Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-03-05
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John did no mirA0aes vet he Wa1
great, the greateet OF the pr0pheth.E
Human nature loves the marvellous.
Mcn turn and look In wonder at the
feats or the performer on the trapese,
whether II be In theology, business,
politics or science. Dazzling feats Of
life. John did not measure his great
ness by that Of others; be was too
much absorbed in his mission TO think
Of the work Of his fellow men. Lake
Moses, who "wist not that his face
sh0ne" when he came down from the
Mount OF Communion, John went to
the river bank to preach In oblivious-
ress Of his own superiority to others,
To himself he seemed but 3. voice. q
breath, or a slave unworthy TO loose
Messiah's sandals. Yet John WAS am
bilious: he aspired to q position of
faithfulness that would make him
worthy of his calling. Ambition Is
natural to men; indeed there is little
hope for Advancement In life without
1t. Young people are sometimes adj
vised to be satisfied with the condi-
tions in which they are placed and
crush all desire to better themselves.
Ambition Is right and praiseworthy
when It Is founded on humility and
obedience; 1t is wrong when ground
ed In pride and selfishness. Daniel
was ambitious to make known the
power of Jehovah In the land of his
captivity. Joshua was ambitious to
be worthy successor of Moses. Paul
was ambitious to plant the standard
Of the cross In every town of Asia
Minor. John the Apostle was am
bilious to repeat the vision that
came to him on Patmos, and Jesus
was ambitious to save the world
In studying the life of John the
Baptist we discover four things that
made him great: He was faithful to
his call: he was humble In his SER
vice; he had vivid realization OF
the presence Of the Messiah. ana he
was devout in all that he did.
He was not q miracle worker, but
he was q forerunner, and as FORE
runner he gave himself to his work.
Rome had extended its power IL
many directions; the destiny of the
empire was In one mans hands; the
old, sturdy Roman stock had died
out; two classes Of men took its
place: the petted devotees Of wealth
and luxury and the slaves. The old
Brick imperial city had given way to
a city of marble. Stoicism, epicurian.
ism and superstition prevailed. Men
worshiped their ancestors and the
emperor. The Jews in Palestine had
become restless under the Roman
yoke and were ready to resist foreign
control. They waited only for some
great man to arise and stir them to
rebellion. There was feeling every.
where that the Kingdom of heaven
was at hand. that the Messiah was
about to appear and lead their armies
on to successful combat AGAINST the
Romans. Suddenly John the Raptisi
made his apnearance on the hanks NJ
the Jordan. His strange earh his
positiye preachine. his hold message
attracted attention. and crowds came
from eyery district To hear his Her.
mons. and submit to his baptism. II
Ia mo wonder. for John was q great
preacher. eS
We sometimes hear II said that
there are too MANY ministers Va.
cant pulpits. unemployed cIergymen
and the nrevaIent nnwiilineness al
Christians to nav living salaries to
their religious leaders are all men.
toned in evidence of the fact 7,
NAV he true that there are too manv
ministers bnt there are not too MANY
nrorhets, and there never can he
Tha tronhia "a VIC have narrow
Wan ~ tha rnir,strv Tha ,vnrr =,
the cnsnaI HaraiS ..rnnt nv MA
dowr ~ tha limit. oS nrnso.s Io,s
Eisven o,cioch a. tba r,prn;rm
n;cIocr IN Inc avan,n1 90 ,norS
nravsrs CO many reod;ng s s az many
sermons 80 MANY calls dnrine ths
week and the work "a Hnished Ers
Angelica preached when he wrought
his wonderful pictures, Savonarola
preached when he hurled his ana.
themas against the prevailing cor.
ruption of religious leaders; Bunyan
preached when he penned his mar.
80 NJ