able illustrates the love of Christ
for sinners!

And when we learn to know and feel the love of Christ for us, it does
two blessed things for us.

One is, _it makes us good_. We hear a great deal about _conversion_.
This word conversion simply means--_turning_. When a person has been
living without trying to serve or please God, and is led to see how
wrong it is to live in that way, and then feels an earnest desire to
turn around, and live differently, and really does so:--that is
conversion. The teaching or preaching of the gospel is the chief
means that God employs to convert men. And the thing about the gospel
in which this converting power lies is--_the love of Christ_. Here
is an illustration of what this means.

"He Loved Me." An English minister of the gospel was traveling in
Switzerland one summer. As he passed from place to place, he preached
by means of an interpreter in various churches. One Sunday night he
preached from the words, "_He loved me, and gave himself for me_."
Gal. ii: 20. Then he went on his way without knowing what effect had
followed from his preaching.

One Saturday evening, several weeks after, the minister of this
church was sitting in his study. There came a faint knock at his
door. He opened it, when, to his great surprise he saw there a young
man, who was known as the wickedest young man in that neighborhood,
and the leader of others in all sorts of wickedness. He invited him
in, gave him a seat, and asked him what he wished. Judge of his
surprise when the young man said he wished to inquire if he might
come to the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, which was to be
celebrated in his church the next day!

"But are you not aware, my young friend," said the minister, "that
only those who love Christ, and are trying to serve him, have any
right to come to that holy ordinance?"

"I know it, sir," said the young man, "and I am thankful to feel
that I am among that number."

"But," asked the astonished pastor, "are you not known in this
village as the ringleader in all evil doings?"

"Alas! it is too true that it has been so," he replied, "but thank
God all is changed now."

"I am happy indeed to hear it; but pray tell me what led to this
great change."

"I was in your church, sir," said he, "some weeks ago, when that
English minister preached from the words, 'Who loved me and gave
himself for me,' That was the first time I ever understood about the
love of Christ. It led to my rep