Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1912-01-25

11@HM ~
ing and excuse
making. all OF which silently but
surely test the solidity Of the hearts
conservation.
You may ask. After all. why should
this question trouble me. I have nc
call?' Have you forgotten that when
you accepted Christ this was laciud'
ed among the items for your consid.
Grafton, You have passed II by. II,
IN the church where you are a mem
Der a notice was read from the pull.
pit inviting every member TO attend
A social the following evening. would
you be foolish enough 70 afterward
INSIST that you had received no in
vitation and refuse . attend, The
opposite would be the rule. for any
candidate for membership. expecting
to unite soon. would expect such a
purpose sufficient ground TO entitls
him to be present. Thus your church
membership and mine involves our
responce TO the call Of the Great
Commission
The plan Of God for appointing and
directing the work OF his children Is
4 most natural one. When a person
Is converted, God would have him
come TO the bureau OF divine commits
sions and there receive his appoint.
ment for service. one can rightfulIy
excuse himself. fer when he accepts
the benefits OF the salvation of Christ
he thereby obliga;es himself TO ODE
dience In the service OF Christ
God could not have a book on earth
containing all the OF Christians
throughout the age and giving the
life work OF each. for our free agency
would then be lost. God chose the
better plan: to have each child come
to him in prayer and talk his life
work over. Do not ask. and run
away. but larry until your conviction
has become settled. for IL is this Di-
vine conviction which constitutes
Gods call. Many have committed suir.
ituA suicide by fastening away with
some smpulsive conclusion before God
had a chance TO speak. Such people
have often wondered why they make
shipwreck in their faith life or WHY
spiritual things seem closed to them,
1t Is no mystery. Divine teaching and
guidance are given only 70 those who
follow closely the instruction Of the
Tsacher IN Gods school OF learning
Deception anu delusion always follow
seif-wn In gaining spiritual things
Every Christian should therefore cen
niteiy present himself before COD for
assignment TO his life work. Hays
your Public sentiment. aowev.r
Gems to have laid this responsibility
only upon those who go as mission.
aries.
ARE you say that II is not really
necessary for every Christian to oh
tain from God a conviction as TO wha,
he should do with his life. The Ios.
/ will at C take the words fron
your lips and declare IL is then no,
necessary for any Christian. Wisdom
like water. floats everything on =
level surface. Bring these false the
Dries concerning missionary work be
fore your better judgment. and &c
~elesiastical distinctions and privileged
classes viii sing TO the bottom. leay
Ing all Christians on an even footing
and each responsible before God 20,
his share Of the evangelizatlon OF IN.
world
Public sentiment has poisoned IN.
atmosphere with so much antf-mission
AIRY sentiment that many cniId-s,
have grown up with 60 little uratud,c.
against becoming missionaries WIZ,
a person does go from a eomun,,t,
these children SCI so many t.ars arr
aear so many words OF regret re,
feel that going to be a missionary Is +,
misfortune This ADDS vesy material
ly 10 tn difficulty Col !,
human wills In trying 10 secure OBJ
dience In enough OF his chtidr., :,
erangelize he world In THIS asnar,
ton All this prejudice and h,,ta-
ness u De worked cut Of the nins
and a transformation wrought hsfor,
sympathy and love for the h.a,b.r
will BE- entertained and a eopvIr-,or
Of personal obligation can be posx,
Bile.
Crushing such 4 conviction Of n.-
scnal responsibility to take tb. Cos
pei TO the heather, is a sptri,n,'
crime. II arecs every sp,r,tpa
nerve Just as sirdIing a tree an.cr,
every branch and leaf. The ona nm
disooeys his call 10 the foreign sslI
finds himself strangely parslyxsa 8,
his work here al home. especially i,
ais pleas for foreign missions. u.
dare not urge others TO go when he "a
fused: his prayers seem to turn b,c,
in his own heart: his solicitations n,
money mock him and even though \,
force himself to maintain his fnts-as
a. a conscience balm. yet the pressur,
Of having refused a Divine call and a
having left the heather to perish 4,
sin. ooner or later will &C aplete NJ,
paralysis in missionary service
The question Of today 10 not. WI
you be a missionary but will va,
present yourself before God for an
pointment to any work. to any 6sId
wherever he knows o can do Won,
best life work.