Evangelism ministry in Christian preaching emphasizes the urgent call to share the gospel and lead sinners to Christ through persistent, faithful efforts. Illustrations often depict dedicated individuals distributing Bibles, preaching in difficult settings, and ministering despite opposition or personal hardship, highlighting the transformative power of the gospel (Romans 1:16; Matthew 28:19-20).
Preachers should focus solely on Christ, not themselves, when sharing the gospel.
When we seek to win others to Christ, we must never think we possess any power in ourselves or lead others to believe we do through any air of superiority or lightness as we proclaim the gospel. We would do well to heed the advice of Dr. Payson, who said, "Paint Jesus Christ upon your canvas, and then hold Him up to the people; but hold Him up so that not even your little finger can be seen."
Preaching in prison reveals the need for Christ's salvation despite outward appearances.
I have good news to tell you--Christ is come after you. I was at the Fulton-street prayer-meeting, a good many years ago, one Saturday night, and when the meeting was over, a man came to me and said, "I would like to have you go down to the city prison to-morrow, and preach to the prisoners. I said I would be very glad to go. There was no chapel in connection with that prison, and I was to preach to them in their cells. I had to stand at a little iron railing and talk down a great, long narrow passageway, to some three or four hundred of them, I suppose, all out of sight. It was pretty difficult work; I never preached to the bare walls before. When it was over I thought I would like to see to whom I had been preaching, and how they had received the gospel. I went to the first door, where the inmates could have heard me best, and looked in at a little window, and there were some men playing cards. I suppose they had been playing all the while. "How is it with you here?" I said. "Well, stranger, we don't want you to get a bad idea of us. False witnesses swore a lie, and that is how we are here." "Oh," I said, "Christ cannot save anybody here; there is nobody lost." I went to the next cell. "Well, friend, how is it with you?" "Oh," said the prisoner, "the man that did the deed looked very much like me, so they caught me and I am here." He was innocent, too! I passed along to the next cell. "How is it with you?'" "Well, we got into bad company, and the man that did it got clear, and we got taken up, but we never did anything." I went along to the next cell "How is it with you?" "Our trial comes on next week, but they have nothing against us, and we'll get free." I went round to nearly every cell but the answer was always the same--they had never done anything. Why, I never saw so many innocent men together in my life. There was nobody to blame but the magistrates, according to their way of it. These men were wrapping their filthy rags of self-righteousness about them. And that has been the story for six thousand years. I got discouraged as I went through the prison, on, and on, and on, cell after cell, and every man had an excuse. If he hadn't one, the devil helped him to make one. I had got almost through the prison, when I came to a cell and found a man with his elbows on his knees, and his head in his hands. Two little streams of tears were running down his cheeks; they did not come by drops that time.
"What's the trouble?" I said. He looked up, the picture of remorse and despair. "Oh, my sins are more than I can bear." "Thank God for that," I replied. "What," said he, "you are the man that has been preaching to us, ain't you?" "Yes." "I think you said you were a friend?" "I am." "And yet you are glad that my sins are more than I can bear!" "I will explain," I said "If your sins are more than you can bear, won't you cast them on One who will bear them for you?" "Who's that?" "The Lord Jesus." "He won't bear my sins." "Why not?" "I have sinned against Him all my life." "I don't care if you have; the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses from all sin." Then I told him how Christ had come to seek and save that which was lost; to open the prison doors and set the captives free. It was like a cup of refreshment to find a man who believed he was lost, so I stood there, and held up a crucified Saviour to him. "Christ was delivered for our offenses, died for our sins, rose again for our justification." For a long time the man could not believe that such a miserable wretch could be saved. He went on to enumerate his sins, and I told him that the blood of Christ could cover them all. After I had talked with him I said, "Now let us pray." He got down on his knees inside the cell, and I got down outside, and I said, "You pray." "Why," he said, "it would be blasphemy for me to call on God." "You call on God," I said. He knelt down, and, like the poor publican, he lifted up his voice and said, "God be merciful to me, a vile wretch!" I put my hand through the window, and as I shook hands with him a tear fell on my hand that burned down into my soul. It was a tear of repentance. He believed he was lost. Then I tried to get him to believe that Christ had come to save him. I left him still in darkness. "I will be at the hotel," I said, "between nine and ten o'clock, and I will pray for you." Next morning, I felt so much interested, that I thought I must see him before I went back to Chicago. No sooner had my eye lighted on his face, than I saw that remorse and despair had fled away, and his countenance was beaming with celestial light; the tears of joy had come into his eyes, and the tears of despair were gone. The sun of Righteousness had broken out across his path; his soul was leaping within him for joy; he had received Christ as Zaccheus did--joyfully. "Tell me about it," I said. "Well, I do not know what time it was; I think it was about midnight. I had been in distress a long time, when all at once my great burden fell off, and now, I believe I am the happiest man in New York." I think he was the happiest man I saw from the time I left Chicago till I got back again. His face was lighted up with the light that comes from the celestial hills. I bade him good-by, and I expect to meet him in another world.
