The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1920-01-05
NEW YEARS GREETING
BY DIR. JOHN M'NEILL

Preceding his sermon at the Soutl
Highlands Presbyterian church yesterda!
DR.. John McNeill the pastor
read the following New Years greetin'
to his congregation:
ITO one and all a Happy New Year!
Instead of saying more myself. |
would like to let Henry Martyr speak:
Henry Martyr. who died at 81, but,
even so, by his valuable labors as
translator. had placed portions of the
Scriptures within reach Of all VINO
could read. over one-fourth of the
habitaDle globe; (the Northumberland,
and earned for himself foremost
place among modern missionaries.
(Macaulay)
"Martyn wrote thus, one New Years
day, in his Journal January ], 1909.
Hitherto hath the Lord helped me. IL
is now about five years since the Lord
stopped me in career OF Worldli-
ness, and turned me from the paths
of sim. 1t is the beginning OF
critical year to me, yet feel llttie
apprehension. l see no business
before me, in life, but the work OF
Christ: neither do ] desire any eTn-
ployment to all eternity, but his serV-
ice. / am a sinner, saved by grace:
Holy Ghost. would / solemnly renew
NV Standardization, to be his servant,
forever
THAT. my beloved people. is my
New Years message, to young ana
old. Let the young people, let those
in business, let those no longer young
remember that sentence about employ
ment for Jesus Look back, and read
it again. 1t should be true OF every
member. and every worshiper III
South Highlands Presbyterian church.
We should be in no employment tnat
is not his service Jesus Christ,
whose I am. and whom I served.
Then. we'll says the hymn. How nap
pily the working days in this dear
service fly
"Just another word, especially TO
voung men and young women: he
like Henry Martyr. Take the LORD
Jesus as your Savior. DO 1t in writ
ing. 1t may help you, ever so mueh,
to do it in that definite way. say II
u. in your own words and they heeo
not be many. Tell the LORD Just "a
IL YOU were writing a letter to him,
Thai Won wish to be his, here and
hereafter Date it and sign 1t, ana
then lay it past, where no eye but ms
can see It, That, for the sacred, Sc
cret part. between the Lord and you.
For the equally sacred, open part
come forward and openly join the fei-
lowship of his church"
DR.. McNeill preached on Naaman. Tn
king. whose leprosy was cured by dlppln
in the River Jordan 2 Kings 5;13. TN
story to me-" he said, lis the river
salvation, the river of light. What tn
waters of the River Jordan were to Ma
mans leprosy, the message of God is
the sons of man. Naaman was the grea
man of his hosts, but he was n leper On
church has stood for the doctrine ths
he who Is not sound is unsound; he WI
is not well is sick; he who is not clea
IL unclean. The best man or woman mel
cannot get to heaven on his own effort
Not to be clea nsed, not to be healed, M
10 be regenerated, is not to be saved.
"Naaman was great man; he was a
honorable man, the leader of hosts; u
bible SAYS he was a man OF valor.
gives a complete inventory or him, b'
he was a poor leDer diving by inehe
That's how we are to preach, TO cate
the Bible tones. If you must say har
things. say them so that yon sugge
something better to be gained. That II
message I have for you at the beginnin
of q new year. You may be kind, ger
erous. valorous cultured. educated.
am glad to hear It. but in the last ana
vsis IL is cleanliness, healing, that save
YOU.