St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-11-17
Christ'S Estimate Of Christian
Service.

There Is nothing in respect to which
we more egrcgiOuSly deceive ourselves
than in the standard which we apply
to work done for Christ We adopt the
figures of the counting-room we bring
in the rules of arithmetic; we count
the men we have Influenced we meas
urc the buildings we have erected. |
once knew man who kept in a book
the number of the loaves of bread he
had given away. and of the garments
hc had distributed to the poor. And
now and then lac used to get out the
book and add up the sums total, and
congratulate himself on the charities
lac had done. And men thought, as no
doubt he thought himself, that he was
a very liberal man. 1t Is IA grand mis-
take. That is the Judas method of cs-
timation, my friends, though we may
not make the same deduction that lie
did. We say figures never lie. They
do in the estimate of heaven. What
are two mites worth on earth just IA
farthing. What were the widows two
mites worth in heaven More than all
the shckcls which the rich cast into
the Lords treasury. What is IA cup of
cold water worth Not much here, but
=
Master, it has untold value there.
would Just like here to direct your
attention for moment To one of those
delicate hints of Scripture, which the
eve of man ovcrloOks which common
tator> never think of, but which are
sometimes turned up almost casually,
~ the miller of California kicked up
on the toe of his boot the golden grains
Il, IL
"Now a certain man was sick, named
Lazarus, of Bethdny, the torn Of Mary
and her sister Harthd.r Mark that
How was Bethany known on earth 3?
How did men speak of it up and down
Palestine | know not. Perhaps as
towns are known now. As il town fa-
nous for its wealth, for its intelligence
and culture; its institutions of art and
learning; its famous men its schools
and scholars its learned rabbits for
the beauty of its scenery. But how
was it known to Jesus and his diSci-
pies How was it known in heaven
A. the torn Of Mary and her sister Mar
TIA. And why Not because of any
great deeds which these women had
done not because they stood at the
head of its public institutions; not be
cause they were its wcalthieSt citizens
and owned castle upon its edge, but
because of the simple fact that there
Jesus found welcome reception and IL
loving service.
There is nothing much more discOur-
aging than the views we sometimes yet
in looking back over the past years of
our discipleship, and asking, What
have done for the Master? How the
bulk of all our dOings ShrinkS and
shrivcls and vanishes to an insignti-
canoe, Il nullity. But there is glori-
Gus antidote, if we can only take it.
Mean as all the service has been, com
puted by an earthly arithmetic, failed
aS we often have when Judged by
earthly methods of measurement, let
us keep in mind the SaviOur's method
of testing his disciples service. What
has been the spirit and purpose of it
What has been the intention That is
the standard of heaven. And while
we ought to plan to do great things for
the Master, nothing ought to seem too
great or too arduous, or too costly, J
remember this, that the simple desire
and purpose to please and honor and
serve him. will save your most ordina
ry work from being contemplate, and
will give to your greatest service Il
beauty and acceptableness which bulk
and bigncSS can never give. "FOr thou
deSirest not sacrifice, else would give
it. Thou dclightest not in burnt offer
ingS. The sacrifices of God are brOk
cn spirit, - etc =. +. IIerrick in Gold
Ell Rule