The Man with the Book; or, The Bible Among the People.Weylland, John Matthias
History
The Man with the Book; or, The Bible Among the People.
Weylland, John Matthias
City missions; London City Mission
Several other visits followed, and as the blessed result, the man
believed on the Saviour, and gave evidence of having passed from death
unto life. A clergyman who visited the place a few months after, wrote
of him, "Among others I spoke to a man in charge of machinery; a frank,
open-faced, and as I should think, open-hearted Englishman. 'I was,
sir,' said he, 'an infidel, until a gentleman spoke to me here, and gave
me a Gospel. He then reasoned with me, and lent me a book. I am now
persuaded that the Bible is true, and I am trying to be a Christian.' I
think he has the root of the matter in him."
The readiness with which this man received the Gospel is exceptional.
With sceptics of his class prejudice is usually so strong that to remove
it is like working through a granite wall; and, after years of effort,
the good frequently appears to be lost upon them. Such an incident is
therefore a great encouragement to trust in the power of revealed truth.
The reproving of sin is also a plain Christian duty, and yet how few
nerve themselves to do it. Besides, persons who, for instance, are
guilty of profane language, not only show their need of good counsel,
but their very words give the judicious Christian a kind of introduction
to them, which can be used to advantage. We will give two instances in
illustration of this use of the Book.
When travelling in Yorkshire, the visitor one morning lost his train at
a junction, and had to remain in the waiting-room for some time. Three
young men entered, who proved to be a barrister's and two solicitor's
clerks. One of them in his disappointment at not being in time, as he
had to attend a barrister at the assize, uttered an oath, and another
took the Divine Name with worse than lightness upon his lips.
"Be careful, gentlemen," observed the stranger, "or you will never
discover the legal title."
"What on earth do you mean?" inquired the swearer.
"Just this: there are possessions of present value, and a heavenly
inheritance covenanted and held direct from the king, but the profane
and corrupt will never be able to prove their legal claim to them."
"It was a slip of the tongue, sir, as I don't swear," said the young
man, with some confusion.
"Then be careful," was the reply, "not to contract a habit so vile."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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