Rescue the Perishing: Personal Work Made Easy — Context and Discussion

A Toolbox of Objections and Replies

The bulk of the book consists of short entries addressing common excuses for not converting. The table of contents alone lists twenty-two distinct excuses, including "I am TOO GREAT a sinner," "I can't give up my EVIL WAYS," and "There are Church members NO BETTER THAN I!" Each entry appears designed to be consulted on the spot, like a reference work. The excerpts show that Seibert pairs each excuse with scriptural counterarguments, often in the form of direct quotations. For instance, the entry on "Excuses. I have no FEELING" likely cites verses about faith rather than emotion. This structure suggests the book was meant to be carried and used in real-time conversations, not read straight through.

The Prayer List and Cottage Meetings

Seibert emphasizes systematic, personal initiative. He advises readers to "make a list of twelve of your acquaintances—very carefully and prayerfully" and to pray for them by name. The section on cottage meetings urges readers to "personally invite those on your list" and to "go with them to the inquiry room, altar or anxious seat." The language is direct and imperative: "Pitch in and do your best." A notable metaphor appears: "Hand-picked fruit always keeps better," implying that converts won early are more stable. The advice also names specific obstacles—"Timidity, Distrust, False Pride, and Fear of Giving Offence"—as "Satan's forces" to be overcome through prayer.

The Soul-Winner's Prayer Sequence

One excerpt outlines a five-step prayer for the personal worker: for "getting up grace" (courage to speak), "walking grace" (daily guidance), direction to the right person, wisdom in words, and power for the message. Each step is supported by a Bible verse—Ephesians 6:15, Proverbs 3:6, Acts 8:29, James 1:5, and Jeremiah 1:17. The sequence reveals a methodical approach to evangelism as a Spirit-led process, not mere technique. Seibert also includes a prayer that God "carry on the work after we are through," acknowledging limits to human effort. This section, like others, blends practical steps with dependence on divine action, reflecting the book's dual emphasis on human initiative and supernatural reliance.

Readers should approach this book as a period artifact of early twentieth-century revivalist methods, not a systematic theology. Its value lies in the concrete scenarios it anticipates and the scriptural responses it assembles. The topical index makes it easy to sample entries relevant to specific questions. Because the excerpts are incomplete, the full range of Seibert's advice—especially on topics like baptism and church membership—remains to be explored in the complete text.