St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-10-22

gether with him.
We must concentrate therefore. the
whole energy of our minds in this one
direction. in order that this tundamen
tai element of Christian life and sue
ccs>tul work may he organized into our
m.iug. A. the Biblical writers made
researches, collected and stted the
material which should he handed down
through the ages lis the Divine mind
and ideas. rs these laborious.
pain>taking processes became the con
dition> which Gods spirit seized and
worked through. 81 must there be III
our life IL concentrated energy of our
thought and affection upon the truth
we would illustrate and establish. and
upon the souls we would win.
4thly. One more prime condition of
successful work together with him is,
that reciprocation he IL constant and
prominent aim with us. He first, and
always. loved (aud lovcS0 us. therefore,
we love him. Now that the Dirine love
has been given TO us that it has kindled
within lis its wonderful flame. quicken
ing and enrchimg or whole beimg-
necessarily involves, all this, for its con-
tinuance with lis. the going out the
rushing forth of that life and love in
warm. vital currents back to its Divine
Inst + hal ,ln h.t l,.tS
poured into and enriched the whole
physical organism, must come back
again to the heat. And not only must
the love which God has given. go back
to him from us to he purified and again
>urchaI ued with the Divine life,
we must carry it into other hearts and
lives: and pour il upon all objects that
engage the sNmpathic> of Christ upon
the success of his truth and the enlarge
mrnt of his church. and into the souls
of man to deliver and save them.
Withhold this and YOU become impnv-
rri>hcd. \ selfish folding of the aims
f"r ccstatic and personal enjoyment in
private. is just the way to dry up the
fountain. There must he IL giving back
what has been :" freely impaired. The
lowed 10y earnest reaction of the soul
towards the Heavenly source. and
towards all the objects of the Divine
Thought and universal love.
In this way alone do we secure that
normal, steady growth which passes II
once into many turm> of usefulness.
and "r ganic forms in lin kingdom capa-
bile of receiving and transmitting his
lite and light. lI:rimlu" rs into Il com
uIrrcill activity in the spread of his
Kingdom Thus We hccomc like the
diamond. HAT receives the pun" lay nt
the sun and transmits them in Il thou
sand different directions and forms and
cnl"I>. IathrI than the charcoal only
absorbent of he heat of the sun.
These. brethren. are fundamental
conditions of effective work for Christ.
| nl,>> they exist there can Ice no trl-
low ship with tod III >;iNiu" men. These
Indicate the fact at Il union ii it'll Christ.
and reveal the nature OF it; it is SpIlt-
ual. organic. that Of branch and vine.
\ union in which all co>mic forces con
>pirc with the rcdcmptivc forces. a>
they pass from Him. Though H.. int"
the lives of all whom We would win
and bless.
But in the second place. let lis pass
NOW from these primary. 1" what We
may call secondary. CONDITIONS of work
together with cod. for men. And. a>
in indicating tn" primary conditions.
We first referred t" what Was personal.
80 now We viii inst speak Of that which
i more strictly personal.
And % We shall need "ttrmtimr>.
especially in the early part of "ur
Christian life /" train and spur "ur-
selves with the idea of obligation to
work. 1t i due To ON fellow men that
We work for them We owe it To them.
I'm the order of time. the pressure of
duly comes before enthusiasm in this
work. The idea of duty is Il power we
eau not at all spare. This will quicken
the conscience " hen all else fails. 1t
gives di>crrnmcnt and authority to its
commands 1t sounds like the voice OF
God in the soul. 1t i II divine fate
tlnI>ting Us on the way of our own
choosing: the way our spirit approves. ,
1T makes lis impossible to the burdens
of the way. 1t conStrains. and Restraints
it. il is Vet present, Il latent force. con
ccIlrd i'll our motives. and works. and
PRAYERS. To he given out in heroic life
aud achievement"
The path of duty is the way t" glory
Hr.-that following her commands.
On with toll of heart and knees and hands
Through the long gorge I" the far light has
His path upward and prevailed, -
He, shall find the topping crags of duty scaled
Are close upon the shining tabe-lands
To ,chich our God himself is moon and sun.
And yet. we shall never learn the Joy
business of the way and work till We get
ont of the restricted sphere of duty, !
into the sphere of enthusiasm. Here.
in the words of another: ..L0re out
strips the Scm>e of duty: it moves with /
the quirkmcsS of the lightning, which /.
the thunder of the law follows. but can
not "veltakc. Bctorc conscience can
utter its 'catrgolic Imperative, the will /.
ing work of love is done"
lie us rejoice however that We aIc in .