Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-12-21


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
MAZE "a picture.
Little Strokes.
go into a sculptor's studio and see
him shaping statue BE has a chisel
in one hand and o mallet in the other,
and he gives a very gentle stroke-click.
click, click. / say, why don't you
strike harder?" ooh, he replies, that
would shatter the statuei / can't do it
that way. l must do it this way" So
he works on, and after awhile the fea-
lures come out, and everybody that en-
tiers the studio is charmed and fasei-
mated. Well, God has your soul under
process of development, and it is the lit
tie annoyances and vexations of life
that are chiseling out 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 large fortune may
be spent in small change, and vast
amount of moral character may 20 away
i'll small depleticns. 1t is the little trou-
bles of life that are having more effect
upon you than great ones. A swarm Of
lecusts will kill grainfield sooner than
the incursion Of three or four cattle. You
say, "Since lost my child, since lost
my property, / 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. Ono
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 piece of bread |
and drink of water at a Franciscan
convent, was led to the discovery of
new world. And there is an intimate
connection between trifles and immen-
stiles, between nothings and every
things.
Now, be careful to let none Of those
annoyances 90 through your soul unar-
raigned. Compel them to administer to
your spiritual wealth. The scratch of
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 i'll the aggregate to millions
and millions of dollars And / 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
a great revenue of spiritual strength and |
satisfaction. A bee can suck honey even |
out 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 |
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. Tie only way TO get prepared for |
the great troubles Of life is to conquer |
these small troubles. What would you
say of soldier who refused to load his |
gun or TO 10 into the conflict because it |
was only skirnish, saying: 81 am
not going to expend my ammunition on
a skirmish. Wait until there comes |
general engagement, and then you will |
see how courageous am and what bat |
Ting viii do. The general would |
say to such a man, IF You are not
faithful in 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 small scale, you
will never be able to apply them on
large scale.
Good WIN to ALL
II bad my way with you, would |
have you possess all possible worldly
prosperity. would have you each one
a garden-a river flowing through it.
geraniums and shrubs Un the sides and !
the grass and flowers as beautiful as
though the rainbow had fallen. would |
have you a house, splendid mansion, |
and the bed should be covered with mp |
holstery dipped in the setting sun. | |
would have every hall in your house set |
with statues and siatuettes, and then
would have the four quarters Of the
globe pour in all their luxu-ies ON your
table, and you should have forks of sill !
yer and knives Of gold, inlaid with dia
monds and amethysts- Then you should |
each one of you have the finest horses
and your pick Of the equipages Of the
world. Then l would have you live 100 I
years, and you should not have pain |
or ache until the last breath.
mot each one Of usf'' you say. Yes
Each one of you mot to your enc
mies?" Yes The only difference
would make with them would be that 4
would put little extra gilt ON their
walls and little extra embroidery On l
their slippers But, you say, why does
not God gives us all these thingss"
All, bethink myself, he is wiser. It /
would make fools and sluggards Of rs
if we had our way. No man puts his
best picture in the portico or vestibule