The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-09-16
The FOOus Of Life.
Written for Indiana Farmer.

Written for Indiana Farmer.
Whoever has seen the action OF
what is called a burning glass will
the more readily comprehend the
following remarks:
Some of my readers, perhaps, do
not know what a burning glass is.
1t is a double convex glass lens;
that is, thicker in the middle than
at the edges, and so accurately ar
ranged that the rays of the sun
which fall upon it in straight, par
allel lines, converge and meet at
certain distance called the focus.
At this point the heat of all the
rays centers, and combustion of the
material heatedlis often the result.
On the size and refracting power of
the lens will depend the intensity
of the heat The writer has seen
powder, shavings and other dry
substances ignited by this instru
ment.
Our hearts are like these dry ma
terials; and to have them set on fire
they must be at the focus. In the
religious world this focus is in the
narrow line of duty, only at the
foot of the cross of Christ. That
place may be in the parlor with
friends in genial and pleasant con
versatiOn; it may be at the dining
table where a sense of thankfulness
is manifested to the Giver of all
good, and in mannerly department
while partaking of His bCunties; it
may be in the kitchen while engag
ed in the arduous labors Of the day.
That focus may be to the farmer in
the harvest field as he is saving the
golden grain. and asking for grace
that he may he gathered at ripe
age fit for the Masters garner, us
these sheaves are for his; it may be
when he is planting and cultivating
his corn, while he is asking that
the seeds OF grace may be planted
IN his heart and be cultivated to an
abundant crop. 1t may be in the
social walks OF life where he meets
his fellow men and treats them as
fellow mortsls, obeying in all re-
spects TIE golden rule To know
the power of that burning focus it
is not necessary to be in the PRAYER
meeting, at the love feast, at the
communion table or at the pool Of
baptism. These are only so many
means of grace. If the heart is not
already burning within the focus
they will do but little good. The
rays of divine love conferred upon
the heart of the poor publican IN
the temple, when he stood afar off
and shifting upon his breast, said,
"'God be merciful to me, a sinner"
The lazy, the proud, the spend
thrift, the glutton, the ill-natured,
the morose and surly, the miser,
the drunkard and he who deals out
to him the maddeHiug drink, arc all
far from this burning focus of love.
They know nothing of it's power
unless it be from memory.
Christian parents, would YOU
know more of this power? Study
more your line of duty, for soon as
you deviate from that you are get
ting into colder atmosphere. Do
you neglect to teach your children
by p:ecept, and above all by a con
sistent example, the power of kind
ness and goodness of heart? Do
you fail to teach them in the same
impressive man ner the duty of ODE
dience and love to their Creator,
and of their personal accountability
to him for their thoughts and deeds?
Are you doing all you reasonably
can to guard their youthful minds
and hearts against the many ten p
tatiOns and sources of corruption
and ruin which will heset them?
Are you trying, rs opportunity Of
fers, To have removed from our land,
as soon as possible, the saloons.
thos c places which may draw your
loved sons down To ignumirious
graves? You have many and great
duties To perform in pc, pqrIng, with
al! q parents fond love, yonr sons
and Il .Gghters IL: the bate of life.
If their feet are not gGi,lfd Alright
you may live to see them gricvously
fail, and then see them exposed to
the heating, blasting storms Of the
worlds cold charity.
Would you then live in the focus
of happiness? Study your duty.
That focus is found only in its con
scientious practice. That practice
is an ever-present one-now, not
TO morrow. Practical duty knows
no procrastination, no tomorrow,
only IN hope Of blessings from pres
emf nprfnrrn nnnn