Evening journal., 1910-12-09
THE EPWORTH LEAGUE iDEyO.
TI0NAL MEETING.
"The Messenger and the Saviour"
Nal n o. Mnii - L.


Nal. y: !, 2; Matt. B: ;l-3.
John the Baptist lived an isolated
life; little is told of him from the
time of his birth until he emerges
from the wilderness proclaiming the
arrival of the Messiah. He must have
been brought very near to the great
Law-Giver as he roamed through the
wilderness; no one dwelt there but
John the Baptist and Godl 1t takes
straight man TO live alone with
God Browning says, God has a few
of us into whose ears He whispers.
Perhaps the number is limited be-
cause all do not take time to listen.
God Ray attract our attention by
thunder-clap of trouble, and some of
us get nearer to Him through this
medium, while If we had stopped in
the busy whirl, we could become ac-
quainted with our Father In Heaven
and hear our duty aud his love told
by the STILL Small Voice.
John the Baptist learned the need
Of the repentance of those who had
broken the law. Constant association
with the Holy One made him quick to
discover the appearance Of evil and
he did not handle sin with gloved
handsl His life was the price he
paid for his sharp denunciation.
James Lane Allen says, 1T is a mark
of a high superiority to carry with us
everywhere, whether we will OF not,
a blazing, scorching censorship of the
facts which offend us" Sin is an
offense to God; II was an abomin-
alton in the eyes of John the Baptist,
and his very superiority over those
to whom he preached caused a sense
of uneasiness in his presence; so
they imprisoned him. This is MOI
the first nor only time when men
have tried to stifle their consciencss
by furnishing the one who awakened
the monitor But the most striking
Characteristic OF the messenger was
his self-effacement. He put himself
in the background the day that he
pointed to ''the Lamb of God who
taketh away the sin Of the world {"
all along he refused all claims of be-
ing a great prophet--now, he said,
"I must decrease" What little followe
ing have had turn over to the One
for whom / am unworthy TO perform
| the most menial Of services; l am but
a "voice," behold the Lamb of Cod"
He was willing to step off the stage
now that the great drama of life was
about to be enacted the world would
say the curtain fell on a scene of
| failure, but John the Baptist acted
his part welll He carried out his en-
tire mission. Emerson says, Every
great man is willing to be little; "
John showed his greatness in retir-
ing. His message, Repent ye, for
the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,
is still ringing out in clarion tones
Christ came, suffered, died, rose from
the dead and now stands at the
throne of God interceding for those
for whom He died. This is Charles
Wesley's idea of the Saviour's posi-.
tion-we know that Stephen, the firsi
martyr, saw Him, standing; 1t has
been beautifully said that it was
Christ's anxiety for Stephen which
| caused Him to stand, but whatever
I the Saviour's present attitude is, Wi
know His loving sympathy is extend
ed toward mankind. Yet, despite
the sacrifice, the constant interces.
/ sion of the Saviour and prayers o.
loved ones, some are yet unheedinl
p the call of John the Baptist. Tt
= enter the presence Of Christ withou
) repentance--were such a thing pos
/ sible-would bring unhappiness. Tn,
I very sense of unfitness would rendel
sinful person the greatest discom
e fort; there is no sympathy between
= sin and unrighteousness. Repent
e ance must supersede salvation; Low,
a makes the Gospel a reality but re
I, pentance and faith gives us a righ
, to claim the gift as the old catecnisn
puts it: repentance toward God an
! faith in our Lord Jesus Christ
2 Johns mission was 10 convey thu
! idea that prsnaration for the Messial