Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-12-20

Ou luS hWttb uutb VI tllo BOcpc4i hA1N
forth all the nibbling and burrowing
annoyances Of your life and play them
down into the depths forever.
How many touches did Mr. Church
give to his picture Of "Cotopaxi" or his
"Heart Of the Andes;" 1 suppose about
$4,000 touches. 1 hear tho canvas say
ing "Why do you keep me trembling
with that pencil so long? Why don't
you put it on in one dash;" "No, says
Mr.. Church, Il know how to make a
painting. 1t will take $1,000 Of these
touches. " And 1 want you, my friends,
| to understand that it is these 10, 900 an
noyances which under God are making
up the picture Of your life to be hung
at last in the galleries Of heaven, fit for
angels to look at. God knows how to
make picture.
Little Strokes.
go into sculptor's studio and sec
him shaping statue. He has q chisel
in one hand and q mallet in the other.
and he gives a very gentle stroke-click.
click, click. 1 say, why don't you
strike harder?" ooh, " he replies, that
would shatter the statuel can't do it
that way. 1 must do it this way" So
no works on, and after awhile the fea-
lures come out, and everybody that en-
tiers the studio is charmed and fasci-
mated. Well, God has your soul under
process Of development, and it is the lit
tie annoyances and vexations Of life
that are chiseling ont your immortal
nature 1t is click, click, click l Won
der why some great providence does not
come and with one stroke prepare you
for heaven. All, mol God says that is
not the way. And so he keeps on by
strokes Of little vexations until at last
you shall be glad spectacle for angels
and for men.
You know that q large fortune may
be spent in small change, and a vast
amount of moral character may go away
in small depletions. 1t is the little trou-
bles Of life that are having more effect
upon you than great ones. A swarm Of
locusts will kill grainfeld sooner than
the incursion Of three or four cattle. You
say, "Since lost my child, since lost
my property, l have been a different
man." But you do not recognize the
architecture Of little annoyances that
Gre hewing, digging, cutting, shaping,
splitting and interjoining your moral
qualities. Rats may sink ship. One
lucifer match may send destruction
through block Of storehouses. Gather
inc de Medicis got her death from SMELL
ing a poisonous rose. Columbus, by
stopping and asking for a piece Of bread
and drink Of water at a Franciscan
convent, was led to the discovery Of a
new world. And there is an intimate
connection between trifes and immen-
stiles, between nothings and every
things.
Now, be careful to let none Of those
annoyances go through your soul unar-
raigned. Compel them to administer to
your spiritual wealth. The scratch Of a
sixpenny nail sometimes produces lock-
jaw. and the clip Of most infnitesimal
annoyance may damage you forever. Do
not let any annoyance or perplexity
come across your soul without its max
ing you better.
Our government does not think it be-
lifting to put tax on small articles.
The individual taxes do not amount to
much, but in the aggregate to millions
and millions Of dollars. And l would |
have you, o Christian man, put high
tariff ON every annoyance and vexation |
that comes through your soul This
might not amount to much in single |
cases, but in the aggregate it would be
q great revenue Of spiritual strength and |
satisfaction. A bee can suck honey even
ont Of nettle, and if you have the grace
Of God in your heart You can get sweet
ness out Of that which would otherwise
irritate and annoy.
A returned missionary told me that q
company of Adventures rowing up the
Ganges were stung to death by flies that
infest that region at certain seasons. /
have seen the earth strewn with the
carcasses Of men slain by insect annoy
ances. The only way to get prepared for
the great troubles Of life is to conquer
these small troubles What would you
say Of a soldier who refused to load his
gun or to go into the conflict because it
was only a skirmish, saying: II am
not going to expend my ammunition on
q skirmish. Wait until there comes
general engagement, and then you will
see how courageous l am and what bat
ting 1 will do. The general would
say to such man, "If you are not
faithful in a skirmish, you would be
nothing in general engagement. And
! have to tell you, o Christian men, If
You cannot apply the principles Of :
Christ's religion on q small scale, you
will never DO able to apply them ona
large scale.