The Russellville Democrat., 1883-07-26

deep as that only years of asslduous
attention makes them patent to the
eye surely II is all up Hill when
we would do well--all down hill
when we suffer. Decay is easier
than growth--sin is easier than yir
tue and falsehood simpler than truth
Exertion is required in growth. Ex
ertion Is required In the practice of
virtue and great exertion is necessa-
ry to the speaking of truth. All
goodness comes only by a series cf
curbs, restraints, resolves, exertions
will, constant attention, remarkable
alcrtness and never dying patience
and self control. Our characters are
to ne hewn out OF the rock of nat
ural and sinful flesh by the dropping
daily OF single actions upon its hard
ened surface. We can see no i'm
press but we dare not deny that the
mark Of impact is there. But over
and above all this many Of US can
truly say little improvement has been
made.
There is some fault upon our
shoulders and with patient care we
meet here to drop tears upon the
grave OF our buried hopes, compare
notes concerning our successes and
failures and launch forth with re-
newed zeal for better year.
Why have we failed? "The law of
human experience warrants expecta-
tion Of success only on preparation,
whatever occupation is under con
sideration whether it be one of the
learned professions, or some branch
OF commercial, mechanical or agri-
cultural industry" And whatever
the law of human experience de-
mands in these lines is demanded in
our work in Sunday school il we ex-
pect success Why preparation is
the keynote TO the creation and plans
of the Godhead. For thousands and
thousands of years He held the world
in chaos preparing it for form. For
thousands and thousands of years
He held in distinct epochs.each
step preparing it for something bet
ter TO follow and finally after all
these patient years of waiting and
preparation he brought forth the
crown of the Arch and the man for
whom the world was made stood face
to face with his maker and the
words went out to the Heavens-"I:
is WE'LL" Then for thousands of
years God had in preparation the
coming of his Christ for the perfec-
tion of the man. Only in the full
ness OF time doth God walk out to
perfect that which he so slowly yet
80 surely prepares. Christ comes
and goes and God waits the perfec-
tion of humanity through countless
years Of the slowest preparation. We
fail for lack of preparation and for
lack of that alone.
1t is the object OF these conven-
tions to perfect that perfection and
to drop the oil of encouragement up
on the wounds of the battle strewn
lives.
To Undue Goodness In the lives of
those we teach requires some prepa-
ration for Godliness upon our part.
TO teach truth requires some prepa-
ration in the practice of truth. To
build well requires careful planning
and patient working thereto. We
need preparation of head-of heart,
Of hand, Of tongue, of demeanor and
patience to:continue therein. We
need to grumble less-to criticize
less-to be less captious-if we
would have better results in our
work. If we would lead children to
be Christ like there is no better way
than to pat Him on and be like Him
ourselves. Christ never carried
rocks in his pocket IN order that he
might throw them at an opportune
moment. Sunday school workers
take the rocks out of your pockets
and with less weight perhaps you
may run a better race.
1t is not written that Christ told
white lies just for amusement and
social enjoyment. Sunday school
workers rinse your mouths and pos
slbly the children will be the better
prepared to appreciate your teach
ing of the commandment. Thou
shalt not lie.
l. is said that when he was reviled
he reviled not again. Sunday school
worker stop this cry about the Tit
for tat Of human nature and possibly
the boys you teach will brldle their
tongues. How shall we prepare2
l. Study the character OF Christ
more and mankind less.
.. Study your own defects so that
when you are commanded You Will
know whether you are ready to
throw the first stone.
3. Study the Bible remedies for
all these ills of Christian life.
They are: Constant prayer, Con-
slant repentance, an added Courage,
Brotheriy kindness, Patience, Tenn
perance, Godliness.
Methinks years preparation of
this character would bring grand re-
suits to our work, and give encour-
agemcnt 10 our lives. Sure am /
that Christians cannot afford to neg
lect constant preparation in these
things if they hope an eternal re-
ward. What troubles the world?
War is all round us. Intemperance