St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-12-31

u ~ ~ W. ~ ~
. Sermon by the Highway and
|W Byway" Preacher. -
| Copyright, 1904, by J. il. Edson.)
Chicago, Sunday, Dec. 4, 1904
Text:-"Erethren, my hearts desire and
| prayer to God for Israel is that they might
be saved. / have great heaviness and con-
| tinual sorro " in my heart. For could wish
that myself were accused from Christ for
my brethren. my kinsmen according to TIE
desh. Rom 81; 80, 3.
~rag = HE Gospel which
! + Christ has given
- n to the world is in
| I CxSaN { tensive and extern
| tZS1EkASzRA sive Intensive to
| ATSaS<IFM the point of NOV
| ATo\NN% ing the Almighty
| HMJ ><FkMHJ4+ M God to give His
] \NNv ftlW best treasure to
| \<<HEl IWTMhI/ earth, and leading
| <VNsXAAAMaIpL the Son of God to
E; Fl; +; !: T. !: !; !: !; e: E:
/ r
! world was includ-
ed in Gods plan of salvation and in
that the sacrifice which Christ made
wrought redemption for all the world.
| The terms in which Jesus is referred
to all through the Bible from the time
when God promised Abraham that in
e11 oil 49, ho
be blessed until John came crying:
Behold the Lamb of God, which TAX
eth away the sin of the world" are
| those which reach out beyond Israel
into all the world. This intensiveness
and eXtensiveness is the very heart of
the Gospel. 1t is the conception of the
Gospel which every Christian should
have, and its spirit must pervade the
heart and life, If one is to do effectual
and faithful service for the Master 1t
Is the man with the large vision that
aims the highest and goes the farthest.
The king who was looking for an ad
ministrator for his kingdom examined
each aspirant for the place and asked
what We're his qualifications. Each had
kingdom was to be through his admin
fstration. At last there came one with
modest, quiet manner, but with a far
deep light kindling in the eye. His
vision was not of self, but of the king
dom, his qualifications were not those
Of self-dependence and the assurance of
conceit, but rather of earnest, faithful
devotion to the vision of the high des-
tiny of the kingdom. '"Thou art the
man for whom I have been looking!"
exclaimed the king. Unto thy hands
shall be committed this trust"
7 OSEPH in Egypt was prepared for
y the large service by his vision of
the far-reaching commission and des-
tiny of Egypt. Daniel in Babylon was
fitted for the control of the kingdom by
the revelation of the place that king
dom held in the plans Of the eternal
God. Jesus was prepared to become
the worlds Saviour by the realization
Of Gods purposes in Him for all the
world. And the Christian is equipped
vision, this same realization Of the in
tensiveness and extensiveness of the |
glorious Gospel. This condition and |
attitude of heart characterize the life |
and writings of Paul. His ministry |
everywhere, whether from the prison |
cell at Rome or at Athens, or Corinth |
or Ephesus where he preached to the
multitudes, throbbed and pulsated with
the intensity of the Gospels power to
save to the uttermost, and its extern
siveness to reach out and enfold all the
needy world. It was from such
heart, heart filed with a realization
Of the power and possibilities of the
Gospel, that there burst the cry: 'tMy
hearts desire and prayer to God for
Israel is, that they might be saved.
I have great heaviness and continual
sorrow in my heart. For could wish
that myself were accursed from Christ
for my brethren, my kinsmen accord
Ing to- the flesh" A heart burdened
for souls. So burdened that he would
gladly have given his life and his hope
it thereby the lost souls of his brethren
might be saved. 1t was the echo of
the cry Of Moses in the wilderness, as
he asked God to blot him out of His
book If His mercy could not be extend
ed towards SHINING people.
THIS burden for souls should rest
upon the heart of every Christian.
It is not an experience which should
be confined to ministers and evange-
lists, and few of the more spiritual
church members, but is one which
should be manifested in every heart
hat has felt the cleansing power of
Jesus blood AMI the quickening power
IF His life. The burden for souls should
characterize the Gospel, rather than be ,
he unusual and infrequent expression
II that Gospel. But such burden can ,
come only as the soul catches vision
II the lost world, hopeless and help
ess in its sin, and forever separated
rom God, and vision of the Christ, !
Ind the worldwide salvation which j,
He is able to offer through the atone
nent which He made for sin. This
wo-fold vision it is the privilege of +,
very Christian to have and without :