Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1890-05-24
Sunday ReaaiHs
EDITED BY REV. f. L. LEEPER.
A Useless Experiment.
United Presbyterian.

United Presbyterian.
OF this there can be no doubt; we
all desire happiness and are seeking
for it, We differ in other things, but
not in this. All over the world, and
in all parts of the world, it has been
the same. But many are the ways
men have followed and the plans
they have tried to reach the desired
end. Some have sought for happi-
ness in political power, Others in sin,
others in learning, others in wealth,
others in pleasure. What is their
testimony as to the result of their
search? The throne says, Happi-
ness is not to be found in me, for
uneasy lies the head that wears the
crown" Sin says, Happiness is not
to be found in me, for the wages of
sin Iis death. Pleasure says, Hap
piness is not to be found in me, for a
life of pleasure is vanity and mad
ness. Learning says, Happiness is
not to be found in me, for men, with
all their three-score years, are but of
yesterday, and know nothing. In
view of this testimony what is the
part of wisdom? Why should any
one insist on making for himself the
experiment which has been made so
often?
Human life on earth is often COM
pared to journey. The appropri-
ateness of this figure will not be CALI
ed question. We are travellers; our
fellow-men are all travellers. Many
have gone on in advance of us; many
others are to follow. Those who are
in advance have much to tell us
about what they have seen and learn
ed. The tell us that at certain
place, the road forks, the right hand
path offers a pleasant and easy way,
while the left-hand path ends in a
morass, from which escape with life
is almost impossible. They tell us
that, if we go in one direction, we
will find abundant shade, luscious
fruits, and refreshing springs; but if
we 60 in another direction, we will
find only barren deserts and burning
sands. The tell us that, if we climb
one mountain, up which a smooth
highway has been builded, we will
come to a hospitable house of enter
tainment where we will be strength
ened by food and rest; but that, if
we try to climb another mountain,
up which no road has been prepared,
we will be surrounded by ravenous
beasts and poisonous serpents. All
this they have learned from their ex-
perience. In the face of these facts,
supported by credible testimony,
what will we do? Will we insist on
discovering the dangers of the morass
and desert and mountain for our
selves? If we do, we deserve the
fate of sinking in the mire, of starving
in the desert, and of being bitten by
the poisonous serpents. If we are
wise, we will accept the testimony Of
those who have made the exploration
and act upon it.
The application Of this figure is
easy. Some have told us that the
wine at last biteth like a serpent and
stingeth like an adder; shall we re-
fuse to believe till we feel the bite
and the sting? Some have told u,
that the steps Of the daughter O
shame take hold on death and hell
shall we refuse to believe till we are
blistered in the fame? Some have
told us that the wages of sin is death
shall we refuse to believe till the
wages are paid into our own bosoms'
Some have told us that happiness il
not to be found in power or wealth
or pleasure or learning; shall we re
fuse to believe till we have made the
useless experiment for ourselves
There is only one way TO happiness
it has been commanded by God an(
tried by great multitude which NJ
man can number. 1t is the way 0
faith and obedience. Those whc
walk in this way will sing, though i
may be with tears, while they live
and after death will pass through tn,
gates into the fearless city of tn,
great King.