The World's Great Sermons, Volume 03: Massillon to Mason
Religion
The World's Great Sermons, Volume 03: Massillon to Mason
Sermons
On the other hand, such as have fled for refuge to lay hold on the
hope set before them, are commanded to be joyful in their King. He
reigns, O believer, for thee. The stability of His throne is thy
safety. The administration of His government is for thy good; and the
precious pledge is, that He "will perfect that which concerneth thee."
In all thy troubles, and in all thy joy, commit thy way unto Him. He
will guard the sacred deposit. Fear not that thou shalt lack any good
thing. Fear not that thou shalt be forsaken. Fear not that thou shalt
fall beneath the arm of the oppressor. "He went through the fires of
the pit to save thee." Sing, then, thou beloved, "Behold, God is my
salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my
strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."
And if we have "tasted that he is gracious"; if we look back with
horror and transport upon the wretchedness and the wrath which we
have escaped, with what anxiety shall we not hasten to the aid of our
fellow men, who are sitting in "the region and shadow of death." What
zeal will be too ardent, what labor too persevering, what sacrifice
too costly, if, by any means, we may tell them of Jesus, and
the resurrection, and the life eternal? Who shall be daunted by
difficulties, or deterred by discouragement? If but one pagan shall be
brought, savingly, by your instrumentality, to the knowledge of God
and the kingdom of heaven, will you not have an ample recompense? Is
there here a man who would give up all for lost because some favorite
hope has been disappointed, or who regrets the wordly substance which
he has expended on so divine an enterprise? Shame on thy coward
spirit and thine avaricious heart! Do the holy Scriptures, does the
experience of ages, does the nature of things justify the expectation
that we shall carry war into the central regions of delusion and
crime, without opposition, without trial? Show me a plan which
encounters not fierce resistance from the prince of darkness and his
allies in the human heart, and I will show you a plan which never came
from the inspiration of God. If missionary effort suffer occasional
embarrassment; if impressions on the heathen be less speedy, and
powerful, and extensive than fond wishes have anticipated; if
particular parts of the great system of operation be, at times,
disconcerted; if any of the ministers of grace fall a sacrifice to the
violence of those whom they go to bless in the name of the Lord--these
are events which ought to exercise our faith and patience, to wean us
from self-sufficiency, to teach where our strength lies, and where our
dependence must be fixt; but not to enfeeble hope nor relax diligence.
Let us not "despise the day of small things." Let us not overlook,
as an important matter, the very existence of that missionary spirit
which has already awakened Christians in different countries from
their long and dishonorable slumbers, and bids fair to produce, in due
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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