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THE CONVERSION OF CHARLES WEIGLE
On the banks of the Walbash River stands the prosperous Midwestern city of LaFayette, Indiana, county seat of Tippecanoe County, and hometown of Purdue University. When Purdue was a young, growing school just two years old, Charles Frederick Weigle was born, November 20, 1871, into the family of a God-fearing, German-Lutheran baker and his wife. The Weigle family was composed of twelve members, five boys and seven girls; it was a typical German family. As a boy, young Charles Weigle was accustomed to hearing his father pray; and Bible reading was observed at family worship every morning immediately following breakfast.
Charles Weigle was converted at the age of twelve after being under conviction for quite some time. The Methodist Church of LaFayette was having a series of revival meetings in a little frame church where his parents attended. A great number of his friends and playmates came under conviction and were going forward during the progress of the meeting. This made an indelible impression upon young Charles Weigle, even though he resisted longer than most of the others. Then one night a strong overpowering realization that he was lost came over him. The testimony of his conversion is as follows:
"I was born and reared in a Christian home. Every member of our family attended church services and went to Sunday School. We had family worship in the home every morning. I suppose I was about as good as the average boy of my age. I had a bad temper, however; and by the time I was 12 years of age, I was fighting with my brothers and the neighbor boys. While having trouble with an older brother, I cut him with a knife very seriously. I knocked a neighbor boy down with a ball bat "because he didn’t play to suit me." On another occasion, while ringing a heavy dinner bell in a political parade, a young fellow who did not like the crowd I was marching with ordered me to put down the bell; and I brought it down on top of his head, and they carried him home to recuperate. My parents punished me severely for these misdeeds and warned me to stop fighting lest I be arrested and sent to prison, but I paid little attention to them.
"There came a day when I was arrested for my misdeeds and taken to court. As I sat alone and saw the crowd in the room waiting to see what the judge would do with me, I realized the seriousness of the situation. It appeared as if I were doomed to go to prison, for I was guilty. When the judge came in and took his place behind the bench, he looked down at my shrinking form and said with a voice that sounded like the knell of doom to me, ‘Young man, have you an attorney?’ I said, ‘No sir, I haven’t got anybody.’ He looked over the court room and then motioned to a handsome young man to come forward, and said to him, ‘You will kindly act as his attorney.’ That handsome young lawyer came and sat down beside me and took charge of my case.
"One thing that brought a little hope to my heart was the attitude of my attorney. He sat close to me and spoke to me with a voice that was full of tender sympathy. I felt that he was my friend and that he cared for me and wanted to help me. When I told him of all the mean things I had been doing and for which I had been arrested, he assured me that he would help me. All I had to do was to tell the truth and leave the rest with him. That seemed to relieve my mind some what.
"After the trial began, however, and one witness after another testified against me, I began to lose hope. One of them said I knocked him down with a ball bat and almost killed him. My attorney said to me, ‘Did you do that?’ I said, ‘Yes Sir’. The next witness accused me of having seriously injured him with a heavy dinner bell, and my attorney again said, ‘Did you do that?’ I said, ‘Yes Sir’. My own brother came to witness against me, declaring that I had used a knife on him and had almost taken his life. My attorney turned to me and asked, ‘Have you been guilty of all these acts?’ and I said, ‘Yes, Sir, and a lot of other things they don’t even know about.’ He tried to relieve my fears by saying, ‘Trust me — I’ll help you.’
"Finally, the prosecuting attorney rose up and, speaking to the judge, said, ‘Your Honor, according to the evidence brought by these witnesses, the defendant is guilty of all charges brought against him. He is a potential murderer and a menace to this community, and we ask that he be placed in prison for a long duration of time.’ Then my heart sank within me and I said to myself, ‘There is no hope for me.’
"When my attorney arose to speak in my defense, I wondered what He could do for me. Looking at the judge, he said, ‘Father.’ That one word brought hope for me. Looking at his father, the judge, he said, ‘Father, the defendant pleads guilty to every charge brought against him. He asks for mercy; and as his attorney, I plead for him. I believe that if the court will grant my plea, this young man will live a new and a better life.’
"I saw the judge rise to his feet as my attorney spoke. There was a look of love and kindness as he said, ‘But my Son, the defendant is guilty. There is a penalty that must be paid, according to the law.’
