The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-10-18

aspiring, for before the manifestation of
the all-conquering love of Christ there We're
few that aspired to the highest things. For
those without worth in terms of righteous
ness Christ made His Incompatible sacri-
fee. His mission, according to His own
words in our text, was not to the righteous,
but to the sinners. He did not come to
profit by the flock that kept in the fold,
but to go out after the sheep that was
lost. He delights in rescue and His sym
pathies are with the submerged. Should
not the church continue His mission and
place the ladder where He placed it?
Some cases of moral degeneracy seem
at times beyond remedy. They are not sc
in reality, for in Christian work we have
enlisted on our side spiritual forces that
are able to cope with the most hopeless
human wrecks. The power of discipline
and wise training is little short of marvel
Gus. In every well conducted State reform
school for neglected children we find cases
OF it. Evil habits are broken off and un-
developed moral forces are called into play,
Splendid men are developed out of bad
boys. This effect is produced by kind
treatment and good teaching, inspiring the
hopeless and disheartened with the belief
that there is something good in them. and
that they may yet be respected and self.
respecting members of the community.
And. finally, in hosts of cases the higher
moral and spiritual principles will become
established and a w~ell-rounded character
result.
In working for the redemption of the
fallen we are in cooperation with super
natural powers. We nave as the basis OF
our endeavor the work of Christ, an evil
dence Of love for men that has broken
.,@ra bad Ioor4- tIo> oil ntIA~ nurpaiae
combined. Indeed. there is on our side in
all Christian work u power that irresisti-
bly, makes for Righteousness. This was the
power that of old met a naked, dangerous
savage, living among tombs. and trans
formed him into one who was seen clothed
and in his right mind. No. we need not
we dare not, limit our help to those whc
seem to be worthy and aspiring. The COS.
pei of Christ is the power of God unto sal
walton among all classes, and not more SC
in one class than in another. 1t is unsafe
for any one to say: This mar is worth
trying to save. This man is not" No one
can tell. We are to SOW beside all waters
We are to plant a seed wherever we have
a chance
When a Spaniard eats Il peach or peal
by the roadside or wherever he is, he dig.
a hole in the ground with his foot and Gov
ers the seed. All over Spain, in conse
quence, in the highway and
fruit grows in the greatest profusion. A
faithful disciple, who has caught the spiri
of the Master, will despise no human be
ing, but will, if possible. put a ladder il
the reach of all.
No one need expect to see all the result.
following his work which he would like
No wrecked human life can be at once
made over into sanity character. If the
thief on the cross had been raised to life
after his deathbed repentance he would
perhaps. have been a disappointment tC
oversanguine souls. Indeed. in the specia
cases in which we may become interested
1t may seem as If our labor had beer
wasted, but we shall at least be blameles.
If We have done what we can, and we MAJ
be sure that many a discouraged soul viii
be given a fresh start with new courage
and many an outcast be brought to thu
knowledge of a better life.
Copyright, 1896, by Newspaper Sermon
ASSociation)