The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-12-10


finds life appreciating in value with every
passing day, so urgent are the calls OF
mercy, so large is the reward of we'll
doing. All the highways Of life are full of
the distressed and suffering; the blind
men sit by the wayside; Lazarus sits at
Dives doorstep; the lame man lies at the
beautiful gate of the temple; all the porch
es of Bethesda are thronged with the inn
potent; the lepers call for mercy from
afar, and the poor, like scattered sheep, re-
quire shepherd who can feed them with
the bread of God. He who will give heed
TO the hands stretched out for help, and wipe
away the tears of sorrow, shall find his life
an earnest joy. And he who casts heal
ing branch into the worlds bitter fountain
sweetcned to his lips. As has been well
said, "Duties which have clear fulfill
ment possible, aspirations which have q
true hope Of being realized-these make
life interesting, alive, even passionate"
The feeling that human life is worth
less arises in great part from its brevity
and uncertainty. Our days on earth are
is reasoned, can an existence have which
soon passes into nothingness? The one
event happeneth to all; the wise man dieth
as the fool; therefore all is vanity, and the
value Of life is zero.
But life upon earth is not the whole Of
life; it is in truth only small segment
Of an infinite circle; mans years upon
aat.tt nj ba frst L.,
eternal series. The son Of man is frail
mortal, he dwells in house of clay, his
foundation is in the dust, and he is
crushed before the moth; but let him not
despise himself, for there is in him the
power Of an endless life, and his mortal
shall put on Immortality! Considered as
the prelude to Immortality the value of life
is vast beyond conception. This life is not
mans be-all and end-all, it Is simply time
Of probation and preparation for eterni-
ty; and in that fact lies its sublime sig
niicance. The Scriptures teach that as the
character of each mans soul is now formed
and determined it shall remain fixed for
ever. According TO the moral option which
each soul now chooses shall be determined
its unchanging destiny through endless
ages. According to the publication from
sin, and the adornment in holiness and
righteousness which the soul now attains
shall be its meetness for the inheritance of
the saints in light. According to the deeds
done in the body during the brief space we
call life shall be determined the judgment
Of the great day, and all the SOULS experi-
cncos of veal and woe through IN unend-
ing eternity. Surely, life upon which
the issues Of eternity are contingent is
worth living! Time often hangs heavy on
the hands of the worldling, and expedients
must be devised for killing" it; but TO
him who realizes its true significance it
seems to pass with rushing pinions. Alas,
how prodigal are mon Of time, and yet the
gliding moments are more precious than
golden sandsl That Roman was wise who
cried in distress: ~ have lost day p
There is SO much to do, and the time is
short. "The night cometh when no man
can work." Many are eagerly trying to
| fill up every hour with sin and folly, un-
mindful Of His voice who said: "Behold,
come quickly; and My reward is with Me,
to give every man according as his work
shall be-" Mutitudes are now frittering life
away in idlina and dawdling who will by
and by, when it Is too late, like Elizabeth
Of England, be willing TO give "millions of
money for an inch Of timoW How much
wiser than such was Henry Martyr, 'the
man who never wasted an hour" To him
life was a time of vast responsibility, for
whose every hour he must give account,
and its utmost length was all too short for
its duties.
Unquestionably God designed life TO bo
an inestimable blessing. Whenever 1t
proves to be not worth living, depend upon
it, sin lieth at the doorl A worthy life will
always be life of worth. Under the low
lest condition and the most adverse cir
cumstances, the man who lives for life's
great ends will find life benefaction.
As abstract discussions profit little unless
they are applied, let mo ask each hearer
this home question: Is your life worth
livingI Is it OF real value and profit to
yourself! Are you enjoying life and see
ing good days! Are you improving the
opportunities and discharging the duties
that fall to your Are you mindful through
godliness TO secure your brightest interests
in this world and the nexty Are you lay
ing up treasures in tho heavens and pro-
viding for yourself IN everlasting habita-
| tionI
/ ask, too, Of what value is your life TO
society," Are you n cripple among men or
OF real signifcanceS Would your death be
counted loss or gain to the community
"When II goeth well with the righteous,
the city rejoices, and when the wicked
perish there is shouting" When your life
closes, as 1t will before long, will men weep
for you as for friend and comforter, OF
will they rejoice that the cumber- ground il
cut DOWN.
And again, what value has your life be.
fore GodI Are you approving yourself
before Him, or provoking Him to repent
that He made your Are you glorifying
Him in your body and spirit, or. deilinG
body and mind by carnal coursesS Are
all your days passed away in His wrath
or are you conscious Of His approving
smileS What verdict will the Judge pro.
nounce upon your conduct Of life? win Il
be, "weighed and found wantingp OF
swell done" VIII He say: "Enter y,
into the Joy of your Lord" or, as He sait
Of Judas: "It had been good for thai
man II ho had not been bornW Remem.
Der, no life VIII ch God condemns, however