e power to accept or to reject
the invitation. A man in one meeting once was honest enough to say
"I won't." If I had it in my power I would bring this whole audience
to a decision now, either for or against. I hope many now reading
these words will say, "I will!" If God says we can, all the devils
in hell cannot stop us. All the infidels in the world cannot prevent
us. That little boy, that little girl, can say, "I will!" If it were
necessary, God would send down a legion of angels to help you; but
He has given you the power, and you can accept Christ this very
minute if you are really in earnest.

Let me say that it is the easiest thing in the world to become a
Christian, and it is also the most difficult. You will say: "That is
a contradiction, a paradox." I will illustrate what I mean. A little
nephew of mine in Chicago, a few years ago, took my Bible and threw
it down on the floor. His mother said, "Charlie, pick up Uncle's
Bible." The little fellow said he would not, "Charlie, do you know
what that word means?" She soon found out that he did, and that he
was not going to pick up the Book. His will had come right up
against his mother's will. I began to be quite interested in the
struggle; I knew if she did not break his will, he would some day
break her heart. She repeated, "Charlie, go and pick up Uncle's
Bible, and put it on the table." The little fellow said he could not
do it. "I will punish you if you do not." He saw a strange look in
her eye, and the matter began to get serious. He did not want to be
punished, and he knew his mother would punish him if he did not lift
the Bible. So he straightened every bone and muscle in him, and he
said _he could not do it_. I really believe the little fellow had
reasoned himself into the belief that he could not do it.

His mother knew he was only deceiving himself; so she kept him right
to the point. At last he went down, put both his arms around the
Book, and tugged away at it; but he still said he could not do it.
The truth was he did not want to. He got up again without lifting
it. The mother said, "Charlie, I am not going to talk to you any
more. This matter has to be settled; pick up that Book, or I will
punish you." At last she broke his will, and then he found it as
easy as it is for me to turn my hand. He picked up the Bible, and
laid it on the table. So it is with the sinner; if you are really
willing to take the Water of Life, you can do it.

"I heard th