Lord, save us; we perish.--Matt. 8:25.
There shall not a hair of your head perish.--Lu. 21:18.
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Another element required for leadership was the power of vision. There
must be a clear recognition of evils. The idealist is not a mere
dreamer, but acquainted with the actual wants of the people. In fact our
leaders must see something better. The man who is working in the slums
must keep his eyes fixed on the stars. There can be no change for the
better until the better is made to shine with the brightness of a
beckoning angel.
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I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my
heart.
I am a companion of them that keep thy precepts.--Psalm 119:63.
--------
Here is the opportunity and duty of newspapers. James Russell Lowell
says: "What a pulpit the editor mounts daily, sometimes with a
congregation of fifty thousand within reach of his voice, and never so
much as a nodder, even, among them! and from what a Bible can he choose
his text--a Bible that needs no translation, and which no priestcraft
can shut and clasp from the laity--the open volume of the world, upon
which with a pen of sunshine or destroying fire the inspired Present is
even now writing the annals of God!"
[Illustration: PROMINENT IN THE RELIGIOUS LIFE OF LOUISVILLE]
[Illustration: PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY]
But has the editor no mission other than to tell us of partisan
political measures? To be a simple annalist who shall bring before us
the events of the day, but who creates no perspective along which we may
tread to better customs, better men and better times? He never leaves us
in doubt--"Let us do the best we can, and leave the rest alone." In
God's name, is there not something better? "Let us go up and possess the
land." Standing on the mountain height up there we shall all see fairer
lands below. The inspired editor not only sees the battle from afar, but
also the coming of the imperial guard of righteousness with victory.
There is that in the heart of every man that responds to the ideal. No
leader has ever succeeded in having an evil reformed who wanted an
ideal. Napoleon, when he said, "Beyond the Alps lies Italy," was
appealing to that sentiment--to something beyond--to something in the
future. When Cortez drew an imaginary line before his men, who had
become mutinous, and said "On this side lies danger, death, duty and
glory; on that, safety, shame and infamy. Choose ye whether you will
step this side of the line or remain where you are," he was appealing to
something in their hearts--put there by the Almighty himself. Editors
should not think it their only mission to mirror forth things as they
occur, but say to their 50,000 readers, "Let us go up and possess the
land" of truth, purity and righteousness. This is not weakness on their
part but evidence of the profoundest philosophy. Fifty years ago we had
senatorial utterances that would reach across the continent. The secret
power of those utterances was that they were ideal. In the days when
boys spoke pieces in school we declaimed them, and we feel their
influence today.
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Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
When wilt thou comfort me?--Ps. 119:82.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor; therefore love is the
fulfilling of the law.--Rom. 13:10.
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Another element of leadership is moral enthusiasm. The idealist in art
is so for the love of art. He enters into the discussion of art subjects
with enthusiasm. So with the moral enthusiast. Sin is hateful to him,
and he seeks to crush it as he would a viper, and instinctively and
spontaneously his denunciations come forth. Truth is his pole-star, and
he will tell his best friend, "I will do anything but lie for you." Try
to bribe him, and you will think that the central fires of the earth
have been concentrated into his blistering rebuke. Suggest a compromise
involving dishonor, and if you escape a blow you will be fortunate. Like
Luther he says: "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me." He would
not go with the crowd to moral destruction. Moral enthusiasm has been
the virtue of all epoch-making men. Men do not die for fancies; they do
not die for offices. They die for what they believe is right. Give them
something that appeals to their moral nature and they will die for it.
The grand martyrs were men who laid down their lives for what they
believed to be right. There came to them those lines of James Russell
Lowell:
"Once to every man and Nation
Comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth and falsehood
For the good or evil side;
Love's great cause, God's new Messiah,
Offering each the bloom or blight,
Parts the goats upon the left hand
And the sheep upon the right,
And the choice goes by forever
'Twixt the darkness and the light."
--------
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.--Is.
66:13.
He who loveth God loveth his brother also.--1 John 4:21.
