The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-02-25

DLOI6 G96cnluS 6S 10 Gn6 SuUJ ECU oL uIAS-
sions, the communications will be more
In the nature of news from the field"
incidents in the lives of eminent mis-
sionaries, interpreted with Scriptural
reasons for, and exhortations to more
diligence in missionary enterprises.
THE GREAT COMMISSION.
60 We into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature" Mark
L. 10.
With Christians there is no appeal
from the Bible. Accepting its genu
i~neness, authenticity and inspiration
that it ia what it claims to be, the
Word OF sod. We are ready to live or
die by it. From it's u]tterances we
never dissent. To the sum Of its doc
trines we neve demur. Above we
have quoted a very plain, emphatic
command, given by our Lord Jesus
Christ. 1t is at once the ~plaiDest, most
emphatic, most positive, and yet the
most incompreheneible Of ali com
mauds. There is not a big word in it
not one but the most unlettered has
not q fair idea Of, and yet who that has
paused TO study it has not bean over
powered by the task it lmpCs g, and
| appalled, at the indlfferenca of the mo
| nrity of profcssed Christians know
there are some who sincerely believe
that our Lord did not mean that the
| Church should undertake to evangehze
the world, say iny, When God gets
| ready tOEive the heather the gospel, he
viii do 1t without our assistance" But
we are confronted by a command that
has only one side to 1t. If you
can limit the meaning OF yh0 terms Of
this command. then you may rest
| upon your oars" But by what au-
thOrity would you attempt such a
thing2 We will see la-er that Christ
! would not allow the Apostles and early
| CHRISTIANS to restrict his meaning If
| Christ had Sd d.. Go ye into all the
world except China, and preach the
| gospel to every creature except the
Chinese" YOU would understand that.
But he did not except the Chinese, nor
any others. The commission Is TO all
the worId, to every creature You look
at this sentence. 1t is not a long il
voIved sentence, made up Of big words.
| Remember that iG is CnTist's commits
SION to hi5 church. Take it to pieces
and look at its parts. % le. That
means movement, enterprise. Go
where? Into oil the WOrid Do what.
Preach the gospel-tbe old fashioned
plain gospel of good news to men. |
Preach it to whom9 To every creature.
Jews, Samaritans, pagaEs, ell. Broth
rem, God has already interfered with
this question. He has given you your
marching orders. 1t has pleased Hun.
through the medium Of preaching,
to save the world. Here is the means !
Of salvation. In the great comm ssi0n
you have the divInely appo'n1'd 0seC- !
c'es, with their duti, s specifically set
out. He Gems to the eleven. as they
sat It meat, anu uobraided them with
their unbelief and hardness Of heart. !
because they believed not them which
hI@A ENNA4 III q 49, III W. = 2NNLA' ~
he said, ~ unto ~them-the eleven Apo5 !
Jles-his Church, his representatives
in the world, 60 ye into all the world
and preach the guapel to every crea-
ture." This Is our commission, II is
ours to obey. We have nothing to do
with results. ''WUether they will hear !
or whether they will forbsar," is nc !
part of our question. The Cturch's
duty e. d. when we have given this
gospel to every creature and not till
then.
The test for cur allegiance to and love
for Christ is ohedieuce. IF ye love
me, keep my com andments." IF ye
keep my commandments ye shall abide
in my love; even as / have kept my
Fathers commandments and abide in
His love-" He that hath my command
ments and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me; and he that loveth me,
shall be loved of my Father, and | will
love him and will manifest my self unto
him" He that loveth me not, hear
eth not my sayings" How will your
life stand such a test as that, my
brother? For years you have ignored
the one supreme, all comprehensive
command Of your Lord. You have
pitted your OPINION against the plain
est utterances of the Blole. Obedience
is even better than sacrifice, how much
then than yOur opinion.
by their fruits ye eball know
than y What frujt have Won in these |