King's Business - 1913-12

THE KING’S BUSINESS

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moment he stood upon his feet. The burden of his sin rolled away, the joy unspeakable and full of glory pos­ sessed his soul. He knew that he was saved! Yes! and a right glorious sal­ vation it was. Mr. Firbank resolved that he would not be a half-and-half Christian, but that he would follow Jesus all the way. As he had hitherto lived all his life to please himself, so he would now live solely to please God. As he had hitherto spent his time in ease' and idleness, so now he would endure hardness as a good sol­ dier of Jesus Christ. He threw himself heartily into the work of the Lord, fully realizing that the time was short. He was found "working in thé slums, seeking to res­ cue-and save those who had no one to care for their souls. ; He was often seen bravely taking his stand in the streets with his humbler brethren, to preach the Gospel to those whom they could gather to listen to them. I need hardly say that1this is a much more dangerous enterprise in Ireland than in England or Scotland. Upon one occasion, when our friend was present, the preachers were attacked by a fierce mob, large !stones were mercilessly thrown at them, and he was knocked down in the street, being stunned by a blow. But none of these things moved him. Mr. Firbank was not only anxious to promote God’s cause in the hearts and lives of other people, but determined that his life should be what God would have it to be ; and we spent many happy days together at Keswick, seeking to know more and more of what God would have us to do, and seeking grace and power faith­ fully to do it. All conversions are miraculoüs, for, though men may teach, God alone can save. But we see the hand of God more manifestly displayed in some cases than we do in others. Mr. Fir- Concluded on page'578

ninety and nine.” The message was with power. Mr. Firbank felt he was a wandering sheep, that he was far from God, that he was out upon the dark mountains, that he was entan­ gled in thickets, that he was in immi­ nent peril of being lost; and the ques­ tion was wrung from his heart: What must I do to be saved? Then followed the prayer, which seemed to bring him face to face with God; and then the after-meeting, which brought him into the Valley of Decision. Mr. Moody asked—as he invariably did—all those who were now willing to trust Jesus for pardon, and to live henceforth for God, to stand up and confess it; and in all parts of the great assembly men and women began to rise. A great strug­ gle was going on in the heart of Mr. Firbank. God had been speaking to him; and had shown him the danger in which he stood. God had revealed to him the sinfulness of his life, and had also shown that a perfect right­ eousness had been procured for him by the sacrifice and death of His own dear Son. Mr. Firbank longed to be saved, but felt he could never stand up and confess Christ before that great audience. All the proceedings were so new to him, and the standing up was so contrary to all his notions of religion, that though he was longing to be saved, he felt as if he were glued to his seat. The time was passing quickly by; the meeting would soon come to an end. Then the thought flashed into his mind—I may lose this opportunity; another opportunity may never come, and I shall be lost for­ ever. His mind was made up ; he determined that the fear of man should not shut him out of the Kingdom of Heaven. He made a desperate effort, and struggled to his feet; so great was the strain that he became bathed in perspiration. The blessing came. The peace of God entered his heart the

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