The Book in the Streets and Night-Houses:
"Sow in the wild waste places, Though none thy love may own; God guides the down of the thistle The wandering wind hath sown. Will Jesus chide thy weakness, Or call thy labour vain? The word that for Him thou bearest Shall return to Him again. Sow with thine heart in heaven, Thy strength thy Master's might, Till the wild waste places blossom In the warmth of a Saviour's light."
A GILDED SALOON--A PIGEON PLUCKER--DISCOURAGEMENT--THE COFFEE MAN--DESTITUTE--THE SOLITUDE OF THE CITY--MADNESS OF DISGRACE--THE BEGGAR AND HIS BOY--THE "TRAVELLER'S REST"--THE SLEEPLESS CHURCH--COFFEE STALLS AND BOOTHS--THE COVERT FROM THE STORM--BIBLE POWER.
THE BOOK IN THE STREETS AND NIGHT-HOUSES:
"The seed is the Word of God." LUKE viii. 11.
Two hundred and sixty nights occupied in evangelizing efforts in the streets, refreshment houses, and dens of the mighty city, gave evidence that the Word of God is powerful to arrest the attention of the most thoughtless--to stop the guilty in their downward career; and that it is the power of God unto the salvation of sinners who are sunk so low as to cause them, when restored, to stand out before men as miracles of mercy. Disappointments were frequent, and if continuance in the work had depended upon known success, would have been crushing. This however was not so: the great Master does not send out His servants at their own cost. When He, of His sovereign grace, takes a sinner and places him among His children, and then by distinguishing favour makes him a wheel or a lever in His great machinery of mercy, He only requires faithfulness--not success. Men can only fill the office of subordinate instruments and visible agents in the mighty process of salvation. "God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself," but "He has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation." This truth ought to remove indolence and avarice from those who are named by the name of Christ. The redeemed people who realize the debt they owe unto their Lord, should covet to be the deputies and agents of Divine love; such should labour and study, and pray for success, because the Holy Spirit works by instruments made fit for His use, and the armed omnipotence of God is engaged on behalf of repentant sinners. The great restoring work is of God, and of God only; and it is therefore the duty of His servants to labour as cheerfully when denied, as when favoured with evidence of blessing.