The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-07

DeuS OF SlChneSS nOr give lrOuDe 10 tnOSe
nearest us in the event we should be
taken from them and the scenes which
engage us. | have known men to re-
fuse to insure their lives or to make
will, as if somehow this would precipi-
tate their death. | have known others
who allowed their policies to lapse, after
carrying them for years, on the presump-
ton that they could be renewed ut any
time in the future. / have known wives
for them on the part of their husbands;
ard | have known the families with
which these were connected to be
plunged into double grief-grief for hus-
band and father. grief because they were
left poor and dependent. "The time is
shortened" and l tell you, beloved, it is
! important from every point of view that
we give due attention to these questions.
which involve our reputation, our Chris
tian character and the happiness OF
those nearest to us. We should accus-
tom ourselves to care and prudence with
respect to our business. We should
have it in proper form with respect to
receipts and disbursements. Our ac-
counts shonld he kept in order and our
bills provided for in this way or that
| that is, if we care for our good names
and our families.
Men sometimes say they don't believe
| in taking their business home with them
| to annoy themselves and their families
around the hoarthstone. i do not be-
| lieve either for this purpose of with this
| result. / do believe in taking it there,
| however, in order that our affairs may
| be understood when we are gone; that
| all important business documents should
be well and safely preserved; that ad,
| mnistrators, trustees and courts should
| control our affairs only in cases of neces-
| sity; that those for whom we have toiled
should enjoy the fruits Of our labors. L
| believe that every transaction with
| which we are connected should be so
| ordered that it may never be truly said
| that we have wronged any mortal being,
small or great wise or simple, ignorant
] in the law or learnedsin the law; that
| when we go hence we may not only
have clean hands. but that it may be
known we had them; if need be, sus-
| ceptible of clear demonstration. Alas,
how many mems regulations have been
besmirched when it was too late for
them to go on the witness stand
in their own behalf, when If
they had exercised ordinary foresight
| such a result would have been impossible.
"a prudent man foreseeth the evil and
hideth himself, but the simple pass on
and are punished"
Second-The time is shortened in which
/ you Cdu tHSuSe III Sul WIN L liz
| year has rolled around very fast. From
one year to another seemed almost life
| time TO us when we were children. but
| now so rapidly do they speed they are
gone ere we know it. We pass the mile
posts of life as swift runners, nay, even
as men behind the feetest horses, or on
the lightning express. Whatsoever our
hands find to do we must do quickly, or
it will go undone. How much good did
you do last year? How many times were
you present at worship to learn how to
with your brethren How many pages of
the glorious truths of the eternal world
did you master? How many widows and
orphans tears did you dry? How many
sorrowing sick ones visit? How many
SHINING souls did you point to ''the Lamb
of God that taketh away the sin of the
world?" What have you done toward
saving your family, your friends and the
| world?
l suppose when the day of days shall
come many faithful Sunday school work
ers will welcome to heaven those whom
they have been instrumental in saving
l suppose many faithful pastors will
meet those they have helped into the king
dom; that many devoted parents will re-
joice that they both pointed and led the
way to heaven for their children. | sup
pose Whitfield led thousands and tens of
| thousands to the feet of Jesus, and that
| Moody has been instrumental in opening
the door of mercy to equally as many,
| who will meet and greet them in glory.
"Will any one, them at the beautiful gate,
be waiting and watching for your Be
lieve me- beloved, it is worth while to buy
up the opportunities and lay up treasures
in heaven against the great day Oh, if
there is such thing possible in heaven
as sorrow over neglected privileges and
| opportunities, it will be felt by the man
or the woman WHOSE heart has never
thrilled with rapture at leading some soul
to Jesus. l do not wish to belong to this
class. | do not wish simply to get with
in the gates of the city which hath founda-
tons. L wish an abundant entrance. Do
not you wish the same? He who would
be satisfied simply to get within the gates
may not get in at all.
| But, my brethren, if we wish to engage
| in the Masters blessed work ere we go
the way of all the living, some things
must be regarded, which are too often
disregarded. We must beware Of our
| example, our personal influence. l was
| conversing with friend once about a
bright young lawyer of the community
| in which | lived who was victim to the
| intoxicating cup, and this friend, who
was profoundly interested in the young
| mans reformation, said the trouble was
that several men in the community who
held positions of influence, and some of
whom were at least nominal members of
the church of Jesus Christ, were the chief
actors in his fall; that they were stronger
than he, and having responsibility, were
followed by the young m8n as they
would not have been otherwise Now,
my brethren, do you suppose these
thoughtless men guiltless?. Do you think
this young mans blighted life will be
omitted from their accounts in the day
of reckoning? ] tell you, nay. "None of
us liveth to himself and no man dieth to
himself" We must get away from the
idea which some seem to hold, that our
example and influence is of small con-
Germ. 1t is OF profoundly great con-
Germ. '"The truth is that no man or
woman, however poor their circumstances
or mean their lot are without their in
fluence. Like an electric spark, passing
from link to link, that runs flashing down
the chain of successive generations. In
deed, a mans life is as immortal as his
soul, and by his influence, though dead
he yet speaketh and worketh Out
living our memory, and more enduring
than any monument of brass or marble
our example may prove like the circle that