The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-05-02
RELIGIOUS READING.
WORKING CHRISTIANS.

Strange there should be found any other
kind of Christians. The whole creation OF
God Is necessarily restless with activity, and
how unnatural then, that Christians, his
noblest, holiest work on earth, should ever
be found Idle. Fellow-disciple, let me speak
to thee kind word OF ndmonition. Thou
art poor, unlearned and obscure; or thou art
entrusted with wealth, hast knowledge, or,
dost occupy station of influence, ce,-whoso-
ever thou art, If q disciple of Jesus, thou art
Gods workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
unto good works, which God hath before Or
dained that we should walk In them. The
Transforming power Of the Holy Ghost has
freed the faculties Of thy soul from the con-
troll Of Satan and the paralyzing influence Of
depravity. Thy spirit, united to Christ, can
draw from him sustenance and divine energy.
From the desolattng curse Of sin, the precious
blood OF Emmanuel has redeemed thee.
Thus related to the Redeemer, with what
emphasis does he say to thee, Without me
thou canst do nothing: II strengthen thee,
thou canst do all t. ings my grace Is suffi-
cient for thee! How true In every respect,
thou art not thine own! And how we felt
this, while our hearts glowed In the ecstacies
OF "flrst love-" We longed to give some
substantial proof Of our gratitude to Christ
and earnestly asked, "Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do?"
longs to our renewed nature. It Is the will
OF our Master written in our hearts. He says
to all, to thee, Go work--occupy, glorify God
with your bodies and spirits which are Gods.
These commands call for holy and con-
slant activities. The Christian idler cumbers
the ground, the unfaithful steward squanders
his Masters wealth. Dare you say, you can
do nothing! It is not, cannot be true. God
has made nothing useless. Christ has not
ran:omed worthless thing. He sustains
you for purpose. 70 ascertain what that
purpose Is. and how you may fulfil 1t, Is your
solemn duty.
There Is work for thee to do, however low
ly Is thy condition, however humble are thy
powers. For US all there Is sphere Of in
fuence, field Of usefulness, post Of re-
sponsibility, vastly important in the estima-
ton of God. o, that Christians were as
keen-sighted to discover the opportunities OF
doing good, as they are often to find excuses
for the neglect of their work Your work may
be found all about you. A willing heart and
strong hand will never be at a lossto ascer-
tain what Is to be done. and how to do It.
The Christians nature, his obligations, his
providence of God, the conduct OF the world
bid him be active. Nay, thou art active In
the affairs Of this life. How often Is thy head
distracted by cares, thy body wearied by in
cessanttoil, and thy bosom excited by con-
ficting emotions! How unwearied aud pa.
tient are the exertions of the worldling!
And shall the people Of God spend none OF
their strength In his service, never cherish
any anxiety for the interests Of his cause and
never initiate the industry of the world, While
In the pursuit of objects Of infinite and un-
failing valued The time Is short-what We
do must be done quickly. Oh, let us not be
weary In well-doing. The eye Of our Saviour
is upon us, and soon we must give an ac-
count of our stewardship.-[Christian Re-
hector.