Jude 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. But what we need most is a keener appreciation of our relationship to the souls of those with whom we have to do — a profounder interest in their spiritual well-being — a stronger anxiety that men may be saved. It is written of the sainted Alleine, author of the "Alarm to the Unconverted," that "he was infinitely and insatiably greedy of the conversion of souls." Bunyan said, "I could not be satisfied unless some fruits did appear in my work." Brainerd, on more than one occasion, said, "I care not where or how I live, or what hardships I go through, so that I can but gain souls to Christ." Doddridge, writing to a friend, said, "I long for the conversion of souls more sensibly than anything besides." Matthew Henry wrote, "I would think it a greater happiness to gain one soul to Christ than mountains of silver and gold to myself." The sainted Fletcher said to Samuel Bradburn, when as a young man he called to see him as the Vicar of Madeley, "If you should live to preach the gospel forty years, and be the instrument of saving only one soul, it will be worth all your labours." Whitfield seldom preached without weeping under the solemn impression of the value of souls. He said one day in his sermon, "How can I help weeping when you will not weep for yourselves, though your immortal souls are on the verge of destruction!" Dr. Lyman Beecher, when dying, said to a minister standing by his couch, "The greatest of all things is not theology; it is not controversy; it is to save souls." (J. H. Hitchen.) Parallel Verses KJV: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. |
    |