The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-10-31
BORROW NOT TROUBLE.
THOU SHALT NOT WORRY Is THE LES
SON TAUGHT
By Christ, Who Was Above All
Things, Practical-A Short Lay Ser
mon Founded on the Text: "Sufff{
cient Unto the Day Is the Evil
Learn, :
lGeorge II. Hepworth in N. Y. Sunday
HeaIald.I

SuihcIent unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew, vi, "a.
Christ was, above all things, praSs
tical. That was His marked charac-,
teristic, the one which especially en-
dears Him to mankind, for it estab-
fishes between US and Him the pres
ent relations of teacher and pupil. Ii
like 10 think of Him as a friend who
has all the resources Of wisdom at
command, who is for some reason in.
terested in my welfare, who has fur \
nished me with certain truths which
can place as much confidence in as til
mariner on tempestuous seas does
the compass that guides him throud
storm and darkness.
Some Of the advice He has given
difficult to understand and more diff
cult to follow. The text is an illustra
ton of this. II He tells us that tht
angels Of God are never beyond hea1
ing distance when we are in need
help, or if He declares that there is ar
other life for which these few years ar
simply preparation, and that we mus
SO act to-day that we shall have no rd
grets in the great tomorrow, we ca
catch glimpse of His meaning, fo
there is mysterious something in ou
souls which corroborates His word.
But when He assures US that in oud
daily lives we ought to face the present
moment and do the present duty, moi
allowing ourselves to be over anxious
about what may happen during the
day to come, it is necessary to think
the matter over very carefully before
we can see the principle which under
lies His words.
Surely, He was we'll aware of the
trials, troubles, sorrows and uncertain
ties through which we pass, for they
| filled His own short career to the very
brim. No man has ever suffered m IRE
than He did, and none has been
pricked by as many thorns. And yet
He calmly tells us to possess our souls
in peace not to anticipate the future;
neither to worry about what may hap
pen tomorrow, but to bear as best we
may whatever burden is on our shoul-
ders and let the morrow take care
of itself. He does not speak of this a:
the better policy to pursue, but as ar
imperative duty imposed by the law:
| of the universe and by the God who
decreed them. What does He NEAR
by this strange utterance? Perhaps BY
searching we may find out.
| Worry, to begin with, is useless. 1
produces no good result. On the con
trary, it is utterly destructive in it
nature. So far from preparing you t
overcome disaster, it renders you unh
to meet it. 1t deliberates the soul ane
robs you of the very strength which
you pray for because you see it will b
needed. To worry is to endure al
agony before its time, and SO prolonl
your misery. God says, "You mus
suffer pain tomorrow, and you reply
"Then | will suffer it to-day Also"
DO not think lam forgetful. Ikno,
that coming events cast their shadow
before; that one cannot laugh up t
J the moment when the clock strike
and the blow falls. The imaginatio
is winged and it flies into the future
Love thinks of the hour of separatio
which cannot long be postponed, an
tears tremble on the eyelids, not bt
:. cause of what is, but of what is to b.
We should be, not more, but less, tha
human if this were not SO.
Suppose, however, that our faith W;
?. perfect. If our souls were in accor
: with the providence of God, if v
really felt that Hand controls event
and that behind the Hand is the Hea
Of father, that what we must bear +
! will give us strength to bear; that
i we are not masters ofthe situation +
/ is-would not such a faith quiet O
i res,lessness, and should we not resen
s, bic the Sea of Galilee after Christ sal
Il "Peace! Be still?" The element
S, worry would be we'll nigh eliminate
o. and with the feeling whatever is,
.u right we should borrow nothing fro
the future, but simply bear the prese
III u1 sorrow.
ur 1t is true religion that we need, al
IS more of it. In our professed belief
-, have a God dethroned, but in our da
ut. life we have God en:hroned. In Q
heart of hearts we do not have con
NV dence in Him, but act as though the
=: were no God at all. If we could cir
il. to that high spiritual level, SO
hat above our heads and we'll nigh out
sight on which Christ lived, we shou
- be healthier in body, more vigorous
soul to meet the inevitable, me-
o. cheerful, happier, less restless and il
measurably nobler.
. 1t is profitable for you to so far
- ticipa,e the effect of given cause Il
you prepare to meet it, but when y
have done all that can be done it Is
ceedingly unprohtahls TO so weak
yourself by worry that the com'
sorrow is double its weight. AS mt
as lies in your power-and it IS
quality of character which admits
great development-live in tod
\ Cultivate a quiet and peaceful fra
y of mind. He did it, and was unc
y turbed by threatening circumstan
;ue and you may follow afar off. w
you are doing now calls for all y