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Page 34
Every preacher knows that for spiritual work in saving others the word
of the Lord is true, "Without me ye can do nothing." There must be an
outpouring of the Spirit or there is no Pentecost. Over against that
settled conviction is the thrice-blessed command and assurance of the
Master, "Go preach my Gospel; and lo, I am with you alway" (blessed
iteration), "unto the end of the world." That has not yet come.
But there are other enterprises men must push--mines to be dug,
railroads to be surveyed and built, slaves to be emancipated, farms to
be cultivated, mischiefs framed by a law to be averted, charities to be
exercised, schools to be founded, and generally a living to be gotten.
To what extent may we expect divine aid?
First, all these things are his purposes and plans. But since it is
necessary for our development that we do our level best, he will not do
what we can. We can plant and water, but God only can give the
increase. Even the fable maker says that a teamster, whose wagon was
stuck in the mud, seeing Jupiter Omnipotens riding by on the chariot of
the clouds, dropped on his knees and implored his help. "Get up, O
lazy one!" said Jupiter; "clear away the mud, put your shoulder to the
wheel, and whip up your horses." We may call on God to open the rock
in the dry and thirsty land where no water is, but not to lift our
teacups. It is no use to ask God for a special shower when deep
plowing is all that is needed. It is no use to ask God to build
churches, send missionaries, endow schools, and convert the world, till
we have done our best.
But when we have done our best what may we expect? All things. They
shall work together for good to those who love God enough to do their
best for him in any plane of work. One could preach fifty sermons on
the great works done by men, obviously too great for man's
accomplishment. Time would fail me to tell of Moses, Gideon, Paul,
Luther, Wesley, Wilberforce, William of Orange, Washington, John Brown,
Abe Lincoln, and thousands more of whom this world was not worthy, who,
undeniably by divine aid, wrought righteousness. One of the great sins
of our age is that men do not see God immanent in all things. We have
found so many ways of his working that we call laws, so many segments
of his power, that we have forgotten him who worketh all things after
the counsel of his own will. A sustainer is as necessary as a creator.
There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God who worketh
all in all. The next great service to be done by human philosophy is
to bring back God in human thought into his own world. Since these
things are so, what are the conditions under which we may work the
works of God by his power?
First, they must be his works, not ours as opposed to his, but ours as
included in his. All our works may be wrought in God, if we do his
works, follow his plans, and are aided by his strength.
Second, they must be attempted with the right motive of glorifying God.
Christ is the pattern. He came not to do his own will, but the will of
him who sent him. And he did always the things that pleased him. In
our fervid desires for the accomplishment of some great thing we should
be as willing it should be accomplished by another as by ourselves.
The personal pride is often a fly in the sweet-smelling savor. God
would rather have a given work not done, or done by another, than to
have one of his dear ones puffed up with sinful pride. Great Saul must
often be removed and the work be left undone, or be done by some humble
David.
"Inaudible voices call us, and we go;
Invisible hands restrain us, and we stay;
Forces, unfelt by our dull senses, sway
Our wavering wills, and hedge us in the way
We call our own, because we do not know.
"Are we, then, slaves of ignorant circumstance?
Nay, God forbid!
God holds the world, not blind, unreasoning chance!"
How shall we secure the cooperative power? There is power of every
kind everywhere in plenty. All the Niagaras and Mississippis have run
to waste since they began to thunder and flow. Greater power is in the
wind everywhere. One can rake up enough electricity to turn all the
wheels of a great city whenever he chooses to start his rake. The sky
is full of Pentecosts. Power enough, but how shall we belt on? By
fasting, prayer, and by willing to do the will of God. We have so much
haste that we do not tarry at Jerusalem for fullness of power. Moses
was forty years in the wilderness: Daniel fasted and prayed for one and
twenty days. We are told to pray without ceasing, and that there are
kinds of devils that go not out except at the command of those who fast
and pray.
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