The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-30

Rim At the fsJ&s OF S%TFk1s aa3 . IAts%@A
sfH his tine Il eaE snail God sse less Kind
II 70 Ia people, shall every Ionring for
home he graiifsed by instant reEncvAl fFoEa
s9rysees Is lie not kindest who desires for
tie Christian not removal fScza service
when ever trials come. bat continuance Ia
service attended by preservation from IL
greatest MS This vas whst the Master
desired for his disciples He did not leave
has osFn trials because he feared them or
bad eravsnsy prayed TO be released from
them. bar beczaee his work vas elsewhere.
The pastor who leaves his field because con-
WINGED that be has q larger work II some
other Geld 70 do. can only pray for his peo-
pie that God vii! keep him sc his post OF
daty anti the TINE for which the Great
Captain has enlisted them il out. nnth
their need ot the world and what the world
car do Il past TIE river has no need
OF IS banks when empsied Ia the sea. but
tie banks are Indispensable mt il that time
has come Nor can the Christian spare tee
world until II has done its appointed work
for him But the conviction which actu-
atea the Master and inspired this prayer
was even broader than has yet been sag-
gssted lie was not only convinced that
the disciples needed the world aid, there
fore, that their continuance IN the world
was fer their good but
2 That the world needed the disciples.
The disciples were kept in the world not
simply to get out OF It what they could and
then discard II rs we discard the clothing
in which we have moved. receiving much
but giving nothing in return. II the world
served them they we're expected to likewise
~ he rfw
not only give force aud direction 10 the
stream within bat the river gives life and
verdare to the banks Wherever the
waters touch they carry 3 blessing with
them, and on the sod they penetrate there
springs up wealth OF flowers and trees
and bushes which in turn serve the river
By shading from il the hot sun that would
dry up the moving stream. Even the
rocks. against which the waters seem to
wash in vain are softened and shaped By
the rushing waters, and gradually
suecnmb 70 its apparently Intellectual
attacks. AID so the world is blessed by
the true disciples Of Christ. Wherever
they touch. though thrown back and COM
PEELED 10 change their course, they carry
blessing or at least effect their end. Where
gladly and quietly received there springs
up life, life which adds TO their force and
beauties their way. wherever resisted this
resistance is vain and Is gradually, though
imperceptibly swept away. No true
disciple can remain in the world without
accomplishing this work, either giving life
or Fastening the process of destruction.
And II is for this purpose that the Chris
tian il kept in the world. Every Christian
has his work TO do for the world. and until
that work is done he cannot rightfuliy
pray to be released from duty.
The world may seem to hinder and
retard your progress but II Is yours TO
serve and where you are most opposed you
are doing some work for God; if YOU are
not giving life you are washing away the
stone, little by little. Think OF the calam-
ity it would have been to the world If the
disciples had been released from duty
when the Master assembled to His throne.
II Is doubtless true that the followers of
Christ Of every age and cline have longed
ct times to be released from their trials.
but there will be Christians in the world
as long as the world has need of them. 1t
is but a mighty proof OF Gods wondei-
fni love for the world that he keeps his
people here 70 bless and save it. He who
shares this love OF God win be thankful
that he Is granted SO small share in the
salvation OF the race. This thought viii
glorify bis trials and make him content TO
suffer awhile that others may be blessed.
The Masters conviction that bis disciples
needed the world and that the world
needed the disciples was attended by the
conviction
3. That II was within the viii and power
OF God 90 keep His disciples in the world,
yet separate from the evil of the world.
Ii was this confidence on the part of
Christ which made him not only willing
but DESTROYS 10 leave the disciples in the
world. When we consider Christ's init.
mate knowledge Of human nature, and
what experiences He bad known among
the disciplesHis confidence thai they would
be kept Is almost marvellous. But He did
not rest His confidence on the stability al
man. The PRAYER was. that
thou sh0uidst keep them. :" and
lie never failed 20 emphasize the thou.
This divine keeping was not Intended TO be
independent of human effort. Ii vas the
will Of God that through his grace working
In the iiciples they should be kept from
the contamination OF the world. The diver
who goes Down into the depths Of the sea
Is kept alive through maintaining connec-
ton with the err above. This connection
depends upon the enc who stands above
and holds the air tube. bat Il depends like
wise upon the diver himself When God
sends his people down into the hidden
depths ~ the world he IS both willing and
able Ia supply them with the life that i
above. bat they mnst themselves he watch.
fal that their armor Is not broken al
piereea. ana their connection With the
outer air kept uurcstrniaed. Cod has 40,
been forge5ial Of the prayer of his son.
Consider the wonderful way IN which the
disciples have been kept through al ths
ages. When those eleven men were let
down into the fathonless abyss Of the
ancient World 20 all human appearances I,
vas IKE man eolned snto the mighty
sea. vet God keps them. The Master sem
F lorth his dscirles into the xorid as sheer
/ in the midst II wolves, ana vet the sheer
( have been kept They wao denv miracle,
I have miracle confronting them in IN,
wonderful preservation of God's peop,.
amen9 sinfd generation Il there ans
( miracle more wonderful than thss. thss !
gsw men should lie ah}e % withstand sre
/ ssssgeily the tremendous moral pressure y
/ 3 sinful world ana not only keep thslr fafts
f saa Aope, bias spread Il abreAd through Al
/ the earshg frese0ss ps5ats as cree If IN,
/ FvsHsiest scenes n history the listle aru,s
I q 1o~tyT standing en- the plains AZ 0sanih.
{ ard suecs sssullv resisting soe hours ID.
fafkoas pnsst 81 the geas q thou sands q
Z tie Aztecs IA victory Tsyraea upon "a.
1 Sgaai$h banner, bat that brave stand ws5
Z as nothing compared with TIE stand shies
I f5a8's little aocs" has made through III,
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