THE SOUL-WINNER’S METHODS.

“THAT I MAY, BY ALL MEANS, SAVE SOME.”

STUDY XXII.

DIRECT APPROACH.

Memory Verse:  “Jesus ... saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and
    tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.”—­(Mark v,
    19.)

Scripture for Meditation:  John iv, 1-42.

John Vassar, than whom there has been no more successful soul-winner for a hundred years, accomplished his work through personal conversation, and declared that the best method of dealing with souls is to strike home at once with the most direct and searching question possible.  Without a word of introduction he would say, “Have you experienced that great change called the new birth?” That question could not be easily evaded.

Study the methods of Christ in dealing with such as Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and the rich young man.  How eagerly he used every opportunity!  How his questions search the life!  Without any apology, how he thrusts home warning and entreaty!

How easily we may lose opportunity to speak directly to men of their danger!  While the great Dr. Chalmers was a guest at the home of his friend, a Highland country gentleman, his friend died suddenly.  Dr. Chalmers had never spoken to him about his soul.  He was much distressed, and said, “If I had only known that he was going to be taken from earth so soon, how earnestly I would have pleaded with him about his soul!”

Dr. J.E.  Carson, of New York City, said to his congregation one Sunday morning, that every saved man was either a channel through which the Spirit of God was reaching the unsaved, or a barrier preventing the Spirit doing his work.  One of the trustees of the Church said to himself on the way home, “Am I a channel, or a barrier?” That night he could not sleep, and cried out, “O Lord, make me a channel!” Almost the first thought that came was that there were some men in his employ to whom he had never spoken a word about Jesus Christ.  He confessed his fault, and told the Lord that if he would make him a channel he would speak to these men.  The first man who entered his office the next morning was his confidential clerk, who had been with him eighteen years.  The merchant said, “Edward, haven’t I been a good employer to you?” “Yes, sir.”  “Have not I treated you well?” “Yes, sir.”  “Why, sir, what have I done,” said the clerk, “that you are going to discharge me?” “Edward, I am on my way to heaven, and I want you to go with me.”  Tears came into the eyes of both men as Edward took the merchant’s extended hand and said, “I will, sir.”  Dr. Carson afterwards received eleven men into his Church because this trustee had consented to be a channel for the Holy Spirit.

Dr. Manley S. Hard talked with a physician about his soul, and, two days after, the doctor entered the revival-meeting just before the benediction, walked straight to the altar, and begged the people to wait and pray for him, saying: