The Newtown bee., 1908-11-27

where there are no spectacular mani festation. Men often forget that the power is not in us; is the power of God. But We accept the simple truth that We are to labor for results, visible, tangible results, and that the results must ever be proportioned to the DOW CT exercised. Results, then are what are expected of ua.
 But we shall see the magnitude of this demand five notice, fora little, the aims and obstacles of the Christian ministry.
 ! The message and the mission of the ministry are the same in all ages. To see clearly Gods purpose, and to strive earnestly for it's accomplishment should be onr most earnest prayer; for if it be not, though We may win a rep- utation, and be charmed by human applause. we shall fail to win the Masters approval.
 To understand, then, the end for which the ministry exists is a matter of vital importance.
 One aim is to bring men into right relations with God. That man by na- ture is misadjusted to God needs no proof. The whole of revelation pro- ceeds upon the assumption that man has been drawn from his allegiance to his Maker. Universal experience con- firms the assumption, The historic record of the race is Tn every point the counterpart of the inspired record. Every man knows and feels it to be true. But think of the appalling task of removing this enmity, restoring loyalty, and of bringing men into right relations with God. Only those who have tried it can appreciate the diff culty. A hard heart, stubborn will, bad environment, the entail of a bad inheritance from numberless ancestors, prejudice, pride, passion, and almost every con- ceivable obstacle oppose you at every step. To preach a sermon. or any number of sermons, is very easy to a man with a fertile brain, but to preach such sermons as shall lead men to break away from their bad associations, turn their faces and love away from the world to God, and eagerly ask to be enlisted under the banner of Christ, is not so easy as some people think.
 Alas my feeble voice has no power to rouse to wskefulness sleeping soul. Only the power of God can do that. Oh! how often we are disappointed. We toll through many weary days to prepare sermon in which Gods mes- sage to the Impenitent shall be found. It is the result of many prayers. We seek to impress 1t upon the mind and heart by every urgent motive. We argue, we beseech all such to be re- conciled to God, but it often seems like water split upon the ground which cannot be gathered again.
 We seek to instruct the understand ing, the mind is convicted by the truth but alas! the conduct is unchanged. We try to get at the citadel of the heart but the world, and pleasure and sin are barriers that we find impossible to remove. Oh! how it makes my heart ache sometimes when l realize how powerless 1 am to bring souls into right relations to God. There would be no joy comparable to that if l only had the power to make you loyal and loving subjects of Christ. Ashamed of our imperfect work, weary and baffled, as we turn again to the Mas. ter and sit at His feet, we learn there is power that can move and melt the most indifferent heart. We are re- minded, too, how the multitude often i turned away from Him and His gentle and entreating voice, and then we try to be patient, if we are not yet pro fcieut in bringing men into right re- lations to God. But when we have succeeded in bringing souls into this new kingdom, our work has only com menced. The next aim is to bring their lives into conformity to the Di- vine pattern. The first thing is to change a mans relations, then we have to change the man. It is great work to get the rough block of stone out of the quarry, but it takes long and patient toll to carve into symmetrical form the image that shall be worthy to stand in the palace of the King. In the new born soul we see wonderful possibilities, but the artist feels that his skill is inadequate for the develop ment of that soul into the likeness of God. The formation and development of character is the great aim of the ministry. The ideal to which we seek to bring men is not one created by our own minds, but it is the image of God that we are seeking to reproduce in them, and surely for such work as that we need to be clothed with power. The power to accomplish this must be what Paul coils "the effectual working of the power of God". We ought not to be content till we have that power. Eloquence is not thing to be de-. spised broad and deep learning give man tremendous power-to be able to traverse the lofty highways of know ledge, and bring down at will the rich treasures discovered there is very de- sirable- these things may entertain and instruct the congregation, but one may possess all these rare gifts, and still have no power to fashion soul into the image of Christ.
 We soon discover In our work the need of power greater than our own. The obstacles that prevent the attain ment of the ends that we seek make us keenly alive to our own weakness.
 The mission of the preacher is the same, but the opposing forces are ever changing. am not pessimist, but l