The Tupelo journal., 1904-06-10

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hHIGlNW',Vli%al ~ for souls. II e
EEnEVWT%% M EMMMA knew but one mis-
EEWiW"" ESA @ sion in life, n
NEFTNNMNJ EYNTTS that was to preach
tMmWE- E$ISNS the Gospel in all
Vi. EsTW it's simplicity and
@S@ power. He had
8@ lil !. G. ! &; !: / !: !. ! ! ! i i" !. !: !. ]. !. !
NsAnmr0N|lIM but one purpose
Observation-Disclosures directing his tre-
y lH0IUllMOlN mendous energies,
MNHNUNlN and quickening
AMIUINM his splendid intel
H\n lNW lect, and that vas
NJ 1INW to tell men of the
{ lTT Christ Who could
cleanse the heart and transform the
life and save for eternity. whether
on the journey, or s~ojourning In the
village, town or city; whether work
ing at his trade of ~tent-making with
two humble craftsmen as his audience,
or facing the throngs in the syna-
gogue; whether before kings and gov
ernors, or in the dark prison, chained
to his rough guardsman; whether FAC
ing death on the raging sea, or on
land at the hands of the angry multi
tudes, it was all the same to Paul.
There we're needy souls to be saved,
and Christ must be preached to them.
and no power could still the heart
throb which he felt for the sinner, o
stop his tongue or pen in its tlrelesS en-
ergy to bring the world to the feet OF
his blessed Lord and Master. Two
-,orlo writ 1oroa in hiS UOp2h-
ulary. One was
SINNER,
and the other was
SAVIOUR.
All eX%ternalities and temperatures
were swept aside, and he saw the
naked soul as it must stand before its
Creator. 1t made no difference wheth-
er it was a cultured Greek philOso-
pher at Athens, OF a half barbarian in
the wilds of Asia Minor; whether it
was the self-confident, self-satisfied
Jews of the synagogue, or the Goddess
Roman ~jailers and officials into whose
hands he CHANGED to fall, all alike were
sinners before God, all were dead and
lost "in trespasses and sins" all need
ed to repent and all needed the Christ
to cleanse and to save. AND for this
reason, Paul's serious and supreme
business was ~"persuading men,"
NLD Uncle John Vassar, of sacred
~ memory, had the Paul spirit. No
soul ever came in contact with the
big-hearted, loving servant of Jesus
Christ, but that it was brought face to
face with it's need and made acquaiIt-
ed with its Saviour. 1t was his
business telling people where they
stood in their relations to God, and he
never lost an opportunity to Introduce
those with whom he came in contact
to his dearest Friend. The story is
told of him hat upon one occasion a
friend of his who knew his failing"
as he called it, invited him to his
home to a dinner party. Fearful that
John Vassar might so far forget the
conventionalities of the social func-
ton as to speak on the theme which
was nearest his heart, he plucked up
courage to suggest to him thai it
would be quite agreeable to him, and
doubtless to the other guests, If he
would direct his conversation upon
more general and interesting topics.
With a quiZzical little smile, in
which fingered a bit of sadness, he
promised to do the best he could, we'll
knowing that his best was to speak his
Lords message in every place n
upon every occasion possible. He
CHANGED to be seated by the side Of a
charming young oma whose whole
thought seemed to be centered in the
delights and activities and pleasures
of this life. Anyone but John Vassar,
imbued with the spirit of Paul. would
have been disconnected and confused,
and turned from his purpose. but not
he. Bravely and tactfully he honored
his Lord in the conversation, and ere
the dinner was ended he not only had
found in the young woman a thought
full and convinced listener, but all
about there was a hushed eagerness to
hear John Vassar's message. His bust
ucSS was W pClouddC llCA. IAhO""
ing the fear of the Lord" he could do
no less than that.
ND there have been many others
n of Gods servants who have been
imbued by the same spirit, but the
question always rises in the heart of
the Christian, in your heart and my
heart, should that be the normal on
dition and attitude of the Christian?
Ought to feel as Paul did? Ought 1
to do as Paul did? Without answer
ing the question directly, but that we
may answer it each for himself, let us
consider carefully just what Paul
meant when he declared that, know
ing the fear of the. Lord, we per-
suade men," The term, fear of the
Lord" has a peculiar meaning here.
1t implies more than is ordinarily in
Guided in the words. The common YER
sion has the word terror" in place of
fear" Paul has just been speak
ing of the judgment, declaring that
I'VE must all be made manifest before
the Judgment seat of Christ" and then
he goes on in the words of our text to
say: knowing therefore the (terror)
fear of the Lord, we persuade men"
The word terror" enfOrces the
thought of the punishment which is to
be melted out to the unsaved sinner in
tho Lost craat dov uhnp ovoryono will