas. 4: 17; Every one a sinner,
1 John 1:8; 1 John 5: 19; Gal. 9: 22;
Devil the author, 1 John 3: 8 and
John 8: 44; Comes from the heart,
Matt. 15: 19; Mark 7; 21-23.
Sin is (a) Rebellion against God.
Titus 1: 16. (b) Abominable to God.
Prov. 15: 9. God knowrs them all.
Psalms 69: 5; Psalms 90: 8. Sin is the
fruit of lust. Jas. 1: 15, and the sting of
death. 1 Cor. 15: 56. Unbelievers "ex-
cuse," "love," "meditate upon," "are
servants of," "throw blame on others,"
"deny their own," "tempt others to sin
and are dead in sin." Sin leads tore-
96 SO UL - WINNING .
morse, shame, afflictions, death. Where-
ever sin is made light of, palliated and
condoned, beware! This is a truly deadly
heresy.
APPLICATION.
Believers should depart from all sin,
avoid the appearance of, be watchful
against, strive against, not partake of
others, reprove and rebuke. By God's
grace this is the sum of our work — to save
and be saved from sin. Those who trust
and obey Jesus, are ashamed of past sins,
shall be forgiven and freed from the
guilt and power of sin. Sin is sin, and
one sin of whatever character has in it
all sin, as the seed has in it the tree.
SIN.
Lord, with what care hast thou begirt us round 1
Parents first season us ; then schoolmasters
Deliver us to laws ; they send us bound
To rules of reason , holy messengers :
Pulpits and Sundays ; sorrow dogging sin ;
Afflictions sorted, anguish of all sizes ;
Fine nets and stratagems to catch us in ;
Bibles laid open ; millions of surprises ;
SOUL -WINNING. 97
Blessings beforehand ; ties of gratefulness ;
The sound of glory in our ears ;
Without, our shame; within, our consciences;
Angels and grace ; eternal hopes and fears ,
Yet all these fences , and their whole array ,
One cunning bosom-sin blows quite away,
— George Herbert,
LESSON XI. OUTLINED.
Know Doctrines.
DEVOTION.
O our Father, purge our rubbish-filled
minds, give only Thy teachings and truth.
May we understand that in Thy kingdom
our functions are neither legislative nor
judicial. May we understand the pre-
cepts and example of our blessed Lord.
We ask for his sake. Amen.
ELABORATION.
The true and only apostolic succession
of our day is to be accounted faithful
and capable of imparting the doctrines
of Jesus Christ. Caution. — "For when
for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye
7
98 SOUL-WIXXIXG.
have need that one teach you again the
first principles of the oracles of God.**
Not confounding the "faith which was
once for all delivered unto the saints "
with the conflicting notions of men, which
are as varied as the customs of men and
as the procession of the centuries.
" If any man teach a different doctrine
and consent not to sound words — the
words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which is according to godli-
ness— he is puffed up, knowing nothing
but doting about questionings and dis-
putes of words." (thus the clashing
creeds of men,) "•whereof cometh envy,
strife, railings, evil surmisings, wran-
glings of men, corrupted in mind and be-
reft of truth, supposing that godliness is
a way of gain.*'
It is said that this matter of doctrine is
a question of interpretation, and every
man has a right to his own interpretation.
rning Interpretation, notice —
Helps. (a) Common sense: (b) Men-
tal industry: (c) Honest heart; (d) As
general and thorough an education as
SOUL- WINNING. 99
possible. Hindrances. (a) Desire to
please the world; (b) The Bible the
property of a select few; (c) Used to
prove pet doctrines; (d) Bible a book of
wonders only; (e) Not intended to un-
derstand; (f) Thirst for distinction.
Consider the following methods or
kinds of interpretation :
/. Mystic Method — from Greek meao,
" to shut the eyes." (a) Originated in
mythology and heathendom; (b) Adopted
by an apostate church to make priests re-
spected. Objections, (a) Permits and
fosters superstition and sects; (b) If the
Bible does not mean what it says, how
can we know what it does mean?
II. Hierarchical Metliod — by priests,
(a) Makes the church the interpreter of
the Bible; (b) Takes the Bible away
from the common people.
III. Rationalistic Metliod — that we
have reason and no need of revelation.
(a) Irrational use of reason; (b) All new
truth at first appears unreasonable; (c)
This method takes no account of internal
and historical evidences and testimonies.
100
SOUL- WINNING.
IV. Dogmatic Method — (a) Bests up-
on scholasticism, i. e., trained men for
defense of doctrine; (b) a searching for
special doctrine — ' ' Trinity, " " Transub-
stantiation," " Total Hereditary Deprav-
ity," etc.; (c) exalts tradition and specu-
lations of men to a level with God's word.
V. Inductive Method, "in ductio " —
(a) Supposed freedom from bias; (b)
goes from particular to general; (c) the
sum of observations and experiences; (d)
Law, History, Medicine, this method; (e)
bad tendency to deduce before we suffi-
ciently induce; (f) uses analysis and syn-
thesis; (g) this method more than eclec-
tic — ab initio different — as difference
between a God revealed and an idol man-
ufactured.
APPLICATION.
2 Tim. 2: 22-25: "But flee youthful
lusts, and follow after righteousness,
faith, love, peace, with them that call
on the Lord out of a pure heart. But
foolish and ignorant questionings refuse,
knowing that they gender strifes. And
SOUL- WINNING. 101
the Lord's servant must not strive, but be
gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbear-
ing, in meekness correcting them that
oppose themselves. If peradventure God
may give them repentance unto the
knowledge of the truth."
John 7: 16, 17: " Jesus therefore an-
swered them, and said, My teaching is not
mine, but his that sent me. If any man
willeth to do his will, he shall know of
the teaching, whether it be of God, or
whether I speak from myself."
LESSON XII. OUTLINED.
Judgment.
DEVOTION.
We praise Thee, O Lord, that Thou art
known by the judgment Thou executest.
Established in Thy righteousness, may we
ever confess it just. Help us that we may
understand Thy decrees and be content
with Thy sovereign Judgeship. We ask
for Jesus' sake. Amen.
102 SOUL- WINNING .
ELABORATION.
God's judgment is (1) without respect
of persons; (2) according to deeds; (3)
according to words; (4) according to the
thoughts; (5) according to the use of
entrusted gifts and talents; (6) the words
spoken by Christ shall judge men. John
12: 48: "Take heed therefore how ye
hear."
Man's judgment. (1) Judge not; (2)
reflex — as ye judge so shall ye be judged;
(3) by external appearances; (4) always
with lack of data — must determine his
own action — i. e., "Let every man be
fully persuaded in his own mind."
APPLICATION.
We too often arrogate to ourselves
the prerogative of the Almighty, hence,
church strife. Withholding judgment
does not necessarily involve surrender, or
even compromise principle. " One is our
Master." Engross this motto on the tab-
let of your heart and bigotry and conceit
and vanity and pride will withdraw.
In treating with those out of Christ, we
SOUL- WINNING. 103
reason with them and do not judge them;
we present Christ to them; they stand
condemned by their own action if Christ
is rejected. Take pains and present the
true Christ !
LESSON XIII. OUTLINED.
Principles of Imparting Faith.
DEVOTION.
We thank Thee for the abundant facil-
ities of our day for teaching Thy truth.
Grant to us a breadth and depth of prin-
ciple that shall accomplish Thy will
among men. For Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION.
Man is infinitely honored in being made
the dwelling-place, custodian and medium
of divine life. "That which is born of
the flesh is flesh, and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit."
Principle: (1) Point of sympathy —
Adapt what is said and done to win the
soul to that soul's condition and capac-
ity to grasp.
104 80 UL - WINNING .
(2) Take the soul xoitli you — Maintain
the attention and co-operative industry of
the soul in its apprehension of, and obe-
dience to, divine truth.
(3) Use of illustrations — Familiar,
easy to be understood ; for both eye and
ear; the child needs more than the adult.
(4) Necessity of repetition — So little is
retained; it must be blow after blow; the
familiar is enjoyed because it means thor-
oughness; give the outline of prayer
again and again and again; the same
moral precepts viewed again and again
from all angles.
APPLICATION.
By and by you marshal all these apt
and saving truths that have been driven
by blow after blow into the very life of
the soul, and the soul can withstand the
demands of th£ faith no longer, but yields
a loving obedience to the Christ, "is
buried with him by baptism unto death "
to rise in the new life of the blessed Holy
Spirit, whereof its tunefulness and fra-
grance shall make all earth and heaven
rejoice.
PART III.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
LESSON I. OUTLINED.
The Kingdom as Outlined by Jesus
Christ in the Gospels.
DEVOTION.
We thank Thee, O our Heavenly Father,
for the glorious vision of the New Jerusa-
lem— the white four-square city, where
the power of Thy Spirit, felt, though un-
seen, extends over all its beneficent sway.
May we expect, desire and labor for none
other than that kingdom inaugurated and
described by Jesus the Lord !
ELABORATION.
The Kingdom obscured because thought
of as some scholastic ecclesiasticism. Not
so. John heralded the coming King and
kingdom — the Christ and His Spirit reign.
