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
The young convert from infidelity, like others who had received
spiritual good, left the place for more respectable lodgings. He became
diligent in his attendance upon the means of grace, and by application
to his trade and a good use of his leisure, he qualified himself for a
better position. He formed a class of young men, who styled themselves
"The Bible Defence Club," of which the Missionary became president. They
met weekly to read and converse upon the evidences, and by arrangement
took part in the infidel discussions. As the result, several leading
sceptics became converted, and the opinions of the working men of the
neighbourhood were so influenced, that the infidel club broke up, and
their discussion "forum" became so thinly attended that it also came to
an end. This was a great victory and cause for gratitude. The young
convert had an uncle who was manager of a large firm in one of the
midland towns; he was so pleased with his nephew's letters, that he
offered him employment, which was gladly accepted. He rose rapidly, and
a few years after, when he came to London on the business of the firm,
he had become so much the gentleman that his friend scarcely knew him.
Soon after his appointment as manager of a "department" he married a
Christian woman, but he continued to sing in the Church choir, and to
teach in the Sunday-school.
These abiding cases have given joy to the Christian worker, and helped
to sustain him in still more onerous duties. They are, however, few when
compared with the disappointments. At the time of the revival in the
Court there was much blossom, as the inquiry for salvation was general;
but when fruit was sought for, it was plain that a spiritual blight had
passed over the place, destroying much good. The "omnibus-washer," for
instance, became confirmed in infidelity, resisted every good influence,
and died in a hopeless state; his wife became a drunkard, and his eldest
children came to ruin. The "'strology woman" prospered upon the wages of
iniquity, and became queen of a London den. Besides these, the
Missionary used frequently to meet with those of whose salvation he once
had hope, standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seat of the
scornful. He has indeed met with bitter opposition from several over
whom he once had spiritual influence. Perhaps in so real a conflict as
this with the powers of darkness, such failures are to be expected;
they, however, have a humbling tendency, and lead to simple resting upon
the promises, as they prove that the instrument by itself is of little
worth,--that souls are won, not by might, nor by power, but by the
Spirit of the Lord. The one consolation, however, in these
discouragements, is the fact that we never know when the Word which has
been faithfully spoken will germinate. It may be years after, and in the
day of the Lord many a joyous surprise may be experienced at finding
unknown cases in which grace has triumphed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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