Early conversion

Front matter

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Chapter I

EARLY CONVERSION. PAGE

"I Take Care of the Lambs "—Bishop McCabe's Experience— Christ's First Command, "Feed My Lambs ''—Frank Smith— Dr. Hart— Comparative Ages of Conversion— Edward's Covenant — Mr. Spurgeon — His Earnest words — Children not in Church Services— A Boy Teacher — Ignorance of Children's Need— Deep Spiritual Experience of Children — Hindering Children— '' FUe Their Teeth " 15

Chapter II. Will They Be Kept ?

Permanency of Early Conversion -E. D. G. Prime— Baptist Noel— Children in Rochester— George Whitfield— J. B Currens—" Jack's Fidelity"— Touching Story— Missionaries Led to Christ in Childhood— Interesting Experience — Saginaw— Miss Campbell's Statement — Bishop Marvin's Daughter— Faithful to Christ— Child Conversion— Dryden Phelps — Henry Drummond— Led to Jesus— Nine Years Old— Children's Meetings in Harrisburg— Testimony of Dr. Stewart, President of Auburn Theological Seminary — Trials— " Putting Me Into the Ministry " — *•' Whitfield Humbled "—Spurgeon's Trials— Children United With the Church- Fanny Ci'osby's New Hynm— Trusting . . . . . .26

CHAPTER HI.

ILLUSTRATIONS FOR USE IN ADDRESSES TO CHILDREN.

R. C. Morgan — Engineer — Christ's Death for Us — " We All Love Little Dudu " — Johnny and His Mother— Jewish Boys Profess Conversion — The Happy Boy— Lost on the Mountains in Norway — "It'll Be All Light There, Mamma "—Furnaces in Scotland— "Is Mamma Doin' to Die?" " Hush, Mamma is Doin' to Sleep " . . . . . .53

Chapter IV

children's EXPERIENCES.

Christ Lifted Up— Use of Parables— Helps in Speaking to Children— Story of Carletta— Infidel Led to Christ— Galveston, Texas— Indian Children- New Mexico— A Happy Arizona Boy— "I Feel Like Singing All the Time" 73

Chapter V. What Pastors Say Op Early Conversion

General Opinion of Pastors— Dr, E. M. Levy— Dr. Hutchinson— Dr. J. E. Rankin — R. C. Morgan — At Vernon, Conn. — Meetings in Albany— Rev. E. D. Vance— Rev. D. V. Mays— Bishop Fallows . . . .84

Chapter VI

WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS SAY OP EARLY CONVERSION.

William Reynolds— D. W. McWilliams— Peoria, Dl.— Humble Confession— J. H. Dey, Office Editor of "The New York Evangelist "—Mr. Ben Haines— Miss M. W. Leitch— Miss Tobey's Experience— William Luff- George MuUer— W. H. Stanes, Missionary in India— D. L. Moody— New England EvangeUstic Association— J. E. Grey . . . . .97

CHAPTER Vn.

PRAYING CHILDREN.

David Brainerd in Prayer- Remarkable Answer— "God Has Forgiven Me for Christ's Sake — " Please Make My Father a Christian "— " Help Father to Love Jesus" — "Changed Man "—St. Louis Lawyer — New York Juvenile Asylum— E. M. Carpenter— " I'se Said My Prayers, but Did Not Pray "— " Tears Came From My Eyes "—Prayer Meeting Every Morning—Among Children in South Africa^— Parents Reached Through Prayer—" Pray to God and He Will Make Your Father Willing " . .108 vi CONTENTS.

CHAPTER Vm.

RESULTS OF EARLY CONVERSION. PAGE

"I Began to Work for Jesus "—Burden Rolled Off— Lines— " Won't You Love My Jesus ? "—A Flood of Tears— "I Want to Tell Jesus You Will Love Him''— Children's Meeting in Fremont, Neb.— " You Are Not a Christian "—Temperance Story-" Drink That Grog! "— " Better Come to Jesus Now, Papa"— Story of Anna Belle— Touching Death— I Will Not Fight .......... 124

CHAPTER LS.