Jesus sets forth in His beatitudes (Matt.
'5: 3-16 and the like) the character of its
subjects, and describes the Kingdom in
the many parables: "It is like" (1)
Sower; (2) Leaven; (3) Treasure in
(107)
108 SOUL- WINNING.
Field; (4) Mustard Seed; (5) Net Cast
into the Sea; (6) Marriage of the King's
Son; (7) Ten Virgins; (8) The Talents,
etc. ; and is further described in other
figures as Christ's Household, sheep-fold,
etc.
Kingdom and Church synonymously
used: The word "Church" occurs but
twice in the Gospels. Matt. 16: 18, "And
I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my
Church ; and the gates of Hades shall not
prevail against it." Matt. 18: 17, "And
if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the
Church: and if he refuse to hear the
Church also, let him be unto thee as the
Gentile and the publican." The word
used here as " church," and elsewhere as
"kingdom," means " assembled," " asso-
ciated," "realm" and cognate expres-
sions to cover the various ideas of rt^ler
and subjects, institutes and ordinances,
also the Gospel dispensation — the exten-
sion and general diffusion of the Chris-
tianity of Christ.
SOUL- WINNING. 109
THE SURE FOUNDATION STONE.
The foolish builders, scribe and priest,
Reject it with disdain ;
Yet on this rock the Church shall rest,
And envy rage in vain .
What though the gates of Hell withstood,
Yet must this building rise :
'Tis thine own work, Almighty God,
And wondrous in our eyes.
— Isaac Watts.
APPLICATION.
The Kingdom is not, (1) a club of spec-
ulators in either physics or metaphysics;
(2) the piously disposed followers of
fashion; (3) an association of aesthetic
literary characters; (4) an aggregation
of self-satisfied religious devotees. The
Kingdom occupies ground infinitely higher
and broader and deeper than any one or
all of these. It is of Divine origin, with
appointments adapted to bring the entire
family of man into harmony with the will
of God, and we are fellow-laborers with
God. Where do I stand?
110 SO UL- WINNING .
LESSON II. OUTLINED.
The First Christian Church, axd How
the Apostles Made Disciples.
DEVOTION.
We adore Thee, O Thou infinitely lov-
ing One, for all the provisions for and
associations of grace. May we faithfully
follow Him who is the author and finisher
of our faith until His blessed brother-
hood girdles the globe. Amen.
ELABORATION.
The Acts of the Apostles is an exceed-
ingly important book, especially in this
connection, as it is the authentic and ac-
curate history that every soul-winner must
know in order to build upon the sure
foundation.
Read the first and second chapters, and
especially Acts 2: 41, 42, for the nature
and essential conditions of church fellow-
ship and communion: (1) Baptism, im-
plying faith and repentance; (2) Apos-
tolic doctrine and teaching; (3) The
Lord's Supper; (4) Public worship — thus
SOUL-WINNING. Ill
enumerated and established for all time.
Beginning at Jerusalem the Word was
to go forth (Luke 24: 47). Notice how
disciples were made (first) on the day of
Pentecost: (a) Holy Ghost (Acts 2: 33;
1:4,5,8; 2:4); (b) Peter's work, the
speaker (Acts 2: 14, 37); Kingdom to be
set up (Matt. 16: 18; Acts 1:6-8; Dan.
2: 44; Matt. 3: 2; 4: 17; 10: 7; Luke
10: 9).
Conditions of citizenship stated (Acts
2: 38, 41, 47). Argument in detail as to
induce faith (Acts 2: 14-36). The peo-
ple's work (Acts 2: 37, 41, 42, 47). The
kingdom begins as spoken and promised
in Daniel and Luke 24: 17. Baptized
"into His name," i. e., in submission to
his authority. Continuing the history in
Acts, see also case of the Samaritan,
Acts 8: 1-17; eunuch, Acts 8: 25-40; Saul,
Acts 9: 1-18; 22: 6-16; first Gentiles, Acts
10: 30-48; Lydia and household, Acts
16: 13-15; Philippian jailer, Acts 16: 25-
34; general statements, Acts 11: 20, 21;
18: 8, and Romans 10: 11-17.
Miracles in the Early Church. — Pur-
112 SO UL- WINNING .
pose (Acts 14: 3; 19: II, 12, and 1 Cor.
14: 22). Truth once established miracles
cease (1 John 5: 9, 10; Luke 16: 29-31;
1 Cor. 12: 30, 31, and 1 Cor. 13). Why,
then, have miracles (in that sense) ceased?
Answer: The purpose is accomplished;
what began in miracle continues by nat-
ural law, i. e.9 ordained agencies; thus
the facts of creation. See Gen. 1: 11, 28.
In a miraculous way the church is orig-
inated; the "Gospel" is its means of re-
production.
Notice Paul's illustration of the Kings
dom and its Unity (Eph. 4: 1-16):
(a) Unity of Headship — "One Lord."
(b) Unity of belief—" One Faith."
(c) Unity of obedience — "One Bap-
tism."
(d) Unity of hope of eternal life —
"One hope of your calling."
(e) Unity of "Spirit in bond of
peace."
(f) Unity of organization — "One
Body."
SO UL - WINNING . 113
APPLICATION.
Beware the tendency toward intoler-
ance, narrowness, and toward giving local
coloring and boundaries to the Church,
destroying thus its beauty, power and
universality.
Notice. — We are set for the restoration
of the faith — its fruits, its ordinances
and its life — for the Kingdom in its full-
ness. How do you stand this moment?
GLORIOUS ZION.
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion , city of our God !
He whose word cannot be broken ,
Formed thee for His own abode.
On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose !
— John Newton.
LESSON III. OUTLINED.
Organization.
DEVOTION.
We love Thy Kingdom, O Lora. Grant
that we may not dread the drudgery of
detailed duty. We pray Thee that the
8
114 SOUL- WINNING .
agencies and machinery for the evangel-
ization of the great cities and of the
world may be forthcoming, and that this
soul-winners' training-class may contrib-
ute to this glorious end. To Thee we will
ascribe all praise, through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
ELABORATION.
The constitutional principle in the life
of the Kingdom is Love (John 13 : 34, 35 ;
1 John 4: 7, 8; 1 Tim. 1:5-7: 1 Cor. 13).
Hence the true purpose and scope of dis-
cipline and edification is to build up and
preserve in Love.
Organization means to give instruments
or organs of action. Is there a work to
do? There must be an order of proced-
ure— a way to do it — "first apostles, then
evangelists, pastors, teachers." The work
and its character called for the workers
and determined their character and
duties (Acts 6: 3-5). Consider the nature
of the work of the Kingdom. Is it legis-
lative? No; Christ gave the constitu-
tional law, and established the nature of
SOUL- WINNING. 115
its precepts and institutes forever. Is it
judicial? No, certainly not primarily so;
God is sole Judge. The fruits make man-
ifest— our lives too short and eyes too
dim to see all fruit. The final day shall
reveal all. Christ's word shall judge.
What, then, is the character of the work?
It is administrative — "oversee," "feed,"
"serve." Beginning with Love, Faith
and Hope must follow. We have worked
from the wrong end. Mark this, it is
vital and fundamental. Don't think to
work through Faith and Hope to attain
Love, but to work through Love to attain
Faith and Hope. Christ-like service is
the secret.
"It is said truly that hundreds of ingeni-
ous inventions die every year for lack of
ready hands to seize upon and work them,
while hundreds more die because, while
they have been in the course of develop-
ment, other and better ones have super-
seded them." The Church has been en-
deavoring for more than eighteen cen-
turies to apply the gospel to humanity:
most ingenious have been many of the
116 SOUL- WINNING.
plans and methods. Nature is full of or-
ganization, and the patent-office is full of
inventions; and man, as he attains pur-
poses spiritual, seeks an orderly arrange-
ment for the expression and execution of
such purposes. But organizations within
the Church have multiplied. Certainly.
"We organize for this, that and the other
thing, and everything. Of course; and
just as our thought and purposes intens-
ify and widen, we will continue. But or-
ganizations are defective; yes, and so are
purposes. Now at any given time the
thing containing the highest, best devel-
oped and truest purpose will arrive at the
corresponding least defective organiza-
tion; they are so essentially correlated.
Witness foreign missions. Burden the
Church with the sincere purpose to con-
vert the heathen, and it finds practical
issue through organization. As the pur-
pose grows and is purified and intensified,
the organization seeks to adjust itself to
reduce friction and facilitate a practical
co-operation conformable to the law of
economy.
80 UL - WINNING . 117
• All too defective are our organizations,
as all too lame and halt are our purposes.
The battle is by no means won — barely
begun; let us hold the vantage ground
and press on.
APPLICATION.
Take home to yourself the reasonable-
ness of the foregoing view, because it is
set forth in the Scriptures and is conceded
by the Christian world; in it is the requi-
site latitude for diversity of talents co-
existent with the complexities of the
field, the true unity in diversity.
ROOM FOR YOU.
Who shall sweep away the errors
Crowding on us from the past?
Who shall clear the mists and shadows
That the future overcast?
