The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-11-15

foreign lktiu optdht A<CiNf
thy servant heareth. If young
Christians did but enquire OF Goa
often and conscientiousiy no DOUBT
we would find more young men en-
tering the ministry and more ac-
tive workers in the church.
CD This leads me to say III in
our service we would follow the
example Christ has set for us we
must make 1t the leading aim OF
our lives to win souls TO Christ.
This we may do in many ways. both
by precept and example. A holy
and consistent life Is the most po-
tent means of leading men into the
service OF God. Hence we are eX-
horted. Let your light SO shine
before men that they may see your
good works and glorify your father
which is in heaven. lie that win
meth souls Is wise; and they that
be wise shall shine as the bright
ness of the ornament and they
that turn many TO righteousness as
the stars forever and forever.
II were asked to define in a few
words sure enough Christian. |
would YOU say one that prays.
gives and labors for the salvation
of all men every where. whether
Jew or gentle. civilized or savage.
bargarian. Cythian bound or free.
II YOU do not desire the saliva
ton of your worst enemy you may
doubt the genuineness OF your re
ligiOn.
My brother nay sister. have you
won some souls TO ChristyHaVeIyou
from the great harvest field of the
world gathered some sheaves unto
eternal life? Or have you gather
ed nothing but leaves?
"Ah, who shall thus the Master
meet
Bearing but withered leaves;
All. who shall at the Saviour 3
fe-t
Before the awful judgment seat
Lay down for golden sheaVes
Nothing but leaves.
90 Once more. II were are to
render acceptable service to God
We must follow the example Of Him
Who ever Went about doing good.
This language | think means Christ
diligently sought opportunities for
doing good. He did not wait TO
stumble on opportunities for doing
good or have them thrust upon
Him. but He was ever on the alert
going from place TO place 10 find
opportunities for doing good SO
must We II We would serve him ac-
ceptably. He went from place to
place ins,ructing the ignorant COM
fortiag the sorrowing. visiting the
sick, feeding the hungry, and
healing the diseased.
Outlines We serve Christ best
when We serve our fellow crea-
lures Mrs Norton has well said.
They serve God we'll who serve
his creatures The spirit Of char
liz CT Lrotherly Kindness is great
magician. bridging chasms. soften
ing asperities and drawing together
hocr'c crd hands The spirit o.
ca.ri.s IS t-e true cement taa.
goes into the building OF Christ S
KINGDOM in the earth. He tells us
the poor We always have with us
aud when we will we do them
good. And in ministering to them
We minister to Him. In this We
must be active and practical The
sympathy which dims the eye.flush-
Is the check. and makes tremulous
the voice while the story of real
want and woe is told. aud yet pays
no visit TO the home OF want or
sorrow, nor sacrifices q single lux
ury to allay the agony. such SYM
patty Is worse than useless. Mere
sickly sentimentalism or sympathy
is worthless when it strangles no
vice. chastens no haughtiness. curbs
no desire. begets no charity. makes
no gifts. knows no sacrifice. lifts
no heavy burdens. plucks up no
root or bitterness. cheers no desc
late life, distills no annOdine over
fretted and chafed spirits. but
leaves the suffering and sorrowing
to wall their dirges TO the stars
and forget their anguish in the
oblivion Of the tomb: such SYM
pathy and so-called charity is use
less and worthless The immortal
English poet makes Mark Anthony
say IN his Grafton over Caesar s
dead body, when the poor hath
cried Caesar hath wept" How
much more shall the followers of
Christ be moved not only TO tears
but to deeds OF benevolence by the
wants and woes OF our fellow crea-
lures.
DR.. GLADDEN., OF Ohio, has recent
ly made an appeal in the Centary
Magazine for what he calls a Mu-
nicipal Church that shall care more
Systematically for the poor. the
sick, the needy and the helpless.
He says the slackening power OF
church is not due SO much to the
New Theology" nor to a disregard
of the Sabbath. nor neglect OF
prayer. nor to the lack of eyangeli-
cal preaching. as the neglect of so
cial and municipal functions. He
says Christianity has so far for
saken Christ that II does not lay
the same stress that he did on the
succor Of the poor, the sick and
the unfortunate The early church
under the teaching and example of
Christ was very diligent in serving
the poor and needy of the human
race
Such imperfectly described is
the service we owe to Christ and
| come to speak in closing of its
rewards
2. The Christians rewards. Having
dwelt at such length on the service
but little time is left me to speak
OF its rewards. II we render the
service the rewards so rich and
varied are sure to follow, for Christ
has said. IF any man follow me
him will my Father honor. God the
Father is so pleased with the serv-
ice rendered his son that he will
honor and richly reward anyone and
everyone that renders acceptable
service TO his we'll beloved Son.
And it necessarily and logically
follows that the rewards for service
win be graded and determined by
the quality and quantity OF the
service rendered. We read in the
scriptures of some Christians
who are scarcely saved" Saved
so far as by fire." and of Others
who have ministered unto them an
abundant entrance into the ever
lasting kingdom.
II is in accordance with human
ideas OF justice and right that re-
wards shall be regulated by merit
and the character OF the service
rendered. II we would have a rich
and glorious reward, then we must
render a faithful and valuable serv-
ice.
The Christian serves a good Mas.