The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
THE VOICE OF THE PULPIT
SENT FROM GOD: INSPIRATION IN
THE LIFE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST,
short Sermon by the Rev. Il. T.. john
formed Church, Albany, y. \.

There was a man sent from God whose
name was John. The same came from
witness, to bear witness of the light, that
all men through him might believe. '-Johrf
1, 6-7
The public ministry of John the Baptist
was short, like the public ministry of the
Lord Jesus. and that of the great forerun-
ner, like that of the great Messiah, was
ended by a violent death But to this plain
and fearless preacher of repentance it was
given of God to stir and sway the whole
Jewish nation: Ito turn many of the chill
dren of Israel 10 the Lord their Cod" and
'tO make ready a people prepared for the
Lord"
There is great inspiration in the study of
the sending of this man on his divine mis-
sion-this supplemented, sincere-hearted,
sublime-lived man. He may, perhaps, have
been a very ordinary and commonplace
kind of a man-save that his ever-pro-
found conviction of his divine sending con-
centrated every faculty and plan, every
wish. word. and act of his life upon his one
great duty to bear witness to the light"
He was so ordinary a man that God could
use everything he had. and at any time,
and just as He fit. He was 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, pubfcanssand common
people alike the hard but necessary sacri-
fees and practical duties which true re-
pentance demanded; he was modest and
self-denying enough to make himself less
than the most mental servant 10 the COM
ing Messiah and TO rejoice greatly over
that Messiah's increase. which must neces-
sarily be accompanied by his own decrease.
Even his long confinement in the wretched
dungeons of Machaerus (Which must have
been inexpressibly severe and CALLING to
such hardy and bronzed wilderness dwell
er a he). shows him more anxious for the
Lords full self-revelaton than for his own
release from prison.
WHY NOT INITIATE JOHN?
Why may not we live as men sent from
God?" You may say. perhaps. that are
not so we'll 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 we'll
as John the Baptist. He. however, was
wholly surrendered to mis- mission. and in
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 spe-
cfaI qualifications John the Baptist had we
might havei
But you may say. perhaps. that John the
Baptist had singularly important and
unique mission. one necessary TO be hon
ored and fulfilled once in those early days
for all time as if there could fitly be but
one forerunner for the one Great Redeemer
of men, But John the Baptist 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 forerunners, going out
by His express command to preach the gos-
pei OF the kingdom and to prepare His
way before Him. and prepare the people for
Him, in every city and town of the holy
land. whittier He himself would afterward
come And that specific mission of those
four-score followers of Jesus is no more
significant and impressive as teaching our
supreme duty to-day TO prepare the way of
the Lord before Him. than TIE single and
specific mission of John the Baptist: for he
was controlled by substantially the very
same work that afterward commanded the
whole time and life of the apostles and
disciples Surely we may live i'm our day
! and generation as men sent from Cod"
! Unless the Lords arm is shortened, that
il cannot save US; unless His grace is
weakened that it cannot purify and exalt
us: unless His light is dimmed that it can
not be reflected from the dull surface of our
poor. selfish lives; unless the crude, nat
ural 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; unless the Great
Master is less powerful now than then. less
| skllful now than then. less willing and
merciful and patient now than then-and
who. for a moment. could accept such
| suggestion as any one OF hese?-surely it
is certain. beyond all question, that God
| has distinct and honorable place for each
one OF us in His great plan and kingdom.
He is no respecter of persons; this is His
will for each one OF us-our sanctihcation;
this Is His acknowledgment OF us-"Ye are
My witnesses" This Is the issue OF the
work of His spirit and providence within
US. that We shall come unto a perfect
manhood, unto the measure OF the stature
of the fullness OF Christi
Now. If all this be true. for any one OF US