Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-04-30
NIAN sENT FRoM con.
Rev. 4. p. J0hnson, D.

There was a man sent from God whose
name was John. The same came for a wit
ness, 10 bear witness of the light, that all
men through him might beIieye.-John l.,
g, I.
The public ministry of John the Bap-
list was short, like the public ministry
of the Lord Jesus, and that of the great
forerunner, like tAat of the great Mes
sian, was ended by a violent death. But
to this plain and fearless preacher of re-
pentance il was given Of God to stir and
sway the whole Jewish nation; ITO turn
many of the children of Israel to the
Lord their God" and ito make ready a
people prepared for the Lord"
There is great inspiration in the study
of the sending OF this man on his divine
mission-this supplemented sincere
hearted. sublime-lived man. He may,
perhaps, have been very ordinary and
commonplace kind of nan--save that
his eyer-profound conviction of his divine
sending concentrated every faculty and
plan. every wish. word and act OF his
life upon his own great duty TO bear
witness TO the light"
He was so ordinary a man that God
could use everything he had, and at any
humble and self-abased enough for God
TO exalt him to be the greatest Of the
prophets; he was fearless enough to tell
his hearers, rulers and priests, soldiers,
pdbhcans and common people alike, the
lard, but necessary. sacrifices and prac-
tical duties which true repentance de-
manded; he was modest and self-deny-
ing enough to make himself less than
the most mental servant to the coming
Messiah. and to rejoice greatly over the
Messiah's increase, which must neces-
sarily be accompanied by his own de-
c. ase. Even his long confinement in the
wretched dungeons of Machaerus (which
must have been inexpressibly severe and
calling to such a hardy and bronzed will
derness dweller as he), shows him more
anxious for the Lords full self-revela-
tion than for his own release from prison.
Why may not we live as men ''sent
from God" You may say perhaps that
we are not SO well qualified as John the
Baptist for such an important mission.
But, so far as merely human gifts are
concerned. physical and psychical nature,
heredity, temperament and educational
privileges, any one of US would average
up" as well as John the Baptist. He,
however, was wholly surrendered to his
mission. and in this was the great secret
no was filed with the Holy Spirit; so
he thought the thoughts of God after
him, and he wiled the will of God after
him. Surely, then, all the special quail
6cations John the Baptist had we might
have.
hot nb,
the Baptist had a singularly important
and unique mission, one necessary to be
honored and fulfilled once in those early
days for all time. as if there could fifty
be but one forerunner for the one Great
Redeemer of men. But John the Bap-
fist was type and pioneer in that mission
for each believing disciple.
We know from the Gospel records that
not only the twelve apostles, but also the
seventy disciples, were used by the Lord
Jesus as his special forerunpefs, going
cut by his express command to preach
the gospel of the kingdom and to prepare
ais way before him, and prepare. the peo-
pie for him, in ever* city and town of
the holy land, whittier he himself would
afterward come. And that specific mis-
sion of those fourscore followers of Je-
sus is no more significant and impressive
us teaching our supreme duty to-day to
prepare the way of the Lord before him,
than the single and specific mission Of
John the Baptist; for he was controlled
by substantially the very same work that
sfterward commanded the whole time
and life of the arostles and disciples
Surely we may i've in our day and gen
~
Unless the Lords arm is shortened,
that it cannot save us; unless his grace
is weakened. that it cannot purify and
axalt us: unless his light is dimmed. that
It cannot be reflected from the dull sur
face Of our poor, selfish lives; unless the |
crude natural men and women of to-day |
are of far coarser and meaner clay for |
The Divine Potter to shape than the men |
and women of twenty centuries ago. nm |
less the Great Master is less powerful /
now than then, less skillful now than |
hen. less willing and merciful and pa !
,ient now than then-and who for a mo- |
nent could accept such a suggestion as |
any one Of these ?-surely it is certain. I
beyond all question, that God has a dis
.inct and honorable place for each one of |
is in his great plan and kingdomI
He is no respecter of persons: this is /
ais will for each one of us-eur sanctif- /
cation; this is his acknowledgment Of |
ls-"Ye are my witnessp' This is the
issue of the work of his spirit and proyi-
1ence within us. that we shall come into
/ perfect manhood, unto the measure of
he stature of the fuilpess of Christ"
Now. if ali this be true. for any one Of
is to talk in a contemptuous tone or n
iespairing way, of our gifts, or priyi-
eyes, or spheres of work, is simplv sac
-iegous and wicked. All the breadth
Of love is before us, all the lenoth NJ
faith is before us, all the depth of human
aeed is before u.s. all the height of shirt
al desire is before us, and all the full
ness of God is before us! And vet we
trife and complain because our gifts. or
privileges. or means. or spheres. are so
small. while men and women whose ma
i've gifts. heredity. temperaments. or OBJ
)ortunities may not have been one tenth
Is favorable as ours welcome the infll-
ng of the Holy Spirit and the outfIowing
IF self. and press on to do a service and
o show spirit that makes them great
n the sight of the Lord" They took their
me talent and made of it ten. while we
waited and idled and worried and fretted
because our ten talents were not fifty or
1ae hundred! God help US TO make sure
u It that our will is not the most feeble
.ainc in US. that our spirit is not the
30 insignificant thing about US.
y : may also 20 further and prove that
4 men sent from God the common
2lace duties and cares of every day have
heir proper and annohIing part in Chris