The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-03-31


day when so many
have lost faith in the great facts of
the gospel, we do not wonder that we
hear so much Of social betterment.
We need the vision of Gods great
power if we are to face with courage
the deep problems of sin in human
life, rather than be content with
physical helpfulness
The upward look is empowering. If
we are too busy to pray we may ex
pect our strength soon to depart from
us. But when we read of David Brai-
nerd. lying on the frozen ground,
wrapped in a bears skin. splitting
blood as he lay, but continuing from
sunrise to sunset in crying to Cod
we do not wonder at the great bless
ing which came upon the Indians to
whom he preached.
Such look is balancing. We need
to pray after great undertakings as
well as before them. When a woman
told Bunyan his sermon was excel
lent, he replied, Yes, l know it; the
devil told me so before I left the pull
pit" God sometimes gives us thorns
in the flesh lest we be exalted above
measure.
The Means
used in the cure are interesting.
The man was taken aside; perhaps
he would not be impressed with the
working of God, in the crowd. Stan
ley became a Christian through his
contact with Livingstone and felt that
God had led him TO Africa. away from
the world, so that he might have time
to think. This Is the secret of many
a sick-bed or sorrow.
Christ adapted the means to the
need. By putting his fingers in the
mans ears and putting upon his
tongue the spittle, which was often
used incidentally, he let this deaf man
know his purpose to heal him. What
a comfort that many of US who are
not equipped to deal with the cultured
have peculiar adaptation to deal with
others, and that the Great Physician
uses means adapted to the end.
Christ did not shrink from contact
with the sufferer. We cannot pay
someone to do religious work for us
simply because it is unpleasant, Sam
uel Hadley would put his arms of love
about the wrecks of humanity that
came to Water Street mission, even
though he would have to change his
clothing when he went home
The Sigh
30 Nhrict chonId not ha PnNeSF>ffz>,, :.
Looking up to heaven he sighed. u
He saw in the man only an example
of the worlds suffering and sin and
he sighed over 1t all,
Men have remedied physical ills
when they have felt them. John How.
ard reformed the prisons of Europe
after he himself had had an expert
ence of prison life. If we do not sigh
over spiritual needs we are not likely
to supply them. We must bleed five
would save. The awfulness of being
without God, without Christ, and hav
ing no hope, must weigh upon us il
we are to be jealous in snatching men
as brands from the burning. No cul
ture or refinement should blind us
from the fact that ''he that believett
not is condemned already"
The Cure
had happy results.
1t made the man companionable
he could converse with his friend:
now The salvation of the soul put:
one into fellowship with God and will
his people
1t made him useful. He no Longer
needed to be dependent upon an!
man. Spiritual cure makes US work
ers together with God" and many tes
tify that they date their true life from
their second birth through faith il
Christ. Jerry McAuley was a rive
i thief whose heart God touched Will,
! he was imprisoned in Sing Sing. H,
BECAME a great blessing to many ant
at his funeral the streets were file,
by men of high and low degree VIII,
came to honor him
OF course. it made the man happy
His tongue doubtless sang aloud il
rejoicing; his ears were ravished witt
the sweet sounds of nature. Whe1
ever the gospel goes, music is borl
and the wilderness and solitary place
Of human life are made glad
1.-THE great physician now is near,
The syrnpathizing Jesus;
He speaks the dropping heart TO cheer.
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