The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-11-03


which the world applauds and rewards but that which
is the greatest and most lasting WORTH
twofod; first in Himself, He perfect moral and re-
lgious man, secondly He reproduces this character
Now, my friend, allow to ask, you successful
man? Have your efforts in life been crowned with success
With the world counts success-wealth and
fame Hso, have nothing to say that will derac rom
that will lesson what you have what you have been able
to accomplish. The gifts the world has to bestow
worth our efforts honest efforts win have moth
ing then say against that which you have accomplished
but allow to ask Is that prosperity that has crowned
your efforts all? Isit all that your life to bring forth
is to be the sole fruit of your stay this earth? Is
your life simply win this prosperity and to fail of
that other of which have been speaking? Let
me tell you of who successful as the world
counts success who lived at the time when
Lord was crucifed when His life seemed to end in failure
That man, who emperor of Rome when Lord died.
stood at the very pinnacle of human greatness Heruled
not the city of Rome not Italy, but the world for Rome
embraced the then known world. While to him living at
Rome divine honour and worship being paid through
out the confines OF the vast empire, Jesus Christ was dy
ing the cross. Yet to-day that Man Who died the
cross Who failed the world counts failure you know
and but that other who succeeded succeeded
beyond the widest dreams of fancyyou could not tell me
his without referring to work history My
friends, you who successful you who striving to
win success, allow me to say this That which you have
honoraby and honestly that which you may be des-
tined to win of es rewards however great may be- al
low tosay that is not all Of life and living The
Roman emperor had all of les gifts; Christ had of
them, but He had something that that emperor did not
have See to it that while your ife you
do fail of that which Christ had the develop
ment, the achievement of moral character
But again. perhaps my friend you have not succeeded
in lfe Perhaps you have not the gifts and rewards
that life has to bestow Perhaps the world has put you
down failnre If the probability that your life is
failure for the world is very accurate, is very impartial
in its Judgments does not often place the wreath on
the wrong brow, fail to place where is deserved
Let accept then the worlds verdict that your life
failure The world has also decided that the life of Christ
failure. But we have also seen that while from the
point of of the world Christ failure yet because
of what He Hscharacter He has made the grandest
achievement in the history of My friend, let me
ask this That life Of yours, at with the life OF Christ
failure does partake at all of that real success which
belongs the life of Christ the of character of
moral achievement? Has your life of failure developed in
you character Have you made honest and manly fight
against adverse circumstances? Has your long struggle
sweetened and purified your e made you more unsehsh
thoug ghtfu for Others conscious OF your de-
pendence God? Ina wor has your life of failure pur
fled and deepened your character If so while you share
in Christs failure, you share also in His success lhe
worlds verdict true-your life is failure; but telyou,
at the same time it is grand success.
Butperhaps your life of failure has not developed IN
you that achievement that moral success OF which have
been speaking Perhaps failure and adversely have but
embittered you you feel like rebeling against fate and
life You, perhaps have lost hope for the future; your
faith man and in God we'll nigh gone If so, let me
tell you of One who suffered adversely as you perhaps are
incapable of suffering, upon whose devoted head was
poured out the wrath of God Who being innocent died
a condemned criminal Yet out of all the adversty and
disaster that upon Christ there sprang perfect peace
JOY love of man, faith in God, faith in man. My TREND
your life has been failure in the eyes of the world see
to that it is not moral failure. Make that adver-
sy that has overwhelmed you minister to the develop
ment of your character, to your moral good SO dld
Christi and Christ exists to-day and the Church is IN the
world to-day to enable you do this very thing that you
among all the changes and chances of this mortal lite may
become meet to be pataker of the inheritance OF the
saints in light.'