--------
We must have leaders who possess the elements of leadership for the
great task of making the world better--who possess the elementary
virtues of honesty and truth. He had indicated some of the elements of
moral leadership that these times demand. He did not mean to say that
the political stage had not such leaders. Certainly there were a few;
but we can make it possible to have a thousand. When we can see one we
are surprised. In the past, thank God, we have had such leaders, and in
the future we shall have such leaders again.
It is slumbering in the hearts of men and women all around us. It needs
only some one to sweep the harp strings. The trouble is with ourselves.
How can we be leaders with sensual and selfish appetites and desires?
Does God no longer speak to man? Burns there no fire upon the altar? He
did not believe God had exhausted himself. God had not exhausted himself
by casting out a few bright stars from his own luminous presence. There
is power for him to bring to the front the men we are longing and
praying for.
--------
He shall deliver thee in six troubles; yea in seven there shall
no evil touch thee.--Job 5:19.
--------
In conclusion, he wished to say only these few words--that every leader
is a man that must bring to us the message of hope. The prophets through
all those weary years carried the torch of hope and handed it to their
successors. Abraham believed with all his soul that he should have a
posterity as numerous as the stars. He died leaving only one heir.
Moses, the great law-giver, had a vision that a community of slaves
should be made into a great nation. He went up into Pisgah and died,
leaving them still slaves. Long ago a prophet looked over the sea at a
vision of a new heaven and a new earth. Two thousand years have passed
away and no new heaven or new earth has come--but as sure as truth is
stronger than falsehood it will come--just so sure we shall one day see
a new heaven and a new earth, where dwelleth no political corruption,
but righteousness. Not in our time, perhaps, not in our children's time,
shall the thing be; but it will come. Let us pray, then, that we may
answer in the language of the great poet.
"Oh, well I know that to him who works, and knows he works,
This same glad year is ever at the door."
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
CHAPTER FOUR
CHRIST THE INTERPRETER OF THE PICTURE
A Sermon preached by Rev. T. M. Hawes in the Slums
"I have somewhat to say unto thee."--Luke 7:40.
The scene presented in this narration is worthy of the painter's brush.
We have a beautiful and striking presentation of the gospel--not set
forth in theological terms as abstract truth--but presented in the form
of a concrete example--a picture with Christ himself as the interpreter.
And now as we look at this picture with Christ to explain and interpret
it to us, let us see what he will teach us concerning the gospel.
First, we can learn here for whom the gospel is not intended.
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Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one
another.--1 John 4:11.
--------
Evidently it is not intended for those who find fault with it. Christ is
among a people who seem determined not to be pleased. He has just
wondered to whom he could liken them, and observing a number of children
at play he likens them to children playing in the market place. "We
have piped unto you and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you and
ye have not wept." They found fault with John the Baptist because he was
too severe--they found fault with Jesus because he was too liberal. And
here Simon is finding fault with him because he is allowing this sinful
woman to wash his feet. Am I saying too much when I say that there is
that same trait in human nature today, and that it keeps people out of
the kingdom? Yea, more than that, it often keeps those who are in the
kingdom from receiving the blessings which otherwise might be theirs.
There are those on the outside who remain out because they are
constantly finding fault. There are those on the inside who are always
unhappy for the same reason. If the preacher hews to the line they say
he is a scold--if he doesn't they say he is afraid to stand up for what
he believes, and so it goes.
[Illustration: REV. T. M. HAWES, D.D.
The beloved pastor of the Highland Presbyterian Church. The "Beloved
John" of the Louisville ministry.]
Let us learn from this picture that the gospel is not for faultfinders.
Our late Mr. Moody says a true thing when he says that a faultfinder is
usually a lightweight.
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He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me
was love.--S. of S. 2:4.
