328
THE K I N G ’ S BUS I NES S
By P. W. Phiîpott, D. D.
As Reported by Mildred M. Cook
I T HAS BEEN my privilege to be a preacher of the glorious Gospel of the grace of God for more than sixty years. Now, at eighty-one, I look back upon that long period in the min istry and have just this to say: “Bless the Lord O my sou l. .. who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mer cies.” Blessed be God for evermore! The years have yielded both trials and triumphs. There have been some amusing and amazing experiences. But through them all “there hath not failed one word of all his good promise.” Saved by Grace The first person who witnessed to me of the Christian- faith was a burly blacksmith. In Canada in the 80’s, when smithing was a highly honored profession, I worked in a shop with fifteen or twenty others. Down at the end of the line was a huge fellow who had been a prize fighter, in England. Big Joe, as we called him, weighed On the eve of his anticipated retire ment from active service, Dr. Philpott addressed the accompanying personal message to friends gathered in the Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles, on March 3, 19J/.6. The occasion was the climax of a remarkably stimulat ing and heart-warming series of meet ings. Far from displaying evidences of decrepitude, the beloved former pastor of this church, constantly in demand as an evangelist from coast to coast, stood out as a man of Caleb-like qual ities. May it be that those who read this printed report, like the ones who heard the spoken word, will see re vealed the means of attaining true greatness: the habitual yielding of oneself to God. This message will be obtainable in an illustrated gift booklet at 20 cents a copy through the Bible House of Los Angeles, 92 7 South Westmoreland Are., Los Angeles 6, California, by whose permission this article is printed.
we boys got used to seeing Big Joe live a.calm Christian life in our midst. Then one afternoon he was display ing his great strength and skill with the wagon wheels. Something went wrong, and all at once this new Chris- tion uttered a terrible oath. Instantly work stopped. Everyone stared in sur prise. The one who had been a hero looked now like a great ox that had been struck in the head. His eyes were full of deep hurt, and all of us silently pitied him. The next moment that old black smith shop became the scene of an amazing act—cine that was to play a part, later, in my own yielding to the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. Big Joe dropped to his knees beside his forge. He covered his heavy head with great hairy arms. Reverence settled over the place, a greater reverence than in many a magnificent cathedral. When he got up, he wiped his eyes with a massive fist and went back to work without a word. That was all. But Big Joe’s act was a mighty testimony. God used it that day to speak to my young heart of the genuineness of the Christian faith. About seven months later, I came face to face with Christ myself. I had not been to church or heard any Chris tian worker speak. Passing a street corner, I saw a crowd gathered and stopped to see what it meant. A street meeting was in progress and a little woman was standing on a box, sing ing. She had a wonderful voice, and in her heart there had been shed abroad the love of God. Oh, how sweetly she sang! “When I survey, the wondrous Cross, On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, Ahd pour contempt on all my pride. “See! from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?” There was a refrain: “O Calvary, dark Calvary, Speak to some heart from Calvary."
about 250 pounds. His head was cov ered with scars, of which he was very proud. He so gloried in his strength that when he was assigned to a par ticularly heavy task—work that nor-
Dr. P. W. Philpott mally required two men to accomplish —he would do it alone. When I first knew him, he was a terrible blasphem er, the worst I have ever encountered. One morning before he arrived at work, news got around that Big Joe had been converted the night before. I wondered what that meant, for in those days I had nt> knowledge what ever of Christian things. I knew Joe would come down my side of the shop, so I waited to see whether there would be any perceptible change in him. When he appeared, he looked rather humble. He smiled and nodded. As the weeks passed, however, we saw that a great change indeed had come over him. He acted more civil; he wore bet ter clothes; he did finer work; and most noticeable of all, he used better language. There was no more swear ing. « All this went on for some time and
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker