If it is only by His continual compassion that our Master obtains and
maintains His rule, will it not be by a similar means that we may hope to
bless and influence the souls of men? Yes; that has been already the great
lesson of The Salvation Army. It is founded on sympathy, on a universal
compassion.
The moment we turn away from that, and rely merely on our system, or on
methods, or our teaching, we cease just in that proportion to be true
Salvationists. We aspire to rule men's hearts. We care nothing for the
position of a church or sect; we care everything for a real control over
the souls and conduct of living men and women, that we may lead them to
God and use them for His glory. It is by tenderness we shall win it. By
seeking them in their sorrows and sins; by making them feel our true
heart-hunger over them, our true love, our entire union with the Christ in
His compassion for them.
And the same principle will hold good in training those whom we have
already won. This was, no doubt, the secret of Paul's great influence with
his people. His whole heart was theirs; and they knew it. "We were gentle
among you," he says, "even as a nurse cherisheth her children; so, being
affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you,
not the Gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear
unto us."
We know his courage, his lofty standard, his splendid impatience of shams,
his tenacity of the truth, his contempt for danger, his daring unto death;
and yet he can say of himself that, with it all, he was gentle among them
as a nurse cherishing her children--ready to give up his very soul for
them.
Ah, Colonel, Captain, Sergeant, leaders all, whatever name you bear, do
you want to lead and rule the people whom God has given you as a charge?
Then here is the true secret of power--be for ever pouring out your
heart's deepest, tenderest love for them, and most of all for the weak and
the most unworthy and sinful amongst them. Do this, and you will not
merely be walking after Paul--you will be walking _with_ Christ.