The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-12-25

| as well say, IL IL "oio no' Iva 'n.o
water, I would swim," or II could
shoot this gun if it we're not for the
charge" When you stand chin deep
in annoyanoes is the time for you to
swim out toward the great headlands
of Christian attainment, 80 as to know
Christ and the power of his resurrec-
ton and to have fellowship with his
sufferings.
Nothing but the furnace will ever
burn out of US the clinker and the
Stag. I have formed this theory in
regard to small annoyances and vexa.
tions. 1t takes just so much trouble
to ft US for usefulness and for heaven.
The only question is whether we shall
take it in the bulk or pulverized and
granulated.. Here is one man who
takes it in the bulk. His back is
broken, or his eyesight put out, or
some awful calamity befalls him, while
the vast majority Of people take things
peacemeal. Which way would you
rather have it? Of course, in piece
meal Better have FIVE aching teeth
than one broken jaw; better 10 fly
blisters than an amputation F.; better
20 squalls than one cyclone. There
may be difference of opinion as to
allopathy and homeopathy, .butin this
matter of trouble I like homeopathic
doses-small pellets Of annoyance
rather than some knockdown dose Of
calamity. Instead Of the thunderbolt
| give US the hornet.
If you have a bank, you would q
great deal rather that 80 men would
come in with less than 800 than to
have two depositors come in the same
day, each wanting his $4,000. In
this latter case you cough and look
down to the floor, and you look up at
the ceiling before you look into the
safe. Now, my friends, would you
not rather have these small drafts Of
annoyance on your bank of faith than
some all staggering demand upon your
endurance But remember that lit
tie as we'll as great annoyances equally
require you to trust in Christ for sue
cor and deliverance from impatience
and irritability. "Thou wilt keep
him in perfect peace whose mind is
staid on thee" In the village Of
Hamelin, tradition says, there was an
invasion # rats, and these small crea-
lures almost devoured the town and
threatened the lives Of the population,
and the story is that a piper came out
one day and played very sweet tune,
and all the yermin followed him-fol-
lowed him to the banks Of the Weser.
Then he blew blast, and then they
dropped in and disappeared forever.
Of course this is fable, but I wish I
could, on the sweet flute of the gospel,
draw forth all the nibbling and bur-
rowing annoyances Of your life and
play them down into the depths for
ever.
How many touches did Mr.. Church
| give to his picture Of "Cotopaxi' or
his "Heart of the Andes 2" sup
pose about $4,000 touches. I hear
the canvas saying "Why do you keep
me trembling with that pencil 80 long?
Why don't you put it on in one dash?"
"No," says Mr.. Church, 1T know how
to make painting, It will take 50,-
900 of these touches - And I want
you, my friends, to understand that it
is these 10000 annoYances 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 a
picture.
I 20 into sculptor's studio and see
him shaping a statue. He has q
chisel in one hand and mallet in the
other, and he gives very gentle
stroke-click, click, click +! I say,
"Why don't you strike harder ?"
"Oh," he replies, "that would shat
ter the statue. I can't do it that
way. I must do it this way" So he
works on, and after awhile the fea-
lures come out, and everybody that
enters the studio is charmed and fas-
oinated. Well, God has your soul
under process of development, and it
is the little annoyances and vexations
of life that are chiseling out your i'm
mortal nature. It is click, click,
click | wonder why some great
providence does not come and with
one stroke prepare you for heaven.
| All, no. 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 large fortune may
be spent in small change, and vast
amount of moral character may go
away in small depletions. 1t is the
little troubles of life that are having
more effect upon you than great ones.
A swarm Of locusts will kill grain
field sooner than the incursion of
three or four, cattle. You say, "Since
I lost my child, since lost my prop
erty, I have been different man.
But you do not recognize the archi-
lecture of little annoyances that are
hewing, digging, cutting; shaping,