Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jun 26, 2008 1:09:01 GMT -5
Charles E. Cowman
Missionary Warrior
By
Lettie B. Cowman
Chapter Five
ANOTHER LIFE CRISIS
"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" This was the pass-word into the early
Church.
To the question "Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life? Are you groaning after
it?" Methodist preachers who are candidates for admission into the ministry are expected to
answer affirmatively, and Methodism does not recognize one law for the spiritual life for its
ministers and another for its laymen.
We now come to another important experience in Charles Cowman's life. He had lived as a
Christian for a year, and among the members of Grace Methodist church none were more
zealous for souls than he. Quite unconsciously he had become a leader among the young people.
Among the members was a very earnest brother, named George Simister.
He, too, was a layman, a successful soul-winner, and very often he took Charles Cowman aside
to tell him of a wonderful blessing which he had received, seeking to impress upon him that he
was in need of the same experience, but as he never had lost the thrill of his first love, never had
lost the wonder of the miracle of his conversion, never had waned in glad responsive gratitude to
the Lord, he saw no need of being sanctified.
But something happened in his office one night and the calm, quiet, self-possessed man became
impatient and spoke harshly to one of his men. Quickly he asked the man's forgiveness, but
peace left his heart and he continued in this state of mind for almost a week.
He sent for George Simister who came and said, "Brother Cowman, you need to have your heart
cleansed from all sin." In the simplest manner he explained to him that after conversion, "the old
man" of sin still remains and the only remedy is cleansing through the precious Blood.
Vouchsafed to most there are tide-times of the soul which should be "taken at the flood." It is
possible to permit an ebb to take place, but Charles Cowman seized the opportunity. He regarded
nothing as important as having his heart cleansed from all sin, and he began to seek it with a full
purpose of soul. He formed a habit of jotting down his thoughts and during this time he penned
these lines which breathed out his inner heart:
"I was profoundly impressed and powerfully sustained, almost absorbed by the Word, 'This is
the will of God, even your sanctification.' 'If any man will do his will, he shall know of the
doctrine.' These words cannot be too deeply engraved upon the heart. I will ever seek to have
my will one with the will of GOD."
"What is the end of life?" wrote Drummond.
"The end of life is not to do good, although many of us think so. It is not to win souls, although I
once thought so. The end of life is to do the will of GOD. That may be in the line of winning
souls or doing good, or it may not. To the individual who asks the question, 'What is the end of
life?' there can be but one answer, 'To do the will of GOD, whatever that may be.' Spurgeon
replied to an invitation to preach to an exceptionally large audience, 'I have no ambition to
preach to ten thousand people, but to do the will of GOD,' and he declined. If we could have no
ambition past the will of GOD our lives would be successful. If we could say, 'I have no
ambition to go to the heathen, I have no ambition to win souls; my ambition is to do the will of
God, whatever that may be,' that makes lives equally great or equally small, because the only
great thing in life is what of GOD's will there is in it. The maximum achievement of any man's
life after it is all over is to have done the will of God."
In Charles Cowman's notes were these brief lines:
"I have committed myself and my all into GOD's hands, and He has accepted the offering. Life
henceforth can never be the same."
The fact that it made his ministry what it was, is equally certain, and those who knew him before
and after this experience could not question that he had found a new secret of power for his own
life and work.
He came into a fresh experience, a second definite work of grace,- a crisis as radical and
revolutionary as the crisis of regeneration. A new union began with his Saviour, new victories
enriched his life, and a new power marked his service from that day. The great need in his soul
had been met by the greater power of GOD and he began an unbroken walk with his Lord. From
that hour he felt that he must lose no opportunity of leading others to that overflowing fountain
of mercy and truth. It was his life-long task and even death could not interrupt it. The witness of
the Divine COMFORTER proved not a transient but a perennial grace. He had come to abide
forever; and the Day-star had risen upon his heart with an unsetting light. It was his
determination to live as a bloodwashed man and to seek to bring others under the power of the
same soul-cleansing Blood.
