The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-10-05
RELIGIOUS READING.
YOUNG CONVERTS HOLDING on.

YOUNG CONVERTS HOLDING OS.
Very much depends upon starting right,
but the start is not the finish, and many that
make most hopeful beginning come after
Paul, writing to the Galatians, says: "1e
did run well; who did hinder?" Something
hindered, and hence they halted who awhile
ago had been so eager IN the race. Ihere
are many things that hinder, rs any pilgrim
who sets out for ''the celestial city" will very
soon discover.
Bunyan's pilgrim sets out on run. with
his fingers thrust In his ears and shouting:
Eternal life. eternal" at the top OF his
voice, but he had not gone far before he
plunged into the Slough Of Despondp
where he wallowed in fearful way. Many
never get any farther than the slough, and
they craw! out on the side on which they
fall in and 60 back to "the weak and bsSsar-
i elements Of the world" This is the
cIowning test of ofdiscipleshp. "Ifyecontinue
in my word, then are ye disciples indeed"
Almost ybody can make spurt, but
only those who are soundly principled can
stand the long stretch OF heroic effort.
.'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their Strength" and this language implies
that there Is constant waste and wear and
tear, making constant renewal necessary;
and this is true alike of our physical and In.
tellectual and religious nature. We need
entity we shall come to dead stop. And
this is the meaning Of that other Scripture:
"He hath saved US by the washing of regen-
Grafton ,and the renewing of the Holy Ghost"
| The first refers to the change that is wrought
| once for all, and the other to that constant
| ippartation of fresh grace and strength to
repair the loss Of power that comes from
| contact with the world; and this We must
| have, and this we may have, if we will only
l.ao, ha nf
| plies. my grace Is sufficient" saith the
| Lord. Only let the golden pipes be unob-
| structed. and the grace will flow steadily in;
/ and steady flow is what we want. Enthusi-
asm is peaceful. but "patient continuance is
well doing"-this, after all, Is the thing that
| wins.
To "mount upon wings as eagles is doubt
| less very fine, but to "run and not be weary"
| finer still; while to "walk and not faint on
the long, long tramp Is the highest of all
tests Of true soldierly quality; There rs. Is no
able is the flush of feeling, but there will be
times when feeling is faint, and il we simply
"go by our feelings we shall presently
cease to 60 at ell.
In times of revival it is easy enough to be
religious, for the current sweeps powerfully
in the direction of religion, and even things
without life may be borne along by It. But
when the revival Is over the current sets the
other way; then it takes life to stem it..
Not that all who temporarily lose their in
terest lose their souls, or are to be counted
as spurious professors because they do not
go constantly and rejoicingly forward.
Alas! who Of us has not had his sad season
of declension? And after mountain-top ex-
periences, such as some of US have been en-
joying, we are apt to 60 down for time into
the va!ley.-[The Rev. DR.. P. S. Henson, In
"The Standard"