The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-12

none OF these things would move us, II
sinners were anxious 10 hear the message
II is rare thing for city or nation 10
welcome the messenger OF the Cross
Most OF our missionaries must labor for
years to make one convert. In
vision Paul saw man Of
Macedonia beseeching him, Some
even unto Macedonia and help u.s." He
did not SEQ all the Macedonians. Re-
member how he was treated at Philippi.
Men love darkness, rather than light.
Think OF the systems OF idolatry and un-
belief that confront us. These false relig-
ions have been in the field for ages, and
have the veneration and love OF the peo-
pie. They have their temples and priest
hoods. Underneath them is the strong
arm OF the State. The rich offerings OF
generations are heaped up around their
affairs DO we dare attack these gigantic
organizations Of the evil one? Can these
souls that are buried in the darkness OF
ages be brought out into the light OF the
Gross? Right here in our own favored
land OF freedom superhuman difficulties
confront us. How shall we reach the
unchristian masses? We are all ask
ing this question. In our cities are
whole blocks and wards that are given
over 10 Satan. The Christian feels
his heart sinking within him rs he
walks through these goddess precincts. II
requires great courage TO approach one
sinner, even the ieeblest one. Many ac-
tive Christians will not attack sinner. IL
Is storming the lannon's mouth. How
helpless we feel in the presence OF sinful
child Tho door OF the heart is closed
against us. Not ono Christian in four is
actively engaged In the work OF soul win
ming.
"Who Is sufficient for these things?"
When We look within wo see greater
| difficulties than those that are without.
Was there ever Christian that felt that no
was able b do this work. The Master has
10 drive most OF us into His service. Wo
| do not hesitate because We do not love
| Him nor the souls OF men. II Is pleas
ure 10 us TO serve Him, and We rejoice in
the salvation OF sinners But we are con-
scious OF our weakness, OF absolute
uniilncss for this work. do not
wonder that Jonah fled 10 Tarshish.
We doubt our ability TO make
the sacrifices and endure the hardships
required OF u.s. Sinners regard us with
suspicion, with contempt, with hatred.
Our proud hearts writhe under this treat
ment. And sin Is loathsome thing. We
must give up our tastes and delicate sense
of decency, and 90 down among the lowly
aud debased, and live with them and love
them. The dcflcd garment Of the sinner
fills us with horror when wo take hold oil
him 10 pull him out OF the eternal burn
ing. Have we the tenderness and tact for
this work. Ono that engages In the service
OF Christ must be hero and martyr.
/ II is folly for Us 10 think that We are sufli.
cient for this work; We overeslimate our
ability. We must be endowed with power
from 90 high. All our help must come
from Christ Apart from Him We can do
nothing. But We can do all things through
Him who strengthens us.
In our day Christians place too much
dependence ON human means. Ma.
tcrial helps receive too much empha-
SIS. We must have fine houses Of worship
and fine choirs aud fine preachers II wo
have plenty OF worldly means for carrying
on our religious work, IL never occurs TO us
that We can fail. Aud We have little hope
| Of succeeding without these means Some
ardent souls have declared that we could
eyangclize tho world in few years II we
had enough money. Il Mammon the god Of
missions2 Money rules the world, indeed,
but II docs not rule the Kingdom OF Christ
The devil offered our Savior all the no
sources OF the world. But lIo spurned the
offer. lie does not need these things.
LIT Us not fall into this old snare OF the
| evil one. II Ia not by might, nor by power,
| but by the spirit Of the lord. Our weaponi
are not carnal, but spiritual Wh,
does the cause OF Christ languish
" hat is tho matter with our mort
bund chuUhcs9 Involuntary We cx
claim, I'VE need mora m0ncy2 In
every department OF our work ",
aud We will moyo the world" A glanc,
at ecclesiastical history Is enough TO ex.
| plOlc such a notion, without referring q
see that Il is the power OF Christ that ",
nccdg Not long ago a member OF n villag,
church wrote 10 INC aud asked mo II our
church would not give them a bell. NJ,
sr,id all the other churches had bells, aud
they could never do anything until the,
got one. Anything but Christi We ar,
all M slow In seeing our only great need
II We have Him We have all things, ant
abound. And u We had all earthly thing
aud Christ were lacking, We should l.,
Notohod aud miserable, and poor, and
blind, aud naked
! am not dccrying the use Of matcria
helps Ia the lord's work, nor DO | say tina
wo have all the money Ills dear caus,
needs. | am insisting on Christ n
the power Of God unto Christian
service. All our resources como from Him
When wo need money lie will give I
20 M, u We trust Him. II We arc fall o.
Ills spirit We should not fear 10 undcriak,
His work, oven when there Is not a cen
Of money In sight Look nj his commits
sion. ''All authority hath been given unt,
Me In heaven and on earth. Go 80 there
iorc and make Disciples Of oil nations
baptEing thcm In the name Of the Father
and Of the Son aud Of the Holy Ghost
teaching them 10 observe all things what
socycr ! have commanded you. and 10,
am with You always, even unto the end o.
the wurldl' This commission was do
liyofcd 10 above 800 brethren. Bul the,
were poor unlcMncd andnnknown men
They had no worldly Possessions. tn
church was their only organization. Thel
did not oven have a house In which q
meet How did they oyangcliE, the Who'll,
worldi Christ presented Himself 10 then
! as tho source Of power. lilo had al
authority. lilo would be with them, ovci
unto tho end Of tho world. Nothing wal
said about learning of money or WORLDLY
influence. None Of these things arr essen
iial 10 success The Master wisely keep
! these things out OF sight. that they nigh
look 10 Him alone, the only source vi rra
power. Paul wu a mighty servant Of thl
Lord, n rial giant, a mighty man q
b. NaloL' Ills conversion was miraculous