Multitudes will praise God, in that sweet Morning-land, that Charles Cowman sought and
obtained the blessing of "Full Salvation," but not one fraction of the result will be known until
that glorious morning.
GOD was henceforth first in everything and a penciled note in his Bible beside the words,
"Suffer me first" shows in these interesting steps his consecration.
GOD first.
Wife and home second.
Telegraph office third.
He was truly sanctified and Holiness had in him not only an advocate, but an illustration. He was
manifestly crucified unto the world and the world unto him. His life was one simple long
fulfillment of the will of GOD as he apprehended and understood it.
Out from his life flowed a stream of power, not the power of eloquence or great scholarship, but
the power of the Spirit of GOD, pouring its life-giving stream through the life of a man who was
wholly abandoned to Him, one who was content to be a channel only.
Holiness on fire! Is not that one of the great needs of the day? The man who has seen the
essential need of holy living, and believes that he has found, in union with the Lord JESUS, the
secret of its realization, should he not burn up with desire to spread the glad tidings among his
fellow Christians as well as to exhibit its power in holiness of conduct? We want everywhere the
most intense glow of Christian zeal. When Elijah had built the altar of GOD, placed the wood in
order, and the sacrifice on the wood, he knelt and prayed for the fire. All else had been in vain
without that. "Then the fire of the LORD fell."
How many men not remarkable for their natural ability, have done noble things by their burning
zeal!
There comes a point of time in the history of every soul when, if he wishes to become a
sanctified vessel, "meet for the Master's use," he must choose whether he will take the
heavenly inheritance or the earthly. The latter may look exceedingly brilliant, but it must be
dropped if it prevents a holy career and a life of perfect service for the Lord.
"Though the life through which God has prevailed is profoundly humble, it is yet conscious that
GOD's Almightiness belongs to it, and moves upon its mission as though the destinies of earth
depend upon its effort, as they do." A more profound truth was never uttered and never did it
find a better illustration than in the life of Charles Cowman.
The days of small things were now past; henceforth he was to open his mouth wide that He
might fill it. Little by little was he led out to possess more territory until GOD could entrust him
with the "wealthy place" where he stood with steady nerve and unfaltering faith throughout the
years that followed.
He witnessed faithfully to the twos, the threes, the crowds in Mission Halls, the hundreds in the
telegraph office; and now and then came invitations from the pastors of the large city churches
asking him to address their congregations. He was introduced to their audiences much after this
fashion: "We have with us tonight, a devoted layman, a business man, who will relate some of
his experiences in winning souls in a telegraph office;" or, "A Methodist brother noted for his
aggressiveness, will give us a glimpse of his strange parish, the telegraph office in our city."
In a simple, straightforward manner he would go to the pulpit, dressed in his neatly fitting suit of
gray. His messages were seldom more than twenty minutes long and took the form of a simple
testimony of what GOD was doing among the telegraphers of his office. Many a man went home
from the service with a fresh vision of what could be done in witnessing for CHRIST in his own
place of business. Several leaders of large business concerns whose light had been hidden under
a bushel, entered their offices the next day not only to transact their own business, but also to
look after the King's business.
The day of his conversion never faded from his memory, but stood out in sharp relief, and his
simple heart-gripping messages, usually contained his testimony. "Saved to serve" was ever his
life's motto.
A preacher noted for his oratory invited him to speak at his Sunday evening service, as he, too,
had heard of the revival in the telegraph office and longed to know the secret of this business
man's success. After the service he called Charles Cowman to his study for a heart-to-heart talk.
In the course of the conversation he said, "I try to win souls, but fail every time. Can you tell me
the reason?"
The two men were alone, the key was turned in the door, and the janitor was notified not to
disturb them, nor to admit anyone. Ten o'clock came, then eleven, and the clock in the tower
struck twelve. One, two, and three tolled the bell; the two walked out into the street, wending
their way homeward. They had met Someone during those hours and the next Sunday evening
there was a new man in the pulpit with a new heart and a new message.
"What has happened to our minister?" was whispered from pew to pew.
