Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-07-06
Unknown Success.

In volume recently published, entitled
Memorials of Philemon II. Fowler" there
is mentioned an experience of this eminent
and useful minister of Christ which is
worthy of consideration. He had one day
preached greatly to his own dissatisfaction.
He had very high ideal of what preaching
ought TO be, and of course often fell short
of it. But on this particular occasion he
was depressed or morbid and suffered from
the pang one feels at the sense of failure.
He looked around, as he said, for some knot
hole to creep into. He would not come
down out of the pulpit till the congregation
had gone, for he was ashamed to face them.
But there was one at least waiting for him
and that one came with streaming eyes to
thank him for the sermon, and to testify
that God had sent a message by it that had
brought one soul to the great and happy de-
cision of eternity. This reminds me of a
similar case mentioned many years ago by
the Rev. DR.. John Knox, long chairman of
the executive committee of the American
Tract Society. On particular evening he
had preached after his usual amount of
preparation, but all the time had the feeling
that he was not speaking to purpose, and at
the close seemed to himself to have made an
absolute failure. He did not search for
knot-hole, but said he did long for sort of
trap door in the floor of the pulpit, through
which he might let himself down, and so
get away without having TO face his hearers.
He got home somehow, swallowing his NOR
tification as best he could. The next day
his engagements led him to place where
several of his people were collected together.
One OF them said to him, Doctor, would
you like to see that sermon you gave us last
night 7" "No indeed" was the answer
:" that is just the last thing I have any de-
sire to see" Then his friend told him that
he had been 50 impressed with the discourse,
which seemed to him uncommonly weighty
and judicious, that on returning home he
sat down and made as exact transcript of
the whole utterance as he could, and judg-
ing by the testimony of others who also
were among the hearers, he had been very
successful. He rejoiced to have as a per-
manent possession, always within reach,
such an admirable presentation of Scriptural
truth. No doubt many readers of the fore
going can recall similar incidents in their
own experience or in that of their neigh
bors What do they all teach Ministers
do not always see the good that God accom-
plishes through them. 1t is not well that
they should. 1t was, so to speak, fortuitous
that Drs. Fowler and Knox learned of the
good results of their labors, and these in
stances render it very likely that the same
thing has taken place often when there was
no outward sign of it. "And herein is that
saying true One soweth and another
reapeth." What our Lord noted at the be-
ginning has occurred ever since. Many a
man put in the seed who never saw the har-
vest, just as many another brought home
ripe sheaves on which he bestowed no labor
save that of the sickle, The worker for
Christ, therefore, is to work in faith, expect.
ing the divine hand to secure the result.
He has abundant reason to believe that good
is done of which he has no knowledge and
will have none until the great day. 1t may
be necessary for his own spiritual welfare
that he should be kept in this ignorance.
And certainly he renders no small honor to
the Master when he perseveres in the face
of all discouragement.-J. w. Chambers, in
Illustrated Weekly.