Soon we busy , teeming millions ,
Will have ended all this strife ;
And the myriads crowding on us
Must take up the task of life.
Ah ! the workers in the vineyard
Are too faint and all to few ;
And the field of honest effort
Ever waits, young friends , for you.
118 SOUL- WINNING.
Room for boyhood, strong and sturdy—
Boyhood manly, brave and true ;
Room for honest , lusty vigor —
Room, my young friends — room for you.
Room for every sweet -voiced singer
That can thrill the heart with song ;
Room for thoughts, and words, and actions,
That will drive the world along.
— George R. Howarth.
LESSON V. OUTLINED.
The Visible and Local Congregation.
DEVOTION.
O our Divine Father, accept our praise
for Thy wondrous economy. Grant that
Ave may apprehend the things divinely
practical to the end that now and here
Thy will may be done and Thy Kingdom
come in fullness. We ask for Jesus' sake.
ELABORATION.
The idea of the Church invisible and
universal comes from that of the visible
and local, else intangible and impractica-
SOUL- WINNING. 119
ble, and as a matter of fact this statement
stands unimpeacbed. The officers we
read of in the New Testament are almost
entirely for service in the local congrega-
tion. The desirability and necessity for
co-operation among local congregations
gave rise to officers with various func-
tions; all such retained fellowship in
some local congregation. The ordinances
— baptism and the Lord's Supper — are
not to be conceived as having an invisi-
ble, universal existence, but on the con-
trary are dependent upon local congrega-
tions for their perpetuity.
One is culpable if being engrossed in
the work of the local congregation he is
disloyal to the general co-operation, and
vice versa, viz., being so engrossed in the
ultra-spiritualized work of the general
movement as to be out of harmony with
the local congregation. No man can be-
long to an army unless he belongs to a
company.
Christians "in the broad," i. e.9 not
affiliated with a congregation, are not in
Christ's fold, but trying some other way.
120 SO UL - WINNING .
Christ ordained the local, as also the gen-
eral, but the latter through the former.
APPLICATION.
Many we visit are singularly ethereal
Christians. Yes, " Christians," but not
enlisted for duty; soldiers on a strictly
"peace-footing." What an anomaly.
How is it with yourself?
LESSON V. OUTLINED.
Thixgs Doxe to Build up the Con-
gregation.
DEVOTION.
O our Father, we thank Thee for the
glorious participation in Thy Cause and
Kingdom. May we exercise ourselves to
the salvation of ourselves and those whom
we may be instrumental in influencing,
acknowledging and using all the blessed
means of Grace vouchsafed to us through
Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory
and majesty, dominion and power, hence-
forth and evermore. Amen.
SOUL- WINNING. 121
ELABORATION.
The object of Law is the preservation
of life. "An ordinance (law) is a rule
established by authority." — Webster. The
ordinances are, (1) "Baptism; " (2)
Lord's Supper; " (3) "Prayer;" (4)
"Blessing" or "Praise and Thanksgiv-
ing;" (5) "Teaching;" (6) "Serving;"
(7) "Giving;" (8) "Showing mercy;"
(9) "Presiding." Participation of the
members in public worship is for edifica-
tion. Read 1 Cor. 14: 26, 33, 40.
APPLICATION.
The Sunday-school, Young People's
Societies, Church Extension Boards, etc.,
with the classes in soul-winning, serve
some, many, or all of these ordinances,
as the case may be ; therefore an integral
part of the Church as a unit, and if con-
ducted in the spirit of their formation
are growths, not outside of, distinct from,
or in any way antagonistic to, the church,
local or general; but on the contrary are
parts of an harmonious whole, manifest-
ing the varied activities of that present
122 SOUL- WINNING.
organization which is destined, under its
divine Founder and Leader to conquer
the world !
LESSON VI. OUTLINED.
Kelation of Congregations to Each
Other.
DEVOTION.
Especially are we grateful, O Lord, for
the fellowship of the saints that broadens
our service and our sympathy. Help us
in our acts of co-operation and missionary
enterprises till Thy Kingdom come in the
hearts of all in blessed fullness.
ELABORATION.
I. Older churches planted new ones
and provided for their instruction: (a)
Jerusalem Church, Acts 8: 14-17, 25, 40;
Acts 9: 31, 32; Acts 11: 19-2(3; (b) Anti-
och Church, Acts 13: 1-5; Acts 14: 23-28;
Acts 15: 40; 1 Thes. 2: 5-16; Gal. 2: 9.
II. By means of Committees or dele-
gates, congregations conferred on matters
SOUL- WINNING. 123
of teaching and discipline, Acts 15: 1-6.
III. Congregations co-operated by
means of Committees in relieving distress
in time of famine, Acts 11: 27-30; Acts
12: 25; 1 Cor. 16: 1-4; 2 Cor. 8: 1-15;
2 Cor. 9 : 1-5. So carry the Bread of Life
to all — no foreign country — all earth is
unalienized.
IV. Co-operated in supporting evan-
gelist in starting new work, 2 Cor. 11 : 8-9 ;
1 Tim. 5: 17-19; Phil. 4: 14-18; 1 Cor.
16: 15-18.
V. Co-operation avoids waste, over-
lapping, the prejudice of ignorance, while
it fosters and induces economy, promotes
acquaintance and wisdom, develops pow-
er, concentrates endeavor and fulfills the
will and purpose of God in Christ. In
our day if Protestants and Roman Catho-
lics were one in Christ, how it would ex-
alt the Book, the Christ and heavenly
love!
How it would dismay and dumbfound
the devil ! How it would spread the earth
as the waters of the deep and no man
could say, "No one careth for my soul."
124 SO UL - WINNING .
If as one man we could unite in conduct-
ing charities, in enforcing law and order,
suppressing impure literature, and in the
promotion of temperance to the absolute
prohibition of the poisonous alcoholic
beverages, how quickly the jails, work-
houses and penitentiaries, the hospitals
and the eleemosynary institutions would
disappear ! Instead of influencing and sav-
ing a possible one-fifth of our youth and
one-fifth of our adult population, to have
our youth and adult citizenship, knowing
neither male nor female, not only nom-
inally, but really Christians, O how it
would relegate to the limbo of darkness
and death from whence they spring, the un-
scrupulous competitions and awful enor-
ities of so-called respectable businesses
that now mar and blight all branches of
civil and religious life ! Why so sure of
this? Because disciples cannot be united
until we become "one as I am in the
Father." This, the sublime, harmonious
symphony of earth and heaven.
PART IV.
DISOBEDIENCE EXAMINED.
INTRODUCTION.
While the excuses for declining to obey
Christ are almost innumerable, neverthe-
less arrows of truth in the Bible quiver
are plentiful to pierce them all.
We come now to the ;6 ' face-to-face "
work, when soul wrestles with soul. Only
those who have been so engaged may
know the soul-winner's unspeakable pleas-
ure in seeing the lip quiver, the eye suf-
fuse with tears and the bosom swell with
intense emotion as the soul is brought
into the Kingdom; and as for such soul in
its obedience,
' 'Earth has a joy unknown in heaven,
The new-born joy of sins forgiven!
Tears of such pure and deep delight,
O angels, never dimmed your sight. ' '
O soul-winner, work in no other spirit
than God's Holy Spirit! Converse with
one person at a time and out of hearing
of others if possible. Seek for serious-
(127)
128 SO UL ■ WINNING.
ness; proceed cautiously; find by judi-
cious questioning the state of the one out
of Christ — to what class he belongs and
what his condition, difficulties, reasons,
excuses and objections are; then fix your
mind on his individuality. All the work
of Jesus Christ, the prophets and apos-
tles, all your studies in soul-winning are
to fit you for this occasion. Put into it
all your intellectual and spiritual vigor.
(Necessarily from the abridged character
of this treatise, all shades of disobedi-
ence cannot be discussed, only outlines
are attempted.) Seek for the point of
sympathy and insert the Gospel blade^
"For the word of Grod is quick," etc.
Heb. 4: 13.
SECTION A.
The Superficial.
A vast number belong to this class, and
so mixed, complicated and conflicting are
the conditions that we must overcome in-
difference and superficiality by our earn-
estness and insight; although a difficulty
SOUL- WINNING. 129
appears shallow and slight to you, it may
be real and serious to the halting one.
All classes enter into the blessings and
benedictions of Christianity, although
many neither confess Christ nor support
His cause. Such stupidity and ingrati-
tude would be incredible if it were not so
common and so patent.
I. LACK OF DEEP CONVICTION.
Matt. 13: 5, 6: "And others fell upon
the rocky places, where they had not
much earth : and straightway they sprang
up, because they had no deepness of
earth : and when the sun was risen, they
were scorched ; and because they had no
root they withered away."
John 1 : 10 : " He was in the world, and
the world was made by him, and the world
knew him not."
Matt. 22: 5: "But they made light of
it, and went their ways, one to his own
farm, another to his merchandise."
II. " STILL A LITTLE SKEPTICAL."
John 7: 16, 17: "Jesus therefore an-
swered them, and said, My teaching is not
130 SOUL- WINNING.
mine, but his that sent me. If any man
willeth to do his will, he shall know of
the teaching, whether it be of God, or
whether I speak from myself."