Can you tell me why the Son of God came down to that prison that night, and, passing cell after cell, went to that one, and set the captive free? It was because the man believed he was lost.
Sinners need urgent rescue and persistent prayer despite their resistance and folly.
"A sottish drunkard, that is overpoised with his own excess, lieth where he falleth, and except some friendly hand lift him up, there he perisheth; and just so it is with sinners, they are pleased with their condition, and if they be not soundly roused up and awakened, they lie and die, and fry in their sins. Oh! then, pluck them out of the fire, warn them to flee from the wrath to come." Be in earnest with them! Exhort, rebuke, entreat. Do not leave them to perish in their sins. Use a holy violence with them, and pull them out of the mire. Common humanity would lead us to help a sheep which had fallen into a ditch, and shall we not come to the rescue of an immortal soul? The sottishness and folly of the ungodly must not dispirit us; we
must take that into the account, and we shall not wonder at their uncouth and ungrateful treatment of us. As a drunken man does not want to be helped, and curses those who would serve him, so is it often with those ungodly ones who most of all require our aid. Let us not be put off by them, but labour to save them even though they are resolved to destroy themselves. Whatever evil expressions they use towards us now, they will think and speak very differently if they are saved by our means. We will appeal from the verdict of their present drunkenness to the thankfulness of their future sobriety. Blessed Master, make us more concerned to win souls, and let us never give over, however bad men may be. How can we let them perish when we remember that thou wouldst not leave us to die in our sins, though we were as far gone as any of those around us?
A female evangelist's dedicated ministry led to numerous conversions and church growth.
About seven years ago, Mrs. Bartlett, one of the members of Mr. Spurgeon's church, took the charge of a class of senior women, who met together every sabbath in New Park-street Chapel. In the course of a few months, the class, which at first consisted of less than half a dozen members, increased, until, at the opening of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, it numbered fifty persons. Conversions were numerous; and, in the course of a short time, it became necessary to hold the sabbath-afternoon services in a larger room. The lecture-hall, which will accommodate about nine hundred persons, was occupied. At the end of a few months, there were three hundred attendants; at the end of twelve, five hundred. It has increased in numbers, until the average attendance is now between seven and eight hundred. The major portion consists of women between the ages of thirty and seventy; and, indeed, many who have been converted through Mrs. Bartlett's means are considerably older than herself. The service, which is conducted by this remarkable lady with only casual assistance, consists of singing, a prayer, and an address, sometimes founded on a passage from Scripture, and as often from an incident which has occurred during the week, and which has been impressed on the mind of the teacher. Her class has contributed six hundred members to the church over which Mr. Spurgeon officiates, during the past six years; and last year about one hundred joined the church. The example set by this devoted woman is being followed by many of her converts, who are employed in mission-work in different parts of the country. Mrs. Bartlett has now found it necessary to make this mission her life-work; and her undivided attention is given to it.
— N. Y. Independent
An invalid woman faithfully serves by visiting the sick and leading services, showing dedication.
