The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-08
"The Mission of PhiIip.-

Philip fndeth NathanieL"-John 1: 25
 Thus the church begins. One man makes the acquaintance Of Jesus of Nazareth, and straightway he goes to tell this new truth of the Messiah to another. It is characteristic of Chris tianity. It is the instinctive impulse of the Christian. One finds and tells another. and thus the Kingdom of God grows.
 Ours is an aggressive religion. It is never at rest; 1t cannot be. It stands by itself, among the religions of the race, in It's zeal for making converts. covered every Nathaniel" and brought him to Jesus. It will never be brought until the whole race Is Christian; nor Christian in deed and truth. It Is a long time yet, but 1t must surely come!
 This aggressive spirit is seen in every follower of the Master who is in spiri- tual sympathy with Him. Ills task isl not done when he has worked out his own salvation. None can be saved alone. We save ourselves by saving our brother. Selfish men can never be the spirit of Christ. The Christian dnds his truest mission in helping, up- lifting and trying to save some one else. This IS what Jesus did. We are Christians only as we follow the ex- | ample of Andrew. who having himself
  he brought his own father, Peter, to Christ
 This longing to find and bring some brother in. marks not only the Chris tian, but the earnest man of every creed the whole world over. It hred the heart of a poor camel driver, in the Ara bian Desert and made him the amhas- sador of God. to & sixth part of the in- habitants of this plant. Though the sun stand on my right hand. and the moon moon on. on my left" said Mohammed. nsacs sae Dosf S n0nf command ad.an me to hold my
 It moved a German school master 30 that Gods word had free passage all he stood that honest. brave Lutherf Nothing could shake him. Here I stand" he said. surrounded by enemies, God help me l cannot do otherwise" In spite of all prelates. and threats and prisons and fagots yet must he ut ter forth in the hearing of all men. the truth which God had given him. and
 All earnest men are akin. The ear | nest man will be intent to be right alone. He will have no monopoly of the whole world Id to ss's see: ' what T he nise be lieves he desires to share with the whole worldL
 This progressive spirit, which is a ble even the humblest of the followers of Christ. The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee. and hndeth and so Philip became a Christian. And He cannot rest tiff he has found his
 It Is tRe the sa%e 2s in samarla Sam T '':a The wo- man saith unto Him: I know the Messiah cometh which is called Christ" yssgs as ths ssh Ha Rs5 %ora He f had H sookd of Himself. What does she do with this trust from heaven? She went her way unto the city and saith unto the all things that ever I did. Is not this
 Always the word Come" Come" "Come," begs Philip oG Nathaniel Come" entreats this woman of sama- ria stopping every one she meets on the must tell what good things Christ has done for their soul. Every Christian ought to be making somebody else
 It is easy to speak to people on tho subject of religion, from the pulpit. We expect 1t there. But to address our on this subject Is difficult Indeed. Yet in every friendship Chat Is worth any thing) the moment does come when It is just the time for for spiritTa word then speak fearlessly and lovingly. Who can measure the influence of an open. earnest manly Christian speech.
 One real difaculty lies in the consci- ousness of our own imperfections. Are we better than he that we should urgo the higher and spiritual life? And if we go. what shall we say? or how make objection. what shall we reply' What is it we desire to do? It may be put into .G single ,snS sentence: 1t tSs kro w" ledge and thus to the love and alleRf~ ance of Jesus Christ What will best bring this about7 Our own example will do a great deal And though we do not say a word 1t helps.
 That Is what Philip did. He did not know much about Christ himself Che had only been with Him one day); and when Nathaniel. after hearing what he had to say, made an objection-"Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip had no argument or proof to say simply. Come and see" Only Him speak, get acquainted with Him, and then make up your own mind There was no argument; only loving. unselfsh entreaty. Nathaniel came and saw for himself and thus another disciple was added to the company of Jesus.
 You have know Jesus longer than Philip-whom have you brought to Him? How many have been led by your example and invitation to the feet of the blessed Master?
 Remember the world only knows Jesus by the lives of His followers. l How clear a picture do you give-of His mstchless character. His yearning az. AaA Itrk rA Af AIN