The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-04-21
International Sunday. School Lessons.
GODS CALL.
hot Dat Of Our Ship, Bat to the Right
Side Of 1t.

Not Dat Of Our Ship, Bat to the Right
Side Of It.
1t is cheering thought that these
fishermen of Galilee who, after night
Of unrequited toll, heard; IN the morn
ing the call to cast q net on the other
side of the ship, in obeying that call
were changing their attitude, but not
their business. 1t was the same old
net in hand, to be cast with equal toll
as before; the same old fishers coats
about them; the same old fishing boat
beneath them; but new, soul-engross-
ing purpose within them, which turned
their quick steps to the other side of
the ship, and nervcd their jaded selves
to fresh endeavor. ......'.
If our life employ be honorable, it is
seldom that obedience to Gods call is
summons to change of life work. To
be sure, God sometimes finds Bun
yam, with curses on his lip and tink-
er's kit upon his back, and makes him
leave his curses and his kit by the road
side of his old life, and for Christ sake
enter new and untrOdden avenue of
life work.
God sometimes finds a Cary, cobbler,
and good one at that, and makes him
fold his apron and lay aside his last, that
he may become a preacher OF righteous
ness and a pioneer missionary. But
doors Of Providence like these swing
on heavy hinges and have massive
bolts, and it is rare that angels are
commissioned to open them.
The rule is that the life work, if it be
honorable, which has witnessed your
defeat as a self-soul is to witness your
victory as Christsoul. God does not
often give Peter permission to quit
the ship, and walk upon the waves.
More often Peter takes it-and tegins
TO sink.
1t will be long step toward the re-
alization of faith when the world clear
ly discovers that the prize of the high
calling of God in Christ Jesus hangs
just over the so-called low callings Of
life, and that there is in life's every
day vocation many dark continent,
the cOnquering of which for Christ
sake, and the flooding of which with
Christ's light, is employment noble
enough to excite the envy of angels.
Are you tradesman? Your counter
isyOur pulpit; and standing in your
pulpit you can preach to every living
creature whose life path crosses your
own, a gospel so noble. so lofty, so ro-
bust. that the mute eloquence of the
glad tidings you proclaim will prepare
the way of the Lord in many heart
whose deepest concern for Sunday
sermon is that it shall be done before
twelve o'clock!
"A carpenter" said Socrates, "who
has made up his mind to be the best
possible carpenter will win the wreath
of carpentering, though it be only OF
shavings." 1t is the carpenters wreath
after all which becomes the carpenter s
brow, and carpenter decked in the
ivy wreath of the victorious wrestler,
or the jewel-studded diadem of prince,
would appear as grotesque as would
these fishermen casting the net in dress
suits! God calls us to serve Him IN the
life-niche wherein He has placed us.
He calls us not out of the ship, but 10
the other side.
Hearing the call, let us 60 to our life
work, however humble, so it be honor.
able, and master it for Christ. Let us
put premium upon what in it was
below par. Make our life CLEAN and
glow with Gospel light, remembering
that God calls us, not out of our life
ship, but to the right side of it!-Chi.
cdgO Adcance.