A LITTLE while ago, at a camping-ground, I was distributing gospel literature from tent to tent, and stopping to speak to one of the occupants, soon had a cordon of bright, young and honest looking fellows surrounding me. I began to address them all, and pressed upon them the necessity of accepting Jesus as their Saviour; the Way, the Truth, the Life; the name of Jesus Christ, the only passport into heaven’s gates. One of them, much older than any of the others, a quiet speaking man, interrupted by asking a twofold question: “How do you know that such a man as Jesus Christ ever existed? Have you seen Him?” Looking him in the face I said: “In all my Christian experience you are the only person who has put such a question to me. If you ignore the evidence fully given in the Holy Scriptures, what have you to say of the historical references by other writers? The greatest opponents of Christianity did not raise the question. Tom Paine, in his book, ‘The Age of Reason,’ never doubted the existence of Jesus Christ. Voltaire, with all his vehemence, never asked it. Renan, in his life of Jesus, though milder, yet more subtle in his writing, did not entertain such a doubt.”
All that were standing around were eager to catch every word. Then I told them of an instance that happened many years ago on Peckham Rye. I was listening to a debate on Christianity versus Free-thought, and a dear, white-headed old Christian took from his pocket a pamphlet containing an extract from a speech by Colonel Ingersoll. Now the said Colonel built a college in Chicago, U.S.A., and devoted its use to the propagation of free thought. The dear old man handed the pamphlet round for us to see, and then read the extract. It ran thus: “When I read of Jesus, His life, His acts, and in dying as. Man for man, He commands my respect, my admiration, and my tears.” Turning to the one who put the question, I said, “You see the Colonel had no doubt about Jesus Christ living on the earth, and I hope that he was convinced of His being his Saviour and Lord before he died. What a trophy of redeeming love and grace he would have been.”
“Now as to the second part of your question: ‘Have you seen Him?’ I answer candidly, I have not with my natural eyes, but I am longing to see Him face to face.” Then said he, “You believe in Him, a man you have not seen, and expect us to follow.” I returned to my appeal to them all to accept Jesus as their Saviour, then come what may, they would be safe for eternity, and the Spirit of the Lord gave me a word of convincing power. Looking around to them all, I could see they were all too young to remember the Duke of Wellington. I asked, “Have any of you heard of the Duke of Wellington?” They shouted at once, with a touch of derision, “Yes, yes, of course we have.” I said, “I expected to hear that response from you, seeing you are soldiers. But,” said I, “are you sure he lived? Have you seen him?” “No, we have not, but everyone knows about the Duke of Wellington.” “I too know there was such a man; he was called the Iron Duke. I was a boy when his funeral took place at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.”
Turning again to the questioner, I said, “What a strange thing for you and others to ridicule me for believing in a person I have not seen. I am in a good position to ridicule you all, for none of you ever saw the Duke of Wellington, yet you all believe about him. But I am in earnest, greatly desiring you, one and all, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved eternally. Just listen for another minute or two before time to leave the camp. Though I have not seen Jesus with these natural eyes, yet by faith I can see Him continually each time I think or read ‘the sweet story of old, when Jesus was here among men.’ Perhaps some of you remember those words at Sunday school, and that He was crucified and died for sinners, such as you and I. And I am longing to see His blessed face, and if you all accept Him as your Saviour you too will see Him and praise Him forever.”
The questioner looked at me seriously, and said, “I never thought of it like that.” I shook hands and said: “I am glad you do now.” On leaving, the dear lads said, “Come again next Sunday, sir.” I replied: “Do take Jesus as your Saviour, my lads, then we shall meet in ‘heaven above, where all is love.’ Good evening to you all.” J. P. C.
A Letter From a Belgian Soldier (Translated)
“Sir, ―I found your address on a little Bible, and as this is a dark hour, you may perhaps be him whose word, whose faith, brings life. You say that you will be glad to help make me know God and Jesus Christ. Speak to me then, enlighten me. The truth! what is over all? I want to see them in full daylight, for, in spite of myself, I am tormented by the infinite. — J.F., Armée Beige.”
ANOTHER
“Sir, ―I have the honor of requesting from your great kindness a copy of the Old or New Testament. One of my comrades tells me that these books are sent free. This being so, I shall be grateful if you will send me this book free of charge.”―Belgian Soldier.
Please pray for these two dear soldiers. I have just sent five thousand additional Gospels to Trémel, Brittany, to be sent to French and Belgian soldiers, and God is working among them, as these letters testify.