King's Business - 1914-03

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THE KING ’S BUSINESS

terial wealth; but his prejudice; his con­ ceit ; his purposes and plans; his habits; worldly delights; in fact, all that does not consist with the Spirit, Word, and service of God. IV. S alt . A Christian is to “ have salt” in himself; and be salt in the world. Salt is positive; pungent; preservative; curative; wholesome. W e should possess these characteristics, and exert these influences. We must not be sugar, nor our Gospel sugar-coated, much as we are urged to “keep sweet,” and to speak kindly. Let there be grace, but “ sea­ soned with salt” (Mark 9:50; Col. 4 :6 ); al­ ways remember the salt, even when serving the sugar—we need a good deal of that, too—nothing hut that, save where salt is called for (Mark 9:49). Spiritual baljies should be salted at birth (Eze. 16:4). “ Every sacrifice—self and service must be “salted with salt’’ : with definiteness, sin­ cerity, incorruption and changelessness. religious and begin to look at our mission as Jesus saw His. China and her call for prayer is but the most outstanding figure, the most unique and dramatic voice in the great chorus o f need and longing that cries out to the church, ‘O men and women >vho 'say you believe in Christ, make your re­ ligion real! Lift it up! Climb to the new heights of vision, devotion, and achieve­ ment! The age demands, not to do little things, but miracles, and you must work them. ‘The hour is come that the Son of Man should be glorified.’ ”

ities,” and I am not sure but that is the best rendering) against powers,” etc. (Eph. 6:12). “Who is able for these things?” He that is willing; he is able; only believe. There is victory far those who “ burn their ships behind them,” 10,000? Ah, comrade, our Captain’s “ 12 legions” are with us— each a mighty angel “ Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all,” etcijgj-Undoubtedly, our Lord meant this to be literally done in specific cases. He commanded it to the young ruler (Luke 18 :22, 23) ; the Pentecost Church so ap­ plied it (Acts 4:37). Origen, Cyprian, Jerome, and. many men and women, have sold and given all. But on the whole it has not proyen wise; witness the “poverty” ( ? ) of the Romish priesthood and Papacy. But there are cases ; every man must decide as he has light; and no man has the spirit of discipleship who does not give all in spirit, and hold all as the Lord’s, and distribute it as His steward; and understand that his "all” is. not, merely, his property; his ma­ I T IS time every Christion, every dweller in a Christian community, startled in his careless walk by this cry for spirit­ ual help, should ask himself, ‘What have I to give?’ How much good would it do the people o f China to have such a Christian faith and life as I possess?’ “ It is not alone China that is calling us. I cannot and must not begin to mention the calls that come to us today from our own land and from every land. The whole world is crying out its one great need, and this is it—that Christians» shall be real and thor­ ough-going, that we cease playing at being

An Appeal for Salted Christianity By a Missionary

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