WHAT CHILDREN CAN DO FOR JESUS.

The Astonished Infidels- Experience of a Skeptic— " Won't You Pray for Me?"— Report to the Club— "I Have Accepted Jesus"— Happy in the Love of Christ— Father Weeping— Child's Prayer—" I Am Following in Your Steps "—Right Examples— Infidel Books—" Lines on Jordan "—Mr. Moody in London—" I Will Tell Jesus You Led Me to Him "— " You Never Played for Me, Father"— A Faithful Teacher— "The Doctors Have Given Me Up "—Every Scholar Brought to Christ-" I Will Meet You All There "—Mr. John Sands' Words . . . . . ,139

CHAPTER X.

GOSPEL TRUTHS.

Saved in Three Ways: Meritoriously, by Christ; Instrumentally, by Faith; Declarative! y, by Works-" Jesus Paid It AH"— Magnetic Tack Hammer —Report of a Children's Meeting— All Have Sinned— " Whispered "—Illustration — Christ Took Our Place — " Rattle-Bones ! " — Christ's Death for Us — Jimmie — Whipped to Death — "I'se Going Home to Jesus, Now " — Feast of the Cherries — Won by Love — Hamburg — " Here It Was the Lord of Glory "—How the Guilty Got Free— Christ Died, the Just for the Unjust 154

CHAPTER XI.

SHOULD CONVERTED CHILDREN BE RECEIVED INTO THE CHURCH?

Dr. Andi-ew Bonar's Opinion — His Influence in Cincinnati — Direct Preaching of the Gospel — Substitution — Mr. Cecil's Experience — Remedy Forgotten — Use of Right Means — Importance of Personal Work — Child's Work ifor Jesus—" Lambs Should Not Be Left Out of the Fold "—Dr. A. J. Gordon 176

CHAPTER XII.

CHRIST LIFTED UP.

Bible Reading for Children— Jesus' Love— Mother Dying for Child— How We Became Sinners— Adam and Eve—" None Righteous "—A Child Weeping — " Don't Listen to Her " — Brief Life of Jesus — " I Give Myself a Ransom " —Atoning Sacrifice— Speaking Through Interpreters— Radcliffe— Lord's Supper— Jerusalem— Dr. Jessup— Beirut— Crown of Thorns— The Painter and the Gypsy Girl— "I Know He Died for Me"— "I Am Going to Live with Him "—Young Martyr— Holland— " Father, Forgive Them " . .191

CHAPTER Xm.

THE COVENANT.

Account of Its First Use— "I Will Put My Fear in Their Hearts, that They Shall Not Depart From Me "— " I Am Afraid to Sign It "— " I Am So Glad that I Signed It "—" Mamma, Are You Not Glad ?"—" I remember the Card " — " You Had No Business to Sign That Covenant " — Zinzendorf in Prayer Six Years of Age— His Covenant — Martyrdom of Marius— " Give the Christians to the Lions" — Parting Words— Cardiff, Wales — Doctrine of Substitution — Letters from Missionaries — "Decision Day'' — "Heart Filled with the Spirit" — How to Win Children to Christ Without an Evangelist— Dependence Upon the Spirit— Charles G. Finney— Work in Galveston— Four Ministers in St. Louis— How to Promote a Work of Grace . 213

Introduction

I AM sure that the Church of Jesus Christ is sadly neglecting the children. It is true that we have our Sunday schools and other organizations for the training of children in the knowledge of the Word and God, but there is not that definite work for their conversion that there should be.

No other form of Christian effort brings such immediate, such large, and such lasting results as work for the conversion of children. It has many advantages over other forms of work. First of all, children are more easily led to Christ than adults. In the second place, they are more likely to stay converted than those apparently converted at a later period of life. They also make better Christians, as they do not have so much to unlearn as those who have grown old in sin. They have more years of service before them. A man converted at sixty is a soul saved plus ten years of service; a child saved at ten is a soul saved plus sixty years of service.

