Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-06
Dreaming aud Doing.

II man stretch out his hand, aud cause
1T 20 be fixed IN that position, IN time 1t
will grow immovable so tnat it can neither
be raised nor lowered. And what is true of
the hand is true Of the foot, or any other
member Of the body. Use alone gives
strength, vitality, efficiency. And the same
principle holds in the spiritual world. 4
Christian man who makes it his practice to
visit the sick aud afflicted will find his in
terest in them quickened, while his heart
will beat with warm, glowing charity. The
man who holds back the unkind retort finds
it easier to restrain himself on the next oc-
casion One who engages in Sunday-school
work. or in mission work, or in Christian
work of any kind, will fnd his fondness for
it, his efficiency in 1t, and his adaptness 70
it increasing with his work.
Every now and then a sleepy and lazy
Christian reads Of some noble deed Of self
sacrifice and heroism, aud exclaims How
would like 10 have been there what
hero | would have been !" But heroes are
not made in this way; you cannot buy hero
isms at the shops Heroes never 60 in search
Of heroism and to him who has it, it is as
invisible as thin air These listless, fanci-
ful dreamers envy the man who can thrill
an audience with the old story of redemp-
iIH
tuuity and somehow they too would stir up
an audience. Mistaken judges You are all
wrong. In order to work, the spirit of work
must be in YOU. And you must have more
than that-you must make action follow
upon inclination. You must work; you must
cultivate holiness in life you must labor in
the Suudayschool aud the mission school
and among the poor and destitute; aud then
YOU cannot be kept from telling what you
! know of Jesus and His love. The truth is,
it is the heroes Of the world who are msun-
defstood as for its superficial men, 1t Is
they who are always estimated beyond their
real value. There are plenty to be met with
/ on every hand who would like a martyrdom.
4 They see the stake and the fagots and the
/ crowd and they even hear their own defiant
utterances as they "stand up for Jesus. "
/ Oh, pitiable martyrs Oh, weakest of err
| ing brethren, who sigh for the martyrs
/ crown. vet have not enough of the Christ
/ spirit to give crust of bread 10 a hungry
brother, TO forgive personal injury, or deny
themselves one little garment, 30 that a des-
titute brother may be fed
The world is indeed full Of would-be
martyrs, but their names are never written
such on earth or in heaven. Their crowns
are all imaginary, thin as the ether, as UNI
] substantial as vision. Christian brother'
are you a worker in the vineyardF are you
doing what you can, little though it seems
to YOU, for the Master? DO you give up one
coat that needy brother may be warm
DO you go out to discharge one little deed
of mercy when a wearied body calls fol
rest? Then in your own way you are doing
a deed of heroism which will be remembered
some day. But, instead, do you say; " Soul
t.l-. 81 - 10 hs
pass without the record Of one deed of sacri
iice done for the Master? Instead of being
a worker, are yon a droneI And all th'
while are you dreaming OF an imaginar,
martyrdom? But you are not the stuff o
which martyrs are made; and even coulC
you 20 to the stake, it is to be feared yol
would get into one fire only to pass out int
another Still dreaming the dream Of tn
sluggard awake, thou that sleepest, am
arise from the dead, and Christ shall Civ
thee light = Christian at Work.