The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-01-20

We must part company, then lie - msst
resolved never 70 leave nor 20 iorsake us.
Pear not. rings out His word OF cheer.
This is the beginning OF richer life and
wider service Heneeforth thou shalt catch
men For the knowledge OF self and the
diStrust of self IL arouses, and the knowl'
edge OF Christ. with the confidence in
Christ IL awakens - these are the first
shoots O.. spiritual growth and the hrst
foundation stones IN the edlhce Of a dis
cIple's usefulness, Spiritual sensltlveness
Is the condition OF ministerial effective
ness IL Is the man who knows he IS not
fit 20 minister whom Christ can make so.
Therefore when the hoats with their
marvellous freight OF tsh, had been brought
10 land. did Jesus ask cf Peter and his
partner that surrender ot themselves 20
service. which involved the separating ot
themselves from evory other interest and
occupation 10 exclusive and continuous
eompanionshin with Christ. and 20 con-
slant work for others, under HIS direo.
tion. Then and there. as one os four, did
Simon Peter make that supreme tenuncia'
tion. which. because q was made az his
own command. and was the manifestation
of faith, and the proof of love. The Lord
accepted. and forever after blessed; They
forsook all and followed Him 10 was
sacrifice OF conservation which only those
who have done the like are at or compe'
tent To Judge III we are ready 10 pat our
selves I'm Peters place, 20 face the ipdcter
inmate future rs he faced 1t. that dav: TO
think OF the kind OF interest IN ms husi-
ness a man oi such energy must have had,
and the enthusiasm FOR his occupation as
fisherman which evidently. to the last. he
felt II we are observed 10 note the latent
evidences in the gospel story that the busi'
ness hitherto had flourshed and pros
pered. 50 that Peter and his associates
dwelt IN comfort, bordering on the edge,
at least. Of competence, estimated by the
standards OF that land and age-then we
shall know what a venture OF faith ana cN-
preston of confidence in his Lord Peter
made when he left all Tor Christ, giving up
the chance OF future gains and binding
himself 10 the saeriheial use of present
possessions for the common good. IL ls
frequently said. disparagngly. OF Peters
remuneration ot the world and ats good,
"lt was a little all that he 'eit and
Peter has been criticised, for himself, re-
ferring. at a later day, 10 the saorihce he.
with others, now made-'a boat, lew
nets. dirty and old, an occupation espe'
cially laborious and in some features OF u
repellant 10 men Of ordinary refinement.
was what he LETT We are told. Wei! ner'
haps II was So: more hkclv Il was other
wise But whether the ALI were little or
much Peter lett II: left IL instantly, utter.
" and without regret. lie transferred
himself in protoundest faith and iivell.st
gratitude TO Jesus Christ and HIS service
exclusively, forever. For Christs sake,
the works sake. the worlds sake. he re
uounced ms former lie aud ambitions. 10
give himself and all he had unreservedly
10 .Tesus Christ And Christ welcomed,
applauded ana has abundantiy rewarded
the sacrifice. II rs a surrender not asked
OF every disciple, but IN proportion as any
disciple approNimates ITS spirit oi ialth
and conservation. IN that measure VIII he
realize his completest spiritual life. II Is
sacrifice completer even than is asked oi
every disciple called 10 an exclusive min.
istry hut only to the degree that the MN
lster of Christ can detach himself from the
word, and lts spirit Ot gam getting. VIII
his largest spiritual power and widest ln
fiuence be realized. Here stands Peters
noble example of remuneration Tor Christs
sake. upon the pages OF scripture, summon
ing us all. from our VAIN seeking Tor ma
terial good AZ the all of life: and from our
disposition TO keen what we have gotten
as exclusively as our own. Cbrlsts discr
niles belong 10 Christ. and all they have 10
His: whether they are called 10 use 1t all
IN His more immediate service or not
Let everv servant OF Jesus beware OF los
ing has lie IN the effort TO save and cher
ish II. For what is man prohted II hs
shall gain the whole world and lost his
souly"
Surely the incentive 10 such sacrifices 10
not wanting IN the light OF Peters subse
duent career On that later day, when the
rich young ruler had gone away sorrowinP
because he had great possessions, and was
therefore unwilling TO make the renuncia
tion. which. in his case, Jesus bad asked
10 save him from the cancer of avarice,
which was eating ont his life, Simon Peter
after the Lord had dscoursed a little on
the deceitiulness and hindrance Of riches
unduly loved. SAID. 10. We have left our
own and followed Thee Whereupon
Jesus replied. Verify | say unto you
there ~ no man that hath left house. or
wife. on brethren, or parents. or chIldren
for the kingdom oi Gods sake, who shaI
not receive manifold more IN this time
and in the world TO come eternal lie"
And has not that promise hecn abundant
ly fulfilled ia Peters casey One thinks
not so much Of the eternal distinction that
has come 20 him m the veneration OF mul
tudes who think Of him as the foremost
apostle OF the church: nor Of a memorial
to his naTne so magnificent as that which
rears It's lofty, graceful dome 70 the ko
man skv, hut OF the unioIded iuIness OF his
spiritual life as registered IN his epIstles
Of the influence he has eXfrted upon men
from the Pentecost onw9rd, OF that Decu
liar effiuence OF help and cheer which 10
ever has exbaled through his individual
need for painful discipline and his equal,
triumphant realization OF n purified and
ennobled character, grown strong and lux
uriant out Of the very soil Of its manv ~
frmities Surely the remuneration Of ii
mon Peter was not in vain either for him
self or for the world. What that little
life Of ms might have remained TO be. OF
deteriorated 10 become, IN its narrow Sy
rian round. Il he had refused the call oI
Christ, who can adequately 'ayE But th,
imagined contrast between what he would
then have been and whAt he now is suf
fees 10 move W 20 the swift acceptance
Of every proposal Christ makes TO ". and
the speedy answer 20 every call OF Has foI
ourselves and our service. at whatever
present cost That answer must De gwen.