Semi-weekly Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1897-1901, 1901-07-12
EPWORTh LEAGUE.
Topic For the Week Beginning July
Ii, "Individual Work For Jesus"
Text, Acts VIII, 20-40.

There Is always need of individual
work in the church of Christ, Just as
there is demand for solosts in music
and leaders in military affairs. Chorus
work Is easier for the great majority,
and many are contented to never at
tempt any part by themselves. Some
can never fit themselves for it, how
ever they may try, but great many
more could be helpful if they would
put forth the proper effort. 1t happens
not infrequently that the conversion of
some one person will affect whole
community more than the ordinary ad-
dition of dozen persons to the church.
Such cases are rarely reached except
by special exertion of some individual
with peculiar insight, tact and deter
minaton. The capture of Aguinaldo
by Funston has many parallels in the
religious warfare. The ordinary meth
DDS would never succeed. Some spe-
cial plan requiring endurance, nerve
and dash is required. All the maxims
and rules of ordinary prudence are laid
aside for this occasion. Not that such
attempts are foolhardy. Far from 1t.
They are quite apt to be the wisest, !
though out of the ordinary. They sue !
coed because Of their very audaclty. |
Surprise is as effective as additional |
force and may be more easily managed. |
There are several conditions usually |
present in the best Of individual effort.
One of the first to be noted is pecul-
lar and unusual interest in some one.
The angel Of the Lord speaks 10 men
in these days as truly and effectively
as he did 10 Philip. How Philip was
addressed we are not told. What war
rant for supposing that being with
wings and shining form spoke audlblS
to him? Perhaps it was some perse'
cuted disciple from Jerusalem who
fed TO Samaria and spoke of the Visit
to Je usalem of the high officer OF
Ethio ia whom lie may have seen wor'
Shipping in the temple. 1t would need
no more in some cases than such an
item of news TO flash upon the evan
gelist's mind the possibility of reach
ing the man and sending the gospel to
Ethiopia. The thought would find
quick response from the heart and the
plan to cross the track of the home
ward bound chariot would shape itself
'apidly into action. So Gods messages
lave ever come to ready hearers ana
willing doors. The alert mind and
luickened soul hear and heed nessen-
Of l. I ord N a o. |
niZed 10y the ordinary man. Philip
,oes. He sees the caravan on the Casa
Dad and the chariot Of the treasurer
n the distance. The man is reading
\ strange thing! Philip runs until he
.omcs within hearing distance, and as
le joins the company distinguishes the
words of Isaiah's prophecy about the
eryant of Jehovah. Could anything
,e more opportune? No intrusion, no
appears in Philips ques-
ion, do You understand what you are
eadingf' In other circumstances such
onduct would have been unwarrant-
BILE aud might have been sharply re-
ented. Here and now it is most
tting.
ne prime ltlulSitcS III an AdNai I
york are, first. Il heart burning with
esire TO tell the story of Christ to the
nsaved and help them.
Then the awakened mind seizes ev-
ry opportunity and turns it TO the best
dvantage promptly, feeling at every
tep the Spirits guidance and help.
Eagerness TO help not only banishes
ldolence and difidence and all false
lodesty. not only finds the leadership
( the Divine Spirit everywhere on the
curse. but finds favoring circum-
tances continually. All things coop
rate-"al things work together for
ood." Whatever happens aids His
imposes because he is working for
cd and with Him, and God makes
lings work out His own purposes.
No other kind Of service ever brings 4
ute SO much real joy as individual
ork for Jesus.