The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-05-22
PROGRESS AND EASE.
BY ERMINA C. STRAY.

NO GREAT dCul6VoIuouI Wd5 ever yel
gained by life of inactivity and ease
If we want to be successful in any
undertaking, we must make up our
minds to endure tribulation and
trial, for we shall find plenty of it
along the way. We are altogether
too apt to desire easy places in re-
ligion and an easy way to heaven, as
we'll as easy places in the world, and
an easy way to wealth.
Show me the man or woman who
is ready to do battle with the bone
and sinew of physical and spiritual
strength, and l will show you in re-
turn the man or woman who will
succeed in any undertaking and carve
out future that friends may well
be proud of. The man who is always
waiting for something to turn up,
will wait in vain, unless he goes to
work with a determination to turn
something up. Things do not turn
up for the shiftless, thriftless, idle
dreamers, only in possible romances
and fairy tales. 1t is the bone and
sinew of physical and spiritual
strength which makes the world and
its progress, and marks it at every
step with the best blood and thought
of the nations.
Ease and Incidence are not the es-
sentials of progress, but the most
bitter enemies it has, or can have. It
will blight church with it's deaden.
ing influence beyond all hope of
resurrection, unless arrested by the
purifying fires of Gods love and
brought out of its comatose sleep to
begin it's battle of life once more.
A pastor who sits down with folded
hands and only meets his people on
Sunday, need not expect prosper
GUS church, if he is where he can
work with the parish and does not.
A church that will not cooperate
with its pastor but prefers ease in
stead of progress need not be sur
prised to find itself retrograding in
stead of advancing. We need more
earnest devotion and self-sacrifce;
more conservation of the spirit; more
purity of motive. In fact, we need
more religion; religion which is
broad enough and deep enough to
reach out to the worlos yad cover its
sins with mantle of charity. Not
that kind ofreligion which is satisfied
with itself and it's own existence, and
does not know or care about the doc
trines of Universalism, beyond the
point of universal salvation. That is
not progress; it is indolent ease and
enough to DESTROY any church. and
make Christian long to stir it up
with some of that consuming fire
which will purify, ennoble and ele-
vate.
We can not progress unless we are
earnest and consecrated, and willing
to put ease and self and little differ
ences into oblivion, and work togeth-
er for the upbuilding of our cause,
and the promulgation of our faith.
We must let our light shine, whether
it be small or great, so that some one
may see to climb the rugged paths
of greatness, and keep away from the
valleys of despair. There are but few
who, when they understand the full
ness of Gods love, but want to draw
nearer to the Throne of Grace. Thus
love can reach men when fear would
have no effect upon them. A man
converted by love is man converted
forever. But a man converted through
fear, rarely remains a staunch and
steadfast Christian, which proves that
he was not converted at all, but mere
ly moved upon through fear of pun
ishment. A man converted by love
believes in progress, rather than ease,
and desires to work for Christ and
his church.
NOBLE, o.