--------
Again we can learn from this picture that the gospel is not intended for
those who do not think they need it; not intended for self-righteous
people. No one is ever going to appreciate the gospel until he feels the
need of it. The spirit of the Pharisee will shut us out from the
blessings of the gospel whether we are church members or not. Simon
looked down on the sinful woman and felt that he was far superior to
her. Evidently he felt no need of a Saviour. The Scribes and Pharisees
rejected Christ on the very grounds that he was the friend of publicans
and sinners. Oh, yes, in the very nature of the case the gospel cannot
reach those who do not feel their need of some power beyond themselves.
Furthermore, the gospel is not meant for those who are ashamed of it.
There is something very touching and beautiful in this picture of the
woman who was a sinner coming into this public court to do honor to
Christ. She had true humility. Simon was far from doing anything of this
kind, he was willing to show a certain sort of respect for Christ, but
he would have been too proud to have ever done such a thing as this.
"Ashamed of Jesus, sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star."
Is it not true that a sense of being ashamed of the gospel shuts out
from its blessings those who entertain such unworthy feelings?
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Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.--Mk. 12:30.
--------
Finally, let us learn from this picture that the gospel is not meant for
those who are not glad to make a free-will offering of sacrifice as a
token of this grateful love. This woman brought an alabaster box of
ointment.
"My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but this woman hath anointed my
feet with ointment." Christ did not exact this of her--it was a
free-will offering. If the gospel does not draw out our gratitude and
liberality, then it has never touched us. It is not because of our gifts
that we are forgiven, but it is because of our forgiveness that we give.
"To whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."
"That man may last but never lives,
Who much receives but nothing gives;
Whom none can love, whom none can thank,
Creation's blot, creation's blank.
"But he who walks from day to day
In generous acts his radiant way,
Treads the same path his Saviour trod--
The path to glory and to God."
Now, having learned from this picture for whom the gospel is not
intended, let us learn for whom it is intended. Ah! how with a few bold
and simple strokes the whole matter is made plain.
--------
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.--Mark 11:31.
--------
First, I notice that it is meant for sinners. "Behold a woman in the
city which was a sinner." Jesus "a friend of publicans and sinners."
That tells the story. "I came to call not the righteous, but sinners."
Some people find fault with the church because there are so many sinners
in the church. Just as well find fault with a hospital for having sick
people in it. Just as well find fault with the doctor for visiting
invalids. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee; you are finding
fault with me for allowing this sinful woman to touch me. Let me tell
you, Simon, that it is just for this very purpose that I am come into
this world." "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation,
that Christ came into the world to save sinners." He was the great
Physician and great physicians are those who have a specialty. This was
Christ's specialty--to save sinners. Who is this that forgiveth sins,
also?
--------
The end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart.--1 Tim.
1:5.
--------
Secondly, I learn from our Saviour's interpretation of this picture that
the gospel is for the very greatest of sinners. "Simon, I have somewhat
to say unto thee. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors,"
etc. Our Saviour proceeds with an illustration which shows that this
woman was one of the greatest of sinners. She was ten times worse than
the average sinner, and yet she was more welcome to the Saviour than
this proud, self-righteous Pharisee. Oh, men and women! if you are in
this hall, feeling that you are unworthy to be here, your very unfitness
makes you fit. Draw nigh to this Saviour from sin and hear him say, "Thy
sins are forgiven; go in peace." Let no pharisaical Simon frighten you
away--the Saviour will give him the rebuke which he deserves and will
whisper into your ear words of pardon and of peace.
--------
Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drown
it.--S. of S. 8:7.
--------
I learn from this picture which Christ interprets that the gospel is for
penitent sinners. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee; seest thou
this woman? She hath washed my feet with her tears." Oh, those were
precious tears in the sight of our Saviour. Every tear-drop was a jewel.
The breaking of the alabaster box of ointment was a sweet incense to
Jesus, but this ten-fold sinner bathing his very feet with her
penitential tears was a sight which made the angels in heaven rejoice,
"for there is more joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth than
over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." Simon despised
this woman's tears and sat unmoved at the pathetic scene--but not so
with Jesus. He could refrain himself no longer, but speaking out before
all the company he said, "Thy sins are forgiven." Oh, gracious words!
