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10 (1?) THE!
strength, in every uunce of it fairly dancing with
the joy of the service. Or, as I have often seen
uieu with sledge and hammer driving the great
spikes which fastened the timbers together of
which the graceful wooden ship, now so rapidly
passing, was made. Strength rejoicing in work,
work worthy of it, work that meant something
to man, wovk that went toward the glory and
welfare of humanity. The locomotive singing
over the silver threads with its freight of merchandise
or more valuable freight of humanity,
seems to exult in the thing it is accomplishing.
And haven't you seen the little, puffing tug,
place itself with daring effrontery alongside the
great liner aud move off with it, loving its work
with its strength? If we could get more love
into our strength we would drive more drudgery
out of our work, and get more happiness in legitimate
toil. If we loved God more with, our
strength we would not only be stronger, but far
happier workmen.
This was the command of
"As Ye do, Christ to the Twelve as he sent
rreach. ' them to the lost sheep of the
House of Israel. This I under
stand is still his command to his disciples. It
is first, a direct command, "as YE go, preach."
The "burden, if burden it is, rests upon all alike.
"Ye." It would be a great relief to many if
tihey could have others do this for them, and
while it is true certain kinds of preaching may
he done by substitution, it is also true that still
the command stands. Ye must preach. God
wants all men and women to he preachers. He
can use only preachers. We da^e not refuse *he
charge.
Then, in the next place, it is a command to a
permanent work. We are always going, therefore
we must be always preaching. You must
not 8top preaching until you stop going. But
how are we to preach? Many think they are
doing their full duty when they set a good example,
when their lives preach. This is good so
far as it goes, but preaching has for its inmost
idea speaking with the mouth. We will do a
pooa many mings we ought wot to do if we can
confine our preaching to example, but if we have
to make our words and lives conform we have
sime larger constraint upon us and something
we will feel more.
And then, in the next place, the command is
to preach wherever we go. "As ye go, preach."
, It is a good deal harder to preach in some places
than it is in others, but it is most needed where
it is hardest. The size of the opportunity is determined
by the number and boldness of the
adversaries The ehi<w>t s>v>in~ *<?
- ? w w./jvvi; v* i'lctkoulug io viz
change adversaries into advocates, competitors
into co-operators. If this is what preaching is
for, how will we justify our silence at such
times?
THE GREATEST THING TO DO.
A generation ago Christians squandered much
ume ana energy on introspection. What system
of theology?what I felt, was the criterion of religion.
Today the emphasis is on another thing.
What am 7 doing, is the question of questions.
It is the spirit o>f the age. When Presidents
of academic institutions lay aside the cap and
gown of meditation and step out into the arena
of practical and successful politics. When other
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pruitwsorN are rouna wnung piaitrorms ror new
movements in the rough and ready world; when
the measure of a Church's power ip not so much
the orthodoxy of its creed, as the value to the
?onnmmity in moral and social uplift; it is no
wonder that Christian people are asking, is my
religion an outgoing religion T TVww it ?anv*
SAmehody eW Twsjdee me
RE8BYTERIAN OF THE S(
The greatest thing a Christian can do is to
lead a soul to Jesus Christ. To make & man
feel that here is the Saviour he must have. The
Catechism declares that 44man's chief end is to
glorify God and to enjoy him forever."
Is there anything that so glories God as to
bring one of his broken and losft children back
to him! Is there ever such a demonstration of
God's character, his justice, his holiness, his
mercy, his love, stand out as is not seen in the
creation of a universe-?or in the providing for
i he clamant wants of the world.
It sends a thrill of praise and joy through the
ranks of admiring angels.
Is there anything that lays such a sure and
steadfast foundation for a joy, unspeakable and
full of glory, as the bringing of a soul to the
Saviour.
It is the marvel of heaven that it stirs our
hearts so little. We pass men unconcerned. We
do not pray for them. We do not speak to them.
They are dying, yet we do not carry to them the
saving knowledge of God. We are missing the
greatest joy of life..
It is astonishing, the absolute unconcern most
Christians have in any personal effort to reach
Jlfl/l Qavn *1 O/VIll r? n tro ^V*4
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if the average Christian cares a six-pence for a
soul irrespective of congeniality or relationship."
Is it any wonder the Church is marking time?
We spend our time and our money on trivialities,
mint, anise and cummin. We are doing the
small things of the kingdom, we have neglected
the mightier.
What is the cause of this apathy ?
Many are asking it just now.
A low estimate of one soul. A man saad to Dr.
John Hall: "I understand your congregation is
worth a thousand million dollars." His answer
was: "It is worth a thousand million worlds, for
what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole
world and lose his own soulf"
The mass of men is so great we have lost the
appreciation of the individual. To save one
soul is the greatest thing we can do. To repeat
that is to keep on doing great things.
