The Newtown bee., 1896-03-27
LIFE AND EXPERIENCE

of US common men, women and children.
 For the gracious words, mark. are not re-
 served for those whose lot it has been to
 achieve great things, but for those who
 have done what 1hey could, ''every man
 according to his ability" The men thus
 addressed in the parable are not "chiefs'
 but 'serVauts,' nay, the original sayv
 "slaves."
 And yet-strange paradox-thougb
 slaves" they are 'cbiefs." Nay they are "chiefs' because they were slaves. j.,
 For the same Lord, to whom a ''name that is above every name" has been given because He made Himself the servant of all, and gave His life ransom for many, This same Lord, who knew SO well what true ambition was that He even ardeutly louged to ''draw all men unt0p Himself this same Lord speaking in q strain of splendid common sense says
 He who wants to be chief among you, let him be your slave.'' This He meant was the way to become ''chief," the toiI- some way by which He Himself thtA4C A4ilISCl1 CuiElCSG LII dils It IS tIlH way of the world, for chief among us, most hOnOred among statesmen, clergy men, vestrymen--in fact in every voca tion-are those who are readiest to serve. Of all titles in the modern world the most honorable is minister" of all titles at once the most stimulating, and the most productive of shame and confu. sion of face where there is no conscious ness of effort to have deserved it. To reach then the human satisfaction which the words of the text mus kindle in every ambitious human heart, is the highest picture of the prize of a Christian ambi- tion. It brings practical Ci ristianity into common places. As the apostles evident ly learned to aim not at frequent men, tiOn of their name, or publication of their pictures in the chronicles of the church Militant in the Acts of the Apostles, but rather found the fulfllment of their highest hopes in a simple doing of ''the work that's nearest" so to the Christian soldier of to-day, the hope of hearing the words of my text spoken to him, is the highest and best of all ambi- tions, sufficient to satisfy his strongest human craving. Such hope spurs the humblest of us to run with patience the race that is set before us, to ''approve the things that are excellent,'' that is to aim higher than the average, to ''reach forward to the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.''
 THE BEST IS FOR HIM who will do his best. A poor, weak, half witted youth who used to blow the 1 organ in my fathers church was won't to say of himself, II can blow wi any man." He had but one listle .alent and he did not hide it in q ! napkin. He could "blow wi any man, md blow he would with view to the well done'' of Him who had given him put very few things indeed to be faithful ,ver,
 Brethren, you can well understand low the words of my text have been inging in my ears ever since the news vas brought to me, that Charles A. War en had gone to meet the Lord who had ,idden him be faithful oyer few hings !" He would never have asked P or higher sounding praise than the Welldone, thou hast been faithful" !" His weet humbleness would have just smiled side any glowing tribute to his virtues T services. But he could accept with Il humility the tribute, Thou hast been sitFlful.'s Scarcely could any man more