I had a pleasant time in morning family
prayer, at which several young persons were present. The Sabbath
school was followed by a meeting, at the close of which I returned
to my room with four young men. I talked with them about two hours,
first about coming to church,--for they attend only occasionally,--
and in this they promised to do better. I then questioned until I
reached their inmost souls. I asked one, 'What is the distance
between you and God?' 'My teacher, there is a very great distance
between us.' 'Is it God's fault, or yours?' 'It is mine.' I then
looked on another, noted for his wickedness, and said, 'Beloved, did
not Christ come for you? His stripes, his anguish, his crucifixion,--were
they not for you? Why, then, treat him so ill? Has he left the least
thing undone for you?' He admitted the truth, but seemed like a rock.
At length I said to them, 'Now, Satan has provided something or
somebody outside the door, to drive these thoughts from your
hearts.' One replied, 'True, Satan has let down all the nets of the
Sea of Ardishai[1] for us.' I prayed for them, and they left me,
serious.
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