The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-06

always be supreneSt JOY. Are you thus
-eadvr That is what il is 10 follow
Jesus,
with the Proper Implements.
lear. again that this invitation is a
call TO work with the proper implements.
~ will make you flshers Of men Christ
borrowed this inquire from the calling OF
the persons He addressed Had He been
talking 10 farmers He would probably
have said Il VIII make you reapers az
souls" Or IL they had been carpenters.
Il Will make you builders Of character
II was in their case a call To abandon
everything belonging to the present oc-
cGpation and accompany Him, and yet
fnto their new life were 70 be brought the
very characteristics which had made
their former vocation successful. They
were no hand 10 mouth fishermen The
firm of Zebedee s. Co was we'll TO do.
There was comfortable living. and per-
haps something more for each Of them
in that business; and IN leaving their
nets they were making pecuniary sacri-
fee to follow Christ They knew. how
ever no motive but their love, and
whatever honors they may later have
looked forward To, most of them got but
a crown OF martyrdom in this world
though perchance a crown of glory may
at this moment rest upon their erows.
Christ today calls men from ordinary vo-
"a tions into the ministry Of the Word. He
SO called me. l bless Him with all my soul
for the high honor of the call. l rejoice
in the glorious privilege OF being a usher
of men. But many are NOT called TO aban-
don their regular vocation, but rather 10
come into the service of Christ. bringing
as implements their own peculiar talents
which have achieved for them worldly sue
cess. What a push toward the reign OF
Christ in the world there would be. II ev-
cry man who confessed his Lord would
that thing which was the natural outcome
of his education and experience. II the
farmer would bring his industry and faith
in Gods providential dealings. and the me-
chanic his skill. and the merchant his
shrewdneSs. and the general his tactics,
and the sailor his free, hearty nature. and
rugged strength and the scholar his erudi-
ton, and the housekeeper her constant
care. and lay them all al the feet Of Christ,
and say: 10 I will follow Thee whittier
soever Thou goest, depending on Thy
strength. not on my own prowess." what a
different thing our Christianity would be.
We lose great deal in The church from
unskilled labor. People are always trying
to do things they are unable to do we'll. 1t
will always he the case as long IS few
work and many shirk. Upon the few must
rest all the duties and they must manage
them as inteligentiy as they can. What
we want in ali the churches is a conscien-
every member. Then the great principle Of
division of labor can be applied. and each
can employ his own talents In his own
way. and the work will go splendidly for
ward. Come. brother. what are you good
for? Don't be over modest. You know
your strong points better than anyone
else. The world will soon find out your
weak ones. 1t stands you in hand to pre-
sent the other side of the question. Find
your place somewhere in the organization
of the church. Speak work give. cheer
fully unto the Lord. Can you do moth
ing by reason of infirmity age but quiet
~ keep your place and smile benignly on
all the rest? Then. for Christs sake. do
that. There many fault finders and
grumhlers everywhere. your heavenly
charity and universal kindliness will pre-
serve harmony. and the church will carve
upon your tombstones when you are gone:
blessed are the peacemakers. for they
shall he called the children of God" Fish
ers of mem 1t Is glorious calling. Bring
all the best of your means time. talent
and disposition into this new vocation for
Christ
4 Snre Promise of success.
Lastly, / learn that this invitation of
our Lord is a call TO work with a sure
promise of success. Luke thus frames
| IL. 'Henceforth thou shalt catch men"
Ask Peter Il that promise was kept,
and he will point you to three thousand
converts in one place and five thousand
in another. 'And the word Of God
grew and multiplied and the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be
saved" AS Paul if this agreement was
kept with him. and he will tell YOU of
| Jconium. where Barnabas and he went
into the synagogue and so spake that
great multitude. both of the Jews and
| also of the Greeks, believed of Berea
and his success there. Of Corinih and
| its converts. and many others. Think
i Of the promise as fulfilled in the work
| of Luther and Calvin and John Knox:
| in the work of owen and Bunyan and
| Baxter: in the work of Whitefleld and
| Wesley and Edwards: in the more recent
work OF Finney and Nettleton: and in
| the present success of Moody, Munhali.
s M's and n,0ar msny HIS others ero,ss Christ
| was absolute. and though addressed
| to the simple fishermen in His presence.
! II has been repeated by the Spirit tn
| every disciple until now. Thou shalt
| catch mep"' Let no faithful pastor de-
| spair. lie shall win souls for heaven.
| Let humble disciple OF Christ any
| where feel that he is excluded.
| You may not stand on the platform
| and urge men 10 be saved You may not
| even in your own family circle audhly
| extend the blessed invitation. You may
| not have the courage or the faculty TO
open your lips III Single appeal 10 a
| single soul and yet God may bless your
| fidelity 20 Him by bringing salvation TO
many. One erect bearing in the midst
| Of very hailstorm Of immortality will
! preach more powerfully than n dozen ser
mons on temptation. Ono soft answer
! given to some vile insinuation viii tell
| more gra0dly for God than a score ot
| panegyrscs on patience. one decisive
! No. from the lips 81 a poor man 10 be-
| come rich by the surrender OF principle
| will argue more splendidlv than hun
| dred rhsrsodies on integrity. You may
! break forth into peroration on the
| grandeur OF sustaining faith, but you
| are doing better q thousand fol1 if you
/ can see property crumhIe and health de-
| cay and loved ones vanish. and triurn-
/ phantiv exclaim THY viii bc doner'
! follows the line Of your God given abili
ties There IS a reward for each OF YOU
! ard IL Will be IN proportion Ia your ef-
/ fort. hail YOU then as fishers az men
To Your work IL real earnest. Let ~
! opportunity slip. Let no difficulty hin
/ der you. Before today's sun gees down
I let some one feel the contagiou az your
newly formed purpose. Let some life
feel she touch OF your conservation. So
/ press So will Yen follow the invitation
/ Of your Lord.
| Jewish Feast
i sh fs9gf q ChryCfta+h cow