The new South-news., 1908-03-07

man In all wisdom This warnine
and teaching follow the awakeniuS,
We nesd the Christ to awaken the
sleeper. and then We have 70 to edu-
cate him when he Il awake that he
VIII have an ever-increastng sense OF
duty and = more exquisite feeling re-
garding what In right and wrong.
According 70 my Interpretation Of
the teaching Of Jesus Christ. the
progress OF Christian living Ia always
In the direction OF Z keeuer discern
nent OF the tribe. Wegrow bigger men
In Christ when things that have never
been needed by US come into view.
When our religion comes down to our
tribes. when all the little things are
Just Ike illumined lamps along the
"ay--when not only the great crises
but the tiny commonplaces are beau
tined-then We become big. II IL
IN the direction Of the dlscernmept OF
the simple. the inclusion OF the trifie.
,hat Christian growth proceeds. 60
when man is awake we have got to
educate his conscience and his moral
and spiritual perceptions until he can
hear the faintest call OF duty even
along commonplace road.
Ihe third human means whereby
men Will be perfected is the ministry
or sacrificial toll. Wheyeunto I
labor. striving according to his work
ing, which worketh in me nightly. =
There Is no English word which
brings out the meaning OF labor az
used here. In John 4, where Jesus
meets the woman of Samaria. He
being wearied with His Journey, sat
on the well" This is the word trans
lated here. as II the apostle said. II
labor and share the WEAKNESS OF
Jesus. 1t Is laboring to the point
OF fatigue. TO the loss OF blood. Men
Will be perfected through some labor
Ing TIL they are spent. 1t is taking
your thought and giving it to tho
thoughtless. taking your strength and
giving 1t TO the strengthless. II Is
the morally and spiritually healthy
taking their blood TO the morally and
anaemic 1t includes the
provision of decent houses. the an
portionment OF fair days labor.
the removal OF every fence and bar
rier along legitimate roads. the
smashing OF every paddock which
holds the soul in unholy bondage.
But to give man a better house
and render him like service in other
things Is no more giving him Christ
than free library Is Mr.. Carnegie.
IL may be Christian work, but It il
not Christ. II is chivalrous work, but
II Is no substitute for Him. l would
not class such services among things
secular. l would keep them within
the palace. but would not allow them
10 nave the throne. When you have
given man "A better home and have
paced garden round his house. you
nave only prepared the way OF the
Lord-the King has yet to come.
You have got to preach Jesus to |
aWake the dead. to educate the mans
conscience when he is awake. to de- |
'ote your energies In sacrificial toll |
o the removal of all hindrances to a |
mans moral and spiritual progress.
Let us not forget to see to our
ielves. Even the reformer needs the
'aviour; and the crusader needs the
ihrist- Even the best worker In
his mission will faiter and fail un-
ess ne be sustained "Be thou faith
III unto death. and | will give thee
crown OF life The promise applies
ow. 1t is as IL the Lord said TO us:
Look after thy fidelity and | will
ook after thy vitality" 1t IL not
'hen the warfare is over that l shall
'ant my crown; the Lord waits to
roNn lie now.