The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1885-07-23

the work Of q thousand u,en for o score
of years. We all need to ponder this
law, and SO realize and try to meet our
responsibilities under it that God may
say to us: Thou hast been faithful in
a few things. l will make thee ruler
over many things"
This law Chr st re-enacted for His
church. In one OF His last discourses
(see Mark xiii, 34) He represents His
disciples rs family to whom He has
left the care Of His house. Every one
has something to do. The household
is organized on the principle Of univer-
sal activity and harmonious cooper
alton. No one is to be idle. No one
is to choose his own work. No one is
to work independently of the rest. No
one is to interfere. unless duly author
lied, with any of his co-workers. All
are to recognize Christ as the head Of
the household, and to obey promptly
every intimation of His win in His
word and in His providence. The
church is not q voluntary society. 1t is
q family into which we enter by new
birth, and to which our duties are
sacred and lifelong. We are members
Of Christ and members of one another.
We have diverse gifts, but all of them
are for the edificatiOn of the whole.
When we study that illustration of the
church and its union with Christ which
Paul pre- sents in TIE twelfth chapter of
his epi,tle to the Roman we are almo t
justified in saying that none of us can
have an independent connec ion with
our Lord. II He is the head and we
are the parts of the body, to attach
hand or foot to the head would be
monstrous. The hand or foot can be
connected with the head only as a part
of the tody-only in union with the
other nemOers of the body-only a. CO.
operating with end dependent upon
the other members Is well as with and
upon the head. 1t is true that we have
each and all of us certain personal du-
ties 10 Christ. But even in these we
are not to forget the brotherhood. A
large proportion of our Christian duties
are duties to Christ through His church.
They are duties in the earthly house
rather than to the person of the House.
holder in Heaven. Here was the error
OF monasticism. Men went out of the
house into dens and caves to commune
with God and to become holy. They
failed because they ignored this primal
law of the race and Of the church.
Let it then be distinctly under
stood that in Gods house there
are no guests to lie waited on. All are
servants. All have duties to the church
and to the Head of the church, and
these duties are largely in the church,
The Householder has assigned them.
His own to each, according to His good
pleasure. The duties that seem to Us
the lowliest may not be so in His esti.
nation. The sexton who fails to VENT.
late the church can neutralize the pow
er of the ablest sermon. No man can
be interested in and edited by the truth
while shut up in room full of carboniC
acid. The usher at the door may meet
a stranger so courteously q to prepare
him to hear the minister gladly, or he
may so annoy him by want of tact as te
unfit him to listen with profit.
Then this law of Christ for the house
He has left on earth and to which He
will return to reckon with his servants
makes us all workers. Every one has
something to do; the youngest and
latest convert Is one of the servants
and must begin by asking Of His Say
Jour and those who represent Him fol
work. And each must be willing to dc
his own work, and do it quietly, ear
nestly. oharitably, gratefully; rejoicing
if be is counted worthy to serve Mas
ter so good and so glorious in any
sphere. No true worker will be jeal
Gus az his fellow-workers, or CRITICS,
them or dictate to them. He will b.
glad to cooperate with them ali, ans
contribute what he can towards tn,
great common end-the upbuilding q
the church, the salvation of the w0rl(
and the glory of God. CHICAGO interior