Rev. J. Lyall’s Mission

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 535, 1 October 1902, Page 2

Rev. J. Lyall’s Mission

Thoi'o was again a crowded audience at the Theatre Royal last evening to hoar the last of the Mission services which has been so successfully conducted by the Rev. James Lyall. After the usual opening hymns and prayers, the rev. gentleman divided his discourse into two subjects, i the first part of which was addressed to young converts, the text being, “ For I know Him in whom I have believed.” The rev. gentj.emcn .warned them not to bo disappointed at the outset of their Christian life by trials and temptations. He urged a complete surrender, not to keep anything back from tbe Lord, and to start out by saying, “ I am not my own, lam bought with a price.” 11 Get your eyes off Christians,” said the speaker, and look to Jesus, who is the author' and linisher of your faith. By fixing your ..eyes on some Christians yo'q would be *like the story of the young ploughman, who was taken into a field by a farmer and directed to fix his eyes on some object and go straight for it, so as to keep the furrow straight. After a time the farmer returned to see how the ploughing was getting on. and to his surprise found furrows at ail sorts o.i angles, all over the paddock. Upon enquiring the reason the young man said, " You told me to keep my eyes on some object, so I fixed them lon that cow over there.” (Laughter.) “ That is the way you voting Christians will go,” remarked Mr Lyall, “if hs your eyes on some Christians.” After dealing with the necessity and power of prayer, also the constant reading ol God's word. The speaker dealt with tne question of a muse men us, ar.d urged Idem to avoid any that hinders true fellowship with God. He said Iliacthe result of a census taken m New ) rrk showed that eight-tenths of the fallen girls in that great city attrihu ted their downfall, in the fust instance. to dancing. After another lyjim. the rev. gentleman addressei himself to those who were oa the threshold ot the Kingdom of God. urging them to get a knowledge of them--sei' os b\j the light of God’s eternal Light Oil. men where are you going to" Remember that.you ha(ve a life that never dies ; pray to God that he wtl. show you yourself and your position, urged the speaker, who afterwards went on to say that a man who would acknowledge that he was a sin ner was on the threshold of the Kingdom of God, and that in order to get into the Kingdom it was necessary to repent and turn to Christ and fully trust in his redemption work. The address was concluded by a v>u y earnest appeal to those who were “on the threshold ”to decide at once. A large number responded. Before leaving for'the South, the Rev. J. Lyall will deliver an address to Christians, at the Wesleyan Church. i \ t 1 i t I F v P y c d S a tl w fc a B Vl JJ lij of