Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-12-21
Personal Work For Christ.
Presbyterian Banner.

Presbyterian Banner.
FIVE truly love the Saviour, it
should be our greatest happiness to
work for him. Our debt of gratitude
to him who died for us infinitely eX-
ceeds all that we can owe to all other
benefactors. Not an eternity of
faithful service, lovingly rendered, can
eXtinguish that obligation. On the
contrary, the love that purchased our
salvation will, through endless ages,
so grow upon us in our clearer CONS
prehension of its breadth and length
and depth and height, though in its
infinitude forever passing our knowl-
edge, that our own love for him and
our longing to manifest that love will
burn with more and more glowing
fervor forever.
Now if this is our belief in regard
to the love which will fill our souls
when we reach the presence of our
Redeemer, why do we ever esteem
it an irksome duty to serve him here?
How comes it that day after day we
mingle in familiar intercourse with
those who do not love and serve our
Saviour, and yet never speak to them
Of his infinite love for them?
Of the happiness of trusting and serv-
ing him? OF the precious promises
and glorious hopes he sets before
them? And of the eternal woe Of
those who reject him? We would
warn them instantly of any danger
threatening their mortal bodies, and
approximately urge them to guard
against it. And shall we allow them
to imperil their immortal souls with
out single note of warning from our
lips Of the impending danger?
Some will say, it requires pecul-
lar tact to speak suitably to person
about his soul. The greatest of all
requirements is love for Christ and
love for the sinner. If these exist,
the Christian who is thus divinely
burdened with love for perishing
soul will carry that burden to the
throne of grace with frequent and
importunate supplication for the gift
of the Holy Spirit to accompany
with convicting and converting pOW~
er the words which human weak
ness may use in attempting to awak-
en- that slumbering soul. Conversion
is the work of God alone. The ut
most eloquence of man is itself of nc
avail. The stumbling utterances OF
diffiGent but earnest Christians have
often been owned and blessed of God
to the saving of souls. And it adds
immensely to the power of Christian
counsel when the life of the speaker
is a holy one, close with God, and
consistent with the profession of q
hope in Christ.
When we look back from a dying
bed to our unimproved opportunitie,
for speaking to friend and acquain
tances about the lone thing needful,'
with what anguish we will recall
these neglected privileges, with Wha
unavailing regret remember our un
faithfulness to the Master whom W.
protested to serve! If remorse cal
enter heaven, with what shame anC
sorrow we shall remember the friend
on earth whom we never cOunSeleC
and never urged to choose that goOC
part which would not be taken ava,
from them-a personal interest il
the great salvation! With wha
Amusement must unfallen spirits, i
permitted to know what is passin,
upon earth, behold the apathy ant
Indifference of many who profess t
love Christ, and yet never seek t
win jewels for his Crown-tO saw
souls from eternal woe!
1t is true that the tenderest az
proaches to personal appeal to tn
careless and impenitent are some
times met by a cold repulse, yet eve
these appeals have not unfrequentl
left an influence that God has blessed
And it is also true that the timit
faltering Christian, fearful that h
may do harm rather than good, Ina
often been surprised to find his frien
willing and anxious to converse o
the way of salvation, and wonderin
why no Christian friend has eve
cared for his soul! What a rebuk
such a fact should be to our coward
ice in ever being afraid to "stand u
for Jesus!" What timorous soldier
we are for the great Captain of OF
salvation!
OLD Hud.