John 20: 31: "Bat these are written
that ye may believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God ; and that believ-
ing, ye may have life in his name."
III. " WAIT UNTIL A MORE CONVENIENT
TIME."
2 Cor. 6: 1, 2: "And working together
with him we entreat also that ye receive
not the grace of God in vain. (For he
saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened
unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I
succour thee ; behold, now is the accept-
able time; behold, now is the day of sal-
vation)."
Heb. 3: 13: "But exhort one another
day by day, so long as it is called to-day;
lest any one of you be hardened by the
deceitfulness of sin."
Acts 24: 25: "And as he reasoned of
righteousness, and temperance, and the
judgment to come, Felix was terrified,
SOUL- WINNING. 131
and answered, Go thy way for this time ;
and when I have a convenient season, I
will call thee unto me."
Jas. 4: 13, 14: "Go to now, ye that
say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into
this city, and spend a year there, and
trade and get gain; whereas ye know
not what shall be on the morrow. What
is your life? For ye are a vapour, that
appeareth for a little time, and then van-
isheth away."
Jas. 4: 17: "To him therefore that
knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to
him it is sin."
Eccl. 12: 1: "Remember also thy Cre-
ator in the days of thy youth, or ever the
evil days come, and the years draw nigh,
when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure
in them."
Prov. 8: 17: "I love them that love
me; and those that seek me diligently
shall find me."
Isa. 55 : 6 : " Seek ye the Lord while he
may be found, call ye upon him while he
is near."
Matt. 24: 44: "Therefore be ye also
132 SOUL WINNING.
ready : for in an hour that ye think not
the Son of man cometh."
Heb. 3: 15: " While it is said, To-day
if ye shall hear his voice, harden not your
hearts, as in the provocation."
IV. LOVE OF EASE.
Matt. 10: 38, 39: "And he that doth
not take his cross and follow after me, is
not worthy of me. He that findeth his
life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life
for my sake shall find it."
Matt. 19 : 27, 29 : "Then answered Peter
and said unto him, Lo, we have left all,
and followed thee; what then shall we
have? And every one that hath left
houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father,
or mother, or children or lands, for my
name's sake, shall receive a hundred fold,
and shall inherit eternal life."
V. NOT CALLED YET — WANT SPECIAL SIGN.
Acts 22: 16: "And now why tarriest
thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on His name."
Luke 19: 41, 42: "And when he drew
SO UL- WINNING . 133
nigh, he saw the city, and wept over it,
saying, If thou hadst known in this day,
even thou, the things which belong unto
peace ! but now they are hid from thine
eyes."
Matt. 12: 38, 39: "Then certain of the
scribes and Pharisees answered him, say-
ing, Master, we would see a sign from
thee. But he answered and said unto
them, An evil and adulterous generation
seeketh after a sign : and there shall no
sign be given to it but the sign of Jonah
the prophet."
Luke 16: 30, 31: "And he said, Nay,
father Abraham : but if one go to them
from the dead, they will repent. And he
said unto him, If they hear not Moses and
the prophets, neither will they be per-
suaded, if one rise from the dead."
Rom. 1: 16: "For lam not ashamed
of the gospel : for it is the power of God
unto salvation to every one that believ-
eth; to the Jew first and also to the
Greek."
134 SOUL- WINNING.
VI. CONTROVERSIAL SPIRIT.
Matt. 22 : 15, 23, 34, 35, 41, 42 : " Then
went the Pharisees, and took counsel how
they might ensnare him in his talk. On
that day there came to him Sadducees,
which say that there is no resurrection.
But the Pharisees, when they heard that
he had put the Sadducees to silence,
gathered themselves together. And one
of them, a lawyer, asked him a question,
tempting him. Now while the Pharisees
were gathered together, Jesus asked them
a question, saying, What think ye of the
Christ? whose Son is he? They say unto
him, The son of David."
VII. "WONT BELIEVE WHAT I DO NOT
UNDERSTAND."
John 3:9: "Nicodemus answered and
said unto him, How can these things be?"
John 6 : 52 : " The Jews therefore strove
with one another, saying, How can this
man give us his flesh to eat?"
John 6: 60: "Many therefore of his
disciples, when they heard this, said, This
is a hard saying; who can hear it?"
SOUL- WINNING. 135
Acts 17: 32: "Now when they heard
of the resurrection of the dead, some
mocked; but others said, We will tear
thee concerning this yet again."
1 Cor. 2 : 14 : " Now the natural man re-
ceiveth not the things of the Spirit of God :
for they are foolishness unto him; and he
cannot know them, because they are spir-
itually examined."
2 Cor. 8: 12: "For if the readiness is
there, it is acceptable according as a man
hath, not according as he hath not."
Rom. 10: 8: "But what saith it? The
word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in
thy heart : that is the word of faith which
we preach."
2 Peter 3: 16: "As also in all his epis-
tles, speaking in them of these things;
wherein are some things hard to be un-
derstood, which the ignorant and unsted-
fast wrest, as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own destruction."
PRAYER.
O our Father in heaven, help us a* we
engage in thy blessed work. May we
136 SOUL- WINNING .
have a ready mind and plain speech to
convince the wavering and move them
to action; and grant that our work may
stand the tests of time' and eternity.
We ask for Jesus' sake. Amen.
SECTION .B.
The Apostate.
There are those open apostates who go
"out from us, because they are not of
us." There are those reprobates who are
still maintaining some sort of a profession
of religion, but lead wicked lives. There
are also those who with their religious
pretensions maintain a fair outward life,
but are backsliders in heart. It is a most
sad and unsettled condition — most unac-
countable excuses and flimsy difficulties
are presented. Great forbearance and
patience are required to work with such
characters, because one feels that as they
fell away once, they perhaps are subject
to falls. Remember God's grace is suffi-
cient for us and for them.
SOUL- WINNING. 137
VIII. (1) "CANNOT HOLD OUT."
Jer. 2: 13: "For my people have com-
mitted two evils; they have forsaken me,
the fountain of living waters, and hewed
them out cisterns, that can hold no
water."
1 Cor. 10: 13: "There hath no tempta-
tion taken you but such as man can bear:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer
you to be tempted above that ye are able ;
but will with the temptation make also
the way of escape, that ye may be able to
endure it."
Eom. 8: 38, 39: "For I am persuaded,
that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall
be able to separate us from the love of
God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Mark 4: 18, 19: "And others are they
that are sown among the thorns; these
are they that have heard the word, and
the cares of the world, and the deceitf ill-
ness of riches, and the lusts of other
138 SOUL- WINNING .
things entering in, choke the word, and it
becometh unfruitful."
John 10: 27-30: "My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow
me : And I give unto them eternal life ;
and they shall never perish, and no one
shall snatch them out of my hand. My
Father, which hath given them unto me,
is greater than all; and no one is able to
snatch them out of the Father's hand. I
and the Father are one."
Kev. 3: 14-17: "And to the angel of
the church in Laodicea write: These
things saith the Amen, the faithful and
true witness, the beginning of the cre-
ation of God: I know thy works, that
thou art neither cold nor hot: I would
thou were cold or hot. So because thou
art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,
I will spew thee out of my mouth."
ix. (2) "tried without success."
John 8: 12: "Again therefore Jesus
spake unto them, saying, I am the light
of the world : he that f olloweth me shall
SOUL- WINNING. 139
not walk in the darkness, but shall have
the light of life."
1 Peter 4: 19: "Wherefore let them
also that suffer according to the will of
God, commit their souls in well-doing
unto a faithful Creator. ' '
Pro v. 14: 14: "The backslider in heart
shall be filled with his own ways; and a
good man shall be satisfied from him-
self.5'
2 Peter 2: 20, 21: "For if, after they
have escaped the defilements of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, they are again en-
tangled therein and overcome, the last
state is become worse with them than the
first. For it were better for them not to
have known the way of righteousness,
than, after knowing it, to turn back from
the holy commandment delivered unto
them."
Luke 9: 62: "But Jesus said unto
him, No man, having put his hand to the
plough, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God."
140 SO UL - WINNING .
X. (3) "INCONSISTENCIES of chris-
tians.''
Jude 12, 13: "These are they who are
hidden rocks in your love-feasts when
they feast with you, shepherds that with-
out fear feed themselves; clouds without
water, carried along by winds; autumn
trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked
up by the roots; wild waves of the sea,
foaming out their own shame ; wandering
stars, for whom the blackness of dark-
ness hath been reserved forever."
Eom. 14: 4: "Who art thou that judg-
est the servant of another? to his own
lord he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall
be made to stand; for the Lord hath
power to make him stand."
Kom. 14: 12: "So then each one of
us shall give account of himself to God."
1 John 3 : 10 : "In this the children of
God are manifest, and the children of the
devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness
is not of God, neither he that loveth not
his brother."
John 21 : 21, 22 : "Peter therefore see-
SOUL -WINNING. 141
ing him, saith to Jesus, Lord, and what
shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him,
If I will that he tarry till I come, what is
that to thee? follow thou me."
