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Download PDF - Free Methodist Church

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JfOEAL COUBAGB AND MOBAL POWEE. 139MOEAL OOUEAGE AND MOEALPO"WEE.BY BEV. GEO W. ANDEBSON.I tiiink that Christians, almost universaUy,unite in saying that the greatwant of the church is more power. Itisnot money, churches, nor leamed ministers.There is machinery enough.—Wheels, shafts, pulleys and belts aremert and useless, unless set in motion.Fuel mnst be kept burning under theboiler, and shortly, a power is generated,that puts the whole machinery inits rapid and powerful motion.The Holy Ghost brings power to thesoul. We see this in reading of theday of Pentecost. And if we observeclosely, we shaU see that this powerwas secured to the disciples just in proportionas the Holy Ghost developedcourage in them. " They spake theword of God with boldness." Moralpower cannot exist where moral courageis wanting. "What does physicalstrength amount to, if the man of stronghmb and muscle is a coward ? . Youmay send men of giant frame and powerfulstrength into the battie, but if theyhave not' courage to face the foe, theywill shrink and cower in the presenceof danger and death. They wUl makea laughable spectacle of themselves.Take other men, who are strangers tofear—men of spu-it and bravery—andsend them into battle; they may besmall in stature, and comparative!}'weak, but they have persevering courageand an undaunted spirit. Nowsuch men will face the foe, howeverfearful the odds or great the hazard.They have no fear of the enemy. Thereis a determined look in their eyes thatinspires awe, and seems to say, " weshall conquer or die." Before this theenemj- quails and flies. Thus we seethe advantage of courage over cowardice.The former magnifies and developspower, but the latter lays a cold and.p-aralyzing hand upon it.The Holy Ghost removes the fear ofman. It makes us bold to do the wUlof God. The righteous are not said tohave the strength of a Uon, but " arebold as a Uon." Peter was weak andcowered in the presence of a damsel,because he was fiUed with fear. Not /many days afterwards he stood upbravely before thousands, and chargedupon them the murder of the Son ofGod. The Holy Ghost made him brave.Men and devils cannot terrify a baptisedminister or chUd of God. " Theywere aU flUed -with the Holy Ghost, andspake the word of God witii boldness."Peter says: "Giving aU dUigenceadd to your faith, virtue." The wordhere translated, "virtue," should be" courage, fortitude." Faith dictateswhat should be done, and faith emboldensus to do it, without fearing thefrowns of men. Moral courage enablesus to take an uncompromising positionfor God, and this brings moral power tohold that position, in the face of earthand hell. -=-Get your soul infused vrith a holydaring, and you wiU write your namefe,r up on the scroll of fame, with Paul,Luther, Wesley and Edwards. Youwant to be strong, but you cannot bewhUe you' are too cowardly to look theworld calmly inthe eye, and "deUberately" come out from among them andbe separate."I,•* Fear doth servile spirits bind,Jesos is a noble mind."Courage is the key to moral power.You must use the key to have accessto the treasure.' How many there arewho only need holy boldness to makethem efficient and useful. They havetaken the most solemn vows upon themselves,but they dare not fulfill them. -They have enUsted in the army of Christ,and profess to have put on the armorof God, but tiiey hide in the day of battle.They have bid defiance - te thepowers' of darkness, and yet how Uttiespirit or courage do they manifest.—They fear to throw their colors to thebreeze, and attack the enemies of righteousness.Satan holds jubUee oversuch soldiers and laughs them to scom,for he cares not how many such fiU theL.ord's army.

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