How sweet and soft must have been this music to the ears of this sinful
outcast.
"They fall as soft as snow on the sea
And melt in the heart as instantly."
Finally, I learn from this picture which Christ is interpreting for us
that the gospel is for sinners who commit themselves in implicit faith
to Christ. "Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee." "Behold this
woman; you have done a great deal of talking--this poor woman has not
spoken a word--but behold how she has thrown herself upon my mercy with
unquestioning confidence! Do you think I will disappoint such trust as
that? She has heard me say, 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise
cast out' and has taken me at my word, and I consider it an honor to
turn from thy company to the company of this sinful woman."
And he said to the woman, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."
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Without faith it is impossible to please God.--Hebrews 11:6.
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[Illustration: REV. HENRY CLAY MORRISON, D.D.
A Giant Against Unrighteousness]
CHAPTER FIVE
THROWING OUT THE LIFE-LINE
By Rev. H. C. Morrison, D.D.
"Ye are the salt of the earth," "Ye are the light of the world," "Let
your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father which art in heaven."--Matt. 5:13, 14, 15.
These sayings of Jesus from the sermon on the mount are quite
remarkable. No other teacher ever used such words to his disciples, "Ye
are the light of the world." Had the Jewish doctor of the law heard
these words of our Lord to his humble sun-tanned, bare-footed,
shaggy-browed fishermen, he would have been quite disgusted with what to
him would have seemed the consummate egotism of the Nazarene.
The meaning of the words of Christ is very plain. The disciples, their
lives, character, spirit, the power of the Christ in them must, and
would, permeate society like salt, and purify and save from sin. They
must illuminate the world, so dark with vice, and show it the way back
to God.
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Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with
God.--Rom. 5:1.
--------
These words of Jesus to the disciples who sat before him that day, are
addressed by him to all of his followers for all time, to all of those
who trust him and gladly obey him (and only such are disciples). He
says, "Ye are the salt of the earth," "Ye are the light of the world."
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
--------
I have somewhat to say unto thee.--Luke 7:40.
--------
We must not forget that God's plan is to save the lost, through the
instrumentality of those who were themselves once lost, but are now
saved from sin. If we would have a great testimony meeting in the city
of the skies, and all of the countless hosts there should one by one
stand up to tell how they were brought from sin to Jesus, each one of
them would point out some person who had been the chief instrument in
his or her salvation. There is this one characteristic of all who are
truly saved--they desire the salvation of all souls. In fact, this is a
very good thermometer with which to get the correct temperature of one's
spiritual life. Does he long for the salvation of the lost? If so, in
the nature of things he must be in a state of salvation. Is he
indifferent to the condition of the lost? Then he is himself in a lost
state. Let us here impress the important truth that Jesus did not say to
his disciples, "Ye must try and salt the earth," but said, "Ye are the
salt of the earth." He did not say, "Ye shall kindle a flame that shall
illuminate the world." He said, "Ye are the light of the world." We are
not, as the disciples of Christ, to be makers of light and salt, but we,
by the power of Christ, must be made into salt and light. It will be
interesting to notice the processes through which one must pass in order
to become salt and light. Let us go back to the beginning of this sermon
of our Lord and we will hear him saying, "Blessed are the poor in
spirit." First of all to become salt and light one must be poor in
spirit; he must awake to the fact that he owes a million and has not one
cent with which to pay. From his heart he must say,
--------
"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling."
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit
within me.--Psalms 51:10
--------
He must realize in his inmost soul his perilous condition, and pray from
the fullness of a deep conviction in his heart, "Lord save, or I
perish." Not only must he be poor in spirit, but our Lord says, "Blessed
are they that mourn." God loves to see the falling tears of sorrow for
sin against himself. Those that truly mourn because of their sins will
forsake them. How blessed for the returning prodigal to come with a
heart all full of deep contrition. They that mourn because of their sins
shall be comforted. After deep poverty of spirit and true mourning for
sin and the comforting of the soul by the pardoning mercy of God. Then
meekness will most certainly follow.