XI. (4) "TOO GREAT A SINNER."
Phil. 1:6: "That the fellowship of thy
faith may become effectual, in the knowl-
edge of every good thing which is in you,
unto Christ."
John 6 : 37 : "All that which the Father
giveth me shall come unto me; and him
that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast
out."
Isa. 1: 18: "Come, now, and let us
reason together, saith the Lord: though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like
crimsom, they shall be as wool."
1 Peter 2 : 24, 25 : " Who his own self
bare our sins in his body upon the tree,
that we, having died unto sins, might live
unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye
were healed. For ye were going astray
like sheep: but are now returned unto
the Shepherd and Bishop of your soul."
142 SO UL- WINNING .
PRAYER.
O our Father, we thank Thee for all Thy
blessed promises. Grant that the envi-
ronment of all may be so surcharged with
Christian sentiment that our weaker
brethren may find no occasion of stumb-
ling. Forgive the hosts of the backsliding
Israel who come back to Thee from
wretched wanderings in the wilderness of
sin. For Jesus' sake. Amen.
SECTION C.
The Bewildered.
Confusion is the occasion of accidents,
calamities and disasters, and which in
turn are joined to superstition. It is
said, "It is better to have no opinion of
God at all, than such an opinion as is un-
worthy of Him; for the one is unbelief,
the other is contumely; and certainly
superstition is the reproach of Deity."
However, of two such ills, little practical
purpose is served by determining (if we
were able) which' is the greater. Igno-
SOUL- WINNING. 143
ranee and false lights entail enslaving
enormities upon the sons of men, and if
there be added thereto extreme reverence
for tradition, progress would be effectu-
ally blocked. The very best of us are
only partially enlightened ; each year and
day adds its quota of light, if so be we
are ever moving towards that goal in
which there is fullness of light.
XII. (1) THE SUPERSTITIOUS.
Matt. 24: 24, 25 : " For there shall rise
false Christs, and false prophets, and
shall show great signs and wonders; so as
to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Behold, I have told you beforehand."
Acts 17: 22, 23, 25, 29: "And Paul
stood in the midst of the Areopagus, and
said, Ye men of Athens, in all things I
perceive that ye are somewhat supersti-
tious. For as I passed along, and ob-
served the objects of your worship, I
found also an altar with this inscription,
to an unknown god. What therefore ye
worship in ignorance, this set I forth unto
you. He dwelleth not in temples made
1 44 SO UL - WINNING .
with hands: neither is he served by men's
hands, as though he needed anything,
seeing he himself giveth to all life, and
breath, and all things: and he made of
one every nation of men to dwell on all
the face of the earth. Being then the
offspring of God, we ought not to think
that the Godhead is like unto gold, or sil-
ver, or stone, graven by art and device of
man.*'
XIU. (I?) SPIRITUAL BUNDNESS, IGNORANCE.
Luke 4: IS: " He sent me to proclaim
release to the captives, the recovering of
sight to the blind."
Luke 11 : 84: " The lamp of thy body
is thine eye: when thine eye is single, thy
whole body also is full of light: but when
it is evil, thy body is also full of dark-
ness."
1 John 1: 5, 6: "And this is the mes-
sage which we have heard from him. and
announce unto you. that God is light, and
in him is no darkness at all. If we say
that we have fellowship with him. and
walk in darkness, we lie. and do not the
truth."
SOUL- WINNING. 145
1 John 2: 4: "He that saith I know
him, and kecpeth not his commandments,
is a liar and the truth is not in him."
2 Peter 3: 8, 9: "But forget not tin-
one thing, beloved, that one day is with
the Lord as a thousand years, and a thou-
sand years as one day. The, Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, us some
count slackness ; but is long-suffering to
you-ward, not wishing that any should
perish, but that all should come to re-
pentance."
John 17: 3: "And this is life eternal,
that they should know thee, the only true
God, and him whom thou didst send,
Jesus Christ."
Matt. 16: 16: "And Simon Peter an-
swered and said, Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living God."
XIV. (3) HUMAN TRADITIONS TOO MUCH
REGABDED.
Matt. 15: 9: "But in vain do they
worship me, teaching as their doctrine
the precepts of men."
2 Tim. 4: 2, 3: "Preach the Word; be
10
146 SOUL- WINNING.
instant in season, out of season; reprove,
rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering
and teaching. For the time will come
when they will not endure the sound doc-
trine, but having itching ears, will heap
to themselves teachers after their own
lusts; and will turn away their ears from
the truth, and turn aside unto fables."
PRAYER.
O our Father, we thank Thee for the
" Light of the World." May ignorance,
and superstition and human vanity no
more hold sway over our hearts; help us
to always do those things which are right
in thy sight, whether or not it meet the
approval of men. We ask for Jesus'
sake. Amen
SECTION D.
Commending Themselves.
The human heart is desperately wicked
and deceitful. No one of the "works of
the flesh " — " fornication, uncleanness,
SOUL- WINNING. 147
lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities,
strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divis-
ions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness and
revelings" — but that not only find de-
votees, but also those who will bring forth
somewhere something to commend in
each.
Rarely, if ever, is the sin, per se9 com-
mended; but when the individual is in-
volved, the apology is forthcoming; such
is the depth of human depravity as not
only to commit these things, but to boast
of them. This disposition to commend
our practices leads men to fashion God to
suit themselves — to even manufacture
gods of their appetites, their avarice, or
their ambition.
So common and universal is this ten-
dency that some contend there is no reve-
lation of God, ab extra, but that man has
only idealized the creations of his own
imagination.
These self-commending people are es-
pecially prone to wrest the Scriptures to
their own destruction. Ignorant of the
148 SO UL - WINNING .
righteousness of God, they are zealous in
establishing their own righteousness.
Disobedience coming directly or indi-
rectly from this predisposition is observ-
able everywhere; intelligent faith alone
is capable of successfully contending with
such.
XV. (1) LOVE OF PRAISE.
John 12 : 43 : " They loved the glory of
men more than the glory of God."
John 5: 44: "How can ye believe
which receive glory one of another, and
the glory that cometh from the only God
ye seek not? "
Isa. 55: 8: "For my thoughts are not
as your thoughts, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the Lord."
Prov. 16: 25: "There is a way which
seemeth right unto a man, but the end
thereof are the ways of death."
XVI. (2) FEAR OF MAN.
John 7: 12, 13: "And there was much
murmuring among the multitudes con-
cerning him; some said, He is a good
SOUL- WINNING. 149
man; others said, Not so, but he leadeth
the multitude astray. Howbeit no man
spake openly of him for fear of the
Jews."
John 12: 42: "Nevertheless even of
the rulers many believed on him; but be-
cause of the Pharisees they did not con-
fess it, lest they should be put out of the
synagogue."
XVII. (3) NOT WILLING TO LEAVE IMPENI-
TENT ASSOCIATES.
2 Cor. 6 : 16-18 : "And what agreement
hath a temple of God with idols? For we
are a temple of the living God; even as
God said, I will dwell in them, and walk
in them; and I will be their God, and
they shall be my people. Wherefore
come ye out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch no
unclean thing; and I will receive you,
and will be to you a Father, and ye shall
be to me sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty."
Luke 18: 29, 30: "And he said unto
them, Verily I say unto you, there is no
1 50 SO UL- WINNING .
man that hath left house, or wife, or
brethren, or parents, or children, for the
kingdom of God's sake, who shall not re-
ceive manifold more in this time, and in
the world to come, eternal life."
Heb. 11 : 24-26 : " By faith Moses, when
he was grown up, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing
rather to be evil entreated with the peo-
ple of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of
sin for a season; accounting the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treas-
ures of Egypt."
1 Cor. 7: 16: "For how knowest thou,
0 wife, whether thou shalt save thy hus-
band? Or how knowest thou, O husband,
whether thou shalt save thy wife? "
XVIII. (4) DOX'T LIKE THE 3IESSEXGER.
John 1: 46: "And Nathanael said unto
him, Can any good thing come out of
Xazareth? And Philip said unto him,
Come and see."
1 Cor. 1: 21: " For seeing that in the
wisdom of God the world through its wis-
dom knew not God, it was God's good
SOUL-WINNING. 151
pleasure through the foolishness of the
preaching to save them that believed."
1 Cor. 2:5: "That your faith should
not stand in the wisdom of men, but in
.the power of God."
XIX. (5) INSINCERITY.
Rom. 9: 19, 20: "Thou wilt say unto
me, Why doth he still find fault? for who
understandeth his will? Nay, but, O man,
who art thou that repliest against God?
Shall the thing formed say to him that
formed it, Why didst thou make me
thus?"
Ezek. 18: 25: "Yet ye say, The way
of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O
house of Israel; is not my way equal? are
not your ways unequal? "
Matt. 21 : 28-31 : "But what think ye?
A man had two sons; he came to the first,
and said, Son, go work to-day in the vine-
yard; and he answered and said, I will
not; but afterward he repented himself,
and went. And he came to the second,
and said likewise; and he answered and
said, I go, sir; and went not. Whither
152 SOUL- WINNING .
of the twain did the will of his father?
