Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-03-07
NAILS


BY REV. S. II. CnUBB.
Oftentimes great truths come into
us from the contemplation Of small
objects. The great forces of to-day
which have been harnessed for the
public good and made to subserve
the highest advantages TO the na.
tions by their mightiuess were
Graded in obscurity aud grew out
OF the miuutest beginnings, Steam
engines out Of o tea kettle, printing
from tree bark, Sir Isaac Newtou's
system of the universe from fall
ing apple, electricity from a soaring
kite, and the evermastering Gospel
from the despiscd Nazarene Every
thing created is worth something.
Each atom has compensating value.
The tiniest piece of straw, or dirty
piece OF paper posses some worth.
As not anything IN nature Is des.
trIuteble, even SO there is not any
thing which is yaIueless. There are
none of Gods haudlworks, however
small, to be despised, for from each
some useful lesson may be learnt Of
great moment to us, If we will only
be taught thereby. 1t is not SO
much where we learn truths, or how
we came in contact with them, ~
the fact that we do learn them, aud
do come in contact with them. 1t
is not the plate at The dinner table,
but what is on il which tells Not
the casket but the jewel. An old
bag full Of gold is very much to be
preferred to a fine morocco pocket
book with nothing in it. Christ
was born in a stable, but that did
not detraet from His almightinoss, or
hinder His eternal sonship with God.
We enjoy reading His thirty-live
pablished sermons, aud notice that
| His texts were all drawn from some
comparatively insignificant thing or
other Just to suit the capacity Of
his listeners. If preaching to fish
ermen, then fishing was His text.
If TO agriculturists, then farming
was His text. If TO masons and
carpenters, then house building was
the text; and so on all through,
preaching the finest sermons from
the most common place texts. |
went to write a few thoughts on
nails, and if through such a subject
we may find truths, then oar highest
aim is accomplished, and we shall
be able TO say with Samson, (ouly
altering the wording littIe) out Of
a keg Of nails came forth meat.
Going one cay ip:o a hardware
store, paused before 2. lot Of bins
containing nails Of different sizes
There were fourpenny nails, six
! penny nails, eightpenny nails, ten
penny nails, and SO on; then in
packets saw a smaller tribe-sprigs,
carpet tacks, finishing nails, and lots
Of others too many for me to write
down, and indeed needless on my
part to do so as ] have as many
down now as ! can use. As looked
TWO or three thoughts came into my
head which ] give to nay readers.
These thoughts cost me but little
labor, and if they are worth but
liiue why | cannot complain most
assurediy.
lst. These different nails had TO
be manufactured. They did not
grow into nails All came from one
common origin, and had to pass
through somewhat similar expert
ences; all had to 20 into the fire aud
be subjected TO more or less pound
ing and bammerlng, and through
much hardship found their way into
The various compartments in that
store. So in religious life, every
descipIe Of Christ, having been
equally born in sin, dug out of the
mlre nd clay, have had to pass
through the fires Of correction and
under the hammer Of Gods word,
moulded and fashioned by the
mighty power Of the Lord, find their
way into the various compartments
Of Christian work. Nature cannot
grow q Christian any more than it
can grow nails.
Each lot Of nails were for distinct
purposes. Spikes for heavy timbcrs,