believe. I heard a commercial traveler say that
he had heard that the ministry and religion of Jesus Christ were
matters of revelation and not of investigation. "When it pleased God
to reveal His Son in Me," says Paul (Gal. i, 15, 16). There was a
party of young men together, going up the country; and on their
journey they made up their minds not to believe anything they could
not reason out. An old man heard them; and presently he said, "I
heard you say you would not believe anything you could not reason
out." "Yes," they said, "that is so." "Well," he said, "coming down
on the train to-day, I noticed some geese, some sheep, some swine,
and some cattle all eating grass. Can you tell me by what process
that same grass was turned into hair, feathers, bristles and wool? Do
you believe it is a fact?" "Oh yes," they said, "we cannot help
believing that, though we fail to understand it." "Well," said the
old man, "I cannot help believing in Jesus Christ." And I cannot help
believing in the regeneration of man, when I see men who have been
reclaimed, when I see men who have been reformed. Have not some of
the very worst men been regenerated--been picked up out of the pit,
and had their feet set upon the Rock, and a new song put in their
mouths? Their tongues were cursing and blaspheming; and now are
occupied in praising God. Old things have passed away, and all things
have become new. They are not reformed only, but regenerated--new men
in Christ Jesus.

Down there in the dark alleys of one of our great cities is a poor
drunkard. I think if you want to get near hell, you should go to a
poor drunkard's home. Go to the house of that poor miserable
drunkard. Is there anything more like hell on earth? See the want and
distress that reign there. But hark! A footstep is heard at the door,
and the children run and hide themselves. The patient wife waits to
meet the man. He has been her torment. Many a time she has borne
about the marks of his blows for weeks. Many a time that strong right
hand has been brought down on her defenseless head. And now she waits
expecting to hear his oaths and suffer his brutal treatment. He comes
in and says to her: "I have been to the meeting; and I heard there
that if I will I can be converted. I believe that God is able to save
me." Go down to that house again in a few weeks: and what a change!
As you approach you hear some one singing. It is not the song of a
reveller, but the strains of that good