Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-06
Abstract of Sermon
By e. H. Webster. Feb. 23rd, 1879.

This teaches nothing concerning the
future life. We are not to think that
the sacred writer meant to saye that
there is no activity, no learning, no
invention, no getting WISER in the life
to come still less, that there is no ex-
istence at all beyond the grave.
The injunction is simply Whatsoever
thy hand findeth to do now and here,
do it with thy might, for your plans
and enterprises so far as they relate to
this world cannot be carried forward
into the next.
1st. The injunction implies that
there is something to be done in this
world that is north doing-that all
find something Of this sort do-that it
is worth doing with all your might.
This will clearly appear if you con-
slider
2nd. What you find to do. Near
ly all of you find several general things
to do, which general things involve a
great many particular things.
There is the profession, business, or
trade, to which you have been specially
called: there is the family with which
you are connected; there is the church
to which you belong, or which-wheth-
er you are a member of it or not-be-
longs to you, and by virtue Of its nee
essary and natural relations to YOU.
lays you under certain obligations !;
there is the community Of which you
are part, and which you help to make
what it is !: there is the commonwealth
and government, which expects some
thing of you, and finally you are a
member Of the great family Of man, to
each member Of which, as YOU have
opportunity, you owe some expression
Of regard and goodwill Now under
each of these, your hand finds great
variety of things to do
Sad. DO these things with your
miyht-with the might Of your INTEL
,tct-work inteIligcntly; use your
brains and your opportunities, that you
may know how and may achieve the
best rcsults-worl earnestly; 5; mean i ::
make effort put yourself into it work
perseeeringiy; persist; overcome Oh
stacles; keep at it; don't be given to
change.
Observe this command or exorta-
tion is given to yoa in your particlar
trade, or calling or referring t. your
| household your relations TO the
church, the community the state. No
matter what your business or profess
sion; if it needs to be done, if the
world is better of for it, you are bound
to study the conditions of success
therein; to perfect yourself in the
knowledge that pertains to it, aud
make the most of yourself in it.
And let no one think that any busi-
ness, trade, Or calling, which the world
needs, which minister to human com
fort, is not honorable and 10 be regard
ed as service Of the Lord. There is
as truly call Of God to the rough
work and the common trades Of the
world, as to preach the gospel. "lle
that will be greatest among you shall
| be your minister that is, shall serUe
you, shall supply some necessity of
yours, satisfy some want, do you some
good He therefore who with good
will to men makes honest boots for
their feet, or honest coats for their
backs, or good -four to satisfy their
hunger; he who by q system of mer-
chandisc, brings in an honest way to
his neighbors the things which they
need from afar he who studies the
laws and conditions of health and the
medicines that nature furnishes that
he may serve the suffering and heal
them he who devotes his energies
and time to matters of law and equity,
that he may secure justice to his fell
lows and promote the peace of the
world any and all Of these are minis
ters in the exact sense of the above
passage.
OF course your hand never finds a
necessity of doing other than homes
work-never finds call to do what is
not for the general good, the command
assumes therefore, that you are about
some honest worthy work. Do it then
with your might. Make your work
minister to your fellows: make it glo
rify God by making it bless his child
rem.
IF we were all doing with our might
the good things our hands find to do