Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-04

untutored saint whose soul Is on flre.
The most potent touch on the worlds
history has been that of souls charged
with spiritual might. Here is the peer
less source OF power, the highest form
of force here "be strong"
Look briefly at some of the elements
of spiritual strength. One is. quick and
strong emotions. The stoical concep-
ton of manhood which conceals and
brushes every manifestation of feeling,
is a fatal mistake. Every swelling emo
tion and kindling enthusiasm is thing
to be cherished. Here are the springs
of power. No man ever did manful
battle for great and righteous reform
who could not feel profoundly. To
the cold processes Of the intellect the
kindling fires of emotion are as powder
to the ball. Every glow of feeling ev-
cry stirring sensibility, every kindling
emotion is therefore 10 be welcomed.
Here are the sources of spiritual
strength.
Does every noble thought and ringing
appeal send your blood thrilling and
tingling TO the finger tips? Does wrong
and injustice stir you with little right
eous wrath? Does heroism and self
sacrifice really rouse your admiration?
Does a great cause worthy of a mar
tyr's blood set your soul somewhat on
fire? AS from some eminence your eye
sweeps many leagues Of prairie or
mountain or sea, or at night time you
look up into the face of the stars, does
YOUR spirit ever thrill and fill? Believe
me, this is not weakness; here is the
highest form of strength. Every ora
tor. every reformer. every evangel of
Gods truth, vitality needs this form OF
spiritual power Elijah, Paul. Peter
the hermit, Joan Of Arc, Whitfield
Wendell Phillips and 10000 more are
living witnesses. Only in the deep
wells of emotion can their strength be
renewed who take arms in the cause OF
truth and do battle to the wrong on the
throne.
Another element of spiritual strength
is what. for lack OF a better term, /
shall call reality. BE strong is the
apostles charge-really being, genuine
ness, sincerity, personal substance; not
pretense and seeming, is his thought.
Here is the foundation of strength OF
character Our personal influence is in
proportion to the substance and genu-
ineness of our manhood and woman
hood. Somehow, by subtle and won
derful law, what is, in the man makes
its impress on other men. Were 1t not
so our absolute worth would be not
what we are supposed TO be, but what
we are. Therefore be utterly, absolute
ly. entirely real; be thoroughly genu-
inc, honest and sincere; abhor sham.
These honeycomb and destroy sincerity
and sap personal power. On the corner
stone of reality all true character and
soul strength must rest.
| have space to allude to but one
other element Of spiritual strength, and
that is amplitude and breadth OF per-
sonality. This has intellectual ele-
ments. but it is chiefly spiritual. There
is only one way to increase strength,
and that is to enlarge the man. In
crease of personal substance only in
creases strength.
How shall accommodating driftwood,
sandbars and other obstacles be gotten
out Of the rivers path? BY deepening,
broadening and swelling its current; in
the rush of its stronger tides they will
disappear Is life full Of obstacles, diff
ficulties, Weaknesses. burdens? The
weak soul lies down fainting. and says
there is a lion in the way. The strong
soul hurls aside the obstacle or gathers
up the burden, adjusts it to his Shout !
ders and bears it till the hour of re-
lease shall come. i
Many a man in these days Of business !
crises, when solid ground seems parting |
beneath his feet, would have given up |
in despair had not a brave soul at his !
side given courage and cheer. In phys |
ical weakness il may be there went out
Of the rich resources of her nature
subtle psychic force which entered and
energized his spirit. in the strength OF
which he recovered himself.
But human strength is not all. iiEod's |
word is full of charges to be strong, and |
of blessed promises of divine strength |
sufficient to our need. AS sure as Gods .
word is true, He will communicate f.
somewhat of His infinite strength to
the soul that puts itself in right rela-
tions with Him. This is the essential ,
truth of the gospel, the grandest reality /
of human experience. This it is that
has raised the inebriate from the gut
ter. lifted erring feet to the heights of
womanhood again, and put passion and
pride in bonds.
This divine and glorious truth, that
infinite strength meets human need and
weakness, is the word of cheer which |
would leave with every reader of these
Inns to-day, for encouragement and sup
port in the daily struggle.