Getting Men Saved – William Booth
1. What is the ordinary condition of Sinners when you meet with them?
Preoccupied: that is-
Taken up with the things of the world-
Rebels against God, and-
Condemned to everlasting death.
2. What is your business with them?
i. To secure their attention.
ii. To persuade them to submit to God, and then-
iii. To accept pardon through the blood.
3. How do you go about accomplishing this?
By talking to them publicly, in the open-air and indoors, about their own sin, ingratitude and death; about judgement, hell and heaven; the love of God and the voluntary suffering and death Jesus Christ endured on their behalf; concerning their influence on others, and other similar topics.
4. What do you do then?
Go amongst them in the after-meetings, or wherever you can find them, and converse with them personally – press the truth home – if only a little moved, convict them further. Make them feel, have no pity on them until they are willing to give up all and submit to God.
5. But suppose they are not willing to YIELD, although feeling much, and admitting all you say?
Oh, find out, if you can, what is the hindrance, and press them to give it up. Show them that it is better to cut off the right hand than, having two hands, to go into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched.
6. Well, supposing they are willing to give up and be saved, what then?
Bring them out to the penitent-form before the people and so test them further, and pledge them publicly, and, when there, offer them mercy, and pray with and for them.
7. But if they do not obtain salvation, what then?
There is still something in the way; or it may be, as it frequently is, simply their unbelief; in which case, encourage and instruct and help them. Give them texts and explanations and illustrations and songs, and above all, a lot of sympathy. Make them pray aloud for themselves. Sing words having faith in them. Make them look at the blood, and trust the loving, dying Christ. Push them into the fountain.
8. If they don’t get satisfaction, what must be done next?
Never tell them they are saved, if they don’t think so. When a man gets saved, God will tell him about it; and then he will not need you to tell him so. But encourage him to go on seeking; urge him to go and deal with God alone, and come again. Get his address; have him visited. Go after him yourself.
9. What are you to do next, if he gets saved?
Give God all the glory, and get everybody in the place to help you to do it.
10. And what will you do with your convert when you have got him?
Having made him into a saint, now make him into a soldier. That is, let him or her-
i. Sign the pledge.
ii. Testify at once to the blessing he has found.
iii. Take his name and address for the (Salvation) Army.
iv. Have him at the open-air the next night, with a badge on.
v. Watch over and care for him as if he were your own, and as if you will have to give an account of him at the last day, which you will most certainly have to do.
11. Is it not important that sinners should be in real earnest before they are invited to the penitent-form?
Yes; certainly. It is most disastrous to bring people forward who are not, so for as we can judge, in real earnest to be saved.
12. Is it not equally important that the penitents should be properly dealt with when they do come to the penitent-form?
Yes. Let the most experienced people you have deal with them. Speak to them yourself whenever you can. Never be in a hurry; and don’t let them go away, if possible, until they are satisfied.
(Extract from, The Doctrines of The Salvation Army, 1903)