The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-19

future. And when the pressure comes we
shall certainly bend beneath the burden
OF trial and temptation, we shall yield to
the seductions OF that which Is
obvious and near at hand-unless
we can freshly and clearly realize that the
voice OF conscience IL the voice OF God,
and can fortify the bewildered spirit with
draughts OF living water from the well OF
Christ. How many of US would gladly re-
new our faith and courage from that
source when it may be too late? In the
pure sweet atmosphere OF home spirit
ual chain was woven once, linking the
child's heart with the eternal springs OF
inspiration. How is it that now In the
hour of trial ii avails not?
"Alas, since the old days life has been
saturated with the fogs of self seeking,
mildewed with the damps OF sordid cares.
The chain which bound us to things di-
vine has rusted, the links have snapped
asunder. The tempted one turns to the
we'll OF Christ, but 'the well Is deep and
now he has nothing to draw with He
must needs be content with the water
from the well of Jacob, with suchstrength
as the wisdom OF the world can give, with
such power to combat temptation as
prudence or self interest can give. How
weak this power Is. How small this
strength. Those know who have been
tried.
"Perhaps the excitements OF life have
hidden from us the knowledge OF our own
need of deeper strength than the world
can give. But time comes when these
distractions no longer exist. Some day
the objects of the world will grow dim.
We shall be compelled to recognize that
life is drawing to a close. III our life has
been full of triumphs--of strength success
fully used, we shall gaze into the future to
find there the promise OF fresh fields
for the activity Of the powers which 1t
has been SO sweet to exercise. III endur-
ance, poverty, misfortune, aspirations
disappointed and devices thwarted have
been our lot, then we shall look into the
future with assurance that at last the TIDE
shall turn and the end OF endurance is at
hand. In either case we shall need faith
and trust aud hope, and these are not to
be found in Jacobs well.
ave can not in a moment forge the chain
with which the water OF life may be
drawn. 1t is the work of lifetime. You
can not live life of sin, and then, scared
by the approach OF death, patch up peace
with God. 1t is the wish OF the world TO
think that you can. But the question OF
the prophet is TO be answered in one way
only, 'Can the Ethiopian change his skin
or the leopard change his spots? Then
may We also do good who are accustomed
to do evil.'
"No, my Christian brother, you can not
live life, inspired and moved simply by
material motives, and still find the pure
faith in the world to come strong within
you.
ado not allow that habit of mind to
grow upon you which says: Il can oc-
cupy myself today with my houses, my
lands, my pleasures and my speculations,
and tomorrow l can make up my arrears
of virtue with a rush. You will find
God does not work in that way, neither
will he permit you to do so. You will
find when the shadows gather around
you, and you peer into the depths of
truth and would fain get thence the liv-
ing waters Of consolation, you have moth
ing to draw with. The links of the chain
which should have been forged silently
by conduct and worship are gone and
we shall be unable to replace them.
"The we'll of Jacob stands SO plainly
before US. We can touch it, we can lean
upon it's parapet, we can see its shining
waters, but the well of Christ ne do not
see, for our faculties are heavy with the
dust and sweat of the earth.
"It needs a astrenuousness of WILL e reso-
Lutte keeping open OF the channels OF COM
munication with God by prayer, by honest
endeavor to live Gods life-it needs all
these IL we would be other than the woman
of Samarja, who could not receive the
waters of enternal life because the well
was deep and she had nothing to draw
with.n
The music on Easter Sunday even
ing will include selections from Haydns
"Creation."