CO-OPERATION OF THE SAINTS IN THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

CO-OPERATION OF THE SAINTS IN THE PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

I am glad to answer your letter. I cannot see that you, as an evangelist, should look for the co-operation of the saints in the preaching of the gospel by their being listeners. Some evangelists openly request the saints not to come, lest they should occupy the seats intended for the unconverted. I consider the saints ought to co-operate in every way, but it does not appear to me that they should be required to attend as listeners. I feel they ought to do everything that the Lord leads them to do to get hearers, especially when the gospel is preached in a place by an evangelist who feels called of the Lord to preach there. I distinguish between the ordinary preaching of the gospel at the room, which is more commonly teaching, and the occasional preaching of an evangelist, on whose heart it has been laid to preach the gospel in that place. I believe at times there is a special call to preach the gospel in a ^[p. 51] place, and if the Lord has opened the door, the audience will be of His gathering, and the presence of the saints would often hinder the evangelist, because he would be induced to make his utterance in some measure suited to them; and while doing so, he would not be as simple and fitting for the unconverted.

If I felt that the Lord called me to preach in a place, I should comfort myself that His work was done, if I had done His bidding. Paul endured a great deal at Philippi, but he succeeded. What I remember remarking to you was that hearers to the gospel may be found out by the sisters who have opportunities for visiting, as retrievers do birds. Sisters are the best visitors. There was a sister in ———— who knew almost every case of sorrow and distress in that city. What a retriever she was! You will be happy and blessed too in doing whatever the Lord tells you to do, and you must do it though no one co-operates with you, and you must set about it with courage.