They say, The first. Jesus saith unto
them, Verily I say unto you, that the
publicans and the harlots go into the
kingdom of God before you."
PRAYER.
O our Father, help thou our unbelief !
May the truth work effectually in us. 0
may our efforts to save souls be blessed of
Thee to the end that many may gladly re-
ceive and obey Thy word. We ask for
Jesus' sake. Amen.
SECTION E.
Foes Within and Without.
In the minds of many disobedient there
is chaos and confusion, and in their
hearts conflicting emotions and desires.
They have not made, nor even attempted,
any clear analysis of their attitude toward
Christ. The foes of the soul within and
without persist in their determination to
neutralize gospel influences, and prevent
SOUL- WINNING. 153
the soul from a committal to any definite
and specific stand. The effort to examine
into these complex conditions can be pro-
ductive of good. Persist, then, in prob-
ing, even if it cause a wince now and
then.
XX. (1) TOO MANY THINGS TO GIVE UP.
Phil. 3:7, 8: "Howbeit what things
were gain to me, these have I counted
loss for Christ. Yea, verily, and I count
all things to be loss for the excellency of
the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord."
Mark 8: 36-38: "For what doth it
profit a man to gain the whole world, and
forfeit his life? For what should a man
give in exchange for his life? For who-
soever shall be ashamed of me and of my
words in this adulterous and sinful gener-
ation, the Son of man also shall be
ashamed of him, when he cometh in the
glory of his Father with the holy angels."
1 Tim. 4: 8: "And exercise thyself
unto godliness; for bodily exercise is
profitable for a little; but godliness is
profitable for all things, having promise
154 SOUL- WINNING.
of the life which now is, and of that
which is to come."
XXI. (2) PRIDE OF BIRTH.
Matt. 3: 8, 9: " Bring forth therefore
fruit worthy of repentance : and think not
to say within yourselves, We have Abra-
ham to our father: for I say unto you,
that God is able of these stones to raise
up children unto Abraham."
John 8: 33, 34: "They answered unto
him, We be Abraham's seed, and have
never yet been in bondage to any man:
how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Every one that committeth sin
is the bond-servant of sin."
James 2: 1, 5: "My brethren, hold not
the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not
God choose them that are poor as to the
world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the
kingdom which he promised to them that
love him? "
Luke 2:7: "And she brought forth
SOUL- WINNING. 155
her firstborn son; and she wrapped him
in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a
manger, because there was no room for
him in the inn."
XXII. (3) TOO SMART.
Matt. 11: 25: "At that season Jesus
answered and said, I thank thee, O Fath-
er, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou
didst hide these things from the wise and
understanding, and didst reveal them
unto babes."
John 9: 39-41: "And Jesus said, For
judgment came I into this world, that
they which see not, may see; and that
they which see may become blind. Those
of the Pharisees which were with him
heard these things, and said unto him,
Are we also blind? Jesus said unto them,
If ye were blind, ye would have no sin:
but now ye say, We see ; your sin remain-
ed."
XXIII. (4) LOVE OF THE WORLD.
2 Tim. 4: 10: "For Demas forsook
me, having loved this present world."
156 SOUL- WINNING.
James 4: 3, 4: "Ye ask and receive
not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may
spend it in your pleasures. Ye adulter-
esses, know ye not that the friendship of
the world is enmity with God? "
1 John 2: 15, 16, 17: "Love not the
world, neither the things that are in the
world. If any man love the world,
the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the
flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but
is of the world. And the world passeth
away, and the lusts thereof: but he that
doeth the will of God abideth forever."
XXIV. (5) LOVE OF MONEY.
Luke 16: 13-15: " No servant can serve
two masters : for either he will hate the
one and love the other; or else will hold
to one and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon. And the Phari-
sees who are lovers of money heard all
these things, and they scoffed at him.
And he said unto them, Ye are they that
justify yourselves in the sight of men;
80 UL - WINNING . 157
but God knoweth your hearts: for that
which is exalted among men is an abom-
ination in the sight of God."
1 Tim. 6: 9, 10: "But they that desire
to be rich fall into a temptation and a
snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts,
such as drown men in destruction and
perdition. For the love of money is a
root of all kinds of evil: which some
reaching after have been led astray from
the faith and have pierced themselves
through with many sorrows."
XXV. (6) CARES OF THE WORLD.
Luke 10: 40-42: "But Martha was
cumbered about much serving; and she
came up to hini and said, Lord, dost thou
not care that my sister did leave me to
serve alone? Bid her therefore that she
help me. But the Lord answered and
said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art
anxious and troubled about many things:
but one thing is needful : for Mary hath
chosen the good part which shall not be
taken away from her."
Matt. 13: 22: "And he that was sown
158 SO UL- WINNING .
among the thorns, this is he that heareth
the word; and the care of the world, and
the deceitfulness of riches, choke the
word, and he becometh unfruitful.
xxvi. (7) dox't want sins exposed.
Jno. 3: 19-21: "And this is the judg-
ment, that the light is come into the
world, and men love the darkness rather
than the light; for their deeds were evil.
For every one that doeth ill hateth the
light, and cometh not to the light, lest
his works should be reproved. But he
that doeth the truth cometh to the light,
that his works may be made manifest,
that they have been wrought in Grod."
Prov. 28: 13: "He that covereth his
transgressions shall not prosper; but
whoso confesseth and forsaketh them
shall obtain mercy."
XXVII. (8) MURMURING SPIRIT.
Matt. 25: 24, 25, 29: "And he also that
had received the one talent came and said,
Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard
man, reaping where thou didst not sow,
SO UL - WINNING . 159
and gathering where thou didst not scat-
ter: and I was afraid, and went away and
hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast
thine own. For unto every one that hath
shall be given, and he shall have abun-
dance; but from him that hath not, even
that which he hath shall be taken away."
PRAYER.
Our Father in Heaven, we thank Thee
for Thy providence that saves and sus-
tains. O grant that our souls may ever be
upon their guard and the vigil-fires be
lighted throughout the world, and we shall
have victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
SECTION F.
The Self-Righteous.
You have often heard those who refuse
to accept Christ urge, "I never did any
thing bad." "I mean well." "I am
good enough and better than a good many
of the so-called Christians." "I don't
think as you do." "Everybody has a
160 SOUL- WINNING.
right to his own opinion." "I believe I
am right and am doing my best to be
saved." " I worship the God of nature,
and believe I will get to heaven." " It is
not necessary to be a church-member to
be saved." " I can go to heaven without
being baptized." "There are so many
denominations, I guess I am as near right
as any of you, anyhow."
A prodigious and indefinite amount of
sophistry, hypocrisy, bigotry, incompe-
tency, irrelevancy and iniquity can be run
in under expressions like the above.
These self-righteous and self-sufficient,
so-called "good, moral people," are
legion in number, but may generally be
sifted down into a struggle between self
and Christ.
O, if the soul would save itself, let it
rind Christ and throw away self, " the old
man of sin ! "
XXVIII. (1) don't want to confess
CHRIST.
Mark 8 : 35 : " For whosoever shall save
his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall
SOUL-WINNING. 161
lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's
shall save it."
Rom. 10: 9, 10: " Because if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and
shalt believe in thy heart that God raised
him from the dead, thou shalt be saved,
for with the heart man believeth unto
righteousness; and with the mouth con-
fession is made unto salvation."
Matt. 10: 32, 33: " Every one there-
fore who shall confess me before men,
him will I also confess before my Father
which is in heaven. But whosoever shall
deny me before men, him will I also deny
before my Father which is in heaven."
Jno. 14: 6: "Jesus saith unto him, I
am the way and the truth and the life : no
one cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Acts 4 : 12 : "And in none other is there
salvation : for neither is there any other
name under heaven, that is given among
men, wherein we must be saved."
1 Jno. 5: 12: "He that hath the Son
hath the life; he that hath not the Son
of God hath not the life."
11
162 SOUL- WINNING.
XXIX. (2) don't want to be baptized.
Mark 16: 16: "He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved: but he that
disbelieveth shall be condemned."
Matt. 7: 21, 22: "Not every one that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter
into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in
heaven. Many will say to me in that
day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by
thy name, and by thy name cast out dev-
ils, and by thy name do many mighty
works?"
Jno. 15: 10, 11: "If ye keep my com-
mandments ye shall abide in my love,
even as I have kept my Father's com-
mandments, and abide in his love. These
things have I spoken unto you, that my
joy may be in you, and that your joy may
be fulfilled." *
Acts 2: 38: "And Peter said unto
them, Repent ye, and be baptized every
one of you in the name of Jesus Christ
unto the remission of your sins; and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
SOUL -WINNING. 163
Kom. 6: 4: "We were buried there-
fore with him through baptism into death :
that like as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, so
we also might walk in newness of life."
PRAYER.
O our Father, we thank Thee for Thy
great love. Grant that we may cheer-
fully follow these heaven-ordained ordi-
nances; preserve them in their purity for
us and our posterity, and not for us only,
but for all who will receive them. We
ask for Jesus' sake. Amen.
SECTION G.
Many Infallible Proofs for Unbe-
lievers.