I was appointed to the village of B., and had journeyed more than half the distance, when a local brother inquired, "Where are you going?" I cheerfully replied where; upon which he remarked, "Ah! there is one woman there worth fourteen men." Having dined with this Christian sister, she at once proposed a visit to the sick; and though the interim was brief there were two of special interest. It being a lovely summer's day, "Would it be agreeable," inquired my friend, "to hold a short service in the open air, near the residence of an afflicted saint who can no longer go up to the house of God?" To this the writer assented. It was a blessed service. She has a lending library of suitable religious works circulating over several villages, visits the homes of rich and poor for spiritual conversations and prayer, conducts mothers' meetings, and evening services for inquirers. She has on one or more occasions supplied the lack of the appointed minister rather than suffer the people to return without the usual sermon. With a helper such as the above in every church in this land, what might Christianity accomplish! And yet this sister is an invalid. Methodist Times.
Personal, heart-to-heart preaching effectively reaches and ministers to sin-sick souls.
Henry Ward Beecher once remarked, that, the longer he lived, the more he valued those sermons preached where one man was the minister, and one man the congregation; where the sermon was from eye to eye, from heart to heart, and there could be no question as to who was intended by the appeal. Such preaching the Sunday school secures. Or, as Dr. Duryea puts it, the sick man needs not a lecture on medicine, but a prescription. His pulse must be felt, his symptoms considered, and the remedy for his particular disorder directed. In the sabbath school, the sin-sick soul can be thus cared for. It is wrong, then, to set medical students, or even old professors, lecturing at the desk, when every minute is needed by the homo physician for the examination and counsel of his cases in the domestic class-circle.
— The Congregationalist
A farmer zealously distributes hundreds of Bibles, leading many to Christ.
In R—Co. says a colporteur, in 1844, is a plain farmer, of some property, who, when he embraced Christ, six or seven years since, made a willing surrender of all to him. Since that time his life has been a series of efforts at home and abroad for the advancement of Christ's kingdom. Much of his time in winter is spent in destitute neighborhoods in his own and adjoining towns, in labors to bring sinners to Christ. When a Bible Depository was established, he undertook to supply the destitute in his region; and let it be sounded in the ears of sluggish Christians, that this faithful servant of his Master has purchased at his own expense, and distributed with his own hand, between 500 and 600 Bibles and Testaments within the last two or three years. Many precious souls have been led to Christ by his efforts. Being a large farmer, he has many Romanists in his employ, over whom he exerts a strong influence. "Treat them kindly and give them Bibles and good books," is his motto. As he came into church, he brought with him three or four of this class and gave them the best seats. On one occasion a Frenchman, who had been in his service, wished to be hired again, giving as a reason, that then he could read his Bible.
A woman sells and distributes over 1,500 Bibles, faithfully ministering to the poor.
An intelligent, industrious, and kind-hearted woman in Russia became a Christian. Her labors were transformed into Christian labors; and were followed up with an ardor and perseverance seldom exceeded. In her visits to the poor, she now carried books and tracts, as well as food and raiment; and when she found persons unable to read, which was frequently the case, she made it a point to read to them, and to explain what they could not understand.
Her prompt assistance was, in a great measure, instrumental to a zealous agent becoming extensively engaged in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. She gave him two of the first Finnish Bibles that ever passed through his hands; and when there was a great demand for the sacred volume in that language, she actually sold her watch, in order to furnish one hundred Bibles to the poor, at reduced prices. This was a noble effort in the cause of God: it augured well as to future usefulness; and the expectations which were excited by it were more than realized. She took the whole city of St. Petersburg for her sphere, and perambulated it alone; and succeeded beyond all expectations. In the course of a few months, she sold more than one thousand five hundred Bibles, and Testaments, and Psalters; and in this blessed work she continued perseveringly to engage. Hundreds derived advantage from her visits.
# 72. Miscellaneous.
A dollar's worth of gospel books brought a sinner to faith and peace with God.
