Tracts are despised by many, even sometimes by professed believers in Christ, yet if the silent messenger of the Gospel is well chosen, what an untold blessing to a soul it can be, to God's eternal glory, and to the cheer of the distributor.
Such was the case some years ago in a Yorkshire town, where a. servant of the Lord had been sowing the good seed of the Gospel, and dropped a tract into an unoccupied motor-car.
One morning he received a letter, saying, " Someone, I don't know whom, left a small tract on the seat of my motor-car. I read it very carefully, and feel greatly interested. Can you send me more, or tell me what to read?"
A correspondence followed, and a soul was led to saving faith in Christ Jesus, as expressed in the following extracts from letters.
" The book came to hand this morning, for which I am very much obliged. I shall make a good start to read it tonight. The little pamphlets you sent me have been most instructive and helpful. I am a hard-worked doctor, and have very little time in the evening, otherwise I would have made an effort to see you. I never had any particular faith in Jesus or God; but at the back of my mind I knew there was something—nothing more. Last year I had a very severe illness—I got into such a state that I did not care whether I lived or died. But in the early hours of one morning, in a state of semi-consciousness, I repeated to myself the following words: ' There is nothing for it now, but help from the Lord Jesus Christ.' I gradually got a little stronger and was able to do a little work in my motor car. I had not been out very long when I discovered the little tract you left on the seat of my car. I was prompted to write you, and you have, like the good man you are, shown me the way of salvation. My life is changed... "
After closing this letter, he wrote on the back of the envelope,
" I am 67 years of age. I have left my recognition of Jesus Christ a long time, have I not? But it is not too late."
May this instance be a cheer to others, who engage in a like service, assured that their labor is " not in vain in the Lord." May such not overlook the fact, that contacts are not likely to be made unless the name and address of the distributor is stamped on tracts.
Some may desire to do such work but may feel they lack time. Can we compute what the blessing would be, did every live Christian in the Kingdom give away prayerfully but one carefully-chosen tract daily? Surely there is no one who could not spare a moment each day for such a tiny bit of service, capable of bringing about an eternal result.
A man will patiently angle all day long in the hope of catching one fish, and although often unsuccessful, will go fishing again and again. Christ said, " Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men " (Matt. 4:19). Does this attract you? May the Lord prosper you in whatever way He leads you to seek souls, whether by means of the printed page, the Sunday School, or otherwise helping on the work of the Gospel.
Let us never lose sight of the fact, that Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, of whom there was no more profound teacher, was equally great as an evangelist, finding cheer in the fellowship in the Gospel of saints at Philippi, and writing to those at Rome of his great desire to set forth the Gospel where Christ had not been preached. May we give heed to his exhortation by the Spirit, " Be ye followers of me as I am of Christ." We know that the parting word of the Lord to His own, just before He ascended on high, was, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." (Mark 16: is). How faithfully the Apostle Paul answered the call. Let us not be lacking!
ARTHUR F. POLLOCK.