The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-12-25
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Topic For the Week beginning Dec.j
~, missionary Nee. ing--A world
wide Viexv-Niy Responsibility.

wide V1eW-My Responsibility.
The surest test of ones religious con-
dition is found in the way the needs
of others are regarded If their dis
tress causes one to also feel distressed
and to anxiously help to relieve the
difficulty, the spirit and mind of
Christ have certainly takenS possession
of that person. If any one can see an
other suffer and not feel an impulse to
relieve, even if it costs sacrifice to self,
such GOODNESS, indifference and self
care are proofs of the lack of the Christ
spirit
The marks of Christian life in the
soul are the desire to help others and
the sense of pain at sight of sufferings
of others.
This sentiment does not arise III us
by any conscious effort in answer to
consciousness of duty, We never say.
''He is in need; ought to help him and
feel sorry, and | will feel sorry be-
cause it is my duty" and so work our
selves into a sympathetic condition
You can't do it if you try. The utmost
possible will be a hypocritical imlta-
ton of sympathy which will deceive
no one but yourself 1t will resemble
the true as much, perhaps, as brass re
sembles gold.
If you have salvation through Jesus.
you will feel great, deep heart throbs
for the world of men in darkness and
wickedness and will want to help Him
save them. What then? Why. then
you will need to know about them, all
their needs, their sorrows, miseries.
wickedness. strife, hopelessness and
helplessness Then. when the heart
grows sick and the stupendous task
looms black, ominous and utterly be-
yond all possibility of accomplishment
when the littleness of ones own
strength shows so discouragingly
against the mountain mass of the
worlds sin--then, if ever, comes the
soul sitting assurance of the all sufii-
cheney of Gods grace.
What can l do? What ought | to
do? | ought, first of all, to keep my
ears and eyes open to learn the worlds
need. am responsible to know if my
fellow men around me are acquainted
with God and His offers of salvation
| can find out that as easily as | can
/ find out if they are in good health.
| can live close 70 Jesus, SO as to
feel kindly and compassionately to
ward the worlds need. Others may
feel contempt and condemnation for
the weak and may show harshness in
treatment Of the helpless, Squalor
misery. vici0usna#s and all uncleanness
| physical and moral are revolving to all
the finer sensibiliies No ono from
preference would seek the society Of
those infected with smallpox or the
plague. Every sense revolts at close
contact with the Infection The polly
ing. We may turn from ii and refuse
all aid and fancy that in our relish for
perfuined garments and companionshp
with beauty and strength we are made
Iputer and find higher culture What
folly
If you have ever been sick almost
unto death and from utter weakness
and the collapse of all powers have
passed the crisis point and come slow
~, slowly up the long hill Of GONZALES
cence back into the enjoyment and eX
ereise Of one power after another, have
felt all the flesh renewed with exqui-
site sansibilitles as of babyhoOd, bui
with faculties ANA experience of ma
ture years. you have known the joys
Of resurrection. This is much and
worth all suffering.
But to have saved another and
brought him up this path not merely
of physical recovery but of renewing
by the Holy Ghost, and see the new
life Astounding gloriously-wel that is
blessedness. Ever do it? You ought
to. You need it. The world needs it,
God needs it.
You are responsible for it,