The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-11
"Power'

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Power 8s
Selected Nor. ,rhc Tlnes-D ispatch.)
"A1ld When He had called unto Him Ills
twelve disciples lie gave them power
st. Matt. x, IA. We
Il I Power" We all want It, but few have
1t, And Ho alone can give It.
4 lie was always calling these men;
and is now calling us. Always calling,
always preatlpg, always shaping our
manhood FOR new, and nobicr use, always
Scnlargil1g our sphere, and the destiny Of
our powers.
This call was directly given by the.
Son of God. Hc invokcs no sacred Names.
He alters no incnntatIon, lie muttcrs
from behind no veil Of mystery Seated
there In absolute simplicity, He 4 con-
men with tho almighty power Of God.
From His own heart and from a culver
lie draws the arrows with which they are,
to shoot. Who was He? Why did they.
not give Him power? How came He to
be the origin ana fountain OF this might?
How was it that lIo always gave and
never received?
The call OF Christ Is not once for all.
It Is a daily interview, and tie invita-.
ton to go nearer TO Him comes with
every morning sunrise. We have never
been SO near to- Jesus thatswe cannot
get nearer STILL and the closer to 4 Him
the softer His voice-lnors mighty the,
power
What does He do to these disciples
when they respond to His call .He gives
them power. ] five were ofcall twelve
men 10 any duty, We may but mo ok thor
weakness; but how different with Jesus!
With Him tho weak become strong
I Not only does .Ho give thonl power"
He gives them also consolation. This
adds q llcwSand beauteous feature to the
whole transaction. Power may be
bruised, bnffled, disappointed Sheer hard:
iron strength Siswnot enoughA We poor
human beings need encourag cement I and
consolation, We need such reminders in
human history. as shall enbolden us to
keep up our fight and our courage,
though all things seen, to be against US.
. G4fA III B. q
There are flood times in the progress
OF the mind, and in the transports Of.
the soul, There arc seasons when we
feel equal to the whole of life and ! its
duty, and when re find In work a. pleas
iure or even in2 danger an inspiration.
Grand hours are these Of inauguration
aud coronation, salmost Of :;;apotheosls
We are lifted Zip into an almost hea-
iycny state. and. set; ouiS feet pom all
lower things,,,, t. sstrlunipll over them,
With a ,tpower not 70 abe.3 I'm easured by;
merely human terms In SUCH q mind we
5vehemently desire the battle and arc
impatient because the trumpet blast is
long delayed. sSsy IS !, "A "a
Alas, that these seasons of exaltation
arc 50 TRANSIENT There are correspond
Ing hours, of weakness and depression.
Yet. even these may servo us If We arc
led to rely upon His promised strength
and power. a5
5&s"IIc gave them power y ct Ho did
not weaken Himself. This is the test Of
Divine strength. Tho sun is. the same;
old light that shone at Eden, warming its
flowers into color and beauty and to-day
he shines, unshorl OF a beam, al ways
giving. yet none the less luminous. The
great sea takes into its bosom all the
rain clouds, but Is not conscious Of any,
accession OF water, and while evapora-
tion goes on incessantly, who can say
that the sea has shrunk one hairs
breadth?
These poor emjlems help us to UNDER
stand what is meant by the cver-giving
God, who nevertheless does not impoy-
gerlsh Himself by what lie sbcstows. Do
not be afraid to ask. for, we. have His,
own word ASK and IT. shall he given
you" Bring with, You great petitions
you can never ask too much.
Observe the kind Of power that Christ
gave His disciples. Tic gave them power
against unolean spirits to cast them
out. 1t was then a power to the good.
When will Hc send forth any with a
rod or destructive force? The bruised
reed He will not break, the little child
lie will mot reject; tlieicreeping. crawling
sinner, who waits to gropc his way to-
Him In the darkness, shall mot be turn
ed aside as, coward, but made into a
new man.
Christ Jesus gave His disciples power
to relieve human burdens, human dis,
tressos. and to heal sln-slcle souls. Can
any one truthtuly say; he Is unable to