SILENCED | AdventAI

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Dec 23, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 49.

SILENCED.

A DANCING professor felt it his duty to try to win one of his many associates to Christ. "Oh, —," said he, "I long to see you a Christian; do come to Jesus; won't you?" "For what?" was the blunt rejoinder. "Why, for salvation. Don't you want to be saved?" "Yes, I do; but what particular sins do you want me to be saved from?" "Why, we are all sinners, you know." "Yes, I know; but I do not cheat, lie, swear, nor use tobacco. What lack I yet?" "Do you pray?" "No; do you?" "Yes," said the "Name-to-Live," "I pray for you." "For me! When, I'd like to know? Monday night you were at the dance; Tuesday night I met you at the ball, and we didn't get home, you know, until four o'clock in the morning; Wednesday night I saw you at the sociable, and, like the rest of us, you 'carried on like sixty;' Thursday night I don't know where you were; but if cards could testify they would tell what you and I were up to until two o'clock Friday night, and now it is Saturday, and for the life of me I can't tell what time you've had for prayer this week, or when you could have felt

like it. Oh, I forgot. Your church holds a prayer-meeting every Thursday evening, does it not?" "Yes." "And was that where you were last Thursday night?" "Yes, certainly." "Did you pray for me there?" "I tried to," was the faint response. "Well, I don't want to hurt your feelings, but for conscience' sake don't do that again. If you pray for anybody, pray for yourself. You claimed when you were converted to have had more happiness in one hour than you had had in your whole life before, and if that had been true I should have been a Christian long before now; but, as far as I can see, you seek your happiness just where I do—in the world; and if it is right for you, it can't be wrong for me." So saying, he departed, leaving his friend to ponder upon his ways, and wonder how effectual and fervent the prayers of one could be who was trying faithfully to serve God and mammon, or how much such prayers would avail in the salvation of lost souls.—Christian Secretary.