The weekly intelligencer., 1898-03-26
"WIiat Does Gods Call to Service
Meansr

what Does Gods Call to Service
Meaner
The following paper vas read by Mrs.
Richard Ellerby, at the Ladies' Mission.
ary Union, at the Presbyterian church,
, in this city, March II, 1893:
The answer to this question is found
in the question itself. viz Service.
The word SERVICE" in this relation
implies two functions, viz, our duty
towards God and our duty to man, and
in the performance of these functions.
God calls not only for the entire conse-
Grafton of our mental, moral and ply
sical faculties, but TOR the harmonious
union of the same. Now there are many
things in spiritual life, which cores
pond to things material. We know in
nature Of positive and negative qualities,
and there is such thing as u positive
and negative Christianity. Those Chris
tianS who, In their practical cOnsidera-
tions of Gods ''call to service, have
never made this entire conservation and
woven together all their faculties into
this trinity OF service may be termed
negatives quantities. To explain still
furIhur, negative Christian gives an
intellectual assent to all the fundamen-
tai dOgmas of divine truth He believes
|
accepts the Christ as Gods son, and his
Redeemer; he confesses Him before
men; he becomes a member OF the
visible body of Chrlst's kingdom, and as
| far rs we can see he leads an upright
and correct life. But he goes no farther.
lie prays every day, Thy kingdom
come" but he takes but little or no
| interest in the progressive and aggres-
sive advancement Of that Kingdom.
| NVhap Pnrainp rnioainna ara nautlOna1
he is more interested in domestic mis-
Sions, and when domestic missions are
| introduced he feels that charity should
begin at home," in the local church
organization of which he is member.
He assumes that he has no talent for
Sunday school work, and no time to
take an active interest in the working
societies of his church. He reads III his
Bible of the common brotherhood of
man. yet he never seeks for the poor
and needy. The sacred words OF Jesus.
! Il am among YOU rs one that S-rveth,
| find no responsive echo within hts soul
Sef-sacrifice Is unknown TO him. Not
many deeds of benevolence, not many
acts of mercy. enrich his barren life
HIS service is that of the mind. There
| is obedience, but 1t is constrained obedl-
ence which does not invite active Occu-
patton. He may be likened TO those.
whom the eloquent Bishop Brooks,
termed Ignorant saints, who come very
near to God, and live in the rich sun
| light of his love, but none the less for
that, Is their ignorance a detraction
! from their sainthoOd. Now, God de-
mands something more than belief and
worship; He calls for certain amount
Of our substance, for certain amount of
our time. and He calls for work with
our hands, and Underlying all is the
fundamental law of sacrifice. Now To-
most Of us the application or the law OF
sacrifice to our service is Il dlsagreeable
one. We shrink from it, particularly
when II touches our means, but, never
| theless, there is no true service without
il. + Hook, when vicar of Leeds one
day asked rich parIshiOner for Il sub
scTiptiun to church Ills friend drew Il
check for a Thousand pounds. aud
handed 1t to the Doctor, saving, There,
shall never feel that. ""As an "a c0llec-
| tor for u church" said the Doctor. II
thank you: but rs am your minister,
am bound to tell you that ii gIft which
you do not feel ia in Gods sight not Il
gift at ALL" AS write. there comes to
my mind the searching words of nh
eminent English divine upon this sub
ject:' II you will be faithful" he says.
''in all the administration of your pos
sessions, there will be first, the principle
of stewardship; if you will be faithful
through all your administration OF your
earthly possessions there will be secnnd,
tbs principle of sacrifice; If you will be
faithful through all your administra-
tiUn of your possessions there will be
third. the principle of brotherhood"
Gods calls upon our time and work
are so many and varied, that time will
not admit of more than a passing glance
at their character. There is much occu-
patton that is not true service. 1t is self
chosen. it is motiveless. True service is
work not performed at ones own dis
cTetion, but under orders, at the very
least under an imperative sense of duty.
Just here some busy housewife and
mother, like myself, may ask Am not
answering Gods calls to service in the
conscientious discharge OF all my duty
as wife and mother2 Is there no
sacrifice involved In the patient ell ur-
ance of routine of household drudgeryp
Is there no self abnegation in the daily
surrender of comfort, ease, and personal
taste to keep the wheels of domestic
machinery running smoothly, and for
he comfort and pleasure of husband
and childrenP" Most emphatically, yes.
And yet far above the hustle and cares
of these little home worlds of ours We
may hear II We but listen, the voice of
God calling us, like the silvery notes of
q distant cathedral bell, to other service
beside that OF home. Today He may
sick and suffering friend, or to utter a
few words of sympathy aud encourage
ment to q downcSSt and deSpaiTIng
neighbOr Tomorrow. He may call us
to enIer the wTetched home of poverty
and want, there 10 feed the hungry aud
clothe the naked. Today, He may call
us to teach Ill the Sunday school and to-
morrow to send aid and encouragement
with the pen. the needle. and the bank
note to some lonely missionary, on the
western frontier, or in remote Alaska
and China. And all this to be done. not
systematically, not when we feel like il.
but Systematically, as one "under
Ordsrs You haye all heard the oft
told story of the servant girl. who. to
use her own language. had experienced
religion" and when questioned by lIrI
mistress as to the genuinentss of her con-
victiOns replied, 20. know l have got
religion for now. when | sweep. | alwa S |
RWeep under the mat and that Is JUS |
what many OF US protesting Christians |
never do, We never iift the mat We
are earnest and sincere in our eff Irts t.
sergc God. by sweeping out of hearts
and lives all the rubbish and litter uf !
evil thoughts and corrupt desires. and /
then, tull of self-satiSfaction, we Will |
not "tOnp to lift the mai to see what |
more is To be done for the great Master |
In the reply of that poor m iid lies the
Keynote To all true service perception |
of duty. and then thOrOu9hntss and !
fidelity in performing it Thus living,
thus apprehending all of Gods calls |
with all the energy OF mind. BODY. and
soul. the close OF our earthly service
may be itly described in the quaint and /
beautiful words OF John Bunyan. And
they laid the pilgrim i'll All upper ruum.
facing The east; and the name OF the
chamber is-Peace.