The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-07

to city, buying and selling and getting
gain-but his gain is not made preca-
rious nor his happiness uncertain,
because he does not know what shall
be on the morrow. Living in the con-
tinual enjoyment OF his Fathers love
and under the protection of his good
providence he walks secure, and day
by day lays up in store the true riches
OF present joy in the Lord, and peace
and confidence for the future.
Have | drawn the picture of the
Christian in colors too fair. my breth-
rem? VIII not the observation of The
men oF the world convince them that
You and II carry about with us this
assured happiness, this immunity
from the strokes of ill-fortune? Do
we too exhibit anxiety for the NOR
row, and do we sink down in darkness
and detection when the hand of the
loving Father leads us along paths
which we would not choose for our
selves? Alas, / fear we do thus belle
our profession! But what of that?
Is not that the true delineation of the
Christian? And is there not in each
one of us some real germ of life grow
ing into and towards that perfect
type? Great as are our short com
ings, may we not truthfully testify to
the world that we have found, and
that we do enjoy the foretaste-the
beginnings-of such a blessed deliver
ance from evil, and feel in us the stir
ring of an heavenly life?
The labor of this world presses
heavily upon our shoulders; the cares
of life be heavy upon our hearts; anx-
ieties for the future disturb our peace;
daily experience shows how little of
even this poor temporary success
there can be for the greater number of
us. If we are saying in our hearts.
to-day on tomorrow we will go into
city, on such an enterprise, and buy
and sell and toll and struggle; and if
we set our hopes of happiness upon
success, thus to be won, do we not
know how most Of us shall fail and
how the few who seem most success
ful, shall perhaps reap d disappoint-
ment more bitter than the poor agon-
ling soul who has fallen i'm the con-
fict realizing his failure? If we do
not know these things, it is because
we do not think. For what is such
life but that which the Apostle de-
scribes as a marvellous graduation of
progressive nOthingness- vapor-
that seemeth for little time, and
then vanisheth away?
My brethren, if any of YOU have ever
been tempted TO think that the
preacher has an easy task, l wish you
would for one moment consider what
must be his feelings upon such an oc-
rtg tiu 4 huV ~
forth the tremendous importance of
finding the will of God in ourselves. |
see before me men and women; some
known to me, few strangers; some
very dear in the bonds of friendship
and of pastoral affection-aIl by Gods
providence this day and for this hour
committed to- me that / may speak
that word of God which your present
necessity calls for to open your ewes.
to touch your hearts, TO move your
wills to make you reach out the hand
of faith and lay hold on that hand
which alone can lead you safe through
the year before us. If you are sensi-
BILE Of the weakness and insufficency
of the deliverance. will you not in
charity to one who would fain serve
you if he but could; will you not for
once become wisdom and speech for
the preacher, and speak to your own
hearts, and hearken to your own
words. and by Gods help resolve to
do that good thing which God shall
show you-to bring you nearer to
Him, that in Him and by His will you
may live henceforth and do this or
that-as He shall admit?