Now, the soul comforted, born of God, sitting in meekness at the feet of
Jesus, will "hunger and thirst after righteousness." A dead man has no
appetite or desire for food, but a living one must eat. The soul that is
born of God will at once begin to hunger for Godlikeness. The cry of
such a soul is not so much for his blessings as it is for him. The
Psalmist says, "As the hart panteth for the water-brooks, so panteth
my soul for Thee, O God." Jesus says of such, "They shall be
filled"--filled with purity, love and peace; filled with the Holy Ghost;
filled with all the fulness of God. All such will be merciful, pure in
heart, peace-makers, and be sure that persecution will follow. This
world that hated and killed our Lord will not let his followers pass
through without persecutions. Of this we may be sure.
--------
Be ye of good courage, and bring of the fruit of the land.--Num.
13:20.
--------
But with all these graces and past experiences herein named the
persecuted can rejoice and be exceedingly glad. And of such Jesus says,
"Ye are salt and light." Would the reader be salt and light? Then pass
through the program laid down in the sermon on the mount. One must be so
poor in spirit that he will be such a mourner, that he will receive such
comfort, that he will become so meek, that in him there will be such
hungering and thirsting after righteousness, that he will be so filled
with righteousness, that he will become so merciful and pure in heart,
that he will be such a peacemaker, that he will be so persecuted, that
he will so rejoice, that he will be salt and light, so shining that men
will see it and glorify our Father in heaven. It is folly to be striving
to do something before. By the grace of God and his divine power we are
ourselves made something. Make the tree good and the fruit will be good.
If by the power of the Holy Ghost we are made right it will be easy for
us to do right. Salt salts, and light shines without effort. So with
true disciples of our Christ. They cannot exist without proving a
blessing to those with whom they come in contact.
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Pray for them which despitefully use you.--Luke 6:28.
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CHAPTER SIX
REFORMATION OF CRIMINALS
[Louisville Times]
In a sermon delivered in the Nashville penitentiary, the Rev. George L.
Herr, formerly chaplain of the jail here, spoke encouragingly to the
inmates, citing cases of reformation where reform seemed impossible. The
Rev. Mr. Herr took occasion to pay a high tribute to Jailer John R.
Pflanz, of Louisville. He said in part:
--------
Repent ye therefore and be converted.--Acts 3:19.
--------
When I address you upon this subject I speak from the standpoint of one
who knows by bitter experience. I know that sin can rob man of fortune,
and all the luxuries of life. I know that it can rob him of the love of
all who ever loved him; I know that it can drag him down from a position
of prominence, and make him a habitue of the dives; I know that it will
cause him to place a rope around his neck and hang himself to a rafter
in his own barn; I know that sin will lead him to pause at the railing
of a bridge, his mind set upon the awful deed of self-destruction; I
know that it will tempt him to take a razor in hand and draw it across
his throat. I know that sin will reduce him from a position of
influence, a welcome visitor to the homes of the elite, to a degraded
drunkard, homeless upon the streets of his native city, robed in a short
linen duster and a straw hat in the dead of a bitter winter's night.
[Illustration: REV. JOHN PAUL
He gave the title to this book after reading the manuscript]
River Thief's Reformation.
Jerry McAuley was a river thief, and, while serving a term in the
penitentiary, caught a glimpse of what the life beyond with Christ would
be, and the verse, "God so loved the world," etc, (John iii., 16), won
his heart and life, and this poor, weak vessel in the few years he
labored for Christ has planted the gospel light through some convert at
every port where a ship now lands throughout the world.
Case of Sam Hadley.
Sam Hadley, who was saved through this man of God, was a poor friendless
drunkard, and at the time God spoke peace to his soul had committed
almost every crime in the calendar; over one hundred forgeries looked
him in the face when he confessed, but he had faith in God, and he led
him through all the dark valleys. Sam Hadley, was delivered.
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If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be
established.--Isa, 7:9.
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