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Show HINTS ON INQUIRY-BOOM WORK. "Let lum know, that he which converteth a sinner trom the error of his ways, shall save a soul from death, and hide a"multitude of sins.'' Jas. v. 20. We should believe that Jesus is able and tvilling to save notv. We should avoid the presence of a third person. We should always question a seeker-not exhort. We should ask God for wisdom before beginning our work, and then expect He will help us. We should seek constantly the help of the Holy Spirit, without which success is impossible. Discover how the Holy Spirit is working in the mind of a sinner, and work with Him. For we are laborers together with God. I. Cor, iii. 9. Keep in mind these three facts : a. Man lost by sin. Bom. iii. 9-20, 23 . V. 12, 18, 21; vi. 23. 6. Salvation only" through Jesus Christ. John iii. 14-18, 36; I. John i. 7. c. Regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit. John iii. 3-8 ; I. Cor. xii. 3; Titus iii. 5, 6. Remember that neither repentance, faith nor prayer saves. They are only means. Jesus only saves. Seek first to ascevtain the exact spiritual condition, and meet it from God's Word. One needs a text commanding faith; another a verse requiring sacrifice: a third a passage demanding repentance; a fourth a text calbng for choice; a fifth a Scripture invitation. A "thus saith the Lord," will do more for an anxious soul than all your experience, tact, power of illustration, or persuasion ; therefore turn to your Bible and read the passage you believe will meet the need. The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Bph. vi. 18. Familiarize yourself with the Word of God, both as to oharaoterl and location of passages. ^ A few pertinent passages are better than a multitude; many texts may cause confusion in the mind of the seeker. Let your conversation be brief, lest in your effort to enlighten, you darken counsel with words We should meet all candid objections, but 7>ever engage in controversy. "There is no time for discussion, and it will fortify the enquirer in unbelief and dissipate impressions. We should understand that feeling is neither an element nor a condition of salvation. Christ saves. We should press the seeker gently, yet earnestly, to immediate decision. Persevere until there is a genuine work of grace. Don't advise an enquirer to go home and read his Bible and pray. This is to throw away the present opportunity with little prospect of a better one. Death may close the door of hope, and even if lite were prolonged, delay dissipates impressions. Now !Now!! Get him to pray, even if it must bo after your dictation. Don't fear to be thorough. Never tell a man ho is saved ; let the Holy Spirit do that through the Word. Jer. vi. 14. Never seek to secure belief in a religious system, but, acceptance of Jesus Christ as a personal Saviour. Your particular denomination is of no consequence before the awful question of eternal life or death • \ 20. We should write off a few helpful texts to leave in the hands of each seeker, afterwards. Those we have used to help him will be the best. 21. Don't manufacture hopes for the enquirer. 22. Give each seeker something to do for Christ, as soon as he has any light. See that they have a few little books or Gospel cards for their distribution in personal efforts now!- 23. Speak a few words as to how to run the race he has begun, putting him on his guard as to Satan's temptations. 24. Several persons should not talk one after another with the same enquirer. It confuses him. 25. We should improve every opportunity to encourage and instruct a young convert. An occasional letter will do great good, 26. II an unsaved one tella us "lamdoingthebest lean," we should tell him, No, you are not; for no man is doing the best he can who rejects Christ. The men who rejected Hirri 1800 years ago were not doing the best they could; and you are doing the same unless you receive Him: " This is the work of God, the best you can do, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John vi. 29. "It any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema." (i. e. accursed.) I. Cor. xvi. 22. Helpful Passages for Diiferent Classes of Seekers. FOR BACKSLIDERS-Jer. ii. .5, 13, 17, 19, 22, 32; iii. 12, 13, 14,16. Hosea xiv 1-4; IiukeXV. 11-26. Remember Peter and David. Ps.li. SLIGHTLY CONVICTED-Rom. iii 10, 12, 23; vii. 24; I. John i. 10; Ecc xi. 9; Isa. liii 6; Ps. cxliii. 2; Acts xiii. 39; Gal. ii. 16; Eph. ii. 8, 9; Isa. i. 5, 6. TOO GREAT SINNERS-Isa. i. 18; xliii. 25; xliv. 22; xlv. 22; Rom. V. 6; I. Peter ii. 24 ; Kev. xxii. 17 ; Isa. liii 4, 5; Matt. ii. 13. AFRAID THEY WILL NOT HOLD OUT-Phil. i. 6 ; Ps. cxxi. 1; Isa. xliii. 2; II. Cor. ix. 8; xii. 9; Kom. viii. 35-39; Judo, verse 24; Isa. xii. 10, 13. STUMBLE AT INCONSISTENCIES OF CHRISTIANS-Romans xiv. 12; John xxi. 21, 22; Matt. vii. 1,3; Kom. ii. 1: xiv. 3, 4. HAVE TRIED TO BECOME CHRISTIANS WITHOUT SUCCESS- Jer. xxix. 13 ; Deut. iv, 29; Romans iv. 5. WAITING FOB A MORE CONVENIENT SEASON-Prov. xxvii. 1; James iv. 13, 14, 17 ; I I Cor vi. 2; Heb. iii. 13. TOO MANY THINGS TO GIVE UP-Mark viii. 35, 37; Eccl. ix. 11. FOR THE TIME TO BE SAVED-Isa. Iv. 6; II. Cor. vi. 2; Heb. iii. 7. DANGER OP DELAY-Prov. i. 24, 28; Ps. ix. 17; IL Peter ii. 9. WANT TO KNOW HOW TO BELIEVE-John v. 24. It is to Receive : John i. 11, 12. It is to Trust: Isa. xxvi. 3, 4. It is to Call: Rom. x. 13. It is to Take: Rev. xxii. 17 ; Kom. vi. 23. It is to Believe : John iii. 15, 16, 18. It is to Look: Isa. xlv. 22. RESULTS OP BELIEVING-Joy : John XV. 11. ReSt. Aatt. xi. 28, 29. Peace : John xiv 27. For those who have believed but are in darkness because they have not confessed: Rom, x. 9, 10. Contrast instances of conversion-Paul: Acts ix. Cornelius : Acts X The Jailor and Lydia: Acts xvi. FOR SKEPTICAL INQUIRERS-John vi. 40 ; Ps. xxv. 14; xiv. 1; John vii. 17. I cannot believe : John vii. 17. Doubting Christians: I. John V. i s ; iii. 2, 14, 24; and 1st Epistle of John. L. P. ROWLAND, Y. M, C. A. WOEKEB, GBAND RAPIDS, MICH. Paste this in your Bible. " ~ ' |
