Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-07-05
" According to Your Faith"


There were seven of them-active dar-
ing, handsome DEMONSTRATING nothing,
reverencing few things, and efervescing
with fun at all times and places. Their
eager minds were keen to detect inconsis-
tencies, or to revolt at sham Professions
They discussed with equal zeal the exact
appearance and locomotive power of Eli
jah's chariot of fire, or the intricate doc
trine of election.
What should / do with them, as Sunday
after Sunday came before them, and they
called me teacher?
| asked the question OF myself and of the
superintendent. The first gave no reply.
The latter, with his usual blandness of
tone, said, All, yes difficult class-very.
Fine boys, though; yes l-ah -um to be
sure. Win their hearts, Miss G.; win
their hearts. All the rest will follow"
This was not enlightenment nor any COM
fort
1t was not difficult to follow the superin-
tendents advice, however. Any earnest
woman could not fail to win the regard of
those chivalric boyish natures. So, before
long, my boys and l were warm friends,
and our Sunday meeting the pleasantest
hour of all the happy week to me.
Sometimes, when the eager eyes and
flushed cheek showed that some heart chord
was touched, wondered a little sadly that
its vibration was not more lasting
could not but know that the plea which
wrought effect upon their words and acts
was not for "Christ's sake" but for "teach-
err" They were won, but by human love
not Jesus power. | pleaded Gods prom
Use, and rested upon its distant fulflment
And thus the months passed into the rec
ord of a whole year.
One day, in our teachers meeting {
stranger rose to address US. Friends,
said he, "you have been talking of sowing
the seed now, and being content to wal
Gods time for the harvest. Very good
But some Of you lament that the harves
is so far off, and wonder why it is. 1t i
because you don't expect it now. Look a
your classes. How many pupils have bee
converted this year? None? Why not
Because you don't expect God to hear you
prayer nor. They are laid up to be hear
by-and-by. It's only with you accordin
to your faith. You are satisfied to gal
the personal love and Sabbath interest 0
your pupils for the present, and wait f
future fruit from the seed sown. Well,
you work, and trust for the years to con
only, surely you need feel no sadness
Look on to the years, that, after all, mi
never come in this world to you or yol
children. Friends, Gods time, as given
his own Word, is nom. Why not plead h
own Word to him?
"Why should not your pupils be co
verted nor , As of old Christ asked d
blind, to-day he asks you teachers, Belle
we that | am able to do this?' Your a
swer is found in the present trust and wor
and, whatever that answer is, the respon
comes unchanged g According 10 your t;a
be J. into you' Z"
Our teachers meeting has never aga
heard that rough but loving speaker.
know that many hearts thanked him
the faithful rebuke, and more than O
head was bowed sorrowfully in prayer
present faith. And when, six months
ter, my boys" and | we're parted, j
strove with sadness in the hearts of pup
and teacher; for she knew, that, of {
seven sorrowful faces that watched her fir
the receding deck, three she should sur
see in heaven, if never more on earth
They had hope sure and steadfast q
were her brothers in Christ. To-day
holds letter, bidding her rejoice, that
that dear class two only now remain unc
verted.
Dear friends, might it not be better if
had each less future and more present fai
Christian Banner.