I am greatly indebted in my ministry to Mr. Hammond's book on the conversion of children, which I read years ago. It has led me to work for the children, and this has resulted in many conversions to Christ. Years ago, when visiting Dr. Newman Hall's church in London, the leading workers there told me that many of their best workers in the church were those who had been converted as children in Mr. Hammond's meetings.

xii Introduction

I hope this present book, "Early Conversion/^ will serve to stir up the ministers, parents, Sunday school teachers and other Christian workers of our land, to more aggressive and untiring efforts for the salvation of the young, and that with God's blessing it will lead many to Christ.

E. A. ToREEY, Chicago.

A FEW WORDS TO OUR YOUNG READERS.

This book has been written more especially for ministers, superintendents, Sunday school teachers, and Christian workers, but in part, also, for the young people AND children. I hope that you will read it, too, and find pleasure and a blessing in doing so. It contains many touching stories which you can understand. It might be read with profit in your Junior Endeavor meetings.

It contains numerous extracts from my addresses in various parts of the world to the children. Those conducting children's meetings might frequently read from it and find a blessing in so doing. A minister from England in speaking of one of my other books says: "One day last week about twenty girls retired to a class room, and one of them read aloud the third chapter. They told me afterwards that they could not help crying almost all the time, they were so affected with the stories and the application made of them."

If you are not a Christian this book will help you to see how Jesus has loved you and given Himself for you, and then it will help you to lead others to Him. I beg of you to read it with much prayer.

The Author.

Introduction xiii

Just as this book is going to press, Mr. Hammond is beginning a series of meetings in Providence, E. I., and Rev. Robert Cameron, editor of Watchword and Truth, sends the following note to Rev. R. C. Miller, and as it has come into our hands we take the liberty of inserting it. It may lead some to read "Early Conversion" with more interest and stronger faith, and thus be led to put forth renewed efforts for the salvation of the young.

The Publishers.

''^Dear Bro. Miller: I am delighted to learn that you are to have Mr. Hammond in your church and in your locality. I have known him for over twenty years and have worked with him in my own church and in union meetings. He is one of the best men I ever knew. He always leaves a sweet taste in your mouth after he has gone — he does good and nothing but good while he is with you. It is hard to tell where the source of his power is — he reaches the high and low, rich and poor, the learned and the illiterate, the oldest and the youngest. The beauty of it all is, his converts 'stick !' There is no reaction after his meetings are closed. In my seven years of ministiy in Denver, Colo., I met more 'pillars' of the church who had been converted in childhood at his meetings than those brought in by all other evangelists put together. He has a wonderful power of commanding the affections of children ; you need never be afraid of the genuineness of the work of grace in their hearts under his ministry. I had my scruples about encouraging young people to enter the Church; but since my observations in Church work and the conversion of many children at five, at eight, and one at nine, my scruples have all vanished. I can say, with Spurgeon, that I never had to exclude from membership any one who had been brought to Christ in early childhood. "Sincerely vours, Robert Cameron".

"Providence, R. I.,^Dec. 8th, 1900."

Chapter I. Early Conversion

Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.— Matt, xviii. 10.

If I consulted my feelings I should avoid referring to my own work. But it was on account of my long experience and the many facts that have come under my observation that I have been asked to write this book.

"Conversion of Children/' of a somewhat similar character, published by Morgan & Scott of London, and by the F. H. Eevell Company, of Chicago, and translated into several different languages, has accomplished, I believe, an important work. Many by it have been induced to labor more directly and earnestly for the salvation of the young. Those who have read and used that book have expressed a desire that I should write another with fresh facts and of a similar character.

As I move about the country I notice that great efforts are often made for the conversion of a few hardened sinners, while the multitudes of little ones are neglected because, it is alleged, of their being too young to become Christians. My sister has just written me from Glasgow that, notwithstanding the great efforts made there last, winter for the conversion of adults, comparatively few were led to Christ, while those who labored for the conversion of the young were richly blessed and many children were saved. Christ's first command is "Feed My Lambs." A farmer was once asked how it was that he had such a fine flock of sheep. He replied: "I take care of the lambs.'' Is it not so with regard to the fold of Christ ?

