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An Interesting
Incident
By Robert Lewis Mr. Lewis is our beloved leader in the Shop Work, and Pastor of the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church, Pasadena. Charles
A T our April C. E. social, convers- ing on a subject on which I supposed all were agreed, a young lady said, "We don't believe there is a hell, or a personal devil; nor that Jesus was the Son of God, died for our race, or rose from the dead. His tomb was in two parts, and His disciples stole the body." Th e s p e a k er was one of two gifted college girls come lately from Boston. My soul went out to them, but I said, "I do not care what you believe, that makes no difference to me." "You don't?" said the speaker. "No; does it make any difference to you what I believe?" "But," said she, "we. thought you did care." "I am concerned," I said, "about Who you believe, the whats are legion and can be considered after you settle Whom you believe."" "But," she went on, "we don't believe Adam was the first man, nor that the world was made in six days of twenty- four hours each," "No? Neither do I," I said. "You don't? Why I thought all Pres- byterians believed that; this is inter- esting, and we would like to have a good talk with you when you have time." "I would be pleased I am sure," I answered, "if you drop your Unitarian- ism as I do my Presbyterianism." "Why, aren't you the pastor of the Presbyterian chapel on Lincoln Ave- nue?" "Yes>, but I do not talk Presbyterian- ism; I talk of Him—the Who of whom I spoke," said I, "and if you wish to talk with me, I will gladly give you the time, if you have a soul burdened for sin, and want the joy and overflowing peace which is mine; but I have not five minutes to spare for a mere exchange of words. Come to my study Thursday afternoon. There is no reason why you ladies' should not know the peace of God that passes all understanding, but there are many reasons why you should." They came at the appointed time. Much prayer had gone up, to the throne of grace meanwhile, and we claimed
those two for God. When they were seated I said, "Now, I desire to talk o f ® Him, His plan and purpose for you through the ages, and trust that silently you will be asking, "Am I in line with that plan and purpose for me?' " From four to five o'clock they poured forth all manner of questions and argu- ments. Prom five to six they said little. I saw they were becoming deeply con- victed, not only of the fact of sin but * of its awful consequences. From six to about seven they said nothing, and the Holy Spirit was breaking in upon them, and their tears began to flow. Then I said, "Have you recognized God's pur- pose for you? Have you seen in His Son His settlement for sin? Do you see Him to be your sin-offering; that the sin question is forever settled, and that for you there remains only the Son ^ question? That God says to you t o d a y ,* 'What will you do with My Son?' Will you still reject Him, or say, with Thomas, 'My Lord and my God'?" As we knelt in prayer, it was pre- cious to witness their reception of Him to their hearts Whom they had so long denied. They came sobbing and broken hearted to the feet of Him Who died to save them. They rose from their knees praising the Lord for the peace that had come to their souls, and said, "Pray that we may be used to lead father, and mother, and brother to know Him too."' And they have since been used to win t h a t ' brother, and the three have been re- ceived into our C. E. society. One sister now plays the violin in our choir for the Master; the other, a sweet singer, sang for us on Sunday morning, "I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend, He loved me e'er I knew Him; He drew me with the chords of love, And thus He- bound me to Him." The mother attends our evening ser- vices and seems much interested. She will come! The younger sister re- marked, "Mr. Lewis, before I went to your houss I read and studied hard to have something to answer you. It was no use;, the Lord broke my heart."
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