The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-13
TOO ACTIVE TO FREEZE.

looked to Nature. It was q clear, cold,
bright winter 8 day. The crisp, untrodden
snow, which covered the landscape, sparkled
In the sunlight as If with millions Of gems.
The little stream, that In summer was al
ways dancing and singing by the wayside,
was now completely frozen over, silent and
still under its icy covering; but as we APP
preached the mill, where q little fall was
visible in its channel, there 1t was leaping
and Sparkling as merrily as in the midst of q
summers day. Cold as it was on every side,
and frost-bound as the stream was above
and below, here 1t was too actiye and busy
to freeze!
From nature, I turn to history. It was
sunset on the Alps. A traveller is descend
ing from TIE summit, when a storm arises,
and the winds blow; and the snow filling
the air, rapidly buries all traces Of his path.
He struggles on till his way Is lost, and night
sets in I'll its horrors, when bewildered, dis
couraged, exhausted, he sinks down to die.
The last thought has been given TO home
and kindred and friends, and bis soul COM
mcnded to its Redeemer, and the numbness
Is already stealing on his senses and limbs,
when q sound Of distress is borne on the
tempest to his ears. It is an appeal to his
humanity, that rouses him even from the stu.
DOR of death itself. With an effort he rises
and follows the sound as 1t is repeated, and
soon finds q fellow.trayeler like himself, be-
nighted and exhausted, and laying down to
be wrapped in the winding-sheet spread by
the tempest. Earnest FOR his brothers
safety, he puts forth every effort to rouse
and animate and aid him; and bis eXertions
are crowned with success. His activity has
kept himself from freezing, and saved q
fellow-being from death!
From nature and history, I turn to the
church. A disciple who has every motive to
faithfulness is getting cold, Indifferent, un-
spiritual. He has entered the backsliders
path, and Is making. rapid progress In 1t,
when by the Providence Of God, and q word
from his pastor, he Is lead to become q tract
distributor, and a teacher in the Sabbath
school. Before he was In danger of freezing
of becoming cold himself, and like a mass
of ice, diffusing q chilling influence around
him. But now, lie Is too busy to freeze.
Activity is giving him a glow. Motion is de-
yeloping y, 81; and already others are gather.
igg warmth: from his example, and led by 1t
to effort in the cause of Christ, and for the
souls of men.
The water, the traveller, the disciple, each
has a voice for US. We must be diligent, de-
voted, earnest in our masters service, il we
would be kept from cold, being lifeless and
useless. We should aim to be too active to
s~tagnate, too busy to freeze. We should en-
deayor to be like CROMWELL, WHO not only
struck while the iron was hot, but made it
hot by s~triking".like the missionary on wh9
is in laboring in the service Of Christ
like the blessed Redeemer, whose
meat and drink it was to do the will Of
God. The vineyard must be cultivated; and
the command is, that We enter and work.
There Is work enough to be done, and the
Injunction is, that we do with our might
what our. hands find to do. To be healthful,
we must be active; to be happy. we must be
useful; to receive the promise, we must have
done the will of God; we must be diligent,
active. earnest, if we would make our calling
and election sure, and have at last ar open
and abundant entrance into the kingdom of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: "Be
thou faithful unto death, and 1 will give
thee a crown of ife."-[American Mes
senger.