St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-04-16
Rusty Rails.
BY REV. ASA BULLARD.

Travellers may often notice in the
vicinity of railroad stations, piles of
iron rails. Some of these rails have
been used on the tracks, and having
become worn or in some way damaged,
they are laid aside to be sent to the
foundry to be recast. Some are new,
and ready to be used rs they are need
ed. Single rails may also be seen by
the side of the track, where they have
been thrown when replaced by new
ones.
All must have noticed that these
rails are always covered with rust.
Some look as though they must be in
jured 10y this corroding process. This
is the necessary consequence of expos
ure to the rain and dew of night when
not in use. 1t is a well-knOwn effect of
moisture on iron. But examine the
rails on the tracks that are in constant
use. They are equally exposed to the
rain, and yet they are perfectly free
from rust. The face of the rails on
which the wheels run is as bright as
polished silver. They glisten in the
sun as far as the eye can reach.
Now, the difference in these cases, it
is well understood, is wholly owing to
the influence of their use or want of
use. Let these rails change places and
fhnir OF ho oh
ed the bright ones will soon become
rusty, and the rusty ones bright. Rust
cannot form where there is this con-
slant friction, this polishing process of
use.
Is not here very apt illustration of
the effect of activity, or the want of it,
upon Christians9 Let person enter
the church and engage in no Christian
labor, and how soon the rust of slOth
and indifference begins to appear.
How can any Christian graces shine, if
they are not brought into use, if they
are not polished by activity9 "Prac-
tice makes perfect" isl the adage. If
there is no practice, how can Christian
character be developed and made efful-
gent? How can any one 'see our good
works." if we do not ''let our light
shine7' And will any one let his light
shine if there are no good works that
may be seen?
Inactivity is the bane of the Chris
tian church. No church can be eff
Gent where its members ale not in
some way employed in Christian work.
Are there not many in most churches
who are rusting for want of use 2 They
are not only accomplishing no useful
object for others, but they are constant
ly suffering loss themselves. They are
not only making no spiritual acquisi-
lions, but they are losing what little
they may have. This rust of inactivity
is eating out their very vitals.
Take any single grace of the gospel,
and how soon it begins to corrode if
not in exercise. If secret prayer be-
comes intermittent, the door of the
hinges. If attendance on the weekly
meetings of the church becomes irregu-
lar, the steps that lead to that heaven
ly place begin to lose their elasticity
and heavily drag the reluctant heart
Faith and hope and meekness are all
strengthened, like the muscles of the
body, by daily and vigorous use. Il
left but short time in state of mac
tlvity, the dampness of the night all
furnishes them with rust. as it does the
iron rails that lie idle by the roadside
Some one says the muscles with which
we close the hand are much stronger
than those with which we open it. /
is the weaker or opening muscles tina
we use in benevolent giving, while it i
the stronger ones with which we clos
our hand against the calls of charity
these weak muscles will gradually be