A man sitting in one of the fashionable pews could have given an answer to their inquiry, for he
knew the struggle of that popular preacher, of the midnight battle, as he faced the question
whether he would yield himself wholly to GOD and become just a plain soul-winner or a pulpit
orator. Weeks afterward, when a great revival broke out in that church, none rejoiced more over
"the spoils won in battle" than did Charles Cowman.
The great learned man, having several degrees attached to his name, came down from his pulpit
one night, slipped his arm about a man and said, "God bless you, Brother Cowman, for your
faithfulness to me that night. I would rather have the love of GOD shed abroad in my heart and
witness the scenes of the past two weeks than to have the world at my feet."
Some of Charles Cowman's most spiritual triumphs were won where we least expected them.
There is no limit to the victories possible to that soul which lies as a helpless worm before the
mercy-seat, utterly surrendered to the crucified Christ.
One impressive trait of character was his ability to become all things to all men. It did not matter
who the individual was, whether rich or poor, young or old, educated or illiterate, worldly or
spiritually minded, he understood them and their need.
During the weeks which followed, he received invitations from numbers of pastors to address
their congregations. These he accepted as the voice of the Lord; and relying upon Him who said,
"I will be with thy mouth," he ventured forth into this new field, saying, "My preparation must
come directly from Him upon whom my soul continually feeds." Thus without any human
authority or professional training, this layman became a minister of the Word.
And if He who inspires and fulfils the Word orders a man to preach it, what man or what
convocation of men shall dare dispute the ordination or the call? From that time, Charles
Cowman, without assuming any clerical dignity, continued to preach the gospel; "the Lord
working with (him), and confirming the Word with signs following."
"Does it pay to be an out-and-out Christian?" was frequently asked him.
Does it pay the river to scatter blessings along its course?
Does it pay the rose to fling its sweetness to the world?
Does it pay the wheat to grow and feed the hungry millions?
It does pay a thousand fold to live a life that counts and it may be lived in the hardest place, but
that life is not found on a bargain table. Remember what Jesus said to the young ruler, "Sell all
that thou hast . . . and come, follow Me."
Missionary Warrior
By
Lettie B. Cowman
Chapter Five
ANOTHER LIFE CRISIS
"Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" This was the pass-word into the early
Church.
To the question "Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life? Are you groaning after
it?" Methodist preachers who are candidates for admission into the ministry are expected to
answer affirmatively, and Methodism does not recognize one law for the spiritual life for its
ministers and another for its laymen.
We now come to another important experience in Charles Cowman's life. He had lived as a
Christian for a year, and among the members of Grace Methodist church none were more
zealous for souls than he. Quite unconsciously he had become a leader among the young people.
Among the members was a very earnest brother, named George Simister.
He, too, was a layman, a successful soul-winner, and very often he took Charles Cowman aside
to tell him of a wonderful blessing which he had received, seeking to impress upon him that he
was in need of the same experience, but as he never had lost the thrill of his first love, never had
lost the wonder of the miracle of his conversion, never had waned in glad responsive gratitude to
the Lord, he saw no need of being sanctified.
But something happened in his office one night and the calm, quiet, self-possessed man became
impatient and spoke harshly to one of his men. Quickly he asked the man's forgiveness, but
peace left his heart and he continued in this state of mind for almost a week.
He sent for George Simister who came and said, "Brother Cowman, you need to have your heart
cleansed from all sin." In the simplest manner he explained to him that after conversion, "the old
man" of sin still remains and the only remedy is cleansing through the precious Blood.
Vouchsafed to most there are tide-times of the soul which should be "taken at the flood." It is
possible to permit an ebb to take place, but Charles Cowman seized the opportunity. He regarded
nothing as important as having his heart cleansed from all sin, and he began to seek it with a full
purpose of soul. He formed a habit of jotting down his thoughts and during this time he penned
these lines which breathed out his inner heart:
"I was profoundly impressed and powerfully sustained, almost absorbed by the Word, 'This is
the will of God, even your sanctification.' 'If any man will do his will, he shall know of the
doctrine.' These words cannot be too deeply engraved upon the heart. I will ever seek to have
my will one with the will of GOD."
