THE WANTS OF THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
The cause of Christ suffers for the lack of faithful, devoted men. It is not great men that are the strength of the cause of truth, but men of piety and experience, who live not for themselves, but for him that died for them and rose again. This class is the strength of the church, for they make God their strength and their dependence. It is not rich men that are demanded. Very few of these ever fully devote themselves to the service of God. The poor widow, with her great heart, did more for the cause of God than all the rich men who, of their abundance, cast in to the offerings of God. It is not men of great minds, but men of great hearts, that God is pleased to accept. Great talents and abundant wealth might be rendered of inestimable service in the cause of Christ. But for the most part, Satan is able to enlist all this in his own service. The cause of Christ, however, is not dependent upon men. He who stands at the head of the work can use the feeblest instrumentality for the advancement of his cause. He invites all to become his servants. He chooses out of all this vast number thus invited, those only who render submission to his service. It is not rash, headstrong men that he has occasion to use. He has no place for the self-conceited, boastful man. Nor is there any place to be filled by the self-righteous, unhumbled Pharisee. The Saviour has no use for those who are only able, like Peter in the garden, to fight for him, but are quite unable to suffer shame for his sake. There are plenty of those who have zeal for self and for their own advancement, who have no interest for Christ that ever manifests itself in acts of devotion to his cause. The Lord has no use for any of these persons. When the fire has devoured the hurtful thorns and tares, and the useless chaff and stubble, not one of these will be left. 1. The cause of God needs the service of soundly-converted men. These are the persons who have put off the old man and put on the new. Self, in them, has died. Rather, it dies daily. To them the cause of God is dearer than life. Their study is not how to grasp the world, but how to use it as not abusing it. These are, indeed, the people of God. These are the persons who walk with God. No matter how lowly their station, or how humble their gift, and their calling, they are the pillars of the church. If all who connect themselves with the cause of God were of this class the work of God would make steady, onward progress. 2. The cause of God needs men who count not their own lives dear unto themselves. There are but few such men in the world, but wherever they are found they are the servants of Christ. They never strive for the pre-eminence, except in that which makes no display. The church is never burdened with trials which these men cause. The men of the world are never stumbled by their evil example. They let their light so shine that others see their good works and glorify their Father in Heaven. 3. The cause of God needs men that can bear disappointment. The record of God's people shows that they have been subjected, at certain times, to this trial. Indeed, it appears that it has been the portion of those most eminent in his service. Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, and the apostles of Christ, are all striking examples of this fact. God suffers his servants to be subjected to bitter disappointment to show what is in their hearts. Such was the case with Elijah, when after the mighty work wrought at Carmel, he hoped for the reformation of Ahab's court, but, instead of this, was left to flee for life. John the Baptist experienced this, when, at the close of his work as the forerunner of Christ, he was cast into prison. And the disciples felt the bitterness of disappointment when they saw their Master crucified, whom they had, but a few days before, escorted into Jerusalem in triumph. Disappointment shows whether the heart is really steadfast with God, and it seems to be the lot of all the people of God to meet it in their experience. 4. The cause of God needs humble, patient, watchful, exemplary men, who love and fear the Creator of the heavens and the earth. It needs genuine Christians. It needs those whose whole souls are in the work. It needs those who have the honor of God and the salvation of men nearer their hearts than they have any other object. It suffers because those who have named the name of Christ have not departed from all iniquity. 5. It demands faithfulness, zeal, self-sacrifice, humility, and every Christian grace in the heart and life of those who are recognized as the ministers of Jesus Christ. With such a ministry how would the Lord go forth to the battle, and what a church would we have to illustrate their preaching. The servants of the living God would be indeed the valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ. And with a people every one of whom is a living Christian, what an army would we have to give battle to the powers of darkness. 6. A church soundly converted to God, a ministry, every member of which is an example to the flock, and with them the mighty power of the Holy Spirit to set home the truth of God upon the people, these are the things which meet the demand of the cause of God at the present time. And now why should not this state of things exactly represent our case? Why should we not have such a ministry? In the day of Judgment all other ministers shall be weighed in the balance and found wanting. Why not have such members of our churches? This is the only kind that will ever enter the kingdom of God. Why should we deceive our own hearts with an empty profession? Could we have such men to preach the truth, and such men to live it out, how would the Spirit of God set home the truths of his word. The number of churches would be multiplied, and a host of faithful men would arise to labor in the harvest field. The cause of God would prosper everywhere, and the Lord would add daily to the church such as should be saved. The people of God would be as terrible as an army with banners, and they would go forward from conquering to conquer. Each individual can do what devolves upon himself for the accomplishment of this great work, and with their united action the work is wrought. Shall we not each one set about the work? As surely as any one of us does his work in earnest he will succeed. And we shall not only save our own souls, but we shall by our example be the means of saving others. Come, brethren, let us earnestly seek God. The hours of our probation are swiftly passing. The Judgment hastens with fearful rapidity. The work committed to our trust languishes. Shall the Master come and find us thus? What is our record in the book above? Where is our zeal for perishing souls? Where are the acts of self-denial and cross-bearing on our part to save our perishing fellow-men? How many of us are bearing fruit to the glory of God? How many are like the fig-tree, covered with leaves, but destitute of fruit? Can we meet the Master thus? How stands our account for the great day? Shall we have the "well-done" spoken to us? How many of us in our own consciences can say that we are doing the will of God with earnest, persevering effort? How many love the cause of Christ above everything that they possess? The day is hastening greatly that shall reveal things as they really are. Let us prepare to meet it.