A failure to live right up to our light and
privilege is another reason.
The average Christian is far below the standu
TV*/* otr/VWrt ^ ^?
ivi. i uu a??i a^c v/ni ioti?aii wum;iuun ui uccided
failure. We cannot persuade men unless
we are honestly trying to lead a Christian life.
We must go the whole way ourselves. We cannot
say: "Go on to life eternal;" we must say,
"Come with me."
Perhaps the real reason is, we have lost our
personal love for souls as suoh. We have a kindly
benevolence which like the sheet lightning is
a sign of a dry spell in our heart.
Have we a genuine love for souls that would
lead us to make some serious sacrifice to save
them? I doubt it.
It is hard often to get parents to overcome
their pride and diffidence su??ciently to talk to
their children.
It is hard for most Christians to brave the
thought of being fanatic in speaking to a friend,
much less a stranger on the subject of religion.
To love a man for his own pure self and to
follow that love out, is the gospel.
Is it not time the Church is waking up to its
task, not to a select few, not of the ministry,
hut of the rank and file. The greatest thing is
vonrs to do. A. A. L.
Great. men may make some mistakes (small
ones do, I know) ; but when T am convinced
that a truly great man, who is pious and Godfearing,
solemnly acts upon true conviction, T
will, for one, be slow in my dennneiation of
him. ,
> U T H | February^ 12. 1913
EVANGELISM UNDER FIRE.
A recent article under the above caption, published
in many of our church papers, and from
fha M- I W:il ^<1 * '* ?
ui t->i. t?. *?iiuur o/nupmun, is wormy oi
special notice. It tells of some of the criticisms
which have lately been passed upon general
evangelists and their work, and suggests positive
things that the evangelists ought to do. Dr.
Chapman Is worthy to be heard, for he speaks
both from long experience and from a warm,
loving heart, as well as from an intelligent view
of the whole subject.
The chief criticisms are that enormous sums
of money are being paid some evangelists for
their work; that vulgar expressions are used and
high pressure methods adopted to lead people
to a professed confession of Christ; that commercialism
has in some instances crept into the
work and has not been rebuked; that there has
been a disposition shown by some to attack pastors
and assail the Ohurch.
To maintain the dignity and influence of the
evangelists, Dr. Chapman urges that all evanLfpllvitc
niliAlrlv mviuo e ?' ? ?-1' 5 *
.ju.w?4<y icing buiuc ui meir luemous
which are justly condemned; cease attacking
other Christian workers simply because they do
not agree with us; leave the subject of 'biblical
criticism, high or low, to the scholars; preach the
positive message of salvation by the death of
Christ; be absolutely true and faithful in the'
presentation of God's Word as the final authority;
be satisfied with a reasonable income *
and cease at once questionable methods of secur
ing that; be absolutely right in heart and life
and thus fitly represent the Master they present
to others. He adds that no evangelism is
worth while save that which makes the pastor's
work easier and the church more respected and
loved.
Because general evangelism is "under fire,"
as Dr. Chapman maintains, it is not to be rejected.
The fact that it is in many quarters
much discredited does not indicate that it has
not a place. Its methods have not been universally
such as are to be condemned. It has a
A Oil * *
great neia, ana is a most useful arm of the
church. Its importance is such that it is to be
safeguarded by every possible means. It should
be made stronger and more effective by being
held to its proper work and saved from the
special evils which threaten it. The very nature
of the work makes it subject to peculiar
difficulties and peculiar temptations. No field
of public religious work is more frequently enfprpH
Kv mnnnfaKofnlro ~e
. wm MivUM-uuiuio aiiu men OI 1 II1[JUre IT10tives
or selfish purposes; And no class of work
offers more opportunities to impose upon the
people and to get out of them the material results,
in cash. The evangelist is dangerously
subject to temptation of multiplying numbers
and outward results as a means of building up
or sustaining his own reputation for riipppwi in
his distinct line op work. To him there is the
danger that the deeper, richer fruits, in quickened
life, more consecration, and increased
spirituality in the church and among the people,
will not be made practically important, especially
so far as concerns his profession, as visible results
and numbers. He must be right in heart
and mind, with a keen spiritual sense, and of a '
consecrated life, or the temptation will overcome
him and vitiate his work and the value of
the simple, plodding preacher. The adulation
he receives from the hosts who attend his special
meetings may turn his head, make him depreciate
the ordinary means of grace, and forget
the power and work cf the Holy Spirit. Confession
may loom larger to him than regeneration.
Careful attention to the warnings of sneh men
as TV Chapman will he valuable
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