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as compared with those lives equally dedicated to God, to have produced such uncommon results. For our souls’ sake it is well that we should know these. It is difficult to analyze spiritual things, especially in connec tion with a complex personality, but I would like to make the attempt. A NATURAL LIEE It was a natural life. Some one has said that every Christian needs two conversions: first from the natural to the supernatural, and second from the supernatural back to the natural. But it was not so in William Borden’s case, for, he was thoroughly converted to the supernatural, he was never con verted away from the natural. From first to last he remained as God had made him, not trying to be any one else, however, distinguished that one might be, and not thinking that sanctification meant cant or morbid ness or denial of the pure and whole some pleasures of life. Strong of body, he loved to live. In school, university and seminary he played as other men played, only more vigor ously than the average man, and more successfully. I once asked him what exercise he enjoyed most in the university, and he answered at once, “Wrestling.” Football, baseball, ten nis, and golf had their attractions for him, and he was a skilful yachtman. In common life he ate heartily, he talked energetically, he argued loyal ly. In his devotional life he prayed as simply as a child, and he preached in chapel, in mission, or on the street without the least degree of affection, as a man speaks to a man. A DEDICATED LIEE It was a dedicated life. William’s mother had early brought him under holy influences. Her personal influ-
ITS. SOLUTION CLOSE AT HAND I find its solution close at hand. ' There lies before me on Borden’s desk James H. McConkey’s book, “The Three-fold Secret of the Holy Spirit,” and it bears unconscious testimony to the owner’s life. The copy is taste fully bound in buff paper, and, of course, it was originally intact and clean. But now it is torn and soiled without and within. Evidently it has seen many journeys, for it used to be a frequent companion in travel, and it has seen much use, for it has been carefully and repeatedly read. And upon the first page certain words are underscored—a way our dear friend had with all his best-loved books— which are these: “The supreme hu man condition of the fulness of the Spirit is a life wholly surrendered to God to do His will.” The thought thus expressed had pierced William Borden’s heart and had taken posses sion of his life. He had seen, young as he was, both the duty and*privilege of a Christian, he had made the great decision and had paid the price of a surrendered will, and he belonged wholly to Christ. Hence Christ owned him, controlled him, blessed him, used him. And those whose hearts were true, young and old, rich and poor, humble and high, looked on, wondering, admiring, loving. It is thus that it has come to pass that there is a “grievous mourning” amongst us, for a young prince has fallen in Israel who was sorely needed in waging the battles of the Ford; and hence, not one heart only, but many hearts, are crying out, “Dear William—beloved and longed for!” But the question needs further answering. What was, in fuller de tail, this life which William Borden lived that proved so beautiful and winsome ? There must have been un common characteristics about it, even
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