The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-11-01

/ source OF our Kuowleoge 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 l going to
tell what he would do?'
There is no way that l know Of. .
replied Mr. Maxwell. except as we
study Jesus through the medium Of the
Holy Spirit. You remember what Christ
| saie speaking to his disciples about the
Holy Spirit:
8. .Eowbeit. 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-
clare it unto YOU. All things whatso-
ever the Father hath are mine; there
!
shall declare if 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 US when we
do certain things that Jesus would not
do so?" asked the superintendent of
railroads.
eve 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 yet what one church member
thinks Jesus would do another refuses
to accept as his possible course Of ac-
tion. What is to render our conduct
uniformly Christlike? Will it be posi-
BILE to reach the same conclusions al
ways in all cases? 2" asked President
Marsh
Henry Maxwell was silent some time
Then he answered
.No; I don't know that we can e1-
pect that But when it comes to gen.
uine honest, enlightened following of
Jesus steps I 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-afte1 we
have asked the Spirit to tell US 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?"
All the faces in the room were raised
toward the minister in solemn assent
There was no misunderstanding the
proposition. Henry Maxwell'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 a little longer. talk
ing over details and asking questions,
and agreed to report to one announcer eV'
cry week at regular meeting the re-
suit 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 a feeling that prevented
speech Henry Maxwell shook hands
with them all as they went out. Then
he went to his own study room back OF
the pulpit and kneeled down He re-
NAMED there alone nearly half an hour
When he went home, he went into the
room where the dead body lay. As he
looked at the face he cried in his heart
again for strength and wisdom. but not
even yet did he realize that a move
ment had been begun which would lead
to the most remarkable series Of events
that the city Of Raymond had ever
known,