News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1892-01-28

the body of a king, and did his work
Another spirit came and took TIN
body of a poet, and did his work
After awhile Ulysses came, and HI
said, 'sWhy, all the fine bodies ar
taken, and all the grand work i
taken. There is nothing left TO
me-" And some one replied, "Ah
the best Ole has been left for you.
ULYSSES said, whats thatI" An(
the reply was, 1.-The body of a com
mon man, doing a common work
and for a common reward" A gOOC
fable for the world, and just as goo(
fable for the church. Whether we
eat OF drink, or whatsoever we do
let us do it to the glory of God.
Again, we need to bring the reli
gion Of Christ into our commones
trials. For severe losses, for bereave
ment, for trouble that shocks like al
earthquake and that blasts like {
storm we prescribe religious consola
ton; but, business man, for the small
annoyances of last week how much
of the grace of God did you apply
ooh, you say, ''these trials are toe
small for such application. My
brother, they are shaping your char
acter, they are souring your temper
they are wearing out your patience
and they are making you less an6
less of man.
I go into a sculptor's studio an6
see him shaping a statue, He has 6
chisel in one hand and a mallet in the
other, and he gives a very gentle
stroke-click, click, click! I say
''Why don't you strike harder2
"Oh!" he replies, "that would shat
ter the statue. l can't do it that
way. I must do it this. way" So he
works on, and after awhile the fea
lures come out and everybody that
enters the studio is charmed and fas
cinated. Well, God has your SOU
under process of development, and il
is the little annoyances and vexa
tons of life that are chiseling out
your immortal nature. 1t is click,
click, click! I wonder why some
great providence does not come and
with one stroke prepare you for
heaven. All, no. God says that is
not the way.
And so he keeps on by strokes of
little annOyances, little sorrows, little
vexations, until at last you shall be a
glad spectacle for angels and for men.
You know that a large fortune may
be spent in small change, and a vast
amount of moral character may &c
away in small depletion. 1t is the
little troubles of life that are having
more effect upon you than great
ones. A swarm of lOcusts will kill a
grain field sooner than the incursion
of three or four cattle. You say,
''Since l lost my child, since Host my
property, | have been a different
man.
But you do not recognize the archi-
lecture of little annoyances that are
hewing, digging, cutting, shaping,
splitting and interjoining your moral
qualities. Rats may sink a ship. One
lucifer match may send destruction
through a block of storehouses.
Catherine de Medicis got her death
from smelling a poisonous rose. Co
lumbus, by stopping and asking for
a piece of bread and a drink of water
at a Franciscan convent, was led to
the discovery of the new world. And
there is an intimate connection be
tween trifes and immensities, be-
tween nothings and everythings.
NO SIN TOO SMALL TO BE AVOIDED.
Now, be careful to let none of those
annoyances go through your soul I'm
arraigned. Compel them to admin
lister to your spiritual wealth The
scratch of a siXpenny nail sometimes
produces lockjaw, and the clip of
a most infnitesimal annoyance may
damage you forever. Do not let any
annoyance OF perplexity come across
your soul without its making you
better.
Our national government does not
think it belittling to put tax on
pins, and tax on buckles, and tax
on shoes. The individual taxes do
not amount to much, but in the ag
gregate to millions and millions of
dollars. And I would have you, o
Christian man, put a high tariff on
every annoyance and vexation that
comes through your soul. This might
not amount to much in single cases,
but in the aggregate it would be a
great revenue of spiritual strength
and satisfaction. A bee can suck
honey even out of a nettle, and if
you have the grace of God in your
heart you can get sweetness out of
that which would otherwise irritate
and annoy.
A returned missionary told me that
a company of adventures rowing
up the Ganges were stung to death
by flies that infest that region at GER
tain seasons. 1 have seen the earth
strewed with the carcasses of men
slain by insect annoyances. The
only way to get prepared for the
great troubles of life is to conquer
these small troubles. What would
you say of a soldier who refused to
load his gun or to go into a conflict
it was only slzirmish, say
ing, Il am not going to expend my
on a sEirmish; wait I'M
III there comes a general engage
ment, and then you will see how
l am, and what battling
will do?" The general would say to
such man, IF you are not faithful
N a skirmish, you would be nothing
n a general engagement"
And I have to tell you, o Chris
ian men, if you cannot apply the
of Ch1ist's religion on a
small scale you will never be able to
apply them on a large scale. If you
cannot successfully contend against
5hese small sorrows that come down
single handed, what will you do
when the greater disasters of life
come down with laundering artil- |
cry rolling over your soul?
Again, we must bring the religion |
Of Christ into our cOmmonest bless |
ngs. When the autumn comes, and
5he harvests are in, and the COVER
1ors make proclamation, we assem-
Die in churches, and we are. very
thankful. But every day ought to be
1 thanksgiving day. We do not rec
)gnize the common mercies of life. |
We have to see a blind man led by
lis dog before we begin to think our
selves of what a grand thing it is to
nave eyesight. We have to see some |
me afflicted with st. Vitus dance |
before we are ready to thank God for
he control of our physical energies.
We have to see some wounded man !
III Il L. L 1 L