St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-03-21


selves, and been looked upon by their
brethren as possessing no gift of a posi-
tive nature, and yet who, under the
impulse of complete conservation and
holy resolve, have suddenly developed
powers of usefulness, surprising alike to
themselves and others. There are very
many Christians who say in their hearts,
''Had [ but wealth, or learning, or ge-
MUS, would do great deal of good in
the world"
The words "thou mighty man of val
orr do not seem to have been addressed
to Gideon because of any previous VIC
tories or valorous things he had done,
but rather because God saw that he
possessed undeveloped possibilities of
service, which, if rightly used, would
entitle him to that honorable name.
1 have somewhere met, l know not
where, with an impressive citation of
certain Scripture worthless to answer to
God regarding the use they have made
of such working tools and possessions
as they happened to have. cannot
now recall the language, but it ran
something after this manner:
"What is that in thine hands, Abel ?"
Nothing but a wee lamb, o God; TAX
en- from the flock. purpose offering it
to thee, willing sacrifice" And so he
did, and the sweet smell of the burning
has been filling the air ever since, and
constantly going up to God as perpet-
ual sacrifice.
"What is that thou hast in thine
hand, Moses ?" "Nothing but a staff,
O God, with which tend my fOcks."
"Take it, and use it for me-" said God,
Moses did so, and with it wrought more
proud king Pharaoh had ever seen be-
fore.
"What is that thou hast in thine
hand, Shamgar ?" said God. ''Nothing
but an ox-goad, Lord" replied he.
"Take it, and use it for me-" said God.
And so he did, and Herewith slew
host of enemies which otherwise might
have done Gods people great harm.
"Woman, what is that thou hast in
thine hand ?" Nothing but a pot of
understanding ointment, D God, where
with | intend to annoint this holy one
who is called Jesus" And so she did,
and not only did the perfume fill all the
house in which they were, but the whole
Bible-reading world has been fragrant
with the memory of the blessed act
which has ever since been spoken of "as
a memorial of her."
"Poor widow, what is that thou hast
in thine hand ~ said God. "Only two
mites, Lord. 1t is very little, but then
it is all have, and | intend to put it
into thy treasury" And so she did,
and the story of her generous giving
has ever since wrought like charm in
prompting others to give to the Lord.
"What is that thou hast in thine
hand, Dorcas ~ ''Only needle, Lord"
Take it and useit for me-" said God.
And so she did, and many of the suffer-
ing poor were warmly clad, and many
other women, inspired by her loving
ing act, have perpetuated her labOrs
by means of the DOrcas Societies which |
even now ply their benign mission
the earth.
The question we should address to
ourselves, for it is very personal. 1t is,
''What have I then, with which can
serve God and my fellow-men ?"
There are some serviceable gifts which
all Christians possess: such as power to
serve God and the world well by means
of itself can move both God and men
and other things which will suggest
to you as given of God, and
which we are under obligation to use to
the very best advantage.
But my special wish now is to en-
you to personally examine your
hearts, heads, and possessions, as you
would carefully examine treasure-bOx
of longneglected things, to see if there
be not among the accumulation some
thing which may be used to do special
service.
Remember, that though under the old
some things, though good
in themselves, were counted unclean,
under the new dispensation in which we
live, nothing will be counted Common
or unclean" which we can use for the
Master.
l beseech you, therefore, that taking
in the hands of prayer the lamps of
Gods word and sanctified understand
ing, you make diligent search of heart,
head, and possessions, and when the
something to which have been refer
ring is found, dedicate it to God by
actively serving him with it ; and then
in that coming day he will make glad
your heart with the approving words,
"He hath done-She hath dOne-avhat
she cOuld."-R. Z. BOnsaU In S. s. Times.
Questions and eInswerS.