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Download PDF - Free Methodist Church

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in the heat of the battle, snd tfaewounded lead the van-guard. Lookat the history ofthe church, and youwiU see that most, if not aU, of thosewhom God as employed in a signalmanner for his glory, have been, inone way or another, among themost afflicted of men either in heartor in body, sometimes in both.Therefore, do not be afraid of suffering.Do not think that suffering interfereswith service. On the contrary,ithelps it on. Wlien, therefore, we offerour prayer to God, and ask Him totake us and make us, do not let usforget to pnt up another petitionbetween these two, and asks Himalso to break us. That is a shortand comprehensible prayer: "Takeme ! break me!" God, answeringthat prayer, can do something withus. While we inscribe on our bannerthe beautiful motto, Fbxelsior,let us write Humilior upon ourheart.The work of God is mostly hiddenworkjfuUy known tO Him,known partlyto those who are the immediate objectsof it,scarcely known to ourselvesI am afraid, nowadays, there is agreat deal too much speaking abontthe work done or doing. We havehardly begun some service, but wetnust blow the trumpet, aud let everybody hear of it. I have sometimesthought how well the apostles got onwithout newspapers—and the workwas done all the same ! Some onewill say the times are altered. Surelythey are, and it would be ratherabsurd to pretend that we shouldnot make use of the press. Wewant information concerning theLord's work ; it instructs, e^fies,and stimulates us, but we must notcourt pnbUcity. We mnst not thinkit is of importance that everythingdone and said shonld be noisedabroad, or that the absence of pub-Ucity, of sympathy even,can interferewith the vitaUty and success of awork truly done for God. Amongthe astonishments of the last daywiU be that of seeing, coming outSBBVICB, NOT SERVICES. 13from all sorts of nooks and comers,people whose names were unknown,and to whom God wiU say, "Friend,come np higher."Finally, if we are thus doing God'swork fervently, humbly, patiently,though obscurely, looking to Himalone, we, Uke onr Master, wUl finishthe work that He was given us to do.Only as we abide in Christ, can we beable to complete our work. Meremachinery and outward activity areof no account -witbout this daUydwelUng in, and drawing from.Him. Then onr service and ourservices wiU be acceptable. Let meclose with the beautiful lines of onewhose name has been mentioned,and who used the rare gifts of a tmepoet of the Master's glory—"Now the long and toilsome dutystone by stone to carve and bring ;Afterward the perfect beautyOf the palace of the King."—Homiletic Monthly.; i< » »KEPT BT THE POWEE OF GOD.—If we would be kept by God's power,we must yield to his power. Hewho would be kept from any sinmust consent to abandon all sin. Noman can be allowed to select thesins which he wUl abandon. Noman can be aUowed to choose tofoUow the sin which he counts respectable,and expect to be keptfrom the sins which he esteemeddisgraceful There are many menwho wonld be glad to be kept frojnsome disreputable sin, but they areunwiUing to turn from all iniquity.They who put themselves into Go»d'shands for keeping, submit soul,body, wUl, and everything theyhave and are to the divine keeping ;and to them the promise is made,"submit yonrselves to God, resistthe devU, and he wUl flee from you."Man must have a master. If hefvUl not yield to God, he must yieldto Satan. It is only when he. hasaccepted the Lord as his Head andKing that he is safe nnder his protectionfrom the wrath and.fory ofthe adversary.—77ie Voice.

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