The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-10-31

storm upOn the ocean. 1t remained 4
| wonder until it was found out that sew
rral times he had been laShed to the deck
in the midst Of tempest and thon
looked Out upon the wrath of the sea,
and coming home to his studio, he plct-
urcd the tempest. 1t is not the copylst
who succeeds. but the man who confrontS
the natural world. So if 4 man
IN literary composition resolves that
he will initiate the smoothncsS of Addl-
son, or tho rugged vigor of Carlyle, or
the wicrdncSS OF SpcnScr, or tho cpl
grammatic style of Ralph Waldo Emcr-
son. he win not succeed Us we'll as that
man who cultures his own natural style.
What is true in this respect Is true IN
respect to character. There were men
who were fascinated with Lord Byron.
He was lame and wore yer; large col
lar. Then there were tens of thousands
of men who resolved that they would he
lust like Lord Byron, and they llmp@d
and wore large collars. but they did not
have any of his genius. lOu can not
successfully copy man whCIncr nc Is
bad or good. You may take the very
best man that ever lived AMI try and
live like him. and you will make fail
ure. There never was Il better man than
Edward PaySon. Many have read his
biography, not understanding that ne
was sick man. and they thought they
were growing in grace because they wcr;
growing like him in depression Of spirit.
There were men to copy CoWp"r, the
poet, a glorious man. but sometimes al
iiicted with melancholy almost to IN
sanity. The copyists got Cowpcr s faults.
but none of his virtues.
There never was but one being fit to
COPY. 4 few centuries ago he came out
through humble surroundings. and with
gait and manner and behavior differ
ent from any thing the world had seen.
Among all classes OF people he was
perfect model. Among fishermen he
showed how fishermen should act.
Among tax-gathercrS he showed how
taX-gatherers should act. Among lawyers
he showed how lawyers should act.
Among farmers he showed how farmers
should act. Among rulers he Showed
how rulers should act. Critics tried to
find in his conversation or sermons
something unwisc or unkina or inaccur-
ate: but they never found 1T. They
watched him. O how they watched him.
He never went into house but they
knew it.and they knew how long he stay
ed and when he came out.and whether he
had wine for dinner. Slander twisted
her whips and waggcd her poisoned
tongue and set her traps. but could not
catch him. Little children rushed out
to get from him a kiss, and old men tot
tered out to the street corner 10 see him
pass.
DO YOU want an illustration of devo-
-. IL -,,nln ,ifrl,t tS in
Do YOU want an example of suffering:
see His path across Palestine tracked
with blood. Do you want an example
of patience, see Him abused and never
giving one sharp retort. Do you want
an example of industry. see Him with
out one idle moment. DO You want a
specimen of sacrifice. look at His life of
self denial, His death of ignomy, His
sepuhher of humiliation. o. what an
example! His feet wounded. vet lie
submitted to the journey. His back
laceratcd. and yet He carried the cross.
Struck, He never struck back again.
Condemned. yet He rose higher than His
calum niators. and with wounds in His
hands and wounds in His feet and wounds
on His brow, and wounds in His side. lie
calculated: "Father. forgive them. they
know not what they do" All. my breth-
rem, that is the pole by which to set
your compass, that is the hcadland by
which to steer. that is the light by which
TO kindle your lamps, that is the exam-
pie that we ought all to follow. How
it would smooth out the roughness in
our disposition, and the world would be
impressed by the transformation and
would say: Il know what is the mat
ter with that man; he has been with
Jesus and has learned of Him."
Alexander was going along with his
army in Persia and the snow and ice
were so great that the army halted and
said: "We can't march any further"
Then Alexander dismountcd from his
horse, took a pickaXe. went ahead of his
army and struck into the ice and snow.
The soldiers said: "If he can do that,
we can do it." and they took their picks
and soon the way was cleared and the
army marched on. So our Lord dis
mounted from His glory. and thrcu yh all
icy obstacles hews path for Himself and
a path for us, saying: "FollOw me. l
do not ask you to go through any suffer
ing, or fight any battles where l do not
lead the way. Follow mc.'
Again l remark, that we are to look
to Christ as a sympathizer. Is there
any body in the house to-day who does
not want sympathy? do not know how
any body can live without sympathy.
There are those. however. who have gone
through very rough paths in life who
had no divine arm to lean on. How they
got along do not exactly know. Their
| fortunes took wings in some unfortunate
investment and flew away. The bank
failed, and they buttoned up pcnniless
| pocket. Ruthless spectators carried off
| the fragments of an estate they were
| twenty-five years III getting with hard
| work. How did they stand it without
Christ? Death came into the nursery
| and there was an empty crib. One voice
| less in the household. One fountain
less of Joy. and laughter. Two hands
less, busy all day long in sport. Two
| feet less TO go bounding and romping
through the hall. Two eyes less to
beam with love and gladncss. Through
| all that house shadow after shadow.
| shadow after shadow until it was mid
! night. How did they get through it? |
do not know. They trudged the great
Sahara with no water in the goat skins.
| They plunged to the chin in the slough
of e.pund and had no one TO lift them.
In IN unseaworthy craft they put out
into oiack Euroclydon.
My brother. my sister. there is a balm
| that cures the worst wound. There is a
| light that will kindlr the worst dark
ness. There is a harbor from the rough
| est occ III. You need and may have the
Saviorr's sympathy. You can not get
on this way. / see your trouble is wear
ing you out. body and mind apd soul. /
come on 10 feels errand to-day. l come
with a balm that can heal any wound.
Arc YOU sick?. Jesus vas sick. Are you