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12 THE PRESBYTERIA
Prayer Meeting
TOPIC?GOD S APPEAL TO THE YOUNG.
Week Beginning September 19. Ecclesiastes 12:1.
This is well called "God's appeal," though it is the appeal
of the wisest of men, in the normal exercise of the wisdom
that had been given him, wisdom which had been develoDed
by means of the normal experiences of life. It was nevertheless
wisdom which God had promised and which was truly
his gift. Moreover, the teaching which is found in the book
of Ecclesiastes, like the teaching of other books of the Bible,
is not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the
Holy Ghost teacheth. This is God's truth and expression of
his thought, while it is at the same time the expression of
the thought of his enlightened and inspired servant.
It is an appeal to the young to reverently regard and
devoutly esteem him who is the giver of all good, in whom
resides all authority and who is entitled to all service. Forgetfulness
of God was one of the gross and fatal sins of his
ancient people, as it is of the world and of too many of his
professed servants to-day. The young, because of their
buoyancy of spirits, the novelty and vanity of life around
them, the inconsiderate and wayward example of their
seniors and the pathetic fact of the infirmity of our poor
human nature, which asserts itself in earliest childhood, are
prone and tempted to forget God. The exhortation to "remember"
warns againrt one of the most prevalent and fatal
infirmities of the flesh.
The very inexperience of youth is a special reason for this
appeal. Youth knows not the dangers that await it, or the
enemies that are lurking in concealment to enslave or destroy
it. Youth has not learned from experience the tyranny of
evil habits nor the grossness of a nature confirmed in its
estrangement from God. Youth has not had extended observation
of the strength and beauty of sanctified character nor
contrasted the life of godliness with the worldly life. It
needs to be impressed by precept and example with the
beauty of holiness and the exceeding sinfulness of sin. Its
native sensitiveness to impressions of evil and good is no
safeguard unless some impressions preponderate and overcome
the evil. Compassion for the dependent, to say nothing
of love for the precious souls of youth, should prompt us to
teach them the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of
wisdom.
Youth is the impressionable age. The mind is plastic. It
has not yet assumed the rigid forms nor the confirmed characteristics
of age. It is susceptible of being developed conformably
to the highest ideals. It responds more promptly
to reasonable appeals and yields more readily to ennobling
agencies than does maturer character. By its very nature it
is the period of life for instilling righteous principles, and
infusing the elements of symmetry and strength. Youth
should be impressed with the fact that it is in the formative
stage, and should address itself seriously and cheerfully to
the culture of those qualities which make men and women
strong to endure and to achieve, and which make them lovable
and happy. The life of loyalty to Christ is the basis of
such qualities.
There is a reason why the young especially should remember
their Creator which can not appeal to the old. It is the
fact that the youth has all of active and responsible life
before it, while to the aged the most of life has been spent
and the opportunities for determining the qualities of that
life are past. Truly amendment and reform are available to
the most misguided life, but the life itself can not be lived
over.
The young may direct the whole course of responsible
conduct in wisdom's ways. How lovable the career of one
who has kept all the commandments from his youth up and
has done so because he remembered his Creator. To the
aged penitent God's gift is eternal life, but to the youth
godliness has promise of the entire life that now is and of
that which is to come.
A final reason for youthful godliness is found in the fact
rf our Lord's attitude toward and interest in the young. He
made the trust of little children the type of the believer's
lN OF THE SOUTH. September 15, 1909.
faith at every stage. He took children in his arms and
blessed them.* In his tenderest discourses he spoke of his disciples
as children. It was of the young ruler that it is said,
"When he saw him He loved him." Is it not noteworthy
that of three who are definitely described as having been
raised from the dead by our Lord and restored to loved ones,
two were young persons?
Young People's Societies
~ EVANGELISTIC MISSIONS.
Topic for Sunday, September 26.?How missionaries win
souls for Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
Daily Readings.
Monday: The Bible as a soul winner. Psalm 19:7-14.
Tuesday: Preaching the Word. Romans 10:8-21.
Wednesday: Purity wins souls. 1 Timothy 4:6-16.
Thursday: Kindness wins souls. Romans 12:17-21.
Friday: Going to the lost. Matthew 22:9; 28:18-20.
Saturday: Pravinc for iho ioof VTml-' ' '*
All who are Christ's are his not for redemption only but
for service.
It is a low view of religion which confines its results and
duties to oneself.
Christ came to minister, not to be ministered unto, and to
offer his life a ransom for many.
The fundamental principle of religion as a iife is Christlikeness
now as well as hereafter, here as well as in the
life to come.
The missionary principle is inbedded in the relation to
Christ. He went about doing good. His follower can do no
less as long as he follows.
If the efforts be for the glory of a church or the aggrandisement
of a denomination or the glory of any man or set
of men, it is not evangelical in any sense.
If resort be had to means not sanctioned in his Word or
methods which are not in harmony with its principles, the
work is human, not divine, humanistic, not evangelistic.
"The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communlcateth
to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances,
especially the words, sacrments, and prayer."
The reply to the question, How missionaries win souls for
Christ? is simply this: By the wise, constant, and faithful
use of these appointed means, in reliance upon God's wisdom
in appointing them and upon his power in making them
effective.
The reading, but especially the Dreachins nf
_ . or v?w ?t w?u IO
an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, *
that Is, of missionary sucess, through the Spirit of God
who always accompanies the faithful use of the Word which
he himself inspired.
It is dishonor to the Spirit to think that after he himself
hasgiven the Word and added to it through Christ the promise
that he will accompany the use of that Word with his
own power, he will not make the preaching of it an effectual
means wherever and by whomsoever used.
"The foolishness of preaching" has been both declared to
be, and even found to be, both practical and effective. It
was the means by which Paul and bis companions spread
the faith and acquired adherents ih the early days of the
rhiir/?h T* ?*- ??' *1? * - - ? -
~... m%. .tc,o as icTivai LuuL was me Dasis or the Keformation.
Testifying to the truth, by word and by life, is the only
way to get the truth before the minds of unbelievers. When
the truth is shown them they must believe it or reject it.
If they reject it, after it has been shown them, they know
their guilt, and conscience, used by the Spirit of Qod, may
lash them back till they yield to it.
The use of outside means, as*attempts at bettering the dbcial,
educational, hygienic, civic, or indnstrial condition of
heathen people, has never, if put first, or before the gospel,
Droved Dermanentlv effective no a -arav *v~
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pel. This has been practically shown in many instances.
The gospel should ever be first Then It will bring with it
the fulfillment of "promise of the life that now Is."