The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-12-26
YOU MAY BE A VICTOR.

| 1t seems to me that we need a more
constant encouragement in our re-
ligious life. Religion is in itself the
most cheering thing iE the world,
and if any one takes a gloomy view
of it he does both himself and his
religion an injustice. He who tells
us that we can do every thing that is
required is the angel over the right
shoulder, and he who tells US that
we cannot is the imp over the lett
shoulder.
1t is not easily explained, perhaps,
but the fact stares us in the face that
it is much easier to coast down hill
than to draw the sled up hill, and we
sometimes become disheartened.
| Still, we once in awhile get a
glimpse of the reason for this. We
know full well from both observation
and personal experience that if we
were to coast down hill all our lives,
and if there we're no climbing up hill
to be done, we should be little better
than the sleds which bear us. There
might be excitement, but we should
| Sc our vigor and our health. The
. up hill work is what makes the man.
The plan of life, therefore. has been
SO arranged that no one can have
the short pleasure of coasting down
hill without the long labor of drag
| ging his sled up hill.
A youth must be continually re-
minded of these facts, for he dis
covers at a very early stage that
harmful habits may be contracted in
a few months which cannot be
eliminated in years. He must there
fore become a philosopher or he will
be ultimately ruined, for philosophy
will teach him that hard work, both
in the way of endurance and of re-
! sistance, is the only condition on
/ which he can chisel a beautiful statue
out of the crude marble OF experience.
He may wonder why it should be SO,
| but he must recognize the fact that
it is SO. When that has been done
his feet are on the first round of the
ladder whose top rests against the
! throne of God.
A good life, a noble life, a life
worth living and worthy the dignity
| and destiny of the soul, is not to be
had for the asking. 1t must be
| earned or not possessed at all. But
when earned and possessed it is as
glorious as broad landscape
lighted up by sunrise.
There is nothing on the planet so
majestic as a whole and perfect
human soul. The angels Of heaven
who sang their hallelujahs before the
world was are an inferior order of
beings, because the perfection which
is the result of hardship and suffering
is grander than the perfection with
which any of the immortals can be
endowed. l believe, therefore, that
when we get into the other life the
man who has endured and won the
prize by his endurance will stand on
a higher level than any other created
creature, and the soul that has
borne the ills of time in the spirit of
the Master will stand nearest to the
throne of God.
But it is not easy to endure. The
school of life is school of discipline,
and many fall by the way. So far as
God has spoken, however, He has
used the language of encouragement.
And the words of Christ are full of
pity for those who are down hearted,
and of good cheer for those who still
look toward the stars. Prayer is
simply the means of borrowing
strength from the Most High, or an
expression of gratitude for what has
already heen received. In prayer the
human heart comes into contact
with Gods will, and by a law, the
working of which is somewhat
mysterious, because our minds are
not yet open, such contact results in
an acceh sion of ability which is pal
pable to those who have awaited
themselves of this privilege.
Whomever you may be, whatever
station of life you may occupy,
however adverse may be your sur
roundlDgs, you can earn a right to
Gods approval. Not every one can
have riches, because riches depend
largely onlaws which man has made,
but every one can have heaven. The
present time is short, but the future
is long. Today you must work; but
do your work we'll and tomorrow
your toll will be rewarded.
Possibly you may be suffering the
pinching pangs of poverty. Envy
creeps into the heart as you rerog-
nIze that others are surrounded by
luxuries as we'll as comforts, and
envy is knife driven into the maple
tree which lets the sap run out. We
we're not made to be wealthy, but to
be noble. Wealth is an incident in
some lives and not in others, but
nobility may be had by all. The
richest are not the happiest, for
happiness comes from the soul, not
from the pocketbook. The Sultan
may wear a crown, but he is wretch
ed; the peasant who digs his field for
food to eat has more enjoyment and
more content. Not outside, but
inside, is peace to be found.
Or possibly you have fallen on
evil ways and habit has made you a
slave. God knows you have hard
stint to do before shutdown, but you
are a man and can do it. Au i'm
mortal soul conquered by habit is
a sorry spectacle; a king dragged at
the chariot tail is a strange humili-
alton. But victory may yet be
wrested from defeat. You and God
can do great things together. When
you and the angels put shoulders to
the wheel it can be lifted out of the |
mire. Recall the forgotten fact that |
you are man, blow a blast on the |
trumpet of defiance, issue the procla-
nation of your own freedom, and do |
brave battle with yourself. The |
hosts of the skies are on your side,
and though the struggle will tax
your whole strength, begin it now,
and keep it up till you have con-
quered every intrenched tendency to |
evil somehow think that he who |
has been lowest in this world and /
fought his way to manhood through