The Great Commission. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. IVMackintosh, Charles Henry
Religion
The Great Commission. Miscellaneous Writings of C. H. Mackintosh, vol. IV
Mackintosh, Charles Henry
Theology
Some there are who speak disparagingly of the blessed and holy work of
evangelization. We tremble for them. We feel persuaded they are not in
the current of the Master's mind, and hence we utterly reject their
thoughts. It is to be feared that their hearts are cold in reference
to an object that engages the heart of God. If so, they would need to
humble themselves in His presence, and seek to get their souls
restored to a true sense of the magnitude, importance and interest of
the grand question before us. At least let them beware of how they
seek to discourage and hinder others whose hearts the Lord has moved
to care for precious, immortal souls. The present is most assuredly
not the time for raising difficulties, and starting questions which
can only prove stumbling-blocks in the pathway of earnest workers. It
becomes us to seek in every right way to strengthen the hands of all
who are endeavoring, according to their measure, to publish the glad
tidings, and make known the unsearchable riches of Christ. Let us see
that we do so, so far as in us lies; and above all things, let us
never utter a sentence calculated to hinder any one in the blessed
work of winning souls to Christ.
But we must draw this paper, and this series of papers, to a close. We
might do so here, were it not that there is one more point in our
subject which we feel must not be omitted, and that is the _power_ by
which "the great commission" was to be carried out. To leave this out
would be a great defect, a serious blank indeed; and we are the more
anxious to notice it, inasmuch as the special form in which the power
was communicated links itself, in a very remarkable way, with that
which has been before us in this paper. If the _sphere_ was to be "all
nations," the _power_ must be adapted thereto; and, blessed be God, so
it was.
Our blessed Lord, in closing His commission to His disciples, said,
"And ye are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise
of My Father upon you; but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye
be endued with power from on high." This promise was fulfilled, this
power was communicated on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Ghost came
down from the ascended and glorified Man, to qualify His servants for
the glorious work for which He had called them. They had to "tarry"
until they got the power. How could they go without it? Who but the
Holy Ghost could speak adequately of the love of God, of the person,
work and glory of Christ? Who but He could enable any one to preach
repentance and remission of sins? Who but He could properly handle all
the weighty subjects comprehended in "the great commission?" In a
word, the power of the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential in every
branch of Christian service, and all who go to work without it will
find it to be barrenness, misery, and desolation.
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