"What is the end of life?" wrote Drummond.
"The end of life is not to do good, although many of us think so. It is not to win souls, although I
once thought so. The end of life is to do the will of GOD. That may be in the line of winning
souls or doing good, or it may not. To the individual who asks the question, 'What is the end of
life?' there can be but one answer, 'To do the will of GOD, whatever that may be.' Spurgeon
replied to an invitation to preach to an exceptionally large audience, 'I have no ambition to
preach to ten thousand people, but to do the will of GOD,' and he declined. If we could have no
ambition past the will of GOD our lives would be successful. If we could say, 'I have no
ambition to go to the heathen, I have no ambition to win souls; my ambition is to do the will of
God, whatever that may be,' that makes lives equally great or equally small, because the only
great thing in life is what of GOD's will there is in it. The maximum achievement of any man's
life after it is all over is to have done the will of God."
In Charles Cowman's notes were these brief lines:
"I have committed myself and my all into GOD's hands, and He has accepted the offering. Life
henceforth can never be the same."
The fact that it made his ministry what it was, is equally certain, and those who knew him before
and after this experience could not question that he had found a new secret of power for his own
life and work.
He came into a fresh experience, a second definite work of grace,- a crisis as radical and
revolutionary as the crisis of regeneration. A new union began with his Saviour, new victories
enriched his life, and a new power marked his service from that day. The great need in his soul
had been met by the greater power of GOD and he began an unbroken walk with his Lord. From
that hour he felt that he must lose no opportunity of leading others to that overflowing fountain
of mercy and truth. It was his life-long task and even death could not interrupt it. The witness of
the Divine COMFORTER proved not a transient but a perennial grace. He had come to abide
forever; and the Day-star had risen upon his heart with an unsetting light. It was his
determination to live as a bloodwashed man and to seek to bring others under the power of the
same soul-cleansing Blood.
Multitudes will praise God, in that sweet Morning-land, that Charles Cowman sought and
obtained the blessing of "Full Salvation," but not one fraction of the result will be known until
that glorious morning.
GOD was henceforth first in everything and a penciled note in his Bible beside the words,
"Suffer me first" shows in these interesting steps his consecration.
GOD first.
Wife and home second.
Telegraph office third.
He was truly sanctified and Holiness had in him not only an advocate, but an illustration. He was
manifestly crucified unto the world and the world unto him. His life was one simple long
fulfillment of the will of GOD as he apprehended and understood it.
Out from his life flowed a stream of power, not the power of eloquence or great scholarship, but
the power of the Spirit of GOD, pouring its life-giving stream through the life of a man who was
wholly abandoned to Him, one who was content to be a channel only.
Holiness on fire! Is not that one of the great needs of the day? The man who has seen the
essential need of holy living, and believes that he has found, in union with the Lord JESUS, the
secret of its realization, should he not burn up with desire to spread the glad tidings among his
fellow Christians as well as to exhibit its power in holiness of conduct? We want everywhere the
most intense glow of Christian zeal. When Elijah had built the altar of GOD, placed the wood in
order, and the sacrifice on the wood, he knelt and prayed for the fire. All else had been in vain
without that. "Then the fire of the LORD fell."
How many men not remarkable for their natural ability, have done noble things by their burning
zeal!
There comes a point of time in the history of every soul when, if he wishes to become a
sanctified vessel, "meet for the Master's use," he must choose whether he will take the
heavenly inheritance or the earthly. The latter may look exceedingly brilliant, but it must be
dropped if it prevents a holy career and a life of perfect service for the Lord.
"Though the life through which God has prevailed is profoundly humble, it is yet conscious that
GOD's Almightiness belongs to it, and moves upon its mission as though the destinies of earth
depend upon its effort, as they do." A more profound truth was never uttered and never did it
find a better illustration than in the life of Charles Cowman.
The days of small things were now past; henceforth he was to open his mouth wide that He
might fill it. Little by little was he led out to possess more territory until GOD could entrust him
with the "wealthy place" where he stood with steady nerve and unfaltering faith throughout the
years that followed.
