Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-07

Affections of the people Of God are as short
lived as the pleasures Of the world, and tn
recompense of the reward is not merel,
prospective in the world to come, but fo
this life, when the pleasures of sin reacl
their premature aud early loss of power t
charm the unsatisied soul of man. Fo
he night of gaity is soon over, the day o
hilarity is but short, and the night of dis
appointment comes with the early twiligh
of lives short season of pleasure. and find.
the Christian soul only in state of prepa
ration for the hour Of accountability tc
God. That hour of accountability come:
often in this life. 1t confronts the sou
when any earthly disappointment spoils it,
cherished plan of pleasure, and leaves il
f'ce TO face with an accusing conscienc,
which stands to represent the future Judge
The artisan who can show you some com
pleted and polished work of art in the
mechanical field of industry. and who can
say that he took the metal from the mine
and carried it through all the processe:
and c'anges to the complete work of ART
finds his recompense, not In the fins ncial
result OF his work, for that is likely to be
Of small account but in the triumph of his
patience, his skill. his industry and his
inventive faculties.
So the worker in the Sunday school may
find the recompense for his toll and his
patient piodding, in the sight of living
works of grace, in the person of other men
or women who by his instrumentality have
been won from the crude tendencies of the
natural heart, to walk in newness of life
and in holy daily communion with the
living God. Then we might dwell upon
the recompense of reward which attaches
to the reflex influence Of Sunday school
work. 1t might be shown how benefit
surely accrues to individual citizens, and
hence to communities at large. by the ele.
walton of every citizen who engages with
earnest purpose and an honest heart in any
work for God and humanity. And this
line of argument might be carried on to
illustrate the reflex recompense which al.
ways returns to the worker In the Sunday
school; how he is made better citizen, a
better member of the family, of society,
and of every association Of life, because he
is purified, ennobled, blest and sanctified
by his efforts to elevate his fellow men.
For the true test question with some of US
may be, not altogether whether we can
lead others to the kingdom of grace and
glory, but whether we can ourselves reach
there in the end, unless we keep our hearts
warm and our love refreshed by the felt
responsibilities of continued work in the
Masters vineyard.
In view then of the work under consider
alton, with its features of great magnitude,
of great promise of results and of great
recompense, it is fitting that it be planned
with unstinted purpose of effort and with
unlimited consecration Of power. 1t may
we'll involve our best powers of mind, our
best years of life, our best investment of
time and even of wealth; not, however, in
any respect without subordnation of posi-
ton to the church. But in the church OF
Christ, to aid the church in its prime OBJ
ject of existence, to prepare the public
mind for the seed of gospel truth, and then
to cultivate and stimulate the growth OF
that seed to the full maturity of life eternal