Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-07
BURLINGTON FREE PRESS THURSDAY SEPTEMBER l. 1879

the Masters steps not one person pres
Divine blessing. And SO the most seri-
Gus movement over started in the First
church of Raymond was begun.
1--WE all understand, " said Henry
Maxwell, speaking very quietly, "what
we have undertaken to do. We pledge
ourselves to do everything in orr daily
lives after asking the question, What
would Jesus dor regardless of what
may be the result to us Some time
shall be able TO tell you what n marvel
Gus change has come over nv life with
in q weeks time ] cannot now. But
the experience I have been through
since last Sunday has left me so dissat
isfied with my previous definition Of
discipleship that | have been compelled
to take this action. / did not dare be-
gin il alone. | know that | am being
led by the hand of Divine love in all
this. The same Divine impulse must
have led you also. Do we understand
fully what we have undertaken p
81 want to ask question, said
Rachel Winslow.
Every one turned toward her. Her
face glowed with n beauty that no love-
illness could ever crcnte
81 am little in doubt as to the
source of our knowledge concerning
what Jesus would do. Who is to decide
for me just what he would do in my
case? 1t is different age There are
many perplexing questions in our civil
lization that are not mentioned in the
teaching Of Jesus. How am | going to
tell what he would do?"
"Thero is no way that l know of, 4"
replied Mr.. Maxwell, except as we
study Jesus through the medium of the
Holy Spirit. You remember what Christ
said speaking to his disciples about tho
Holy Spirit
'Howbeit when he. the Spirit Of
Truth is come, he shall guide you into
all the truth for he shall not speak
from himself. But what things soever
he shall hear, these shall he speak. and
he shall declare unto You the things
that are to come. He shall glorify me.
for he shall take of mine and shall de-
clnre il unto you. All things whatso-
ever the Father hath are mine; there
fore said ! that he taketh of mine and
shall declare it unto You
There is no other test that know
of. We shall all have to decide what
Jesus would do after going to that
source Of knowledge. "
What if others say Of Ms when we
do certain things that Jesus would not
do so?' asked the superintendent of
railroads.
1--WE cannot prevent that, but we
must be absolutely honest with our
selves. The standard of Christian action
cannot vary in most of our acts -
And vet what one church member
thinks Jesus would do another refuses
to accept as his possible course of ac-
ton. What is to render our conduct
uniformly Christlike? Will it be posi-
BILE TO reach the same conclusions al
ways in all cases2" asked President
Marsh.
Henry Maxwell was silent some time
Then he answered.
NO; | don't know that we can ex-
pect that But when it comes to gen
uine, honest, enlightened following of
Jesus steps | cannot believe there will
be any confusion either in our own
minds or in the Judgment of Others.
We must be free from fanaticism on
one hand and too much caution on the
other If Jesus example is the example
for the world, it certainly must be
feasible to follow it. But we need to
remember this great fact-after we
have asked the Spirit to tell as what
Jesus would do and have received an
answer to it we are to act regardless Of
the results to ourselves. Is that under
stood 2"
All the faces in the room We're raised
toward the minister in solemn assent.
There was no misunderstanding the
proposition. Henry lIaxwell's face
quivered again as he noted the president
of the Endeavor society, with several
members. seated back of the older men
and women.
They remained little longer, talk
ing over details and asking questions,
and agreed to report to one another ev-
cry week at regular meeting the re-
sult of their experiences in following
Jesus in this way. Henry Maxwell
prayed again. And again, as before, the
Spirit made himself manifest Every
head remained bowed long time. They
went away finally in silence,
There was feeling that prevented
speech. Henry Maxwell shook hands
with them all as they went ont. Then
he went TO his own study room back of
the pulpit and kneeled down. He re-
manned there alone nearly half an hour
When he went home, he went into the
room where the dead body lay. As he
looked mt the face he cried in his heart
again for strength and wisdom. but not
even yet did he realize that move
ment had been begun which would lead
to the most remarkable series of events
that the city of Raymond had ever
known.
CHAPTER IT.
He that saith he ahideth in him ought also to
walk even as he walked.
Edward Norman. editor Of the Ray |