At a public trac. meeting in the Tabernacle, New-York City, when several of the Society's Agents received their instructions, Rev. Mr. S—, who was about to leave for the West, described a destitute family in the Kentucky mountains in a graphic manner, and appealed for aid to send to that and similar families such books as might instruct them in the way of life, and stated that one dollar would supply eight such families with Baxter's Call. A Methodist girl, who earned her bread by her daily toil, gave one dollar after the meeting, and requested that Rev. Mr. S. would take the books to those poor families.
On reaching Kentucky, Rev. Mr. S. joined a colporteur for a few days' excursion, and took eight copies of the Call, writing a sentence in each stating the circumstances of the gift. One of the first abodes at which they called, was that of an aged widow, who had neglected the means of grace, and was surrounded by an irreligious family: It was with difficulty that they gained admittance, and more difficult to secure attention to the object of their mission. At last it was agreed that Baxter's Call should be left, and one of the sons was to read it to his mother. In a few weeks that widow was found in the house of God, a believing penitent; connected herself with the church; adorned her profession, and a few months after died in peace.
The letter containing these facts, and others of interest relative to the other seven books, was given by one of the secretaries to the girl who had contributed the dollar, and rejoiced her heart more than the expenditure of thousands squandered by the wealthy for their worldly gratification.
A colporteur leads a distiller to repentance and spiritual transformation.
One day as Mr. R., a colporteur, was passing along the road, a man engaged in making barrels hailed him, stating that as Mr. R. travelled considerably, he should be glad to have him find a purchaser for his distillery; but the colporteur, in the spirit of his Master, began to exhort him to attend to his eternal interests and prepare to give up his final account at the judgment seat. "But what," said he, "shall I do with my still-house?" "Repent, and get your heart right," said Mr. R., "and it shall be shown you what to do with your distillery—you will obtain light on that subject."
After he left the shop, the man, who could not read a line, and, as he after- 143. 144 whether God do not come upon him with some remarkable judgment in this life, according to the threatening implied in the reason annexed to the fifth commandment;" but he himself lived to see it fulfilled not long after, in a very signal providence.
Persistent preaching led to thousands awakened to concern for their souls in one year.
It is credibly reported of the Rev. John Berridge, the well known vicar of Everton, that in his itinerant labors through the country he preached from ten to twelve sermons a week upon an average, and frequently rode a hundred miles. Nor were such extraordinary exertions occasional, but continued through the long succession of more than twenty years. The success that followed these, as well as his stated labors amongst his own flock, may be estimated from the fact, that he was visited, in the first year after his own spiritual illumination, by a thousand different persons under serious impressions. It is computed, that under his own ministry, and that of Mr. Hicks, a neighboring minister, of whose conversion he had been the instrument, four thousand persons were awakened to a concern for their souls in the space of twelve months.
A simple tract in a jug handle led to a blacksmith’s repentance and family restoration.
A writer in the "Christian Index," Georgia, states that a brother, calling at a blacksmith's shop, discovered a jug containing ardent spirits, and put a tract in the handle. The blacksmith returned, resorted to the jug, commenced reading—dashed the tract upon the ground and trampled on it—conscience awoke—he took it up—read, wept, and read again—and now the despised family is respected; the disconsolate wife is filled with joy; and peace, love, and happiness reign where sorrow made her home. What has done this? A tract that cost one-fourth of a cent.
Distributing tracts in a brothel led hardened sinners to repentance and gratitude.
