Some time ago a company of men were waiting in a public hall, and to while away the time they began to sing popular songs. Among them was a Christian who would not join in the singing of his unsaved companions. Seeing this, one man leaned over and said, "Can't you sing?" "Oh yes," said our friend, "but only what my mother used to teach me." A shout of laughter went around the room, and he was asked, "What is that?" "Listen," he said, and then he sang to the tune of "St. Peter" the well known words-
"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear."
A look of surprise was seen on the faces of the men, and some of them joined in the singing. The Christian, with a face full of joy, showed his delight in the theme—that peerless name—its sweetness was very real to him. He continued-
"It makes the wounded spirit whole,
It calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.
"Blest name! the rock on which we build,
Our shield and hiding place;
Our never-failing treasury filled
With boundless stores of grace.
"Jesus! our Savior, Shepherd, Friend,
Thou Prophet, Priest, and King;
Our Lord, our Life, our Way, our End,
Accept the praise we bring.
"Weak is the effort of our heart,
And cold our warmest thought;
But when we see Thee as Thou art,
We'll praise Thee as we ought.
"Till then we would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And triumph in Thy blessed name
Which quells the power of death."
The song finished; there was a tense silence for some moments. Then one, a professional singer, rose and stretched out his hand to the Christian, saying, "Shake hands, sir. I am not religious but I do ad mire a man who has the courage of his convictions." This gave our friend a good opportunity to tell out the glad tidings of salvation. One man present who was a Christian said to the singer afterward, "How did you do it? I should have been terrified." "I do not think you would," he replied, "if you thought of the Lord Jesus, who He is and what He has done for us; you would feel as if you must speak of Him."