There must be infallible proof of the
truth of Christianity, because it is a relig-
ion of fact, not an expression of opinion.
It was not done in an instant in some
corner of the world, but claims to be an
evolution of 6,000 years' duration, enacted
164 SOUL- WINNING.
in the light places on every continent.
Thus assuming an historic form, it chal-
lenges investigation; indeed, any attempt
to hedge it about, while its devotees de-
mand an unquestioning faith, is to remove
its facts into the region of the shadowy,
mysterious and unreal.
Each person, in some more or less in-
dependent way, should get at the histor-
ical facts and subject his faith to certain
tests, in order that he be not a victim of
fraud, mistake or superstition; thus can
he have an open-eyed confidence and a
boldness that is not bigotry.
Of course, in this section we can only
outline a consideration of evidences, with
the hope that such outline may be instru-
mental in assisting many to see their duty
of obedience to Christ, and seeing, per-
form; as, however, the soul may see and
yet not obey, so also the soul, through
ignorance or perversity, may not see, yet
the duty to obey remains.
You ask, How can this be? Notice,
one's responsibility is measured by his
opportunity to know what his duty is;
SOUL- WINNING. 165
hence, the legal maxim, "Every man is
presumed to know the law — ignorance is
no excuse."
Industry and honesty cannot fail to lead
the inquirer into the way of eternal life ;
these qualifications are humanity's two
wings whereupon to rise to heaven ; lose
either, and the soul falls into sin or super-
stition.
XXX. (1) THEORIES OF INFIDELITY.
The sum of our faith is in Jesus Christ ;
he is the Alpha and the Omega of revela-
tion— all time is focalized in him. His
energies have wrought wonders in every
land. "Jesus Hominum Salvator " is the
universal creed of Christendom, — simple
enough for a child, profound enough for
a sage.
The real battle of infidelity rages around
Jesus, for he is the " Gibraltar of Chris-
tian Evidences." If Christ was not as
claimed and represented, infidels are
called upon to account for him.
166 SOUL- WINNING .
I. IMPOSTURE.
In an earlier age infidels who would
not admit the claims of Jesus, reasoned
that, whatever he was, he was no fool — he
understood himself — he was an impostor.
This theory is not accepted even by in-
fidels in our day. Paine said, " He was a
virtuous and amiable man." Ingersoll
said, "For the man Christ I have the
highest admiration and respect."
Could an impostor have (1) lived the
purest life known to history? (2) In-
augurated a religion of beneficence and
sublimity?
II. SELF-DECEPTION.
It is put forward by some infidels, as
an explanation of Jesus, that he was self-
deceived, that he imagined certain things
of himself — was a fanatic, self-deluded, a
visionary, a wild enthusiast. This theory
is also denied by other infidels. Says
one: "He was gifted with a grand, clear
intellect, a perfectly balanced being."
Kenan said: "He represented the rare
spectacle of a life, so far as we can esti-
SOUL- WINNING. 167
mate it, uniformly noble and consistent
with his own lofty principles."
Jesus could not have been self -deceived,
because of, (1) His practical precepts;
(2) No taint of superstition appears in
him; (3) He never magnified one truth at
the expense of any other; (4) He was not
deceived in either his disciples or others;
(5) He never erred in judgment; (6) He
taught men to control their religious en-
thusiasm, to think and to reflect.
III. NATURALISTIC.
The theory has been advanced that
Jesus was not such an extraordinary man,
after all, but a natural product, and that
his disciples misunderstood, magnified
and misrepresented his doings. "Jesus
did not walk on the lake, but simply on
the shores of the lake — but the eyes of
the disciples deceived them. The eyes of
the blind were healed by an efficacious
eye-salve, but the minutiaz of the cure was
not perceived by the disciples ; that Jesus
raised Lazarus and others, but only from
a swoon," etc., etc.
168 SOUL- WINNING.
This theory is in turn denied by other
infidels. Strauss said: "This effort to
get rid of the supernatural by a bold,
realistic interpretation of the language of
the Gospel narratives, whilst the credibil-
ity was represented in tact, w^as too glar-
ing an outrage upon common sense to be
successful."
This notion cannot be true: (1) It
makes more difficulties than it solves;
(2) The disciples themselves were too in-
credulous and slow of belief; (3) It
would not comport with the teachings of
Jesus; (4) Jesus especially guarded this
point.
IV. MYTHICAL.
This theory, held by some infidels, is to
the effect that round about Jesus are
woven allegories, and fabulous statements
of imaginary actions, etc.
This theory has not been generally ap-
proved by infidels. Chevalier Bunsen
said: "The idea of men writing mythic
histories between the time of Livy and
Tacitus, and of Paul mistaking such for
SO UL - WINNING . 1 69
realities!" "How can accounts which
are circumstantially correct in geography,
chronology, etc., be resolved into myths?"
It is much easier to believe in Jesus
than to believe that anyone could have
conceived and worked off such allegories
under the circumstances. Again, con-
temporaneous history will not warrant
such an assumption.
V. LEGENDARY.
This theory admits the early origin, au-
thenticity and general veracity of the Gos-
pel narrative, but that there was added
an unreality of the miraculous — that
Jesus consented to "play a part," disa-
greeable and distasteful, however; that
his miracles were "a violence done him
by his age — a concession which a pressing
necessity wrestled from him, and so he
entered on a course of mild and beneficent
deception."
A most remarkable theory this, and
other infidels will not accept such a self-
contradictory hypothesis. Holy fraud !
forsooth !
This theory cannot stand, because, (1)
170 SOUL- WINNING.
Of the overwhelming evidence of the
transcendent excellence of Jesus; (2) His
attitude towards his disciples and the
world was as leader, not as follower.
VI. ECLECTIC.
This theory is a combination of all the
others, using here a little of one, and
there some of the other. It maintains
that Christianity is now superstition, now
ignorance, now a fraud; that this is an
allegory, and that a legend. So far short
does this come from accounting for Jesus
that it only confuses, beclouds and mysti-
fies. It leaves us to wander in the night
of agnosticism, closing all avenues of the
soul to Him who is the " Light of the
world."
PRAYER.
O our Heavenly Father, save us from
the rank presumption that denies a high
purpose and destiny for mankind, that
denies the revelation Thou hast made of
Thy will, and that involves us in the chaos
and ruin of infidelity. O, as we prove the
spirits, whether they be of Thee, may we
SOUL- WINNING. 171
not, in repudiating the counterfeit, cast
off the true also. May we believe the ev-
idence which Thou hast given of the true
character of Thy only begotten Son, and
confess that " Jesus Christ is come in the
flesh." Help us in the power of Thy
might to overcome the world with our
great faith. We ask for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
XXXI. (2) INTERNAL EVIDENCES.
The barest outline of evidence can be
attempted here. The student is recom-
mended, if possible, to pursue this line of
study further; a number of good text
books on Christian Evidences can be fur-
nished by almost any bookseller.
By "internal evidences" of the truth
of Christianity, we look at Christianity, as
presented in the canon of the Scriptures,
to see what marks of credibility, genuine-
ness and authenticity it carries with itself.
Notice, then:
I. PROPHECY.
"A miracle of knowledge," used to pro-
mote hope and faith. The prophecies of
172 SOUL- WINNING .
Scripture are marked by, (1) worthy
ends; (2) unambiguous language; (3) no
failures of fulfillment; (4) a record pre-
served.
On the contrary, fraudulent prophecies
and heathen oracles are, (1) unworthy;
(2) ambiguous; (3) marked by failures;
(4) leave no records.
(a) Old Testament Prophecies. — (1)
Concerning the prosperity and adversity
of the Israelites themselves; (2) the
neighboring nations, as Tyre, Nineveh,
Babylon, Egypt, etc.; (3) of the coming
Messiah, his character, purposes and
events in his life.
(b) New Testament Prophecies and
Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecies.
— (1) Of the Jewish nation, siege, dis-
persion, unity, and peculiarities; (2) the
life of Christ; (3) the prophecies of
Christ, the destruction of Jerusalem, the
inauguration and progress of the King-
dom of God.
The fulfillment of these prophecies is
an ever-present miracle, testifying with
over-powering weight to the genuineness,
SOUL- WINNING. 173
authenticity and credibility of the Chris-
tian Scriptures.
II. MIRACLES.
"Manifestations of superhuman power
give authority to God's messengers," and
are calculated to produce faith and
obedience.
As contrasted with spurious miracles,
Scriptural miracles are, (1) for important
worthy purposes; (2) instantaneous and
public; (3) sensible and easy to observe;
(4) well authenticated.
III. HISTORICAL CONSIDERATION.
Notice the evidences afforded by the
volume itself of, (1) the time covered;
(2) the places mentioned; (3) the events
narrated; (4) the character of the wri-
ters, as having an adequate knowledge of
what they relate; (5) the remarkable
preservation of the writings ; the Hebrew
and Greek languages uniquely fitted for
this purpose; (6) the range of the Old
and New Testament in these points pre-
sent a most remarkable unity in diversity
— a marvelous harmony without collusion.
1 74 SO UL - WINNING .
This wonderful library of religious his-
tory contains within itself overwhelming
evidence of being genuine, authentic and
credible.