Children in our churches ought all to be led to Christ before twelve years of age. All know that only the work of God's Spirit can do this. He is ready to work when His people will work with Him. A boy can be hanged in at least one of our States when only eight years of age. Yes ! He can also die and be lost before that time.

The Advance of October 6, 1892, says: "Out of the seventy-one corporate members of the American Board of Missions nineteen were converted at so early an age that they were unable to remember it, while thirty-four were led to Jesus before fourteen years of age."

Chaplain (now Bishop) McCabe and I conducted the meetings one year at Round Lake, Saratoga, where hundreds were led to Christ. In addressing one of our meetings he told of his conversion at eight years of age.

Rev. H. H. Wells was a student in Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, when I held a series of meetings there in 1870. I encouraged him at that time to "do the work of an evangelist." He took my advice, and has been at it ever since. Years after he gave me an account of the conversion of his little daughter at the age of four and a half years. From that time she lived a thorough, consistent Christian life, and gave the clearest evidence of a change of heart until the time of her translation to a better world. In Syracuse I met the granddaughter of Phoebe Bartlett who, Jonathan Edwards' says, was led to Christ and was a suitable candidate for church membership at four years of age. It was predicted that she would not hold out and that Jonathan Edwards would regret having published the story of her conversion. But she lived a consistent Christian life, and one of her descendants was Rev. Justin Edwards, who was honored by all who knew him.

I knew Frank Smith, son of Mrs. H. W. Smith, when a boy. His mother believed that he was truly converted at four years of age.

Dr. Hart, twenty-five years pastor of the Congregational church in West Haven, Connecticut, in some meetings I conducted in his church, astonished us by saying that he was truly converted at two and a half years of age. After the meeting I told him that I thought he had made a mistake in making such a statement and should explain it to the people. But at our next meeting he repeated it and gave the reasons that he had for coming to that conclusion. It is stated that Voltaire became an infidel at five years of age.

While holding meetings in Oakland, California, Dr. R. E. Cole had charge of our covenant book. He was most careful not to allow any one to sign it until they gave a ''reason for the hope that was in them with meekness and fear." Several ministers were often asked to examine those who came for a covenant card, which read: "I, the undersigned, believe I have found Jesus to be my precious Savior; and I promise, with His help, to live as His loving child and faithful servant all my life.'^ He prepared the following table of the one thousand and fifty signers of the covenant during the first three weeks of the meetings in Oakland.

AGES. NUMBER.

Over 60 4

Not given 158

Total 1,050

At our meetings in Lawrence, Kansas, five hundred and twenty-eight signed the covenant, but over one thousand one hundred joined the churches. Over five hundred professed conversion during the first four days. I first began to use the covenant there, and many professed conversion who did not sign it. Jonathan Edwards in his youthful days wrote out a long covenant and signed it. He believed the words of Jesus, 'Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in Heaven.'' (Matt. x. 32.)

Mr. Spurgeon was a strong believer in the conversion of children. During my three visits to London he always did what he could to assist in winning souls to Christ. He said to me one day: ^^Will you hold a series of meetings in my tabernacle ?''

I at once replied : "jSTo, I do not wish to do so/'

"Why not?" said he.

"We are having full meetings in the other parts of the city. Baptist ISToeFs church and others of that size are filled night after night, and I would rather be in those churches, crowded full, than in your immense building and only have it half full."

He quickly replied : "If you will promise to hold meetings every night in the week in this tabernacle I will promise to fill it."

I was so much impressed with his manner of conversation that I answered, "With God^s help we will hold the meetings."

Much prayer was offered the Sabbath before for God'?5 blessing. Mr. Spurgeon preached a sermon on the conversion of children. It was immediately printed and scattered over London, and at the door of the weekly prayer meeting every Christian was urged to take a packet of them and distribute them in his neighborhood.

