Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-11-12

flee, and been much sought as counselors !;
they may have been on the right side Of
the main questions of the day, and never
suspected of lacking personal integrity, of
being dishonest and corrupt; yet because
they were never identified heart and soul
with any great truth, were never 50 full OF
conviction on either side of any moral is
sue that possessed and inspired them to
the utternlOst, they lived and died without
being aroused to their fullest energy, with
out even undertaking the best work for
which they were otherwise capable. And
on the other hand there are examples be-
fore us Of men who have wrought wonders,
through the overwhelming power Of their
supreme convictions.
Peculiarly is it true that ones power to
influence others in thought depends on the
positiveness Of his convictions. The law
yer who can most completely identify him
self with his client in opinion and feeling
is most likely to be successful advocate.
The statesman who has prOfOundest convic-
tiOns is surest of Lringing others to see as
he sees On ally question which he discusses
before the public. An editor can never hope
to bring his readers to his way of thinking
until he has way of thinking. His writ
ings will never tell on popular thought
while they lack the warmth and en-
ergy of a great purpose in their presen-
tation. No minister is truly effective
preacher beyond his absolute convictions.
Unless truth has possession of him he cam
not make it possess others. Look at the
difference between two such preachers as
O.. 3. rockingham and Dwight l.. Moody !
One has high culture the other has intense
convictions. One can hardly gather small
roomful OF listless hearers in great city
to learn what be disbelieves; the other
needs to have mammoth building erected
in every town he visits, to cover the wait
ing multitude. Nopulpit talent is to be for
one minute compared with the talent OF
profound conviction as a source of power
to the preacher. And whether it be lawyer
or statesman, writer or preacher, no man
can be really Influential for the truth until
the truth is all influential with him. If he
is thinking what he is personally to gain
through his advocacy for that truth, he cam
not be its advocate with any such power as
if he were willing to sink himself out of
sight to win believers to the truth he urges.
The argument that is shaped to reflect glo-
ry on the advocate, the speech that is franz
ed to show the StateSman'S learning and
eloquence, the editorial that is written to
make the paper attractive, the sermon that
is prepared to promote the preachers pop
uldIllS, vi W luecG tle uellltHN VI dHolHSl
Sundays duties, can never tell on others
like the effort to convince those who hear
or read, in matter where he who strives
is already convinced beyond a peradvent-
ure. When man is living for the SUI
preme purpose of convincing another of
that which he is ready to die for, he has
power in that direction. There is no hu-
man power comparable with this.
One man of strong convictions anywhere
can arouse and lead forward a multitude.
The great want in the church and in the
world is men Of convictions men who be-
lieve something, and who, because they be-
lieve, can make others balieve. The at
tempt has been successfully made to trans
fuse life from one person in full health and
vigor to one Of wasted vitality, by opening
the veins Of the one, that the blood may
course therefrom into the exhausted chan
nels of the others life. A man Of red hot
convictions has blood enough for a thous.
and deadand-alive doubters. If he will
but open his veins of thought and feeling,
he can 'create an epidemic of nobleness'' in
the sphere of his living and doing.
be full man nor do the full work of a
man. With convictions he can be and do
the extent Of his unwavering beliefs and
condolences. What do you believe? Are
you confident that God has sent you to de-
clare his truth to this people; to superin:
tend this Sunday-school wisely; to lead
this class to Jesus to train this child for q
great work in his Kingdom; to bring com
fort and help to this friend; to arouse this
companion to sense of personal need and
duty? What are your convictions concern.
ing Gods purposes and your privileges
Find out what you believe and then give
yourself unreservedly to the work demand.
viii be unto YOU and unto those to whom
you minister.-H. c. T,mJuN, Editor s.. s.
TIQeS