The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-24

lt is 10 speak to one man (and that
man your friendly about Jesus; to di-s
rect your remarks to one heart, to press
your urgent appeal upon the individual
conscience.
Philip spoke thus to Nathaniel It Is
an Illustration OF what may be termed
the private ministry Of the gos-5
pel,-a ministry between man and man.
between friend and friend. To this
higher courage we are all called; to this
private and direct ministry we are im-=
PEELED by thankfulness to our God for.
all He has done for u.s.
Philip and Nathaniel had probably
lived together from boyhood In the little
fishing town OF Bethsadia. Here they
had played and toiled together
and grown up into manhood; different yet
congenial. the one from .ae other. Now
that new light has come into Philips
life, new hope and power. he. feels he.
must share 1t with his friend He does
not wait to see Nathaniel by accident,
but without delay, at perhaps some per-.
sonal Inconvenience. he "indeth Ma
thanael." and presses on him the new.
found Messiah
It seems a simple thing to debut
how many of us have gone out to find
our friend that we may talk to him
about his soul?
We talk Of business, of home, OF crops,
Of money. of everything else; how often
do we bring forward to those around
US Jesus and His love?
Philip spoke from his heart to his
friend, and found to his surprise that
Nathaniel was evidently waiting and
longing for some such opportunity to
follow the Master
You may do the same Your child,
your friend, your clerk your office-boy.
your porter, your cook,-nay be waiting,
to-day. for the word from you, that
might bring them to their Saviour. Have
you spoken it. The ground cannot
bring forth the harvest unless the seed
is dropped into it.
God has put this personal work into our
hands TO do for Him and if through
siota. or Indifference we fail to do our
part, that loss will remain throughout
all eternity. No one else can do our
work for us
The mothers tear, the fathers prayer,
the warm haudclasp of the friend, the low
ing tones of a wife, the sweet Plead
ings of a child, often reach and win the
heart closed in the appeals of the preach
er or the warnings of the Bible.
It is a part of our daily life to be on
the lookout for such opportunities to
speak the word in reason.
Suppose that from pride or carelessness
Philip had failed to speak to Nathaniel.
He would have forever lost the golden
opportunity Of being that loyal soul to
Christ, and through him an unnumbered
multitude Thus does God deign to bless
our feeble efforts far beyond our ken, or
our deserts; and allow us to aid in gain
ing fresh jewels for His crown.
The Christian has a distinct message
to deliver to the world.
Philip delivered such a message to
Nathaniel I'VE have hound Him OF
whom Moses in the law and the pro-
phets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the
son of Joseph" The Christian takes
his stand on facts and abides by them.
Not only so. To have the facts is
one thing, but something more is requir-
ed. nilip did not say Jesus Christ has
been found" but, I'VE Ilave found
relation to those facts, and this was the
secret of his power.
To know the Gospel is one thing, to
have it reigning in the heart is another.
The message will provoke opposition.
Nathaniel said to Philip, Can any good
manger, the homelessness. the cross, all
awaken prejudice, and prejudice may
lead us to our ruin.
There is a practical reply to all these
objections. It is the answer of Philip,
Come and see." When a man is thor
oughly in earnest he goes straight to
the bottom of the matter. Philip spoke
out OF the holy excitement of his heart.
and returned the best possible answer.
Note it was to the Saviour that Phil
lip sought to draw Natha nael. Not to the
Church Alas! the controversies and
strife, the GOODNESS and deafness found
there, are far from helping the earnest,
eager enquirer. Not to the preacher.
None can fill the want in the sin-sick
soul but Christ. We must SO beyond the
servant, and point to the Lord Himself.
Philip invited Nathaniel to come and
see" Jesus; not the disciples, but their
Master. This is above all things what
we desire and need. Once get them
thoroughly to study Christ Himself, and
there can be little doubt Of the result.
Take to Him your trials, your preju-
dices, your difficulties, your sorrows.
your sins Take all these to Him; lay
them before Him just as they affect
your own heart; tell Him all. and see