Mr. Spurgeon sent to sixteen Sunday schools in his vicinity, and said, "Each of yotir scholars can have a place in my tabernacle next Sunday if you will send teachers to sit with the children and to speak to them after Mr. Hammond has done preaching to them." The next Sunday afternoon as I pressed my way into the crowded tabernacle Deacon Olney said to me: "This building will seat six thousand adults, but there are to-da}^, without any doubt, crowded into it no less than eight thousand who will listen to and hear what you have to say. There are, I believe, at least three thousand outside who came here to get admittance but cannot do so."

Every child had one of my hymn books, and at the end of nearly every seat sat a Christian man or woman, ready to speak with those who would remain to the enquiry meeting. Nearly all did so.

Mrs. Bartlett, from who«e Sunday school class nearly six hundred joined Mr. Spurgeon's church, was there among the workers; pastors from all parts of the city, also, and above all the Lord was there with great power. (There was no undue excitement, but very deep conviction produced by the Holy Spirit in answer to prayer, sending home the truth to many hearts. Night after night much the same scene was witnessed. I beard a man of much experience say that he believed during that week's meetings from two thousand to three thousand were convicted of sin and brought to Christ. Similar meetings had been held throughout the great metropolis of over five millions of people, and I believe volumes of prayers ascended from many hearts for a great blessing on those closing meetings in Mr. Spurgeon's tabernacle. When I returned there about seventeen years afterward, Mr. Spurgeon told me of the permanent results of those meetings, and asked me to assist at the communion table. He thanked God for the great numbers that came into the Church through those meetings for the young seventeen years before. He said that many were now preaching the gospel who were converted at that time. During my last visit we held a series of meetings in one of Mr. Spurgeon's buildings, called Haddon Hall. Among the workers were many who had been converted in the previous meetings in Mr. Spurgeon's tabernacle.

I am led by these facts to insert these good words from Mr. Spurgeon:

" ^And they brought young children to Him, that He should touch them: and His disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it He was much displeased, and said unto them. Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not: for of such is thekingdom of God. Verily, I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And He took them up in His arms, put His hands upon them, and blessed them.^ — Mark x, 13-16.

"It must be a very great sin indeed to hinder anybody from coming to Christ. He is the only way of salvation from the wrath of God, salvation from the terrible judgment that is due to sin. Who would dare to keep the perishing from that way ? To alter the sign-posts on the way to the city of refuge, or to dig a trench across the road, would have been an inhuman act, deserving the sternest condemnation. He who holds back a soul from Jesus is the servant of Satan, and is doing the worst of the devil's work.

"I. Let us describe the sin of hindering young children from coming to Christ: I believe that this act of the Apostles was caused by zeal for Jesus. These good men thought that the bringing of children to the Savior would cause an interruption. He was engaged in much better work: He had been confounding the Pharisees, instructing the masses, and healing the sick. Could it be right to pester Him with children? The little ones would not understand His teaching, and they did not need His miracles: why should they be brought in to disturb His great doings? The disciples had such reverence for their Master that they would send the prattlers away, lest the great Eabbi should seem to become a mere teacher of babes. This may have been a zeal for God, but it was not according to knowledge. Thus in these days certain brethren would hardly like to receive many children into the church, lest it should become a society of boys and girls. The outside world will call it a mere Sunday school.

"The apostles' rebuke of the children arose in a measure from ignorance of the children's need. If any mother in that throng had come with a sick or diseased child, the disciples would all have said : ^Make way for this woman and her sorrowful burden,' But these little ones with bright eyes, and prattling tongues, and leaping limbs, why should they come to Jesus? Ah, friends, they forgot that in those children, with all their joy, their health, and their apparent innocence, there was a great and grievous need for the blessing of a Savior's grace. If you indulge in the novel idea that children do not need conversion — that children born of Christian parents are somewhat superior to others, and have good within them which only needs development — one great motive for your devout earnestness will be gone. Believe me, your children need the Spirit of God to give them new hearts and right spirits, or else they Fill go astray as other children do.

