The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-04-22
THOUGHTSbo
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MORALS& MANNERS
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BIZ A CLERGYMAN.

We are not to imagine that service con-
lists only in activity. God is served ac-
ceptably when we do what we can. More
than our most or better than our best He
does not require. If we have learning, we
are to serve God with that il leisure, with
that; If talent, with that; If money, with
that But if we have none of these He
will take what we do possess. John Mil
ton, old and blind, shut out and shut
in, wrote that most exquisite of sonnets,
the one on his blindness, in which he
says:
God doth not need
Either mans works or his own gifts; who best
Fear his mild yoke, they love Him best. His state
Is kinglyj thousands at His bidding speed,
And post Ger land and ocean withou. rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait.
Often the very hardest service is this OF
standing and waiting. But if Providence
lays us aside, is it not Providence that APP
points that service? Wayland Hoyt tells
OF an old woman named Aunt Betty.
She was poor but had time and strength.
And after her conversion she made herself
the good Samaritan of the neighborhood.
She mothered the town. She was always
running upon some divine errand of good
will. One day she took cold. Her
muscles were tied up in hard knots OF
rheumatism. Pleurisy pierced her side.
a hacking cough tortured her The min;
lister came in. "Well Aunt Betty" said
he, al suppose you find it pretty hard to
bear this change after your active
habits?'
''No, sir, not at all" she said. "When
was well | used TO hear the Lord say
day by day, Betty, 90 here; Betty, go
there; Betty, do this; Betty, do that
And / heard and needed as best l could.
Now hear Him say Betty be still and
cough"
An, this is the true philosophers stone
burning all to gold.
The baptists of England, as the CEN
fenary of their missionary society draws
near, have resolved to mark it by raising
their regular income to 100000 a year
and sending into the foreign field 100 new
,abOrers. The church missionary society
fontemplates something yet more magnifi-
cent. 1t has issued an appeal for 200
new laborers. American Christians must
.oOk to their laurels.
From time to time the community is
Knocked to learn that this, that and the
sther trusted and honored man in the
community has gone wrong. The wrong
3Oer seems to have fallen suddenly. But
ne has not He has in every case, we
may be sure, been preparing to fall for
years.
No man plunges from the heights of
Sirtue TO the depths of vice, rs one might
all over precjpice. The progress of cor
fuptIon in the soul is secret and imper-
ceptible. 1t begins in the first infidelity
20 duty. Its course is insidous. 1t
nibbles and gnaws at conscience. 1t con-
fuses the NORA sense. IL makes evil seem
good and good appear evil. Every man
has some infrmity which he loves to
coddle. This acts IS a committee on
strangers and introduces him to vice under
some fair-sOunding alias. BY degrees this
acquaintance, entered upon with scrupu-
lous reserve, deepens into intimacy. Then
ii throws of all restraint and rushes to
qualification.
Thus little by little is a man prepared to
close in with temptation, and when 1t
presents itself he is often surprised at his
readiness and facility in evil. The poet
Pope has put it into classic verse:
Vice is monster Of so frightiul men,
As, 10 be hated, needs but to be SEEM
ct seen too oft, familiar " IN her face,
We first endure, then pity. then embraos-
Henry Simon, in the British Wesklv,
gives this illustration of the safety of those
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty :
Jesus Christ is TO protection against
storms, but He is a perfect security in
them. | once entered q village living at
the foot OF giant mountain. Speaking
one day to the villagers, / asked if they
had many storms during the year. "Oh,
yes" answered one. at there is a storm
anywhere around it seems 10 lind us out"
''How do you account for it?"
asked. "Well.' was the response, sour
wise ones cay it is owing to the mountain
which towers above the village. III he hap
pens to see a cloud anywhere on the hori-
Zon he beckons it to come and rest on his
brow. We villagers call it putting on his
nightcap."
"Have you many accidents from light
ning?" "Why, that is the strange part of
it-not one. We have seen the lightning
strike the mountain 100 times, and grand
sight it was, but nobody has been killed
down here. We have the thunder, which
shakes the houses and frightens the
women and children, but which hurts no
pne. and we have the downpour The
fertility OF our neighborhood, which you
tourists so much admire, is due to the
thunder storms"
When Jesus became incarnate He rose
above the plane ofhumanity like mount
Rin-the hill whence came our strength.
When hurricanes tore along and hurled
themselves in all their fury against Him,
He gathered the lightnings into His own
breast and left US only the thunder
shower. "He shall come down like rain
on the mown grass, like showers that
water the earth"
A minister had an elder who was usual
ly late at his appointments. By and by
he made an effort and appeared at several
successive meetings trihe ahead of time
The pastor thought it right to notice and
commend the change.
well, Brother Mckay, you are first al
last You were behind before. I'm glad
10 see you early of late"
During 1890 Christianity in the United
States made a net gain of 1,0S9,s53 con
verts, 1867 preachers and 8,494 churches
The financial gain was also notable
Christianity is rising, not a setting sun.
II good people would only make their
goodness agreeable and smile instead oil
frowning in their virtue, how many would
they win TO the cause.-Archbishop Usl.er
He who carries about face which says
"Can / serve you" Who seems to say Il
every passer-by: eff you have a question
to ask, here is one who acknowledges your
claim To a kind and halpful answer" Whr