Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-04

their prosperity to God that others may see
and learn what God does for His own, are
likely pretty soon to begin to call them
selves "self-made men," thus deliberately
witnessing against the God of blessings
helping doubters to go on doubting-being
pointed out as having succeeded in life
without the help of God.
The Samaritan leper did not slip around
to the house where Jesus was staying by
night and softly whisper his gratitude,
ashamed lest others should see him. He
did not allow the long-fixed habit of keep
ing aloof from the people deter him from
breaking through the habit so soon as he
was made whole, and coming even to the
feet of the healer.
How many of those who are healed today
keep the knowledge hid in their hearts ana
no one is the wiser? They go, 1t may be.
to the priest the minister and tell of the
change that has come to them and or how
they wish to be counted among those whose
hearts are right. but they get no 1urther-
No one ever knows but the minister. Or pos
sibly even If they do unite with the church,
and thus publicly confess their allegiance
to Christ, that is the end of it. Wherever
they go, in whatever company they mix,
their Inns are sealed forever SO far as giving
any glory to God for their health and hap
piness is concerned They can talk about
everything else under heaven, they can be
prominent in all sorts of conventions for
this and that, they can even take high
place in society or politics, but when it
comes to a matter of witnessing for Christ
they are nowhere. 1t is not even known
among many of their associates, perhaps.
that they are members of the church or
Christian Endeavor Society. No one is
afraid to tell an unclean story in their pres
ence or to repeat an irreverent joke or to
take the name of the Lord in vain, for no
rebuke will be forthcoming. 1t would even
be a surprise for such mans acquafnt-
ances to know that he disapproved of such
things. True, they never heard him talk
that way himself. but. then, he goes with
people who do, and he does not seem to
disapprove. He even sometimes smiles with
others when the story is very funny.
The cause of Jesus needs our witnessing
today as much as 1t did In the years when
the Christ walked the earth and healed
bodies. The blessing of His healing touch
drops on our hearts today, and we walk off
content with the peace that has come to
our hearts, and never seem to know that
better would 1t be for the cause of Christ
that we had never turned to Him, nor heard
Him, nor been healed by Him, than that,
turning, we should go away silent from the
blessing, thus apparently saying to others.
We have received no blessing at ALL and
this is not the Christ"
Are you sure that this week you have at
no time allowed your silence to witness
against your Redeemer?
Applied Truth.
The long workshop was gay with laugh
ter as the workmen ate their dinner and
talked during the noon hour. They're
low laughed one of the men, land Jake
Andrews stood up for them and went
crying around awhile" Loud laughter fol-
lowed, interspersed with one or two good
natured oaths. A young man over in the
corner, talking quietly with another, flush
ed as the talk went on. He was Chris
tan, but the others did not know it. He
had never spoken about the subject there.
He was respected and even popular with
them all, so that his word would not
have been without influence among them
The loud voices went on: Yes. l went
down to meeting one night, and a man
came to me and he asked me what did
l think about Jesus Christ, and l said
didn't think at ALL" Laughter and APP
plauSe. The heart of the quiet listener
began fairly to pound. He had been strug-
Cling with himself for days to speak a
little word to one friend, but here was
an opportunity to witness for Christ be-
fore them ALL and his conscience kept say
ing, Your Savior Is on trial again; will
you not speak for Him?"
WELL" broke in another. II never saw
religion do anything for anybody. They're
mostly towards. these Christians" And
still the quiet young man went silently
to his work and the opportunity was gone
Once more the Son Of God was crucifed
before men and put to an open shame, and
the only disciple present dared not raise
his voice to say, HE is my Savior. mock
Him notr How much better was this dis
ciple than he who said. Il do not think
at ALL
How to Help the Leader.
Try this week to witness for Christ in
some place where you have heretofore
been silent.
Parallel passages-II Kings. vito: Esther.
iv:14; Isaiah, kill; John, xvii:25; Luke,
Was; Psalms. cxiv:46; Psalms. lxxii:2s;
Luke, xix 39,40
Hints to the leader-C. E. hymns, IA, ~,
4s, 113, 21S. The Endeavor Hymnal. IL,
12s 1913, 155, 161, 1874.
Make an effort to have every one present
speak If but one sentence. Have several
incidents or stories to show how silence in
the case of court witnesses has often
counted against the one on trial. and how
silence on the part of Christians does more
harm to the cause of Christ than even
an infidel or scoffer can do, because so
Christ is wounded in the house of His
friends" Have some one sing Where are
the nine?" found in Gospel Hymns.
.sWho is this Nazarene?" Pharisees say.
..Is He the Christ? Tell us plainly, we pray"
Multitudes follow Him seeking sign,
Show them His mighty works-where are the nine
Jesus Oh trial today we see;
Thousands deridingly ask, WHO is Her"
How they're rejecting Him, your Lord and minei
Bring In the witnesses-where are the nine
p. p BLISS.