The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-03-28

Ministers Corner.
SPIRITUAL PREREQUISITES FOR THE
ATTRACTIVE PRESENTATION OF
CHRIST
By Rev. Donald Fraser, Church of Scotland
Mission
The prerequisite necessary for attractively
presenting Christ is that should live
work in the fellowship of God. This was necessary
for the prophets, it necessary for Christ, and
it the secret of the victory of the early apos-
ties. Ali great workers realized that they
identified with God and that the ultimate success
of their work much his concern as theirs.
LORD thou art imperied with u.s." cried Luther.
This assurance will compel to believe that God
triumphs even when he defeats methods. This
fellowship is necessary % If the distinctive work
of the missionary is to be done. He is there to
present Christ to the nations That aim puts
limit on the methods the work he may use
Everything that raises the Individual life or the
social life of a man and conforms him more to
the ideal Of Christ comes within the sphere his
operations. But must to it that if these
avenues prepare to lead to Christ are not to
end in maze, who lead along them walk side
by side with Christ.
There is no question about the strenuousness of
the missionaries life, but activity never regenerat
ed man. The only conquering power is Spir-
ituality and that can only be obtained and main
tanned in the fellowship of Christ Hudson Tay-
lor seemed to hear God saying to him, "I am going
to evangeze inland China, and if you walk with
I will do it through you" This sense of part
nership has been predominant and overwhelming
wherever God has trfumphed. 1t was conspicu-
ously so in the time of the Welsh Revival. HUI
man intruments forgotten in the overshadow-
ing of the power of Cod
(2) 1t is necessary to maintain spiritual sensi-
tiveness For the heather lands are not hotbeds
for saints You live there among circumstances
that all tend towards coarsening, seeing no man
better than yourself, and surrounded by a social
a man is not to succumb to this he must live con-
stantly hI the fellowship of God. Otherwise he
becomes accustomed to the presence of sin and
loses the sense of its horror 1t is the painful type
of missionary who is wounded with Christ by the
sins of the world who will best teach the lessons
of holiness, and present the true picture of Christ
CD 1t is necessary for the maintenance of that
spotess character which is the effective rec
ommendation of Christ. Holiness is found nowhere
else save in him, and character will only stand
the test Of time and of the isolation of the foreign
field if it grows I'm Christ, not social conscience
The finest Offering a man can give to the world is
a life copied after Christ. No other ar
gument presents such claim A minister i'm the
north Of Scotland met McCheyne i'm private and
heard HIN talk. "TIe the most Jesus-Iile man
] ever met" ne cried and he went into his room
to weep He and many another found their strong
est call to Christ, and sancthcation in the mere
contact Of this man.
But God must be sought, not for the power his
fellowship gives, but for his own sake. Not by
us as mis- sfonaries but sinners And it is the
man who can say with zinzendorf, 'I have only
one passion and that is He" he only, who will be
most likely to impress the world with Christs
claims.-Irom address at the Student Volunteer
Convention at Nashville.