Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-06-30

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blotted out and remembered against him no
more, 80 that their remembraooo may not
mar his Christian joy, abate his peace,
J obscure bis hope, or paralyzo, his Christian
efforts. "Iwas remorse-a futile aud bale
full remembrance of guilt that made
Judas q suicide aud fulfilled the mouaste-
lies Of the middle ogcs with unholy and
unhappy ascetics. Among the things of
the past also nre some good deeds, Der :.
formed by the help Of Cod, souo attain
tnents migrate, some sincere efforts to g,orify
God; many such might be found 10 the
previous lifo of Paul, und yet like tho
racer IN the lsthmiun games, he felt he had
no time to look back andit would do him
no g6odss His eye. was fixed on the glitter
ing mark before aud toward it lie pressed,
wasting no thought or time on ''things that
arc behind" And 90 be it with US.
. "Not backward be our glanccs bent,
But onward to our shining mark
(B.) A second thing which Paul indi-
Gates as au attendant OF hio concentration
of purpose is dissatisfaction with present
attainments-"l count not myself to havc
apprehcndcd."
The widow of the grcnt artist Opie says
of him: 81 never saw him satisfied with
one Of his productions and ofton, very often,
hive seen him enter my sitting room and
throwing himself upon the sofa, in on
agouy of despondcnce, CRY out, Il mover
shall be painter as long US live.'" 1t
was noble despair that uuly gavo birth to
renewed efforts, which finally lifted the
aspirant to ono of the highes. inches in
tho artistic annals Of his country. The
student who rests upon his oars, satisfied
with past att1inments, will never rise above
the burest mediocrity. Self-complaoency
has sapped his Intellectual vigor and
palsied oil noble aspirations.
Nlicheal Angelo was once found by Car
dina Farncse walking in solitude amid the
Grand old ruins of the Coliseum and upon his
expressing surprise the famous sculpture
replied: al still 60 to aohool that l may
continue to learn"
So it was with Paul So it should be
with each Of US. Al humbling view ef
present imperfections, holy discomfort
with present attuinmcDts in grace should
inspire US with fresh zeal and increase the
pressure toward the mark set before US.
(C.) A third accessory Of this coucen-
tralion Of energy Paul tells US is hopefulness
with respect to the future-rcachiug forth
unto hose things which are before. "The
Greek word is epekteino-reachipg out to :
ward. The figure in the Apostles mind
evidently is that OF tho racer, who, with
stendcd nostril and out stretched neck
straining ahead of the flying feet is rcach !,
log hopefully forward az an cxpectant win
| ner.
Hope has been called the world 3 good
Samaritan, pouring wine and oil into the
wounds of humanity, approaching tho
miserable in tho might and mercy of him
who came to the fountuin of bitterness at
Jericho, she casts healing virtue into
misfortune's bitterest springs and filings
the glowing aroh Of promise upon the dark
background of lifc's stormiest skies. That
hope which "springs eternal 10 the human
breast" appears to be kind of natural
prophecy Of future glory and blessedness
to which all may aspire. The Christians
hope should act the part of sure and
stcadfast anchor to his soul, giving steadiness
aud iixcdness to his life and purposes, whilo
freeing him from the wax, helpless, peril
GUS yacillation of drifting vessel, tossed
hithcr and lhither by every wind. That
good hope which springs from faith and
aspres to holiness and heaven. bciug born
Of the promises of faithful God, is never
doomed to disappointment. She will find
in her dying hand no heeting shadows, but
an immortal crown. Let us, then, cherish
hopeful spirit for the future. De-
spar is deadly foe to success.
DespoOdcnoe cuts the sinews of every
high cpdeavor; while hope, like the
clapping, applaudipg spectator in the
anphithcatre, gives zest aud encouragement
to the bravo but painting athlete, who is
pressing toward his work.
u ndcr these conditions, then, holy neg
lect Of tho past, thorough discomfort
with present attainment and cheering
hopefulness for the future, Paul declares that
he has gathered up all his energies into
concentrated effort to attain his mark
''This one thing do" The polemics tell
us to "bcware of the man of one book"
He who has digcsted Lord Bacou's essays
or mastered Bishop Buffers analogy is a
man Of more intellectual vigor than he who
hus lightly skinned whole library. Some
one says, "1'ho man who does but one thing
is formidable man." "The jack of all
trades is good at nono," is maxim dinned
into the car Of the boy, but too often for
gotten by the man. The man who attempts
at the same time to be merchant, farmer,
lawyer, doctor, preacher and politician has
too many irons in the forge to work any Of
them we'll. Whom q carpenter is building
house he does not attempt to drive half
dozen nails at once, but his hammer hand
concentrates its Drawn upon one nail and