He witnessed faithfully to the twos, the threes, the crowds in Mission Halls, the hundreds in the
telegraph office; and now and then came invitations from the pastors of the large city churches
asking him to address their congregations. He was introduced to their audiences much after this
fashion: "We have with us tonight, a devoted layman, a business man, who will relate some of
his experiences in winning souls in a telegraph office;" or, "A Methodist brother noted for his
aggressiveness, will give us a glimpse of his strange parish, the telegraph office in our city."
In a simple, straightforward manner he would go to the pulpit, dressed in his neatly fitting suit of
gray. His messages were seldom more than twenty minutes long and took the form of a simple
testimony of what GOD was doing among the telegraphers of his office. Many a man went home
from the service with a fresh vision of what could be done in witnessing for CHRIST in his own
place of business. Several leaders of large business concerns whose light had been hidden under
a bushel, entered their offices the next day not only to transact their own business, but also to
look after the King's business.
The day of his conversion never faded from his memory, but stood out in sharp relief, and his
simple heart-gripping messages, usually contained his testimony. "Saved to serve" was ever his
life's motto.
A preacher noted for his oratory invited him to speak at his Sunday evening service, as he, too,
had heard of the revival in the telegraph office and longed to know the secret of this business
man's success. After the service he called Charles Cowman to his study for a heart-to-heart talk.
In the course of the conversation he said, "I try to win souls, but fail every time. Can you tell me
the reason?"
The two men were alone, the key was turned in the door, and the janitor was notified not to
disturb them, nor to admit anyone. Ten o'clock came, then eleven, and the clock in the tower
struck twelve. One, two, and three tolled the bell; the two walked out into the street, wending
their way homeward. They had met Someone during those hours and the next Sunday evening
there was a new man in the pulpit with a new heart and a new message.
"What has happened to our minister?" was whispered from pew to pew.
A man sitting in one of the fashionable pews could have given an answer to their inquiry, for he
knew the struggle of that popular preacher, of the midnight battle, as he faced the question
whether he would yield himself wholly to GOD and become just a plain soul-winner or a pulpit
orator. Weeks afterward, when a great revival broke out in that church, none rejoiced more over
"the spoils won in battle" than did Charles Cowman.
The great learned man, having several degrees attached to his name, came down from his pulpit
one night, slipped his arm about a man and said, "God bless you, Brother Cowman, for your
faithfulness to me that night. I would rather have the love of GOD shed abroad in my heart and
witness the scenes of the past two weeks than to have the world at my feet."
Some of Charles Cowman's most spiritual triumphs were won where we least expected them.
There is no limit to the victories possible to that soul which lies as a helpless worm before the
mercy-seat, utterly surrendered to the crucified Christ.
One impressive trait of character was his ability to become all things to all men. It did not matter
who the individual was, whether rich or poor, young or old, educated or illiterate, worldly or
spiritually minded, he understood them and their need.
During the weeks which followed, he received invitations from numbers of pastors to address
their congregations. These he accepted as the voice of the Lord; and relying upon Him who said,
"I will be with thy mouth," he ventured forth into this new field, saying, "My preparation must
come directly from Him upon whom my soul continually feeds." Thus without any human
authority or professional training, this layman became a minister of the Word.
And if He who inspires and fulfils the Word orders a man to preach it, what man or what
convocation of men shall dare dispute the ordination or the call? From that time, Charles
Cowman, without assuming any clerical dignity, continued to preach the gospel; "the Lord
working with (him), and confirming the Word with signs following."
"Does it pay to be an out-and-out Christian?" was frequently asked him.
Does it pay the river to scatter blessings along its course?
Does it pay the rose to fling its sweetness to the world?
Does it pay the wheat to grow and feed the hungry millions?
It does pay a thousand fold to live a life that counts and it may be lived in the hardest place, but
that life is not found on a bargain table. Remember what Jesus said to the young ruler, "Sell all
that thou hast . . . and come, follow Me."