Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-24

me Of drink We stripped me Of raiment.,':
No! But Ye gave me no meat; We gave
me no drink: We took me not In; ye
clothed me not: and We visited me not
We lightly weigh our negligences.
Only q Gin OF onlission!" but in the
'vision Of judgment only such appear.
Christian goodness is positive. active,
squivering and throbbing with beneyo-
lent feelingssof interest and true help
fulness.
The further we probe toward the;heart
Of the Christians faith the more we are
impressed with its teachings on individ-
Sualism From this it gathers most Of
Eits character and power. Toward this as
Its objective aim lies its only hope Of
real and permanently successful con-
quest. With the mastery Of this idea the
gulf between the church and the masses
appears only az mirage. Itsis the one
conception that bridges the chasm and
assures the successful issue Of the
Christian religion. We must realize it,
and cryatalize 1t. We are much given
to generalizing. This generalizing is
only in name. 1t has no reality. The
only thing substantially true is the in
dividual. It IS In these personal rela-
tions that God transcends US in our
dealings with each other. We legislate
in general terms, but God in Individual.
The decalogue says: Thou shalt not
Christ, in the two fundamental laws,
says: Thou shalt" The Father does
not group whole masses together and
say they or we" We are separate,
distinct individuals of infinite worth and
worthy OF infinite concern. The realiza-
ton of this individualism ia the only
thing that can save us and give any vi
tally to the Evangel which we repre-
sent. twill lift US out of mere formal
service and make worship and labor to
be light and life. We are too much GER
wants of the church and the people and
not enough OF Individual men. Failure,
just here. permits the reign of CONNER
cial and mercantile ideas of service.
lMultitudes are serving God thru the ma
lschinery of the church. They think when
they give an attendance upon the stated
services and have contributed to the
support of the ministry and various be-
gnevolent enterprises, they have met
their whole duty. The laity are saying,
Let US alone. Let our business
methods alone. I'VE give you hear
ing and literally pay you; attend to the
objects of your calling-preaching the
gospel and saving souls" There is
paralysis and death in this. The King
dom needs and God callsfor the whole
hearted personal surrender and service
of his children.
Evangelize! This is the electric word
OF the gospel Personal service is the
key TO its success Most men are la
boring under the impression that they
are without the benefits of grace. Their
moral rebellion and perversty of nature
clouds the loving face of God. They
are the sons OF God but not the children
of the Kingdom. Sons of the Father, are
they, but they don't know ii. What they
need is to realize Gods personal reia-
ton to them. To be persuaded that He
not only loves the world, but loves them
individually and cares for them. The
object of the Eyangel is to bring every
man into right relations with God, to
make him appreciate the personality of
his relations With Cod and then 10 in
duce him to act upon his convictions.
To do this is the pre- eminent work OF
peeonal persuasion. The printed page
ana pulpit appeal have not the power
of a personal messag e. a man NAV be
indifferent and unmoYed by them, but
will yield to this Mind has a power
over mind. The touch of hearts is dy-
manic. Tho within the film of mystery.
we know of its reality. Will does &ex-
Eert remarka bic power over will. Ii
is life that begets life. love that inspires
love, character that leavera character.