"Also, no doubt, this feeling that children may not come to Christ may be derived from a doubt about their capacity to receive the blessing which Jesus is able to give Upon this subject, if I were at this moment to deal with facts alone, and not with mere opinion, I could spend the whole day in giving details of young children whom I have known and personally conversed Avith — some of them very young children indeed. I will say broadly that I have more confidence in the spiritual life of the children that I have received into this church than I have in the spiritual condition of the adults thus received. I will even go further than that, and say that I have usually found a clearer knowledge of the gospel, and a warmer love to Christ, in the child-convert than in the man-convert. I will even astonish you still more by saying that I have sometimes met with a deeper spiritual experience in children of ten and twelve than I have in certain persons of fifty and sixty. It is an old proverb that some children are born with beards. Some boys are little men, and some girls are little old women. You cannot measure the lives of any by their ages.

"I knew a boy who, when he was fifteen, often heard old Christian people say, ^That boy is sixty years old; he speaks with such insight into Divine truth.' I believe that this youth at fifteen did know far more of 'the things of God, and of soul-travail, than any around him, whatever their age might be. I cannot tell you why it is, but so I do know it is, that some are old when they are young, and some are very green when they are old; some are wise when you would expect them to be otherwise, and others are very foolish when you might have expected that they had quitted their folly. Oh, dear friends, talk not of a child's incapacity for repentance ! I have known a child weep herself to sleep by the month together under a crushing sense of sin. If you would know a deep, and bitter, and awful fear of the wrath of God, let me tell you what I felt as a boy. If you wouJd know joy in the Lord, many a child has been as full of it as his little heart could hold. If you want to know what faith in Jesus is, you must not look to those who have been bemuddled by the heretical jargon of the times, but to the dear children who have taken Jesus at His word, and believed in Him, and therefore know and are sure that they are saved. Capacity for believing lies more in the child than in the man. We grow less rather than more capable of faith: every year takes the unregenerate mind further away from God, and makes it less capable of receiving the things of God.

"Some others hinder the children because they are forgetful of the child^s value. The soul's price does not depend upon its years. *0h, it is only a child !' ^Children are a nuisance.' Children are always getting in the way.' This talk is common. God forgive those who despise the little ones. Will you be very angry if I say that a boy is more worth saving than a man? It is infinite mercy on God's part to save those who are seventy; for what good can they now do with the fag-end of their lives? When we get to be fifty or sixty we are almost worn out, and if we have spent all our early days with the devil what remains for God? But these dear boys and girls — there is something to be made out of them. If now they yield themselves to Christ, they may have a long, happy and holy day before them in which they may serve God with all their hearts.

"Who knows what glory God may have of them. Heathen lands may call them blessed. Whole nations may be enlightened by them. If a famous schoolmaster was accustomed to take his hat off to his boys because he did not know whether one of them might not be Prime Minister, we may justly look with awe upon converted children, for we do not know how soon they may be among the angels or how greatly their light may shine among men. Let us estimate children at their true valuation and we shall not keep them back, but we shall be eager to lead them to Jesus at once.

"II. Secondly, concerning this hindering of children, let us watch its action. I think the result of this sad feeling about children coming to the Savior is to be seen, first, in the fact that often there is nothing in the service for the children. The sermon is over their heads, and the preacher does not think that this is any fault; in fact, he rather rejoices that it is so. Some time ago a person who wanted.

I suppose, to make me feel my own insignificance, wrote to say that he had met with a number of negroes who had read my sermons with evident pleasure; and he wrote that he believed they were very suitable for what he was pleased to call '^niggers/ Yes, my preaching was just the sort of stuff for niggers. The gentleman did not dream what sincere pleasure he caused me; for if I am understood by poor people, by servant-girls, by children, I am sure I can be understood by others. I think nothing greater than to win the hearts of the lowly. So with regard to children. People occasionally say of such a one, ^He is only fit to teach children; he is no preacher.' Sirs, I tell you that in God's sight he is no preacher who does not care for the children. There should be at least a part of every sermon and service that will suit the little ones.