The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-22
SOBER TAouaATs FoH aoIrms esopLs


wEAKNMsR Az Il SOURCE or POWER.
When ani weak, then nni I
atrong,n was d fsayorite pafadox with
Paul. But paraGoxical as IL might
seem to some, to Paul, the truth was
a blessed reality. He had put the
paradox to the test and thereby
| proved its truthTulness. So he could
say, ] get n blessing from my thorn
and gssia grace from my iniensest
physical suflerings. Ne one can doubt
that Paul was a better apostle by rea-
son of the suilerings and ailliclions
which he was compelled to undergo.
Some one has said that God uses af-
ilieiions rs fails, to beat out the dust
and chatf from our hearts aud present
us perfect grain for the garner of God.
Paal's weakness, overrnled by the
power of God, became to him as n
source of strength. Our weakness
must he TO us individually a source of
real spiritual power. Weakness is
not to be courted, but we must first
discover our own weakness, or we
shall never apply TO the source of all
power Tor the needed help. Where
there is no thirst, who cares for cup
OF cold wnter2 Invalid Christians are
often no better than robust Chris
tians. Men like Peter, who are liable
70 be upset at any time by some new
form OF temptation, are no better than
those who, like John, live almost
above temptation. But il is import
ant for every Christian to learn that
he has some points of weakness, some
temptations which are not easily re-
sisted, some sins that are not likely 10
leave him without prayer, and a great
II. r a.
mon fnct is liable to induce false se-
curity. False security is the prelude
to n sad aud distressing fall. Lot be-
gan TO fall when he forgot that there
were serious spiritual Weaknesses in
his life, and lost sight OF the danger
facing him in the fashionable, ire
ligious society of Sodom. Noah would
never have made of himself the sad
spectacle of Il adrunkari, had he known
and been sensible of his weakness for
the wine-eup. Knowing what we are
will help ms to get away from, onf-
selves. The man who feels himself
TO he spiritually strong is very liable
TO be little in earnest in doing the
Lords work. The knowledge of his
ignorance upon the part Of the scholar
- OF help to him only as he has a de-
sire TO learn. He is in as bad n con
tition as the scholar who assumes he
knows everything and that the train-
ing of the best school is for his mas
ter mind sapertiuous. But weakness
realized may give us an inspiration to
seek strength. II man want Gods
strength, his religious failures will
prove to him sometimes n blessing.
The man who imagines himself almost
a God is apt to preach sermons which
are as Intellectual MS boiled peas shot
against Gibraltar's breastworks with a
rubber gun. Weakness manifested,
always brings Gods help. The blind
child, as he gropes after the way, will
find many sympathizers TO lead him
in it. The poor cripple in the house
hold receives double the attention OF
any other member of the family. Let
us not fancy however, that we are 10
pride ourselves on our Weakness. The
strongest character is none too strong
for US. But, if yon are troubled with
a thorn in the flesh, or cloud over
your life, then he gives you help in
your need