248
THE KING’S BUSINESS
sions the twentieth century has seen, and that W. E. Blackstone, the mis sionary enthusiast of all Methodism; for that matter the overwhelming ma jority of the men and women that now face heathen peoples and call them to Christ, are premillenialists. These are not men easily discouraged. To them the gathering darkness suggests only the hour before the dawn; for them no problem is impossible of solu tion, because in “the coming Christ” they have One who is sufficient. They can lie down every night with the sweet sense that the work in which they have been engaged, incomplete as it is, if He come “at midnight, or at the cock crowing,” will, under the touch of His hand, take final and fit ting shape. We remember the story of one of the old artists whose stu dents wrought in a great studio that he visited occasionally to suggest and instruct; and of the one young man that had formed the conception of a noble picture, but had been unable to produce it. Many a time he had flung away his endeavor and started over. One evening, discouraged by his fail ure, and wearied by his efforts, he went to his lodging, leaving the at tempt. That night the old master came in, and his eyes fell on the in complete work. He saw at once the whole conception and realized also the T HE Christian’s, calling is calling. The Church’s mission is mis- ! sions. The Laodicean state of the Church —Apostate. Only a living Church can save a dying world. Only abundant life bears abundant fruit. Where no root is no fruit is (Matt. 13:21). Civilization is not evangelization.
struggles that had gone into the en deavor, and felt something of the sickened sense of the student before evident failure. Picking up the brush that had fallen from the nerveless grasp, he worked awhile, and lo, the work was done, and in the morning when the young painter came, he looked at it in wonder; he stood in a trance—amazed. But only a moment he questioned, and then he cried, “Oh, the master has come! The master has come! and the work is complete.” That is the confidence of premillen- narianism. That is the explanation of its historical ministry. “The Blessed Hope” is a suggestive appeal to the holiest living and to the highest en- 'deavor, and to the utmost steadfast ness. On the cross Christ cried, concern ing the work of His first appearance, “It is finished.” On the throne He will one day be able to say the same concerning the plan and purpose of His second appearance. It is the “Blessed Hone,” and when the work of the church is complete, then, and not until then, will all saints know the part this expectation has played in the inspiration and employment and per fecting of the saints, to the praise of that God, who has promised the king doms of this world to His Son, and who will keep His word. Power, Progress. “What shall I render unto the Lord ? Surrender. Four essential “C”s’: Contrition; Confession; Conversion; Consecration. The problem: Not how to work the Church, but how to wake it. . The promise “to the end of the age” is conditioned on evangelizing “to the ends of the earth” (Matt. 28: 20; Acts 13:47). Advanced theology: Prayer,
Briefs
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker