The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-03-25

lsalah 4U: 80; Luke 3: 10 IA.
External Preparation lisa. 40:
3-5). The figure here used is
familiar one. Isaiah borrowed his
idea from the custom of the times.
There were no roads and road COM
missioners to take care of them in
those days. When the king wanted
to set out on an expedition or enter
prise, it was common thing to
proclaim to bands of pioneers his
purpose and send them ahead to
clear the way. Our King has mott.
fed us that he wants to encircle
this world with his glory, and we
are the pioneers to make way for
his chariot. Are we ready?
2. There must be an appreciation
of the Importance of the work. If
the King has given an order, there
must be some reason for it; and
when the carrying out of that order
involves careful planning anu diff
cult execution, we must infer the
importance of the result, and hence
of the preparation. Keeping the
figure in mind and following the
prophets words, we can easily out
line the work.
(a) Cutting down forests. There
would be dead trees in the way;
they must be removed. What are
they? Apostate Christians. How
they impede the progress of the
King! They lean or lie right across
his ira ok, and he has to rein up
until somebody removes them. There
would be strong, sturdy, even luxu,
rant, trees on the way, and the axe
must lop off some Of the branches
before the King could pass. What
are they? Worldly Christians. Good
locking. even handsome, and the
pride of some family, doubtless, but
still in the way. The road must be
cleared.
(b) Levelling the hills. Pride
is high hill. You find it sticking
up its head everywhere. How cool
it is, too, sometimes in its haughti-
ness! Snow-covered! Unbelief is
considerable mountain. A road
way over that elevation will lead
nowhere. To 60 around it is equal
ly unwise. There is only one thing
to do, level it to plain. Criticism
IS rocky mound. Its sharp edges
will br1ise any feet that tramp over
it. Dynamite is the only remedy.
Blow it up and remove it. Down
with the hills in the Kings high
way,
(c) Filling up the hollows. Oh,
the Deficiencies in the church to
make ~! Oh, the cavernous lives
that trouble has chiselled out! Why.
some men have such wide chasms
IN them that only the infinite grace
of God can bridge them over. Dis
aster has come with its great wash
outs, and quilted right through
men. How much filing up there
is to do before the highway can be
completed.
internal PREPARATION (Luke
8: 10-14).-Before we arrive at the
point where we are willing to say we
Will undertake the work of herald
ing the King, there is certain
understanding we must all prac-
tise. Have YOU done it: What
shall we do:" asked three classes of
people Of John the Baptist. To each
he gave definite and sufficient
answer. He demanded Of each "a
spirit appropriate to his circum-
stances. Rev. Temple.
ILLUSTRATIVE QUOTATIONS..
Change the heart and soul ana mind.
Dark for bright, and hard for Kind;
Wash you clean from stains OF earth,
Leap into a second BIRTH:
People. soldier scribe and priest,
Each from thrall Of self re,es eed
Live a life sipcere and true.
For your King is close in view
bean Stanley.
Since the HOLY Ghost has been
given. it is not sufficient for the
servant to say to say to his Master.
II am doing as well as can," for
now he is bound to better than he
can. The enterprise of evan
gelizing the world is peculiarly the
Lords. Therefore in the crisis of
missions which is upon us. is it not
time that We cease to lay ont God s
work according to our ability, and
begin to lay out Gods work accord
ing to God s abillty:-A. j. Gordon.
d. d.
SUGGESTED HYMNS.
Joy to the world, the Lord is
come"
Tell 1T ont it among the ma
tons"
Sound the alarm, let the watch
mar cry"
1.-THE Gospel bells arc ringing"