The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29
"a Divine Command"
(Selected for The Times Dispa tch.)
"Ioreach the gosnel to- every crca turc.

E.f. "A 4|ANAhSl
# tselected for The Times Dispatch
Preach the gospel to- every creature"
st Mark xvi.ss15. 81
This is the marching order given
by Jesus. Christ to His followers. Tho
whole toxt reads: "And He said unto
them. Go We into ali the, world and preach
the gospel9to every creature
Can we make these words more unl-
versnl? Can we add another province to
the sphere? Can you add one island to
that geography-just little one? Can
you? 60 We into all the world"--lt
fully covers all space--''and preach the
gospel to every creature Is there one
left out-a little one, a black one, a yell
low one? What omissions mark this
census? Not one.
This is like our Lord Jesus Christ.
He is always big in thought, in care,
in love. Was He never mean, little
sparce, critical? Did He always Gas in
these worlds embrace the whole uni
verse? The whole character OF Christ
is shown in this provision for Ills crea-
turcs.s
How many men did God make? Who
made the rest? Where Is there a man
who called himself into existence, MAIN
tains an independent Individuality and
relations to all things, coming and going
as he pleases? Show me that mani AS
lat the first, Gods hand was upon all,
even so through all the story Gods love
is upon all; Christ's dear cross over
shadows all; Christ's big heart welcomes
all.
Preach the gospel to every. creature"
Then every creature needs It, And this
gospel and it alone can supply the need
Of weary humanity.
him. You have seen a man and many
men, but you have not seen Man. Only
God can do that. Until we get hold OF
that simple thought, we shall mako no
progress in our Christian studies.
What is vegetation? You have never
seen vegetation. You have seen your
own little garden and the field beyond 1t.
You have gone even further, and known
o. little about American vegetation and
even perhaps something about English
gardens. But this is nothing. Who has
seen all the vinelands, corn-lands, spice
lands all the LANDS watched by the 20
dlac the stars and the angels?
Only God can sec the globe at ono
glance and only God can see and know
what man u.s.
IN CALF
I must be told what am think I
know myself, sometimes. and yet my-
selfEI have never seen. do not know
which is, myself. My name is legion,
for there are many of us and all within
is riot, war; bitterness, strife, prayer,
blasphemy, angels and devil. What Is
| this? Who is it? Father, mother. come
| and tell me all about myself, reveal me
to myself! *
Human nature Is matter OF reveln-
ton. II there Is a book which reveals
! God that book will also reveal man,
| Christians have accepted the Bible as
| Gods recitation of Himself and hu-
| ,nanity.
And whit Is the Bible nccount OF man?
| "phe heart Is decetful above all things,
God made man upright. but he hath
! sought out many Inventions. All arc
like sheep, and have gone astray, We
have turned every one TO his ono wayr
there is none that doetl good, no., not
1 one" "
The Bible then. reveals man as lost.
But hear, ut the same time sweet
J voice, saying. '"rhe Son Of Man Is come
to seek and to save that which was
lost Not some of II; not little OF
! 1t, not much of st; nor most OF u. but
shat which Was lost"
This Is the good news, the glad It'd
lngs, the blessed hope which we call tho
! ,:gospe,h And this Is to DO preached
| to '.eyery creature" No words can eX-
press It all, but each word finds a spe-
elul place IN the heart. BRINGING WIFI
! 1t untold peace and comfort,
| Listen to words like these: God SC
| loved the world that He gave llls only
begottcn Son. that whatsoever believed
on Him should not perish, but have ever
lasting life" And again; Come unto
4 Me all We that labor and are heavy laden
] and ! VIII give you rest" Those are the
words we crave and these, are the
words to be preached TO every crea-
ture."
| How do we stand In relation TO themi
We have either believed them, Or We