Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
Ennobling Service


huir, pastor OF Iempe baptist CnurCn.
honor His name and exhibit His spirit.
Hear what one of England's greatest
preachers said to his congregation: DO
you and I keep our religion as princes do
their crown Jewels only wearing them on
festive occasions, and have we another
dress for week days and working days? Do
we keep our love of Christ here in our pews
with our hymn books and our hassocks, or
do we take it out into the street and the mar
ket place, and work it out day by day. hour
by hour In patient endurance, in loyal love,
in simple faith finding that there is moth
ing little if Christ's name be crossed over
it, and nothing too great If it be approached
in His strength? o, for grace to yield our
selves unreservedly to the will of Jesus
and to walk humbly before Him even in the
commonest walks which human feet can
tread. o, for the instinct to discern His
jurisdiction over the whole sweep of actual
or possible enterprise and along every ave-
nue. of experience. Whether master or man.
engaged in large business or lowly calling;
whatever the implement of toll by which
livelihood is acquired, pen, or yardstick. or
artisans tool; whether high up in the So
cial scale or in its most retired places,
it is the privilege of all who profess the
Christian name to dwell and act under the
Masters ken. and to do everything by His
aid and for His glory. We serve the Lord
Christ Would God that this was always
evident
$50 let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess.
2. Service for Jesus contemplates the en-
noblement of lowliest employment and COM
monest conditions. When Paul told these
slaves that they served the Lord Christ
he lifted their wretched servitude out of
degradation and clothed it with special dis
tinction. Their meanest work became ra-
diant with light from high. and their
verlest drudgery was converted into blessed
ministry. AS they apprehended the apos-
ties thought they could not be men-pleasers
nor tme-servers. They could not scamp
work nor engage in dishonest practices. On
the contrary, they would endeavor to rem
der the best and heartiest service as they
conceived that the Lord was associated
Herewith No one can be Indifferent
workman nor be guilty of discreditable con-
duct who is conscious that the eye of God
is upon him, and that the Lord himself is
concerned in the transactions Of ordinary
life Strictest honesty, most scrupulous at
tention to details and unqualified diligence
iS TO characterize MIN
who realizes that most mental labor can be
transformed into work for God. Sang
George Herbert:
"a servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a as for thy laws,
Makes that and the action fine"
There is need to emphasize this truth TO-
dav because of tendency to depreclate
work and to regard the man who with
Drawn or brain tolls for living unworthy
of high esteem But when 1t is understood
that man can companion with God in the
market place, can find opportunities TO
serve him where business or domestic duties
clamor for attention and that holy expert
ences can be enjoyed when the hahos are
occupied with common tasks 1t Will pheh
no particularly manifest that no employ
want &c of itself bemeaning, but all work
can he lifted into the arena of nobiest deeos
o,.ormed for God. Character rather imam
station. conduct rather than occupation EVIL
dances the real quality of manhood. A poor
sherwoman felt something of this when
ran,vine to her pastors sympathy she de-
c,ared that she did not need II as she hau
MANY walks in spirit through the Ne"
Jerusalem as she bent over the washtuo.
blessed is the man or woman VINO iiiuS
heaven near, and Christ precious where
b,rdens multiply and life is irksome. TO
sucb an one lowlest service is ministry
rendered to the King eternal
Q They who serve Jesus amid cramped
conditions and in the drudgery OF daily toii
are sure of divine compensation AS the
anostle counsels these slaves he bids them
to remember that they shall receive the
reward of the inheritance" How strangely
that assurance must have sounded In their
ears Only misery and hard usage they
expected. Property they had none for they
themselves were property. To talk to them,
therefore, about inheritance, about coming
into possession of estate was something
wholly outside of their most sanguine out
look But it must have brought cheer to
their sad lives and frightened the gloom
of their wretched huts AS they thought OF
their deprivations, the cruelty to which
they were subjected and the squalor OF
their abodes this glorious prospect enabled
them to look away and above the narrow
and hard conditions of their lot and to an
ticipate the time when they should be re-
ceived as sons and heirs, and be welcomed
into their Lords kingdom In 1.-The land that
Is fairer than day" Such vision in their
darkest hours gave life even to these de-
spised people a new significance and
blessed outcome. They were not living al
together in vain. nor battling with circum-
stances and enduring sufferings which
meant ultimately defeat and disaster.