These talks have been given, in substance, at various gatherings inGreat Britain, Continental Europe, and parts of the Far East, during thepast four years. The simple directness of the spoken word has beenallowed to stand. Portions of chapters three, four, six, and eight haveappeared at various times in "The Sunday School Times."
If any who read may find some practical help through the Master'sgracious touch upon these simple words, they are earnestly asked to addtheir prayers that that same gracious touch may be felt by otherswherever these talks may go.
One day I watched two young men, a Japanese and an American, pacing thedeck of a Japanese liner bound for San Francisco. Their heads were closetogether and bent down, and they were talking earnestly. The Japanese wassaying, "Oh, yes, I believe all that as a theory, but is there power tomake a man live it?"
He was an officer of the ship, one of the finest boats on the Pacific. TheAmerican was a young fellow who had gone out to Japan as a governmentteacher, and when his earnest sort of Christianity led to his dismissal heremained, and still remains, as a volunteer missionary. With his rare giftin personal touch he had won the young officer's confidence, and wasexplaining what Christianity stood for, when the Japanese politelyinterrupted him with his question about power. The tense eagerness of hismanner and voice let one see the hunger of his heart. He had high idealsof life, but confessed that every time he was in port, the shoretemptations proved too much, and he always came back on board with afeeling of bitter defeat. He had read about Christianity and believed itgood in theory. But he knew nothing of its power.
Through his new American friend he came into personal touch with Christ,then and there. And up to the day we docked he put in his spare timebringing other Japanese to his friend's stateroom, and there more than oneof them knelt, and came into warm touch of heart with the Lord Jesus....