Gathering Jewels: The Secret of a Beautiful Life: In Memoriam of Mr. & Mrs. James Knowles. Selected from Their Diaries.Knowles, James
Religion
Gathering Jewels: The Secret of a Beautiful Life: In Memoriam of Mr. & Mrs. James Knowles. Selected from Their Diaries.
Knowles, James
Allen Street Presbyterian Church (New York, N.Y.); Knowles, James, 1811-1886; Knowles, Matilda Darroch, 1811-1886
_I often think of the words of Christ, Compel them to come in._--The
scene is changed. From prayer in the closet, to kindly compulsion in the
lanes and streets of the city. Here the reader will find the true secret
of her beautiful life; namely, frequent reflection on the words of
Christ, relative to Christian work in the world. "Go ye out into the
highways and lanes," etc. This is the only method by which we can have
communication with the souls of men and women who are perishing for lack
of knowledge. The question has often been asked by the philanthropic men
of the present day, How can we reach the masses? How can we save the
non-churchgoers? It is calculated that with a population of almost a
hundred thousand souls in the Tenth Ward alone, of New York, only about
one-fourth attend any place of worship. These facts and figures are
startling, but they are, nevertheless, true. These precious souls, for
whom Christ died, must be made the object of our affection. Our
knowledge of the spiritual destitution of the down-town masses is
strictly based upon our experience and observation. And hence we say
that a house to house visitation, systematically arranged, constitutes
one of the essential characteristics of Christ-like work. He labored not
only in the temple and the synagogue, but in the market-place, and on
the streets. His pulpit was the stern-sheets of the ship, on the Sea of
Galilee.
_With a word of cheer left her._--Think of the power of a kind word.
Amid all the busy scenes of life, is there no time for a cheerful word?
When the Chief Priests and Pharisees sought to lay hands on Jesus, they
feared the multitude because they took him for a prophet. What rays of
celestial sunshine sometimes stream into the soul of the disheartened
one when the missionary whispers, "Put all your trust in Jesus, and he
will care for you." There is balm in Gilead, and there is a physician
there. Look at the power of a kind word uttered by the Master. Are there
no tumultuous fears allayed in the breast of those two blind men as they
sit by the wayside to Jerusalem? They cry, "Have mercy on us, O Lord,
thou Son of David." Is there not a stupendous wealth of kindness and
potency portrayed in yon scene when Jesus stood still and called them,
and uttered those strange kind words: "What will ye that I should do
unto you?" How sad is the sight of a blind person! How intensely dark
their surroundings! How they excite our pity! How many, alas! are
blinded by sin, sickness, and sorrow. "They say unto him, Lord, that our
eyes may be opened. Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes,
and immediately their eyes received sight and they followed him." Is
there any wonder that the whole city was moved, saying, "Who is this?
This is Jesus, the prophet of Nazareth, of Galilee." Now the Saviour
said, "As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you into the world."
Kind Christian words contain the rich unction of encouragement and
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account