"I’ll take care of that and suffer the penalty,’ said my attorney. And then, to my joy and amazement, the judge said, ‘It is the decision of the court that, in response to the plea made by the attorney for the defendant, he be pardoned and set at liberty, with the understanding that he show by his manner of life a due respect for the law and a kindness toward his neighbors.’
"I was free! My heart was filled with joy as I clasped the hand of my attorney and, with moist eyes, tried to express my gratitude. He placed his arms about me and, in a voice that sounded like the music of an angel’s harp, he said, ‘You and I will be friends forever. We’ll be brothers; and whenever you need any help, you may come to me and I’ll help you.’ Since that day he has never forgotten me. We’ve been as close as brothers can be down through the years.
"Let me explain to you the fact that the courthouse where I had this wonderful experience was a little frame church during the progress of a revival, where the great truths of the Bible were being preached. One night, as I sat on a rear seat, the Holy Spirit, the High Sheriff of Heaven, arrested me and led me to the front in sight of all the people present. I was convicted and condemned, and confessed my guilt to Almighty God. There seemed no hope for me. My sins towered up before me. Then Jesus came and quieted my fears. He paid the penalty for all my sins and guilt. He pleaded my case in the high court of heaven and won my pardon. When this great truth dawned upon my mind, my heart was filled with gratitude and praise. There came a great love into my heart for my Saviour. That love has grown until He has the chief place in my life. Some day I expect to see Him face to face. That will be heaven for me.
"We sing at times, ‘What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear.’ You will find this to be a reality when you put your trust in Him as your Saviour. He came into the world to save us from our sins and to bring peace and joy into our lives. He is the Friend you need."
- From ‘The Victorious Life’ - Sermons by Dr. Charles Weigle
We trust the beautiful word picture that Dr. Weigle painted for us in his own salvation testimony has been helpful to you. Dr. Weigle pictures himself standing guilty before God "without a prayer."
Surely you realize that Dr. Weigle was referring to God as "the judge" and to Jesus Christ as "the handsome young lawyer." Young Charles soon realized his only hope lay in the qualifications of "the handsome young lawyer." My Friend, how will you fare when you stand before "...the Judge of all the earth..."? Genesis 18:25.
If you are honest with yourself and agree with the Bible you must declare yourself a guilty sinner before a holy God.
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Romans 3:20.
BUT GOD HAS PROVIDED A WAY!
JESUS IS OUR ADVOCATE
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our’s only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2.
An advocate is one who "stands along side and assists", like an attorney.
A propitiation is a "sacrifice that appeases God’s judgment."
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. Hebrews 7:25-27.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 1 Peter 1:18-19.
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:24.
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18.
JESUS IS OUR PROPITIATION
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God. Romans 3:24-25.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:8-10.
WILL YOU TRUST JESUS NOW?
"...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24.
The thief who died on the cross next to Jesus simply prayed: "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." Jesus promised him: "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." See Luke 23:39-43.
In a parable Jesus told of a sinful man who with a repentive heart prayed: "God be merciful to me a sinner." Jesus said: "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified..." Justified means "just as if you never sinned." See Luke 18:9-14.
My Friend, do you see yourself guilty before a holy God? Jesus Christ the righteous waits with open arms to be both your advocate and your propitiation.
...The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7.
WILL YOU PRAY AND BE SAVED?
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13.
"God be merciful to me a sinner. I realize that I have no hope of entering Heaven without Jesus Christ as my Saviour. Forgive me of my sins. Help me to live for You every day. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
Dr. Weigle was a famous Baptist evangelist and noted hymn writer. He entered Heaven’s gates December 3, 1966 at age 95, from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
No One Ever Cared for Me like Jesus
by Charles F. Weigle
I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus
Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true;
I would tell you how He changed my life completely,
He did something that no other friend could do.
All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me,
All my heart was full of misery and woe;
Jesus placed His strong and loving arms about me,
And He led me in the way I ought to go.
Ev’ry day He comes to me with new assurance,
More and more I understand His words of love;
But I’ll never know just why He came to save me,
Till some day I see His blessed face above.
Chorus:
No one ever cared for me like Jesus,
There’s no other friend so kind as He;
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me,
Oh how much He cared for me.
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour after reading this tract please write us. We would like to rejoice with you. lpm8998@core.com