The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-03
Written for The Republican,


In the eighth chapter of st. Luke's
gospel we read of a man out of whom
sNsus cast many devils. These un-
can spirits besought the Saviour
lzat he would permit them to enter
iuto herd of swine which were
then feeding. And he suffered them.
Nilen the devils had entered into the
swine and thereby caused their de.
NructiOn. those who had been feeding
We swine went into the city and told
THAT had happened. We can readily
understand that there was great COM
motion in that city. The people went
out to see what was done and found
thesman out of whom the devils were
sitting at the feet of Jesus
cIOthed and in his right mind; and
= were afraid. So great was the
fear which came upon them that they
beSNught Jesus to depart from them.
Not so, however, with the man out
of whom the devils had been cast.
He wa clothed and in his right mind,
and was happily and coDtentedly sit
ting atthe feet of Jesus. Is it not so
with every soul which Jesus cleanses.
Beforea man is converted he may not
want Jesus near him, but when the
grace of God has cIeansed him and
washed away his sins, when he is
clothed and in his right mind, then
he warts to sit at the feet of Jesus.
But this man not only sat at the Sa-
viour'S feet, but he wanted to follow
Jesus. He wanted to go with him.
Is this not true of every convert ?
When love divine first shines into
the sinners heart, when Jesus reveals
himself to the sinner as the fairest
amongst ten thousand and altogether
lovely, nothing seems so desirable as
TO be constantly with Jesus. The
greatest desire is to do something for
the master. But the most puzzling
question usually is what shall | do
What can | do? Let US learn a lesson
from the scripture under considera-
ton. Prior to this time Jesus had
chosen his twelve apostles, and had
also selected one hundred and twenty
disciples. These were with him OF
else had been sent out to preach the
Gospel. Now, this man who had been
healed, wanted to remain with Jesus
Others were permitted to follow the
Saviour and why should not he? But
Jesus sent him away. Now how otter
Il happens that young convert sup
poses he must Immediately engage
in work for the master, and instead
of seeking divine guidance he selects
the kind of work to be done, and like
this man, finds that Jesus has Other
plans for him. Many persons doubt
less think they ought to be preachers
whom God only intends that they
should work in the Sunday School OF
in the prayer-meeting, or it may bt
in the home. Now when Jesus sem
this man away, he said to him, "re
turn to thine own home and show
how great things God hath done unto
thee" Although Jesus did not gran
his request, he gave him work tC
do, and so he gives US all work to do
He may not give us the work we de
sire. He does not require US all tt
enter the ministry, nor does he re
uuire us all to be leaders in the meet
ings, but he does require us all to dC
something. We can all do what wa
required of this man. We can tel
those in our homes, those about u
what the Lord has done for us. w,
may learn here, too, a lesson of ODE
dience. "And he vent his way an(
published throughout the whole city
how great things Jesus had done un
to him." Although he wanted to b,
disciple and wanted to follow Jesus
when he found that was not tn
Lords plan, he Immediately obeye'
the command which was given him
Whilst it is true that Jesus Chris
has a work for all his followers, it i
equally true that he will direct us il
such work as he requires at our hands
Then let us constantly seek divin
guidance in all we do. Let us hav
no desires or plans apart from God
will. In short, let US conform ou
lives to his will, and consecrate on
lives, our all to his service. In tn
volume of eternal truth it is writer
"all his ways are ways of pleasant
ness, and all his paths are peace"
HoREM.