Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-10-22
HiRD WORK.

And a mans foes shall be they of his own
Observation-Disclosures x:36.
1t is no easy thing to be Christian. 1t
is a continual rowing up stream. The
world. the flesh and the devil unite all
their forces to impede the steps of that
man who sets his feet in the marrow way y
which leads through the strait gate" 1t
the heart was right and thehature mild, the
task would be comparatively easy. But
the heart is not right. Its inclinations are
towards evil, and there is multltudlnous
army of fierce passions, low appetites and
fiery tempers to battle with. Hercules
seven great tasks we're easy in comparison
with the work of being and living Chris
tan. The Bible says that ''he that ruleth
his spirit is better than he that taketh a
city, Difficult as it is to act like Chris
tian at all times, it is in most cases pecu-
iariy so at home. where the restraints of
business and society are thrown aside, and
most persons permit their natures to have
full control.
A woman, making her round of fashion
able calls, is sweet and engaging Great
ure, sympathetic and gentle. Perhaps she
is an active church woman, and does efa-
cisat work in building up the church OF
which she is member. and in helping
along public charities. Why is she such a
different person at home? Few of her &C
quaintances would recognize In
the irritable, fault-fnding, over
bearing wife and mistress, the urbane
and kindly directress of some charitable
institution, the leader of some praying cir
Gle. Is it not that the most stubborn foes
to Christian living are those of ones
own household!
How many devoted Christian men, in
the eyes of the world, are honored and be-
lieved in at home? They speak with great
fervor of the love and mercy of God; they
extol the beauty of Christian charity and
patience; they address the throne of grace
as if they knew the way. but what do their
wives and children think Of their religion
It sometimes seems as if society and the
world would exhaust mans capacity for
goodness, and there was nothing but the
original Adam left to meet the require
ments of home.
One reason why it is so much harder to
be good at home, is the lack of restraint.
In the outside world there are certain for
malities, conventionalities to be observed.
Few men except i'll anger tell each other
what they think of them. They swallow
their resentment and smother their disgust
with polite phrases. But by ones own
freside plain speech is the rule, and Gen.
sure seldom perishes there for want of
utterance. Take for example young girl
or boy who has been persuaded to try to live
godly life. Like young tree trans
planted to the garden, he needs the ten
derest care, and The vivifying effect of ex-
ample and encouragement.
It is such hard work to do. right. The
youth commits some fault, or perhaps
some sin, and instead of loving reproof and
sympathy, he receives harsh censure, and
the taunt: 'You act very much like a
Christian" A pastor of city church no.
ticed that young man, who had recently
united with them, absented himself from
their worship. When he asked him the
reason, he replied, ooh, I've given that all
up. I got tired of being pagged. I have
a quick temper and whenever Igot mad
father would say, you are great Chris
tian,' Sc dropped it. There is no use try
ing here; if I was away from home might
try" Had it been neighbours son who
had failed, that man would
have spoken kindly and regretfuily to
him Of his backsiiding. but
he had 10 patience with his own son. An