A gentleman was requested to distribute tracts among some houses of the worst description in Liverpool. He replied, "I should be willing to go, but it would affect my character to visit those places alone; if any body will accompany me, I will cheerfully go." A pious friend, advanced in life, went with him. They entered a cellar, and the tracts were received with thankfulness by its inmates. They entered another place, in which they found six sailors carousing, in company with six unhappy females. When the distributors entered, one of the sailors said, "Messmates, what are you come about?" "We have something to give you." "That's right, hand it over." "I will read some of it, if you please." The gentleman began to read a tract. The seaman presently said, "Avast there, master: I think I can read that myself." He took it, and read about a page and a half; it was the tract "ON THE LORD'S PRAYER;" and then he said, "I tell you what, master, this won't do. God bless you, sir, that ever you should think of us poor creatures." "Come, master," said another, "hand it over to me." He took the tract and went on reading it, but soon burst into tears, and said, "Ah, master, we are all wrong." The gentleman then himself addressed them, and gave each of them a tract. They all thanked him in a grateful manner, and said, "God bless you, sir, that any of us sailors should be thought of." The distributors had not gone far before they were overtaken by one of the young women, who said to one of them, "Sir, I have long seen the error of my ways, and am most completely miserable." The gentleman appointed her to come to his house the following evening. She accordingly came, and he brought her to his wife, and a friend who was then staying with them. The young woman related her tale; it was truly "a tale of woe." At its recital, the gentleman and his wife, and their friend, all wept. But joy was mixed with their sorrow, hoping that the prodigal might be restored to her father's house. Her father was a respectable person, living in London; they wrote to him, and took the young woman under their care. By the return of post they received a letter, which satisfied them that the statement she made was correct. They gave her money sufficient to buy her clothes, and paid for her journey home. A letter of thanks was afterwards received from her father; and also one from the young woman, expressing her gratitude to them as the means of restoring her to the paths of virtue, and the society of her friends.
A tract prevented a man from suicide and led him to repentance and prayer.
The following interesting fact was communicated to the Board of the American Tract Society:
A gentleman of respectable family and genteel appearance, while traveling on Long Island, indulged repeatedly in drinking ardent spirits, contrary, it would seem, to his usual practice; and, before he was aware, he became intoxicated. Deeply mortified at finding himself in this situation, he resolved, in a rash moment, to destroy himself, and for this purpose retired to the woods. After finding a suitable place, he took from his hat the handkerchief with which he intended to execute his dreadful purpose; but, providentially, with the handkerchief he drew out from his hat a little tract, which arrested his attention. It had on the title-page, "A Word in Season." He perused it; it struck conviction to his heart; he instantly fell on his knees, cried to God to have mercy on him, and after continuing some time in earnest prayer, arose, and made his way to a neighboring house, where, happily, a pious Christian dwelt. Here he gave no sleep to his eyes, but spent the whole night, like Jacob, wrestling with God. In the morning he returned to the city, thanking God for the deliverance he had effected, through the instrumentality of the "Word in Season."
Reading a tract stopped a man from suicide and brought him to faith in Christ.
The Rev. Basil Wood once related in a sermon, that a person belonging to his congregation, who had for some time been confined by sickness, derived great benefit from reading a certain tract. While thus confined, he was visited by an acquaintance who appeared to be laboring under great depression of spirits. His sick friend, observing his dejected frame of mind, pointed to the tract lying on the table, and requested him to sit down and read it to him. He assented, and had not proceeded far in his task before his whole attention became absorbed in the contents of the tract. As he read on, his heart became more and more affected, till at length, unable to control his feelings, he burst into tears, and pulling a weapon of destruction from his pocket, threw it upon the floor, exclaiming, "There, with that weapon I was just going to take away my own life, but thought I would first look in to see you once more before I committed the horrid deed. What I have now been reading has saved me." 416. Conversion of the Heathen.
A man’s faithful tract distribution led to many conversions despite opposition on a man-of-war.
OF-WAR'S-MAN.—I know a man, said Rev. Mr. Lord, seaman's chaplain at Boston, who is now a member of the church, and was hopefully converted four years ago by reading "Little Henry and his Bearer." He went home; but on reflection, made up his mind to go on board a man-of-war, for the purpose of doing good. He shipped at Charlestown, furnishing himself with tracts, Bibles, and the Society's volumes. The crew were so wicked, that at the end of nine months, the chaplain was compelled to leave the ship. But this man and one or two other pious men remained. At last God blessed him. One of the men was sent up to the fore-top-sail as a punishment. He asked this man to lend him a book, which he did. He was a wicked man, and had been accustomed to read Tom Paine and similar works. But now he came down serious, and inquired what he should do to be saved. God opened the windows of heaven, and in three weeks there were between twenty and thirty inquirers, and fifteen or twenty entertaining hope. There was great and continued opposition from the officers. But at the end of three years and a half the vessel arrived, and eleven men who had endured this fiery persecution all this time, sat down to commemorate the dying love of Jesus.