IV. CHARACTER OF JESUS.
The character of Jesus lends greatest
weight to the credibility of Christianity;
from his evident nature Jesus was with-
out flaw. "I, having examined him be-
fore you, found no fault in this man."
" Tempted, yet without sin." "No guile
in his mouth." "Spake as never a man
spake." "Teacher come from God, for
no man can do these signs that thou
doest, except God be with him." He
was approved of God "by might, powers
and wonders and signs, which God did by
him in the midst of you, even as ye your-
selves know." He was unjustly crucified;
his judge said, "Behold, nothing worthy
of death hath been done by him." He
was raised from the dead, "nor did his
flesh see corruption. This Jesus did God
raise up, whereof we all are witnesses."
He suffered and rose again from the dead,
SO UL- WINNING . 175
"and that repentance and remission of
sins should be preached unto all nations,
beginning from Jerusalem, ye are wit-
nesses." His sympathies were with the
poor, afflicted and down-trodden; all his
life was consistent with these pure princi-
ples and holy purposes.
His was a revelation of the will of God
perfected in man — a Divine human life —
a perfect man !
V. THE CHARACTER ELECTED FOR HIS DIS-
CIPLES.
No ostentatious almsgiving or prayers ;
no sanctimonious hypocrisy or meaning-
less ceremony; but meekness and purity,
love of enemies, unfeigned fraternity.
"Be perfect as your Father in heaven is
perfect." "Except a man be born from
above, he cannot see the kingdom of God,
. . that which is born of the flesh is
flesh ; and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit."
This feature of Christianity is abso-
lutely unique. No religious faith, either
adapted from Christianity or claiming
176 SOUL- WINNING.
originality, presents this remarkable as-
pect.
The sublimity of the elect Christian
character is one of the strongest evidences
of the credibility and genuineness of
Christianity.
XXXII. (3) EXTERNAL EVIDENCES.
No one can reasonably deny, a p?*iori9
that the all-wise and all-powerful God
can not only reveal his will, but can give
to men a full and certain assurance that
it is a true revelation.
I. THE NECESSITY.
The necessity for such revelation is ap-
parent, because, (1) The ancient concep-
tions of the nature and the worship of
God were dark, imperfect and monstrous;
(2) Ignorance of the true genesis of the
world; (3) Ignorance of the cause of de-
pravity and misery among mankind; (4)
Ignorance of the means of reconciliation
between God and man; (5) There was no
assurance of divine assistance towards
the attainment and the perseverance in
virtue; (6) No solid foundation for be-
SOUL- WINNING. 177
lief in the soul's immortality; (7) No ad-
equate conception of the supreme felicity
of man; (8) Only confused and monstrous
notions concerning the rewards and pun-
ishments of a future state.
Christianity answers all these needs
with absolute satisfaction.
II. CONTEMPORANEOUS HISTORY
Of Egyptian, Persian, Grecian and Ro-
man life, where common points are
touched, corroborates the Bible accounts.
The excavation of ancient ruins — coins,
medals, monuments, etc., together with
the reading of the symbolic languages of
the ancients, give additional testimony to
the accuracy, veracity and reliability of
the Scriptures.
(a) The Jews. — The Jews, the city of
Jerusalem, and the entire land of Pales-
tine, from Christ's time till to-day, are
mute and reluctant, but most remarkable
witnesses of the credibility and authen-
ticity of the Bible, (b) Falsehood De-
tected.— There is a moral certainty that
Jewish leaders, such as Gamaliel and
12
178 SOUL- WINNING.
Saul, would have detected and exposed
falsehood and fraud concerning Jesus
and the resurrection had such existed.
(c) Monuments. — The ordinances insti-
tuted (baptism and the Lord's Supper)
to perpetuate the principal facts and
events of Christian^— observed to this
day — are strong evidences of authenticity.
III. COMPARATIVE RELIGION.
The evidence of Christianity's divine
origin and authority, as contrasted with
other religions having admixtures of
error and superstitions, is shown in, (1)
Christianity's perfect concepts and pre-
cepts; (2) Its openness; (3) Its adapta-
tion to the conditions and capacities of
all mankind; (4) The spirituality of its
worship; (5) Its opposition to the spirit
of the world; (6) Its humiliation of man
and exaltation of God; (7) Its restoration
of order to the world; (8) Its contrariety
to the covetousness and ambition of man;
(9) Its eradication of evil passions from
the heart; (10) Its restoring the divine
image to man; (11) Its mighty effects in
the governments of the world.
SOUL-WINNING. 179
A CONVERTED LAWYER.
Tertullian, a converted lawyer, and
called "the father of Latin Christianity,"
born A. D. 160, says in his able defense
of the Christians, under the charge of be-
ing traitors to Rome, "That piety, vener-
ation and loyalty, therefore, which is due
emperors, does not consist in the fore-
mentioned shows of duty, which even re-
bellion cloaks herself in, to pass undis-
covered ; but in such virtues as civil soci-
ety finds necessary to be practiced sin-
cerely towards prince and people. Nor
are these actions of a virtuous mind look-
ed upon by us as a tribute due to Caesar
only; for we have no respect of persons
in doing good, because by so doing we do
good to ourselves, who catch at no ap-
plause or reward from men, but from God
only, who keeps a faithful register of our
good works, and has ample rewards in
store for this universal charity; for we
have the same good wishes for emperors
as for our nearest friends. To wish ill,
to do ill, to speak ill, or to think ill of
any one, we are equally forbidden without
180 SOUL- WINNING,
exception. What is injustice to an em-
peror, is injustice to his slave; and that
which is unlawful against the meanest, is
so against the greatest." And again, in
defending the Christians against persecu-
tions, Tertullian says: " But your reason
is so entirely blinded with prejudice that
you have not an eye left to see the public
damage — a damage as visibly great as
true. Not a man weighs what the com-
mon injury amounts to by thus depopu-
lating the empire of the most just and in-
nocent subjects in it; it is hardly credible
to imagine how many Christian prisoners
your judges destroy at every goal deliv-
ery, but only their trials are upon record.
fc 'Among all this number of criminals,
and this variety of indictments, what
Christians do you find arraigned for assas-
sinating, or for pickpockets, or for sacri-
lege, or for pilfering at the bath? Do
you hear at the trials any article against
Christians like that which other malefac-
tors are charged withal? Do not the
prisons sweat with your criminals contin-
ually? Do not the mines continually
SOUL- WINNING. 181
groan with the load of heathens? Are
not your wild beasts fattened with hea-
thens? And is not the whole herd of
condemned wretches, which some public
4 benefactors ' keep alive for the enter-
tainment of the amphitheater — are not
they all of your religion?
"Now, among all these malefactors,
there is not a Christian to be found for
any crime but that of his name only; or if
there be, we disown him for a Christian.
"We, then, are the only harmless peo-
ple among you, and where is the wonder,
if it cannot well be otherwise? as in
truth it cannot, considering our educa-
tion; for the innocence we are taught,, we
are taught from God, and we know our
lesson perfectly well, as being revealed to
us by the Master of all perfection, and we
observe it faithfully as the command of
an All-seeing Lawgiver, whom we know
is not to be despised, but at the hazard
of eternal happiness. Whereas, your sys-
tems of doctrine are but the conjectures
of human philosophy, and the power
which commands obedience, merely hu-
182 SOUL- WINNING.
man; and so neither the rule nor the
power indisputable, and consequently the
one too imperfect to instruct us fully, and
the other too weak to command us effect-
ually, both which (deficiencies) are abund-
antly provided for by revelation from
God.
"Where is the philosopher who can so
clearly demonstrate the true good as to
fix the notion beyond dispute? And
what human power is able to reach the
conscience and bring down that notion
into practice? For human wisdom is as
subject to error as human power is to
contempt.
"Therefore, let us enter a little more
into a comparison between your laws and
ours. Tell me, then, which do you take
to be the fullest and completest law, that
which says thou shalt do no murder, or
that which resists the very passion of an-
ger? Which expresses greatest purity and
perfection, the law which prohibits the
outward act of adultery, or that which
condemns the bare lust of the eye?
Which is the wisest provision for inno-
SO UL - WINNING . 183
cence, to forbid evil doing, or not to per-
mit so much as evil speaking? Which is
the most instructing lesson for the good
of mankind, to debar men from doing in-
jury, or not so much as to allow the
injured person the common privilege of
returning evil for evil?
"But this is not all, for I must give
you to understand that these very laws of
yours, which are but in the way to per-
fection, are no more in good truth than a
transcript of the old law of God, older by
much than any law of your making; but
I have already laid before you the an-
tiquity of Moses."
Thus far the reliable Tertullian and in
view of the history intervening, and of
the remarkable fact that seven-eighths of
the world's territory is to-day under
Christian governmental control, who can
doubt that our "faith is the victory that
overcomes the world."
PRAYER.
O our Father, hasten the day when ani-
mosities and wars and corruptions in
:54 :~- ~ri::yi:
high and low pla ss shaD lis&ppear, and
all shall ^line in CL our
Lord, to whom be glory and honor and
W : d i without end. Amen.
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