The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-03
the world and preach the Gospel to
every creature"


the divine method of dealing with
him. How personal were Gods rela-
tions to his people in the olden time!
Do you not remember how personal
and friendly the companionship
seems between Jehovah and the pa
triarchs? Do you not remember with
what particular solicitude the Great
One took account of Joseph's dis
tresses, and delivered him out of
them, and made him prosperous
man.? Do you not remember how
Moses was led of him, and row God
directed and instructed him, speak
ing to him as friend would speak to
his friend? And so twas with David
and the prophets. God dealt with
them personally, giving particular
care to the particular needs of each.
And this personal care was not con-
fined to the king and the prophets.
His solicitude for them was only the
particular instance and the sign of
his care over each of his creatures; of
care which they did not recognize,
perhaps, but which was none the less
constant and personal. The patri-
archs were blessed; but so was miser-
able Hagar and her child. The pro-
phets were honored; but SO was the
poor Shunamite and her son. The
kings were cared for, but no more did
God forget the grief of Naomi and
the hunger of Ruth. The great ones
of the earth called upon him; but he
heard as quickly the cry of the little
maid, Naaman's slave. David said,
"The Lord is my Shepherd" but he
could not copyright that sentiment,
for God was as much and as really
the Shepherd of any least and foeb
lest lamb in all his human flock.
And this appears how plainly in
the palmer instructions of Jesus.
"God is our Father" he says to
every one of us. Oh, how personal
and blessed is the relationship which
he thus reveals! How is it with
parent? Is his care over his children
general merely? On the other hand,
how particular! Well, that is the
image of Gods care. That is what
Jesus teaches. And further to i'm
press this thought, he tells us that
we may take our most common and
personal needs to God in prayer;
and he speaks of the sparrows, of less
worth than we, but not one of which
falls to the ground without your
Father; and he tells us that even the
hairs of our heads are all numbered.
Here, too, is part of the divine ar
! gument which is so cogent that we
almost feel ourselves held, like
child, in the loving embrace of the
heavenly parent. "How think yea if
any man has a hundred sheep, and
one of them be gone astray, doth he
not leave the ninety and nine, and
go into the mountains, and seek that
which goeth astray7 Even so
it is not the will of your Father who
is in heaven that one of these little
ones should perish" So does Jesus
argue Gods interest in the individ-
ual, his solicitude for each one of his
children.
Look through the ministry of Jesus
and see how much of it had to do
with the individual-these individ-
uals being often the most unfortunate
and despised among men. He turns
aside from his journey that he may
convert Zaccheus. He goes to Galilee
by way of Samaria that he may turn
wicked woman there from her wicked
ness, and open we'll of spiritual re-
freshment and life within her. He
travels up into Syro-Phenicia for the
purpose, apparently, of blessing
poor woman and her daughter there,
and showing to his disciples that his
ministry and spirit is not to be con-
fined to Judea or the Jews. Jesus
loved men, because he loved the
man. He sought men that he might
save them, because each one was
precious to him.
rely, then, finally on this divine
estimate and method as showing the
Importance of the individual, and as
suggesting that we have more regard
for him in our efforts to extend
Christ's church. Let those who are
able cast the big net, and while they
do it, let us all pray that they may
get it full of great fishes" more than
"a hundred and fifty and three" but
let us remember that for most of us,
ministers and laymen, a less ambi-
tious method is safer and gives prom
Use of securing larger result.
But with whom shall we commence
in our work for church extension?
That, 1 think, in the specific case,
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