make heaven. In a dream one night he was taken to the very gates of hell. Wesley called out, “Are there any Ro man Catholics in there?” “Yes!” came the quickly reply. “Any Presbyterians?” “Yes!” was again the answer. “Any Congregationalists?” “Yes!” He hesi tated a moment and then with convic tion inquired, “Not any Methodists, I hope?” To his great chagrin, however, the answer was again in the affirma tive. Just as suddenly his dream changed, and he stood at the gates of heaven. Again he put the question, “Are there any Roman Catholics in there?” “No!” was the ready reply. So he went on down through the list, each time re ceiving a negative answer. Finally when he asked, “Are there any Meth odists in heaven?” he was impressed by the response, “No, only Christians are in heaven!” We too need to re member that a man is saved not be cause of the church to which he be longs, but rather because he has placed his faith and trust wholly and com pletely upon the Lord Jesus Christ. Many people are saved in spite of the church, but all only through the re deeming grace of Jesus Christ. The promise is clearly given, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved,” (Rom. 10:9). * You can only hare an upright life as you lean on Jesus. * * * A DAY FOR WORRY Ever have problems the first of the week? A businessman was so troubled by all of his worries and anxieties that he found that each of his working days was completely disturbed. Then an idea hit him. He decided to set aside eacfi, Monday as the specific time for all of his fretting. When anything came up which disturbed him during the week, he wrote it down on a note pad which he could then review each Monday. You know the way it worked out? Well, when the first of the week rolled around, he was amazed to discover in review ing the entries, that those things caus ing him concern had already taken care of themselves. This sounds like a won * *
THE LOST CHILD In English history there is the in teresting account of a noble child who was stolen from his wealthy home and cruelly sold by the kidnapper to a com mon chimney sweep. The frantic par ents spared no expense searching for the boy, but every effort was fruitless. When the lad was old enough, the chimney sweep would take him along to work, especially in small areas too narrow for him to enter. He worked the boy hard and long hours. As provi dence would have it, they received a call to work in the very home from which the youth had been stolen before he was old enough to remember. Frail and exhausted, the lad was so tired he could go no farther. Breaking all rules of the occupation he fell exhausted on the bed, and in a moment was fast asleep. When the lady of the house re turned home and found this filthy sight in her bedroom, she shrieked with dis may and anger. To think that this un grateful little wretch would soil her beautiful bedspread! But as she was going to shake him awake, her heart leaped, for she saw something in the expression of the pinched and dirty little face, some familiar pose of the weary limbs which made her realize the miracle before her very eyes. Now, with no thought for the soot, she hugged her precious son and lavished all love upon him. How beggared this illustration is when we think of what happens when God receives us, who are tired of their sin, into His eternal love through our repentance and His forgiveness. Re member the story of the prodigal son? “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him [Christ] the iniquity of us alV’ (Isa. 53:6). * There are many church officers who need to be fired not out, but up. * * * NO DENOMINATIONS While John Wesley was vitally in terested in proclaiming his views of the Scripture at the same time he was greatly concerned over all of the dif ferent denominations spring ing up, wondering if their members would ever * *
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