Part 26 (1/2)

One thing that simplified my work very much was the fact, that the people were spiritually dead I used to tell them, that in this free country every uilty, but that in the Bible every uilty before God till he is pardoned, and dead till he is brought to life In one sense it does not matter veryelse, if he is dead in trespasses and sins

It is of very little consequence in what coloured raiment a corpse is shrouded; it re this position positively, I avoided er disputants, who longed to ventilate their views 'I told the, my business ith the salvation: of souls, and ' them to Christ

Hitherto I had been to places where the Lord had previously prepared the hearts of the people, and therefore it had beenup, as if spontaneously; that is, without the ordinary preparation by the people of the place These extraordinary manifestations of God's power and love; and they showed ent on the subject, He sent me forth to prepare and work for similar results

Hayle was to all appearances a very barren soil, and the people I had to labour ahtier than round, and were perfectly content with their oay

Moreover, they did not desire any change, and were ready even to resist and oppose every effort which was designed to ae their lives In this undertaking I knew and understood that without prayer and dependence upon God to work in , I therefore looked about, and found so for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit We agreed to pray in private, and alsothe week for united prayer Finding that ue and diffuse, I endeavoured to set before those assembled a definite object of prayer I told them that the as not ours but the Lord's, and that He illing and ready to acco the work of His hands Also, in order that our prayers should be intelligent and united, I put before thest were lost; not that they would be lost by-and-by if they died in their sins; but that they were actually lost now It is true that norant of the way of salvation, and were also unconscious of the power of the enemy who held them captive; and besides, they loved their captivity too well; but all this would be overcohtened by the Spirit (in answer to prayer) to see and feel thenorant than the jailor at Philippi, but as soon as he akened he cried out, ”What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30)

I showed them that the e had to do was clearly set forth in Scripture (Acts 26:18), and that the order in which it was to be done was alsoinstruction as if the people weretheir eyes to see that they were in a lost and ruined condition Then they would appreciate being turned ”froht, and froiveness of sins”

(Acts 26:18) I strove earnestly to show theiveness of sins, our as not complete We made this our definite aim, and prayed about it with clear expectation Under the shadow and influence of this prayer, I began to preach to the people; not to believe, but to awake and see their lost condition; that is, to repent, that they ht believe the Gospel

At first there were very few people in rees more ca for four or five Sundays, I asked the people during my sermon, what in the world they were made of; for I was surprised at them! They came and listened to God's truth, and yet did not yield themselves to Him ”Are you wood, or leather, or stone? What are your hearts made of, that God's love cannot touch or His Word break the, when I said that I would converse with them more familiarly; but they every one went away

I returned to the vestry,' feeling so for better days As I opened the door to go hohtened boys, but it was too dark forit cao round to the people and ask the about? I had done so froo from house to house and do the sa that several children were absent, I took their na their parents

The first house I called at was a mistake, and yet it was not I knocked at the door, and said, ”Does Mrs W-- live here?”

The woman who opened it said, ”No, she lives next door”

I apologized for disturbing her, and was going ahen she said, ”Will you not co in, took a seat Then I asked her name, and whether she went to church

She replied, ”To be sure I do Don't you see me there every Sunday?”

”Then,” I said, ”did you hear ”

”Yes,” she said, ”but I was afraid, and ashamed to stay behind But I do wish to be saved; I have been wretched for more than a week”

It was very easy to lead to the Saviour of sinners one whose heart was so prepared She soon found peace, and becahbour next door, was by no means so ready to receive the truth, and I had to supply another argu; though not for some weeks

From this house, I visited several others, and in all of the with individuals about their 'souls' salvation Then I set off to see anoticed the anxious look hich he always regardedhis house, he said, at once, ”I knohat you are come for Wait a little, sir, please to sit down;” and before I had time to say a word, he went upstairs In a fewin his hand ”There,” he said, ”there it is; that is my contribution for the Indian Mutiny Fund”

I thanked hiiven to the treasurer ”But,” I added, ”to tell the truth, I have not come about that, but to see you I want to speak to you about your soul”

He sat down, looking, as I thought, ht my mate and I made up our minds to speak to you in the vestry; but, just as ere co to the door, you opened it, and we ran away”

”Yes,” I said, ”I heard you”

”Well, after that, we came home, and prayed the Lord to send you to us: and here you are!”

”Thank God for the answer to prayer Now then, what can I do for you?”