Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-04-28

Ilikening the world to wolves. Il send
you forth as lambs in the midst of
wolves" Even yet the world is largely
cruel, selfish, vengeful and dominated
by its lower nature. Into 1t Christ's
disciples are sent to be lambs. innocent.
helpless, ~defenseless lambs. The figure
is no more startling THAI any other
teachings of Jesus. The power of the
church depends upon her maintaining
this fundamental difference. When the
craft and cunning and self seeking of
the world control the church. she
straightway loses her power. Her great
est victories have not been won at
hours when she was able to marshal
the largest legions. Simple mindedness
Is a sign of saIntliness. Childlikeress
indicates spiritual maturity. The
hostility of the world-and Jesus would
not have his disciples blind to the fact
that they would find the world actively
hostile-is TO be overcome by these
very qualities.
IN LIGHT MARCHING ORDER.
How we are chained to our civilian
ton. Conventionality and convenience
are ~smOthering the originality and
derring-do out of as. Our many goods
are mighty barriers to the development
OF originality. The retinements.
~luxuries and inventions of IL age are
rObbirg us of manhood's liberties.
Knight-errant soldier saints become
rarer as civilization becomes complex.
To do any great service II man must
be free-free as the disciples whom
Jesus enjoined not to burden them
selves with needless luggage.
Genera KurQpatkin may yet do great
fighting in the east, but 1t will be after
he has let loose from his palatial head
quarters equipment. He cannot win
battles from a parlor car. The fighting
soldier must be unencumbered. No
soldier on service" said Paul., " en-
tangles himself in the affairs of this
life" That they should keep them
selves free for the main business in
hand, was the meaning of Jesus when
he babe the seventy carry no purse nor
wallet nor shoes; and salute no man on
the way" Never mind the conven-
tional practices: eliminate he long
winded. time-wasting salutations-be
free. Cut away from whatever hinders
the doing of this "one thing
MEN OF PEACE.
When the Dowie restoration host Wis
ment in the enterprise. But the gentle
peace to thee and peace to thee be
multiplied with which his serene
eyed followers greeted n another was
only an inspiration and a joy. Peace
should be the word of the gospel mes
sage. The entrance of a servant of
God into u home should be q benedic-
ton OF peace. as the Master command
ed the seventy. The inward tranquility
Of the gospel may be impaired by the
presence OF its herald. Some persons
are not centers of peace but of unrest.
Contention follows them everywhere.
like the steam and odor and noise
which trails after a moving automobiie.
\ Not 10 should it be with the servant
Of Christ. There are no Doors among
the disciples of Christ who pattern
their conduct upon the instructions OF
their Master. And 1t is true that min
listers and missionaries everywhere
are gentlemen. They can adapt hem
selves to any lot or any life, even as IN
China some Of them wear the native
dress and employ the native customs.
Jesus was particularly emphatic in
counseling his messengers how to con-
duct themselves in homes. Humble
mindedhess was a first requirement.
They were to receive hospitality n
to be content with any lot. No coun-
tenance was given to visiting only III
the homes where the best dinners were
to be found. They were to do anything
and to endure everything for the king
dom's sake. When the disciple humbles
himself, the Master Is exalted.
REJECTED OPPORTUNITIES.
Some Of the seventy would not be re-
ceived Hospitality, Jesus saw. They
would be driven from homes and from
cities. Then the hOu would come when
they should rebuke as well as salute.
They were to bear witness against the
people who would not receive them.
Nevertheless, refusing to hear their
message and to welcome them was not
to escape responsibility on the part Of
the spurners: they would be Judged
just the same. We are guilty of the
truth we fail to receive. and Of the
good we fail to do. Shutting ones
eyes does not hinder the sunrise. Je-
susN Naxed eloquent here. To his. mind,
rejection Of the truth Is a grievOus sin,
greater wen than that OF SOdOm and
Gomorrah. To turn wilfully from 1t is
to commit sin.
The course the Teacher prescribed
for Eis followers when rejected. was
dignified and self-respecting. These
seventy were expected to be men Of
backbone. capable Of UNFOLDING the
honor due the ministry. How great
WAS this honor Jesus went on to show
~ Identifying himself with his repre-
sentatives. Just as the United States
insultel when its flag is dishonOred
,r its humblest citizen Nl-treated, 30 an
injury to an ambassador Of Christ is
IN oftense to Him. The ministry IL the
highest calling. 1t IL on a basis pecu.
lar I itself. The minister IL one
,ther than q representative of divinity
Jesus pu. the matter most strongly
when He said: HE that heareth you
ieareth me-. and he that rejecteth
ou rejecteth me: and he that rejecteth
ne reJecteth Him that sent me-"
the LAND OF MYSTERY
Until recently Africa has been almost
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