Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-04-26
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Dea 10; OMISSIONS. A Worldwide
Responsibility"

BY REV. WALTER j. YATES, ID. u.
Thu worldwide purpose revealed in the
Scripturos.-Lu XXiv. 45-4I This the
significance OF the life of Christ-Luke H.,
tO-32. Rev. V, 9. We are His representa-
tives in this work.-Lulle XIV, As. The
churchs baptism not given for a local,
but for a worldwide conquest.-Acts /, s..
A narrow spirit corrected.-Acts X, $50.
There has been and still is too much
of disposition among Christians to
consider salvation a purely personal
matter of their relation to God. There
is much need Of emphasis being placed
on the individual. and no one must
sink his individuality in the mass of
mankind. But there is much also need
ing consideration in the relation which
each person sustains to the whole mass
of men in society 1t needs constant
repetition. lest we forget it, mo man
liveth unto himself and no man dieth
unto himself" We not only hold rela-
ton to God in all the ongoing of eXis-
tence, but we are intimately related to
our fellow men. We are individuals, it
Is true, but we are individuals in socie-
ty. In this society each is dependent
in many ways on the others and has
duties and rights toward them.
There are signs of a broadening Of
sympathies at the present time and Il
deeper study Of our conditions, rela-
tons and duties in society.
1t is apparent to any one who will
read the Bible with any considerable
degree Of attention that the design of
God is not to save any special few or
many Of the race to the exclusion OF
all others, but that salvation is adapted
to the needs Of all men everywhere
and at all times and that full provision
Is made for the salvation Of all and its
application is limited only by the will
ingness of men to receive it.
There is profound significance in the
death Of Jesus Christ for all men, and
the way this is stated in the fifth chap
ter of the Epistle TO the Romans sets
at rest forever any dea that only q
part of the race have been included in
the plans for redemption.
There is, then. responsibility placed
on every one who comes into conscious
fellowship with God through Jesus
Christ to assist in the actual uplifting
, of the race. OF course the very first
thing which every one is under obliga-
| ton to do is TO be himself the very
best kind of person which he can be
We are to make one person into the
likeness of the Master as far as our
conceptions and ability will permit
and to ever count on the assistance of
the Holy Spirit being given us in this
work. We are never to neglect per
sonal piety.
But at the same time we are messen
gers of God to every one whom we
can in any way reach. The growth OF
our own character will also depend il
large measure on the manner in which
we discharge this duty to show saliva
ton to other men.
We must by personal contact, by
voice and manner and all sorts of deal
ings which men have with men show
ever the pattern of true godliness anC
example of true Christian living to al
with whom we come in contact Blu
there is more in 1t than this. Oul
neighbor, whom we are under obliga
ton to love and help, is not Away!
merely the one we meet most frequent
ly, the one near at hand. He may b'
and ever is the man at the other sid'
of the earth whom we never have seeI
and never shall speak WITH the one in
Iced of whom we have never hear(
Individually but of whose existenc,
we know in general way. Him W,
are to help also. This is not to be &C
complished by personal contact, but b.
organization and combination with 9th
ers. When we cannot go we can send
Here lies the foundation of our grea
correctional benevolencies.
We are to be careful as to our per
sonal trust i'm God and our individual
salvation; we are to have regard 70
our local church and its maintenance
but we are to also have sympathies q
broad as the race and to send our helI
fulness worldwide wherever men mr.
in sin and need of Saviour We ar
TO do this with heart In 1t. Our none
should be used freely and wisely i
this service. More than this, we shout
have the deep and abiding spirit o
earnest prayer for the oncoming of tn
kingdom of God. And, then, we shout
cultivate the broadcast intelligence poi
sible as to the needs of the world vim,
yard and the strategic possibilities G
the hour. that all our prayers and Ell
ergies may be expended in the wises
\ efforts.