Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1892-06-03
REFUSE IT NOT.
Extend To the Once-fsilsn Soul All the
Help ~ Needs Ia Rise.

Extend to the Once-fsIlsn soul All the
Help ~ Needs Ia Rise.
ellis word l. as good as HIS bond"
said one gentleman In speaking 10 an
other Of third. THE company trusts
him implicitly. lie Il the soul of honor"
But you know he served term in
the state prison."
Certainly"
And you call jail-bird the soul Of
honor? You must be crazy"
"How long ago did he serve his SEN
tence."
why, let me see. lie is nearly six
" years old now. II must have been
when he was about twenty-five or
three"
We'll. my fried. man might make
considerable growth in grace during
such an interval"
Yes, he might. but should say the
chances are decidedly agains, him"
tnhappily there can be little doubt
that the chances are decidedly against"
anyone who at any time or for any rca-
son has stood at odds with his fellow
men. Why should this De 500 Why
are we - prone To- discover the evil
more readily than To praise? To believe
growth and improvement possible in all
forms 81 vegetable and animal life. vet
remain slcptical concerning the same
process when illustrated In the daily
lives OF men and women?
The sapling which grew crooked for
awhile when left a. itself. was straight
ened again 10y little labor on the part
Of the farmer The tree which bore
hard and acid apples was. by judicious
pruning. made to produce rich and
mellow ones. Resting in the grateful
shade east ON the roadside 10y the tower
ing elm or maple, we do not feel that IL
Is necessary Ia call to mind the fact
that II went wrong when II was begin
ming To- throw out it, branches. Eating
the luscious fruit Of the tree in autumn,
we do not complain because at first IL
produced that of poorer quality and
flavor. Speeding along the road behind
gentle horse. we do not think il ncccs-
sary To- comment upon the years when
he was a headstrong colt, kicking over
the traces and tearing the carriage all
To pieces Why are we not a. willing
u allow Ia the human soul the same
liberty of growth the same chance 10
remedy It's mistakes the same oppor-
tunity 20 adjust itself Ia its surround
ings a. we unquestioningly allow the
vegetable and animal creation? Just
In proportion n the life Of q man Is
more valuable than that 81 the tree or
horse. should this faith be- found in us,
this sort of help bc extended; and con.
tinued. also. Notwithstanding obstacles
or discouragcmcnts.
II may bc true that the person who
has once fallen is more To be distrusted
than one who has always remained up-
right The man who has once yielded
90 temptation Is presumably the one
less able than others Ia resist IT. We
never feel assured Of the safety of our
property while the servant who has
once stolen has free access 10 IT, But
instead of being able To prove bv any
rules of logic that because the sinner
has once sinned he may. must or will
continue to sin. we must acknowledge
our inability 10 prove anything about
1t, while admitting the possibility that
the punishment for transgression NAV
have wroughta lasting cure in the Trans
gressor At any rate. Is there any i'm
stance i'm which the benefit of the
doubt" can be 80 humanely and wisely
granted-providcd there appear evil
dences of genuine repentance and re-
form-a benefit of equal value To him
who gives and him who takes? The
very fact that a man is able To say To
his fellowman: IL am holier than thou
is the best possible reason for this gen
crosby In judgment. His very right
eousness gives him an advantage in
many ways He stands confessedlv his
brothers superior in resistance To temp
tation and presumably i'm power and
purity Are not these advantages TO
be held i'm trust for the benefit of those
less favored than himself? There goes
myself but for the grace of God. might
be said by many men besides the inn
mortal author of Pilgrims Progress. To
how many of us does the thought oc-
cur? Lord, | thank Thee that am
not as other men are is the more
frequent reflection. felt in the heart.
even If never formulated in the brain or
uttered by the lips. Do we as reason.
able, responsible Christian men and
women really believe that 1.-The greatest
of all is charity" or do we merely enjoy
the rhetorical beauty of the Apostles
famous words? II indeed il is or de-
sire and constant aim TO
Make our lips and lives express,
The holy doctrine we profess,
we shall be less ready with contempt
and condemnation, quicker with com
fort, counsel and encouragement for
those who have strayed into forbidden !
paths or fallen by the wayside. !
Ii consistent with our acl<noyi- (