The Newtown bee., 1898-04-08

that defines ambitions and sets up boun
diaries, but character and real inspira-
ton. Christ dealt primarily with men
before their work began; His gospel was
directed to the heart; He told Nicode-
mus that he must be born anew. He
told Peter to strengthen his brethren, at
ter he was converted. The commanding
work Of our lives is under the impulse
and definition of great soul, renewed
and energized by the Christ of God.
2. And, this work is, literally to SOW.
GROWTH AND HARVESTING is NOT OUR
PROBLEM.
it is beyond our powers; it is by the will
of heaven. "God giveth the increase"
We enter upon sublime commissions
the triumph of which is in the hand of
Him who issues them. These commits
sions push forward the seasons Of human
effort to very milleniums. The Lords
day lis as thousand years." We are
workers together with Him" who builds
for eternity. How small appear our
temporary successes; how mean our lit
tie discouragements because we do not
reap what we SOW. Study the work of
Gods own Son! He was not a reaper !;
ne was not working for the reward of to-
day. We have crowned Him, but nobody
crowned him then; He did not crown
Himself. He won no earthly glories;
He entered not into the fruit Of his own
toll; He gained with difficulty an insig-
nificant group of followers, some of
whom were false to him; He saw no
revolutions In His favor. Once only did
men so much as cast palm-branch in
His way. But He was satisfied to do the
will of Him that sent Him. Perhaps in
another time, when generations had
been multiplied, perhaps in our day of
the progress of the cause for which He
died, He saw with great joy the harvest.
The apostles after Him were not reapers.
They were only sowing seed. Pentecost
does not represent their work, as we are
80 often told; it represents the fires of
God. Pentecost is the truth of divine
increase over which man has no power.
The Holy Ghost comes as helpful,
heavenly increment of power, witnessing
and working with our personality
WHEN WE SOW BESIDE GODS WATERS.
Our eye is arrested at the local success
es of that day,-three thousand Chris
tians in day! Why not a repetition in
every day? We think we must press for
the same result; we ought to do this,
but, when we expect to reap thus grand
ly, with the din and noise of ecclesiasti-
cal machinery alone, we are disappoint-
ed. We have forgotten; we are not
reapers; results are of God, not man.
The fact appears that the work of those
primitive disciples was greater in result
than the locs. effect Of that glorious Pen
tecos.ai shower. They were laying the
corner-stones of the approaching king.
dom. Their work in it's power extended
to vast centuries. Can you estimate
what the simple, loyal testimonies of
Peter and John signified, In the establish
ment of worlds faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ? Comparatively how limited was
the influence of brave Paul, speaking
out of dungeons, preaching while he Ia
chained to soldiers; the few churches he
established are hardly mentioned In con-
temporary history. He was faithful to
the Gospel of mis- Master. tie fought
good fight; he finished his course"
what ,onnnp MnFhsuo xs,ora IN oarEklx,
result except the appearance in that time
of little groups Of people whom he call
ed sssaints," some Of them slaves, some
women, some soldiers, all Of them of
common repute. Paul is gone, but these
humble people remain, fred with bis
zeal, inspired with the gospel power
to leaven the empire Of the Caesars.
What more for us;
WHAT HoLIER GROWN OF REJOICING,
than this primary Esowing, -the simple
fidelity, standing for the truth, transmit
ting our influence and witness through
some insignificant group OF the saints
we can do no more, we ought to do no
lesa.
But our sowing appears so insignif-
can't. Society does not recognize us.
Our acts dissolve like the morning dew.
Our prayers are suatched away by idle
winds. The words We speak, to appear.
ance, fall on listIess ears. No one tells
as that we have helped them; no one
admits that we ever had an inspiration.
We do not know that our name viii 50 |
much as appear upon marble slab, ]