Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-11-29
&eligioas department.
THE SECRET OF JOY AND
POWER.

at railroad station where he grew
weary of waiting for the train to
move. He inquired if the trouble
was want of water. PLENTY of wa
ter was the quick reply, "but it's
no. bilin'." We have no lack of re-
ligious machinery in church and Sab
bath schools and benevolent socie-
ties. The engines are on the track,
and trainmen are in their places. If
there is little or no progress, may it
not be that the water is "no' bilin %
The motive power that propels
church and keeps it in steady, effect
i've motion, must be generated IN the
hearts of Gods people. External
pushes in the way of eloquent ap-
peals, special services, conventions,
etc., soon spend their force. 1t is
the living Christ in the souls of his
people, and nothing else but this,
which can supply the needed power.
To as many as receive him he gives
this power; and just in the same de-
gree that we possess him, do we pos
sess Joy and vIgor, and conquest of
sin, and converting power. A lack
of conversions in our congregations
and Sunday schools commonly proves
that the waters no bilin' in the
hearts and the lives of Christians.
There is a wonderful, penetrating,
and permeating power in Christ when
he enters our hearts, and is permit
ted to reach every faculty and affec-
ton. Because he lives, we live.
The measure of our strength is the
exact measure of our possessing his
strength; and when the ''steam
gauge" marks high, it is because his
love is shed abroad plentifully in our
hearts. Nothing is so actually ours
as that which we contain within u.s..
Sermons, sacramentS, and
services are only profitable according
to the amount of Jesus Christ that
we take in and carry away with us.
Here, too, we discover the
secret of the darkness and the de-
spondency that so many complain of.
This morning, when | awoke, few
rays of light were stealing in through
the shutters of my chamber. There
was a glorious sun up in the eastern
sky, but ] got just as much of it as
could creep through the blinds, and
no more. ] flung them wide open
in poured the radiance and filled the
room. AS it depended entirely on
me how much sunshine / received
so, l verify believe. it depends or
themselves whether Christians shall
have full infowings of Christ's Spir.
it, and large measures Of joy, an6
shall walk in the light as children Of
the light. If selfshness begrudges
only a small crevice for the Sun OIL
righteousness, or If unbelief bars uI
the windows, then the owner of tha
heart is accountable for being cold
gloomy, and well-nigh useless spec
men of the Christian. Lest any o.
us should throw the blame on Chris
for our GOODNESS, our weakness, o
our lack of spiritual peace and pow
er, he distinctly says to US: "Be
hold stand at the door and knock
if any man hear my voice, and opel
the door, | will come in to him.
This amazing offer of the king o
heaven TO come and lodge in sue
huts as we are, is usually applied t.
the nnconverted, But it is address
ed in the bible to a church-to
backsliding, lukewarm church, who's
water was mo bilin'." The siren
uous appeal from the Master to thos
worldly, and almost worthless, pre-
fessors at Laodicea, was to repent
and to open their hearts to- hin
That same voice comes ringing dow
to all of our churches, and to all {
us ministers, and teachers, and pa
ents; if we want light, heat, 10,
power, we must fling open our hear
to Jesus. When we get who
Christ into the whole heart-when v
open room after room and let Jesl
own us, and train us, and cleanse u
and have full sway, then we shall G
tide from heavens ocean of low,
then our JOY shall be full then co
verting power will kindle our lips al
clothe our lives then comes reviv
that lasts; and then we shall reali
what Paul meant when he sal
"Christ in you the hope of glory"
Rec. T. L. Cuyle1.
COMING INTO THE SHADE