Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-12

they are likely to wander away from
the Master. There comes some new
teacher with great pretensions OF Wis.
dom who says, Come, l will lead you
into higher regions than your master
has been able to show you" ANY
church that follows such may make
up their mind that they will soon lose
the Master. Or, again, 1t may be
some high church official who says he
will lead you to regions Of religious
assurance that you have not found IN
following your Master. In the old
days it would have been the High
Priest; in our day 1t might be the
ancient and splendid hierarchy Of the
army Of Rome, but you and are per-
suaded that 1t is more blessed to fol-
low the Master "who not having seen
we love-" Christ has never consent
ed that we should follow any human
priest. Then. again. the charch
might consent to follow Caesar or
some representative Of political mower
in the world. In following Caesar
we run the risk of losing the more
important guidance of Jesus. No po.
litical power, no human prestige, no
wisdom of the human understanding
is safe guide for any church OF
Christ.
Then can you conceive of any hu.
man leadership that it would be safe
for the church or disciples to follow!
Yes. Here is this man. Jairus. who
comes from outside with this pitiful
story, and Jesus rises and follows
him, and so do His disciples. ANY
man who knowns the way to any kim
of human sorrow or need or wrong
NAV claim n hearing from any church
of Jesus Christ. and If in the hearing
they find he knows the way better
than we, he may claim not only a
hearing, but the following from the
church of Jesus Christ. It Is direct
imitation of His example. The church
has often been too slow: sometimes
because we did not like the man who
called. The personal character OF the
leader does not come into the ques-
ton at all. We want all those In
sorrow to know that the best nlace
to como is ALWAYS the church OF Jesus
Christ. That the MESSAGE will re-
ciovn tho nromptost attention. and no
moor Iairus need ever 20 home along.
Once his story was finished, JESUS
rot I'm and followed him. and so d'd
His discinlos. IF we are discinles.
II is our business to be following
Christ. But how to follow Him? VINO
will lead us? I have no doubt that
sometimes our Lord shows us the wav
by those older and wiser In the church
y HE IL
orshin through those without the
church. messengers telling us OF some
one who needs help, and oar business
as Christians. not only as churches'
but az individuals, Is to be listening
always for thnt anpeal, looking only
to the path that leads to the house
where thew need us. We cannot see
tho face of Jesus. we cannot hear HIS
voice: It may even seem to some OF
lis that we have lost the comforting
sense of Jesus in our hearts. We
ask wNv He did not leave somc guido
whom we could see and follow and
who would lead us back to Him ana
before tho words are out of our IDS
here stands this Jairus. Come . ne
saws. and Won listen and you rise up
and follow him, and as soon rs you 90
something tells YOU that yon are NOT
any longer walking alone. That lost
companionship you wore mourning TOT
has been restored to you. This was
His guide. and you have done well
to follow him.
This Is not my fancy. Let me read
Won the plain words of the history:
"While he spake, behold! there came
n certain ruler. and when he saw
Jesus he fell at his feet and besought
him. saying. NV little daughter lieth
at the point of death. pray thee
come and lay thy hand upon her and
she shall live. and Jesus arose ana
followed him, and SO did his dis
cinIee"