ONE INTERESTED HEARER by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 2, 1877

ONE INTERESTED HEARER.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

The other day I went to hold a meeting in a certain place. The audience was not very large; and as I had ridden thirty miles that day I felt sorry that we had a meeting, and thought I would get through the sermon as easily as I could, as it would not amount to much any way. The next day a man came to see me. He stated that he was so anxious to attend that meeting, that, after doing his day's work, he walked six miles to hear the sermon. He was so late that he had to run much of the way, and then got there after I commenced. After the sermon he had to go back the six miles. He was deeply interested and much affected. That night I preached again, and he took his stand for God and the truth.

When I learned these facts, I felt very much reproved for my lack of faith and interest. When I learned what a sacrifice this one man had made to attend that meeting, I felt that I ought to have preached the best sermon in my power just for his sake alone, if there had not been another hearer. How often this may be the case. In the smallest audience, there may be the greatest interest; hence we ought to preach with just as much interest and life to a few as to many. We do not always know who they are. Perhaps the Lord has sent just one man to that particular meeting to save his soul.

D. M. Canright.