The man went on to speak of this with an intense practical earnestnessthat soon made John feel as if _he_, individually, were being talked to;and the purport of the speech was this: that God had sent to him, JohnMorley, a Saviour to save him from his sins, to lift him above hisweakness, to help him overcome his bad habits; that His name was calledJesus, because he shall save his people _from their sins_. John listenedwith a strange quite new thrill. This was what he needed--a Friend, all-powerful, all-pitiful, who would undertake for him and help him toovercome himself--for he sorely felt how weak he was. Here was a Friendthat could have compassion on the ignorant and them that were out of theway. The thought brought tears to his eyes and a glow of hope to hisheart. What if He _would_ help him? for very deep down in John's heart, much worsethan freezing or hunger or weariness, was the dreadful conviction that he wasa doomed man, that he should drink again as he had drunk, and never cometo good, but fall lower and lower, and drag all who loved him down withhim.

And was this mighty Saviour given to him?

"Yes," cried the man who was speaking; "to _you;_ to you, who have lostname and place; to you, that nobody cares for; to you, who have been downin the gutter. God has sent you a Saviour to take you up out of the mudand mire, to wash you clean, to give you strength to overcome your sins,and lead you home to his blessed kingdom. This is the glad tidings ofgreat joy that the angels brought on the first Christmas day. Christ was_God's Christmas gift_ to a poor, lost world, and you may have him now,to-day. He may be your own Saviour--yours as much as if there were noother one on earth to be saved. He is looking for you to-day, comingafter you, seeking you; he calls you by me. 0h, accept him now!"