The Penn's Grove record., 1915-10-08
HELPING HAND
Preaching, Teaching and Stern
Laws Not All That Men
Require.

1t is more than preaching that men
need, more than teaching, more than
stern laws, more than true and right
eous living before them. It is our TAX
Ing hold of them with such love that
vitality and power will go from us to
them and lift them up toward God.
Just as Fanny Crosby expresses it
in her hymn composed As years ago
and sung so often and with such ef-
feet: 4
Down in the human heart crushed by the
tempter
Feelings lie buried that grace can re-
store.
Touched by a loving heart, akene by
Cords that were broken will vibrate
once more.
1t is most interesting to notice the
many instances of Christ's personal
touch as he effects his cures among
men. He leads the blind man Of Beth
saba by the hand out of the town,
and there, away from the companion
ships of earth and sin, he labors with
him, teaches him how to discover the
diviner things, asks him if he can see
aught, puts his hands of strengthen
ing power upon him as he looks up
and says, II see men as trees walk.
Ing" Again and again Christ stretches
put his hands of power until he sees
clearly. Such was the persistency Of
Christ's Gospel of the outstretched
hand.
Inspires Confidence.
We all know, too, in our sicknesses
how much of confidence is inspired
and how much of desire to regain
health and strength is brought to us
by the presence of the skillful physi-
clan or the ever vigilant and faithful
nurse. 1t is not merely that they pos
sess the knowledge of the effects OF
certain drugs upon the physical sys.
tenn, nor that they understand SO well
best sanitary rules and equipment.
But l think, most and best of all, it Is
In the way in which they bring these
very facts into touch with US. The
hopes which they awaken, the courage
which they impart, help us most of
all to become brave in the great bat
tie for life.
AS 1 go along the streets in my par.
ish there are some children who al.
ways grasp me by the hand and cling
thereto with a love which I can cas-
lily recognize as %throbbing in their
hearts as they walk with me for a part
of a block and whisper their messages
of good cheer. / cannot fail to hear
and to heed a message of the Gospel
of love in those little outstretched
hands. Have you not felt it, too, dear
parent and teacher? And has it not
cheered and vitalized you for daily
service? l assure you that it mean
even more to US than the Gospel of an
outstretched hand. 1t is as the glad
tidings of an ~outreaching heart. This
Gospel of an outstretched hand which
l commend and emphasize has been
only partially realized by us. We have
too often drawn back and lived within
ourselves our Christian lives when we
ought to have expended ourselves for
others.
Peter declared, "Silver and gold
have l none, but such as l have give
l." And out went his hand of sympa-
thetic strength in the name Of Christ,
which was powerful enough to put the
man on his feet and to quicken him
to walk.
Mighty Possibilities.
Too many of us have been shelter
ing ourselves behind the first part OF
Peters words, declaring what we
would do if we possessed what so or
so does. But we do not complete with
Peter his declaration of determination
to give to others. for their uplifting
such as we have, so that when men
and women of the world come into
our society and companionship they
would say as a certain Robert Barclay
declared of himself, Il felt a sweet
power mong Gods people which
touched my heart, and as 1 gave way
to it / found the evil in me weakening
and the good raised up"
What mighty possibilities are be-
fore US if we will just live and exem-
plify this Gospel OF an outstretcneo
hand as Peter did SO well for his
Lord!
Our times are disturbed by stupen-
dous problems and changes. But the
Word of God standeth forever. Char
acter is made unique and rendered ir-
resistible through communion with
the mind and will of God. 1t is Christ
in US which is the hope of glory both
for the individual and the state. 1t is
this Gospel of the hand of ~helpfulness
which will quicken the church and
the nations in moral vision, in intel
lectual perception, in emotional dis
cernment- 1t is by such a Gospel that
we shall be judged.
May God fill us with compassion
ate, daring heroism for our Lord in
these days of opportunity! And may
uyo m0vo amid tho CHANGING circ1m-