THE KING’S BUSINESS
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had one moment of time in which you could wait or could use! and by what right does any man, in the pulpit or out of it, stand up to say that j he is waiting ,sp see what other people will do? He is not bound by what they do; he is hot the cus todian of their conscience; he has nothing whatever to do in relation to them: he must obey the voice of God in the voice of conscience. When those—let it be re peated—who are Christians of (he highest type are found at the front, others will follow. There is a contagion about ex ample, there is a subtle influence about high cciurage. Without saying, a word to the coward, you may shame, him into action by'the magnanimity of your own bravery. So, then, this is the order of the divine movement: God calling the leading man; the leading man expressing the divine will to others; every tribe contributing its man, so that in symbol the whole tribe is pledged to the holy march,. Are the priests going at the head, the preachers answering their own prayers, responding to their own chal lenges, living the results of their own ap peals? And if any lag behind, who dare pray that God may have any pity upon them? There is a lagging behind which cannot be helped, but let us be careful how we claim its exemption from criticism: that must be left to the judgment of God. —“The People’s Bible.” L esson X— D ecember 7, 1913. Golden Text—Mark 9:23. Israel is in the promised land, but the land is .to be subject to the conquest. It is an enemy’s country, fierce foes are to be overcome. A walled city confronts them; it Is the key to the land. It must be overthrown. To leave it .in the hands of their-enemies would mean that it would be a source of constant peril. How is this city to be taken? They must learn, now the secret, of victory and God proposes- for them a pattern conflict. The Lord is to be the Captain of the host (5:14). He out lines the campaign, ■nothing is left to man’s suggestion. God’s methods are always sim ple but difficult, they run contrary to the
obedient. Under his leadership Israel sub dued the whole land. II. His Success Assured. There was’the promised presence, “I will be with thee” (v. 5), the promised pos- sesSiOrt-' “Every place that the sole of your foot: Shall tread upon, that have I given unto you” (v. 3), the promised power, “The Lord, thy God, is with thee” (v. 9). III. The. Secret,ofi,Success. Faith in God’s .promise and obedience to God’s Word. Trust' and obey for there’s no other way to be, successful in service,. but tp ,trust ,find,, 9 j)ey,. , There is here a three-fold exhortation to be strong— First, because of God’s grace (v. 6). Second, because of God’s Word (vs. 7 and 8). Third, because of •God’s command (v. 9). The lesson is simple. There are posses sions to be possessed and We will’ have what we take. L esson IX— N ovember 30, 1913. Golden Text—Isa. 11:10. Mark the period: “As soon as the soles of the feet of the priests . . . shall rest in the waters of Jordan.” The priest should go.forward. We cannot have the priests— men of the bright mind, daring courage, simple faith—lagging behind, or their prac tice will contradict their preaching. When Christians of the highest type advance the rest will follow. What I have thus said, must, of course, be regarded as a matter of proportion. The widow gave more than' all the rich men, though she gave nothing in comparison. Let no man attempt to escape on arithmetical grounds, setting so much on the one side and so much on the other. There is no such law. How hate ful is the cant which says’: I am waiting to see what other people will do. What right have you to wait? How long are you going to wait? On what authority are yo.u ' about to wait? To wait!—why, that is to usurp the prerogative of God! as if you
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