The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-08
Raw Material.

We very little dream Of what the
purposes of God are toward US. We
are the clay, he is the Potter. The
way of man is not in himself it is
not in man that walketh to direct his
steps. The business of life is the
preparation of the raw material for the
use of God in His wise and all COM
prehensive providence. And what we
call our trials and tribulations is only
the furnace that rids the metal of its
dross and fits it for a vessel Of honor
or sterling coinage our part in the
great design. If we wilt and lie down
in the trial we are simply passed by as
condemned. If we stand the trial,
show pluck, courage and essential
character and value, We are used we
may be subjected to still greater tests,
but the trial shows Of what kind we
are, and whether we can be promoted
and used. Faith and self-reliance are
identical. Self-reliauce is faith in
God. He that trusteth in his own
heartis fool. Our own part is Of the
earth earthly. The divine part Of us is
the Spirit of the living God, and on
that we are to rely, our best selves.
Enthusiasm is God within. The fire
is to try every man 8 work. The wood,
hay and stubble, the lights parts, are
consumed. The true metal CLEANS
brighter for separation from the dross,
from the corruptible, The spirit re-
lieyed from the burden and pressure
of sense, enjoys it's best freedom.
And the flesh absolutely subordinated
to the spirit fills its most digni6ed Of
6ce. Msi paret, inperat: Unless it
obeys governs. The contest between
flesh and soul makes the battle of life.
1t is the highest manhood not to
know when we are beat. If we fall it
must be with the back to the field and
the face to the foe. If we are to sink
let US go down, all in order. If we
are to die let it be in harness.
When Xenophon found himself in
the heart of Persia, in the midst of the
enemy with his little band Of Greeks,
and was given the command he ap.
peared before them in his very best
array. If he was to triumph be would
triumph handsomely, if he was to be
sacrifice he would be a worthy one.
He gave splendid key note Of bravery
to his followers.
The pudding Of the metal, the per
fection and test of the raw material,
is the great business Of the great God,
the Master Workman. Individuals,
families and nations are worked, are
melted, are stirred, are turned over,
are subjected to heat and cold, to wet
and dry, to darkness and light. They
are wrought; they are seasoned for the
designs Of Heaven.
We start life with one set Of ideas,
and ere we are under way, everything
is changed. Gods purposes towards
US were established before we were
conceived in the womb, and this pre-
paration of US begins with our con-
ception, goes on through infancy, and
continues on forever. The efforts of
our parents, our teachers and ourselves
are merely working the raw material,
helping its quality, it's character. The
best education generates power and
tempers our metal. Practically it is
very important to know how to take
and make the best use Of adversely and
hard times and real sufferings and pain
and trial-to be wrought. It is not
only to know how to bear, to be patient
to submit and meekly say, Thy will
be done. But it is to accept them as
kindly, wisely as positive and unmis-
takeable blessings what seems to the
common eye quite the reverse. 1t is
to be bright, vigorous, plucky, even
joyous, in sustaining, in contending,
in planning, in making the very best
of the least and most hopeless things
and conditions as most valuable and
important. 1t is to go right on with
our work adjusting and designing it
for the best conditions Of prosperity.
1t is pointing in the right direction.
1t is designing under the worst cir
cumstances exactly as if everything
were going WE'LL It is ploughing in
spite Of the cold. 1t is not observing
the clouds or regarding the rain, but
sowing and reaping as good sense sug-
gests and waiting upon God, as the
eyes of servants looking to the hand
of the master or of maid to the hand
of her mistress consulting only for
duty and honor and manhood keeping
innocency and taking heed to the thing
that is right, assured that that shall
bring man peace at the last; as liv-
ing sacrifices for the great High Priest,
as wrought material for the Master 8
hand.-GreenriNe Neaos.
-. One of the most remarkable pro-