A farmer’s tract distribution led to thousands of conversions despite severe persecution.
Many years ago, a Norwegian farmer was, at the age of twenty-five, in the habit of making excursions from his father's dwelling, for the purpose of distributing religious tracts, which he had caused to be printed at his own expense, and which he sold or gave away. The effects of his labors were perfectly astonishing; not less than 50,000 peasants dating the period of their conversion to sound and vital Christianity, at the time when they first became known to that remarkable individual. To the sufferings which he had undergone, it is most distressing to advert; he endured eleven several imprisonments, one of which lasted for a period of ten years. There is a passage towards the close of his journal, dated in the year 1814, from which it appears, that a fine of a thousand six-dollars was imposed upon him, and that all which he possessed on earth was sold for the liquidation of that debt: he might have escaped it, could he have prevailed on himself to petition the king, saying that he was unable to pay the amount; but such was his love of truth, that no consideration under heaven could induce him to declare a falsehood; and, in consequence, he suffered himself to be reduced to the lowest degree of poverty: he allowed every thing which he possessed, down to the meanest utensil, to be sold, rather than declare that which he knew to be false.
A cadet’s seeking led to a relationship that fostered faith amid widespread unbelief.
Bishop M'Ilvaine, in an address delivered at the anniversary of the Naval and Military Bible Society in London, in May, 1830, gave the following pleasing statement:—
I was appointed chaplain to a military academy in my native country. I was forewarned of the rugged soil which I was destined to cultivate; and was recommended to relinquish all idea of making any progress in the work of the Lord, under such circumstances as those by which I was then surrounded. Shortly after my arrival, I received a communication from an officer in the depot, stating that he should feel himself accessory to a falsehood, did he not distinctly convey to me a faithful account of the position in which I was placed. However I might believe and rejoice in the doctrines which it was my duty to inculcate, there were those among my congregation who believed not a word of them; and he reckoned himself among the number of the unbelievers. He had to state further, that he believed there was not a person in the neighborhood who put the slightest faith in my doctrines. I have reason to believe that the individual from whom I received that communication, professed opinions little different from those of an atheist.
One day, soon after my appointment, a cadet came to my apartments, and told me that his father had recently died, and that he had enjoined him to come and seek my acquaintance. I gave the young man a tract; it might not produce its effect at the moment, but it was like throwing bread upon the waters: there was little doubt that it would be found after many days. In two weeks from that period, a young man, one of the finest in the academy, came to me, attired in his full uniform: his eyes were filled with tears; his utterance was nearly choked with emotion. At first, it appeared to me that he had been the victim of some sad disaster; at length, he articulated the words, "Gregory's Letters!" He stated that he had been brought up without religion; that he had lived unacquainted with God; that his mind was disposed towards skepticism. "Gregory's Letters" had fallen into his hands; and such was the effect which they produced upon his heart and mind, that, when reading them, he could not refrain from laying his hand upon the table, and saying, "This must be true." He told me that he had found a tract in his room, but was ignorant how it came there. I explained to him how that tract had been given away by me. 426. 421 and how it had found its way to the man by whom it was needed. When the young man to whom I had given the tract was on guard, this officer had put the very tract which he had found into his friend's hand, for the purpose of ascertaining how he felt on the subject of religion. The effect was such, that in a short time both were on their knees; soon after, they came to my apartments, and one of them, throwing his arms round my neck, inquired what he should do to be saved. It soon came to be whispered abroad that many persons were inclined to attend public worship; and it was not long before there were many professing, steady, zealous, practical Christians. Nor was it long
# TRAFFIC IN AF
421. Injurious to Customers, their Friends, and the Community.
God providentially raised a poor peasant to spread gospel truth in spiritual darkness.
