h Christ has helped me, and what he has been to me, I believe I could
win you to him."

The value of tact was well illustrated in an incident which occurred
during Mr. Finney's meetings in New York City. The big cutlery firm of
Sheffield, England, had a branch house in New York. The manager was a
partner of the firm, and very worldly. One of his clerks, who had been
converted in the meetings, invited his employer to attend. One evening
he was there, and sat just across the aisle from Mr. Arthur Tappan. He
appeared affected during the sermon, and Mr. Tappan kept his eye on him.
After the dismissal, Mr. Tappan stepped quickly across the aisle,
introduced himself, and invited him to stay for the after-service. The
gentleman tried to excuse himself and get away, but Mr. Tappan caught
hold of the button on his coat and said, "Now, do stay; I know you will
enjoy it;" and he was so kind and gentlemanly that the cutlery man could
not very well refuse. He staid, and was converted. Afterwards he said,
"An ounce of weight upon my coat-button saved my soul."

To watch for opportunity, and then to know how effectively to make use
of the opportunity, is all-important in soul-winning. And there is no
better teacher than the Holy Spirit, of whom it is said, "He shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance."

STUDY XVII.

EARNESTNESS.

Memory Verse: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy
might."--(Eccl. ix, 10.)

Scripture for Meditation: Mark ii, 1-12.

The testimony of Charles H. Spurgeon should have weight here. He said:
"If a man is to be a soul-winner, there must be in him intensity of
emotion as well as sincerity of heart. You may repeat the most
affectionate exhortations in such a half-hearted manner that no one will
be moved either by love or fear. I believe that for soul-winning there
is more in this matter of earnestness than in almost anything else."

When we become as much in earnest to rescue our friends and dear ones
from eternal death as we are to save them from physical suffering and
death, then we shall see the rapid spread of the kingdom of Christ. A
man falls overboard from the deck of a vessel, and his wife screams:
"Stop the boat! My God! My husband is drowning!" But no one criticises
the woman for her passionate outcry, or bids her keep still. It was so
natural for her to cry out for help. And when the Church of Jesus Christ
becomes thoroughly awake to the wo