Oxford eagle., 1913-12-04


and the prophets
did write. Jesus OF Nazareth. the son
Of Joseph" Philip did not talk about
himself but about Jesus. That is what
we should do. That is what we were
called into the kingdom for-to talk
about the king. The world is pre-
Jucieed against Jesus Christ. Sin has
blinded their vision and they do not
see him as he is. They think that he
Is unreasonable and exacting and they
see no beauty IN him that they should
desire him. II is our business so to
reveal the beauty OF the son OF God
that they will feel their need OF him.
When Ole Bull. the great musician.
visited this country he found an old
friend Of his boyhood at Philadelphia.
John Ericsson the great shipbuilder.
They had delightful interview. and
as he was leaving Ole Bull handed out
some tickets to a concert. and invited
his friend TO come and hear him.
Ericsson declined. and when pressed
for his reason. frankly confessed that
music was torture to him. and begged
to be excused. OF course. nothing
piore could be said. but Ole Bull made
up his mind that he would compel his
friend TO hear him In some way. A
few days later he appeared at Eric
sons Office with his violin. and asked
Ericsson II he had any skillful me
chanics. He said he met with an acct
dent TO his violin and needed a little
help. Ericsson touched a button and
when a man appeared. he asked him
10 send Mr.. b. to the Office. When
Mr. B. presented himself. Ericsson
told Ole Bull to explain TO him what he
wanted done. In a few minutes the
man returned with the repairs made.
The great musician took the violin. |
irsw his bow across II a few times to 4
zee 4 II vas in tune. and then glided In !
o one Of those matckless melodies that /
'nly Ole Pull could evoke from an 1
Instantly every clerk in /
he Office dropped his pen, Ericsoa 1
hrew down his paper and began tc
isten. and all the men in the factory
gathered around the open door. ano
here they stood spell-hOund for TWEEN
y minutes until the music ceased.
When he laid down his bow Ericsson /
cried out. Go one. go on, my friend. 1
never knew before that l had a
capacity for music"
The poor sinful world has the same
icoa about Jesus that Ericsson had
about music. They think they do not
need Jesus and that they would not
enjoy him. You and know better,
and II is our business so to interpret
the needs OF their hearts, and so to
portray the beauty and sweetness OF
Christ's character. as to make them
hungry for him. Each believer has a
message 90 the world. and the better
he knows Christ. the stronger his mes
sage will be.
II. Every believer in bearing his
message to the world is sure TO meet
with controversial inquiry. Nathaniel
said unto him. can any good thing
come out OF Nazareth" There was
only one word in Philips testimony
that one could ind fault with, and
that was the word Nazareth. Nathan
lei. good man as he was, could not
forbear the temptation to criticise. and
he seized the opportunity at once.
Nazareth" he said. the most disre-
putable town in all Galilee; can any
good thing come out OF Nazareth
Ill. Every believer, In meeting the
objections % the world. has a SUM-
cient answer. Philip saith unto him.
come and see" II you will study this
subject you will see what a complete
answer this is to any possible objec-
ton. Suppose that one Is uncertain
about the authority OF the scriptures,
let him come and see-that is. come to
Jesus and see what he thinks about
the question. and his opinion ought TO
Be final. he eyidentls regards the
Pentateueh as the work Of Moses. and
the various chapters OF Isaiah which
he quotes as the word OF God through
his servant. Isaiah. and Jonah as
real character. who had an expert
ence such as is attributed to him by
the record bearing his name. II one
has doubts about the possibility Of
forgiveness let him come and see. let
him kneel right down and confess his
sins aud he can demonstrate the thing
In vSry short time.
". As soon as the believer begins
TO bear his message to the world,
Jesus draws near. Jesus saw
Nathaniel coming TO him and said.
Behold an Israelite indeed. in whom
is no guile"
v. AS soon as a sinner begins to
talk with Jesus. the light begins to
come. Nathaniel answered to him,
Rabbi, thou art the son OF God BY
all means get an inquirer on his knees
as soon as possible. He can see many
things there which he cannot see
standing II be is not accustomed to
praying. and most people are not.
ask him TO follow you sentence by SEN
tence as you lead him in prayer. In
this way you will be sure that he con-
fesses his sins and invites Christ TO
come into his heart and take posses
sion Of his life. When you rise from
your knees. question him and see II
he knows that he Is saved. and do not
leave him until he is assured of II.
not because he feels happy, but be-
cause Coos word assures him OF his