When there was great spiritual darkness on the continent of Europe, and every thing seemed to threaten that the light of the gospel would be completely removed from Norway, God, in his providence, raised up a poor peasant, who lived near Indenckihill, on the confines of Sweden. He had received nothing but a common education, but the Lord made him acquainted with the truth, and filled him with zeal to communicate that truth to his countrymen, who were perishing for lack of knowledge. This good man, with his knapsack on his back, set out on the road, went through the length and envenomed opposer of the Christian religion, and found him reading Dr. Channing's discourse preached at a dedication in the city of New-York. The conversation turned upon the merits of the sermon, and the distinguished ability of the author, when our friend inquired of the gentleman how he liked the production. "I like it much," said he, with particular animation. "It strikes a broad blow at the Christian system, and will prove a decisive triumph for the Religion of Nature. Dr. Channing differs from me in a very few points, an in five years I am satisfied he will preach the doctrine which I believe."
A tract led a high-caste Brahmin to renounce idolatry and embrace Christianity.
"The conversion," says a quarterly missionary paper, "of Gunga Dhor, the first Oriya convert, a Brahmin of high caste, and of great respectability and influence among his own people of every class, was an event of no ordinary importance. It may, in truth, be said, that, when Gunga Dhor threw off his poita, the badge of his divinity, and assumed a Christian profession by public baptism, the temple of Juggernaut received a severe shock. Then, that progress of ruin commenced, which will work till one stone shall not be left upon another, which shall not be thrown down. When he delivered his first Christian address, the Brahmins gnashed their teeth upon him and uttered their curses and imprecations, wishing that he might die.
"The first Christian light, which entered Gunga Dhor's mind, was from a small tract, (written by Rev. Mr. Ward), entitled 'Jugernatha Ruth na chullebar a kottha,' or 'The account of the not proceeding of Juggernaut's car.' The tract induced in his mind a supreme contempt for that idol; then he found other tracts and single Gospels; these led him to the house of the missionary at Cuttack, whom he woke from his bed very early in the morning of January 1, 1826, begging an explanation of his books. Mr. Sutton was immediately sent for; and 'great was the day, the joy was great,' when the missionaries met the first Christian inquirer at Orissa. He accompanied Mr. Lacey on a tour to Calcutta; saw Dr. Carey; returned to Orissa; parted with kindred, friends, and every thing for Christ; was baptized, and became a laborious and faithful native Christian evangelist."
A tract sparked inquiry and conversion among Mohammedan villagers to Christianity.
"On a late visit to Soerabaya, Java," says Mr. Medhurst, in 1841, "I was informed of a spirit of inquiry which had broken out among the natives of a village about eight miles from that town, forty of whom had resolved to renounce Mohammedan customs, and to adopt the profession of Christianity.
On inquiry, it appeared that one of them formerly obtained a tract, at the annual fair held at Soerabaya, from which he learned, that he was a sinner, and in danger of perdition, while the only Savior to whom he could look for help, was Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He communicated his views to some of his fellow-villagers, who shared with him in a desire to know more of this new way. They accordingly proceeded further into the interior, to the house of a Dutchman, who was in the habit of instructing his tenants in the outlines of Christianity; and having been taught by him to a certain extent, they were directed to go back to Soerabaya, and inquire further after Christians there. This, they accordingly did, and have continued to this time coming and going weekly for instruction.
They abstain from work on the Sabbath day; when they meet together, they read the New Testament, sing the tracts for hymns, and offer up such prayers as they find therein contained. They have committed to memory a short catechism, printed in Javanese, and know a great portion of the contents of the tracts by heart.
Their knowledge of Christianity is of course circumscribed, but they stick fast to the great truth of trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. I gave them what instruction I could, during my stay, and put means in operation for having them regularly visited in their own village, for the purpose of maintaining Christian worship among them.
A tract led a young man and his family to faith and Christian commitment.
The Rev. Dr. Scudder, 1842, says, "A young man belonging to Panditeripo received from Rev. Mr. Poor, the tract, 'Heavenly Way.' On reading it, he came to converse with me on the subject of the Christian religion; placed himself under the instruction of the sanctuary; dedicated himself to Jesus in a covenant never to be broken; and in due time was received into the communion of the church. This young man became a valuable helper in making known the Gospel of Christ, and is, so far as I know, at this day devoting his energies to the same momentous work.
