T[ It was remarked by an old minister whom William Peebles used to hear, that the devil is just the believer's fencing-master ; for by trials and temptations he teaches him how to fight himself.^
^ From the time of which I speak the whole character, current and outlook of my life changed. The Scriptures lighted up. Christian joy displaced depression, passion for souls ensued, courage triumphed over fear in public religious exercises. Other people also recognized the realness of the change, and the whole
* A. Philip, The Evangel in Gotvrie, 265.
ST. LUKE XXII. 3T, 32 467
providential course of life since has corroborated the divineness of the vision of that night. About that time the college was broken up through the occurrence of a case of smallpox among the students, and I went home. Calling on my pastor the next morning, and reporting the great change which had occurred in me, with quick sympathy he replied, " The Lord has sent you home in this frame just at the time when we most need you. The state of religion is low among us : the young people's meeting has died out: you are the means to revive it." Then taking a note-book and pencil he wrote down the names of about two hundred young people in the town, and putting it in my hands said, " There, go and bring them in. Lead them to Christ. That's your work." Encouraged by such a proposal, I set about it. The first visit I made was characterized by a soul-contest of hours resulting in the conversion of a young woman. That led to another and that to others until an entire Bible class of influential young persons surrendered to Christ. From that the work so spread that ere the summer was over nearly all the persons named in my note-book were converted and added to the several churches of the town.^
3. One more turning there was to be in Peter's life. He was in Kome — so the story runs — in the Neronian persecution. His faith failed. He fled from the city. But at the gate of the city he met the sacred form of his Master. He said to Him, Domine, quo vadis ? — " Lord, whither goest thou ? " And the Lord made answer, " I go to Kome, to be crucified." St. Peter understood the words. He, too, tui'ned back. He entered the city again. He was martyred there. That was his last, his supreme conversion. And by it he " strengthened his brethren."
0 Jesu, gone so far apart
Only my heart can follow Thee, That look which pierced St. Peter's heart
Turn now on me.
Thou who dost search me thro' and thro' And mark the crooked ways I went.
Look on me. Lord, and make me too Thy penitent.^
* H. C. Mabie, Method in Soul- Winning^ 16. ' Christina G, Rossetti.
An Open Bible and a Burning Heart.
Literature.
Allen (G. W.), Wonderful Words and Works, 1.
Burns (J. D.), Memoir and Remains, 399.
Burrell (D. J.), God and the People, 252.
Carter (T. T.), The Spirit of Watchfulness, 134.
Cobern (C. M.), The Stars and the Book, 28.
Fuller (M.), In Terrd Pax, 50.
Gregg (D.), Our Best Moods, 9.
Liddon (H. P.), Easter in St. PauVs, 192.
Morrison (G. H.), The Unlighted Lustre, 133.
Mortimer (A. G.), Jesus and the Resurrection, 160.
NicoU (W. R.), The Garden of Nuts, 123.
Ramage (W.), Sermons, 263.
Robarts (J. H.), Sunday Morning Talks, 104.
Smellie (A.), In the Secret Place, 279.
Temple (W.), Repton School Sermons, 325.
Young (D. T.), The Travels of the Heart, 221.
Christian Age, xxix. 260 (T. de W. Talmage).
Christian World Pulpit, xli. 292 (C. S. Home) ; Iv. 100 (J. C. Lambert).
Churchman's Pulpit : Easter Day and Season, vii. 393 (J. C. Lambert).
Homiletic Review, xix. 356 (G. F. Greene).
Preacher's Magazine, xii. 123 (J. T. L, Maggs).
Record of Christian Work, xxix. (1910) 855 (J. A. Hutton).
An Open Bible and a Burning Heart.
And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spake to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures ? — Luke xxiv. 32.
1. What a day of surprises it was, that marvellous first Easter Day ! Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, the little group of broken-hearted women, Mary Magdalene, Salome, and Mary, mother of James, issuing from the gates, and through the darkness bearing spices for the body in the tomb, and finding that the body was no longer there ! Malice could it portend ? or what? Straightway the message carried to Peter and to John, their hurried visit to the sepulchre, and corroboration of the strange report; the linen cloths still lying in their place, the napkin — which had bound the head — still lying in its folds, separately, on the stone pillow, where the head had lain, but the body gone, withdrawn from the embrace of death ! And they go back to their own home. Next, the solitary return of Mary Magdalene, and that first appearance of the Eisen Lord, with its strange utterance, " Touch me not ; for I am not yet ascended." And then again that fuller manifestation to the disciples who journeyed to Emmaus, from which we draw our text.