St. Landry democrat., 1891-01-17
Gems.
When we walk toward the sun of truth

When we walk toward the sun of truth,
all shadows are cast behind us.
God only imparts the highest wisdom,
the most profound secrets, the most mys-
ferrous laws of his kingdom to minds most
open to spiritual influence and most sus-
ceptible to divine thought.
Apostles never wasted a moment on a
gospel of patchwork. Their two-fold text
was, turn to the Lord, which meant re-
pentance, and cleave to the Lord, which
meant life of faith and holiness.
There may be living and habitual con-
versation in heaven, under the aspects of
the most simple, ordinary life. Let us
always remember that holiness does not
consist in doing uncommon things, but in
doing everything with purity of heart.
Good nature is more agreeable in con-
versation than w.t. and gives certain air
to the countenance which is more amiable
than beauty. 1t shows virtue in the fair
est light takes off in some measure from
the deformity of vice, and makes even
folly and impertinence supportable.
A Christian, for the sweet fruit he bears
to God and men, is compared to the vine.
Now, as the most generous vine, If 1t not
be pruned, runs out into many superHuous
stems, and grows at last weak and fruit
less; so doth the best man, If he be not
cut short of his desires, and pruned with
affections. If it be painful to bleed, it is
worse to witker. Let me be pruned that
may grow, rather than be cut up and
burned.
Do not look forward to the changes and
chances of this life in fear; rather look tc
- c,,11 hot ortc
God, whose you are, will deliver you out
you but hold fast to his dear hand, and he
will lead you safely through all things
and when you cannot stand he will beal
what may happen to morrow; the same
everlasting Father who cares for you to-
day will take care of you to. morrow, and
suffering, or he will give you unfailing
| strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, anc
put aside all anxious thoughts and i'm
| aginations.
Love comes and grows by serving. Il
you fud yourself linked with another
whom you do not like, and whom yor
think you never could love, rouse yourself
up to do something for him. Try to helI
him where he is in need. Seek to wiz
him to the right where he seems astray
| Exercise some self denial in his behalf
Whether this makes him like you or not
it will give you kindlier feelings TOWARD
him; and if you keep on doing for him
you may come to like him, if not to low
him. Love comes and grows by serving
The best work for any man to do is tn
work just before him, by the ordering o
Gods providence. If he neglects tina
work, in the hope of finding something
better suited to his abilities, there are two
things in which he is practically failure
the work to which God has set him. ant
the work which he has picked out TO
himself. Doing what he has to do is bet
ter for any man than to do what he wants
to do. If, indeed, what man has to d.
happens to be what he wants to do, Their
is no objection to that.
There is story of great sculpto
who had finished the figure and face o
some colossal statue, but who had spen
day after day in delicate work for the ar
rangement of the hair. A critic who saw
hi n at work said, "Why spend so mucl
time in arranging the hair? No one will
see it up there" The answer came, 81
we cannot see it from down here, the god
will see it from up above" 1t is no
enough to have the outside beautiful
Who sees the fine touches of the soul
The gods, our God, who looks down on u
| from above.