His conversion was followed by a younger brother of his being brought under religious instruction. He attended a meeting which I held for candidates for the church, for nearly, or quite, a year, when he was suddenly taken off by the cholera. When near to death, his mother told him that she must make offerings to her god, that he might be induced to restore him. The little boy replied, 'I do not worship idols; I worship Christ the Lord, and if he is pleased to spare me a little longer in this world, it will be well; if not, he will take me to himself.' Not long after, he lifted up his dying voice and uttered, 'I am going to Christ the Lord,' and I trust slept in Jesus.
After the death of the little boy, the hoary-headed father came forward and publicly professed his faith in the Lord Jesus.
As the young man after his conversion could not marry a heathen, he chose a young female among his relations, whom he wished to marry, and had her sent to the Oodoovill boarding-school. There she remained a heathen three years; but in the ever to be remembered season, in which God visited the school at that place, in 1833, she, with nearly twenty others, was humbled at the foot of the cross, and publicly professed her faith in Christ. They have long since been united in marriage, and I hope are training up a Christian family in that land of darkness. Such is the history of a tract, which cost about two cents, and how much more good in ages to come it may do, will best be known in that day when the affairs of the world are to come to a close.
A tract exchange led an infidel to conversion and to bring others to Christ.
A pastor in ——, related in substance the following fact: An infidel in Western New York wished him a few years since when residing there, to read one of his books. He consented to do it on one condition, viz., that the infidel would read one of his in turn, which was "Leslie's Short Method with Deists." It was the means, under God, of his hopeful conversion; and of the many whose minds he had before polluted, he was the instrument of bringing back ten or twelve to the knowledge of the truth.
A former infidel who mocked the Bible was converted by a tract and began preaching.
A young man, says a tract distributor, who has aided me zealously for a week in the distribution of volumes, informs me that a few months ago he was the ringleader of about fifty infidels in ——. He was their preacher; and that he might make the Bible ridiculous, he says he has taken it, and in reading it publicly, put in words and taken out others, to show his hearers that it contradicts itself! The Tract, "The Sinner Condemned Already," was the means of his conversion, and he entertains a lively feeling of gratitude to the American Tract Society as the means of his salvation. He is now anxious to prepare to preach the Gospel, that he may build up the faith he has labored so hard to destroy. He has assembled his infidel friends, renounced his infidelity, and preached Christ to them, which he intends to do day by day.
A tract and John 3 led an infidel to repentance and desire to be born again.
I was requested, writes a Christian minister at Godalming, in Surrey, (England,) to visit a poor man who was ill. Upon inquiring as to his previous character, I found that he had been the leader of a band of infidels, who assembled weekly to condemn the Bible. I went; he confessed what he had been, and expressed a desire for spiritual instruction. The third chapter of John was the one I chose for reading, after which I prayed with him, and left. The following week I heard he was very desirous to see me. I went, found him anxious to know "how he could be born again." He was much worse in body, and too ill to walk across the room; but while I was engaged in prayer, he got out of bed, and knelt by my side. When leaving, I offered him a small donation, when he replied, "I don't want your money, but your instructions and your prayers. Do come again." I visited him many times, and have reason to believe he was a sincere penitent.
A short time before he died he said, "There is one thing which I am anxious to know. Soon after I was afflicted, a person brought me a small packet, but was not to give it to me unless I should engage to ask no questions. I promised, and found a tract and half-a-crown. The tract must have been sent by some one who knew my character and principles, and before I die I should like to know the person." I knew the history, and satisfied him; but asked, "What effect had the tract upon you." He replied, "it shook my principles, and set me thinking." He had forgotten its title, but said it commenced with, "How do you use your reason?" I said, "I regard you now as a dying man, and I ask upon what are you placing your hope of mercy?" He replied, "Only upon Christ." I said, "What! upon Him whom you have openly blasphemed?" "Yes: wretch that I have been!" Shortly after he died, and, I trust, entered into peace.
# 418. Converts Distinguished for usefulness.
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